Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Some of my staff are wondering how a legal opinion can be valid when the provider of that opinion had no access to the contract in the first place. Having said that, the position is clear. It is considered an enhanced executive assistant position and enjoys certain rights as an employee of the government. The Member can negate whatever Cabinet decided to do.

As the Premier -- and every Minister of this government feels the same way -- that if we are challenged to protect and defend the rights of the employees of this government, we will. There is no trying to soft peddle that. It has been my view that every employee has the right to be defended by the Ministers and the Premier of this government. I will do that. I was prepared to do that. The chief of staff asked last week for leave and I agreed to it, so now she is on leave.

It is not because we feared the wrath and political pressure of this Member, but because the staff member in question asked for the leave and I conceded to that. It is not because of political pressure. Thank you.