Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the decisions of this government go well beyond our government. They impact the daily lives of those whom we govern. That is why we must take proactive steps now to ensure we do not hit the debt wall. Once again it must be said it is time for government to look at the way it does business.
This, Mr. Speaker, has been said many times during the previous Assembly. Now is the time to have a look inward, to see if government is actually serving the people, or has it become a nightmare of rules and regulations which is starting to feed on itself. I believe the door has been opened that will allow us to do this much needed review.
Change is a difficult process, even at the best of times. It is even more difficult when times are tight. A question we must ask ourselves is if we cannot even keep up to today's ever-increasing expenditures, how can we afford more regions with an increased bureaucracy without making huge changes to the way government carries on with its daily business?
The Members who have been re-elected from previous assemblies are aware of the difficult choices that had to be made to deal with a budget shortfall. The choices will not be any easier this time around if we do not look at evaluating the programs and services that this government provides to its residents.
Mr. Speaker, I believe the situation we find ourselves in, as a government, requires we look for new ways and ideas. For example, can we afford as many boards and agencies as we have? Is it time to take a stand on how many dollars are spent on administration versus programs? In every community there are numerous groups that provide services on behalf of government. All have an administration component. Let us take a look at our own departments. Another example is the requirement to have regional staff prepare documents for decisions that are made in headquarters.
Mr. Speaker, when reductions were made in the area of positions, we were told that this would streamline government operations. I understood that to mean we would get rid of some of the unnecessary paperwork as well. My earlier example of the decision-making process that is still in use today proves that has not happened.
Mr. Speaker, in the work we are about to set on as Members of the 14th Assembly, we must look beyond this fiscal year. We must look to our future, that being our children. What legacy will we leave them? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.