"The conservative government has given us a shocking preview of where they are headed over the next four years," said Butler. "The finance minister admitted this week that promises such as a much needed tax break for seniors and students and the elimination of school fees are not initiatives which a conservative government can pursue. Now Minister Burke says that she will leave HRE clients waiting for service while a special committee finishes a report.

"It is my understanding that while a number of the positions have been vacant for a considerable period of time, the situation has become critical since a number of other positions have recently become vacant and left unfilled by the conservative government.

"There are many low income families in this province that struggle to make ends meet on a day to day basis. The fact is, many government employees face workloads that are not sustainable in the long-term. The loss of additional employees who are not replaced has put an unfair burden on the existing workers, and created a situation where services are not available to those who need them most."

The MHA believes that these decisions are being based on conservative beliefs and legitimized through blaming the financial situation on the previous administration.

"The Liberal party has focused on eliminating the social deficits which have existed in this province. It is for this reason that we placed priority on funding programs which help those who are at the greatest disadvantage. It is disappointing to see that the conservative government has chosen not to close the gap for these people. The conservative philosophy of putting finances before social programming is something that will hurt us in the longer term. A balanced approach must be taken and I urge the minister to do the right thing and fill these positions immediately."