Below is the transcript of the line of questioning used in the House of Assembly;

 MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Opposition.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. GRIMES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, media reports indicate that the union leaders have called for a return to face-to-face talks today. Let me ask the President of Treasury Board, since yesterday it is clear that the Premier has decided he is no longer interested enough to answer questions in this House regarding the issue - and maybe that is not a bad thing, the way he has been handling it, in any event.

Could I ask the President of Treasury Board: Will government and does government plan to take the union leaders up on their offer in an effort to end this strike, or do they plan to continue with their stubborn ways and refuse to hold discussions unless there are written proposals exchanged?

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Finance and President of Treasury Board.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SULLIVAN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

It has been, I must say, five days since we have put a proposal -

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SULLIVAN: I do agree, Mr. Speaker, that we want to see this process moved along.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

MR. SULLIVAN: Mr. Speaker, at the conclusion of the House today, or shortly thereafter, I will put in a call -

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

Again, today I have to ask members for their co-operation. The minister has been asked a question and is attempting to answer. I do believe that we should let the minister answer without a lot of interruption.

The hon. the Minister of Finance and President of Treasury Board.

MR. SULLIVAN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I have already said that we have waited a fair amount of time, and I think it is important that we get a resolution to it. We have to do our utmost. We want to see a resolution to it. I will be phoning Mr. Puddister later today and hopefully we can get things on track and get a resolution to this strike that is occurring.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: A supplementary, the hon. the Leader of the Opposition.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. GRIMES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I am glad to see that, fourteen days into a totally unnecessary strike, they might actually be going to talk to somebody. I guess that is encouraging news.

Mr. Speaker, the problem is that the incompetent and inexperienced negotiators, like the President of Treasury Board and the Premier, basically caused this strike and are continuing to prolong it.

Might I ask this question: Would he acknowledge, as the chief negotiator for the government, that the union leadership at a point in time in these negotiations have already agreed to a two-year wage freeze, provided concessions disappear, and that their own experienced negotiators are telling them that issue is not outstanding, is resolved, and that they do not have to worry about whether or not there is going to be a two-year wage freeze?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Finance and President of Treasury Board.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SULLIVAN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I can only go by what we have officially received. The last two offers we have received from the union in writing, Mr. Speaker, indicate that - the first offer indicated that they wanted 2 per cent in the first year, 2 per cent in the second. The latest offer they put to us in writing indicated they want 1.5 per cent in the first year and 1.5 per cent in the second year, so that is absolutely not the written position we have received from the union.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: A supplementary, the hon. the Leader of the Opposition.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. GRIMES: Mr. Speaker, again, the inexperience, I guess, and the incompetence is showing. They have not obviously talked to their senior negotiators who would tell anybody in the world that they know this contract is going to contain zero and zero.