Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to express my concern about the announcements made yesterday by the Minister of Finance about wages and benefits for nonunionized employees. I think we know that, judging from the past, this is a good indication of what will happen to our unionized employees as well. Mr. Speaker, I noted that the Minister of Finance stated yesterday that the Cabinet's objectives are to be fair and reasonable. Mr. Speaker, I am concerned that these deep cuts to vacation travel benefits and settlement allowances will be especially hard on my constituents who live in small, remote communities off the highway system. People who live in Yellowknife and other communities on the highway system don't get a settlement
Mr. Speaker, the vacation travel benefit now given to my constituents is also not taxable. Mr. Speaker, cutting the VTA and settlement allowances back for my constituents in Baffin Central means that they are losing a lot more than people who live close to Yellowknife.