Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you, colleagues. Mr. Speaker, both sides must move. The union must be willing to at least look at the proposed Hay Job Evaluation System, and the government must be willing to attempt to address the concerns that the union has with the government's proposed solution to the pay equity dilemma. Failing that, Mr. Speaker, as I said earlier, I think the government should show good faith and separate the pay equity issue from the collective bargaining process and, if necessary, go to an independent binding arbitrator. If the Minister is confident that the $40 million is a fair and equitable solution to the pay equity problem, then he should have no problems with this.
Mr. Speaker, the reality is simple. We have to get this pay equity issue off our plates before division complicates this matter even further. We have to broker a solution that is affordable to the government and fair to union members without impacting on the already stretched services that this government provides to the general public. Mr. Speaker, I strongly urge the union and the government to get back to the table, so we can all get to work on improving the lives of the residents of both of our future new territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
--Applause