Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order under Rule 23(i) with regard to comments made by Mr. Miltenberger in his Member's statement yesterday in the House. I have waited until today to raise this point of order because I wanted to review the actual words as recorded in Hansard.
Mr. Speaker, during the course of his Member's statement, Mr. Miltenberger said, and I quote from page 529 of the unedited Hansard:
"...would almost appear that, when it comes to recruitment and retention, the Department of Health and Social Services has obtained public money from this Legislature under false pretenses..."
These comments impute that I, as the Minister responsible for the budget of the Department of Health and Social Services, had hidden motives with respect to money that was appropriated by this Assembly. Mr. Speaker, I wish to point out, for the record, that I take very seriously the trust placed in me by this House and that I would never intentionally mislead the Assembly or the public about the way public money is spent. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.