Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Finance. Mr. Speaker, many of our civil servants are facing lay-offs similar to those in other governments across Canada. The federal government, in particular, has set a target of reducing their workforce by 45,000 positions over a three-year period. As part of these reductions, the federal government has offered employees an
early retirement and an early departure package. Eligible employees are able to retire earlier than planned with no penalties for early retirement. Similarly, some employees would be able to voluntarily terminate their positions. There were a number of incentives offered for each of these programs. The result, Mr. Speaker, is that positions were freed up for other employees who would otherwise have to be laid off. Can the Minister advise this House whether this government would give the same consideration to our employees in the Northwest Territories?