I think it is important to clarify that it is not the federal government that does not want to sign off, it is myself. The federal government would like to sign off, but I spoke to Mr. Martin, explained the difficulties that this Legislature is under, the unprecedented change that we have made to our fiscal policy, the cuts that we have made, and asked him for some leniency and some consideration for a floor, just in case there are additional, massive, unprecedented cuts in the provincial and local government spending. Mr. Martin, the federal Minister, agreed that we would go back to the table, see if we can establish a floor that would protect any further erosion of our base funding that we have until 1999. I am very pleased, if I can say publicly, that the federal Finance Minister was prepared to make that concession for us at this time, and negotiations are under way at the officials' level to try to reach an appropriate compromise or arrangement, so that we can sign this thing off and all live happily until 1999, fiscally.
John Todd on Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
In the Legislative Assembly on February 10th, 1997. See this statement in context.
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
February 9th, 1997
Page 518
John Todd Keewatin Central
See context to find out what was said next.