May 8,

2012 HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS

Vol. XLVII No. 28

The House met at 1:30 p.m.

MR. SPEAKER (Wiseman): Order, please!

Admit strangers.

Today we want to welcome to the Speaker's gallery a member from the Royal

Newfoundland Constabulary, Sergeant Suzanne Bill, and from the Royal Canadian

Mounted Police, Corporal Colleen Fox.

Welcome to our Assembly.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: We will hear in a few moments why they are joining us today.

Welcome.

Statements by Members

MR. SPEAKER: Today we have members' statements from the Member for the

District of Mount Pearl South; the Member for the District of Bonavista South;

the Member for the District of Port de Grave; the Member for the District of

Signal Hill Quidi Vidi; the Member for the District of The Straits White Bay

North; and the Member for St. John's East.

The hon. the Member for District of Mount Pearl South.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. LANE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to stand in this hon. House today to

recognize a historical gem contained within the District of Mount Pearl South.

Admiralty House Museum and Archives was originally erected in 1915 for the

British Royal Navy. It was later restored by the City of Mount Pearl. The museum

chronicles events such as the history of the HM Wireless Station Mount Pearl,

the development of wireless technology, the training of the Royal Naval Reserve

in World War I, the life of Commander Sir James Pearl, the history of Mount

Pearl, and the tragedy of the S.S. Florizel . The museum is also

surrounded by beautiful gardens and walkways, enjoyed in the summer for weddings

and picnics.

Mr. Speaker, I would ask all members of this hon. House to join me in

congratulating the staff and volunteers of the Admiralty House Museum and

Archives on the tremendous work they are doing in the preservation of our

history.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Bonavista South.

MR. LITTLE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I am honoured to rise in this House today to congratulate the five senior

students from Discovery Collegiate High School of Bonavista, who won the finals

in Safework Newfoundland and Labrador's game show Who Wants to Save a Life.

This is a travelling youth trivia game show put forward by the Workplace

Health, Safety and Compensation Commission, designed to educate youth about

workplace health and safety. The strategy was launched in 2008 and this season

featured more than thirty-five games at various high schools throughout the

Province of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Discovery Collegiate placed first at one of the four semi-final competitions

and went on to win the finals, which was held at Empire Theatres on May 2 of

this year. Each team member was awarded a certificate, jacket, and $1,000

scholarships. Their school also received $5,000.

The team's teacher, Nicole Waye, is to be commended for her time and

commitment to her students. The team members: David Cox, Crystal Mouland, Cole

Hayley, Kaylin Mouland, and Brittany Short did a phenomenal job and should be

proud of their accomplishments.

Mr. Speaker, members of the House, please join me in congratulating these

five students of Discovery Collegiate on their recent victory.

Thank you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The Member for the District of Port de Grave.

MR. LITTLEJOHN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I stand today in this hon. House to recognize the Bay Arena Pee Wee A Hockey

Team on an outstanding season. The team won the Joe Lamontagne Invitational

Triple A tournament in Nova Scotia and then won the Provincial Championship in

Grand Falls-Windsor.

Their win in Nova Scotia was not an easy one for this team. It started out

very poorly due to weather when half the team was stranded in the Province,

causing them to default their first game. In a true show of sportsmanship, the

organizing committee rescheduled the game until the next day and with a victory

over Cole Harbour, the Rovers were on their way. In an overtime thriller, the

Rovers beat TASA Ducks 4-3 with only forty-seven seconds remaining in overtime.

This is the first team from the Bay Arena Minor Hockey Association to win a

Triple A hockey championship outside the Province.

The Rovers then went undefeated to win the Provincial Championship in April

in Grand Falls-Windsor. This team is truly worthy of our recognition today.

The team is comprised of: Ryan Petten, Mark Barrett, Colin Parsons, Blake

Mercer, Mackenzie Shephard, Michael Hopkins, Noah Mercer, Zach Bennett, Cameron

Chipman, Mason Oates, Owen Petten, Kyle Tetford, Brandon Crane, Cameron Simms,

Jacob Russell, Matthew Ackerman, Jarrod Mercer, and coaches: Nelson Bennett,

Scott Mercer, Craig Mercer, Lindsay Petten, and Trevor Dixon.

I ask all hon. members to join me in congratulating this team on a tremendous

season.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The Member for the District of Signal Hill Quidi Vidi.

MS MICHAEL: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

I rise today to pay tribute to a remarkable woman who recently celebrated her

one hundredth birthday. We have had a lot of these lately in the House.

Nora Theresa Alteen is a well-known, much loved member of the Province's

vibrant Lebanese community of which I am also proud to be a part. Her parents,

Simon and Rose Tuma, immigrated from Lebanon, eventually settling in Corner

Brook and establishing S.E. Tuma Jewelers on Broadway in 1921.

When young, Nora was well known for her singing and acting. The operatic

quality of her voice led potential patrons to encourage her to pursue a career.

She chose instead her family obligations.

At twenty-seven, she married Nicholas Alteen from Amherst, Nova Scotia. They

opened National Shoe Store, also on Broadway in Corner Brook in 1939. Nora ran

it single-handedly after her husband's tragic early death, while raising six

children. Nora lived in the home that she and her husband built until last fall,

when she moved to St. John's to be near her children. She still enjoys reading,

cooking, and sewing, and over the past few years has made more than 200 quilts

for the Janeway and the Children's Rehabilitation Centre. Remember, I said she

is 100.

Mr. Speaker, I ask all hon. members to join me in congratulating Nora Theresa

Alteen on 100 years of a well-lived life.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The Member for The Straits White Bay North.

MR. MITCHELMORE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I rise today to congratulate Nicholas Castle and Clara Humby of Cloud River

Academy for participating in the Forum for Young Canadians in Ottawa. I had the

good fortune of participating in the forum in 2002, and I can tell this House it

is an experience that has a lifelong impact.

Now in its thirty-seventh year, the forum invites 315 Canadian youth every

year to Ottawa to get an up-close look at how the country is run. The invitation

is extended to smart, engaged, and opinionated fifteen to nineteen-year-olds.

For a week in the fall and the spring, youth like Nicholas and Clara meet MPs,

Senators, and others who work to make things happen. They learn to collaborate

and share ideas, and turn those ideas into community action.

Mr. Speaker, I only hope that Nicholas and Clara had a similar experience to

the one I had, and that they made friends, as I did, and that experience will

stay with them for the many years to come. More youth from this Province should

have this opportunity, and I ask all hon. members to join me in congratulating

them on this initiative for getting involved.

Thank you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The Member for St. John's East.

MR. MURPHY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I rise today to salute a teacher in my district who recently received

national recognition for her work. Debbie Shortall, the physical education

teacher at Vanier Elementary, was recently awarded the Physical Health and

Education Canada/Wintergreen's National Physical Education Teaching Excellence

Award a

long title 2012, or the PETE award for short. The PETE award is

given to one teacher from each Province, with three of those winners also

receiving national honours. Debbie, in addition to being this year's honouree

from Newfoundland and Labrador, is one of only three national winners, the only

one from an elementary school.

The PETE award is the only one in the country for teachers of physical

education. It honours experienced teachers who conduct quality physical

education programs, serve as a positive role model for students, and participate

in professional development opportunities.

Debbie, as any of her students can tell you, is the perfect recipient for the

PETE award. Her positive attitude and enthusiasm are key factors in motivating

them to participate in physical activity.

Debbie Shortall will travel to Halifax for the PHE National Conference this

weekend to receive her award.

I ask all hon. members to join me in congratulating her on her fine

achievement.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

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

and the Minister Responsible for the Status of Women.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS JOHNSON: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in this hon. House today to share with you an exciting

event taking place in our Province this September. For the first time in

Atlantic Canada, the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary and the Royal Canadian

Mounted Police will be co-hosting the 50 th Annual International

Association of Women Police Training Conference here in St. John's from

September 9 to September 13.

We are thrilled to have this opportunity to showcase our Province and the

strides we are making to ensure women are represented in policing and justice in

Newfoundland and Labrador. Mr. Speaker, over 50 per cent of all recruits to the

RNC are now women, making our police force a national leader in the recruitment

of women. As well, the new head of the RCMP for Newfoundland and Labrador is a

woman. Chief Superintendent Tracy Hardy will begin her new position in the

coming months.

At this year's conference, we are expecting approximately 1,000 women and men

in policing and justice from about forty-five countries worldwide. Delegates

will participate in training and learning opportunities that address global

issues of importance to women in policing, including operations, leadership, and

professional development.

One of the highlights of the conference is sure to be the Parade of Nations.

To begin the conference, delegates wearing their traditional dress uniforms will

march through the historic streets of downtown St. John's. This march will

certainly be a remarkable sight to behold.

Mr. Speaker, I am also pleased to announce that the Government of

Newfoundland and Labrador is sponsoring the pinnacle event of this conference,

the Premier's International Awards Luncheon, where outstanding female police

officers from around the globe will be recognized in the areas of leadership,

commitment, and bravery. The International Award for Police Officer of the year

will also be presented at this prestigious event.

Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to recognize the hard work of

conference directors, RNC Sergeant Suzanne Bill and RCMP Corporal Colleen Fox

for their continued efforts to deliver a world-class event here in our Province.

Thank you very much.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Burgeo La Poile.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. A. PARSONS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I would like to thank the minister for an advance copy of her statement.

It is an honour to be able to stand for the second time in two days and speak

about the exciting times in our Province when it comes to our police forces. A

very big welcome to the corporal and sergeant for being with us here today.

This is very much an exciting event, bringing together people working in law

enforcement from all around the globe. It is sure to be an incredible and a

mutually beneficial experience. It is going to be quite a spectacle to see all

the uniforms from around the world in this parade. I hope I can take this in and

observe this in person.

As in all realms, increasing the participation of women is key to ensuring

that programs and services reflect the needs of women and children. Issues like

violence against women certainly transcend all nations. Big kudos to the

sergeant and to the corporal for taking the lead on such a tremendous thing and

bringing an experience like this to our Province; thank you very much.

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 thank the minister for an advance copy of her

statement.

This is truly exciting news and I congratulate these RNC and the RCMP, and

conference directors Sergeant Suzanne Bill and Corporal Colleen Fox. Both forces

have come a long way with the recruitment of women and it is a good thing.

Over 50 per cent of recruits are women, but we need that percentage reflected

in promotions through the ranks. We must be mindful of the glass ceiling that

exists in other workplaces and make sure that women get every opportunity for

advancement.

Congratulations once again on this fantastic achievement.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. DALLEY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I rise in this hon. House today to highlight Sportfest 2012 taking place at

the Techniplex in Pleasantville from May 10 to May 12.

This is the second year for Sportfest, a fun-filled, interactive sports

festival hosted by Sport Newfoundland and Labrador. Sportfest is a great way for

our youth from Kindergarten to Grade 9 to try a wide variety of sports and other

physical activities.

Last year's inaugural event was a great success, with thirty interactive

booths and participation from almost 5,000 people, including 3,200 students. The

goal of this year's festival is to once again help inspire our young people and

get them moving in the right direction towards a more physically active life.

