Thank you, Mr.
Speaker. I
appreciate this opportunity to comment here. I think
it’s very important. Although I can understand the point of order that’s been raised here, I think it’s very important in considering it to take into consideration the context in which the comments were made, and I’d like to just make a comment on that.
My perception of the Member’s statement is that it was meant to be vicarious and consoling. If you look at the paragraph preceding the remark, for example, the statement was made that we will be still spending $2.3 million — in other words, this is not a total cut here — and it was followed by the suggestion that this may be a temporary cut, that we can reinstate these at a later date, which may not be very much later.
I just wanted to make the comment that, taken in context and perhaps considering a lack of experience in what’s totally appropriate protocol, the Member’s statements were really meant to be more vicarious and consoling than accusatory.