Mr. Speaker, I think I have tried on numerous occasions to reassure people across the territories, that as Finance Minister, I was reasonably confident that we are going to get the levels of funding we would require to deliver the current levels of service. The executive director of the NWT Construction Association was on the radio this morning indicating this fear about the lack of funding, et cetera. I simply do not know where that kind of nonsensical rhetoric comes from. The reality is, we are in sensitive negotiations with respect to formula financing. I have tried to assure this House and everybody else that we are fairly confident it is going reasonably well. I have full confidence we are going to get adequate levels of funding east and west, based upon the status quo in the west that we all agreed to and based upon Footprints in the Snow in the east. At the officials level, there is a meeting being held either this week or next week in Rankin Inlet. I appreciate the fact they want my home riding and I thank them for that. We are close, as they say in the round numbers, achieving the goal that all parties can sign on to and, hopefully, be able to make a statement in April or May to reassure the east and west that adequate funding will be there. Thank you.
John Todd on Question 362-13(5): Financing Two New Governments
In the Legislative Assembly on February 18th, 1998. See this statement in context.
Return To Question 362-13(5): Financing Two New Governments
Question 362-13(5): Financing Two New Governments
Item 6: Oral Questions
February 17th, 1998
Page 892
John Todd Keewatin Central
See context to find out what was said next.