Mr. Speaker, the provincial government is partnering with Sport Newfoundland

and Labrador for Sportfest and contributing $25,000 to support this event. We

are committed to encouraging young people in this Province to get involved in

sport and fitness, and to lead active, healthy lifestyles.

In addition to Sportfest, our work in promoting participation in recreation,

sport, and physical activity among young people continues with a number of

initiatives.

For example, the after-school physical activity pilot project is providing

young people in Grades 4 to 9 with opportunities to be more active after school.

Twenty-five school and community partnerships are working together to get kids

moving and having fun through such activities as swimming, bowling, and outdoor

activities.

The inaugural Women in Sport Conference, hosted by School Sport Newfoundland

and Labrador this past weekend at Memorial University, provided education and

professional development for high school students and adults interested in the

subject of physical activity, recreation, and sport for females.

In addition, the over forty provincial sports organizations we support

provide opportunities for participation in sport for thousands of young people

in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Sportfest is open to the public on Saturday, May 12 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00

p.m. All are welcome to visit and experience some of the great activities and

sports demonstrations, including tennis, bowling, curling, and much more.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Bay of Islands.

MR. JOYCE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I thank the minister for an advance copy of the statement. I congratulate the

minister and the government for helping out with activities in Newfoundland and

Labrador. As we know, we have a high rate of obesity in Newfoundland and

Labrador, and a study by Memorial that one in four in preschool are overweight.

Anything we can do to promote this Sportfest, Minister, is a great way to get

youth involved.

Congratulations also to Sport Newfoundland and Labrador for their involvement

all across the Province to get all the youth involved in teen sports and

participation. Anything we can do as Legislative people, we should promote,

because it is going to help. As we all know, diabetes has become an epidemic in

Canada. If we can get people involved with sports, it will definitely help with

other medical issues. Congratulations to the government. Keep up the work and

promote as many youth.

If I can have just one minute, another thing about Sportfest and Sport

Newfoundland and Labrador, on the heels of Rodney King in LA back twenty years

ago; just after they had the Rodney King incidents in LA and they had all the

riots in East LA, a soccer coach from the World Cup in soccer went to East LA

and went on this small soccer field. All the national media asked this coach:

Are you making a difference in LA? What the coach said to the media was: I can

guarantee you two things. When the players on my field, they are under my

control; when they are with me, they are under my influence. So to all the

people who coach sports in Newfoundland and Labrador, keep up the good work.

Congratulations to the government. Keep promoting sports in Newfoundland and

Labrador, because that is where our youth are going to be and that is where our

future leaders are going to be.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for St. John's Centre.

MS ROGERS: Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the minister for an advance

copy of his statement.

Physical fitness is a very important aspect of a person's well-being. It is

essential that it is promoted in the schools throughout a person's entire

education. The after school pilot project is a great step forward, but I would

like to see this project now move from the twenty-five initiatives to a

permanent project for all students Province-wide. Everyone benefits from

physical fitness and team sports. It is time, Mr. Speaker, let's play ball.

MR. SPEAKER: Oral Questions.

Oral Questions

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Official Opposition.

MR. BALL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Minister responsible for Fire and Emergency Services has repeatedly

stated that proper protocol was followed by FES-NL in all aspects of the search

for Burton Winters.

I ask the Premier: When was the last review of emergency protocol completed,

and will you please provide a copy of this review to the House?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Municipal Affairs.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. O'BRIEN: Mr. Speaker, there is an ongoing process in regard to

protocols in the establishment of Fire and Emergency Services, both on ground

search and rescue, and actually, volunteer fire departments as well.

There have been a number of meetings this spring, two or three between the

various components, DND, the RCMP or the RNC, in the case of regional

jurisdiction, and along with Fire and Emergency Services. That is really a

living thing. We try to meet at various times to fine tune the process in regard

to any ground search and rescue or the provision of any kind of services to the

people of Newfoundland and Labrador.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Official Opposition.

MR. BALL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I gather from that, there is actually no set protocol.

Mr. Speaker, the president of the Civil Air Search And Rescue Association,

CASARA, publicly stated that they have a written agreement on emergency

response, and that all other provinces in Canada have taken

part in this;

however, talks here in Newfoundland have not gone anywhere.

I ask the Premier: Why hasn't the Province completed an agreement with CASARA

to provide emergency response services when required, and will the Province now

initiate steps to include this group?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

PREMIER DUNDERDALE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, talks with CASARA have taken place in this Province over the

last twenty years, both under Conservative Administrations and Liberal

Administrations, and we have not been able to come to a place where we are

prepared to sign an MOU. It has just not been possible for a number of reasons,

Mr. Speaker. However, Mr. Speaker, in the case of the ground search and rescue

and the air support that was requested, all of the protocols were followed.

There were spotters on all of the helicopters that were in the air, Mr. Speaker.

The issue in terms of the search that was conducted for Burton Winters was the

deployment of aircraft that could fly in poor weather or do a search at night,

Mr. Speaker. The federal government has that infrastructure.

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Official Opposition.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. BALL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Province has entered into an agreement with the RCMP to provide policing

services to areas not serviced by the RNC.

My question is for the Premier: As part of the contract, does the RCMP report

directly to the Minister of Justice?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Justice and Attorney General.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. F. COLLINS: Pardon me, Mr. Speaker, I wonder if the hon. member could

repeat his question? I am not sure what the question was.

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Official Opposition.

MR. BALL: Yes, my question: As part of the contract with the Province,

does the RCMP report directly to the Minister of Justice?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Justice and Attorney General.

MR. F. COLLINS: The answer to that, Mr. Speaker, is yes.

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Official Opposition.

MR. BALL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, as I thought. Mr. Speaker, as part of the policing duties, the

RCMP plays a vital role in all emergency situations. In the case of the Burton

Winters tragedy, the RCMP was the first point of contact.

I ask the Premier: What role does the RCMP play in the fire and emergency

protocol in Newfoundland and Labrador?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

PREMIER DUNDERDALE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

As has been said by the minister and by myself in this House day after day

when questioned in Question Period, the policing agency in the jurisdiction

where the search is being conducted is the lead agency, Mr. Speaker. They have

at their disposal a number of resources, FES-NL is one of those.

They lead the search, they decide what happens. They engage, for example, the

Canadian Rangers to work with them. They call on FES-NL if they require air

support or some other services, Mr. Speaker. There are protocols in effect that

are reviewed constantly and have been reviewed again as a result of this

tragedy, Mr. Speaker, to determine what needs to be done.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Official Opposition.

MR. BALL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I think everyone will realize where we are trying to get to is obviously with

the communication breakdown between Sunday night and Monday morning. I will move

now to another question.

Mr. Speaker, today the Mental Health Commission of Canada is releasing a very

massive report on mental health strategy in Canada and it is entitled Changing

Direction, Changing Lives. It is calling for the reconfiguration of health care

services in the country. Mental health, as we know, affects one in five people,

but sadly only one-third of those people who need mental health services

actually receive them.

The question is for the minister: Why does Newfoundland and Labrador have the

second-lowest per capita spending on mental health services in Canada?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Health and Community Services.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS SULLIVAN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, the work we are doing and the expenditures we are making in

terms of mental health and addictions in this Province have far exceeded

anything ever done by members opposite when they were in power.

We have a strong working relationship, Mr. Speaker, with the Mental Health

Commission. Officials from my department communicate regularly and have provided

input into the strategy. In fact, officials from my department have often been

sought out by that very same organization to provide help and to provide

initiatives. This particular organization, the Mental Health Commission of

Canada, is very supportive of all the work we are doing here in Newfoundland and

Labrador.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Official Opposition.

MR. BALL: There is no question there is a lot of work to be done, because

second to last is really not something that we should be proud of at this point.

Mr. Speaker, our Province has long wait times for mental health services. It

is very common, actually, to have to wait up to a year to see a psychiatrist. I

recently heard of an eighteen-year-old who had to wait two years to see a

counsellor.

So I ask the minister: Why do we have such a patchwork of programs instead of

a full mental health program in this Province?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Health and Community Services.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS SULLIVAN: Mr. Speaker, I am pretty sure that those who are receiving

services from officials and from health care providers within Eastern Health,

Central Health, Western Health, and Lab-Grenfell, all of them would attest to

the quality of services they are receiving. They would not describe that as

patchwork service, Mr. Speaker.

Services that are provided in this Province are very comparable with services

in other parts of this country. We are doing, I believe, an exceptional job in

providing service to the members of the public who need that service.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Official Opposition.

MR. BALL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

It was a never question that people who are receiving the services think they

are good services. The problem is that there are too many people who just cannot

access the service right now. That is the problem right now in our Province.

Mr. Speaker, the Premier has stated in the media that Muskrat Falls is beyond

the scope of most Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.

I ask the Premier: How could you make such a comment to the people of

Newfoundland and Labrador when they are really only trying to get answers on the

Muskrat Falls Project?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

PREMIER DUNDERDALE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, it gets a bit tedious having to correct the Leader of the

Opposition day after day when he picks pieces from statements that I make.

I have never questioned the people of Newfoundland and Labrador's right to

ask questions, ever. Mr. Speaker, when the PUB presents a report and quotes

people in that report without giving their name or giving their background, so

we do not know what the veracity is and we do not know from whence the knowledge

or experience comes, making very serious statements about the development of

hydro power in this Province, then I believe that I have the right to question.

This is public consultation. If people have something to say and they are going

to be quoted, we have a right to know who said it.

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Official Opposition.

MR. BALL: We would absolutely agree. No problem with the question at all.

All they are looking for is good, accurate information. That is all they need.

That is the reason why I asked the question. It is not beyond the scope of a lot

of people. There are a lot of people who made submissions to the PUB. They took

the time to go there, so they understood the project.

I ask the Speaker: last Thursday, the Minister of Natural Resources stated

here in the House that by 2015, we could experience blackouts. He also stated

that it will take five to six years to build Muskrat Falls, which he claims will

be the solution to those blackouts.

I ask the minister: If what you say is true, what is the government's plan to

those energy blackouts that residents will experience between 2015 and 2018?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Natural Resources.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KENNEDY: Yes, Mr. Speaker.

I read that

section today; by 2015 we will experience what are called

brownouts, and then by 2020, we will not have enough energy.

Mr. Speaker, in terms of a period of time to build Muskrat Falls, we have

been almost forty years at the Lower Churchill development now.

Mr. Speaker, the answer to the question is quite simple. What will prevent

the brownouts and the blackouts between 2015 and 2020? Muskrat Falls.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Official Opposition.

