Jack,

All the examples from that site provide clear examples that markers for reported speech are not shifts in actual tense. They are ONLY indicators that the original speech is not being given exactly as it was first spoken.

In the example you chose, 'would' definitely has no tense. The meaning clearly points forward, to the future and 'would' is simply a marker indicating reported speech. The original speech could have been 'will' or 'would'.

"If the NDP gets elected in the spring, we would increase the number of residencies for ..."

"If the NDP gets elected in the spring, we will increase the number of residencies for ..."


Local News: NDP says it can fix BC's doctor shortage
March 11, 2005 - 4:09 pm
By: Lyle Fisher

The BC New Democrats say they know what to do about the province's growing doctor shortage. NDP leader Carole James says we could fill the gap by allowing more foreign trained doctors to work in BC. She says every year BC requires 400 new physicians to replace those who've retired or have moved outside the province. James says BC's medical schools just aren't keeping up with demand and we should be taking advantage of the large number of doctors coming to Canada from other countries. Right now there are only six residencies per year available for foreign trained physicians. James says if the NDP gets elected in the spring, she would increase the number of residencies for foreign trained doctors to 25 annually.