(Microphone turned off) ... Social Programs committee since November looking at the business plans. We were in the House last week -- I think it was last week -- with the Department of Health and Social Services reviewing the budget line by line. This issue now at the eleventh hour, once we've agreed Health and Social Services -- comes up in a fashion that doesn't have the capability of changing things, as far as I can see.

It wasn't an issue when we reviewed the budgets. I am satisfied that the mechanisms and the checks and balances are there to protect our beloved elders; that nobody is going to suffer undue hardship. 1, unfortunately, can't support this motion because I don't see it as being very relevant at this point. It makes a nice gesture but the time when we should have put this on the table and forced the issue through was when we did the budgets last week. Not when we're standing here a day before we adjourn, saying we want to make a change because we've reconsidered. Thank you.