March 15, 2005 HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS Vol. XLV

No. 60

The House met at 10:00 a.m.

MR. SPEAKER (Hodder): Order, please!

SERGEANT-AT-ARMS: Mr. Speaker, His Honour the Lieutenant Governor has

arrived.

MR. SPEAKER: Admit His Honour the Lieutenant Governor.

Mr. Speaker leaves the Chair.

His Honour the Lieutenant Governor takes the Chair.

SERGEANT-AT-ARMS: It is the wish of His Honour the Lieutenant Governor

that all present please be seated.

HIS HONOUR THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR (Edward Roberts, ONL, QC):

Mr. Speaker and Members of the Honourable House of Assembly:

The First Session of the Forty-Fifth General Assembly of this Honourable

House is about to be prorogued, but before releasing you from your duties, I

wish to thank you for the careful and sympathetic attention given to the

important matters brought before you by My Ministers. Your commitment to your

work and your diligence deserve our appreciation and acknowledgment.

Mr. Speaker and Members of the Honourable House of Assembly:

Sixty-six pieces of legislation were enacted during this Session. In

particular, legislative initiatives were taken in the areas of labour standards,

justice, the fishing industry, financial affairs, municipal affairs, health,

government services, and Inuit land claims.

Mr. Speaker and Members of the Honourable House of Assembly:

As noted in my Speech opening this Session, My Government introduced a Bill

to amend the House of Assembly Act and the Elections Act, to

require that elections occur at fixed four year intervals and to impose a

tighter timetable for by-elections when seats become vacant. Also, as noted in

my Speech opening this Session, My Government introduced legislation to regulate

and increase transparency around the activity of lobbyists. During 2004, My

Government proclaimed the new Access to Information and Protection of Privacy

Act and also introduced during this Session a Transparency and

Accountability Act which will require public institutions to operate in a

more open manner and to report more regularly to the public on their

performance. Moreover, My Government has made a commitment that they will

regularly release information of their own accord in the interest of

transparency and honesty.

Mr. Speaker and Members of the Honourable House of Assembly:

In order to recognize the importance of the fishing industry to this

Province, My Government introduced and this House subsequently passed bills

affecting the fishery. The Professional Fish Harvesters Act was amended

in order to reflect more accurately the different responsibilities of the

professional fish harvesters certification board and the disciplinary board. As

well, an amendment to the Fishing Industry Collective Bargaining Act was

enacted to provide that the price for fish species may be set by auction. During

the fall sitting of this House,

an Act to Establish the Fish Processing

Licencing Board was enacted and

an Act to Amend The Fish Inspection Act

was introduced to implement recommendations of the Fish Processing Policy Review

Commission, sometimes known as the Dunne Report.

Mr. Speaker and Members of the Honourable House of Assembly:

In the area of health, My Government introduced

an Act to amend the Pharmaceutical

Association Act to effect changes recommended in Government's White Paper

on the regulation of professional organizations. As well, a new Act to Revise

the Law of the Practice of Optometry was also introduced during this

Session. Ever mindful of the importance of health information in today's

society, My Government introduced

an Act to Incorporate the Newfoundland and

Labrador Centre for Health Information during this Session.

Mr. Speaker and Members of the Honourable House of Assembly:

After many years of negotiation it was with pleasure that the House ratified

and gave force of law to the Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement during the

fall sitting of the House of Assembly.

Mr. Speaker and Members of the Honourable House of Assembly:

During this Session, the Labour Standards Act was amended to

incorporate a system of compassionate care leave for employees to enable them to

provide care and support for family members who have a serious medical condition

with significant risk of death. The Workplace, Health, Safety and

Compensation Act was amended to establish a program that considers the cost

experience of employers and compliance with the Act, regulations and Commission

policies in certain occupational, health and safety requirements in determining

the amount of employers' assessment under the Act. A number of municipal

affairs-related statutes including the Fire Prevention Act, the Municipal

Affairs Act , the Emergency Measures Act and the

Municipalities Act were amended during this Session of the House. The

penalties for offences under the Highway Traffic Act were increased to

provide more deterrence, and as well the Provincial Offences Act was

amended.

Mr. Speaker and Members of the Honourable House of Assembly:

In keeping with My Government's commitment to the people of this Province

during the General Election of 2003, this Honourable House passed

An Act To

Amend The Automobile Insurance Act, the Insurance Companies Act and

the Highway Traffic Act to effect certain reforms respecting automobile

insurance. As noted in my Speech opening this Session, a new Act respecting the

Government Purchasing Agency which also amends the Public Tender Act was

introduced to provide that public purchasing decisions are administered in a way

that will derive maximum benefit from taxpayers' dollars while promoting

business opportunities for companies in Newfoundland and Labrador. The Agency

will be given greater autonomy to assess bids and recommend purchases in

accordance with fair and objective criteria.

Mr. Speaker and Members of the Honourable House of Assembly:

An Act Respecting Labour Sponsored Venture Capital Credits was introduced

and passed during the Session to provide that eligible investors and

corporations that qualify may apply for designation as labour sponsored capital

venture corporations. Among the other legislative measures enacted during this

session were

An Act to Amend the Student Financial Assistance Act,

An Act to

Amend the Corporations Act,

An Act to Amend the Survival of Actions Act,

An Act

to Amend the Mineral Act,

An Act to Amend the Petroleum Products Act,

An Act to

Amend the Motorized Snow Vehicles and All Terrain Vehicles Act,

An Act to

Provide for Court Security,

An Act to Amend the Jury Act,

An Act Respecting

Provincial Court Judges Pensions,

An Act to Amend the Law Society Act,

An Act to

Amend the Pension Funding Act, two Acts to amend the Financial

Administration Act,

An Act to Amend the Schools Act and the Colleges Act and

An Act to Amend the Occupational, Health and Safety Act .

Mr. Speaker and Members of the Honourable House of Assembly:

I thank you for the large measure of Supply you have granted. I assure you

that the appropriations that you have granted have been and will be expended by

my Ministers with care and efficiency.

Mr. Speaker and Members of the Honourable House of Assembly:

It is my pleasure that the First Session of the Forty-Fifth General Assembly

now be prorogued and it is prorogued accordingly.

His Honour the Lieutenant Governor leaves the Chamber.

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

Pursuant to the Speech of His Honour the Lieutenant Governor, this House now

stands prorogued.