While the provincial rebate program for natural gas consumers has been axed, the bonuses for the higher levels in the government ministry are going ahead. For this year. Although there was this "expert" on TV explaining that to attract the best and brightest, government needs to compete monetarily. Given the downturn, that shouldn't be hard. Also, I've looked at resumes of ministerial staff, ministers and leaders of industry, and ya know, it's pretty incestuous. ie. There is not "line" really between government and "private" industry.