MR. BALL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

We know it is not possible between now and 2015 to get this project

completed, so you cannot seriously expect that Muskrat Falls is the solution to

What is the plan between 2015 and 2018?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Natural Resources.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KENNEDY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I listened closely to the Leader of the Opposition yesterday as he talked

about the need for power, the incremental need for power as it arises. What we

are seeing, Mr. Speaker, is over a period of time, as you get more housing

starts, more industrial commercial development, you need more power. What we

will do, what we are trying to do here is ensure that before we reach the point

where we will not have enough energy, Muskrat Falls will come on-line, which is

currently scheduled for 2017. There is no indication at this point that we will

suffer that lack of energy prior to 2020; it is in 2015 that the problems will

start. What we will see, and what will happen. is that Muskrat Falls will solve

these problems.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for St. Barbe.

MR. BENNETT: Mr. Speaker, on May 28, 2007 government issued a press

release announcing approval in principle of the sale of FPI assets to OCI and

High Liner. One component of the contract was a three-year agreement that

compelled the two companies to co-operate in marketing local products.

I ask the minister: Did these two companies fulfill this obligation, and what

was the value of these products?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KING: Yes, Mr. Speaker, they did fulfill their obligations. I do not

have the value of the marketing initiatives in front of me.

MR. SPEAKER: The Member for St. Barbe.

MR. BENNETT: Mr. Speaker, the Mayor of Burin is in the paper today

informing us that High Liner paid penalties to the Province because it did not

meet annual employment commitments.

I ask the minister: Is the mayor correct and, if so, how much did the

Province accept in penalties at the expense of the workers in Burin?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KING: Mr. Speaker, the member is correct. There were penalties paid.

Some were the area of $4 million. The penalties were paid to the benefit of the

workers, Mr. Speaker, because our government maintained that if the production

levels were not where the agreement required, we would receive the money and it

would be put in trust for a future benefit of the workers. We have used some of

that in fact, Mr. Speaker, within the last year to support paying health

benefits at a time when the plant was down for a period of time.

Mr. Speaker, it is highly insulting to hear the member opposite stand up and

degrade the workers using those kinds of comments. That money was put there to

make sure that we prolong the life of that plant and prolong any benefit we

could possibly maintain for the workers, and we are going to use that money just

for that, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The Member for St. Barbe.

MR. BENNETT: Mr. Speaker, this agreement also required OCI to pay

penalties for not keeping its employment level commitments.

I ask the minister: Were these penalties paid, or were concessions given

freely to the company at the expense of plant workers in Marystown?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KING: Mr. Speaker, we are in challenging times; I have been saying

that for a long, long time now. It is absolutely insulting at times to hear the

language, in reference to workers in this Province, coming from the Fisheries

critic opposite. As the member would know, during his government's tenure in

1990 we had three significant fish plants close: Trepassey, Gaultois, and Grand

Bank. Mr. Speaker, it was the nature of the business of the day. The industry

went through a significant change in the early 1990s. The same thing is

happening today.

I guarantee you one thing, Mr. Speaker. We have assessed every single

agreement that has been signed with OCI, with High Liner, and anything else

relative to the sale of FPI. Every ability to impose a penalty or other

restriction has been done; otherwise the companies have met their agreement.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The Member for St. Barbe.

MR. BENNETT: Mr. Speaker, now that OCI has fled from Marystown and High

Liner is leaving Burin and Fortune's future is in jeopardy, I ask the minister:

What are the government's plans for the quota-holding company established for a

nine-year period under the 2007 agreement?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KING: Mr. Speaker, Quota Holdco is a company that was set up by our

government, by our initiative the only one in Canada, I remind the member

opposite to ensure that the stocks or the quota allocated from the federal

government to FPI stayed in this Province. So, first of all, I thank him for

raising it, because it shows the strength of the leadership that came from this

side of the House when we were going through a significant transition from FPI

to a diversification in the fishery.

Mr. Speaker, that agreement is still in place. I say to the member opposite,

there are still discussions ongoing about the future of Fortune, and we will

continue to work hard and aggressively with Ocean Choice about potential

operations there, and we will continue to work with any and all proponents who

have an idea on something for Burin, or Marystown, or Port Union, or the plants

in Labrador, or Jackson's Arm, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The Member for Torngat Mountains.

MR. EDMUNDS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I notice the Member for Conception Bay South is not here, but I am hoping

somebody will address the question.

Mr. Speaker, the federal government has identified 142 contaminated sites

across Canada where pollutants need to be contained or eliminated because of a

long-term or immediate threat to human health or the environment. Several of

these sites exist in Newfoundland and Labrador, Mr. Speaker.

I ask: What is the provincial government doing, in co-operation with the

federal government, to ensure that actions are being taken to contain or

eliminate the dangers that exist in this Province?

MR. SPEAKER: The Minister of Service Newfoundland and Labrador.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. DAVIS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Yes, the Department of Environment and Conservation is aware of the 142 sites

that were recently identified and discussed in the public media, and six of

those sites are located within Newfoundland and Labrador. I can tell you that

officials in the Department of Environment are very much well aware of these six

sites in the Province, and we will work with the federal counterparts in

relation to these six locations.

I would like to point out to the House that they are federal sites, they fall

completely within the parameters and responsibility of the federal government,

and we will ensure that we work with the federal government to maintain these

sites and to look after these matters.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The Member for Torngat Mountains.

MR. EDMUNDS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

It has also been reported that the 142 sites identified are only a handful of

the thousands of potential sites which need to be cleaned up.

I ask the minister: Has the provincial government, in conjunction with their

federal counterparts, done a complete assessment of all of these sites of

potential contamination in this Province, and have they been prioritized for a

cleanup?

MR. SPEAKER: The Minister of Service Newfoundland and Labrador.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. DAVIS: Yes, Mr. Speaker, the 142 sites that are being discussed here

are sites where there are pollutants that need to be contained or to be

eliminated within these sites. Again, I say, Mr. Speaker, that these sites are

the responsibility of the federal government. The provincial officials with the

Department of Environment and Conservation will continue to work with the

federal government to see to it that these sites are looked after as required,

Sir.

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, yesterday in this House the Premier and the Minister of

Fisheries made light of the 2010 MOU process and report by cherry-picking ideas

from the report that they have been acting on. They ignored structural

challenges that need to be dealt with if we are to have a sustainable,

economically viable, and internationally competitive fishing industry.

Mr. Speaker, I ask the Premier: If she is not going to pursue the MOU

recommendations, then what exactly is her plan?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

PREMIER DUNDERDALE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, yesterday I encouraged the Leader of the Third Party to read the

MOU. Mr. Speaker, I am going to give her the same advice today. Yesterday, we

heard the former Minister of Fisheries speak about the fact that he was

twenty-three months in that portfolio without a question from the Leader of the

Third Party, Mr. Speaker. Now we know why, because she does not understand about

the fishery.

The one thing that the MOU did not address, Mr. Speaker, the MOU did not

address the structural problems in the fishery. It is one of the reasons we did

not accept the recommendations.

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, the Premier does not have a plan.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

MS MICHAEL: There is no plan. I think what a good plan would be, Mr.

Speaker, is what she is refusing to do and insulting this side of the House.

I ask the Premier to strike an all-party committee to look for solutions to

the crisis in the fishing industry. Will she do that, Mr. Speaker?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.

PREMIER DUNDERDALE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, it is not my intention to insult the Leader of the Third Party,

but you need to come from an informed place in this House of Assembly when you

are asking questions and asking for an all-party committee. Mr. Speaker, we have

talked at length in this Province about the structural problems within the

fishery. Mr. Speaker, I was in the meeting and put forward the idea of an MOU or

an agreement in principle to try and deal with some of the structural problems

in the fishery. The document did not do that, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

PREMIER DUNDERDALE: She needs to be aware of that if we are going to have

an informed debate in this House, let alone an all-party committee, Mr. Speaker.

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, I am not sure the Premier understands how an all-party standing

committee works. Such a committee on the fishery would be able to call

witnesses, experts and others, and be a forum for public discourse, Mr. Speaker.

Certainly the Premier does not think closed-door Cabinet meetings would be a

better solution, does she?

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

MS MICHAEL: Mr. Speaker, I ask the Premier: If not an all-party standing

committee, then what does government intend to do behind their closed doors?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

PREMIER DUNDERDALE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, an all-party committee says there is going to be a united effort

to deal with issues. That means we all have to come from an informed place.

There has to be a respectful acknowledgement of the work that has been done by

all in this House, Mr. Speaker. Day after day in this House of Assembly the

Leader of the Third Party demonstrates a lack of knowledge about what is being

done on the opposite side, Mr. Speaker, and a complete ignoring of the positions

that we have put forward.

Mr. Speaker, we have said we are ready, able, and willing to deal with the

other stakeholders in the fisheries when they come forward to deal with these

very important issues.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Third Party.

MS MICHAEL: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

An all-party committee would become informed together, Mr. Speaker, because

all of the information would be there for everybody to have at the same time.

Mr. Speaker, this government is not leading change in our fishery. This

government is leaving change up to the global marketplace and corporations, and

allowing change to happen on the backs of the workers, Mr. Speaker. As with

everything else, this government has no plan and is letting down working people

in the fishing industry. Yesterday the Premier said that government walks the

walk.

Well, Mr. Speaker, I ask the Premier: How is government going to walk the

walk when the oil dries up? What is the plan for rebuilding our sustainable,

renewable fishery, Mr. Speaker?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

PREMIER DUNDERDALE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, this comes from the Leader of the Third Party who stood in this

House yesterday and recommended implementation of all of the recommendations of

the MOU, a half-billion dollar investment by the people of Newfoundland and

Labrador

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

PREMIER DUNDERDALE: that would have seen plant workers left behind

again and people in the boat, other than the license holder, left behind again.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage her to read it. I encourage her to listen to the

answers. I encourage her to find every resource she can to find something out

about the fishery in this Province, so that if the day ever comes that we strike

an all-party committee, Mr. Speaker, that she has something to bring to the

table.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

The hon. the Leader of the Third Party.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS MICHAEL: Mr. Speaker, we have a moral, and indeed an ethical

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

The Speaker will acknowledge the speakers before they start their comments or

questions.

The hon. the Leader of Third Party.

MS MICHAEL: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, we have a moral, indeed an ethical responsibility to deal with

the crisis in the fishing situation for the people of this Province. Government

spends a lot of time talking about its equity investments in oil, Muskrat Falls,

and aquaculture. Well, our fishery is a billion dollar industry.

I ask the Premier, Mr. Speaker: Where is the equity investment in the

traditional fishery?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KING: Mr. Speaker, I have spent countless minutes and hours in

Question Period

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

MR. KING: - over the last number of days and weeks talking about

investments in the fishery, and I am more than pleased to do it again. I would

certainly do it outside the House if the member would like. I am talking about

marketing, I am talking about investment technology, and I am talking about

investment in product development.

Mr. Speaker, let's be very clear. This is a serious issue, and I ask all

members to listen because it is very serious. What we have an obligation to do,

Mr. Speaker, in this House is to debate what the future of the fishery holds and

what it means in real terms for workers, not stand in our place and rant and

suggest false hope to the people of this Province. There is a reality, Mr.

Speaker. We went through it in the early 1990s and we are going through it

today, but we will stand with the communities and get through it.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for St. John's Centre.

