Newfoundland and Labrador Hansard — Members' Statements; Statements by Ministers — 31 May 2012 (47th General Assembly, 1st Session, Vol. XLVII No. 41)
2012-05-31
Newfoundland and Labrador — Debates (Hansard)
May
31, 2012 HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS
Vol. XLVII No. 41
The House met at 1:30 p.m.
MR. SPEAKER (Wiseman): Order, please!
Admit strangers.
Today we want to welcome to our galleries two groups. There are three members
of the winning provincial team that represented Newfoundland and Labrador at the
Students in Free Enterprise National competition in Calgary, Alberta, May 7-9.
The three members of the team with us today are: Luke Power, Allison Penton, and
Rebecca Pelley.
Welcome to our Assembly.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: Welcome, and congratulations.
We are also very pleased to welcome twenty-seven Grade 8 students from New
World Island Academy in the District of The Isles of Notre Dame. The students
are accompanied by teachers Dean Kinden and Kris White; their chaperone,
Christine Dearing; and bus driver, Ed Luff.
Welcome to our Assembly.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
Statements by Members
MR. SPEAKER: Today we will have members' statements from: the Member for
the District of Burgeo La Poile; the Member for the District of Terra Nova;
the Member for the District of Port au Port; the Member for the District of
Bonavista North; the Member for the District of St. John's West; and the Member
for the District of Kilbride.
The Member for the District of Burgeo La Poile.
MR. A. PARSONS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I rise in this hon. House today to congratulate Marine Atlantic's Port aux
Basques Terminal's Occupational Health and Safety Committee for receiving the
Committee of the Year Award at the fifty-sixth Annual Newfoundland and Labrador
Occupational Health and Safety Conference.
A panel of Newfoundland and Labrador Occupational Health and Safety
Association experts reviewed information relating to the activities and
initiatives of the committee regarding such items as workplace inspections,
toolbox talks, incident investigations, and committee meetings to arrive at
their decision.
With more than 3,100 registered Occupational Health and Safety Committees in
Newfoundland and Labrador, it is a tremendous accomplishment to be selected as
Committee of the Year. I thank this committee for stepping up and being a leader
in your commitment to health and safety in the workplace.
Committee members include: Curtis Butt, Betty Battiste, Gwen Davis, Bob
Green, Robert Horwood, Tony Janes, Vanessa LeRiche, Dave Mauger, Paul
Strickland, Corey Upwards, Trevor Thomas, Jim Bragg, Barry Ferguson, Larry Hill,
Carolann Ingram, Jim Lane, Perry Lomond, Ross Skinner, and Basil Taylor.
I ask all hon. members of this House, Mr. Speaker, to join me in
congratulating this committee for their award and the recognition they deserve.
Thank you.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for the District of Terra Nova.
MR. S. COLLINS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I rise today to recognize an individual from my district, Mr. Gerald Thomas
of Musgravetown. Mr. Thomas has spent his entire adult life volunteering with a
number of organizations within the Musgravetown and surrounding area. A snapshot
of Mr. Thomas' community service shows his overwhelming level of commitment.
His past and present roles include, but are not exclusive to, former Boy
Scout leader, as well as Chairperson of the Board of Stewards, Official Board
Member and Cemetery Committee at the Heritage United Church in Musgravetown. He
actively assists with the local Royal Canadian Legion, is a Chairperson of the
Heritage Collegiate School Council since its formation, is a member of the
Triple Bay Eagles Search and Rescue Team, St. John Ambulance Instructor, and
previous town councillor and of course the role he is best known for,
currently as Fire Chief of the Musgravetown local fire department. He has also
held that position since it was formed in 1975, Mr. Speaker.
I ask all hon. members of this House to join me in recognizing the efforts of
Mr. Gerald Thomas, who has given his time so unselfishly, and has demonstrated
how the actions of one person can benefit so many.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The Member for the District of Port au Port.
MR. CORNECT: Je me lve aujourd'hui pour
fliciter les lves de la circonscription de Port-au-Port qui on t reconnus
la 15 e Western Newfoundland and Labrador
Regional Heritage Fair , Corner Brook le 5 mai, pour
leurs projets exceptionnels qui montrent la fiert que nous prouvons a l'gard
de notre histoire et notre culture.
Cette foire rgionale donne l'occasion aux lves passionns de leur culture
et de leur histoire de faire valoir leurs capacits scolaires et cratives.
All the students that participated across the Western Region are to be
commended for their exceptional projects. I extend special congratulations to
Brady Gaudon, for receiving the Use of Artifacts Award; Tanner Hann was awarded
the Canada History Award; Christian Butt, for the Western Newfoundland School
District Award; Jesse Byrne received the Effective Use of Theme Award; Anna
Dollimont, the Parks Canada Award; and Sara Dyment for her project, Newfoundland
Fairies.
Je demande tous les dputs de cette Chambre de se joindre moi pour
fliciter ces bons lves. Je tiens aussi remercier les enseignants, le
personnel des coles, les parents et le comit de planification bnvole d'avoir
fait en sorte que la foire de cette anne soit un grand success.
Merci, le Prsident.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Bonavista North.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. CROSS: Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend the kind actions of
students of Phoenix Academy in Carmanville on Valentine's Day, 2012.
Students from Kindergarten to Grade 6 showed the true spirit of kindness as
they participated in a friendly inter-class competition to raise money for a
very worthy cause. When students contributed from their recess money they were
given a paper ice cream scoop to add to their classroom cone. Students began
asking friends and relatives to contribute and before long the ice cream cones
spread along walls and ceilings and out into the corridors.
The Grade 3 class enjoyed an ice cream reward to celebrate their
accomplishment of raising the most money. In total, the primary and elementary
classes raised over $1,200, which will be forwarded to the Janeway Children's
Health Centre.
Mr. Speaker, I am confident all members will be happy to join me in sending
congratulations to these very unselfish students of Phoenix Academy. This is
truly a way your fundraising spirit can take a licking. I scream, you scream,
let's all scream for Phoenix ice cream.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for St. John's West.
MR. CRUMMELL: Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the St. Matthew's
School Grade 7 drama club and their drama teacher John Battcock on their recent
success at the Eastern School District Regional Drama Festival.
Mr. Speaker, this is the first time St. Matthew's drama club participated in
the drama festival and it was a very successful run. The club performed the play
Ghosts of Brigus South and was recognized with three individual awards
and one ensemble award.
Emily Dwyer, Nicholas Riou both received honours for excellence in lead
acting, and Megan O'Leary won the Gauthier Dempsey award for outstanding stage
direction. St. Matthew's also received the ensemble award for original
screenplay.
Mr. Speaker, this is quite impressive and given that this was the maiden run
for this club, I am certain they have a bright performing future ahead of them.
I ask all hon. members to join me in congratulating the St. Matthew's Grade 7
drama club and their teacher John Battcock on their success at the Eastern
School District Drama Festival and wish them continued success in the future.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Kilbride.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. DINN: Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Nathan Whalen who is
an incredibly active and well-rounded young man from the District of Kilbride
and a recent recipient of a 2012 URock Volunteer Award.
Nathan has been particularly involved with Allied Youth in various leadership
roles, including provincial president, provincial board member, and fiftieth
anniversary committee member. At eighteen-years-old, he is already a
longstanding volunteer coach with the Newfoundland and Labrador Blind Lawn
Bowling Team. Nathan has been a strong voice for students and the community in
his current role as vice-chairperson of the Bishops College School Council. In
this capacity, he is active in Bishops College-Booth Memorial West End High
School Committee.
In 2011, Nathan earned several awards in recognition of his dedication to the
community, including the TD Scholarship for Community Leadership and the
Canadian Association of School Principals' Student Leader of the Year award.
Throughout his first year of university, Nathan was involved with MUN Oxfam, is
a post advisor with the local Allied Youth post and is currently the CEO of
Newfoundland and Labrador Speech and Debate Union.
I ask all hon. members to join me in congratulating this outstanding young
man.
Thank you.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: Before we move to statements by ministers, I have just been
advised that we are also very pleased today to welcome to our galleries members
of the Newfoundland and Labrador Foster Families Association.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: Diane Molloy is executive director, and is accompanied by
Ruby Ellsworth, who is the board chair. We are also very pleased to welcome
throughout the Province members of the Canadian Foster Families Association,
including Sheila Durnford, the president.
Welcome to our Assembly.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: Statements by Ministers.
Statements by Ministers
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Child, Youth and Family Services.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MS JOHNSON: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to extend best wishes to the Newfoundland and
Labrador Foster Families Association as they host the 2012 Canadian Foster
Family Association Conference in St. John's this week.
This national conference brings together members of foster care
organizations, foster parents, social workers, key note speakers and community
partners from across the country to partake in a variety of informative
workshops on foster care. The theme of this year's conference, Joining Hands
across Canada: Walking with Children and Youth, reflects the spirit of the event
as it provides an opportunity for attendees to network and discuss how to best
fulfil the important role they play in the lives of our most vulnerable children
and youth.
Our government provides $10,000 annually to the Newfoundland and Labrador
Foster Families Association's provincial symposium. In honour of this wonderful
national hosting opportunity, we have provided $55,000 to assist with conference
planning and development. I am proud to say that our Province is
well-represented at the conference, with staff from the Department of Child,
Youth and Family Services and foster parents from all regions attending.
In light of this national conference, I must take a moment to recognize the
efforts of those involved with foster parenting here in our Province. We are
very fortunate to have 641 experienced and compassionate foster families who are
dedicated to helping children and youth through complex situations.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MS JOHNSON: Their contribution is so incredibly important, which is why
under Budget 2012: People and Prosperity, our government announced a new
long-term continuum of care strategy that will offer more support to foster
families.
With a total expenditure of $4.1 million in year one and an increase to $14.3
million in year two, this strategy will strengthen foster care by increasing
funding for kinship arrangements and foster homes, and enhancing supports and
training for foster parents. Improvements like the new four-level system will
recognize the skills and training of our foster parents, and children and youth
will be matched to a foster home that best meets their needs. During the
conference tomorrow I will announce further details on this new system and the
strategy.
The new continuum of care strategy, along with other significant undertakings
by the department, including the implementation of new legislation, a new
organizational model, and the creation of the new Training Unit and Quality
Assurance Division, brings the provincial government one step closer to making
our child protection system the best in the country.
I would like to congratulate the Newfoundland and Labrador Foster Families
Association on the hard work and effort put into the planning of the 2012
Canadian Foster Family Association Conference. I am certain it will be an
incredible success for everyone involved.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Official Opposition.
MR. BALL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I want to thank the minister for the advance copy of her statement. I want
to, too, commend the Newfoundland and Labrador Foster Families Association for
the great work they do day in and day out, and to extend our best wishes to the
Canadian Foster Family Association on their conference here in Newfoundland and
Labrador of 2012.
Foster families do a fantastic job day in and day out providing care to our
foster children. It is great to see that the conference is well attended by
representatives, even in our own Province, using this opportunity to discuss
Joining Hands Across Canada: Walking with Children and Youth. With the 641
foster families, we are thankful for the contribution they make, as I said, day
in and day out. They provide invaluable support and services to our children in
the Province.
