Mr. Speaker, I started my career in the public service as an excluded employee, working as an administrative assistant. I can confirm to this House that I was not in a position that earned a high salary, and given the high cost of living and working in the NWT, my family often struggled to save for our future. In challenging times it is important that our government show decisive leadership. I fully support a pay freeze for myself as an MLA and for public servants in management positions. However, I find it difficult to support a pay freeze that may unduly burden public servants at lesser positions who have less in their pockets as costs for everyday expenses continue to increase. I have often before cautioned this government on rushing ahead with cost-saving measures without considering the full range of consequences of those actions, and again, I share my concerns that this decision has unintended consequences for many hardworking Northerners. I will have questions for the Minister of Finance on the impacts of this decision later today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
