Translating Hickeyish to English

John Hickey tells 53 North this week:

With regard to the TLH, Hickey says his department is working on starting the project as early as mid-June.

It's paraphrase, but the Hon. the Minister has been known to use it before:

We have had a number of meetings, and I can say with all confidence today, Mr. Speaker, that at the end of the day here, we will see the hard surfacing of the Trans-Labrador Highway start as early as next June.

Which is why it bears repeating now: "as early as" IS NOT the same thing as "by".

It is, in fact, the opposite.

"As early as" is a lower limit for the start of something.

"By" is an upper limit.

The project could start in June.

It could also start in 2098.

Take your pick.