I want to assure the Member
that in all of these realignment exercises we have not eliminated or taken out entire programs. It is about better using the resources we have, and I think the communications section is a good example of that.
I do want to note that the budget reduction exercise is about choices. As the Premier mentioned in his budget opening address, these are hard choices — to eliminate positions. But the way to do that is to make sure we minimize the impact on the programs and services as much as possible and that we make every effort to make sure our employees affected are given all the opportunities to be reassigned wherever possible.
With respect to the communication section, we will be eliminating a communications officer position, which has been on transfer assignment for a while. We will be eliminating a graphic design area, but we do have resources there, so we could continue to do the web site work and other services. That’s the principle we have applied in all of our realignment exercises.