Good afternoon, Mr. Speaker. We are all hearing about centralization as a result of the federal budget and the cost-saving measures being instituted across the country. Programs are being moved from regional centres to Ottawa and community programs are being moved to regional centres. I have also heard that Parks Canada will be pulling staff and resources out of its Nunavut district office in Iqaluit and moving them to Yellowknife. If this happens, the result will be substantial; a potential loss to Nunavut of employment, benefits, housing dollars and, most importantly, control and influence in the decisions that directly affects parks management in Nunavut.
My concern in the wake of the frenzied slashing of the budget, the Liberal government may have lost sight of their promise to consider first, the impact on people and related social costs of cutbacks and job losses.
Due to limited employment opportunities here in the north, it is even more important that federal government actions be consistent with their intentions to reduce the deficit in a manner that is compatible with putting Canadians back to work.
I would like to strongly encourage the Premier and the Minister of Economic Development and Tourism to continue in their efforts to obtain the relevant details and rationale for this move from the federal government. The people of Nunavut must be assured that every option was considered and that the residents who are directly affected by this reorganization are treated fairly.
I sincerely hope the federal government has fully considered the impact this move will have on the people of the Baffin region where a large part of the local economies are supported by visitors to our national parks and tourism. Qujannamiik.
---Applause