June 4, 2012

HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS Vol. XLVII No. 42

The House met at 1: 30 p.m.

MR. SPEAKER (Wiseman): Order, please!

Admit strangers.

Today we are very pleased to welcome I know we are very pleased, but I

think we are probably going to be welcoming one of the youngest members to ever

sit in the Speaker's gallery with us today and very pleased to have with us

the provincial government's winner of the meter stamp contest. We have Karlie

Pinsent, who is the winner of that. She is a Grade 4 student in Greenwood

Academy in Campbellton. She is here with her family today.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: Welcome, Karlie, to our Assembly.

We are also very pleased today to welcome in fact, they are just entering

the gallery; I will acknowledge them as they are walking in - seventeen Grade 3

students from Topsail Elementary in the District of Topsail.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: They are accompanied today by their principal, Ann Marie

Conway, and their teacher, Heather Squires. Welcome to our Assembly.

Statements by Members

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

the District of Torngat Mountains, the Member for the District of Exploits, the

Member for the District of Mount Pearl South, the Member for the District of

Port de Grave, the Member for the District of Cartwright L'Anse au Clair, and

the Member for the District of Bonavista North.

The hon. the Member for the District of Torngat Mountains.

MR. EDMUNDS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I rise in this hon. House today to recognize the volunteer efforts of a most

remarkable member of the community of Nain.

Mr. Speaker, Rod Pilgrim has given nearly forty years of dedicated volunteer

service to the residents of Nain. Mr. Pilgrim was and still is a cornerstone of

the volunteer community, having set up many organizations, such as recreation

committees, and has served tirelessly as a past member of the town council for

many, many years.

Rod has also repaired many, many hundreds of machinery and household items

for residents in Nain while not asking for or taking a penny in payment. This is

especially appreciated by the residents of Nain as they do not have repair shops

for costly equipment.

Mr. Pilgrim is the definition of a volunteer and his name no doubt has been

put forward as a candidate for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Awards from the

District of Torngat Mountains.

I ask all members of this hon. House to join me in recognizing the

extraordinary efforts of Mr. Rod Pilgrim.

Thank you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for District of Exploits.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. FORSEY: Mr. Speaker, on Saturday, May 26, the Trefoil Central Area of

Girl Guides of Canada held their very first Canada Cord Awards at the Brittany

Inns in Lewisporte.

Mr. Speaker, the Canada Cord presentation is the second-highest award any

girl can receive in all her years with Girl Guides and can only be awarded after

they meet the requirements of the three-year program.

Mr. Speaker, from Bishop's Falls, the recipients were: Chelsea Baker,

Samantha Martin, Shae-Lynn Slade, and Danielle King. From Botwood, the

recipients were: Erin Ball, Julia Collins, Kelsey Saunders, and Brianna McGrath.

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

these recipients on their dedication to the Guide movement and for this

prestigious recognition.

Thank you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for the District of Mount Pearl South.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. LANE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to rise in this hon. House to recognize the

Mount Pearl Lions Club for their tremendous contribution to the City of Mount

Pearl and indeed to the Province as a whole. This group of community-minded

volunteers are actively engaged in such activities as: the Adopt-a-Highway

program, participation in the Frosty Festival, blood donor clinics, Christmas

hampers for the needy, Christmas shoe box campaign, eyeglass recycling program,

Peace Poster Contest, and the running of the Mount Pearl Santa Claus Parade,

just to name a few.

They also contribute financially to many worthwhile programs such as the

School Breakfast Program, sponsoring of sports teams, high and junior high

school scholarships, and the Mount Pearl Youth Opportunity Fund.

Mr. Speaker, we have often heard the expression that volunteers are the heart

of our community. This group is certainly a testament to that. I would therefore

ask all members of this hon. House to join me in commending the Mount Pearl

Lions Club for the great work they do in the community.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. LITTLEJOHN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I rise today to recognize a lady who was a foster parent for fifty years.

Today I pay tribute to Louise Lane of Makinsons for her caring, sharing, and

enhancing the lives of over 160 children.

Mrs. Lane opened her doors to her first foster child in 1961, was a birth

mother for two children, and adopted three children during her life. She was

widowed at the age of forty-two with four of her own children and five foster

children at the time.

As the family grew, so did her home, with the addition of another room

constructed mostly by her sons to accommodate the next child who came her way.

She commented that when a child left, it was like giving away one of her own

children.

Mrs. Lane is now gone, but her legacy of love, devotion, caring, and sharing

will live on in the lives she has touched. In her last years, while battling

illness, she still shared her home with children in need and on the day of her

passing was caring for two foster children.

I ask all hon. members to join me in recognizing a woman who gave her love to

everyone who passed over her doorstep.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Cartwright L'Anse au Clair.

MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I rise in the House to recognize the outstanding efforts of residents of

Charlottetown, Labrador and surrounding areas, as well as those residents in

Corner Brook, who both held cancer relays this past weekend and raised a

tremendous amount of money for cancer research, treatment, and prevention.

It was an honour for me to participate and speak at the rally held in

Charlottetown. There were a total of seven teams participating, with team

members travelling from Red Bay to Cartwright to show their support. Three of

these teams were all youth participants, which truly demonstrate the compassion

and caring nature of our youth.

This was their seventh annual relay, which raised approximately $15,000,

bringing the total over the past seven years to approximately $140,000. It was a

very cultural evening, with the team, Trapping for a Cure, from Pinsent's Arm

being named the most spirited, and the team, Fishing for a Cure, being the team

that raised the most money.

I also attended the Relay for Life and spoke at the Survivors' banquet in

Corner Brook on Saturday. It was a fabulous show of support in the region, as

well as thirty-five teams participating in the relay, and 250 attending the

Survivors' dinner. This was their tenth annual relay, and keeps getting bigger

and better each year. They raised approximately $54,000, and participants and

organizers are to be commended for their support and dedication.

I ask members in the House to join me in recognizing the organizers,

participants, and the donors who were responsible for making these Relay for

Life celebrations in Charlottetown and Corner Brook a success, and the

communities around the Province for the work that they are doing with Relay for

Life. These events play a vital role in our Province toward the treatment and

prevention of this dreaded disease.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The Member for Bonavista North.

MR. CROSS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

It gives me great pleasure and honour to rise today to recognize several

graduating cadets from my district. I was fortunate to attend ceremonial reviews

of the 840 Indian Bay Air Cadet Squadron and 2910 Lions Army Cadet Corps at

New-Wes-Valley on the 28 of April, and the 12 of May, respectively.

I have always admired the discipline and commitment of the cadets and their

leaders, and I witnessed very poised performances in public speaking, music,

band performance, demonstrations of leadership by youth, and lessons on first

aid and survival in their static displays.

I would like to name personally the graduating cadets from my district who

have been involved and most of them, I would add, with 100 per cent attendance

for all six years. From the 840 Squadron in Indian Bay: Warrant Officer First

Class Lyndon Rogers, and Warrant Officers Second Class Noelle Slaney and Kaitlin

Hunt. From the 2910 Lions Army Cadet Corps at New-Wes-Valley, Chief Warrant

Officer Myles Burry, Warrant Officer Hillary Feltham, and Warrant Officer Megan

Blackwood. Also, from the 537 Squadron at Gander, Flight Sergeant John-Charles

Tulk of Aspen Cove, who travelled to Gander weekly. His father drove him, so you

might say he had a driven desire to be a cadet.

I would ask all members to congratulate also two gentlemen who had the

foresight forty years ago, Mr. Gerald Batstone and Walter Jacobs who were

instrumental in founding and being active in all forty years of 2910 Corps at

New-Wes-Valley. Mr. Speaker, I have come to realize that being a cadet involves

more than marching and polishing shoes.

Thank you very much.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: Statements by Ministers.

Statements by Ministers

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. DALLEY: Mr. Speaker, I rise to inform this House that earlier today,

on behalf of the hon. Clyde Jackman, Minister of Education, I had the great

pleasure of making a presentation to the winner of the provincial government's

postage meter stamp design contest, which was held to commemorate the sixtieth

anniversary of the reign of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II.

Last month, we challenged Grade 4 students in school districts throughout

Newfoundland and Labrador to come up with a postage meter message to acknowledge

Her Majesty's Diamond Jubilee. The winning image, Mr. Speaker, will be placed on

all provincial government outgoing mail for the remainder of 2012.

