Mr. Speaker, many constituents have asked me to make their concerns about the proposed cuts known to the government. They have asked me to stand up for them and prevent the government taking the simplistic approach to cost-cutting by laying off employees, as announced by the Premier to the media.
Mr. Speaker, this is a fear that’s out there in the public, a fear that is founded on previous experience with spending cuts. Until this government proves to us that their cost savings are not simply achieved by layoffs, I must speak for my constituents and urge the government to make wise decisions.
Mr. Speaker, cuts to the G.N.W.T. workforce are a short-sighted solution to a complex problem that may save money in the spur of the moment and will look good on the books, but in the long term, it will cost the government lots of money.
Employees are valuable. Corporate knowledge is valuable, not to mention that perhaps you didn’t see that when you rehire somebody, it costs $100,000 by current estimates to retrain somebody new.
Job cuts create lots of damage and achieve little. We should not put more financial pressure on families than they already have. What does a family who loses one or all of its income do to cope? They will cut out recreational programs and eat less healthy but cheaper.
There will also be a secondary economic impact to our communities. The private sector suffers, too, from less disposable income, causing a trickle effect — less employment and training opportunities and more people leaving the North. Ultimately, all these effects cause more pressure on our social system.
Here are the words of two of my constituents that bring the message across loud and clear:
“Cuts only help in the immediate. In the long run, they cause further decay to any society.”
“Employment is essential to self-pride and a healthy standard of living.”
Let’s ensure that no one loses any job, Mr. Speaker. Mahsi cho.
