Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to comment on a report that I heard on CBC radio last evening. It was on a comment made by Mr. Todd, the Minister of Finance, regarding the budget. Mr. Todd stated that he did not see much opposition to the budget because, and I quote, "because Members had a hand in it". This statement is accurate, Mr. Speaker, but I would like to explain it a little further, as I am sure that the Minister of Finance would have done if he had a little more time.

Each of the departments sponsored by their Minister brings forward the budget for presentation of their department to the Ordinary Members' committees. A few weeks later, the same Minister with his officials will bring back a draft budget. At both of those times, Ordinary Members do have input into that document. The document is prepared, so mostly the committees are responding to what to has been presented by the departments and the Minister. I am not suggesting that Ordinary Members did not have a hand in the budget, nor am I suggesting that this budget may have a lot of opposition in the House, I think that there will be some areas as we are working through that will be contentious, but I think it is fair to say that if the Minister felt that all Ordinary Members had a hand in it, it is like me inferring that I am draining Great Slave Lake because I took a bucket of water out of it last year. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.