Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I’d like to make a statement regarding the budget process and affected employees. I still am not clear on where Cabinet got the direction or the brainwave to send out notification letters to employees without first properly consulting Regular Members. We’ve talked of this before: it took them three weeks — and I’d like to know what happened in that three-week period — where Regular Members were left out there answering phone calls from constituents without any knowledge of the notification letters and where they were going. This was also months before the actual budget and reductions were even to be discussed and voted on. Sure, it’s nice to let people know that they could be affected, but is it not a classic case of putting the cart before the horse?
I’m to understand that the government is already in the process of moving affected employees around. Some have resigned. Some have left the North. Is it just me, or is it not very presumptuous of the government to be operating and making decisions as if the budget has already been approved? I hope the government was paying attention when six Regular Members stood up and voted no to the budget at second reading. Others, as they have indicated, have serious concerns with the document. You will continue to hear these concerns as we move forward with the debate during Committee of the Whole.
It is unfair to our employees, it’s unfair to the Members of this Assembly, and it’s unfair to the public when government presents a budget that is so obviously flawed. Parents are always telling their children to do their homework and make sure their homework is done. If I was grading the government on whether or not they’ve done their homework on this budget, they would get an F without question. If you’re moving people around, you should be fair to those that are affected. Are all of the affected employees being given fair access to positions? And shouldn’t employees inside a department have the opportunity to stay within that department?
In closing, I believe that this government is continually taking the Regular Members of this House for granted. Again, we’ve not been a part of the government’s plan, and this has got to change in order for this budget to get off life support.
Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Members’ statements. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.