MS ROGERS: Mr. Speaker, mothers and fathers are calling me in absolute

desperation trying to get help for their sons who have been kicked off methadone

treatment and are now trying to detox themselves at home. Their sons are afraid,

saying they fear they are going to die. Their parents are afraid, they are in a

living hell and they are not the only ones. Mr. Speaker, there is an eighteen

month wait-list for the methadone treatment program and the private doctors will

not take these patients back or they wait-list them.

Mr. Speaker, I ask the Minister of Health: What am I to tell these families

to do? What am I to tell these sons who are pleading for help to do?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Health and Community Services.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS SULLIVAN: Mr. Speaker, the first thing that she should tell them to do

is to call Eastern Health if they are calling from her constituency because we

need professionals dealing with these people.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS SULLIVAN: Mr. Speaker, concern around addictions in this Province is

something that we take very, very seriously and we have worked long and hard to

ensure that the services we offer are the best services that we can possibly

offer, Mr. Speaker. Yesterday I went through a full list of services that we are

offering here in Newfoundland and Labrador, and I am prepared to offer up that

list again, Mr. Speaker. The member opposite needs to understand that we take

this issue very, very seriously, hence the work that we have been doing,

particularly in light of the closure of a downtown drugstore here in

Newfoundland and Labrador.

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for St. John's Centre.

MS ROGERS: Mr. Speaker, these families have been calling Eastern Health

and have been reaching out for help. Many of our citizens are dealing with

severe drug addictions. They are sick, need help, and are crying out for help.

If they were diagnosed with any other illness they would not have to wait

eighteen months to get into a treatment program. Not treating these people in a

timely manner means more crime and more prolonged suffering.

Mr. Speaker, what concretely is this government going to do to shorten the

wait times for methadone treatment for those who need it?

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Health and Community Services.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS SULLIVAN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, we have a new division within Health and Community Services that

is called the Clinical Efficiency Division. That division in and of itself has

been doing some work around this issue. Mr. Speaker, we are continuously trying

to find new doctors who are willing to take on methadone patients or patients

who potentially may need methadone.

Mr. Speaker, the other thing that we need to point out here though is that

methadone is not the only solution. There are a number of options that are

available and health care professionals have to make those determinations, Mr.

Speaker, not elected politicians. Health care providers determine what it is

that is necessary.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for St. John's North.

MR. KIRBY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

In our Budget Estimates meeting this morning we learned that the Harper

government has recently cut almost $2 million in funding from this Province's

labour market adjustment program for older workers.

Can the Minister of Advanced Education and Skills explain why this funding

cut was not reflected in her department's budget estimates?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Advanced Education and Skills.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS BURKE: Mr. Speaker, when the estimates were completed we did not have

the number from the federal government at that time so we proceeded with the

number from last year. Since we have the number, it is what it is, it is

$897,000. Mr. Speaker, despite the fact that there is a reduction in that

particular program, this government is serious about helping individuals who

want to attach to the labour market, no matter what their age is or what their

circumstances are. We do have significant services available to the people of

the Province, Mr. Speaker, and despite the fact that the federal government -

and I cannot explain their fiscal decisions and why they do what they do - but

despite the fact that we have a reduction in that particular program, it

certainly does not reduce the commitment of this government to work with the

people of Newfoundland and Labrador.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The Member for St. John's North has time for one very quick

question, please.

MR. KIRBY: Mr. Speaker, this funding was supposed to be used for older

workers who have experienced layoffs and displacement. Now that the Harper

government has cut funding that will be used to help these displaced, older

workers such as

MR. SPEAKER: I would ask the member to get to his quick question, please.

MR. KIRBY: Yes.

Can the minister explain how her department is going to make up the shortfall

now that this funding has been cut, Mr. Speaker?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Advanced Education and Skills.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS BURKE: Mr. Speaker, that program would have assisted in the services

that we provide. In saying that, we do offer a full range of services through

the Department of Advanced Education and Skills. Mr. Speaker, we do not

discriminate based on age and people fifty-five to sixty-five are welcome to

avail of those services.

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The time for Question Period has expired.

I want to remind members as well that it is inappropriate to refer to anyone

who is absent from the House. If members are posing questions or making comments

in the House of Assembly, it is inappropriate to make reference to who is in

attendance or who may not be in attendance at that time.

The Member for Torngat Mountains.

MR. EDMUNDS: Mr. Speaker, that was pointed out to me, and I do apologize.

MR. SPEAKER: Thank you.

Presenting Reports by Standing and Select Committees.

Tabling of Documents.

Notices of Motion.

Notices of Motion

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Government House Leader.

MR. KENNEDY: Yes, Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the Minister of

Fisheries and Aquaculture, that pursuant to Standing Order 11

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

MR. KENNEDY: that this House not adjourn at 5:30 p.m. today, Tuesday,

May 8, 2012.

Further, Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the Minister of Fisheries and

Aquaculture, that pursuant to Standing Order 11, this House not adjourn at 10:00

p.m. today, Tuesday, May 8, 2012.

MR. SPEAKER: I just want to remind the Government House Leader this is

the notices of motion. Are you serving notice that you are intending to

introduce such a motion? This is the

section of the proceedings where we are

doing notices of motion.

MR. KENNEDY: Yes, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER: Answers to Questions for which Notice has been Given.

Petitions.

Petitions

MR. SPEAKER: The Member for Bay of Islands.

MR. JOYCE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I rise today, Mr. Speaker, on behalf of a petition from the people of the Bay

of Islands:

WHEREAS the lack of cellular phone coverage in Lark Harbour, York Harbour,

and Frenchman's Cove is a major concern for residents, especially in times of

emergency; and

WHEREAS the lack of cellular phone coverage restricts and negatively impacts

local businesses in the area as compared to most areas of the Province; and

WHEREAS the tourism destinations in our area are without cellular phone

coverage, causing a safety concern and inconvenience for the 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 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 an issue that is all across Newfoundland and Labrador. I

know that ministers over there are attentively listening. I ask the minister if

there is some way that we can all work together to find some comprehensive plan

for all of Newfoundland and Labrador. We just had public meetings in Lark

Harbour and Cox's Cove on this issue with a local provider. We acknowledge that

this is a provincial issue. It is just not down into one area of Newfoundland

and Labrador. It is a major concern. It is a restriction on business, it is a

restriction on tourism, and it is also a safety concern.

I urge the government if there is some way that we can come up with a

provincial strategy with some carrier through Newfoundland and Labrador so that

we can start. I know it is going to take time. I know it is going to develop

over time, but we need to start and try to provide some strategy from the

government to all of the people of Newfoundland and Labrador.

I know to the people in York Harbour, Lark Harbour, and Frenchman's Cove, it

is a deterrent for business mainly. It is a bad deterrent for business and

safety concerns there is a lot of fishing out in Lark Harbour, York Harbour,

and on the other side also, Cox's Cove, McIver's, a lot of people's safety, a

lot of tourism and there are many, many incidents whereby people were out and

got lost on the mountain. They could not find them. They had to get search and

rescue.

I am not sure of what the government's strategy is on this, Mr. Minister, but

I urge the government to try to develop some provincial strategy so that we can

start the planning for all of Newfoundland and Labrador, so that eventually, in

the remote parts of the Bay of Islands, we can have cellular coverage.

Minister, I know it is a big step for any government to provide it, but we

have to start somewhere. I ask the House to urge the government to try to come

up with some strategy.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker, for the time to present the petition.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The Member for St. Barbe.

MR. BENNETT: Mr. Speaker, I rise today in this hon. House of Assembly for

the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador in Parliament assembled. The petition

of the undersigned residents humbly showeth:

WHEREAS home care allows the elderly and people with disabilities to remain

within the comfort and security of their homes, home care also allows people to

be discharged from hospital earlier; and

WHEREAS many families find it difficult to recruit and retain home care

workers for their loved ones; and

WHEREAS the PC Blue Book 2011 as well as the 2012 Speech from the Throne

committed that government would develop a new model of home care and give people

the option of receiving that care from family members; and

WHEREAS government has given no time commitment for when government plans to

implement paying family caregivers;

WHEREUPON the undersigned, your petitioners, humbly pray and call upon the

Government of Newfoundland and Labrador to implement a new home care model to

cover family care givers.

In duty bound, your petitioners will ever pray.

Mr. Speaker, the type of challenges faced in rural communities by people who

require home care are significantly different from the challenges faced by

people in larger centres. That is not to say that people in larger centres do

not face challenges and that they should not have family members who are

qualified be permitted to provide care.

In rural areas, quite often it is not possible to find somebody who is

qualified. There may well be family members who are willing to take training

and training is readily available and they may be able to accept this as their

form of employment and provide family home care services to a loved one while

making a valuable contribution to society, and even lessening the cost of health

care that would otherwise have to be provided.

Mr. Speaker, the petitioners in this case are from the towns, generally, of

Port Saunders and Port au Choix. They are very insistent there is a hospital

there. They understand the benefit of home care and they petition to have this

change made as soon as possible.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Torngat Mountains.

MR. EDMUNDS: I thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I forward the following petition.

To the hon. House of Assembly of the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador in

Parliament assembled, the petition of the undersigned humbly sheweth:

WHEREAS the Premier has the authority under the Public Inquiries Act to

establish a public inquiry into matters of public concern; and

WHEREAS there have been several tragedies in the Province of Newfoundland and

Labrador where search and rescue responses have been called into question; and

WHEREAS Burton Winters' tragedy has increased awareness of search and rescue

capacity in Newfoundland and Labrador; and

WHEREAS the Maritime Search and Rescue Sub-Centre in St. John's is scheduled

to be closed on May 8, 2012;

WHEREUPON the undersigned, your petitioners, humbly pray and call upon the

House of Assembly to urge the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador to

establish a public inquiry into search and rescue in Newfoundland and Labrador.

As in duty bound, your petitioners will ever pray.

Mr. Speaker, I cannot remember what number is on this petition, but I would

like to point out that some of the names attached to this petition not only come

from my District of Torngat Mountains, but they come from people in the

community of St. John's, from all over this Province. The petition that I am

forwarding today, Mr. Speaker, has names from the District of Terra Nova and

from the District of Gander. This petition comes from all corners of this

Province.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to point out the last clause in this petition:

WHEREAS the Maritime Search and Rescue Sub-Centre in St. John's is scheduled

to close on May 8.

Mr. Speaker, that is today. I would like to have called it an honour, but I

regretfully attended the closing vigil yesterday at the small vessels harbour on

the south side, and it left me with some level of discomfort knowing that we had

lost another avenue for search and rescue.

Mr. Speaker, this whole process has been ongoing since the unfolding of the

inquiries into the Burton Winters tragedy, and frustrations are high; I can see

it from the family and I can see it from the petitioners around this Province. I

can see it on the government side, too, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, from time to time over the last three months, we see new

questions that arise that draw attention back to it and bring forward new

recognition of the want for an inquiry. Mr. Speaker, I again ask the members of

this hon. House to support this petition into the public inquiry.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for St. John's Centre.

