Thank you, Madam Chair. I thank the Minister for that. Again, it's hard to imagine a $1.2 billion budget and, like I mentioned, we're spending $280 million in this area. I know the levels aren't up to where they were in the mid-'90s, but we have to -- I've said this before and I'll say it again today -- I think we have to take a look at our operation from top to bottom, top to bottom, to try to find ways or means to get the children -- and the children are the future here -- every available subject into the schools. Music, industrial arts, libraries, physical education. Those are the things that are important. Every time you turn around, we rush out and we're hiring policy analysts. This year alone we've grown the public service by 101 positions. Madam Chair, I really think we lose focus of the...We really need to do something with our schools and the availability of teachers for our students. If we're not doing that, we're failing the children, Madam Chair. I really do think we need a top to bottom look at our entire operation to try to find more money to get the levels to where they were in the mid-'90s. Thank you.
David Ramsay on Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
In the Legislative Assembly on February 20th, 2007. See this statement in context.
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
February 19th, 2007
Page 1034
See context to find out what was said next.