Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There were not only bankers listening to the budget address yesterday. I had some calls after the Minister's comments, in particular, about the pay equity issue. I think that it is fair to say the Minister has, on a number occasions, said that he was presently in negotiations and hoped to have those negotiations completed with the UNW prior to the end of March. I think it is fair to say, too, that all Members of this House wish that this item would be resolved. I would not be the only one who has concerns as to how the final settlement will look. My question to the Minister responsible for FMBS is, most governments and chambers of commerce continually say that money in the hands of residents is usually better spent and better for the economy than government expenditure. Is there a chance that we could turn this, which sometimes has been thought of as a negative issue, to a positive issue in the fact that this money that will come from the resolution of the pay equity issue will be in the hands of residents of the Northwest Territories and better enhance some of the initiatives that the Minister is proposing for residents of the territories? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Seamus Henry on Question 90-13(5): Pay Equity Resolution
In the Legislative Assembly on January 23rd, 1998. See this statement in context.
Question 90-13(5): Pay Equity Resolution
Item 6: Oral Questions
January 22nd, 1998
Page 291
Seamus Henry Yellowknife South
See context to find out what was said next.