Thank you, Mr. Chair. I am going to be voting in favour of this motion. Ms. Bisaro touched on a lot of the discussion that went on within Social Programs. We just feel that, at this point, when we’re talking reductions…. I have to justify to 18-plus people at the Arctic Tern facility in Inuvik that they’re losing their positions while we’ve got $320,000 on the books to start planning another facility. So it’s hard for me to justify that argument to them: they’re being affected by the budget reductions, and on the other hand we’re planning on spending $320,000 on planning for another facility. It makes it very difficult to go back home and try and justify some of the rationale that we’re given.
There is an engineer’s report being worked on. There may be a need for this facility in the future. I understand it’s been on the books for quite a few
years, and I don’t disagree with that. I don’t necessarily disagree with the fact that this may not be a facility that’s needed, but when we’re talking reductions, we can’t be telling people, “We’re reducing your positions” on one hand and on the other hand we’re saying, “Oh, by the way, we’re planning a new facility. Chances are, it may go ahead, and then you’ll have no opportunity to continue to work in a facility.”
Social Programs felt quite strongly about this and, being the Member for Inuvik, I appreciate the support of Social Programs on this particular issue. I will be voting in favour of this motion. I would also request a recorded vote.