The Minister of Finance, Mr. Todd.

We are, of course, governed by the collective agreement, Mr. Speaker. My honourable colleague has spoken many times about the need to advise our employees well in advance of impending lay-offs. So we are obligated under the collective agreement and should the budget not be approved and lay-off notices sent out, then yes, we would have to re-hire or not terminate the employment of the employees. Correct.

Thank you. Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Henry.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I realize that this is a dilemma for the Finance Minister. I respect that he has got a job to do. I would also point out that we are fast approaching the festive season. A time for families to get together and people to rejoice in goodwill. I understand that is a dilemma in a situation where he has to inform people. He mentioned that there will be lay-off notices potentially go out to some employees within the next several months. I am sure the Finance Minister is well aware that families usually spend more money around Christmas time than they do at other times of the year. Has the minister given any consideration as how he can couch that as to whether to send the notices out before Christmas to give people an opportunity to make a decision as to whether they wish to spend extra moneys or wait until after Christmas when they possibly will have spent moneys that they otherwise would not have done. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Mr. Todd.

There is no comfort level in this job these days, Mr. Speaker, when it comes to laying off people we have known for a long period of time. When it comes to laying off relatives. As I have consistently said, there is no easy way to tell our hard-working employees that, unfortunately due to the deficit elimination strategy and the need for us to balance our budget and ensure that your children, my children and my neighbour's children have got a future. There is simply no easy way. What I will attempt to do is try to do it in as caring and compassionate way as I can and I will take my honourable colleague's suggestions under consideration and see what can be done to limit the impact, if you want, at this very difficult time of the year, should an employee unfortunately be given a termination notice. Thank you.

Oral questions, Mr. Henry, Supplementary.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, I believe I do not have to encourage the minister to be compassionate, I am sure he understands the particular situation. As a final supplementary Mr. Speaker, I would like some assurances from the minister that lay offs that are proposed in the next year's budget that those lay offs will be conducted fairly across all government employees in the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. That was your third supplementary. Mr. Todd.

I do hope, that given the information that the members have on the lay offs to date, that I have fully demonstrated myself, as finance minister, and as the MLA for the constituency of Keewatin Central, that there has been a fairness in the lay-off notices. The reality is, that in my own riding, 23.6 percent lay offs have occurred, which is the second highest lay-offs across the framework.

So I understand my colleagues concern, we are trying to balance this budget, and do these lay offs in a fair and equitable way, and many of you have supported that. These are difficult decisions to make, not popular ones, but they must be made if we are to balance the budget, and I will do what ever is necessary, to demonstrate to this House, to my colleagues in the audience, and to the territories at large that we are trying to do it in a fair and equitable way. Thank you.

Thank you. Oral questions, Mrs, Groenewegen.

Can I ask the member to rephrase her question, without making any reference to the 1997 budget?

Mr. Todd.

Mr. Speaker, I have to qualify by saying, no, not to my knowledge. However, in fairness to my colleague, there have been discussions at the departmental level with those staff that may be terminated due to the budget that is going to come forward in January of 1997. Because again, I have taken the direction from the House, Mr. Henry and others have spoken frequently to it, and that is that we have to give our staff as much lieu time as we can, in relationship to the potential termination of their employment due to restraint. So I cannot unequivocally say that no lay off notices have gone forward, but, I will check into it with Mr. Voytilla at the break and talk to my colleague and clarify that. Thank you.

Thank you. Oral questions, supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Mr. Todd.

Well, as I said, earlier Mr. Speaker, we are trying to manage our way through this budget. Committees have the business plans of government, and the business plans clearly spell out what is going to come forward. And in that, subject to the budget being approved, we would move forward with the appropriate course of action, whether it was in lay-offs, or the terminations of the programs, or whatever.

If the budget is not approved, then we would take the appropriate course of action to reinstate the programs, or reinstate the employees. Thank you.

Thank you, Oral questions, Mr. Erasmus.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Premier. I have had an opportunity to have a very quick look at this supposed work plan for the amalgamation of infrastructure departments. I appreciate the fact that the Premier wants to do a lot of extensive consultation with the stakeholders. I am assuming that this will have to be done before January. Since that is the case, there should be no problem with tabling this particular document now, if it is going to be sent to the stakeholders. Also, his covering letter indicates that the organizational plans will be completed and implemented by April. It is important to have organizational plans completed, and implemented, by April 1, 1997, which means that notices will have to be sent to employees who are going to be terminated by January 1. So, I think it is imperative that we do discuss this at this session, and I am also aware that I can table this document, and I am quite prepared to do that. I am just offering the Premier one last opportunity, I am asking one last time, if he would table this document so we can discuss it in committee of the whole. Thank you.

Mr. Premier.