I think I would respond in two ways. One I would say that this legislature, myself included, really was left with a challenge of trying to balance the books and bring some fiscal order to the day, and, I believe, despite some of the criticism and some of the concerns, that we have done that. If we put as much energy into looking at new revenues in certain areas as we did into doing the difficult task of cutting, I think we could be reasonably successful. Mr. Ootes is correct. The one area that does bring promise is on the nonrenewable side. As early as last week, I was in discussion with Mr. Martin on the tax window and I have spoken to this House about this before. Mr. Morin is aggressively pursuing the devolution and the transfer of federal employees in the oil, gas and minerals industry. So, there is a fairly aggressive strategy on our part to move expeditiously and aggressively in trying to get the federal government to move some of these responsibilities, to give us the tax window that we require to generate more revenues to be less self-sufficient. I do not know, I am an optimist. Maybe it is because we are moving into, hopefully, optimistic times. I think, with a good solid argument, we will be able to demonstrate to the federal government that this is both good for them and good for us. I would hope that, particularly, if you look on the diamond side, these are what we call incremental revenues. These are revenues that were not expected, revenues that the federal government is projecting. I think somewhere, if my memory serves me right, there is $4 billion in one mine alone in terms of tax revenues. We just want in that tax window, and if we get there, and that certainly would be my hope, if nothing else, set the stage. If we do not achieve it in the next twelve months, something to set the stage for the new legislatures to get there. I think it bodes well for new revenues, the size and magnitude that it would require to continue to deliver services to the people. But at the same time, again talking personally, when you look at the social envelope, we have to address the root causes. You just cannot keep pouring money in there. You have to address the root causes, and that is what, I believe, my colleagues, the Ministers who are charged with this task are trying to do.
John Todd on Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
In the Legislative Assembly on January 26th, 1998. See this statement in context.
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
January 25th, 1998
Page 323
John Todd Keewatin Central
See context to find out what was said next.