Mr. Speaker, this is very special for me; I had a unique experience in 1986
to be a foster parent, and as a result of that, I now am the proud father of a
twenty-six year old daughter, as a result of being foster parents at the time.
It is a very special moment in your life, I can assure you.
You make a considerable contribution to many children and I really want to
thank you for that. I wish all the attendees a wonderful and a successful
weekend indeed.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for St. John's Centre.
MS ROGERS: Mr. Speaker, I too would like to thank the minister for an
advance copy of her statement. Congratulations to the Newfoundland and Labrador
Foster Families Association for hosting this year's national conference.
The association does an enormous amount of work every year supporting foster
parents and foster children and has done it on a shoestring budget. Foster
families play a crucial role in the strategy of care for our children and
families in need. Because of their great work, the Newfoundland and Labrador
Foster Families Association is finally seeing reforms in the foster family
system that will provide the families with more funding and more flexibility to
take care of children's needs.
Thank you for the very important work that you do on behalf of the people of
Newfoundland and Labrador, and have a great conference.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Advanced Education and Skills.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MS BURKE: Mr. Speaker, I rise today to inform hon. members of how a team
of talented students from Memorial University are capturing attention around the
world. Earlier this month in Calgary, Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE)
Memorial, after competing with fifty teams from universities and colleges across
Canada, won the SIFE National Championships. The Newfoundland and Labrador team
was commended for entrepreneurial programs that genuinely benefit the community.
Among the outreach initiatives the SIFE Memorial team presented were projects
helping military personnel, persons with disabilities, and people who earn money
in city neighbourhoods by collecting recyclables. Through volunteer hours spent
on these and other projects, SIFE estimates an economic impact of over $2
million, creating forty-seven jobs and affecting the lives of more than 4,700
people.
Mr. Speaker, this is the sixth time in seven years that SIFE Memorial has
taken top honours in the prestigious event. In September, the team will
represent Canada at the 2012 SIFE World Cup in Washington, D.C., where US
Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, will greet delegates.
It was only four years ago that the SIFE team was named the best in the world
by winning the SIFE World Cup in Singapore. Last year, the SIFE team
demonstrated how they are empowering Canadian veterans by helping medically
discharged and retired military personnel start their own businesses efforts
that are being adopted this year by His Royal Highness, the Prince of Wales, and
his charitable network.
It is also worth noting that Memorial University's business school was the
first in Atlantic Canada to earn international accreditation with the
Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, the highest distinction a
business school anywhere in the world can receive.
Mr. Speaker, I ask all members to join me in congratulating the SIFE Memorial
team and wish them every success in Washington.
Thank you.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The Member for Burgeo La Poile.
MR. A. PARSONS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I thank the minister for an advance copy of the statement. Certainly, I would
like to welcome our team members here today. Thank you for coming here and being
with us.
Students in Free Enterprise are a great news story for Memorial and for this
Province. Not only is our university renowned for such areas as marine
engineering and medicine, but our young business leaders are certainly
showcasing the Faculty of Business Administration. These students are national
and international champions in entrepreneurship, and represent exceptionally
well the Faculty of Business Administration at Memorial, as well as Newfoundland
and Labrador. Their success has been published in full-page, colour ads in
The Globe and Mail and it is a testament to our university and our Province.
Kudos to the team, as well as their leader, Assistant Professor Lynn
Morrissey, who is a brilliant and charismatic mentor for these students. Again,
it is remarkable how well our Province has done in this competition and how
often we have been bringing home these honours. So again, it is a testament to
the school, to the students, and to the staff.
Mr. Speaker, congratulations to the faculty, to all members of SIFE in this
most recent win, and good luck in Washington.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The Member for St. John's North.
MR. KIRBY: Thanks to the minister for an advance copy of her statement.
I, too, would like to extend congratulations to SIFE Memorial on another
significant accomplishment. These students continue to demonstrate that the
goals of entrepreneurship and social justice are not mutually exclusive. They
also remind us that Memorial's business programs rank amongst the best in the
world in international competition. Indeed, accessible education has enabled
these students to excel and to achieve excellence.
I wish SIFE Memorial all the best of luck in the upcoming world cup event in
Washington. We look forward to their continued success.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: Oral Questions.
Oral Questions
MR. SPEAKER: The Leader of the Official Opposition.
MR. BALL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Since May 2006, pursuant to
section 21 of the Regional Health Authorities
Act, Eastern Health was required by law to balance their budget. This
government, contrary to their own legislation, allowed Eastern Health to run
deficits. The government topped up these deficits to the tune of $100 million.
So I ask the Premier: Why didn't your government provide the necessary
oversights and controls to ensure that Eastern Health was balancing their
budget?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Natural Resources.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. KENNEDY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Eastern Health has a budget of approximately a billion dollars and
approximately 13,000 employees. What would happen throughout the year, Mr.
Speaker, we would be funding the programs as they went along, providing money to
them, and then, at the end of the year, they would find they did not have enough
money. Mr. Speaker, what we felt the best way to do it, as a government, was to
ensure that they start the next year on an even keel. We have tried to do that,
and it took a number of years to see that was not going to work. So, in the last
couple of years, what we have tried to do is come up with processes to ensure
savings and increase in efficiencies; thus, Mr. Speaker, things like the HCM
review.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The Leader of the Official Opposition.
MR. BALL: Mr. Speaker, I understand the answer, but what I do not
understand is why it took $84 million over the last four years to actually do
that. It was either Eastern Health was underfunded, or there were obviously the
inefficiencies that we need to look for.
The financial figures for the coffee shop at Eastern Health show a loss of
$650,000 in the last four years. This was enough money to pay for an additional
ten nurses. All of these losses happened under this government.
I ask the minister: Why did it take a team from Ontario to tell you that
Eastern Health was losing money in a coffee shop?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Natural Resources.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. KENNEDY: Mr. Speaker, I think the coffee shop is indicative of a
larger issue, and that is: How do you ensure that the system is running as
efficiently as possible? In discussions, Mr. Speaker, with Ms Kaminski as to how
we could get to the problem or how could we look at ways of saving money, we had
to look at the bigger picture. Mr. Speaker, there is no question that the Tim
Horton's coffee shop is an issue, but I also read today I forget it could have
been in either London or Windsor, Ontario, where the same thing has happened
with the Tim Horton's that has lost money.
Mr. Speaker, what we are looking at is the bigger picture: the provision of
services to the people of Newfoundland and Labrador, and we are not focusing on
the Tim Horton's coffee shop. What we are looking at is: How can we best serve
the people of the Province?
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The Leader of the Official Opposition.
MR. BALL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I did not realize we would be benchmarking against a coffee shop in Windsor,
Ontario, but Eastern Health is trying to justify that the losses at the coffee
shop were solely due to wage rates. Yet, last year the loss of $260,000 was
approximately 15 per cent of the expenditures, while the wage rate only
increased 4 per cent.
I ask the minister: Why is Eastern Health trying to deflect from serious
management issues, as, surely, these losses over the last four years could have
been picked up by someone in the internal audit review of Eastern Health?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Natural Resources.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. KENNEDY: Yes, Mr. Speaker.
There have been internal reviews as the member opposite states. What we had
to look at, Mr. Speaker, is a bigger picture. What we have is a budget that
takes up almost 40 percent of the provincial Budget. It has risen from $1.6
billion in 2003 to approximately $3 billion in 2012-2013.
The situation in Newfoundland and Labrador, Mr. Speaker, is the same as
throughout the country. The growth in health care is simply unsustainable. For
example, Mr. Speaker, health care last year, just what I would call current
service levels, there was a growth of $183 million or 7 per cent without putting
a new dollar into the system.
What we have to look at, Mr. Speaker, is where are the efficiencies, where do
they lie, and how can we improve the system without laying people off? That is
what we are doing, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Official Opposition.
MR. BALL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Eastern Health has a budget of $1.2 billion. Yesterday, the minister said
that going through, line by line, Eastern Health's financial records is not
something that she does. Just this week we had another minister, the Minister of
Municipal Affairs, say how important it was to go through line by line just to
find very smaller savings. The line by lines are indeed very important.
I ask the Premier: Why is there a double standard from minister to the other?
Do we do line by line analyses or not?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Natural Resources.
MR. KENNEDY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I think what part of the issue you have to look at is how ministers do their
job. Eastern Health looks after the operational day-by-day dealings, Mr.
Speaker, in their system. What we look at is the bigger picture, the setting of
policy; that is how you would look at it and the financial picture. We make
decisions as to where money should be invested.
Mr. Speaker, let us look at some of the ways we have tried to, as a
government, assist the regional health authorities, Eastern Health especially,
in saving money. The HCM review can result potentially in $43 million in
savings. The generic drugs can save anywhere from $10 million to $30 million and
provide cheaper drugs to the people of our Province. The group purchasing
arrangements, Mr. Speaker, can save $8 million to $10 million.
You start to add all of these up, Mr. Speaker, and what you will see is that
Eastern Health will reach a balanced budget, and that is what we are trying to
do; we are trying to assist them. Let us always remember the people of this
Province come first.
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Official Opposition.
MR. BALL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The comment was made that we go through line by line by our own department,
but you know what, this government is responsible for the approval of this
budget. The responsibility lies within government to review all those issues
line by line, in my opinion.
Nalcor released its annual report yesterday, which states that they made less
money from the energy marketing line of their business last year because of
lower market electricity prices in the US. Their average sale price was $45 a
megawatt. Muskrat Falls will cost us $239 a megawatt.
I ask the Premier: Are you still confident that there are markets in the US
for this power? If so, at what price?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Natural Resources.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. KENNEDY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
There were a number of questions added in there, but I think it is very
important to note that net income from Nalcor increased last year from $70
million to $127 million since 2006.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. KENNEDY: All internally generated cash flow was reinvested in the
business. Mr. Speaker, very significantly, we had put aside $348 million a
couple of years ago for equity investments in Nalcor. They did not need it. They
generated enough money internally, Mr. Speaker, to pay for it.
Energy markets, Mr. Speaker, are dependent on many factors. For example, last
year we sold power to New Brunswick at $90 a megawatt hour, but that is when
Point Lepreau was down. On the spot markets in the United States, Mr. Speaker,
your rate per megawatt hour can go anywhere from $25 per megawatt to $100 per
megawatt hour.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Official Opposition.
MR. BALL: Well, I asked the minister, my question was about Muskrat Falls
power. Nalcor did that last year without Muskrat Falls.
I ask the minister one more time: What is the price that we anticipate in the
US market?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Natural Resources.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. KENNEDY: Mr. Speaker, first I will go back to the previous question.
It is somewhat semantical the way they are describing the cost of power. The
cost of power that counts to the people of this Province is what is on their
electricity bills. What Muskrat Falls will do, Mr. Speaker, is it will stabilize
and then reduce power rates.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. KENNEDY: To say that Muskrat Falls power is costing $230 a megawatt
hour, the hon. member knows that he can play with numbers all day.
Mr. Speaker, we have met with experts in the United States. As I had
indicated, Shell gas has had a significant impact on the electricity rates in
the United States. However, Emera is willing to pay us $90 a megawatt hour for
that power, and that is a good deal in today's market. Mr. Speaker, natural gas,
the price of that at some point will rise and the price of electricity will rise
with that.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Opposition House Leader.
MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
In answers to questions yesterday, the minister gave a very detailed and
informative response to my question on industrial power from Muskrat Falls to
Labrador. In fact, Mr. Speaker, I might put all of my questions on the Order
Paper. He stated that new mining projects will be estimated at $10 billion to
$15 billion in capital investment for mining developments in Labrador over the
next ten years. He also stated that these new developments will require an
adequate supply of electrical power at competitive rates in order to proceed.
I ask the minister today: Has an industrial power rate now been established
for Labrador for the mining industry?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Natural Resources.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. KENNEDY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
As the member opposite is aware, we are in discussions with numerous
companies as to whether or not they want the power. At this point, Mr. Speaker,
there is only one company that has signed on the dotted line saying: We need
power. We do not have the industrial rates developed at this point, Mr. Speaker,
but we know that as a Province we have to be competitive with Quebec and
Manitoba who produce the lowest rates in the country.
We have to look at the cost of building transmission lines. Muskrat Falls
includes the building of a transmission line to Churchill Falls. We still have
to get to Lab West, which is approximately another 250 kilometres and a $350
million line. We have Tata up beyond Lab West, and also Labrador Iron Mines. We
are working with all of these companies, Mr. Speaker. Make no mistake, we want
them to proceed. It is good for the economy of this Province.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Opposition House Leader.
MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Whether it is one company prepared to sign or ten companies, there needs to
be a rate established and that is what we are looking for.
The minister also said that if Muskrat Falls does not proceed, there will not
be sufficient power available for all of the mining projects to proceed in
Labrador. I am happy that the government is finally redefining where the need
for power exists, Mr. Speaker, because it certainly slipped their minds when
they did their agreement with Emera.
I ask the minister: If 40 per cent of the power is earmarked for the Island,
will the other 60 per cent remain in Labrador if that is where the demand
exists?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Natural Resources.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. KENNEDY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Muskrat Falls, Mr. Speaker, looks at Island demand. We know that at peak
Holyrood is not going to be able to meet Island demand, with Vale Inco and other
growth.
Mr. Speaker, in terms of the 20 per cent, and I really want to focus on that
20 per cent, we get a link to the mainland which we will then own. We can
develop small hydro on the Island. We can develop wind on the Island and in
Labrador. It is by doing all of this, by the link, the Labrador-Island link, the
Maritime Link, and the development of Muskrat Falls that we will be able to
provide power.
Essentially, Mr. Speaker, Muskrat Falls by itself will not be enough to
provide potentially all the power that is needed. As we have seen, and if they
read The Globe and Mail over the weekend, Mr. Speaker, the Chinese
economy is running into difficulties. It is the Chinese economies with the
demand for iron ore that is the basis upon which these projects are meant to
proceed.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Opposition House Leader.
MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Although Muskrat Falls is touted as 824 megawatts of power, Mr. Martin has
indicated that the most we can expect from that project is 70 per cent of that.
With a block of that power destined for the Island portion of the Province to
replace Holyrood and 20 per cent of it for Emera, it is going to leave very
little for use in Labrador for industrial customers or anyone else.
I ask the minister: If the power is needed in Labrador in order for future
mining to proceed, as you have stated, why would we even continue with the
agreement with Emera? Why do we not just cancel that component of deal?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Natural Resources.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. KENNEDY: Yes, Mr. Speaker.
The owning of this link, Mr. Speaker, after thirty-five years is something
that is beneficial to our children and grandchildren. We are looking to the
future, as we always do, Mr. Speaker.
Let's also look at another point, and I would ask the members opposite to
think about this, at least the Liberals. I do not expect the Third Party to get
it. Mr. Speaker, if Holyrood is refurbished or uses natural gas, it satisfies
the Island demand. Muskrat Falls will not be built, Mr. Speaker, simply for the
mining companies because they cannot afford or will not afford. Muskrat Falls
satisfies the need on the Island, Mr. Speaker, also satisfies the Labrador
mining and gives us that link to the mainland where we can develop all our
resources, Mr. Speaker, to benefit future generations.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Opposition House Leader.
MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I am happy to hear the minister say that because it leads into my next
question, and that is: Has the Province or Nalcor crunched the numbers on this
project looking at keeping all of the power in Newfoundland and Labrador for our
own use versus the thirty-five-year power contract with Emera where we will give
away 20 per cent of that power? Is there a comparison, and if there is can you
share that with us?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Natural Resources.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. KENNEDY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, let's just look at the Labrador mining projects for a second, if
Muskrat Falls does not go ahead. Then what we are left with is that continuous
reliance on Quebec, which for forty years now is something that has handicapped
this Province in terms of our ability to secure our place in Canada and to
secure our place, Mr. Speaker, with a viable and vibrant economy. That link to
the mainland, Mr. Speaker, not only allows us to sell power at a good rate, it
allows us to develop our other resources and it allows us to develop small hydro
and wind. What it does, Mr. Speaker, it says to Quebec: 2041 is not that far
away, if you want to rely on Upper Churchill power you should talk to us.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Torngat Mountains.
MR. EDMUNDS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
While we were in this House yesterday debating a private member's resolution
on search and rescue, which the government voted down, the Premier released a
statement calling on the federal government to further review its protocols
respecting response to ground search and rescue in this Province.
Mr. Speaker, I ask the Premier: How can you say a public inquiry is not
necessary when in the same breath you are asking the federal government to
change its protocol?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
PREMIER DUNDERDALE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, you have to have a question that is not answered if you are
going to inquiry what the answer might be. If we understand what took place in
Labrador at the end of January, early February, and we understand where there
was a gap in service, Mr. Speaker and we believe we do why do we need an
inquiry to establish what we already know? What we know is that the federal
government, because of its protocols at JRCC, did not respond to the request for
help that first five hours of the first day of the search, Mr. Speaker, and we
think they ought to have.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Torngat Mountains.
MR. EDMUNDS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The Minister Responsible for Aboriginal Affairs stated in this House
yesterday that having a public inquiry is not going to bring Burton Winters back
and it is not going to change anything at all.
I ask the minister: How can you make such an insensitive comment when you
know full well that an inquiry leads to valuable recommendations and
improvements, in this case, in search and rescue?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
PREMIER DUNDERDALE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, it is really sad how this tragedy has been used as a political
football by members opposite almost from the first day. There is nobody in this
Province insensitive to the loss of that young man and the impact that has had
on his family, first of all, on his community, and indeed, on the whole
Province, Mr. Speaker.
We have taken a considerable amount of care to understand what happened here.
We believe that service, humanitarian service that is provided by the federal
government can be improved by changing their protocols. An inquiry cannot
mandate the federal government to do anything, because they do not have a
mandated responsibility for ground search and rescue in this Province.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Burgeo La Poile, for a very quick
question, please.
MR. A. PARSONS: Mr. Speaker, the Premier blamed unions this week for
problems associated with the skilled worker shortage in the Province and said
she is trying to figure out why companies like Vale are going outside the
Province for work despite full union lists.
So I ask the Premier: Your government was in power when Long Harbour was in
its infancy. How can you comment on the situation as if you are merely an
observer and not a key player in ensuring that this work happens here?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier, for a quick answer.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
PREMIER DUNDERDALE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I am delighted that the Member for Burgeo La Poile raises the
whole issue of the hydromet facility in Long Harbour. People will remember in
this Province that this party was in opposition when that deal was signed, and
the Leader of the Opposition of the day, and later Premier, talked about being
able to drive a Mack truck through that agreement.
Because of the delay in their implementation plans, Mr. Speaker, this
government, because we had moved to this side of the House, was able to go in
and substantially improve the benefits to Newfoundlanders and Labradorians
absolutely true.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Third Party.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
MS MICHAEL: Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Health and
Community Services.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
MS MICHAEL: In spring 2008, her predecessor said the long-term care
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
MS MICHAEL: In spring 2008, her predecessor said the long-term care and
community support strategy would be ready in the fall. In the fall he said the
strategy would be ready next spring. In the spring he said an update would be
ready in the near future. Last spring, another minister couldn't say when we
would see the strategy, and yesterday the minister says: we are going to see it
soon.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
MS MICHAEL: Mr. Speaker, I ask
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
The Speaker has recognized the Leader of the Third Party. I ask her to
conclude her question.
MS MICHAEL: Mr. Speaker, I ask the Minister of Health and Community
Services: When is she going to release the long-term care and community support
strategy? And I don't want the answer, "soon".
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Natural Resources.
MR. KENNEDY: Soon, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Third Party.
MS MICHAEL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Two years ago the Eastern Health Patient Flow Study found that a shortage of
home care and rehabilitation services has caused a backlog of patients in
hospitals. The study called for a long-term care and home care strategy. Across
the Province, 15 per cent to 20 per cent of hospital beds are occupied by
medically discharged patients waiting for a placement in the community.
Again, I ask the minister: Will the long-term care and community support
services strategy include an action plan to expand home care and long-term care?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Natural Resources.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. KENNEDY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
One of the issues that surround the long-term care strategy is the issue of
people being in hospital beds who should not be there. What we have had to look
at as a government, Mr. Speaker, is how do we address that situation? We are
building new long-term care facilities; we have a new facility in Corner Brook,
Mr. Speaker, we have new facilities going up here in St. John's, we have a new
facility in Lewisporte, being built in Carbonear. That will open up some beds.
We are also looking at opening up hospital beds and reducing wait times, Mr.
Speaker, to get people out of the hospitals. The name of the strategy or the
proposed name of the strategy was closer to home, Mr. Speaker. We realize that
people want to be near their communities and near their families, and they do
not want to go into the hospital until such time as is necessary.
Mr. Speaker, my recollection is it costs approximately $1,500 a day to keep
someone in a hospital bed. We want people to get what they want and (inaudible).
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Third Party.
MS MICHAEL: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
We are told the present exercise of finding efficiencies in Eastern Health is
being done because of the authority's deficit. The minister has indicated that
she says this same exercise will be going on with the other authorities as well;
however, the other authorities do not have the same large deficits as Eastern
Health, or they have balanced budgets.
I ask the minister: Why is she forcing the benchmarking process on Western
Health which has a projected balanced budget this year?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Natural Resources.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. KENNEDY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Approximately 40 per cent of our budget is going to health care. This is a
phenomenon across this country which has to be addressed. The HCM review, or the
benchmarking review, is a way to create efficiency.
Let's talk about the review that the Leader of the Third Party wanted, Mr.
Speaker, this external review. Let's talk about the Hay review, and that is the
kind of review she is still calling for, Mr. Speaker, because what the NDP want
to do if they want a review like that is to shut down rural Newfoundland and
Labrador. Today she is out marching with the people, Mr. Speaker, whose jobs she
wants to take.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Third Party.
MS MICHAEL: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, this government continues to deal with problems as they arise in
the health care system on a case-by-case basis.
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
MS MICHAEL: The point of an external review of our whole health care
system would be to get a comprehensive idea of how to proceed with this most
vital government service and how the four authorities can work together.
I ask the Premier: Will she commission an external review, independent review
so government can switch from damage control to quality control?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Natural Resources.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. KENNEDY: Mr. Speaker, we have looked at various ways of increasing
efficiency in the health care system. We have brought in wait time strategies,
Mr. Speaker, we are looking at the emergency room.
