Well, I would hope so, Mr. Speaker. I guess that would be one way to respond to it. I believe that we have taken a very direct approach in empowering management at the community, regional and headquarters level, that we have pushed out both the fiscal responsibility as well as the managerial responsibility in a genuine effort to improve the efficiency and the delivery of programs and services, and after all, that is what we are here for, to deliver to those in the communities and in large centres like Iqaluit, like Yellowknife, like Fort Smith and Hay River.
I believe in the short twelve months that we have been here that we have accomplished a great deal in being able to do that, I would hope, again, that the business plans that the committees will be looking at shortly next week, will reflect that and, it is certainly not our intent, when we looked at our strategy to run government more efficiently, not to look at it in a caring and sensitive way.
I want to remind members that, nobody is immune from these cuts, nobody. Including the Finance Minister, who I have said on a number of occasions, my own family have lost jobs in this cutting process, and still do not have one. So, I think it is important for everybody to understand that I am very sensitive to the fact that we are laying off people, contrary to what some may think in this House or upstairs, I am very sensitive about the fact that we are laying people off. We have to find a way and a means in which to do it in a compassionate and caring way. But, at the end of the day, we must balance the budget. I have to come back to that, whether my honourable colleague likes it or not.
But I think we have to move on once we go through these business plans, on to new opportunities for our people and the people we represent and I believe, Mr. Kakfwi and other are proceeding with that in terms of some of the strategic plans that are in place in relationship to the mineral accord, in relationship to other aspects, Mr. Dent in relationship to job opportunities, etcetera. The changes that Mr. Ng is making in Health and Social Services and Corrections, these are all positive things as we move forward, and I hope that when my colleague reviews the business plans that will be reflected in them, and he will be assured that we are doing this in a manner, where, we have a plan, we know where we are going, and I certainly know where we want to end up. Thank you.