MS ROGERS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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 as a result of a recommendation in the Green report about wrongdoing

in the House of Assembly, there is now legislation that protects anyone who

speaks up with evidence of financial abuse or other impropriety in the

legislative branch; and

WHEREAS it is unfair for one group of civil servants to be protected by

whistleblower legislation when another group is not; and

WHEREAS Justice Green stated that the financial wrongdoing in the House of

Assembly might have been discovered sooner if whistleblower legislation had been

in place; and

WHEREAS the Cameron Inquiry into ER/PR testing found that problems with tests

would have come to light sooner, therefore lessening the impacts on patients, if

whistleblower legislation had been in place; and

WHEREAS the Task Force on Adverse Events recommended an amendment to the

Regional Health Authorities Act to provide legal protection for employees

reporting occurrences or adverse events; and

WHEREAS whistle-blower legislation is in place elsewhere in Canada and the

provincial government promised similar legislation in the 2007 election but has

not kept that promise;

We, the undersigned, petition the House of Assembly to urge government to

enact whistle-blower legislation to protect public sector employees in

provincial departments and agencies, including public corporations, regional

health authorities, and school boards.

Mr. Speaker, since the government did promise this in 2007 in their election,

we are now into 2012, there is no good reason to even be considered as to why we

do not have whistle-blower legislation, whistle-blower protection. It is about

protecting our workers and it is also about protecting the people of the

Province. It ensures a protection for all of us; it ensures security for all of

us. To not do it is simply folly.

I will not say anything more, Mr. Speaker, because at this point I do not

understand why this has not moved forward. There is no excuse for it.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for St. John's North.

MR. KIRBY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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 and 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 residents, as evident in 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 the 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.

Today, Mr. Speaker, we have residents of Conception Bay South, Colliers,

Portugal Cove, Dildo, Holyrood, Paradise, and Carbonear. The Member for Grand

Bank might be interested, we have petitioners from Lamaline, Point May, Point au

Gaul, Burin, Grand Bank, and other communities in the member's district.

Somewhat like the legislation that my colleague for St. John's Centre just

referenced, this legislation, at least the Premier of the day gave us some cause

to believe that after the eighteen-month strike that caused so much problem and

damage for people who worked at the Vale site in Voisey's Bay, the Premier of

the day, and I believe whomever was the Minister Responsible for Labour

Relations of the day, said they would look into this and consider it.

That has been a considerable passage of time since those words were uttered,

Mr. Speaker. I hope that the Minister Responsible for the Labour Relations

Agency will make quick work of this now and heed the call of these petitioners

and bring in this necessary legislation.

Thank you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for St. John's East.

MR. MURPHY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I rise in the House again to present a petition on behalf of the people of

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 the Burin Peninsula Highway is long and desolate, varying in

elevation, with highway conditions that are often difficult; and

WHEREAS this stretch of highway does not have adequate cellphone coverage to

allow for quick response times for people in distress who need help; and

WHEREAS the highway has innumerable hazards that have led to the death of

travellers in this area; and

WHEREAS no highway cameras are currently operating to let travellers know

about road conditions and warn of possible hazards;

We, the undersigned, petition the House of Assembly to urge the government to

install cameras on the Burin Peninsula Highway that will allow travellers to

check on the condition of the roads.

And as in duty bound, your petitioners will ever pray.

Mr. Speaker, I cannot reiterate how important this petition is, particularly

to the people of the Burin Peninsula. This petition is signed by pretty much

it comes from well, basically every community I think is on this particular

section of the petition from up and down the Burin Peninsula. Indeed, there are

members of the general public who are signing this petition from all over

Newfoundland and Labrador.

We all know the benefits of the highway cameras, not only to the travellers

out there. It is also nice to know that there is a little piece of security and

piece of mind knowing that somebody can get an update, for example, from the

various news agencies whenever the pictures of the various highway conditions

are advertised. It helps people make a good decision on whether to be travelling

or not.

Mr. Speaker, I will leave this with the House, and hopefully the Department

of Transportation and Works will take this into consideration. I think it is a

very worthwhile venture. We all know that highway cameras are on the Internet

now and everybody can see what is happening in other areas of the Province

before they make those travel plans.

Again, Mr. Speaker, I thank you very much for the opportunity to speak to

this matter.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

Orders of the Day

MR. SPEAKER: The Government House Leader.

MR. KENNEDY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I call from the Order Paper, Order 1, that this House approve in general the

budgetary policy of the government.

MR. SPEAKER: Earlier, in Notices of Motion, I was deferring the notice to

items five and six on the Order Paper.

MR. KENNEDY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I move, seconded by the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, pursuant to

Standing Order 11, that this House not adjourn at 5:30 p.m. today, Tuesday, May

8, 2012.

Further, Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the Minister of Fisheries and

Aquaculture, pursuant to Standing Order 11, that this House not adjourn at 10:00

p.m. today, Tuesday, May 8, 2012.

MR. SPEAKER: It has been moved and seconded that the House do not adjourn

at 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, May 8, and it has been further moved that the House do

not adjourn at 10:00 o'clock p.m. on Tuesday, May 8.

All those in favour of the motion?

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Aye.

MR. SPEAKER: All those against?

Motion carried.

The hon. the Government House Leader.

MR. KENNEDY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I call from the Order Paper, Order 1, that this House approve in general the

budgetary policy of the government.

We continue, Mr. Speaker, with the Minister Tourism, Culture and Recreation,

where he finished off yesterday.

MR. SPEAKER: The Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. DALLEY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I appreciate the opportunity to finish up my remarks from yesterday. I

started out yesterday, Mr. Speaker, trying to point out through the Budget

debate back and forth and members opposite had an opportunity to question and

criticize the Budget, but I wanted to point out a number of things from this

Budget that is very important and continued contributions that our government is

making through key sectors of our economy, key sectors of our Province.

Ultimately, it will come down to members opposite will have to make a decision

about supporting a Budget and ultimately deciding if they want to support the

tourism, the culture and the recreation aspects of this Budget, which obviously

all of their districts which they represent will be impacted as well. I want to

make sure that I point out, Mr. Speaker, the good things that are happening

through this Budget, so when they do actually vote on the Budget they will

realize that they have an opportunity to support tourism, culture and recreation

developments in their own districts as well.

Yesterday I spoke about the arts, Mr. Speaker, just to clue up in recognizing

the arts are very valuable and always have been in our Province in terms of

our culture and heritage. Mr. Speaker, a lot of people are really passionate

about the arts. Perhaps none any more than the member opposite in St. John's

Centre. I appreciate that, but realizing as well, through all of this, we have

to strike that balance. Mr. Speaker, without doubt, my experiences early on in

this portfolio, the arts community is alive, it is vibrant, and it is exciting.

In discussions I have had, Mr. Speaker, I think we realize probably more so than

ever before it is receiving the recognition and appreciation in this Province

that it rightfully deserves. Mr. Speaker, we are delighted. Delighted through

this Budget and previous Budgets to continue to support the growth of the arts

community and continue to support the great work they are doing, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. DALLEY: Mr. Speaker, a couple of other key areas that this Budget

will support throughout the Province, and particularly within my department, is

the area of recreation and tourism. I just want to speak a little bit about

recreation before I speak about tourism. The Leader of the Third Party

referenced today in one of her comments during Question Period, as with anything

else, no plan. Mr. Speaker, when we look at the development of recreation, or

the arts, or tourism for that matter, we do have a plan. We are guided by a plan

in which stakeholders, the people around this Province, have had input and

opportunity to work for us and lay out the direction that we want to go in.

Certainly, active, healthy living is part of our recreation strategy from 2007.

Mr. Speaker, the investments in this particular Budget allows us to continue

in that direction. We have three overarching governing bodies in this Province:

Recreation Newfoundland and Labrador, School Sport Newfoundland and Labrador,

and Sport Newfoundland and Labrador. Within that, there are some forty

provincial sports organizations. This Budget will allow us to continue to

support them in their operations. That is absolutely critical because within

that, in order for us as a government to achieve one of our mandates and

encouraging active healthy lifestyles, we are going to rely on these

organizations that ultimately rely on the thousands of volunteers in the

Province. It is through that structure that we are able to reach out to

communities and continue to support the growth of recreation and sport

throughout the Province for people of all ages.

Mr. Speaker, this Budget will also allow us to continue to invest in the

summer games and winter games. The summer games are in Harbour Grace-Carbonear

this year. The later winter games will be in the Clarenville area. Mr. Speaker,

this will allow us, again, to provide opportunity for youth to come together and

not only engage in sport and competitive fun, but to build character, to build

interpersonal skills, all kinds of aspects, along with an active, healthy

lifestyle. Again, a good, strong investment from this Budget.

As well, Mr. Speaker, a part of this Budget will be continuing our National

Travel Subsidy, allowing our athletes and teams an opportunity to be exposed to

what is taking place in other parts of the country. We also have the Labrador

Travel Subsidy, Mr. Speaker an absolutely critical subsidy that we provide for

teams in and out of Labrador. Again, it is important that they are able to

connect and be a part of whatever is happening in sport and recreation in the

Province.

Added to that, this Budget will allow us to continue with the Premier's

Athletic Awards. Mr. Speaker, these are relatively new awards in which we have

worked with Sport Newfoundland and Labrador and other sporting organizations,

where we recognize our elite athletes who are dedicated, put the time and effort

into it, and recognize the support of their coaches, enable them to advance to

another level, whether it the provincial level, national level, or international

level.

In this Budget as well, Mr. Speaker, a critical part of our Budget this year

in recreation will be able to continue the investments in capital: capital

recreation programs, community recreation development grants, seniors' community

recreation grants. You see, we went through a period of time, perhaps in the

1990s, where recreation seemed to hit a low and there was very little funding to

help support communities and community groups; we lost some direction in

recreation, Mr. Speaker. In recent years, we have reinvested and we have

refocused; we have over $70 million invested in recreation since 2007. That is

allowing young people and people of all ages to be active, engaged, to have the

opportunity, and to help upgrade facilities. It is a way to achieve that

objective and certainly support the many volunteers who are doing this work out

into our communities.

A specific program that this Budget will allow us to continue is the

automated external defibrillators, Mr. Speaker, recognizing our demographic in

the Province and encouraging active healthy living of all ages. These

defibrillators will allow and encourage people and give them a sense of comfort.

Those of us, particularly, who play rec hockey it is nice to know that there

is a machine available if we need it. Mr. Speaker, in partnering with the Heart

and Stroke Foundation through their program Restart a Heart campaign, we are

having great success with that as well.

As referenced earlier today, Sportfest will take place over the next few

days, a great activity developed by Sport Newfoundland and Labrador, Mr.

Speaker, to engage youth, to expose them, to encourage them not only the

youth, encourage parents to be supportive of their children. We all know that is

the route to ensure that kids are actively involved in sport and recreation. Mr.

Speaker, that will take place over the next few days, along with the

after-school initiative that was earlier referenced. This Budget is critical for

recreation for us to continue our efforts.

