Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I think the chairman of the Standing Committee on Finance has answered the concern very adequately. I think it's not the role of the Standing Committee on Finance to say here's where something should come from. As I said yesterday in my reply to the budget speech, I expect the Cabinet to get together to examine priorities and ensure they're all working in the same direction and not trying to protect their own individual departments.
I think that also responds to Mr. Nerysoo's comments about deciding which department might be taking the lead. Part of what we're saying here is we can't afford to have difficulties or problems with which department takes the lead. We need a coordinated approach.
Personally, I don't care which department takes the lead role, as long as we see some action in these areas. I think that this Legislature took upon itself a commitment to do something when we adopted a zero tolerance towards violence policy.
It takes a commitment of funds to prove to the public that we're putting the money where our mouth is and to prove that we're actually going to take some action. As far as I'm concerned, it's the government's responsibility to examine whether that means shifting money around from one program to another. If they do that, I'll take a look at where they've shifted from and to and then make a decision as to whether or not I'll support the budget when it comes forward.
It's up to the government to examine whether or not, by doing things in a coordinated manner, they can save enough money in one area to deal with another issue. Again, when they come forward with that, I'll take a look at it and decide at that point in time whether to support the budget or not.
Mr. Chairman, I want to make it perfectly clear that if the O and M budget that comes forward in February doesn't demonstrate to me that the government has taken action in some of these areas, I will not be able to vote for the budget. I think what the Members of SCOF are saying is that we cannot just talk about these things, we have to demonstrate that we have a real commitment to them. And, where the money comes from, we'll wait and take the leadership from Cabinet and see how they recommend it be handled. Then we'll decide whether or not we support their decisions.
An ordinary Member does not have enough expertise to assess where changes should be made or whether an amalgamation of a department will save enough money to put funds into one thing or another. We are waiting to see leadership coming from Cabinet and how they'll deal with the recommendation. Then, we'll assess their performance. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.