Let me tell you what an external review will do, Mr. Speaker, it will say in
a Province that has 500,000 people over a large geography, you do not need that
clinic in the West Coast. The Minister of Advanced Education and Skills, you do
not need that. Let's close St. Lawrence, Minister, you do not need that. That is
what is going to happen when you bring in an external review because what it
will simply look at, Mr. Speaker, is saving money, and saving money will shut
down rural Newfoundland and Labrador. If you do not know it, you should know it.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
The hon. the Member for St. John's Centre.
MS ROGERS: Mr. Speaker, rents province-wide are skyrocketing. I am
getting calls from seniors on low and moderate incomes who cannot afford these
uncontrolled rent increases. Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation said
that the majority of calls they get for rent supplements are from seniors who
face two to three year wait lists. Seniors are having to make decisions about
rent, heat or food. The current rent supplement program is not working for them.
Mr. Speaker, I ask the Premier: What plan does she have to deal with this?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Transportation and Works; Minister
Responsible for Housing.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. HEDDERSON: Mr. Speaker, again in addressing the housing needs of the
most vulnerable people in this Province, we have initiated any number of
programs that are helping these people to find adequate housing. Rent
supplements are one, Mr. Speaker. This year we have increased it. We are up to
$1,700. Add to that our 5,500 units, we are doing a pretty good job, I think.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for St. John's Centre.
MS ROGERS: Mr. Speaker, the seniors who are calling our offices, who are
living in fear about these rent increases do not think that the government is
doing a fine job. BC has a solution; they have a Shelter Aid for Elderly Renters
program.
What is this Province going to do for our elderly renters?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Transportation and Works.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. HEDDERSON: Mr. Speaker, again, besides creating housing and housing
opportunities for our seniors, we are also very much involved with other
programs. Our REEP, for example, is a program where we can go in and keep people
in their homes. With the proper insulation and with the savings they have, some
upwards to $300, $400, or $500 a year, these programs are helping us. Our
Provincial Home Repair Program is keeping seniors in their homes and making sure
they have proper housing.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for The Straits - White Bay North.
MR. MITCHELMORE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, Budget 2011 promised $100,000 to assist new entrants with legal
land survey costs involved with buying Crown land for agricultural development.
Clearly, they identified accessing Crown lands as a barrier for this
development, yet the Legal Land Survey Program has been cancelled only a few
months after it has been announced.
Mr. Speaker, I ask the Minister of Natural Resources: Why was this program
axed?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Natural Resources.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. KENNEDY: Mr. Speaker, one of the most beneficial programs we have to
agriculture in this Province is Growing Forward. With the federal government, it
has been approximately an investment of $27 million over the last number of
years. There are hundreds of applicants, Mr. Speaker, who benefit from that.
Mr. Speaker, what we are looking at in our Province is ensuring food security
and food supply. We are not where other provinces are when it comes to
agriculture, Mr. Speaker. They are looking at innovation and risk management.
What we are looking at is trying to ensure that we can provide the food that we
need for our own people.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for The Straits - White Bay North.
MR. MITCHELMORE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I think dealing with food security would be looking at getting
new entrants into the market. This program was launched in September and
cancelled on March 31, before the growing season. There were only two applicants
of $8,000.
Mr. Speaker, I ask the Minister of Natural Resources: Why did his department
not give this program more time and more promotion?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Natural Resources.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. KENNEDY: Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker.
One of the very significant factors we currently have more farms here in
this Province right now than we had in 2006. Mr. Speaker, we are seeing growth
in the area and we are still not, though, where the rest of the country is in
terms of their farming. Mr. Speaker, farm cash receipts in the last year were
approximately $124.7 million, with the majority of that coming from dairy,
chicken, and egg. We have our local farmers who supply the vast majority of
milk, chicken, eggs, and turf grass, turnips, carrots go out to Lester's, I
say to the member opposite, and see what they are doing out there.
Mr. Speaker, we are encouraging our own people to grow food. As I have
indicated, Growing Forward, and Growing Forward 2, which we will negotiate with
the federal government at the upcoming FPT meeting, is a very important program.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The Member for St. John's North.
MR. KIRBY: Mr. Speaker, early childhood educators have said that the
planned wage supplement increase for only Level II ECEs who operate child care
centres is misguided.
Will the minister now commit to a more equitable solution for all ECEs?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Child, Youth and Family Services.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MS JOHNSON: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, this government is absolutely committed to the highest quality
of child care, not only in this Province but in the country and that is what
this strategy aims to do. Not only are we going to aim for the highest quality
in the country, but we are going to have more affordable rates for parents, and
we are going to increase spaces by 70 per cent, Mr. Speaker. We will be doubling
our investment in ten years, spending $457 million over ten years. That shows
our commitment to children.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The Leader of the Third Party for a very quick question.
MS MICHAEL: Mr. Speaker, I ask the Premier: Will she agree with her own
expert, Dr. Wade Locke, that $8 billion would be too much to pay for Muskrat
Falls?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.
PREMIER DUNDERDALE: No, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
The time for Question Period has expired.
Presenting Reports by Standing and Select Committees.
Tabling of Documents.
Tabling of Documents
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Finance and President of Treasury
Board.
MR. MARSHALL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Pursuant to
section 26.(5)(
a) of the Financial Administration Act, I am
tabling one Order-in-Council relating to the funding of pre-commitments for the
2013-2014 fiscal year, and it is in relation to the new Department of Health and
Community Services to facilitate contracts for the construction of the Grand
Falls-Windsor youth treatment centre, and the Paradise youth treatment centre.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
Pursuant to
section 8 and
section 10 of the Public Tender Act, I hereby table
the report of the Public Tender Act exceptions for April 2012, as presented by
the Chief Operating Officer of the Government Purchasing Agency.
Notices of Motion.
Notices of Motion
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Government House Leader.
MR. KENNEDY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I give notice that under Standing Order 11, I shall move that this House not
adjourn at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, June 4, 2012.
Further I give notice under Standing Order 11, I shall move that this House
not adjourn at 10:00 p.m. on Monday, June 4, 2012.
MR. SPEAKER: Answers to Questions for which Notice has been Given.
Answers to Questions for which Notice has been Given
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Natural Resources.
MR. KENNEDY: Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I am going to finish up and be very quick, Mr. Speaker, on the question asked
by the Member for Cartwright L'Anse au Clair in relation to the demand for
electricity in Labrador and how such demand could be met. I had outlined
yesterday, Mr. Speaker, the discussions we had with various companies and where
we stand. Then I talked about, Mr. Speaker, that the development of Muskrat
Falls will also support significant regional economic development in Labrador
because this is an important aspect of Muskrat Falls.
Power will be available for industrial expansion and development in the
region at competitive rates, encouraging development which brings further
business opportunities. Muskrat Falls, Mr. Speaker, will generate over 2,700
jobs during peak construction. The construction of the Muskrat Falls Project
will also be a major benefit to Labrador with an average of 1,150 individuals
employed annually in Labrador from the project's generation and transmission
component. This activity, Mr. Speaker, will generate income of approximately
$450 million to Labradorians and Labrador-based businesses.
The mining sector, Mr. Speaker, is important to the Province for many
reasons. It provides jobs, it generates income and activity for individuals and
businesses, and it provides tax revenue that is used to provide government
services such as health, education and social services.
Labrador iron ore and Voisey's Bay projects represent 98 per cent of the
current mineral production in the Province. Labrador, Mr. Speaker, also offers
tremendous future opportunities for the mineral sector with benefits resulting
for Labradorians and the rest of the Province. The Muskrat Falls Project
provides us with an opportunity to realize these opportunities and secure a
bright future for Labrador and the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador as a
whole.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture.
MR. KING: Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, on May 16 the Member for St. Barbe tabled a question in the
House of Assembly requesting an update on the lobster licence buyout program.
Mr. Speaker, I am more than pleased to provide information here today in
response to this request. The program the hon. member is referring to is the
Lobster Enterprise Retirement Program. This program is part of a suite of
measures under the Newfoundland Lobster Conservation and Sustainability Plan,
which was announced as a federal-provincial industry initiative on November 18,
2011. The plan responds to the federal Atlantic Lobster Sustainability Measures
initiative. It includes measures to enhance conservation and economic viability
within the Province's lobster fishery.
The Lobster Enterprise Retirement Program, with a total budget of $17.05
million, is the major element of this plan, Mr. Speaker. The provincial
contribution to the program is $5.1 million, representing 30 per cent of the
total cost.
The Lobster Enterprise Retirement Program is based on a reverse auction
process whereby the program seeks the lowest bids to retire fishing enterprises.
The program objective is to maximize the number of licenses it retired with the
funds that are currently available. This will allow those harvesters who choose
to remain in the fishery a greater opportunity to increase their fishing incomes
and the viability of their enterprises
The following are highlights of the program to date. The lobster fishing
areas, referred to as LFA, eligible for the program include 11, 12, 13, 14A, and
14B. These areas extend from Fortune Bay along the South Coast and on the
Western side of the Great Northern Peninsula. Two bidding rounds of the reverse
auction have been completed. In these rounds, 658 bids were received and
thirty-nine were accepted. Three bidders subsequently declined the offers made
to them. A third round of bidding will take place during the July-August period
immediately following the 2012 lobster season.
The Newfoundland lobster fishery is conducted by approximately 2,840 licensed
lobster harvesters. This represents about 30 per cent of the lobster harvesting
licenses in Atlantic Canada. By contrast, the Province's lobster fishery
represents approximately 5 per cent of the value of the Atlantic lobster
industry, Mr. Speaker, and about 4 per cent of the landed value of the
Newfoundland and Labrador fishing industry in its entirety. This situation
illustrates very clearly the extreme over-capacity in this fishery.
Despite the relatively low importance of the lobster fishery in Newfoundland
and Labrador when compared to other Atlantic Provinces, and the Province's
fishing industry, the lobster fishery is indeed very important for fish
harvesters on the Province's South and West Coasts in lobster fishing areas 11
through 14. In these areas, harvesters have a strong dependence on this fishery,
greater than 75 per cent of their income in many cases, a high participation
rate about 94 per cent are active and very low fishing incomes. Moreover,
with declines in other fisheries, particularly ground fish, there is an
increasing dependence on the lobster fishery.
The analysis completed for the fishing industry memorandum of understanding
referred to as MOU shows that fishing revenue is in the order of $25,000 per
year on the Province's South and West Coasts. Owner incomes from fishing can be
significantly lower when fishing expenses are taken into consideration. In some
cases, expenses can represent more than 80 per cent of their actual revenue.
These expenses, Mr. Speaker, include variable costs such as the crew wages,
bait, fuel, and license fees, and overhead costs, which include expense items
such as insurance for the vessels.
Lobster harvesters work in a competitive fishery without enterprise
allocations and without individual quotas. As a result, the ability of fish
harvesters in these areas to self rationalize, or in other words, to buy others
out, is virtually non existent. In 2008-2009, the fishing industry was hit hard
by the global economic downturn and unfavourable changes in exchange rates. This
impact was magnified in the lobster fishery because of its strong dependence on
the US market, at approximately 80 per cent, and the perception that lobster is
a luxury or a discretionary item.