Another key sector, Mr. Speaker, is the tourism sector. I do want to

reference that a little bit, because the Budget allows us to continue on this

path that we are on. In reference to no plan', Mr. Speaker, in 2009 we released

Uncommon Potential, Vision 2020. It was a tremendous strategy brought together

by all stakeholders, which reshaped and realigned the tourism industry in

Newfoundland and Labrador.

Mr. Speaker, through our provincial tourism board, through Hospitality

Newfoundland and Labrador, through our destinations management organizations,

and working with the profit and non-profit sectors, we are able to align the

efforts in this Province with a very clear focus. We have had absolutely

tremendous success. Mr. Speaker, our numbers have been growing despite

challenges in the world economy, fuel prices, and the Canadian dollar.

When other provinces are in decline in tourism, we continue to be on a rise.

The reason for that, Mr. Speaker, is we have been very strategic in our efforts,

one, in terms of aligning and building a model for tourism in the Province, and

secondly, obviously, our ad campaign. We have had tremendous success with the

Find Yourself campaign. We have been able to double our budget from $6 million

to $13 million in advertising and marketing, but, Mr. Speaker, what we have

truly done is build on the strength of this great Province, and that is our

people, our culture, and our environment.

Mr. Speaker, through that we have been able to build some 147 awards, but I

think the true test and the success is the fact that our numbers are growing, we

are getting great feedback, and the Province is certainly on the map as a key

destination for an authentic, unique experience. Again, what this Budget will

allow us to do is to continue that and continue a key part of supporting the

tourism industry in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Mr. Speaker, another aspect of tourism that we are able to do as a result of

this Budget is to continue to support the DMOs in their advertising, encouraging

packaging on-line. We are able to invest in the shoulder seasons and events like

Trails, Tales and Tunes, and Roots, Rants and Roars. We are able to focus on

product development and work with different areas and regions that obviously

have their own strengths, and to build opportunities to take a look at ways to

overcome barriers and build on these strengths.

As well, Mr. Speaker, this Budget will allow us to invest in digital and

on-line marketing, again, a key area where we are seeing rapid growth. We will

develop this year a mobile app called Trip Planning, recognizing that some 80

per cent of our visitors now are using a mobile device. Mr. Speaker, the reality

is that is the direction, and we are able to invest and keep up with that

particular advancement. We have done work on winter tourism; we will continue

the fabulous product from our snowmobile trails to Marble Mountain and other

outdoor activities, recognizing the value to our smaller communities and smaller

businesses.

Mr. Speaker, we have invested in VICs and continue to do so to provide that

service to both resident and non-resident visitors. As well, we have done an

exit survey where we will do some work to help continue to guide us in the right

direction for tourism growth in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Mr. Speaker, when I talk about tourism and the arts and culture sectors of

our Province, and the recreation sector, we are obviously driven; we are driven

by co-operation and we are driven by a collective vision that has been laid out

in all of these sectors, Mr. Speaker, and we continue to have success. We are

not where we want to be. We will continue to invest; this Budget will allow us

to do that and we will continue to look for partnerships and encourage private

investment to help improve the economy, to help support the volunteers in the

non-profit sectors, Mr. Speaker, to continue to make Newfoundland a great place

for Tourism, Culture, and Recreation, right across the Province, from Labrador

to St. John's and all around the coast.

Mr. Speaker, this Budget has been a very positive Budget for our department

and we will continue to make the right investments.

Thank you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Justice and Attorney General.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. F. COLLINS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure today to rise in this hon. House and speak to

Budget 2012: People and Prosperity. This is the seventh occasion now I have had

to speak to budgets. It is always a privilege, a pleasure and a great honour, in

fact, to be involved in Budget preparation for the Province of Newfoundland and

Labrador.

Mr. Speaker, this Budget is a budget of responsible investment. It speaks to

a secure future and it makes a number of significant measures to improve

conditions for the people of Newfoundland and Labrador. I am not going to speak

in any detail, Mr. Speaker, on the substantive content of the Budget. Other

speakers have done that, and I am sure will continue to do so, but just a

highlight. Budget 2012 does make significant measures to improve and strengthen

health care, especially in the areas of long-term care and community support,

breast cancer screening and shorter wait times, significant investments there.

Significant investments, Mr. Speaker, in sustaining economic activity in this

Province, a significant investment in child care, in apprentices, in public

infrastructure. Again, this year we are spending $900 million in public

infrastructure. Mr. Speaker, seniors, one that I am particularly interested in,

I must say we continue to advance the situation of seniors.

Mr. Speaker, I want to talk about, for a minute, the economic situation that

we find ourselves in at this point in time and a level of economic prosperity

that we have developed over eight years of this government, nine years of this

government. Just a few interesting facts, Mr. Speaker, I think are worth

repeating. For example, Mr. Speaker, we have not borrowed in this Province since

2004. Standard & Poor's gave us a credit rating of A+. We have a ten-year plan

to reduce our net debt per capita to the national average. We have already

reduced it by 26 per cent since we took over. These are significant achievement

and significant facts that bear repeating.

The Minister of Finance, in his Budget presentation, Mr. Speaker, indicated

that the economic indicators for the year 2011 were good. He made reference to

the fact that GDP growth was up, investment was up, retail sales were up,

exports were up, employment was up, and so on, and that the indicators for 2012

were looking good as well.

Now, we do have some problems coming up in the next two years because of the

closing down of two of our offshore projects. White Rose and Terra Nova are

going to be shut down for several months and production will drop as a result of

that. The economy is still expected, Mr. Speaker, to remain strong. Real GDP

will remain unchanged because of the fallback of the oil production projects,

but the economy is expected to remain strong. Areas such as employment, for

example, will remain strong, personal disposable income, rental and retail

sales, capital investments, mineral shipments, and so on. All of these things

are going to stay strong for 2012. As the minister says, Mr. Speaker, the

economy is booming on all cylinders and it is expected to stay that way for the

coming year.

Mr. Speaker, this government will, as it has done in the past, continue to

practice prudent spending and continue to maintain a balance in spending based

on what is affordable. We have committed, Mr. Speaker, in this Budget to

spending within our means. Over the last few years when we had big surpluses, we

were able to spend money significantly in infrastructure

developments and we do that in good times, when you have

money to spend.

Now, Mr. Speaker, we have to cut our garment according to our cloth. The

revenues are not going to be as good, so we are going to be more prudent in our

spending. We will spend within our means, like any responsible household would

do or any responsible family would do. That is what this government is all

about, Mr. Speaker, responsibility.

Mr. Speaker, if I could speak about the Budget process for a minute. Cabinet

ministers were involved in the Budget process. It is a very intense and

comprehensive exercise. It provides each minister with the opportunity to do an

in-depth analysis of his or her own department, what programs are working, what

programs are not working, what programs need more investments, and what programs

can be cut back.

I remember when I first came into the portfolio, it was in the fall of 2007,

and my experience with budgeting at that point in time, Mr. Speaker, was to sign

the back of my cheque. That is the only budgeting experience that I had. I soon

learned, Mr. Speaker, in getting involved in the budgeting process in the

Department of Justice, I heard such things as lapsed funds, re-profiling of

funds, JVing' of funds, terms that I had never heard in my life.

Mr. Speaker, it was baptism by fire, because I was appointed in October and

the Budget process was underway, so I had to dive in and learn all about the

Budget process. Mr. Speaker, there is no better way to learn about your

department than get involved in the Budget process. It gives you an insight as

well into the tremendous responsibility you have as politicians, as members of

this government to act fairly and wisely, Mr. Speaker, to spend properly the

taxpayers' dollars. It is not our money. It is not the government's money; it is

the people's money. Mr. Speaker, we have a tremendous responsibility to invest

it prudently and wisely to secure a good future for our future generations. That

is why we were elected. That is why the people of this Province elected this

party to run this Province. They did not elect the Liberals, they did not elect

the NDP, they elected the PC Party of Newfoundland and Labrador to run this

Province, and it is based on the prudent fiscal policies that we have had over

the last eight years.

Mr. Speaker, as the minister and preparing for the Budget process, you

advocate for your department. There are things in the department that needs

investment, there are things you want to see grow. There are new initiatives you

want to take on. You try to advocate for your department. Every minister goes to

the Budget process with a wish list of things they would like to have for their

department. Mr. Speaker, you also realize that you have to be part of the team

with a central focus on what is best for the Province of Newfoundland and

Labrador. You have to take

part in that activity. You do not always get what you

look for. You do not always get what is on your wish list because what is

important, Mr. Speaker, is what is in the best interests of the Province.

Mr. Speaker, the overriding intention of this Province in developing this

Budget was not to leave a burden for our children, for our grandchildren, not to

come to the Budget presentation with an $800 million debt or a $700 million

debt. That was the Premier's direction, Mr. Speaker. Under the leadership of

this Premier and the Minister of Finance, our task was to make sure that we cut

our garment according to our cloth and develop a Budget that is in the best

interests of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, keeping in mind the future

generations of this Province. A tremendous responsibility, Mr. Speaker, on the

government side to decide how to spend the people's money, how to develop

programs, how to invest in programs and at the same time keeping the future in

mind. As I mentioned, this is my seventh Budget that I have been involved in. It

has not only been a tremendous responsibility, Mr. Speaker, but it is also a

tremendous honour and privilege to be involved in that.

Mr. Speaker, as politicians we all have the opportunity on occasion to attend

high school graduations and proms, and speak to young people. I have been doing

that for many, many years, long before I came into politics. As a school board

official and district superintendent, I attended many high school graduations,

brought many greetings and gave addresses to high school graduates. There was

always the question, Mr. Speaker, trying to come up with the right clichs to

address young people. Telling them: you are going out in the world, you are

starting the next phase of your life, there are limitless opportunities out

there; the same clichs every year that people give to young people graduating

from high school.

Since I became a politician and represent the government at high school

graduations, I have taken a new perspective on that. I try to tell young people

that there is a very close connection between government and young people and

how it is very important for government to be represented in high school

graduations where young people gather, because the focus of government, Mr.

Speaker, is or should be young people, securing a future for the next

generation. That is what I try to tell these people because they sit in front of

me in high school graduations, the next generation is you. Our focus as a

government is to make sure that we secure a good future for you in this

Province, and that governs all policies, all activities of this government. That

has been the focus of this government, Mr. Speaker, and I am proud to be part of

it. It is that responsibility that is reflected in the Budget brought down by

the minister a short time ago.

Mr. Speaker, with all budgets, Oppositions have a role to play. They have a

role to play. They question budgets and where spending is taking place, how much

spending is taking place, where spending should be taking place, and where it is

not taking place. As a rule, they point out the things that are not in the

Budget. Mr. Speaker, you could never have a Budget that includes everything. You

could never have a Budget that includes all the things that Opposition people

want.

Now, I must say, the Liberals have been reasonable in their opposition to

this Budget.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. F. COLLINS: They make statements of where money should be spent,

where money should not be spent, but that is par for the course. They give some

credit where credit is due, and that is par for the course as well, but, Mr.

