Thank you Mr. Speaker. This motion that the member raised in the House today has, for myself, some significant concerns. Everybody should be quite clear that difficult decisions are unavoidable. We have to make some hard choices and there will be more in the future of this Legislative Assembly. Members have raised many times in this Legislative Assembly the whole issue of cost cutting to social programs or teaching/pupil ratio in our communities, as well as many other issues that affect our communities. One of the things that make common sense is the things that are good government and good management. What management would do, is get rid of duplication in this government. The amalgamation of departments that have similar responsibilities and mandates should be amalgamated. That makes good government sense, Mr. Speaker. But the major concern for me is that we have passed legislation in this assembly on the Deficit Elimination Act, and by this motion here, members have basically, not only tying our hands but you are tying your own hands and what options are available to you to eliminate the deficit according to the law that we passed in this Assembly? So think clearly about that when you vote on this motion. I also need, Mr. Speaker, clarification on this motion, because this Motion reads to me that the Executive Council not proceed with this amalgamation until a Sessional discussion paper on the proposed amalgamation is tabled and approved by this Legislative Assembly. Mr.
Speaker, how can we not proceed to develop that discussion paper, how can we not proceed to develop a work plan to put before the Committees of the Legislative Assembly that are responsible to review that work plan? Then it would come to the Legislative Assembly. I have already stood earlier in this Session, Mr. Speaker, speaking exactly of that. That was the plan of the Government. We have already directed the Departments to work on a work plan so it can be presented to Cabinet, then come to the Committee, then to the Legislative Assembly. Mr. Speaker, that is the right way to do business, I do believe. It is the proper way to do business in this day and age. It is giving Members of this Legislative Assembly every opportunity to debate and discuss that issue, as well as the Committees, as well as Cabinet. So we are all agreed on a course from when we set out in this Legislative Assembly on consultation and working together. We are committed to that, but I do have concerns, Mr. Speaker, about this motion. So if the Member who put this motion on the floor could clarify to me what he means by Executive Council not proceed with this amalgamation. Thank you.