The lobster fishery is the valuable single species fishery, Mr. Speaker, in
Atlantic Canada. It has been extremely valuable for the Maritime Provinces
somewhere in the order of $1 billion. As a result, the federal government was
pressed to identify measures to assist lobster harvesters, including those in
Newfoundland and Labrador and Quebec. The response by the federal government
opened the door to requests for federal funding for capacity reduction it had
previously rejected. This shift in federal policy provided our Province with an
excellent opportunity to leverage federal funding for harvesting capacity
reduction in both the lobster and ground fish fisheries on the Province's South
and West Coasts.
The buyout concept was a component of the lobster fishery sustainability and
conservation proposal, which was prepared by the FFAW with financial support
from our own Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture. The initial proposal was
submitted in January of 2010. Following discussions with the federal and
provincial government on a number of issues including funding levels, trap
resale, and the vote by harvesters on the proposal, it was finally received on
May 30, 2011. The FFAW proposal and eventual plan was designed to enhance
lobster conservation, improve the management of the lobster fishery, and reduce
fishing effort through trap and enterprise buyback. The ultimate goal is to
enhance the economic and the environmental sustainability of the fishery and to
increase the incomes of lobster harvesters.
The FFAW plan had two elements to achieve the sustainability goals and
objectives, a conservation element and an economic sustainability element. Under
the conservation element, the goals and objectives will be achieved through
enhancements to lobster data collection including scientific data; catch and
effort information; and environmental impact information such as loss, year, and
ghost fishing.
More specifically, funding will be provided for a mandatory logbook program,
a harvester science field book program, an at-sea sampling pilot program, and
conservation activities to reduce ecosystem impacts. These activities would
include workshops, expanded V-notching projects, and efforts to increase the
designation of closed areas and lobster refugia. This program element will be
directed at all lobster fishing areas within the Province.
Mr. Speaker, I noticed you are signalling time. I will conclude there and I
will finish my answer tomorrow.
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Justice and Attorney General.
MR. F. COLLINS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, on April 2, the Member for Burgeo La Poile put Question 14 on
the Order Paper asking the Minister of Justice to lay on the table information
regarding any structural or operational difficulties which have been identified
with Her Majesty's Penitentiary, and any studies, reports, or recommendations
regarding the improvement of the Penitentiary. I am glad he did that, Mr.
Speaker, because it gives an opportunity to answer this question, which you
cannot really do in the forty-five seconds that you have during Question Period.
I am pleased today to stand and respond to that question regarding Her Majesty's
Penitentiary.
The question asked for any studies or reports regarding the improvement of
HMP. Everybody has heard, of course, of the report we commissioned in 2009,
Decades of Darkness, which has helped us make substantial and important
improvements at HMP and our other correctional facilities. I referenced this
report, Mr. Speaker, the other day in this House when I was addressing Question
The report is readily available, Mr. Speaker, on our Web site and it
certainly has been our main guide as we improve conditions in all of our
correctional facilities. No doubt, Mr. Speaker, the issue of a new penitentiary
is one of importance and priority for the Department of Justice and for the
people of Newfoundland and Labrador. Prudent fiscal management, Mr. Speaker,
must sustain us as we continue to lay the foundation for our continued
prosperity.
We recognize that Her Majesty's Penitentiary is an aging facility and it does
not reflect modern correctional needs. We will continue to review how we can
best meet those needs; however, we must also continue to make investments to
improve the programming, living, and working conditions at HMP. Regardless, Mr.
Speaker, of when we get a new facility we still have, for some time, to put some
investments into HMP. I am pleased to stand here today and state that with the
improvements we have made over the last several years, we have improved
conditions for both inmates and staff, and many have told us that conditions
have very much improved.
Mr. Speaker, the provincial government has invested $760,000 for upgrades to
the ventilation system at HMP. The first phase of this project improved the
living and working conditions for inmates and staff, and helped eliminate an
issue of high temperatures and humidity, which has impacted those at HMP for
some time. Phase II and III are ongoing. We will continue upgrades to the
existing ventilation system in the east block, as well as new windows for the
offices in the living units. With these improvements, there is a continuous
supply of fresh air.
Mr. Speaker, we have upgraded the CCTV surveillance system, which consist of
changing CCTV technology from analog to digital video and doubling the number of
cameras in HMP. We replaced the roof over the originally existing centre block,
removed all drywall in the living unit cells, removed the T-bar ceiling in the
living units, and installed new security sealants in the living units. We have
replaced sections of the perimeter wall. We have also made improvements to
ensure there is natural light in segregation by installing windows. We have
constructed a holding cell with electrical door and emergency panel backup for
added security in the intermittent department.
Mr. Speaker, we have also installed new video-conferencing equipment at the
Provincial Court and HMP, which allows individuals in custody to make first and
routine appearances at Provincial Court without leaving the correctional
facility. This is also including installing video conference rooms at HMP. By
all accounts, Mr. Speaker, this initiative has been deemed a great success. We
have constructed a secure interview room to provide enhanced security for
high-risk interviews at HMP.
Other improvements, Mr. Speaker, include the purchase and installation of a
new walk-in cooler, heating equipment, and a new dishwasher for the kitchen;
along with renovations of windows in the food storage area, a new key washer
cabinet, installation of uninterrupted power supply to HMP to deal with power
and emergency issues, and a new fire and emergency panel for the guard room at
HMP.
Mr. Speaker, these improvements have been made in conjunction with the
Department of Transportation and Works. I will add that many of these
improvements are in addition to the $7 million spent to improve HMP and other
correctional facilities as a result of the Decades of Darkness. Mr. Speaker,
these improvements include: the addition of two trailers for programming space,
and one attached to the medical unit, as well as renovation to the school and
administrative space within HMP; $1 million for renovation of the Newfoundland
and Labrador Correctional Centre for Women; nearly $700,000 for improvements to
the West Coast Correctional Centre; as well as improvements to the Labrador
Correctional Centre.
Mr. Speaker, the biggest issue raised by the inmates in the Decades of
Darkness report involved a lack of programming. I am particularly pleased that
we have done significant work to improve this area. We have such programming
enhancements as addictions counselling, drug awareness, violence prevention,
employment training, structured leisure activities, mental health improvements,
and women's programming. Some of these have occurred through strong
partnerships, Mr. Speaker, with groups like the Canadian Mental Health
Association, the John Howard Society, Turnings, and Stella Burry Community
Services. We have also improved food menus to deliver healthier portions and
options. This was another issue raised by inmates.
Mr. Speaker, although we recognize that Her Majesty's Penitentiary is an
aging facility, as you can see, we have done much to improve conditions, and
this has certainly helped raise morale for both inmates and staff. We will not
stop there; very recently in this House I restated that we are currently
assessing all of our infrastructure projects in this Province in corrections. We
hope to have some proposals ready for government within the year, with respect
to how we can better organize our correctional facilities and make some
recommendations to government in this respect.
Mr. Speaker, we recognize that we need the help of our staff to help us
improve conditions at HMP. All our correctional facilities have active
occupational health and safety committees that meet every three to four months.
The committee at HMP has three managers, one being the co-chair, and three
employment representatives, one being the co-chair. This committee, Mr. Speaker,
addresses building cleanliness, ergonomics, pest control, air quality, and all
other hazards identified through regular inspections and assessments. They also
play an active role in staff accommodations, ensuring staff can return to work
as early as possible after an injury without jeopardizing their safety and the
security of the facility.
Mr. Speaker, the committee also works closely with the Occupational Health
and Safety Branch of Service Newfoundland and Labrador, and over the past two
years, they have satisfied several OHS orders and continue to communicate with
OHS inspectors to ensure the health and safety of both staff and inmates is
always a priority within the HMP.
They continue to train staff by having them participate in OHS courses and
committee training. With the committees working together, Mr. Speaker, HMP has
made great strides in health and safety, and with this co-operation and training
will continue to keep safety a priority for all our facilities.
I will end, Mr. Speaker, by stating that as Minister of Justice, I am
exceptionally impressed with the dedication and commitment by the staff and the
leadership that we have at all our correctional facilities. They have difficult
jobs to do, Mr. Speaker, but they rise to the occasion every time.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
MR. SPEAKER: Petitions.
Petitions
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for The Straits White Bay North.
MR. MITCHELMORE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I present a petition today to pave Route 434 in Conche.
To the hon. House of Assembly of the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador in
Parliament assembled, the petition of the undersigned residents of Newfoundland
and Labrador humbly sheweth:
WHEREAS Route 434, Conche Road, is 17.6 kilometres of unpaved road; and
WHEREAS the current road conditions are deplorable; and
WHEREAS the provincial government in the 2011 Budget set aside money for five
kilometres of paving that was not started; and
WHEREAS it is government's obligation to provide basic infrastructure to all
Newfoundlanders and Labradorians; and
WHEREAS an improved paved road would enhance local business, especially
tourism, which is vital to the health of the communities affected;
We, the undersigned, petition the House of Assembly to urge the government to
allocate funds in the 2012 Provincial Budget to pave Route 434.
As in duty bound, your petitioners will ever pray.
Mr. Speaker, I am quite happy to see that the work that was allocated in
Budget 2011, those kilometres are actually started. The equipment is there; they
are going to be paving. It is disheartening to many people who live in the Town
of Conche, because they would have liked to have seen work being done to address
the unpaved gravel road, which gets in very poor condition and which earned them
the seventh-worst road according to the CAA report this past winter in a
polling.
If that five kilometres was allocated to the unpaved gravel road, we would
only have about thirteen kilometres of unpaved roads. The people of Conche, in
this community, could see a solution to dealing with and start growing
infrastructure and the tourism community. They have a bed and breakfast there;
they have the French Shore, which sees over 2,000 tourists, and they have
activities going on throughout the community, but as a means to really look at
advancing their economy they really do need to look at taking this provincial
road out of the gravel inventory, this road there.
I would like to see this road paved, as do many members of the community, as
well as the people who have signed the petition. I urge the House here to ask
government to allocate funding for this road.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Cartwright L'Anse au Clair.
MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I rise to present a petition to the House of Assembly. It says:
WHEREAS Labrador is a vast land mass with many isolated communities; and
WHEREAS unfortunately search and rescue assets were not adequately deployed
during the search for Burton Winters; and
WHEREAS it is clear that permanent search and rescue assets are required in
Labrador.
WHEREUPON your petitioners call upon all members of the House of Assembly to
urge the government to do a full investigation into the Burton Winters tragedy
and search and rescue in Labrador, and lobby the federal government to establish
permanent search and rescue capabilities at 5 Wing Goose Bay.
As in duty bound, your petitioners will ever pray.
Mr. Speaker, I am bringing this petition forward like I have brought many
others forward on this same issue over the last number of weeks and months. This
petition, Mr. Speaker, comes from Happy Valley Goose Bay and the Lake Melville
area. It is signed by people on streets all over Goose Bay: Cabot Street, Adams
Loop, Terrington Basin, Mitchell Street, Gear Street, Tenth Street, Palliser
Street, and it just goes on.
Mr. Speaker, this is not just an issue for people in Northern Labrador or in
the community of Makkovik, it is an issue for people all over Labrador and all
over Newfoundland. It is an issue in which people are expecting the government
to do a full investigation and inquiry into what went wrong here and to look at
how the system can be improved.
