"This government has announced that they will layoff workers and close 20 district offices as we approach the time when these offices will actually close the public should be given the details of exactly what is going to happen so there is no confusion and disruption of service. We certainly oppose these office closures and the evidence we have is that the government did not do any kind of comprehensive study before announcing these cuts," says Butler.

The Liberal MHA says he would like the Minister to release any detailed analysis of the factors which they used to determine what offices would close. "Did they consider options such as keeping offices open in rural areas of the province? Did they look at factors such as differences in the cost of office space? Did they consider increased travel costs which might be charged to the government? Is this a case of the Premier and the Minister of Finance saying cut and the Minister of HRE saying how deep? It seems no comprehensive analysis of the impacts or savings was done before this decision was made."

"I doubt if they have even examined the possibility of moving more of the departmental operations to rural areas of the province because the cabinet is top heavy with members from urban areas. Sure even the minister responsible for Rural Development is from a St. John’s District so we should get used to the views of rural areas of the province not even being raised," says Butler.

On May 11 of this year government issued a news release confirming they would close offices in:

Bay Roberts, Conception Bay South, Ferryland, St. Mary’’s, Whitbourne, Bay L’’Argent, Botwood, Gambo, Grand Bank, Harbour Breton, Fogo, Wesleyville, Bonne Bay, Burgeo, Englee, Deer Lake, Piccadilly, Stephenville Crossing, Cartwright and Forteau.