Mr. Chairman, as someone who goes through an election a number of times in my life, I know how stressful it is when you are not sure if you have a job or a role to play. I have always been very sympathetic to employees when there is an exercise of amalgamation or budget reductions or downsizing. It causes havoc to the morale of staff. Staff feel their contribution to the government is substantial and believe in their work and are totally committed to it. When we come along and cut $10 to $20 million from our budgets and we lay off staff and we do it over a period of months, it is very difficult for staff. I have no doubt in my mind of the 52 that have taken voluntary layoff, some of them may very well not have taken well with the suggestions their worth is not totally appreciated by this government. Their contribution is being questioned. We think there are better ways of doing the jobs they think they have being doing very well for us in the last few years. Yes, it is probably a contributing factor. How much and to what degree in each individual case, I do not think we will ever know. I can readily acknowledge it has probably been a contributing factor in the decision of some of our staff to take voluntary leave. Thank you.
Stephen Kakfwi on Committee Motion 20-13(4): Recommendation That Inuvik And Iqaluit Hospital Replacements Begin In 1998/99
In the Legislative Assembly on February 21st, 1997. See this statement in context.
Committee Motion 20-13(4): Recommendation That Inuvik And Iqaluit Hospital Replacements Begin In 1998/99
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
February 21st, 1997
Page 800
See context to find out what was said next.