Mr. Speaker, I heard some appalling statements in this House yesterday. I
heard members stand in their place yesterday and say what would be served by an
inquiry, other than pointing out that someone might have made a bad decision.
Mr. Speaker, when the Ryan's Commander sunk and people's lives were lost,
someone could have stood in this House and said: Why do an investigation to find
out if somebody made the wrong decisions?
As a result of that, we have seen improvements in safety; we have seen
improvements in vessel design. We have seen a number of things, Mr. Speaker,
that have contributed to saving the lives of fishermen on the sea as a result of
it.
When the Melina and Keith II sank and four people lost their lives, no
one stood up in this House and said we should not do an inquiry because if we
do, we might find out that someone made the wrong decision. Mr. Speaker, someone
did make the wrong decision in that case and as a result four people's lives
were lost.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
MS JONES: When the Cameron inquiry was done in this Province, when the
lives of hundreds of people were lost in this Province, nobody, Mr. Speaker,
stood up and said we cannot do this inquiry because somebody might have made the
wrong decision. The reality was somebody did make the wrong decision. As a
result of it the decisions have been corrected, new procedures were put in
place, sixty recommendations were enforced, and health care has been improved in
this Province. Mr. Speaker, that in itself carries no weight with me and the
right thing to do is (inaudible)
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The Member for Bay of Islands.
MR. JOYCE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I stand again today on a petition concerning cellphone coverage in York
Harbour, Lark Harbour and Frenchman's Cove.
WHEREAS the lack of cellular phone coverage in Lark Harbour, York Harbour,
and Frenchman's Cove is a major safety concern for residents, especially in
times of emergency; and
WHEREAS the lack of cellular coverage restricts and negatively impacts local
businesses in the area as compared to most areas of the Province; and
WHEREAS the tourist destinations in our area are without cellular phone
coverage, causing a safety concern and inconvenience for tourists who visit;
furthermore, the lack of cellular phone coverage can be a deterrent for people
in choosing our region as a tourist destination; and
WHEREAS the residents of Lark Harbour, York Harbour, and Frenchman's Cove
should have the same cellular phone coverage available as other areas in the
Province of Newfoundland and Labrador that, in some cases, have long had such
service;
WHEREUPON the undersigned, your petitioners, humbly pray and call upon the
House of Assembly to urge government to support our request to obtain cellular
phone coverage.
As in duty bound, your petitioners will ever pray.
Mr. Speaker, this is probably about the fifteen or the twentieth time I have
stood up on petitions concerning the Bay of Islands cellular phone coverage. I
was encouraged by the minister's response saying that he is going to convene
meetings to try to see if he can do a provincial strategy in Newfoundland and
Labrador. I urge the minister to start those meetings as soon as possible, Mr.
Speaker, so that we can try to get some program in place for all the Province of
Newfoundland and Labrador as soon as possible. I also urge the minister to have
public consultations throughout the Province to see what we can do for different
regions of the Province to help out in this cellular phone coverage.
As I mentioned, Mr. Speaker, on many occasions, I understand the minister
when he says that it is a provincial issue, and I agree that it is not just in
one area like the Bay of Islands, it is a provincial issue and that is why we
need a provincial response to it. I call upon the government and the minister to
provide a provincial strategy so that we all can participate, all the residents
can participate, and I urge the minister to start this public consultation as
soon as possible. Call in the other parties, the federal government, the CRTC,
the providers in the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador, so that we can start
the meetings. Once again, I offer my services, if there are any meetings that I
can attend on the West Coast to help out because I know it is a provincial
strategy.
I call upon the government and I call upon the minister to immediately start
the public consultations and have all providers, have all the federal government
representatives, and the provincial government representatives at the table.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The Member for St. John's North.
MR. KIRBY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I am happy to enter this petition, which has been signed by thousands of
people across Newfoundland and Labrador.
To the hon. House of Assembly of the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador in
Parliament assembled, the petition of the undersigned residents of Newfoundland
and Labrador humbly sheweth:
WHEREAS strikes and lockouts are rare, and on average 97 per cent of
collective agreements are negotiated without work disruption; and
WHEREAS anti-temporary replacement workers laws have existed in Quebec since
1978, in British Columbia since 1993, and successive governments in those
provinces have never repealed those laws; and
WHEREAS anti-temporary replacement workers legislation has reduced the length
and divisiveness of labour disputes; and
WHEREAS the use of temporary replacement workers during a strike or lockout
is damaging to the social fabric of a community, the local economy, and the
well-being of its residents, as evident by the recent use of temporary
replacement workers by both Ocean Choice International and Vale in Voisey's Bay;
We the undersigned, petition the House of Assembly to urge government to
enact legislation banning the use of temporary replacement workers during a
strike or lockout.
As in duty bound, your petitioners will ever pray.
We have petitioners from a whole raft of different communities here today,
Mr. Speaker, Bay d'Espoir, Cavendish, Chapel Arm, Bunyan's Cove, Trepassey,
Outer Cove, Long Cove, Trinity Bay, Chapel Arm, Southern Harbour, Mount Pearl,
Arnold's Cove, Bishop's Falls, Carbonear, Paradise, Holyrood, Port au Port West,
Carbonear, Centreville, and Green's Harbour.
As we know, there are no statutory provisions right now banning the use of
replacement workers in the Province, and organized labour is virtually unanimous
in supporting the introduction on legislating prohibitions on the use of
replacement workers. Research that I have been reviewing lately has suggested
the duration of strikes increase during strikes where scab labour is hired. The
length of labour disputes would be increased with the reliance that we have seen
on replacement workers. One of the good things about this, that the use of
replacement workers is relatively rare in Newfoundland and Labrador and in other
jurisdictions as well, Mr. Speaker. So, we are thankful that most employers in
Newfoundland and Labrador are fair-minded when it comes to achieving fair and
collective bargaining with employees.
These petitioners, and we, in the New Democratic Party, would like to see us
make that a lot more rare and abolish the use of replacement workers altogether.
We can only achieve this through legislating the change that thousands of
Newfoundlanders and Labradorians are asking members of the House of Assembly to
urge the government to see passed.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for The Straits White Bay North.
MR. MITCHELMORE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I present a petition for cellular phone coverage. As like the Member for Bay
of Islands, it certainly is a global issue.
To the hon. House of Assembly of the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador in
Parliament assembled, the petition of the undersigned residents of Newfoundland
and Labrador humbly sheweth:
WHEREAS the need for cellular coverage is far-reaching in the District of The
Straits White Bay North; and
WHEREAS there is limited cellphone coverage in the Route 430 from St. Anthony
area to St. Anthony, and there is little to no cellphone coverage in the
communities surrounding Route 432, Route 433, Route 434, Route 435, Route 436,
Route 437, and Route 438; and
WHEREAS residents of these communities require cellphone coverage to ensure
their safety and communication abilities; and
WHEREAS the residents of The Straits White Bay North district feel the
Department of Innovation, Business and Rural Development should also develop
incentives for further investments in cellular phone coverage for rural
Newfoundland and Labrador.
We the undersigned petition the House of Assembly to urge the government to
support the residents of The Straits White Bay North district in their request
to obtain adequate cellular phone coverage in rural Newfoundland and Labrador.
As in duty bound your petitioners will ever pray.
Mr. Speaker, it is imperative that as a Province with just 500,000 people,
and with such prosperity, that we provide cellular phone coverage and make it
available. Provide those incentives so that in all districts across the Province
we have adequate coverage so that we can really get to the root of putting in
enhanced 911 service; so that we can improve things like search and rescue by
putting in the most basic infrastructure like having mobility service; so that
people can make telephone calls in times of an emergency; so that people can use
these microwave towers to reach out and communicate, as a form of education, to
get information, if they are able to access and use a smart phone; as a means to
put in and deal with doing business in the community, such as Raleigh, there is
no cellular coverage. That is quite disheartening because if a tower was put
into play you would see a greater far-reaching area. There are a number of
people who are subscribing to cellphones but they are not able to get the full
advantage of the coverage. That is very, very disappointing, Mr. Speaker.
I would like to - as the Member for Bay of Islands had presented earlier for
one in his district - look at seeing an advanced telecommunication strategy and
work with the Minister of Innovation, Business and Rural Development and hammer
out a plan so that we can really get improved access across the Province.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: Orders of the Day.
Orders of the Day
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Deputy Government House Leader.
MR. KING: Mr. Speaker, I call Order 3, second reading of a bill,
An Act
To Amend The Registration Of Deeds Act, 2009. (Bill 14)
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Service Newfoundland and Labrador.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. DAVIS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I move, seconded by the Minister of Innovation, Business and Rural
Development, that Bill 14,
An Act To Amend The Registration Of Deeds Act, 2009
be now read the second time.
MR. SPEAKER: It is moved and seconded that Bill 14 entitled,
An Act To
Amend The Registration Of Deeds Act, 2009 be now read a second time.
Motion, second reading of a bill, "An Act To Amend The Registration OF Deeds
Act, 2009". (Bill 14)
MR. DAVIS: Mr. Speaker, Service Newfoundland and Labrador, quite often
referred to as Service NL is responsible under our mandate for consumer
protection in Newfoundland and Labrador. Part of that consumer protection
includes the Registration of Deeds Act, 2009.
Mr. Speaker, the act was proclaimed in late 2010, and this act pertains to
the registration of documents relating to real property, which refers to
privately owned land for the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador. It includes
the filing of such documents as conveyances of deeds; conveyances of mortgage
where a property is bought and sold, or sold from one person to another; notices
of mortgage; notices of release of mortgage; and access of easements and other
such related documents, Mr. Speaker.
However, after this act was proclaimed in late 2010 and it was implemented
and put into practice, some inconsistencies were discovered concerning the use
of the term instrument. In the act, instrument is defined as including "every
document by which title to land is changed or affected". Mr. Speaker, that is
the actual definition, and again, the definition is: including every document by
which title of land is changed or affected.
Mr. Speaker, there are many different types of instruments or documents that
could change or affect title of land. In the act, only certain types of
instruments must be filed for registration.
Mr. Speaker, before I go any further I must point out that this is a
technical piece of legislation and it affects the registration of documents
pertaining to land, as I just mentioned. It is technical in nature; it deals
with documents and process that are unfamiliar to most people in Newfoundland
and Labrador. However, it affects and involves the protection of consumers on
what for most people is their most significant investment, being real property,
private property, the land in which their personal home is located.
Mr. Speaker, in the act only certain types of instruments right now must be
filed for registration. For other types of instruments, the instrument is not
filed for registration. Instead, a notice of the existence of that instrument is
filed. What that means, Mr. Speaker, is that instead of actually filing the
actual document and in the case of a mortgage document, a mortgage document
can be lengthy and it can be complex; a mortgage document itself could fill a
box in some cases. Under the act, only certain types of instruments must be
filed. Other types, as I have said, do not necessarily have to be filed for
registration; instead, a notice of the existence of these instruments is
actually filed.
Currently throughout the act, the term instrument is being used to reference
both instruments and the notice of instruments. That is how it is referred to in
the legislation. It is referenced to both instruments and notice of instruments
filed for registration. However, a notice filed of the existence of a document
does not change or affect title to land, and it is not appropriate to use the
term instrument when referring to a notice of instrument.
