Mr. Speaker, the G.N.W.T. is currently faced with reducing spending by $135 million over the next two years. Through this process, we need to be cautious. We need to ensure that reductions don't adversely affect the public or staff. At the very least we need to minimize these impacts as much as possible. We need to spend wisely and maximize the benefit of the dollars we spend.
So where do we look? One area we might want to consider is the bonuses that we pay. Last year this government paid $1.6 million in bonuses. The majority of these went to 16 deputy ministers and 176 senior managers.
Deputy ministers in this government make an average of $184,000 a year, while senior managers make an average of $127,000 a year. In addition, the Power Corp paid out $532,930 in bonuses last year.
I’m not suggesting that bonuses don't have value. I’m simply suggesting that we need to review them to ensure that we're getting best value per dollar.
This government may want to review its criteria for awarding bonuses. We may get better value for our dollars if bonuses were provided to all employees — not just DMs and senior managers — who identify real and effective ways to reduce spending and create efficiencies within the public service. Two point one million dollars is equivalent to around 21 public service jobs.
Let’s make sure all options are considered before jobs are cut.
