Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like before I start, to send greetings to my wife and children back home in Inuvik. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to bring forward a concern that has bothered me for quite some time. The concern is that of our employees. They have for two years of this government's life gone along with our direction to balance the budget. In many cases they were the ones who implemented our decisions. In other cases they were told their positions would no longer be required. Those that remained were told that they are expected to carry on and in many cases with an increase in their workload.

Achieving a balanced budget is something we set out to do and it looks today that we have achieved our goal. This however, has not been without a cost. In fact, it has had a significant impact even to those who could least afford it.

Mr. Speaker, we said that we would change the way government does business. Some would say all we have done is increase the waiting lines. This is not only the case for those who go to the government for service or assistance. This is also the case for those who work for this government.

Over the summer I received calls from past employees who had not received their record of employment for a number of months. It is bad enough to lose your job, but then to have to wait, in some cases months for important papers, can be devastating. We have heard in this House that this government would deal with its employees in a compassionate manner.

Mr. Speaker, I refer to Hansard, where Mr. Todd replies to a question, and he says," What I will attempt to do is to try and do in a caring and compassionate way as I can and I will take my honourable colleague's suggestions under consideration." Mr. Speaker, I think we have to look for that example of compassion. Thank you.