Mr. Speaker, to correct this in the act, an amendment is recommended to
reference both an instrument and a notice of instrument where applicable in the
act.
Mr. Speaker, there is also currently a
section of the act where instrument is
defined a second time. This is not necessary. It can be removed as it is already
covered under the definition
section of the act. That is located under
section
7(1)(
a) of the act where it is defined a second time. Mr. Speaker, it is
unnecessary. It is in the act in two different places, so we are also amending
the act to remove that second definition.
Mr. Speaker, currently under the act, there are several types of instruments
that are not permitted to be filed for registration. In those cases, only a
notice of the existence of the instrument can be filed for registration. I will
repeat that, Mr. Speaker, to be clear on it. In the current act, there are
several types of instruments that are not permitted to be filed for
registration. Under those circumstances, only the notice of existence of the
instrument is filed. Only notice can be filed. In the case of a notice of
mortgage, the registrar may register the actual mortgage document instead of a
notice if the registrar deems it necessary.
As I just referred to moments ago, there are times when there may be complex
circumstances. There may be a complex history referring to that piece of land
where it would be more appropriate to actually have the entire document filed
instead of just the notice of the existence of the document. That can exist in a
complicated case for clarity purposes and for the actual benefit of the mortgage
documents to be in existence.
Mr. Speaker, again, currently under the act, for other instruments where only
a notice of the existence of the instrument is permitted to be filed, the
registrar does not have discretionary authority to permit the actual instrument
to be filed if he or she deems it necessary, similar to the case of a notice of
mortgage. Under the act, that is currently not permitted. Normally, a notice of
the existence of the instrument would be filed. It is recommended, and what we
are proposing, is that the registrar have that discretionary authority to
register any type of instrument if he or she deems necessary.
Again, Mr. Speaker, there are cases where that occurs, where a notice of
instrument and that is simply a notice that a document exists. A lawyer acting
on behalf of a property owner wants to file a notice saying: I have a document.
For example, it could be a release of mortgage or a transfer of mortgage. There
are cases where it would be more appropriate to have the actual release of
mortgage or transfer of mortgage filed at the Registry of Deeds. Therefore, at
the discretion of the registrar, what we propose is the registrar have that
discretion when cases dictate, circumstances dictate, that the actual document
be filed instead of the notice of the existence of that document.
Mr. Speaker, this amendment is a minor one. It will improve the operations of
the Registry of Deeds and it will enhance the quality of information filed at
the Registry of Deeds as well. Also the current act includes a certification
section. That is where electronically submitted registration of an instrument
requires the submitter to certify that he or she has seen the original
instrument, with the original signatures, and the instrument being submitted is
a true copy of the original instrument.
Mr. Speaker, there are cases where a document is electronically transmitted
to the Registry of Deeds. It is submitted through electronic means and, in those
cases, the person submitting it must certify, must include a statement, that the
person submitting the documents have seen the original one, have seen the
original documents, with the original signatures, and that the documents being
submitted is a true copy of the original instrument; however, the act currently
does not have a comparable clarification
section where the submitter of the
documents registers a notice of the existence of an instrument in a paper
format. That occurs through mail or actually at a counter at the Registry of
Deeds office where a person would walk in to file documents. Right now, we do
not require the person to certify those notices that they know the existence of,
they can certify the existence of the original signatures of the actual document
itself. The bill addresses this deficiency and instruments that are submitted in
paper format are checked by staff for compliance to ensure that it is an
original.
Mr. Speaker, in
summary, these changes will create a clear and more concise
act. It will clarify the processes that are followed on a regular basis by
mortgage companies, banks, and lawyers, acting on behalf of the best interests
of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians who are purchasing land, changing the status
of land, transferring a mortgage, or releasing a mortgage. It will clarify what
is required so that we have a Registry of Deeds that clearly articulates and
gathers the documents in a format, in a concise searchable format, that is in
the best interest of all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The Member for Torngat Mountains.
MR. EDMUNDS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
As we all know, land ownership is highly prized in our society and the
Registry of Deeds is a very important part of the process to acquiring and sell
land. To ensure a valid title, a search of the Registry of Deeds is necessary
for housing purchases or any property. While all corporations in our Province
must be registered with the Registry of Companies, ownership priority is based
on who registers a valid interest in a property, Mr. Speaker. This notice may be
in the form of a lean against property, a deed of conveyance, a mortgage, or any
other interest, Mr. Speaker, related to land which are registered upon delivery
to the Registry of Deeds.
Mr. Speaker, the division has taken the largest database of information of
all registries within the Commercial Registration Division. Records maintained
relate to real estate here in the Province, dating back to the early 1800s, Mr.
Speaker. This information can be searched through the manual index system from
1825 to 1979, and an electronic database from 1980 to present for current
information, Mr. Speaker.
Essentially, the Registry of Deeds exists to alert the public of claims to
land by people or the passing of titles. For the land owner, registration
provides notification that you claim an interest in a particular real property
located in this Province. As we have seen over time, there are many
ramifications for failing to register passages of title. In law school, Mr.
Speaker, one full course must be taken to truly understand the nuances and
consequences of failing to register entitlement. We are all aware of this
challenge in our Province whereby land claims are a challenge in itself to
figure out, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, as to the particulars of this bill, I understand the amendment
is minor changes to Bill 14. It deals more with clarification. The confusion on
the bill prior to this one, Mr. Speaker, is around the language and minor
terminology. The confusion was around the terms that are used, as the minister
alluded to, instrument and notice of instrument.
To clarify, Mr. Speaker, an instrument is not some physical tool in this
context. It refers to any documents that pertain to land entitlement. The
amendment to the act looks lengthy, but it is not really. There are a lot of
places in the act that refer to instruments. Therefore, clarification most
likely had to be made in many places.
Right now, Mr. Speaker, existing legislation uses instrument and notice of
instrument interchangeably, creating legal confusion and something that is not
necessary. The new policy now, Mr. Speaker, is clear on the distinctions between
the two. The legislation needed to be altered to turn the existing policy into
law, and it is for the benefit of everyone.
The other changes in the amendment have to do with cases where original
documents, as the minister referred to, so-called instruments are not required
to be registered. The notice of instruments will suffice. Currently, the law
states that there are certain cases where only notices of instruments can be
registered. In fact, the instruments themselves cannot be registered. The
amendment permits the actual instruments to be filed if the registrar determines
the information is in the public interest. For example, things like special
circumstances or complications that the minister alluded to.
Mr. Speaker, the one suggestion that I would throw out to the minister for
consideration to take a look at is the Torrens system of land registration,
which I understand is an Australian system that simplifies real estate sales and
purchases, and more importantly reduces costs to consumers. We appreciate that
it is difficult to introduce in established areas, and especially in our
Province where ownership of land is always a complicated issue.
Mr. Speaker, the Province might consider that all future subdivisions are
placed in new lands titles division which would be beneficial to the consumers
over the long term. I understand, Mr. Speaker, the Torrens system of land
registration was adopted by Alberta and Saskatchewan as far back as 1905. As I
said, it is difficult to introduce in established areas but if you require all
new subdivisions to register under Lands, over a generation or two, land will
gradually move to land titles, which is a benefit to consumers.
Mr. Speaker, Ontario also started this twenty-five years ago, maybe thirty
years ago, and now they are starting to see the benefits. It may not look
beneficial to the consumer once implied, but over time it does prove to be a
benefit to the people who are affected. Right now, Mr. Speaker, it costs way too
much to the consumer in fees, surveys, and title insurance to purchase a home,
and the costs are going up ever year. Mr. Speaker, as I said, it is something
that this government may want to consider in the future and certainly see if it
is feasible to the people of our Province.
In conclusion, Mr. Speaker, we support any amendments to the Registration of
Deeds Act that will help clarify language and strengthen the act. It is
important that we also keep pace with the changing landscape and best practices
in land administration.
Mr. Speaker, I understand that searches in the Registry of Deeds have been
ongoing since 2005, and that since 2010 half of the major law firms now do their
searches online. So it is good to see this incorporated in the last number of
years. Certainly, the services provided by registries are a critical part of
business in this Province and so on. We do not only need to stay in the
forefront of land and property administration, Mr. Speaker, but we need to
provide a service to the public that cannot be surpassed.
I will be supporting this amendment, Mr. Speaker, and thank you very much.
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for The Straits White Bay North.
MR. MITCHELMORE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for the opportunity to speak to
Bill 14,
An Act To Amend The Registration Of Deeds Act, 2009.
I agree with the comments made by the Member for Torngat Mountains when it
comes to enhancing language and also the associated costs when it comes to
looking at land, the surveys, the fees, and the registration. We do need to look
at the Crown land basis. When we talk about this particular bill, the original
act really had unclear language in reference to instruments and notice of
instruments. So, this act is cleaning up the language and adds the notice of
instruments into the act where it previously did not exist and creates a lot
more clarity for the consumer protection.
Certainly, we see here that the registrar now is given the authority in
special circumstances to file an instrument where a notice of instrument was
previously only required. That information can be requested and made available
to the public in a complex situation. That is certainly a positive step forward
where it can be put on public record. It certainly appears to be so.
I just want to say one of the things is that our office was waiting nearly
two months, asking to get a briefing on this bill. I know some of the
enhancements only seem to be modest in nature, but we were given a briefing
today to discuss this bill and speak to it in the House. That is not acceptable
in my viewpoint, as we feel more time should be given to adequately do the
associated research, contact people, and get the clarity from the department and
the staff because there is power in knowledge.
The process here of voluntarily registering instruments with the registry can
adversely affect people who are not aware of how this process actually works.
Right now, it is up to the individual to make sure that a mortgage and other
related instruments are filed with the registrar. In many cases, this is being
done by the financial institution, or the law firm, but what is being done to
inform people of their own personal obligation if they have gone through private
sales and things like that, if they want to make this information public so that
their information can be protected. What happens to people who cannot afford the
lawyers or the financial institutions that are usually the ones who take care of
these situations?
These are services that are provided by the Registry of Deeds levees a fee
to people who seek to make use of the registry's search engine from a personal
computer. It is free of charge to search at the Registry of Deeds building. This
presents some issues, Mr. Speaker. If you are being charged a fee and the fee is
$5 to do a search and then $5 to drill down and go into specific fields that the
search entry finds, is this really when we ask why the fee was charged because
not everybody has the same fair advantage if you are charging a fee to access
this information to people who live outside of the city region, because other
people then would have to incur high costs to come in and avail of the free
service. Really, is $5 a deterrent for neighbours to search out this information
for personal reasons?
If we are going to be fair and we charge a fee to the one person, we should
look charging a fee to all people or we just eliminate the fee completely, Mr.
Speaker. That is a suggestion there in relation to this. There are a whole bunch
of people who are using this database when it comes to surveyors, lawyers,
utility companies, financial institutions, the general public, and search firms.
If we look at giving one group of users an unfair advantage of being able to
come in and access the service for free, and for others, then maybe they are
passing the cost on to the consumer in terms of the cost. We have to look at
making that fair.
