Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Since we all got elected back in October, we have been working together to come up with priorities, a direction and strategic objectives for this government, of which we are a part. So we have asked the Cabinet who we elected to do a job for us, to help put the financial house of this Government of the Northwest Territories in order. We can ascribe the blame for the deficit on previous governments if we wish, but it doesn't change the fact that we have inherited a situation and we knew we were going to do that when we ran for election.
I think it is up to this Assembly to acknowledge that we are part of this process. We have to, as part of this plan, give the tools to Cabinet to do the job. It has been very clear form the start that nobody wants to balance the budget on the backs of the poor, the disadvantaged, the homeless, the unemployed, students and single mothers. It has also been very clear by comments made in this House by many people, including the Premier, that no one group is going to be singled out. We have to share the pain.
If we don't have our financial house in order, then all our good intentions, all our programs and plans are nothing but paper and rhetoric. The key, to me and to a lot of people whose comments I have heard around this table, is that we want to maintain services to the people in the communities, the people we represent and the people who put us here and the people who are relying on us to keep the service and the government running.
I also see this legislation as a way to avoid massive lay-offs. If we had no alternative than to cut program dollars, by extension, to me, we are cutting staff. Massive lay-offs do nothing for the territory. It cripples the economy. The effect across the Territory would be catastrophic. I don't think anyone wants that.
Since I was elected, and especially since December, I have been pushing for money to be cut from all aspects of the budget. I have no problems saying this publicly because I have been saying it in my constituency. I thought $40 million out of the pay and benefits envelope of $455 million was not unreasonable. Take money from capital and take it from programs. We all have to share the pain. I want the people where I live and where they live across the North to be able to count on health services, social services, education, sewer and water; all the things that people have come to require.
Mr. Chairman, I have no problem supporting this legislation. We have been on the fast track since we were elected. We have made significant changes to how this government runs, We have changed the process. We have gone back to a consensus style of government which I think is long overdue. We have been pressed for time. That is unfortunate, but I don't think it can be avoided. We have made a reasonable attempt to get required input. I am satisfied that while it isn't perfect, it is enough of a direction and enough time for me to go forward. As I have indicated in Caucus, I will go anywhere to talk about what we are doing as a government, the decisions we make and the direction taken in Caucus.
I will be, at the end of the day when these amendments are made, supporting this bill. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.