Mahsi, honourable colleagues. It is our understanding that only federally-transferred dental therapists received pay rate conversion adjustments but still outstanding is the ratification of the pay rate classification level schedule placement HC/TE, as per the collective agreement. In May 1990, the treasury board of Canada approved a revised pay rate classification standard and level structure for the EG group which federal dental therapists come under, retroactive to December 22, 1987 when the federal PSAC collective agreement expired.
The Northwest Territories' dental therapists pay schedule should have been adjusted in May 1990 to reflect the new federal increases. Madam Speaker, NWT dental therapists are presently receiving lower starting salaries than their counterparts, the federal dental therapists, and this issue should be resolved as soon as possible. Mahsi.
---Applause