Yellowknife (Feb 12/03) - Two years ago Finance Minister Joe Handley wore work boots to deliver his budget.

This year's choice is anyone's guess.

The shoes matter, Handley admits. It's a tradition carried on by finance ministers at the federal, provincial and territorial level.

"I haven't heard of it with municipal leaders," Handley said.

The new shoe rule may be a long-standing tradition, but it doesn't always help, Handley said with a laugh. "John Crosbie wore new shoes, but his budget was defeated."

He said in 1994 Paul Martin wore work boots.

"His was a symbol of the government getting tough. I wore work boots because of all the work we had to do here, and the way the economy was going."

Handley wore running shoes when he brought down his first budget in 2000.

"We had a lot of work ahead of us.

"This year I can't tell you. It's just a nice little fun thing, and sometimes it's symbolic of something. Whatever you say it is."