Mr. Speaker, it is our view, based on the statistics of the past couple of years, that the percentage of turnovers which this government enjoys or suffers every year is already at about the 20 per cent range. It would almost have to come close to doubling that figure for us to question the financial value of this strategy. It is my view that the removal tariff rules and guidelines set in place a month or two ago, are going to reduce the cost of removals this year. It is going to help substantially. We are also of the view that the majority of government employees are going to begrudgingly accept the strategy we have set out, and that it will be seen, in the course of the next few months, that the job prospects in southern Canada are dismal, to say the least.
I have asked for an informal check of the situation in other provinces. It is dismal. There are other governments which are in financially difficult times. The fact is, we are a country suffering financially. We are in a recession even though it is recorded as being over. In the end, employees will see that strategy as a fair and equitable move to put them on par with their other neighbours and friends in the communities they live in. Everyone has to pay a fair, equitable market rent and they have to accept that. It may have been better received it we had given them more time, but it will be done in any case. Thank you.