Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am glad to hear that the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs is planning to train municipal workers who deliver water and pump sewage from our homes through a certification program. In this time of economic boom, multinational companies such as BHP, which Mr. Butler up there reminded me of, are paying higher wages than the municipalities can. Heavy equipment operators are in demand. Our water truck drivers are heavy equipment operators and they are going where the higher salary is. Mr. Speaker, it has become essential for these positions to be in the community.
What I would like to know is, would the Minister responsible for Municipal and Community Affairs be willing to fund municipalities to increase the level of pay for these workers to deliver all essential services in the community? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.