You have to be able to afford it, Mr. Chairman, and be able to sustain the affordability. I mean, whatever it is going to cost, you have to be able to know that you have the money in the bank to pay it over a long period of time. I am one of these politicians who does not look just for today but looks down the road. I believe, in this budget, we have tried to look into the next millennium, as we have said. It is an issue that, quite frankly, haunts me right now. I am talking very personally. I want to make an arrangement that is fair to the employees. But I am not prepared, and I do not think the people are prepared, if it is not fair and affordable, to lay off any more people and cut programs. We do not sit in the House talking about spending more money. We do not have the capacity to spend money. It is just like the bank account or your Chargex card. There is only so much you can put on it or take out of it. Really that is what we are trying to do here. We are trying to be fair, reasonable, and I hope at the end of the day, we can reach a settlement, as I said, by the end of March. I am optimistic that level heads, and reasonable and fair negotiations will prevail and common sense, at the end of the day, will prevail as to affordability, common sense, Mr. Chairman.
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 324
John Todd Keewatin Central
See context to find out what was said next.