There is a $5 fee to do any type of search with that. It is clearly listed on
their Web site. Is a fee like this disproportionately affecting people in the
rural communities? They are forced to pay this fee to look up information while
others can avail of the service absolutely for free. The staff at the Registry
of Deeds is not allowed to do a search for somebody, so people cannot avail of
that service from afar and tap into the free service.
What about the people then who do not have broadband access in this
community? Are they really forced to travel to St. John's to make this search?
How can they truly make this very fair? There is nothing in the law that states
that an instrument must be registered with the Registry of Deeds. Is this in the
best interest of the individual or the institution? It certainly is to have that
registered, but this does not always happen.
We make company registration mandatory. Is there a reason we are not making
mandatory the registration of property? Would this become a burden, a high cost,
or a high administration thing? Is there some benefit to making the registration
voluntary? There are certain questions I have there and maybe the minister would
look at addressing that. It would seem that it would help us deal with certain
issues of disputes if there were mechanisms that would make it mandatory.
I do have some concerns in the bill. When a number of these registrations are
made, they are made by lawyers, they are made by financial institutions, or they
may be made by others. If we look at when there is a name change being made,
whether there is a marriage, a dissolution of a marriage, a divorce, or people
are just changing their names, where is the enforcement piece to be adequately
updating and for that protocol? I could be searching for information on an
individual because the database is done on name searches. If I am searching for
someone by what I think their proposed name is and not what they have changed
their name to, then I might be searching for inadequate information. Every time
I have to pay a fee of $5 if I do not have access to the office to do that type
of search.
That is just a small concern that I have there when I am looking at it. Maybe
there needs to be another mechanism to be able to search for instruments or
notices of instrument. I know in the briefing it was said that when they do get
this voluntary information, it is cross listed. If I am a financial institution,
I am doing this search and somebody is going by a different name and all of
these things, how is this having an impact? How are we making sure we are
getting the clearest information there when it comes to updating it?
We certainly want to make sure that when we do a sale of property and when
people acquire property, that they are getting fair information. It does seem
that the bill put before us is looking at enhancing the legislation. When I also
look at when we talk about payments, is the payment of acception' a credit card
payment or are there alternatives? Not everybody has access to a credit card or
the ability. We need to make sure that the service is fair and available to all.
I am sure the department would work towards making sure the largest database on
property here is made more readily available. A lot more government services are
becoming available online but it is not accessible by all when we have over 200
communities that do not have access to broadband Internet service.
Mr. Speaker, I will not go on in further details on this. I think Bill 14,
the amendment to The Registration of Deeds Act, is cleaning up some of the
information. It is providing for increased enhancements. There are still some
efforts where we can see maybe the department can work towards improving access
available to all. Maybe that will come with time but I see this as a good step.
I look forward to more debate on this bill.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
MR. SPEAKER (Verge): If the hon. the Minister of Service Newfoundland and
Labrador speaks now he will be closing debate on the said bill.
The hon. the Minister of Service Newfoundland and Labrador.
MR. DAVIS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I appreciate the opportunity to close debate and to respond to some of the
debate and discussion that has occurred here this afternoon. I think it is
important to clarify, when it comes to the registration of deeds, in
Newfoundland and Labrador the process that we have is that the registration of
deeds office is a repository. It is a collection of documents pertaining to the
registration of real property.
If someone was to go to the registration of deeds, which has a searchable
function, and ask them to determine or make a statement as to who is the
rightful owner of a piece of property, they do not do that. That is not the
intention of the Registry of Deeds in Newfoundland and Labrador. The Registry of
Deeds is where the collection of documents occur pertaining it is listed by
name. It is registered under name right now. That is the process we have had in
this Province for, I suppose, Mr. Speaker, since the beginning of time, where
the property is listed by name, and then there is a trail that can be followed
through following the process of names.
We do not have in this Province a Torrens system, or a system where the
property is actually listed by identified parcels of land, which can be done by
geographic location, it can be done by grids, it can be identified by certain
parcels of land. We do not have that system. In fact, Mr. Speaker, in Nova
Scotia they have been working for fifteen years or more, I am told, trying to
implement such a system. What officials are telling me when we have these
discussions about finding better ways to do things in this Province because
that is what we try to do in this government is to find what are the other ways
of doing things. Let's not do things because that is the way we have always done
it. We try and look at better ways to do it. One of the concerns we have, is
changing to that other system we believe will result in a higher cost to the
people of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Mr. Speaker, if it is not going to give us a better system, if there is no
strong argument today that yes, this is going to create great benefits to the
people of Newfoundland and Labrador, we are going to change the system for the
sake of changing, at a cost to property owners, at a cost to taxpayers, at a
cost to the people of Newfoundland and Labrador, then to me, Mr. Speaker, that
is not good reason to do so. Changing just for the sake of change is not good
reason to do so. We should change it for the benefit of the people of
Newfoundland and Labrador. Looking at the experience of other provinces, and the
case I pointed out, Nova Scotia, they have been fifteen years trying to change
to that system and they are still trying to do that, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, as I said, the Registry of Deeds is not a system whereby the
ownership of property is determined. Now, Newfoundland and Labrador, if there is
a dispute of ownership of property that is a matter for the courts to resolve.
That is a civil matter to resolve. For example, I will use my own circumstances.
If a person knocks on my door tomorrow and says: hello, I am here because this
is my land. Then what I have done, when I purchased my real property, is I
contracted a lawyer, a practicing, licensed, professional lawyer in the Province
of Newfoundland and Labrador, to protect my interests, to ensure that I have
clear title to that property. That lawyer will then set out on a course of
action to ensure that they conduct proper research on the title of the land, on
who previously owned the land, and when I am buying the real property of another
person or persons, that person has proper title to the land and the people
before them, and so on. Then I rely on that lawyer who is providing the service
to me to ensure that as a consumer I am protected.
That is the responsibility of the lawyer. They do the searching of the title,
they do the research, and they do that through the Registry of Deeds. Under law
you have to file those documents with the Registry of Deeds so there is a
history that can be researched and then my lawyer or an individual's lawyer who
is purchasing property would then given an opinion to me or to their client:
yes, look, you can now be provided with clear title to that land.
That is the process that we have in Newfoundland and Labrador. That is the
way it has been for many, many years. For us to change to a land-based system
would require a significant amount of work. Newfoundland and Labrador is a very
large province geographically and to register all parcels of privately owned
real property in Newfoundland and Labrador would be a significant task with
significant cost that would have to be borne by the taxpayers of Newfoundland
and Labrador, the people of Newfoundland and Labrador, the land owners of
Newfoundland and Labrador. The case of where is the benefit for those people has
not been made for me, Mr. Speaker.
During the debate this afternoon, the hon. member opposite had taken the time
to point out that he felt that he did not have enough time; he said he has been
a couple of weeks now, or a few weeks I think he said several weeks, but I
think it is actually a couple of weeks now that he asked for, he has been
looking for a briefing from the department, from officials in the department,
and he did not receive it and he did not have enough notice. Mr. Speaker, what I
say to the member opposite is that the bill here has been tabled in the House
for some time. The information has been tabled here in the House for some time.
I was not aware that it was the responsibility of officials in Service NL to do
the research for the NDP party, I can tell you that, Mr. Speaker. I was not
aware of that. They have the bill, they have the legislation, and they can
conduct and carry out their own research. They can carry out their own research
on it.
For the hon. member to rise in the House this afternoon and say he has not
been given enough time, I think he is going to have to do his own work in the
House, Mr. Speaker. He is a member of this House representing his district like
all of us are here in this House and he is going to have to carry out his own
research. We did provide a briefing for the hon. member and for other hon.
members who requested it. I was not at the briefing. I did meet the hon. member
over at my department office this morning. We exchanged greetings early this
morning.
AN HON. MEMBER: (Inaudible).
MR. DAVIS: He did. He came over today and had some time with officials.
Now he is here complaining about it. He has to do his own research, I say, Mr.
Speaker.
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
I would remind the minister to keep his comments to the context of the bill.
MR. DAVIS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate your guidance. I just
wanted to respond to the member opposite.
Mr. Speaker, again, as mentioned earlier in debate, these are technical
changes to the Registration of Deeds Act. We are making these changes in the
best interests of the people of Newfoundland and Labrador. We are making these
to clarify the processes and systems that are in place on the registration of
deeds for this Province, Mr. Speaker. We are taking those steps. As articulated
by members opposite, it is in the best interests of the people and it is a good
piece of legislation.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: Is it the pleasure of the House that the said bill be now
read the second time?
All those in favour, aye'.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Aye.
MR. SPEAKER: All those against, nay'.
Carried.
CLERK: A bill,
An Act To Amend The Registration Of Deeds Act, 2009. (Bill
14)
MR. SPEAKER: This bill has now been read the second time.
When shall this bill be referred to a Committee of the Whole House?
AN HON. MEMBER: Tomorrow.
MR. SPEAKER: Tomorrow.
On motion, a bill, "An Act To Amend The Registration Of Deeds Act, 2009",
read a second time, ordered referred to a Committee of the Whole House on
tomorrow. (Bill 14)
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Deputy Government House Leader.
MR. KING: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I call from the Order Paper Order 5, second reading of a bill,
An Act To
Ensure Access For Service Animals Used By Persons With Disabilities, Bill 17.
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Justice and Attorney General.
MR. F. COLLINS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I move, seconded by the hon. Minister of Transportation and Works, that Bill 17
be now read a second time.
MR. SPEAKER: It is moved and seconded that Bill 17,
An Act To Ensure
Access For Service Animals Used By Persons With Disabilities, be now read the
second time.
Motion, second reading of a bill, "An Act To Ensure Access For Service
Animals Used By Persons With Disabilities". (Bill 17)
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Justice and Attorney General.
MR. F. COLLINS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased today to rise in this House of Assembly to open
debate and move second reading on Bill 17, which is entitled
An Act To Ensure
Access For Service Animals Used By Persons With Disabilities. Mr. Speaker, the
legislation currently in effect of this nature is the Blind Persons' Rights Act.
That act, Mr. Speaker, protects the rights of visually impaired people to use
trained guide dogs. That is the only piece of legislation we have to deal with
disabilities of this nature.
Mr. Speaker, the intention of this bill today is to repeal that Blind
Persons' Rights Act and adopt a new piece of legislation called the Service
Animal Act.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
MR. F. COLLINS: We can incorporate what is in the Blind Persons' Rights
Act but we will expand that act to apply to trained service animals and not only
to trained guide dogs traditionally used by persons with visual disabilities.
Mr. Speaker, this bill will also ensure that all persons with disabilities who
use service animals have the right of access to accommodation, right of access
to services or facilities that would ordinarily be available to the general
public. What we are doing here is repealing the Blind Persons' Rights Act,
keeping what is in it for the visually impaired, and expanding it to other
disabilities and other trained service animals.
Mr. Speaker, at this time I would like to thank the Disability Policy Office
for their significant contribution to this bill. They collaborated with the
Department of Justice to propose the enhancements to the Blind Persons' Rights
Act. Mr. Speaker, the Disability Policy Office works with all government
departments and agencies to help develop policies and programs that include
people with disabilities and that are barrier free. This work is important to
ensure everybody has the same opportunities. It was through this co-operation
that this government is taking further steps now to remove b