Thank you, Madam Chairperson. As I understand it, our legal advice is that the Deficit Elimination Act will not apply for the fiscal year 1999-2000. I believe it is because there were years that were actually mentioned in the act so it applied to specific years that were mentioned in the act when it was passed and we are now past those years. Members will remember, the driving factor for the introduction of the Deficit Elimination Act was to ensure that we could achieve the creation of two new territories as close to debt free as possible. I think it is worth noting that we did in fact do that. We ended up with both territories having money in the bank. What do we have to protect us? Well, you have my resolve that I will be vigilant at ensuring that the departments live within their budgets, and I will be very difficult to convince that money should be put in supplementary appropriations, and then it is up to the Members of this House to continue that vigilance. Thank you, Madam Chairperson.
Charles Dent on Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
In the Legislative Assembly on May 13th, 1999. 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
May 12th, 1999
Page 596
See context to find out what was said next.