Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We all take the budget exercise seriously. If we're going to take it seriously then we should argue and debate it seriously; we should have concrete, solid arguments as to why there should be changes made. That $3.8 million of additional reductions, the FMB and myself, as the Finance Minister, disagreed with it. I've told Mr. Picco, as I've told the committee, that on occasion there will be disagreements in this House. Certainly, Mr. Picco is at liberty to speak to it and this committee is at liberty not to support it. However, it's the opinion of the FMB and my department that all of these projects should move forward and that they don't and shouldn't jeopardize other projects. It's part of an overall capital expenditure plan that was put in place five years ago that involved municipal governments in determining the priorities of these expenditures along with the acceptance of the MLAs. These are not some ad hoc, arbitrary decisions on how we expend capital money. This is a program that's been designed over a five-year period. Let me assure my honourable colleague that, on occasion, FMB and the Cabinet will be in disagreement with some of the committees. In this particular situation, I believe these expenditures are required in the time and the way they were laid out. Subject to House approval, we will proceed with them. Thank you.
John Todd on Bill 1: Interim Appropriation Act, April 1 To June 30, 1996
In the Legislative Assembly on March 25th, 1996. See this statement in context.
Bill 1: Interim Appropriation Act, April 1 To June 30, 1996
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
March 24th, 1996
Page 67
John Todd Keewatin Central
See context to find out what was said next.