Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In an ideal world, we would not have liked to cut anything, but we do not live in an ideal world. I think it is important to explain to my colleague once again of the situation we were in several years ago, that is, we could have ended up as we move forward to Nunavut on April 1, 1999, with an enormous deficit. Somewhere projected, dependant upon who you talk to, between $200 and $300 million. In the Deficit Elimination Strategy we developed, the approach was everybody would take a hit. I mean everybody. Part of restraint and part of trying to reach a zero target as we have now reached, and provided a solid, fiscal foundation for two new governments by not spending as some would have us do indiscriminately. We had to take some of the money out of the wages and benefits package. It is just an unfortunate aspect of deficit elimination cutting. It is not one that anybody relishes, but unfortunately, it was one we had to do. In the meantime, I think it is recognized that we are having some problems, particularly in the professional field. We are trying to address it at the present time. Nurses, teachers had to take the same cuts as butchers, bakers and candlestick makers. Thank you.
John Todd on Question 139-13(6): Reductions To Nurses' Past Salaries
In the Legislative Assembly on November 4th, 1998. See this statement in context.
Return To Question 139-13(6): Reductions To Nurses' Past Salaries
Question 139-13(6): Reductions To Nurses' Past Salaries
Item 6: Oral Questions
November 3rd, 1998
Page 262
John Todd Keewatin Central
See context to find out what was said next.