Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Following some of the words from Mr. McLeod from Inuvik Twin Lakes, I’m wondering if the department considered additional mandatory leave days in the summer.
My impression — and it’s just that — is that productivity has actually gone up during mid-winter in relation to the so-called Donnie Days that employees still enjoy. That’s leave without pay. But it allows some extended family time. It’s got to be healthy for families as well as labour relations and so on. I know there’s interest out there in our brief but beautiful summer season.
If employees had access to…. Say if we wanted to stay open all the time, but choose six out of the ten Fridays in summer, or Mondays — choose what you like — over the course of the entire government, that would probably produce some of the savings — maybe all of the savings — we’re looking for from this department. Has the department considered that, or would you consider that in the near future as one option to pursue? That would possibly bump up productivity as well as labour relations and savings on dollars.