Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I know that our government has financial problems and must cut its spending back. However, I wish to express my concern today that in the small isolated communities that I represent, lay-offs and drastic reductions in pay and benefits could cause serious problems in continuing to deliver vital government programs and could seriously affect the local economy. Let me use my home community of Arctic Bay as an example: Of 15 government workers in Arctic Bay, 11 are Inuit and the remainder are mostly committed long-term community residents. Our power plant superintendent has done that job for 11 years and our head nurse has been in Arctic Bay for seven years. Mr. Speaker, the employees represent decades of dedicated experience and commitment to my constituents. If they are laid off, it would be very difficult to replace them. Furthermore, since jobs are quite scarce in Arctic Bay, the Inuit employees are each supporting large, extended families. If there are drastic cutbacks in wages and benefits, it would affect many more people than the individual employees. Also, local businesses are very much dependent on these people for their spending power. These employees are committed to Arctic Bay. The money they earn stays in the community. If their wages and benefits are cut back drastically, they will no longer be able to support local businesses.
I am told that uncertainty about what will happen next is causing great anxiety. For example, one of my constituents was considering buying his government staff house but now he's hesitating because of uncertainty over his future as an employee. Mr. Speaker, I know that cuts will have to be made; however, I would recommend that the government and the Minister of Finance please take into account the special situations of the remote...
Sorry, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.