We chose Grade 4 students, Mr. Speaker, because it is at this level that our

students are introduced to the relationship between the British monarchy and

Canada as part of the social studies curriculum. They study Canadian symbols,

such as Canada's Coat of Arms, and the history of Britain in Newfoundland and

Labrador, and in Canada. This contest was designed to enhance our students'

awareness of this aspect of our history, and our democracy, and to let them be

part of the activities marking this significant event in the reign of Queen

Elizabeth II.

In fact, this contest is one of a series of activities being held this year

to honour Her Majesty for a lifetime of dedication to public service. For

example, last month there was a ceremonial shrub planting here at the

Confederation Building and, as you may know, two Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee

congratulatory message books have been touring the Province for the past several

weeks. They will be delivered to Buckingham Palace in January 2013.

Mr. Speaker, allow me this opportunity to thank all the students and teachers

who participated in the contest. There were many terrific submissions from all

over the Province, but, in the end, there had to be a winner and that winner

was Karlie Pinsent, a student at Greenwood Academy in Campbellton.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. DALLEY: My colleagues can see the design depicted below on their

copies of this statement, as well as the envelopes featuring the new stamp. It

will also be available for viewing on-line.

Mr. Speaker, Karlie and her family are in the Speaker's gallery today, a

place reserved for very special guests. I invite all members of the House to

join me in congratulating her, and thanking her, for coming up with this special

postage meter design.

Thank you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

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

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

Congratulations to Karlie Pinsent for this extraordinary achievement. It is

wonderful that Karlie and her family could be here to share in her recognition

today.

The postage meter stamp design contest was a creative way to engage Grade 4

students in the Diamond Jubilee and the role that Britain and the Monarchy have

had to play in our history. This contest inspires the artistry of children and

allows the winner exceptional recognition. To think Karlie's image is going to

travel around the globe and be seen by people all around this world is very

exciting. This contest is a very nice gesture to involve kids in the

commemoration of the Diamond Jubilee, and anything in my mind that inspires

children to learn about the history is a great thing.

Again, congratulations to Karlie on this achievement and kudos to all

students who participated.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. KIRBY: Thank you to the minister for an advance copy of his

statement.

I would like to thank all the Grade 4 students and their teachers who

participated in the postage meter contest, and I too extend congratulations to

Karlie Pinsent on her winning entry. Over the next few months a great many

Newfoundlanders and Labradorians and others will have an opportunity to size up

her award winning entry in their mailboxes, and I would also like to applaud the

Department of Education for this initiative. This contest is an innovative way

to encourage our young ones to learn more about our history and our heritage.

Good work!

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MS SULLIVAN: Mr. Speaker, I rise in this hon. House today to recognize

June as Seniors Month. This is an opportunity for the provincial government to

acknowledge the lifelong contribution that seniors make to their communities and

to the Province.

Mr. Speaker, it is important that older people are supported in their ability

to remain independent and that efforts are made to improve their financial

well-being and overall quality of life. With that in mind, Budget 2012 allocated

$3.7 million to provide individuals aged sixty-five years and over, a 35 per

cent reduction on driver's licence and vehicle registration fees, and other

licences and fees for such things as hunting, fishing, cutting wood and camping.

This complements the goals of the provincial Healthy Aging Policy Framework

which aims to recognize older persons, celebrate diversity, support communities,

encourage health and financial well-being, and support employment, education and

research. The framework was established in 2007 to further support and recognize

seniors for their valuable contributions.

Mr. Speaker, our government has made significant investments to help enhance

and improve the lives of older people throughout our Province including

enhancements to the Newfoundland and Labrador Prescription Drug Program,

increases to the home heating rebate, an enhanced Newfoundland and Labrador

Seniors' Benefit, and significant tax reductions.

Our government is moving forward with its commitment to support seniors who

avail of the 65Plus Plan under the Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Drug

Program. Through changes made to this plan resulting from savings from the new

generic drug pricing policy, we have ensured that seniors covered by the 65Plus

Plan will pay no more than $6 per prescription.

Mr. Speaker, part of developing an age-friendly Province is recognizing and

promoting the value and worth of older persons in our Province. It is in this

spirit that the provincial government will present the annual Seniors of

Distinction Awards later this month. This awards program recognizes and

celebrates the lifelong contributions, achievements, and diversity of seniors

throughout Newfoundland and Labrador.

Healthy aging is a priority for our government and we will continue to

support seniors' health and wellbeing throughout Newfoundland and Labrador.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The Leader of the Official Opposition.

MR. BALL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I thank the minister for the advance copy of her statement.

We know we have an estimated 85,000 seniors in our Province right now; that

is one in six people. What we also know, Mr. Speaker, is that by 2025 we are

expected to have one in four people living in our Province, which would be just

over 127,000 seniors. We know this because we have one of the fastest-aging

populations in Canada, largely because people are living longer these days and

we have low birth rates.

What we also know is that seniors, indeed, in our health care system are

treated differently. One of the things that we have been asking for, as other

associations like the Newfoundland and Labrador Medical Association and the

Association of Registered Nurses of Newfoundland and Labrador, is a geriatric

model of care, which is something we feel needs to be included into our health

care system. This is something that is done, as I said, in many other parts of

the world; we know that geriatric patients are treated differently than people

that use our acute care system.

We stand today and recognize the fantastic achievements of many of our

seniors in our Province. They have laid the foundation for a lot of the

privileges that we enjoy today. Mr. Speaker, I join with the minister today

congratulating the seniors and recognizing them for the fantastic benefits they

have given to the Province.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The Leader of the Third Party.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

I, too, thank the minister for an advance copy of her statement. On this

occasion, I would like to recognize the contributions that seniors have made and

are still making to this Province. I would also like to commend the Seniors

Resource Centre and the many other organizations across the Province who work

hard to improve the lives of seniors and to represent those lives to all of us

as elected representatives.

I am pleased that government is protecting seniors on the 65Plus drug program

because of the changes to the generic drug policy. However, many seniors who are

not eligible for this card have trouble paying for drugs and medical supplies.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage the minister and this government to make 65Plus

available to all seniors.

Thank you very much.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: Oral Questions.

Oral Questions

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

MR. BALL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

On Thursday the Premier surprised us all by stating that $8 billion is not

too much to pay for Muskrat Falls. This is contrary to the advice of Dr. Wade

Locke who stated that if cost estimates were to reach that height, then the

project should be reconsidered.

I ask the Premier: At what cost would you reconsider Muskrat Falls, because

apparently $8 billion is not too high?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

PREMIER DUNDERDALE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, we have members opposite pulling numbers out of the air and out

of reports, and putting them forward in isolation, looking for commentary back.

What they got was the kind of answer that that kind of a question deserved, Mr.

Speaker.

When we make a decision on sanction of Muskrat Falls, Mr. Speaker, we will

have updated numbers that are going to be different than the Decision Gate 2

numbers. They will be comparable, compared to all the alternatives, Mr. Speaker,

and what is in the best interest of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians will guide

the decision with regard to sanction.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. BALL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The comment was made. The Premier made the comment in response to the $8

billion question. What we would like to know is - from the government's own

numbers we know that Newfoundlanders and Labradorians will have to pay 16.4

cents per kilowatt of power. That is based on the $6.2 billion budget that is at

DG2 numbers.

I ask the Premier: What will the cost be to ratepayers in this Province if

the project does indeed go to $8 billion?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

PREMIER DUNDERDALE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I am not going to engage in speculation here on the floor of the

House of Assembly. Mr. Speaker, as I said we had a number plucked out of a

report in isolation and a question posed by the Leader of the Third Party based

on that isolated piece of information.

Mr. Speaker, we are getting Decision Gate 3 numbers now. As we get those

numbers, we will do a comparative analysis to all of the alternative options,

Mr. Speaker. Once we get all of that information, it is going to be shared with

members opposite, Mr. Speaker. We are going to have an opportunity to debate it

all here in the House of Assembly, and pertinent questions related to a change

in cost will be answered then, once we understand what those costs are, Mr.

Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. BALL: I ask the Premier - let's make it very clear to the people who

are listening. It was your comment: Is $8 billion too much to pay? You said on

Thursday it was not. Is it too much to pay today?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

PREMIER DUNDERDALE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, in some cases $8 billion might be too much to pay, in other

cases $8 billion might the absolute right amount to pay. We can only make those

decisions once we understand what the Decision Gate 3 numbers are, Mr. Speaker,

and what the costs of all the alternatives are.

Mr. Speaker, certainly members of the Opposition are not suggesting to

Newfoundlanders and Labradorians that we sit up in the dark if $8 billion is the

least cost we can pay for power in this Province. That seems to be what they are

saying over there in the midst of their silly games, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. BALL: Well, it is not a silly game in my mind because the ratepayers

of this Province already know that they will have to pay 100 per cent of that

project. That is what is important for the people that I am talking to.

