Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, before I start my statement, I asked yesterday in the House if we could get a piece of plywood to divide myself and Mr. Picco. I would settle for a pair of blinders. Mr. Picco has stolen my thunder in the statement I was going to make today. Thank you, buddy.

--- Laughter

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about the pending salary and benefits reductions to northern workers. Mr. Speaker, I want to qualify the following remarks by stating that I recognize that the Minister of Finance, Mr. Todd, has, in the famous words of my honourable colleague, Mr. Miltenberger, .'a huge" task and responsibility that must be managed; the deficit. Mr. Speaker, this is a job I would not even wish on my honourable friend, Mr. Picco.

In all seriousness, Mr. Speaker, I have some strong reservations regarding some of the reductions in general in the across-the-board equity on others. Mr. Speaker, it is difficult enough for the residents of Kivallivik to face these reductions, but to add to this the appearance of disparity.

Mr. Speaker, when this Assembly addressed and voted on the amendment to the Public Service Act, I spoke to this amendment. The gist of my statement was that I was not pleased with the amendment nor with the speed at which it was brought forward and processed. I also indicated that I was fearful that if we did not pass this amendment, these reductions would come on the backs of the unemployed, the poor and the less fortunate.

It was also my understanding that this move would greatly bring about an end to our embarrassing financial situation. Mr. Speaker, it is not my intent to criticize the Minister of Finance; I merely state my feelings on the mess that we find ourselves in. Mr. Speaker, a number of my honourable colleagues have spoken about the need to carry out these extreme measures in a caring, fair and compassionate way. Mr. Speaker, it is also not my intention to question the honourable Minister's definition of "caring, fair and compassionate" because I am sure it would be reasonable.

Mr. Speaker, I will add my voice to the issue of equity. Mr. Speaker, along with a number of my honourable colleagues, we have serious concerns about the reductions to the VTA, settlement allowance and ultimate removal, especially the impact that they will have in the off-road communities. Mr. Speaker, I seek consent to conclude my statement.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The petition that I'm going to read out here is the one that my honourable colleague, Mr. Picco, was alluding to. Mr. Speaker, maybe we can afford a small piece of plywood that I can put here between Mr. Picco and I so he will keep away from my documents.

Mr. Speaker, I have a petition concerning support for distribution of Nunavut Arctic College programs between the three Nunavut regions. Mr. Speaker, Petition No. 6-13(3) has been signed by 550 people.

--- Applause

The petitioners request that as students and staff of Nunavut Arctic College and other Community members, they support the board of governors' decision to distribute base-funded programs between the three regions in Nunavut.

--- Applause

They believe in fair and equal treatment for all...

--- Applause

--- Laughter

... and that programs should be available to students closer to their own home communities.

--- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it has been brought to my attention that, with the downsizing of

the Housing Corporation, my home community of Arviat will be losing two PYs. Mr. Speaker, for the record, may I remind this Assembly, once again, that this community faces a 70 to 75 per cent unemployment rate. Mr. Speaker, to further compound the situation, it is my further understanding that one of these positions will be transferred to the Rankin Inlet suboffice. Will the Minister review this pending transfer so as to retain this position in this level 11 community where jobs are so desperately needed? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is directed to the Minister of Transportation. Mr. Speaker, I have stated many times in this House, my concern for the extremely high unemployment levels that exist in my communities of Arviat and Baker Lake. Mr. Speaker, the pending lay-offs and overall government downsizing only adds to this already desperate situation. Mr. Speaker, my question relates to the number of positions that my constituents see advertised for your department. Mr. Speaker, out of fairness and sensitivity to the unemployed in the Kivallivik region, would the honourable Minister please consider locating some of the jobs that have been advertised in Arviat and Baker Laker as opposed to locating all these jobs in Rankin Inlet? Thank you. Mahsi cho.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, a statement made earlier this week by the Minister of Finance outlined significant changes to the salary and benefits package of the excluded GNWT employees. Amongst these changes was a 6.25 per cent cut in pay, the elimination of the current settlement allowance and a new northern allowance. In response to this, the Union of Northern Workers applied to act as the bargaining agent for these excluded employees. It is my understanding that under the Canada Labour Code, such a move freezes terms of employment until the application can be dealt with. Can the Minister identify when this application will be reviewed? Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, the work that employees of this government perform is very valuable, and during these times of fiscal restraint, there is increasing pressure on the employees to deliver services and programs, especially on the front line. Mr. Speaker, in my view, we have to pay our employees accordingly for the excellent work that they do. Thank you.

--- Applause

Later today, I will ask the Minister of Finance for further details on the northern allowance, so we can gain a clear picture of the entire issue.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my statement today refers to the cuts to benefits for nonunionized employees. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to address an issue of concern for many GNWT employees, especially in Arviat and Baker Lake.

Last week, the government announced a new wage and benefits package for senior management and other nonunionized employees of this government. It also announced that it had presented a similar proposal to the negotiating team representing unionized employees. Mr. Speaker, the people of Arviat and Baker Lake recognize the need for government to become more efficient and to bring the amount of money we spend in line with the revenues that are available. More importantly, it is recognized that to accomplish this, government workers will have to take their share of the cuts. Although I do not personally agree with a number of the cuts, unfortunately, our poor financial situation is driving this agenda.

Mr. Speaker, the concern being expressed by my constituents and the issue I raise in this House today is the equity of these cuts to employees in the small communities. Unlike government employees in Yellowknife and other communities on the road system, the cost of living for people in smaller communities, especially Nunavut, is dramatically higher.

Mr. Speaker, the government has stated a new northern allowance introduced for non-unionized employees and being proposed for the unionized employees using Yellowknife as the base rate and is indexed to allow for the cost of living in all of the communities.

Mr. Speaker, I am not convinced at this time that the northern allowance rates set by the government adequately allow the cost of living in all of our communities.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, would the Minister review this issue to see if there's a possibility of the position being physically located in the Eastern Arctic? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.