Speaker, I cannot say the same for the Third Party. I cannot say the same for

the Third Party. I do not know where they are in terms of what they expect in a

Budget process.

AN HON. MEMBER: They do not know (inaudible).

MR. F. COLLINS: They obviously do not know themselves, but I hear the

Third Party day after day after day rise in this House - when they respond to

ministerial statements, for example, you always wait for the word but;

everything is great, but you should spend more - all the time, every time it

comes up.

Mr. Speaker, I call them the universal party because they want to have

universal home care, they want to have universal child care, they want to have

universal long-term care, they want to have universal housing. There are not

enough money trees that could be grown, Mr. Speaker, to fund the program.

They come from a position that they know that they are not going to be

elected as the government, although sometimes I get the feeling they think they

are. They have no responsibility to be accountable. They do not have to cost

their initiatives. We should be spending millions on this, millions on that, and

millions on something else. It is inexplicable that they should get themselves

elected and then take that irresponsible approach on behalf of the people who

elect them. It makes no sense whatsoever.

They talk about motherhood issues. Child care is a motherhood issue. Home

care is a motherhood issue, and housing. These are things that resonate with

people, but they lead people in the wrong direction I better be careful of my

parliamentary language here by suggesting that unending amounts of money can

be spent on these things. It is inexplicable that they can take this position

day after day.

The Premier mentioned earlier today that the Third Party suggested that we

implement all of the recommendations of the MOU in fisheries. Half a billion

dollars and they did nothing to restructure the fishery. Spend it; I have heard,

no, this is not a year to be paying down on debt. This is a time when we should

be spending more on social programs. Mr. Speaker, the responsibility factor is

just not there.

I have not heard the same degree from the Liberals. I will give them credit.

Certainly, from the Third Party, I have no idea where they coming from in their

constant demand for more spending by this government. It makes no sense

whatsoever.

They talk about all-party committees. The Leader of the Third Party wants an

all-party committee on everything, an all-party committee on this, and an

all-party committee on that. They feel that they should be part of government.

With that kind of approach, who would want them?

Mr. Speaker, I just want to mention a few things with respect to my own

department, the Department of Justice. As I mentioned earlier, as ministers we

advocate for our departments. There are lots of things we would like to see and

a lot of things we would like to have. We do not always get them. When the

Budget process starts, Mr. Speaker, you have a list that wide and then as it

goes through all the processes and departments it narrows down. By the time you

get to the Budget presentations, it is this wide. Even then, you have to make

concessions.

Mr. Speaker, there are three foundations of a good justice system: policing,

courts, and corrections. These are the foundations of a good justice system.

This is one of the safest provinces in Canada to live, thanks to the great

police system that we have had, Mr. Speaker. The last few days in this House we

have had a lot of references made to policing in this Province and how proud we

are of the police force that we have.

Mr. Speaker, this government had the foresight back in 2004 to predict, or to

see that with the development of industry and commerce in this Province, crime

follows, unfortunately. Social conflicts and social problems follow development.

As a result of that, this Province invested heavily in its police forces. This

Province happens to have, Mr. Speaker, a unique model in that it has two

provincial police forces, the best model in the country. Our government fully

supports them. We have made significant investment; we have increased the Budget

since 2004 by $52 million. We put an extra 145 sets of boots on the streets.

That commitment to our police forces parallels the commitment that they make in

turn to their communities.

Mr. Speaker, just a few weeks ago I had the honour to announce that we had

reached a new service agreement with the RCMP ensuring the status of the RCMP in

this Province for the next twenty years. We were very fortunate, Mr. Speaker;

after two years of deliberations and discussions we have now changed our

relationship with the federal government to a partnership, a full-scale

partnership as opposed to a client-based model. That provides the Province with

enhancements and more control with respect to financial spending,

accountability, and cost containment. We have made tremendous improvements in

these areas.

Mr. Speaker, through the Budget just brought down we mentioned an additional,

this year, $4.1 million in the new agreement. Part of that $4.1 million, Mr.

Speaker: $3.9 million this year for infrastructure developments. As a result of

that investment, new detachments will be built in St. Anthony. The work is

already ongoing in St. Anthony and that will continue; a new detachment in

Twillingate, a new detachment in Clarenville, in Rocky Harbour, and in

Whitbourne over the next five years, part of a five-year plan. Mr. Speaker, with

the plan being a twenty-year plan we can do that in five-year increments, so

over twenty years there will be four such plans that will enhance our

infrastructure development throughout this Province.

We also provided funding for another Child Exploitation Unit with the

Newfoundland Constabulary. We also, Mr. Speaker, invested significantly in the

continuation of the new RNC complex, which will be the historic home and

operation headquarters of the RNC.

With corrections, Mr. Speaker, obviously the big need in corrections is down

by the lake of HMP. We are currently in the process of assessing all our

infrastructure correctional facilities in this Province to see what it is that

we can do to hold the fort while we are looking for a solution for HMP. Mr.

Speaker, we are continuing to do that, we are assessing our infrastructure

projects, and we hope to have some recommendations for the government in short

order.

We have not stood still, Mr. Speaker. As a result of the Decades of Darkness

report, seventy-six of the seventy-seven recommendations of that report have

been implemented. We have made great improvements; we have invested $7 million

in our correctional facilities and made significant infrastructure improvements

and program improvements.

Mr. Speaker, we have funded significant advancements in the Stephenville

correctional institution. We have also put $800,000 in a new ventilation system

at HMP. We put $1 million into Clarenville. We put the money in our courts. We

had a $20 million courthouse in Corner Brook; we continue to spend money in our

court facilities around the Province. We have put a security screening program

in place in Atlantic Place.

Mr. Speaker, we continue to invest in our corrections systems and we will

continue to look to a solution for the long-term correctional needs of this

Province. Since we are housing federal prisoners in this Province, we still hold

that the federal government has an obligation to come to the table with regard

to that. We will stick to that commitment.

Mr. Speaker, my time is running out before I got halfway through my report,

before my comments. I never did get a chance to get to my district at all.

Rather than just give that short shrift, Mr. Speaker, I will stop there. Thank

you for the opportunity to speak to this Budget. It is certainly a Budget in the

best interests of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. I am very honoured and it is

a great responsibility to be part of it.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The Member for Lake Melville.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. RUSSELL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Let me first just say what an absolute honour it is to speak to my first

Budget here in the House of Assembly. As my colleague for the District of Mount

Pearl South said yesterday, with the numbers we have on this side from the

overwhelming mandate given to us by the people back in October 2011, this is an

absolutely wonderful opportunity for us in the back row here to get up and say a

few words about the Budget and what it means to our district.

First, Mr. Speaker, I would just like to say that while I was watching the

proceedings today it dawned on me and first let me say that I love this job, I

really do. I have a big family in this House and it is not unlike my house back

in Labrador where I have a big family as well. It reminded me today of my two

young nephews coming to visit. I have an older nephew in the form of the

Opposition and a younger nephew in the form of the Third Party. With my older

nephew, not matter what you say to him I say: Eat your grill cheese. He says:

No, it is no good. I say: Well, drink your juice. He says: No, I do not like it.

It is no good. So my point being, it does not matter what you say it is going to

be the opposite. He is going to come back to you with a little sass and that is

going to be the end of it. When it comes to my younger nephew, Mr. Speaker, he

is much younger and he is only now starting to speak. So it is very reminiscent

of the Third Party, I think. It is pretty much gibberish, Mr. Speaker. You

cannot really tell what is being said. Words are being thrown out all over the

place. In the case of the Third Party, buzz words, that is really unintelligible

at this point.

I would just like to say we do have a great big family in here and it is

wonderful for me to be able to get up and speak to this Budget here today.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. RUSSELL: Mr. Speaker, just let me start by saying that I am truly

pleased with this Budget. I am happy to be part of the government that can run a

tight ship be financially prudent and responsible and still act with a social

conscience, even though we are anticipating that deficit for this year and the

next one, Mr. Speaker. Basically with the offset payments ending from the

Atlantic Accord and with Terra Nova and White Rose projects going down for

scheduled maintenance, that is $1.1 billion, Mr. Speaker, that we are not going

to have as revenue this year. I tell you, I think that our Minister of Finance

should really be commended because we are doing an excellent job of staying the

course towards continued prosperity, even without that $1.1 billion, Mr.

Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. RUSSELL: I think that people have feared the absolute worst when it

comes to Budget time, especially knowing that we were going to be projecting a

deficit, Mr. Speaker. We managed to keep our commitment to the people of

Newfoundland and Labrador in keeping the momentum going, to keeping our focus on

increasing the quality of life for people in the Province without having to

adopt that slash and burn mentality that everybody had assumed was coming. We

can indeed stay the course, Mr. Speaker, and manage that $258 million deficit

for 2012-2013, but I think simply our prosperity in this Province cannot be

contained. By the time we get to 2014-2015, we will be right back into the

surplus mode.

Back to where we should be and back to where we have been for some time, Mr.

Speaker, because the Province has recorded cumulative surpluses of approximately

$5.5 billion in six of the last seven years, and in that time - I cannot get up

here and speak to this Budget without mentioning the fact that we have been

continuously mindful of our debt and our debt structure, Mr. Speaker. We have

reduced that of course, as everybody knows, by $4 billion since 2004. That is an

impressive debt reduction, and it is also very impressive in terms of our debt

expenses.

So, we have reduced our debt to unprecedented levels and we have also made

unprecedented levels of investment and maintained our economic momentum. Very

few provinces anywhere, Mr. Speaker, could boast such as a claim. Absolutely, I

say we should give ourselves a hand for that one, because we are doing great.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. RUSSELL: We are a leader in this country, Mr. Speaker, when it comes

to such things.

I would just like to say, well, how does this debt reduction serve the

people, Mr. Speaker? As noted by my colleague yesterday, and as noted in the

Budget: in 2004, 23 per cent of our gross revenue was consumed by our debt

expenses 23 per cent. Now that is a lot. We have come now up into this Budget

to 10.8 per cent, in terms of our revenues being used to service our debt, Mr.

Speaker. What does that mean to the people of the Province? It means hundreds of

millions of dollars used for programming, for all programs and services that our

people need, tax cuts, and also initiatives to support and continue the growth

that we are experiencing in our Province. That is no small feat.

So, this plan, Mr. Speaker, is all about that momentum. It is about

maintaining all the momentum we have gained since taking government back in

2003. We are indeed a have province; never have we been more prosperous and

never has there been such a feeling, a sense of optimism. No matter where you

go, no matter which district you are in, no matter who you are talking to,

people are optimistic, and they think that the best is certainly yet to come.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. RUSSELL: I tell you what, Mr. Speaker, people know that our

government is fiscally responsible and socially progressive, and I mean that. We

use our prosperity as a means of extending these benefits back to the residents

of our great Province, Mr. Speaker, and give back we will.