Just last week we learned that Nalcor's average sale price for export energy

was 4.5 cents a kilowatt hour. Muskrat Falls will cost at least 23.9 cents to

produce, that is to get it to Soldiers Pond. We have also learned that Manitoba

has run into problems selling its power, which costs them eleven cents. They

cannot sell it for 3.5 cents to the US.

I ask the Premier: Are there any export markets for Muskrat Falls willing to

pay the actual cost of construction?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KENNEDY: Yes, Mr. Speaker.

I found to date in this House that the Leader of the Opposition normally does

not get involved in this kind of inaccurate statement. The question becomes, Mr.

Speaker, not the cost to deliver power to Soldiers Pond, but what is it costing

the people of our Province?

I indicated last week, Mr. Speaker, that the average ratepayer in this

Province who uses 1,517 kilowatt hours of electricity per month will, based on

Decision Gate 2 numbers, Mr. Speaker, his or her power bill will go from $217 in

2016 to $232 in 2017. What Muskrat Falls will do, Mr. Speaker, it will stabilize

then reduce rates. It is rather unfair that the member opposite put the question

like that. Also, what about your Labrador mining projects, I say to the Member

of Cartwright L'Anse au Clair?

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. BALL: To be fair to the minister, I will ask the question again. My

question was not about the ratepayers in Newfoundland and Labrador; it was for

export markets.

Are there any export markets willing to pay for the actual costs of the

construction of Muskrat Falls power?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KENNEDY: Mr. Speaker, there are always export markets; when we met

with the various energy advisors in the United States, the way they put it is

that there will be a market. The question, you pay, or how much you will pay is

one issue. Now, what we know, Mr. Speaker, is on the spot markets in the United

States, rates can vary from $40 to $100 based on time of day, time of year; what

the Maritime Link, Mr. Speaker, gives us is access to the markets, but the deal

with Emera also then allows for transmissions costs that will cost very little

to get it to the border.

So, Mr. Speaker, money can be made, but in terms of building this, we are not

going to fall into the trap that other provinces, countries have fallen into,

and that is allowing private companies to build what should belong to the state

and the taxpayer. That is what happened with the Upper Churchill.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. BALL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Well, last week the Minister of Natural Resources stated there was not a lot

of celebration around the Hebron development receiving the green light because

of the ongoing issues around the third module and where it would be built.

Exxon, as we know, would like to build it outside the Province.

So, I ask the Premier: Why did we negotiate and sign an agreement that allows

Exxon to move this $100 million project outside the Province in the first place?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KENNEDY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

In fact, again, the member opposite has it wrong. We do not agree that this

project can go outside the Province. In fact, based on the Hebron Benefits

Agreement, which is a good piece of work, Mr. Speaker, the legal meaning, the

plain wording of the agreement leads us to the inexorable conclusion that this

project has to proceed in this Province for the benefit of the people of our

Province. We are in no way agreeing with ExxonMobil that this project should go

outside. In fact, we have indicated quite strongly to them both the Premier

and myself that we will not agree; bring us your capacity report saying no,

and then we will give you our reply.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. BALL: I will ask the minister the question again. In his press

conference on Friday, he mentioned that there would be significant costs to

Exxon if they were indeed to move that project outside the Province.

So, I ask the minister: What are significant costs? How much is it?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KENNEDY: Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I am not aware of how much of the appendix F, Mr. Speaker, which has the

Hebron Benefits Agreement, is actually out there in the public, so I have to be

careful in terms of the confidentiality clauses. Our position is that the DES

and the living quarters can be built at the same time, parallel or overlapping,

at Bull Arm. This is based on the two proponents here in the Province who say

they can do it. Mr. Speaker, we have looked at this closely, and essential what

happens, if ExxonMobil decides to go outside, then what happens is there is a

dispute resolution process in place. I can tell you, significant means very,

very significant penalties.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The Leader of the Official Opposition.

MR. BALL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Last week we were briefed on Eastern Health's plan to find $43 million in

savings. At that time there was no disclosure of cutting the Poison Control

Centre and outsourcing this to another province.

I ask the minister: Can you confirm that the Poison Control Centre will be

outsourced, and if so, who is it outsourced to?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS SULLIVAN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, there has been no decision made or contemplated in terms of the

Poison Control Centre. It is among a list of options that Eastern Health may

look at, but there is absolutely no decision made. Poison Control service line

exists now; it will exist into the future. Should anything different happen, Mr.

Speaker, we will be the first to come forward and let you know, but Eastern

Health right now is working its way down through all kinds of options that they

may consider in terms of finding the efficiencies that need to be found.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The Leader of the Official Opposition.

MR. BALL: Last week the minister confirmed that reviews of the three

other regional health authorities will be conducted with the same group that

analyzed Eastern Health. We know that the unions and frontline staff were not

consulted in the preparation of the Eastern efficiency reports.

I ask the minister: Will she now commit to ensuring that frontline workers

are consulted in the review of the three other health boards?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS SULLIVAN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, HCM will in fact be engaged to help us with this particular

benchmarking operation. It is not an operational review; it is a benchmarking

operation that we are doing. In terms of engaging frontline staff and union

people, that is not part of a benchmarking process. The benchmarking process, as

I explained the last day that I was here in the House, actually works on

accumulating the data. When it comes time to making recommendations, those

recommendations are actually made by staff in the regional health authority;

directors are consulted, managers are consulted, and then the recommendations

come up. It is the ground up-approach. Recommendations do not come to us from

HCM and then are imposed downward, Mr. Speaker. That is not how a benchmarking

process works.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

A licensed practical nurse workforce model report for our Province was

completed in January 2012. Of the 229 funded LPN seats in the Province, the

report recommended cutting it to 185 seats.

I ask the government now if they have reviewed this report; can you confirm

the total number of seats and the amount of funding that will be put in place

for the LPN program in September of this year?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS BURKE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, the LPN program in Newfoundland and Labrador is offered through

the College of the North Atlantic. The College of the North Atlantic certainly

has no plans to reduce just for the sake of reducing. What we want to make sure

is we look at the labour market needs and the needs of the health boards. Based

on their projected labour market gaps, we want to ensure that the College of the

North Atlantic funds an LPN program that meets the labour market demands of this

Province, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The Opposition House Leader.

MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The workforce report recommends that Burin, St. Anthony, and Happy

Valley-Goose Bay no longer offer the LPN programs at those campuses. It also

recommends that the sites in Corner Brook, Stephenville, and Clarenville be

reduced from a total of eighty-four seats down to fifty-five seats.

I ask the minister if she can confirm whether or not the LPN program will

continue to be offered at all the campuses and if she can confirm for me the

number of seats in each of the programs.

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS BURKE: Mr. Speaker, at this time I cannot say what places will offer

the LPN program or the numbers. What I can say is that the College of the North

Atlantic is very interested in offering the LPN program in the places and with

the numbers that are dictated by the labour market and meet the needs of our

health boards, Mr. Speaker.

We want to make sure that we do not provide overcapacity in the market and we

respond to the needs. Mr. Speaker, the type of analysis that is being undertaken

through Health and Community Services, the Department of Advanced Education and

Skills, and the college is to make sure that we are able to provide the right

number of seats in the most appropriate places in the Province, Mr. Speaker.

This is not about reducing for the sake of reducing or increasing for the sake

of increasing. It is making sure we have the appropriate analysis done.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The Member for Burgeo La Poile.

MR. A. PARSONS: Mr. Speaker, last week in the House, the Premier touted

changes that they made to the Long Harbour development agreement. One of these

changes was Vale Inco's agreement to remove a clause that would have allowed

them to delay the project

schedule for such reasons as a shortage of labour.

I ask the Premier: In retrospect, would you not say that removing the clause

has been to the detriment of local workers, as Vale now looks outside the

Province to keep pace with the schedule?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS BURKE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, the labour force secretariat in the Department of Advanced

Education and Skills has been working with Vale in partnership to ensure that we

are able to provide the opportunity to the people of this Province to meet the

labour market needs.

Mr. Speaker, the way the hiring happens at Vale in Long Harbour at this time

is that the unionized members from Newfoundland and Labrador have first

opportunity to be hired. If there are no unionized members within Newfoundland

and Labrador, the next step is to hire qualified people from Newfoundland and

Labrador. At that point, if there is no union members and no others outside the

union in Newfoundland and Labrador, the next qualifications or the next step to

hiring goes to union members within Canada. Outside of that, Mr. Speaker, if

there are no union members within Canada, the opportunity goes in an

international level, which I will explain (inaudible)

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

The Member for Burgeo La Poile.

