Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I believe that Cabinet has been working under the wrong assumption. They seem to feel that amalgamation has been approved and that all we want to do is comment on their work plan. Nothing could be further from the truth. Government went ahead with dismantling Personnel and amalgamating Renewable Resources, Economic Development and Tourism and Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources, in to one department without it ever having been discussed in this House and formally approved by all the members.
Cabinet knows that was a problem that we had discussed and that we were trying to do away with. Ordinary members have in no way approved amalgamation and are not looking for a work plan that we can give advice and comment on before Cabinet proceeds with amalgamation. What we are looking for are strong reasons and rationale why this amalgamation should occur. That is the type of discussion paper that we are looking for and that is the reason why we are here today, having had to table this very broad and varied document that is very, very insufficient.
In the Premier's comments yesterday, on page 107 of the transcript he indicated that "Cabinet has approved a work plan for amalgamation of these departments. I have sent that work plan to the government operations committee. Government operations will I am sure have a lot of good suggestions and advice on the amalgamation of those three departments." That is not the plan Mr. Chairman.
This House should approve that amalgamation. We do not want to just give advice and suggestions on the forgone conclusion that amalgamation will occur. Also, it seems as though lay-off notices are being sent. In the response, written response to Mr. Henry, the Minister of Finance indicated that some employees may receive notice of lay-off prior to the approval of the budget. Because the provisions of the collective agreement entitle the employees to a 90-day lay-off notice. These notices will have to be sent out over the next several months to ensure that all aspects of the budget can be implemented on April 1, 1997.
Mr. Chairman, it is not up to the Finance Minister or the Premier or anybody on Cabinet to be sending out lay-off notices prior to the approval of that budget. If the budget has not been approved, they have no business sending out these termination notices. Do those termination notices say that you may be laid off? If it says that, then I do not think that complies with the 90-day lay-off period that is required in any event.
I think that it is unacceptable for this government to be sending out lay-off notices in the hopes that something is going to be approved. Are we as this Legislature being treated as a rubber stamp? Does the government feel that we are here just to rubber stamp their decision and that we have no minds? I certainly hope not. I take strong exception to that. As I said before, I expect and I know the other members expect strong rationale and reasons why this amalgamation should occur. We do not want to be expected to comment on a work plan, when we may not even approve of the amalgamation in the first place. Thank you.