This Budget will benefit our people, it will benefit our Province, and it

reflects responsibility, Mr. Speaker. It reflects a conservative approach with

our reduced rate of spending growth. While we are being practical, we are still

going to put all those essential programs out there, all those services to

Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, as a result of our current and our future

prosperity. These truly, truly are exciting times for our Province, and we will

have to be responsible, but we also, Mr. Speaker, have to be bold in order to

carry our prosperity forward. So it is clearly time, I think, to stop reflecting

on investments that were never followed up on in the past and to make our own

destiny. I think this destiny, Mr. Speaker, is based on renewable energy.

Basically, the topic of the day has certainly always been Muskrat, and it has

been for some time, the development of the Lower Churchill, Mr. Speaker. You can

break it down and simplify it if you like. If you listen to the Minister of

Natural Resources, it comes down to simple points such as the need for power.

Will we need that power? We have heard the minister say today that by 2020,

there will be a definite need, and by 2015 we are certainly going to be seeing

hiccups in our grid, Mr. Speaker. So it is obvious we need that power. That has

to come.

Will Muskrat be the lowest-cost option? Well, Mr. Speaker, we have had a lot

of analysis thus far. We have had Navigant and Manitoba Hydro, we have had the

Consumer Advocate, and we have economists such as Wade Locke. We are seeing

everybody come back with one resounding note all about this particular

development: this will be the lowest-cost option and the best course of action

for the people.

Yet, Mr. Speaker, we are still going to come back to this House. We are still

going to engage in full debate. Hopefully we get to the position where we can

sanction this project, once we are absolutely sure and being responsible once

more as a government that this will be the best option for the people.

I just want to talk about how this relates to my district, Mr. Speaker, in

terms of the development of Muskrat Falls. Basically, we are going to see $450

million in income for Labradorians $450 million in income. That is a lot of

money.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. RUSSELL: We are going to see people get jobs. We are going to have

2,700 people working during construction, Mr. Speaker. We are going to have

businesses in full flight. Everybody is going to be basically seizing the day

and seizing the opportunity that is put before them. Everybody is going to be

benefiting from that development.

Not only that, we are seeing a buzz in my district, Mr. Speaker, from the

children, the kids, and all the young students who are out there. They want

opportunities. When I was campaigning in Lake Melville, they said: Mr. Russell,

Keith, what are you going to do? Why do we all have to go away to Alberta to

work? Why do we all have to go away? There is nothing here for us. With 5 Wing

Goose Bay in a downturn right now, they are saying: What are you going to do for

us? I told them one thing and one thing only: I am going to push the development

of the Lower Churchill. I am going to make sure we see prosperity in our region,

Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. RUSSELL: This government is very progressive. It is very bold. It is

very responsible, Mr. Speaker. We understand that we cannot have all of our eggs

in one basket. We understand that we need a diversification of revenue sources

in order to maintain the momentum we have developed up to this point and in

order to ensure that the next generation, my children, your children, all of our

children, and even the children from the people across the floor here they

have to have a future. It is as simple as that.

They throw out those bogeymen, Mr. Speaker, about Muskrat, about the doubling

of rates, and all of that stuff. We have heard the minister say it comes down to

this: We need Muskrat, we need that additional power, and we need that green,

renewable energy in order to stabilize the rates for the people of the Province,

Mr. Speaker. It is as simple as that.

When I talk about being progressive and being bold, Mr. Speaker, right now we

depend on oil and we are subject to the whim of the markets and to the oil

pricing. I tell you what; we have to find a way when those reserves dry up. We

are always going to be looking, we are always going to be exploring for new

patches of oil, absolutely. We have to find a way so that when our rights to the

Upper Churchill development revert to us, and those oil reserves are gone, that

we are still in a position of power. A power, Mr. Speaker, where we have power

and control of our own destiny, and we have control of our own energy corridor

in terms of green, renewable energy from the Lower Churchill, Mr. Speaker.

Nobody can argue with that simple fact is that at that point in time, whether

that is around 2041 when we are thinking that we are going to get those oil

resources are going to dry up and that we get our rights to Upper Churchill

back, we will be in a position of control, control of our own destiny, Mr.

Speaker, and that is for sure.

In terms of my own district, when it comes to Muskrat Falls, Mr. Speaker, we

are already seeing a lot of people generating interest. We have a migration from

the North Coast of Labrador and the South Coast of Labrador. People are all

coming to Lake Melville to make their own way. They know what is coming. They

know that prosperity is there, not only with the Lower Churchill but we also

have a lot of other developments on the horizon as well. Labrador West, Mr.

Speaker, with the mineral shipments coming out of there, $4.7 billion I believe

it was in the Province. Unbelievable and that is only going to keep continuing

to grow. This is simply the greatest time in our history, Mr. Speaker, in terms

of prosperity. The Province knows it, and we know we are going to continue this

momentum. We are in great shape and I think the best is truly yet to come.

Anyway, Mr. Speaker, before I move on to the other issues that are affecting

my district in Labrador in general, I would just like to say too that the one

thing, me as MHA for Lake Melville, I cannot wait until that day comes when we

get independence from being held hostage by Quebec, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. RUSSELL: When we have control of our own destiny, that is a day that

I am going to be proud to say hopefully I will be around and hopefully my

children will be able to enjoy, Mr. Speaker. We will debate this in the House

again and we will get close to sanctioning. I hope that we have a very spirited,

a very heated and a very educational debate on Muskrat Falls when the time

comes. I believe in my heart, Mr. Speaker, that this is the way to maintain our

prosperity for the people who live here and work here and for our future

generations.

Moving on to talk a little more about Labrador and Lake Melville in general,

this Budget, Mr. Speaker, has several things and I am going to get into them. We

have a focus on Labrador, we have a focus on infrastructure in Labrador, and we

have a focus on Aboriginal people in Labrador, Mr. Speaker. This Budget has been

building on the achievements of the Northern Strategic Plan. We have $158

million investment in Labrador, basically to make sure that we have a very

vibrant, social and economic future, Mr. Speaker.

The first one I would like to talk about just a little bit is the

Trans-Labrador Highway, Mr. Speaker. Budget 2012 gives me $65.8 million for the

last two tenders for Phase I of the Trans-Labrador Highway. I tell you what, Mr.

Speaker, people in my district are very pleased that we are going to make that

investment now in this fiscal year. I tell you, this is now, Mr. Speaker, more

than $250 million invested in Phase I alone.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. RUSSELL: That makes that one of the largest infrastructure projects

in the Province's history, Mr. Speaker, and I am quite happy to say that

connects right into my backyard.

We listened to the Member for Labrador West talk yesterday about where this

all came from and what the condition of the road was in years gone by. I would

just like to say very quickly, Mr. Speaker, that I remember hunting on Churchill

Road with my father as a young boy and I tell you, in the wintertime you could

not even drive up there in a car or a truck. We left from my home on Ski-Doo, we

went up there and I tell you the hills the hunting was great, don't get me

wrong, and it was beautiful scenery. Now, just a short few years later, here we

are where we have a road that is accessible year round. I tell you, Mr. Speaker,

I just came back from Churchill Falls just this past weekend where I attended

the high school graduation of the Eric G. Lambert School there, Mr. Speaker, and

I tell you the road was exceptional. Of course, it is even going to be better

when we have a little more blacktop on there. I tell you we are getting there,

the people know we are getting there, and the people know that we are committed

to infrastructure in Labrador as well, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. RUSSELL: Before I move on from Churchill Falls, I would just like to

say too in terms of what our government likes to foster, which is a great

Province to live in where you can become educated, where you can get a good job,

where you can succeed in life.

Mr. Speaker, I would just like to say on behalf of the grads at Churchill

Falls, we had fifteen graduates, every single graduate in Churchill Falls is

continuing into post-secondary education. I would like to applaud them for that,

Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. RUSSELL: With the help of Nalcor, they had a wonderful graduation. It

was a beautiful ceremony. I tell you, these are going to be contributing members

of our society; hopefully, the majority of them will stay right here at home in

Newfoundland and Labrador, Mr. Speaker.

I have just a few other points. I would like to talk about a few other things

that are happening in Labrador and in Lake Melville in general. Mr. Speaker,

this was already mentioned by my colleague, the Member for Labrador West, the

Minister of Labrador Affairs. We have $25.7 million, Mr. Speaker, to continue

the Labrador West health centre, making that overall investment $90 million.

That is just wonderful.

We also have over a quarter of a million dollars, $276 million to be exact,

to enhance dialysis services in the Lab Health Centre in Goose Bay, right in my

district, Mr. Speaker. I tell you what, I did get a number of concerns from

dialysis and how they do not want to be travelling outside of their hometown,

and rightfully so. I would like to thank the government and the Minister of

Health for that contribution as well. We have $275,000 for the ambulance base in

Cartwright. The South Coast road, Mr. Speaker, it is a long drive. I think that

people who are going to be making use of that road and the ferry services to get

to the Island portion of the Province will have that piece of mind to know that

we do have something there just in case there is a need for it, Mr. Speaker. We

also have over $100,000 for a pharmacist's position in the Jackman Memorial

Hospital in Labrador City too. It is good for the people of Lab West,

absolutely.

Very quickly I see my time is winding down, Mr. Speaker. I would just like to

talk about a few other things that are happening in Labrador. As mentioned by my

colleague for Torngat Mountains, across the way, $2 million to remediate the

former US military site in Hopedale. We have $750,000 from the Minister of

Tourism, Culture and Recreation for the Labrador Travel Subsidy Program to

enable 1,500 athletes from Labrador to travel to the Island portion of the

Province, to develop their skills in sports, to compete, and to get a trip out

here and meet other great people from the other side of the Province. We have

$560,000 to staff some of the people in Child, Youth and Family Services on the

North Coast in Hopedale and Nain always a welcome investment. Housing is very

hard to find on the North Coast, I will tell you that, Mr. Speaker. Any little

bit of help will always be appreciated.

Also, I would like to thank the Minister of Environment and Conservation for

an additional $522,000 to continue the management efforts of the George River

caribou herd. This is very important, Mr. Speaker. Just last year my son got his

first animal. It was a wonderful experience for my father and for me, as father,

and my son to get out there. What a wonderful trip. I tell you what, Mr.

Speaker; we have to preserve that resource. Nobody will doubt the importance of

that resource, especially people who live in Labrador. Basically, we know that

the herd is in sharp decline, we know that something has to be done, and I would

like to thank the government for erring on the side of caution and for engaging

in conservation to make sure that we do have a chance of bringing that herd back

up to a healthy population, and I think we certainly do, Mr. Speaker.

I would like to talk about some specialized services with an Aboriginal focus

that is going to happen in Labrador. Unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, in our Innu

communities within Labrador we do have a disproportionate amount of issues when

it comes to addictions. This is true across Canada and certainly across Labrador

in terms of the struggles that Aboriginal populations have and the realities

that are there.

We are putting $282,000 toward healing initiatives, which will help aid the

communities in getting over these issues. It is certainly a welcome investment.

As our government also does, Mr. Speaker, and takes these issues very seriously,

I would like to personally thank the