MR. A. PARSONS: Mr. Speaker, I am still not sure why the clause was taken

out.

Mr. Speaker, as part of the revised development agreement signed in 2009,

Vale Inco committed to a target of 77 per cent of total project employment

between 2009 and 2013 to happen in the Province.

I ask the Premier: Two years into this four-year agreement, can you tell us

what percentage of project employment is happening here?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

PREMIER DUNDERDALE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, when we have a look at the Vale agreement that had been entered

into by the former Liberal Administration, the only benchmarks that had been

included in that contract were for fair and full opportunity for Newfoundlanders

and Labradorians. There was not one hour of work required to be provided to

Newfoundlanders and Labradorians by Vale, Mr. Speaker.

Now, over 70 per cent of the work has to be done here in this Province. That

is a negotiation that was done by this government, Mr. Speaker, when there was a

delay in implementation plans and we were able to re-open the agreement. Mr.

Speaker, we have monitored that. We monitor the employment at regular basis in

Long Harbour, and all targets are being met.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The Member for St. Barbe.

MR. BENNETT: Mr. Speaker, twenty workers from Thailand just started work

at the fish plant in Bay de Verde. Unbelievably, the Fisheries Minister has

admitted he has not even aware of this development.

I ask the minister: How could he not know there was a fish plant employer in

this Province looking for foreign workers, when he is the minister overseeing

the industry, and numerous plants have closed under his watch?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS BURKE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, as I said in this House many times, the Department of Advanced

Education and Skills wants to ensure that the people in Newfoundland and

Labrador have every opportunity to participate in the labour market in this

Province. We are prepared to partner with any employers who may be experiencing

labour shortages to ensure that the people of this Province have the appropriate

training and skills to move into positions.

In relation to the question posed by the member opposite, Mr. Speaker, the

Temporary Foreign Worker Program is a program that is administered by the

federal government. An employer in any province, including Newfoundland and

Labrador, if they want to hire workers under that program, they apply to the

federal government.

It is a good question, Mr. Speaker, and I hope his has one of his Members of

Parliament standing up and asking the same question in Ottawa today.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The Member for St. Barbe, for a quick question.

MR. BENNETT: Mr. Speaker, search and rescue services in our Province have

been stripped bare by the Harper government. Now we learn the Coast Guard vessel

the Harp , which services the vast Labrador Coast and Straits area,

is being decommissioned.

I ask the Premier: Can you confirm that this vessel is being taken out of

service, and has there been any consultation with Ottawa about the consequences

of this type of reduction and how the gap will be filled?

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

quick response.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KING: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The only thing I can confirm for the member opposite is information that I

have been provided. I have not talked to the minister directly, so I am aware of

media reports. We have also received information through local officials. As I

have said a number of times, I will be meeting with the minister in the next

seven or eight days and I will have more specific information. What I can say is

my understanding is that the Harp is coming out of service. The vessel is

not stationed in St. Anthony, as has been reported; it is actually stationed

here in St. John's. It is my understanding that at present there is about 40 per

cent of work being outsourced from the federal government for navigational aids.

That 40 per cent will be increased to 70 per cent, which will provide more time

for the current vessels to do the same work that is being done now.

MR. SPEAKER: The Leader of the Third Party.

MS MICHAEL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

My question is for the Minister of Health and Community Services. Last week

we were told cutbacks are necessary at Eastern Health because we are spending

more money on certain services than other Canadian hospitals. We do not know

what hospitals were used in the benchmarking exercise carried on by Eastern

Health.

Mr. Speaker, I ask the minister: Will she give us the names of the hospitals

used in the comparison?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS SULLIVAN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, there is a long list of hospitals that have been used in this

benchmarking process. Mr. Speaker, some larger hospitals that obviously would

compare with the Health Sciences, then some smaller, some medium sized

hospitals; but, Mr. Speaker, what I would be happy to do is table that

information for the member opposite.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The Leader of the Third Party.

MS MICHAEL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I thank the minister and hope that perhaps we can have that information by

tomorrow.

Mr. Speaker, despite her protest to the contrary, when it comes to health

care in this Province the buck does stop with the minister. Although Eastern

Health has said it has good reason and evidence for making cuts, we have not

seen the detailed analysis behind the decisions.

I ask the minister: Does she have the full analysis of the data that led to

the decisions to make these cuts, and will she share that information with the

people who own the health care system?

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

The hon. the Minister of Health and Community Services.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS SULLIVAN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, that data cannot be shared. I answered that question here before

and I am sure I will probably answer it again, that data cannot be shared. You

are looking at private information from health care facilities from across this

country. Mr. Speaker, when we entered into the process we knew we could not

share that data with anybody else, just as we do not want our data shared with

anybody else, Mr. Speaker. So, no, the data will not be shared.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The Leader of the Third Party.

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

A disappointing answer, so now we have to take their word for it.

Mr. Speaker, we learned this morning that Eastern Health is considering

contracting out the poison control phone line for children. Two thousand

panic-stricken parents call this poison control line each year. How can a call

centre located in urban Ontario possibly deal with an immediate need for an

ambulance in Twillingate?

Mr. Speaker, I ask the minister: If she can assure this House that she will

not allow the privatization of the poison control phone lines at the Janeway

Hospital?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS SULLIVAN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, again, as I have indicated earlier today in response to the same

question, at this point in time, we are not looking at cutting out that

particular service from Eastern Health. Eastern Health is now undertaking to

look at a number of different recommendations. That recommendation may well be

among it, it may not be, Mr. Speaker. We will have to wait and see what

recommendations come forward, but at this point in time that line is up and

running. It will continue to run.

MR. SPEAKER: The Leader of the Third Party.

MS MICHAEL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Hebron agreement clearly stipulates the construction of three modules,

one of which, the Utilities Process Module, is to be subject to international

competition for bid. Recently, the Minister of Natural Resources was quoted in

the media that he wants the third module also built in the Province and will

fight to ensure it.

Mr. Speaker, I ask the Minister of Natural Resources: If government wanted

the module built in the Province, why did it not make project approval

contingent on the third module being built in the Province?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KENNEDY: Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The intent of the Hebron Benefits Agreement is to ensure that the people of

our Province benefit from our natural resources, that we are the principal

beneficiaries of these resources. Mr. Speaker, we have three significant modules

being built, and there are issues of capacity. When you are looking at first oil

in 2017, you have to be realistic.

Mr. Speaker, we were told in December that both the DSM and the DES could not

be built in Marystown. So at that point, ExxonMobil's perspective seemed to have

some validity. Since then, two proponents have come forward and said we can

build the DES at the same time or overlapping the living quarters in Bull Arm.

As a Province we are standing up; the Premier has indicated to ExxonMobil, I

have indicated to ExxonMobil, this work has to be done here, Mr. Speaker. So I

do not know what more we can say. It is an issue of capacity.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The Leader of the Third Party.

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

Mr. Speaker, late last week we heard Canada had lost its NAFTA challenge with

oil companies regarding the level of funding for research and development they

must provide in the Province. This funding is seen as one of the benefits to the

people of the Province from offshore oil productions.

So, Mr. Speaker, I ask the minister: Could he tell us what are the immediate

implications for research and development in this Province that stem from this

ruling?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KENNEDY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The C-NLOPB imposed certain conditions in relation to research and

development. Several of the oil companies did not agree with that decision. They

chose to go to court. From our perspective as a Province, Mr. Speaker, we feel

entirely within our right to ensure that there are such agreements as research

and development, gender diversity, and the types of agreements that keep the

work in this Province.

This primarily lies with the federal government, Mr. Speaker. We will see

where they are going to go. There is a dissenting judgment, for lack of a better

term. At the end of the day we will continue to fight for research and

development. We see it as a key aspect of continuing exploration in our

offshore.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MS MICHAEL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I ask the minister: Is research and development a requirement in

the agreement with Hebron now that it is approved?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KENNEDY: Yes, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. KIRBY: Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister Responsible for

the Labour Relations Agency.

What role, if any, did this government play in the process of bringing

temporary foreign workers to this Province from Thailand?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Environment and Conservation.

MR. FRENCH: Absolutely none, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. KIRBY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Harper Government's pay-less wages plan for foreign workers will degrade

working conditions for all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.

