Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, looking at the big picture and potential impacts as a result of this increase and some of the comments the Member said about our public service within the Government of the Northwest Territories, right now the Government of the Northwest Territories, through its own staff and through staff who are hired through the health boards and education boards, we're paying in the area of $400 million a year in wages and benefits to those employed with the Government of the Northwest Territories and delivering the programs and services for us. So when you look at that picture and take $1 million in comparison to that, it's a very small percentage. That's just government employees. There are many other employees out there in that area. But, yes, we have to look forward in seeing what potential other impacts may result as a sort of reaction to what this does and go forward on that basis. As a government we've tried to limit the impact on residents. We haven't targeted reductions of employees through this budget. We've tried to maintain what we have and move forward so we can continue to deliver the programs and services available to residents at the level that they become accustomed to, as well as meeting our mandatory requirements. So we will take the Member's comments and keep those in our back pockets as we go forward and then seeing how we develop our other scenarios. Thank you.
Floyd Roland on Committee Motion 15-15(3): To Amend Clause 2 Of Bill 2, Defeated
In the Legislative Assembly on March 30th, 2004. See this statement in context.
Committee Motion 15-15(3): To Amend Clause 2 Of Bill 2, Defeated
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
March 29th, 2004
Page 492
See context to find out what was said next.