Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, it is a day for corrections, so I should correct the Finance Minister. No, I did not make that comment for the sake of the newspapers or media. I was asking it in a serious manner, and I was never the vice-president of the Union of Northern Workers. I was a regional and local president who served on the negotiating team. There is quite a difference. Mr. Todd knows fully well, as I do the UNW only make up one component of our work force that are currently in negotiations. I was thinking about the people who are excluded from the bargaining unit. I was thinking about the Northwest Territories Teachers' Association who just completed a negotiated settlement and accepted their contract. I was thinking about those types of employees, not necessarily the UNW. So that is what I meant when I asked if he looked at that. Has he looked at those types of people? I know you cannot circumvent the negotiating that is going on right know. So those brothers and sisters out there who are actually in and outside the bargaining unit, and I would appreciate a response from a Minister that was not flippant, sarcastic or challenging to open me up for a debate because I understand that you are not supposed to ask questions to start a debate. I was asking in an honest manner, and I have tried to not cause any type of debate with Mr. Todd. I am trying to ask these questions in a very serious and not facetious way so I would expect that the retort from the honourable Member would, indeed, be in the same circumstances. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Edward Picco on Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
In the Legislative Assembly on January 29th, 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 29th, 1998
Page 431
Edward Picco Iqaluit
See context to find out what was said next.