Will this government immediately revise our labour standards to specifically

regulate and protect foreign workers in this Province?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Environment and Conservation.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. FRENCH: Mr. Speaker, there are obvious issues when it comes to

foreign workers in general coming to this country. As I mentioned to the hon.

member last week, Mr. Speaker, we have an FPT meeting set for this fall. I know

it is one of the things on the agenda. I will certainly be speaking to it at

that time, expressing any concerns we might have as a Province.

Mr. Speaker, I will tell you one thing this Province does, and does very

well; that is protecting the rights of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians and

their ability to find work here in our very own Province.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. MURPHY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The incident last week with the Beaumont Hamel brings to light that

protocols need to be reviewed with the ferry system in the Province.

What is the plan government had in place with regards to protocols that were

to be used in any case of emergency?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Transportation and Works.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. HEDDERSON: Mr. Speaker, it was an unfortunate incident last week

involving the Beaumont Hamel . We do have protocols in place to ensure the

safety of people aboard and safety in general, Mr. Speaker. There is an

investigation going to be carried out about that particular incident. I am

certainly not going to get ahead of that. When that investigation is complete

and I have the information, if there are any adjustments that need to be made,

Mr. Speaker, you know that we will move forward with those adjustments.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. MURPHY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

When the Beaumont Hamel incident broke, the minister held an

information session and said that there were no injuries when, in fact, there

was one injury that we knew about and two confirmed later that evening.

What protocol did his department follow to find out about the situation in

regard to injured passengers?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Transportation and Works.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. HEDDERSON: Mr. Speaker, again, an unfortunate incident. The safety of

the people is uppermost in their minds, certainly of this government, and I am

sure the crew on board. Everyone walked off that boat that particular day and no

one presented themselves with any serious injury.

In incidents such as that, as we all know, for example, a rear-ending in a

car, there is sometimes twenty-four hours before some of these symptoms show up,

and there were symptoms that showed up. People presented them to their medical

doctors or whatever, and fortunately, Mr. Speaker, there were no serious

injuries.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. MURPHY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

In light of that information, it would be nice to know that some of these

people would be first-aid equipped, that sort of thing, in order to respond to

some of that.

I ask the minister: There were obvious injuries at the time of the incident

in Portugal Cove St. Philip's. What emergency services were called to

wharfside to assess possibly injured persons? Because I don't know if any of

these workers had the experience to do it.

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Transportation and Works.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. HEDDERSON: I say to the hon. member across the way, if you are

indicating that our crew certainly did not react in the right way, it is

shameful. These people who man these vessels do have experience, they do have

the capacity, but if no one presents themselves for first-aid again, if they

did, they certainly would have been accommodated, but they all walked off, they

went about their business and, of course, some time during that day, some

experienced symptoms, and they did the right thing. They went to the right

place; they presented themselves to medical care. Again, I am hopeful, Mr.

Speaker, that there are no serious injuries and that these people will continue

to move forward in a healthy way.

Again, I say to the member opposite, everything that could be done was done.

I wait for the investigation, and if an investigation shows that there were any

gaps, I will deal with it.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

question.

MR. KIRBY: Mr. Speaker, I ask the Premier: Does she plan to oppose

Harper's pay-less wage policy and this practice of taking advantage of foreign

workers and using them to drive down wages and working conditions in this

Province?

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Environment and Conservation.

MR. FRENCH: Mr. Speaker, I think the hon. member should run for federal

politics, because most of the questions he is asking here today, a federal NDP

candidate should be asking, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, this government protects our own workers here in Newfoundland

and Labrador. That is our number one priority, and it will remain our number one

priority, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

AN HON. MEMBER: (Inaudible).

MR. SPEAKER: The time for Question Period has expired, I am sorry.

The hon. the Government House Leader.

MR. KENNEDY: Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I would like to raise a point of order in relation to comments that were made

by the Member for St. John's North on Thursday, May 31, 2012.

I am looking at the official transcript of Hansard, Mr. Speaker, in relation

to the presenting of the petition, at page 2058. At that time, the Member for

St. John's North says, "I am happy to enter this petition, which has been signed

by thousands of people across Newfoundland and Labrador."

Mr. Speaker, we obtained a copy of the petition and I see approximately

twenty or thirty signatures on the petition. There is obviously an obligation on

any member in this House, when presenting a petition, to ensure that accuracy

to ensure that statements made to this House, Mr. Speaker, are ones that can be

relied on.

Mr. Speaker, in relation to the point of order, Beauchesne states on page 96

that, "Points of order are questions raised with the view of calling attention

to any departure from the Standing Orders". Standing Orders 90 to 92, Mr.

Speaker, deal with our petition. Standing Order 92 states, "Every Member

offering a petition to the House shall confine himself or herself to the

statement of the parties from whom it comes, the number of signatures attached

to it and the material allegations it contains."

Mr. Speaker, there is obviously and clearly a breach of Standing Order 92,

Mr. Speaker, and I would suggest that this is a very serious matter where we

have a Member of the House of Assembly who stands up and says, "I am happy to

enter this petition, which has been signed by thousands of people across

Newfoundland and Labrador."

Mr. Speaker, that kind of behaviour, I would suggest to you, is unacceptable,

and something that should be frowned upon by this hon. House.

MR. SPEAKER: The Leader of the Third Party, to the point of order.

MS MICHAEL: Yes, to the point of order, Mr. Speaker. We would like time

to look at what has been raised by the Government House Leader and respond at a

later time.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

The hon. Government House Leader has brought attention to Hansard from one

day last week, on Thursday. The Speaker has not reviewed Hansard from that

proceeding, but I will undertake to review Hansard and the comments made,

together with the member's petition that was presented.

Obviously, if the member made a statement in the House and it is recorded in

Hansard and it is contrary to the information that the House is further tabled

with, then obviously it would be a breach and then I will rule accordingly, but

I will not be making any comment until I have reviewed both documents.

Presenting Reports by Standing and Select Committees.

Tabling of Documents.

Notices of Motion.

Notices of Motion

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

MR. DAVIS: Mr. Speaker, I give notice that I will ask leave to introduce

a bill entitled,

An Act To Amend The Consumer Protection And Business Practices

Act No. 2. (Bill 26)

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Intergovernmental and Aboriginal

Affairs.

MR. McGRATH: Mr. Speaker, I give notice that I will ask leave to

introduce a bill entitled,

An Act To Amend The Labrador Inuit Land Claims

Agreement Act. (Bill 23)

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

MR. F. COLLINS: Mr. Speaker, I give notice that I will ask leave to

introduce a bill entitled,

An Act To Extinguish Obsolete Actions In The

Province. (Bill 24)

I further give notice, Mr. Speaker, that I will ask leave to introduce a bill

entitled,

An Act To Amend The Access To Information And Protection Of Privacy

Act. (Bill 29)

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

MS SULLIVAN: Mr. Speaker, I give notice that I will ask leave to

introduce a bill entitled,

An Act Respecting The Practice Of Optometry In The

Province. (Bill 25)

I give notice that I will ask leave to introduce a bill entitled,

An Act To

Regulate The Personal Services Industry. (Bill 27)

I give notice that I will ask leave to introduce a bill entitled,

An Act To

Amend The Psychologists Act, 2005. (Bill 28)

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

MR. LITTLEJOHN: Mr. Speaker, I give notice, seconded by the Member for

St. John's West, of the following resolution on East-West electricity corridors:

WHEREAS the federal government has tremendous power and leverage to lower

barriers between provinces and forge a path toward fairness and true community;

and

WHEREAS Quebec has frustrated Newfoundland and Labrador's attempts to wheel

electricity fairly through that province; and

WHEREAS Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his colleagues have committed to

provide a loan guarantee or equivalent financial support for the Muskrat Falls

Project, which includes a subsea transmission link to the Maritimes, because it

has national or regional importance, it has economic and financial merit, and it

will significantly reduce greenhouse gases; and

WHEREAS the Prime Minister, in announcing funding for Ontario under the

ecoTrust on March 6, 2007, said that the province could choose to use its

funding to advance construction of "an East-West electrical transmission

interconnect with Manitoba, allowing for the importation of clean hydroelectric

power"; and

WHEREAS on September 16, 2009, the Prime Minister announced funding for the

construction of the Northwest Transmission Line in Northern British Columbia and

the prospect of connecting the line to Alaska; and

WHEREAS the opening of Canadian east-west energy corridors would give

provinces the freedom to transmit energy to markets within Canada, create

economic opportunity and strengthen the country.

BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that this House of Assembly urges all governments in

Canada to co-operate in exploring opportunities to open east-west electricity

transmission corridors within Canada.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. KENNEDY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I give notice that the resolution referred to by the hon. member will be the

resolution debated on Wednesday, June 6, 2012.

