March 13, 2000 HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS Vol. XLIV

No. 53

The House met at 2:00 p.m.

MR. SPEAKER (Snow): Order, please!

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

arrived.

MR. SPEAKER: Admit His Honour the Lieutenant-Governor.

Mr. Speaker leaves the Chair.

His Honour the Lieutenant-Governor takes the Chair.

SERGEANT-AT-ARMS: Ladies and Gentlemen, it is the wish of His Honour the

Lieutenant-Governor that all present be seated.

HIS HONOUR THE LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR (A.M House, C.M., M.D., FRCPC):

MR. SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE HONOURABLE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY:

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

House of Assembly is about to be prorogued, but before releasing you from your

duties, I wish to thank you for the careful and sympathetic attention given to

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

work and diligence deserve our appreciation and acknowledgement.

During this Session a Resolution to change the legal name of the Province

from Newfoundland to Newfoundland and Labrador was unanimously adopted by this

House on April 29, 1999. My Government eagerly awaits the approval and the

adoption of this Resolution by both Houses of the Canadian Parliament. It is My

Government's opinion that this strictly provincial constitutional change fills

the requirements of

section 43 of the Constitution Act, 1982.

MR. SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE HONOURABLE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY:

Forty-nine pieces of legislation were enacted during this Session of the

Honourable House of Assembly. In particular, legislative initiatives were taken

in municipal affairs, resource management, health and community services,

justice and finance.

During 1999, the matter of resource management and development occupied the

minds of My Ministers, Members of this Honourable House and citizens of our

Province. After considerable public debate, this House enacted

An Act Respecting

The Operation Of Mines And Mills Of The Province.

MR. SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE HONOURABLE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY:

As stated in My Address opening this Session, My Government introduced a new

Adoptions Act to replace a statutory regime whose time has long passed. The new

legislation when proclaimed into force this year will be more sensitive to the

needs and wishes of both adoptive parents and adoptees.

Extensive consultations were conducted with the Newfoundland and Labrador

Federation of Municipalities and municipal administrators concerning a new

legislative framework for municipal government. During this Session, My

Government introduced a new Municipalities Act which will strengthen local

decision making.

As I also mentioned in My Address opening this Session, My Government has

launched an aggressive campaign to educate our young people about the harmful

effects of tobacco use. During this Session amendments were made to the Tobacco

Control Act to license the sale of tobacco products thereby providing a better

means to prevent the sale of cigarettes to minors.

An Act To Revise The Administration Of The Medical Care Insurance was enacted

during this Session. A number of amendments were enacted to the Physiotherapy

Act in order to modernize and streamline the various procedures under that Act.

As well, a new Law Society Act was enacted to again streamline the procedures of

that professional body.

MR. SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE HONOURABLE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY:

As part of My Government's effort to stimulate the economy and to encourage

our citizens to work in this Province, My Government introduced an amendment to

the Income Tax Act which will be the first step in reducing the amount of tax

payable by individuals on income earned during this taxation year. Assuming the

economy of the Province continues to grow and spending is prudent, this policy

change will see the income tax payable by individuals fall from 69 per cent of

the basic federal tax in 1999 to the equivalent of 49 per cent of the basic

federal tax in the 2002 taxation year.

There were also enacted amendments to the Securities Act, the Public Tender

Act, the Jury Act, the Environment Act, the Registered Nurses Act, the

Occupational Health and Safety Act, the Forestry Act, the Schools Act, 1997, the

Fishing Industry Collective Bargaining Act, and other significant legislative

measures during this Session.

MR. SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE HONOURABLE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY:

During this Session, the Report of the Select Committee appointed to review

the Standing Orders of the House of Assembly was adopted by this Honourable

House. Among the salient changes to the existing Standing Orders will be the

election of the Honourable the Speaker by secret ballot after the next General

Election, the change to the daily sitting times, the inclusion of a procedure

for Member's Statements during Routine Proceedings, a revision to the Petition

procedure, the inclusion of a parliamentary calender, and a more streamlined

procedure in the Committee of Ways and Means and Supply.

MR. SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE HONOURABLE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY:

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

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

My Ministers with care and efficiency.

MR. SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE HONOURABLE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY:

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

now be prorogued and is prorogued accordingly.

His Honour the Lieutenant-Governor leaves the Chamber. Mr. Speaker returns to

the Chair.

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

Pursuant to His Honour's Speech, this House now stands prorogued.