Few jurisdictions have the cultural complexity, the huge area we have or the political problems we have. So I think anyone here who buys into the argument that somehow we are less worthy than politicians in other jurisdictions are not doing this Legislative Assembly or Cabinet service. In my experience, the work-load of Ministers and of the Premier in this jurisdiction is as much, if not more, than any other jurisdiction in the country. The complexity of their duties, because we have so few Ministers, is such a wide assortment of duties that it is incredible. The work that our Cabinet does is recognized everywhere else in the country. Also the work that our committees do is not done by committees anywhere else in the country. So before I carry on with this bill, I want to put it in some perspective. I don't think anyone here has to apologize for the remuneration they are getting compared to other jurisdictions in the country.
I was a Member of MSB and I want to reiterate what Mr. Pollard said, this was not government driven, this was from the Management and Services Board. Secondly, it never was part of the discussion of the Management and Services Board that this is some part of a strategic plan to soften up the unions. That was never the intent. It was never the reason that the Management and Services Board put this forward. In fact, I would say the opposite. It was the feeling of the Management and Services Board that it is important to have a professional negotiation between the government and the union and we should try to take the Legislative Assembly out of that process by having a zero increase. I hear the arguments now about whether we should have a freeze or cut. We tried not to get into that because at this time, though it is politically expedient for people to say I should cut ten per cent and we can all prove to each other how responsible we are, but the reality is if you are going to do it, there has to be a reason for it. My feeling is -- and this is personal -- at this point in time, we are not in a totally desperate, drastic situation, though we might be a year from now.
My suggestion to Members would be to support this particular bill, as it stands with a freeze, we go into negotiations and we have a look at the end of the year how Mr. Pollard and the Premier have made out with all the big package negotiations they are doing. If, at that point, the situation looks drastic, then we revisit it and look at what we have to do in a real sense to set an example in the territories. But I don't think it is appropriate at this point to do that. So I am prepared to support this bill, as it is. I think it sets out the proper message, that the Legislative Assembly is out of these negotiations. We are not taking a symbolic stand either way. We are going to allow the government and the unions to do their job without us being involved and I would be the first one, if the Finance Minister says in a year from now we have some very serious problems, to say let's look at this and if it is appropriate to take a bigger cut, so be it. I would be the first one to support it. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.