Mr. Speaker, I give notice that under Standing Order 11 I shall move that

this House not adjourn at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 5, 2012,` and further I

give notice under Standing Order 11 I shall move that this House not adjourn at

10:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 5, 2012.

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

Answers to Questions for which Notice has been Given

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

MR. KING: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, on May 16, the Member for St. Barbe tabled a question in the

House of Assembly requesting an update on the lobster licence buyout program,

and I am pleased to give the final remarks on that answer today.

The economic sustainability element of this program is directed at the

Province's South and West Coast. This element will have two components, a

voluntary trap reduction program and the Lobster Enterprise Retirement Program.

The voluntary trap reduction program involves a government funded buyback of

traps. These funds were then used as industry's contribution to the enterprise

buyback program. The federal and provincial programs also contributed funds to

the enterprise buyback program, Mr. Speaker, and the federal government has

already implemented the reduction in trap limits.

Additional highlights of the economic sustainability element of the FFAW

proposal include the Lobster Enterprise Retirement Program uses a reverse

auction format whereby harvesters bid through a government industry board to

sell their enterprise. Instead of bidding higher amounts as in a typical

auction, the Newfoundland Lobster Sustainability Board seeks the lowest bids

offered to sell enterprises. All licences held by the enterprise would then be

included in the buyback and would be removed from the industry. The permanent

removal of fishing capacity would contribute to conservation objects both within

the lobster fishery as well within other fisheries which the enterprise held

licences.

A Newfoundland Lobster Sustainability Board oversees the Lobster Enterprise

Retirement Program. The board has representation from the FFAW, the DFO, and

DFA. The FFAW proposed that it be responsible for the administration of the

program and for program monitoring and evaluation. Requirements for monitoring

and evaluation will be determined through a strategic planning process led by

the FFAW.

The FFAW proposal, Mr. Speaker, fits within industry and government's

approach to the lobster fishery. In addition to rationalization initiatives, the

federal and provincial governments support efforts to improve lobster science,

enhance the resource, restructure the industry, increase conservation and

environmental sustainability, and improve lobster product development and

marketing. The overall objective is to help improve the viability and

environmental sustainability of this fishery.

This work is being completed in partnership with industry, federal and

provincial jurisdictions, and research organizations such as the Canadian Centre

for Fisheries Innovation, Atlantic Lobster Science Centre, PEI, and Memorial

University's Marine Institute. Overall, the lobster plan can be viewed as part

of a holistic approach to rationalize, restructure, and sustainably develop the

Province's lobster fishing industry.

The lobster plan also fits within the overall recommendation of the 2007

Fisheries Resource Conservation Council Report on the Atlantic Lobster Fishery.

In that report, the FRCC supports the buyout of fishing effort, if it is done in

such a way as to ensure effort is not replaced through increases in other

aspects of effort, such as increasing the number of traps, hauls, longer

seasons, faster vessels, and bigger traps. The FRCC also noted the need to

increase the scientific information base to assist with lobster fishery

management and engage harvesters in the data collection and decision-making

process. The lobster plan provides an opportunity to implement many of the FRCC

recommendations in the Province's lobster fishery. The plan also supports

enhanced conservation and economic sustainability measures in other fisheries as

well.

It is important to note, Mr. Speaker, that the Province has increasingly

engaged in supporting the Atlantic lobster fishery in recent years; greater than

would be expected, given the importance of the Newfoundland lobster fishery

relative to other Atlantic Provinces. For example, our provincial Department of

Fisheries and Aquaculture has contributed to the formation and operation of the

Lobster Council of Canada, lobster marketing and promotion activities, and

scientific investigations. As a result, the Newfoundland fishing industry has

been the beneficiary of high levels of funding.

With respect to the potential impact of removing fishing capacity, traps, and

enterprises, it has been noted by the FFAW that there will be more reasonable

resource available for other harvesters in the short term, and in the long term.

As noted in the 2007 FRCC report, it will be important to prevent fishing

capacity from returning to the industry, so that income objectives can be

achieved. Similarly, it is expected that over the longer term, achieving the

conservation objectives will increase lobster resource abundance. This too, Mr.

Speaker, will contribute to the economic performance of harvesters. To

illustrate how value will be returned to the harvesters who remain, the FFAW

estimates that $2.26 million will be redistributed to the remaining harvesters

in fishing area 13, assuming the exploitation rates remain the same as current.

It does not account for the added income from other species as a result of

having a bigger share and less competition.

There are many potential benefits associated with the participation of the

Province in this plan. The main ones, Mr. Speaker, include: support for the

Province's initiatives aimed at enhancing the availability of scientific

information and fisheries management decision-making related to Newfoundland and

Labrador fisheries. As an example, the plan would complement the work of the

provincially funded Centre for Fisheries Ecosystems Research.

Fishing capacity reduction helps increase the viability of the Province's

fishing industry in general and the lobster fishery in particular. In doing so,

this also helps to bring stability to rural communities.

Increased engagement of fish harvesters in data collection activities and the

fisheries management decision making process; associated with this is the

expectation that the implementation of management decisions will be improved

with harvesters actively engaged in decisions. In the end, conservation of the

resource is expected to improve.

The Province will also, as a partner, have a greater voice in fisheries

management decision making. Given that the federal Atlantic Lobster

Sustainability Measures Program requires funding contributions from other

sources, the Province's contribution leveraged a significant investment in the

Province's fishing industry for rationalization and conservation activities.

Budget 2012, in particular, contained $4.2 million from our Province towards

this measure.

Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to present this information

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

I would ask the member, if his statement if much longer, to wrap it up and

table the remaining document.

MR. KING: Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to conclude my answer in

reference to the question posed by the member opposite.

Thank you.

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

MS BURKE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in response to the Member for Burgeo La Poile,

who has tabled a question in the House of Assembly regarding groups currently

funded under the Labour Market Development Agreement, or LMDA.

Mr. Speaker, I have a considerably lengthy answer, so I will confine my

answers to a few minutes; I will be able to, over a series of days, provide the

information as requested.

Currently, there are four different ways that the department utilizes LMDA

funding with community groups. One would be the Job Creation Partnership

programs, the second would be Employment Assistance Services; the third would be

Self-Employment Assistance services, and the fourth one would be Labour Market

Partnerships programs.

The first program, as I mentioned, the Job Creation Partnership program,

provides funding to organizations to assist them in implementing community

projects and events while providing work experience opportunities to Employment

Insurance eligible individuals in carrying out their projects. For the first

intake period of 2012-2013, the Department of Advanced Education and Skills

approved a total of 114 projects to the following groups. It should be noted

that many of these contracts have not been finalized yet, and as such, amounts

may change downwards once negotiations with proponents conclude. The amounts

approved include the overhead costs for the organization and the participant

cost.

The groups approved are so this would be the Job Creation Partnership

sponsor approvals for 2012-2013, with the organizational cost and participant

cost, and the total recommended budget; as I indicated, as I go through these

numbers, there will be negotiations and these numbers would be negotiated

downwards, as opposed to upwards: A Legge Up Inc., $149,292; the Baccalieu Trail

Heritage Corporation, $57,460; the Barbour Living Heritage Village, $233,265;

Bay de Verde Heritage Committee, $60,676; the Bay St. George Mi'Kmaq Cultural

Revival Committee, $152,807; Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern NL Inc.,

$28,101; the Burin Heritage Tourism Association, $90,946; Cape Race-Portugal

Cove South Heritage Incorporated, $90,285; the Chamberlains Park Action

Committee, $67,977; Champney's East Recreation, $39,660; Change Islands Youth

Association, $18,318; Clarenville Area Recreation Association, $86,836.

Continuing on, Mr. Speaker, with the sponsors and the approvals: the Codroy

Valley and Area Development Association, $59,642; Colony of Avalon, $18,057;

there is another one for Colony of Avalon, $2,408; the Community Youth Network,

Isles of Notre Dame Corporation, $27,451; Discovery Trail Tourism Association,

$52,965; the Emerald Zone Corporation, $15,818; the Exploits Valley Economic

Development Corporation, $19,469; Fermeuse Days/Come Home Year, $46,717; Fogo

Island Folk Alliance, $6,084; Fort Point Lions Club, $65,021; Fortune Head ECO

Friends, $66,309; Gaultois Tourism Association, $60,190; another one for the

Gaultois Tourism Association, $42,632; the Glovertown Yacht Club, $93,226; Grand

Bank Heritage Society, $43,606; the Grand Bank Recreation Commission, $41,256;

Grande Meadows Golf Course Association Inc., $23,837; Grates Cove Recreation,

$62,413; Greater Lamaline Multipurpose Trail Association, $86,996; the Harbour

Breton Community Youth Network, $22,745; Harbour Grace Tourism and Heritage

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

I would ask the member, if her list is much longer that she could probably

summarize it and table the remainder of her report.

MS BURKE: Mr. Speaker, I will conclude my answer in a minute and then I

will continue as days go on, because it has been information requested for the

House.

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

I understand that it is information requested but the intent is to provide a

type of prcis of the information and enable report. I ask the member, rather

than clue up in a minute, if she would wrap it up very quickly and then table

the document.

MS BURKE: Mr. Speaker, I will return to this another day. I will conclude

at this point.

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

MR. KING: Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, on May 16 the Member for St. Barbe tabled a question in the

House of Assembly requesting information related to government's initiatives to

encourage further secondary processing of fish products in this Province. Mr.

Speaker, I am more than pleased to provide information here today in response to

this request.

The Province's seafood processing sector in 2012 continues to face adaptation

to the reality of resource challenges and strong global market competition. Many

of these enterprises remain challenged by the high cost associated with

launching and maintaining secondary processing endeavours, especially when faced

with intense global competition. Underutilized species, discards and secondary

processing options are areas that some processors are investigating further. To

assist companies in this regard, my department provides support for innovative

projects involving secondary and value-added processing.

The Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, through the Fisheries Technology

and New Opportunities Program, often referred to as FITNOP, has supported

development of the secondary and value-added industry both through active and

industry-led development projects aimed at product development, adapting

emerging technologies, and participation in risk underwriting and promotional

efforts. Through our FITNOP program, we continue to focus our efforts on a

number of innovative project areas.

In our efforts to provide support for the evaluation and adaptation of new

technologies for our industry, Mr. Speaker, over the past four years we have

invested $7.5 million. This investment, Mr. Speaker, has leveraged from industry

and other funding sources, an addition of $23.8 million to support our efforts.

This work has included efforts such as research into shrimp shell by-product

utilization, extraction of biomedical grade products from shrimp and crab

shells. We sponsored research into omega-3 and marine oils. We conducted

analysis of whelk shell use for agriculture in co-operation with the Marine

Institute. As well, we have sponsored bio-diesel training, demonstration and

analysis work. Other ongoing developmental activities have focused on secondary

seafood entrees, croquettes, sea cucumber products, whelk, as well as

value-added shellfish processing and market strategies.

The innovation and development division has expertise in product research and

development, productivity and industrial engineering. Core staff is available

within each program area to manage projects with industry clients and to offer a

wide range of technical support services to the industry on all aspects of

seafood processing sector development. The issues and needs facing the

processing industry today are significantly different than they were ten to

fifteen years ago. Resource issues and market changes have necessitated a new

approach to management, pursuing high-risk initiatives, as well new approaches

to product and market development. Many processes and species that the industry

is attempting to develop are non-traditional and require new production

technology.

The global seafood market, Mr. Speaker, has become increasingly complex with

an endless array of secondary and consumer-ready products. At the same time, on

a positive note, global markets are becoming increasingly accessible to seafood

processors. Although certain fish species such as salmon, crab, and shrimp

dominate markets, there are niche opportunities for non-traditional species as

well as opportunities to develop new products and markets from traditional

species.

Mr. Speaker, some specific successful examples of the valuable work carried

out by the department through FTNOP program include: research with Quinlan

Brothers to develop and market crab cakes and crab au gratin. Assistance was

also provided to Grand Bank Seafoods to develop a capelin roe Masago' line in

their plant in Grand Bank. A number of projects have been carried out with

Allen's Fisheries Ltd, as well as Greens Seafoods, related to value-added mussel

production. Our program also sponsored a project with Golden Shell Fisheries to

explore market opportunities for value-added pelagic and groundfish in the

Caribbean. As well, we supported HSF Ocean Products with product and market

development of a number of secondary whelk and groundfish-based products.

The Newfoundland and Labrador seafood industry is being challenged to obtain

maximum value from the seafood it produces. Processors have, to some extent,

increased value by improving market value of existing products, developing new

products, and identifying and developing new markets. Therefore, we continue to

assist with the market development challenges by assisting in the identification

of new product and market opportunities, assisting with the product quality

improvements, and promoting demand for seafood in local, national, and

international markets.

Unfortunately, we recently heard the announcement of the impending closure of

the Province's only dedicated secondary seafood processing operation in Burin.

Impediments to secondary processing, Mr. Speaker, have been risk, competition,

and ongoing capital investment, required for both larger and smaller companies,

in order to sustain secondary and value-added processing. Many of these

enterprises continue to face the high costs and risks associated with

establishing and maintaining secondary processing and some simply cannot

maintain profitability over the long term. The provincial government will

continue to support secondary processing by assisting companies wherever

possible to undertake secondary and value-added processing.

Our government regularly participates in numerous trade shows and events such

as the International Boston Seafood Show, European Seafood Exposition in

Brussels, China Fisheries and Seafood Expo, and the World Food show in Moscow.

The government's work at international seafood shows not only focuses on

promoting Newfoundland and Labrador's seafood products and networking with

potential buyers, but also gathering market intelligence and identifying market

opportunities for new species.

The Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture regularly collects and

disseminates market information which assists companies in identifying new

product and market development opportunities. It subscribes to various trade

publications and on-line market intelligence sources, and hires international

seafood marketing consultants to gather the most current information on seafood

market conditions, supply and demand, market prices, competitors and competing

products, trends and outlooks, and new opportunities available to our Province.

We have both in-house market development expertise, as well as access to outside

consultants and experts that can assist companies with new product development.

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the opportunity today to outline some of the

provincial government's important ongoing work in this area.

Thank you.

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

Given the time, I would ask the member to wrap up his answer and then table

the document, please.

The Member for Burgeo La Poile.

MR. A. PARSONS: Yes, Mr. Speaker, in relation to the answer provided by

the Minister of Advanced Education and Skills, I believe she was reading from a

document, so I would ask to have that document tabled here today.

MR. SPEAKER: The member might recall when I rose and brought the

attention to the member, I had indicated that she could summarize her answer and

table the document, so I am assuming the minister will table it with the Table

Officers.

MR. A. PARSONS: (Inaudible), Mr. Speaker, the document will be tabled.

MR. SPEAKER: It will be, yes.

MR. A. PARSONS: Thank you.

MR. SPEAKER: Orders of the Day.

The hon. the Government House Leader.

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, Monday, June

4, 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

o'clock on Monday, June 4, 2012.

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

MR. KENNEDY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

We call from the Order Paper, Mr. Speaker, second reading of Bill 10,

An Act

To Amend The Aquaculture Act.

AN HON. MEMBER: (Inaudible) Petitions?

MR. SPEAKER: I am sorry; I was premature in calling Orders of the Day. I

missed Petitions on the Order Paper.

We will revert to Petitions.

Petitions

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

MR. MITCHELMORE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

It is a petition to reinvest in rural broadband initiatives.

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

Parliament assembled, the petition of the undersigned residents of Newfoundland

and Labrador humbly sheweth:

WHEREAS in the District of The Straits White Bay North, despite the $4

million rural broadband initiative announcement on December 22, 2011, only one

community, Ship Cove, is slated for broadband coverage; and

WHEREAS the communities of Pines Cove, Eddies Cove East, Bide Arm, North Boat

Harbour, L'Anse aux Meadows, Great Brehat, St. Carol's, Goose Cove, Grandois,

and St. Anthony Bight still remain without services; and

WHEREAS many small businesses within the district rely on the Internet to

conduct business; and

WHEREAS broadband Internet permits a business to be more competitive than the

slower dial-up service; and

WHEREAS broadband Internet enhances primary, secondary, post-secondary, and

further educational opportunities.

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

reinvest in the rural broadband initiative in Newfoundland and Labrador.

As in duty bound, your petitioners will ever pray.

Mr. Speaker, I have had the opportunity to travel in many parts of my

district to several graduations. I talked to students, and many of them are

participating in the CDLI, doing distance education and certainly availing of a

number of programs that are not available such as music in a small school

with may be one, two or three students. It is wonderful, but when you talk about

some of these students living in these communities without access to the

broadband coverage, it really limits the ability for them to complete their

studies and to do further work at home. They have to travel to an area where the

broadband access is.

There certainly needs to be a call, Mr. Speaker, for an advanced

telecommunication strategy that really gives all Newfoundlanders and

Labradorians the opportunity to have rural broadband access. If you look at even

just the House of Assembly here, and the questions that are posed on a daily

basis, the legislation that we debate, not everybody in these 200-plus

communities in Newfoundland and Labrador have the ability to tap in and

streamline the House and see what our members are doing and how we are

representing the people of each respective district.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

MR. MITCHELMORE: Mr. Speaker, I certainly present the petition, and I ask

the House here to urge the government to continue to reinvest in rural

broadband, because it is highly important for all Newfoundlanders and

Labradorians.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

MR. A. PARSONS: Mr. Speaker, I have a petition. To the hon. House of

Assembly of the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador in Parliament Assembled,

the petition of the undersigned residents humbly sheweth:

WHEREAS the people of La Poile must use the provincial ferry system in order

to travel to and from La Poile; and

WHEREAS the people of La Poile and visitors are required to wait of the Town

of Rose Blanche-Harbour Le Cou from time to time for the ferry services; and

WHEREAS there is no restroom-waiting room area at the Town of Rose

Blanche-Harbour Le Cou where users of the ferry service may utilize washroom

facilities; and

WHEREAS citizens of all ages including men, women, children, seniors, and

disabled persons require washroom facilities as a basic human need in the course

of their travels, or wait outside of the elements in harsh weather conditions,

and particularly while awaiting the transit systems; and

WHEREAS it is an abuse of human dignity as well as health and safety

regulations to allow such degrading and dehumanizing circumstances to continue.

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

House of Assembly to urge government to immediately construct and operate a

waiting room-restroom facility at the town of Rose Blanche-Harbour Le Cou such

that all users of the provincial ferry service may be able to utilize such a

waiting area and washroom facilities.

As in duty bound, your petitioners will ever pray.

Mr. Speaker, this is a petition that has been raised before on many

occasions. In one such occasion, it was actually successful. It got what was

needed for the Town of Burgeo and for the people who arrive on the ferry from

Ramea, Grey River, or Francois. They had no facility there. People had to wait

outside in the elements. Now they have a beautiful restroom and waiting room

area where people can sit outside. Depending on the ferry, there is any number

of situations and circumstances you have to face, not the least of which is the

weather, delays, and you name it.

The people who travel on the ferry from Rose Blanche to La Poile and vice

versa also deserve to have the same type of treatment. As it stands there is

nothing down there and it is simply not good enough. I know the minister is

aware of this. We have talked about this issue. I intend to continue to raise

this issue until we have the same type of treatment afforded to the people who

use that ferry service.

I appreciate the opportunity. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

MR. MURPHY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

the Burin Peninsula, and indeed, all of Newfoundland and Labrador, with regards

cameras on the Burin Peninsula Highway.

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 this 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 road conditions.

As in duty bound, your petitioners will ever pray.

Mr. Speaker, this is probably about the tenth petition that has arrived to my

office with regards this petition. A lot of people are signing this one. This

one is double from the people of the St. Lawrence and Lawn area and Lord's Cove

who signed this one and sent this one in. On their behalf, I want to thank you,

Mr. Speaker, for allowing them to have the time and the voice to voice their

concern with regards to wanting these cameras in.

Again, we talked about this one many times before with regard to the strong

need for cameras and the possibility that government will meet the need here and

to know, in consultation with the minister responsible, if we can find that

technology to operate on the Burin Peninsula, then he will certainly take a

serious look at it.

Mr. Speaker, just an update for everybody out there; we have been finding

some possibilities of some technologies out there. The word has gone out now to

several interests out there who deal in such things that we possibly could end

up having the technology available. Right now we are investigating the price of

the items concerned and, as well as that, the type of technology that would be

used. Right now, one of the technologies that are available to government is the

use of, of course, Internet and being able to use a camera technology as such

that it would use Internet protocol on a wireless basis.

There is technology it seems that is available out there. Mr. Speaker, we

continue to work hard on these people's behalf and hopefully government will be

lending an ear very shortly to address this matter.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

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

present a petition from thirteen individuals from Newfoundland and Labrador;

twelve, plus one from Fort McMurray it appears:

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

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

implement a new home care model to cover family caregivers.

And in duty bound your petitioners will ever pray.

Mr. Speaker, this petition is signed by me and also from twelve other

individuals. These people come from all over the Province. A person might

wonder: How can it be that so many people from so many different parts of the

Province can take an interest in this? These petitions frequently are left at

business establishments, and when people come by and read a petition they have

an interest in, they sign their name and put their hometown. In this petition,

we have three people from Corner Brook, three people from St. Mary's, three

people from Hawkes Bay, somebody from Codroy Valley, somebody from Port

Saunders, and even a person signed it from Fort McMurray, Alberta. I recognize

the name because he appears to be home for awhile.

Mr. Speaker, this issue touches on almost every family, and if it does not

touch on every family then as time goes on all of us can expect to have a family

member who will require home care. Many of us will be in a situation where we

will need to hire somebody and it may not be easy to find a qualified home care

worker. This is a simple request, a petition from people asking that government

move forward with their promise, implement the new home care strategy and permit

qualified home care family members to provide that service.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

MR. KIRBY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

This is a petition on an issue that members of the House of Assembly may have

some familiarity with.

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 early childhood educators are trained professionals essential to the

operation of chid care centres and indispensable to many parents and children

across Newfoundland and Labrador; and

WHEREAS on the occasion of Early Childhood Educators Week in May 2012,

government conveyed its support and recognition for the role of early childhood

educators and expressed its appreciation for their value; and

WHERAS early childhood educators working in child care centre receive

salaries that are the lowest in Canada amongst ECEs; and

WHEREAS government's 2012 increase in subsidies paid to ECEs applies only to

Level I ECEs working in child care centre homerooms and Level II early childhood

educators who operate child care centres; and

WHERAS all early childhood educators are highly educated, skilled, and

deserving of a fair and equitable wage subsidy; and

WHEREAS government is discriminating against some of the most skilled ECEs in

Newfoundland and Labrador;

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

House of Assembly to urge the government to revise the enhancement to the Early

Learning and Child Care Supplement to include all early childhood educators

working in Newfoundland and Labrador.

As in duty bound your petitioners will ever pray.

Mr. Speaker, some question about the petition I presented last week and how

many petitioners were on there. I know that this one in particular, the ECE who

sent this to me collected 120 signatures in just under an hour at a meeting last

Thursday.

In a report that was released last fall, called Early Years Study 3, the

report said that the benchmark for salaries for early childhood educators should

be around two-thirds of salaries paid to teachers. Right now the average teacher

salary in Newfoundland and Labrador is between $67,000 and $68,000 a year, and

the average salary for ECEs is between $25,000 and $26,000 a year. We have a

great distance to travel if we are going to get to that basic benchmark that has

been prescribed by that national report. I hope that members will urge the

government to reconsider their recent decision so that we can have greater

equity for all early childhood educators in Newfoundland and Labrador, but also

to bring us closer to parity with the rest of the country so that we can have

early childhood educators in Newfoundland and Labrador who are paid what they

are deserving, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you.

MR. SPEAKER: Orders of the Day.

Orders of the Day

MR. KENNEDY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I call from the Order Paper, Order 10, second reading of Bill 22.

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KING: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

It is indeed a pleasure to stand today and have an opportunity to talk for a

few moments about Bill 22, which represents some amendments to the Aquaculture

Act for the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Mr. Speaker, just by way of a little

preamble, the provincial

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

Is the minister moving the motion, seconded by a colleague?

MR. KING: Oh, excuse me, Mr. Speaker, yes.

I move, seconded by the Member for Carbonear Harbour Grace.

MR. SPEAKER: It has been moved and seconded that Bill 22,

An Act To Amend

The Aquaculture Act, be now read a second time.

Motion, second reading of a bill, "An Act To Amend The Aquaculture Act".

(Bill 22)

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

MR. KING: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

My apologies on the procedure.

As I was saying, it is a very important act that we are going to talk about

today, and I will outline some of the substantial changes, but as a little

preamble, Mr. Speaker, the seafood industry in the Province topped more than $1

billion in 2011, and that represents almost an 8 per cent increase 8 per cent

growth in the industry from the previous year. Now, Mr. Speaker, aquaculture is

making a significant contribution to the industry as a whole.

Just to give you some sense of it, Mr. Speaker, in 2011, last year,

aquaculture represented 11.8 per cent of the seafood industry in Newfoundland

and Labrador 11.8 per cent. In 1995, aquaculture represented about 1 per cent

of the seafood industry. Now, we have gone over a twenty-five-year period or so

of less than 1 per cent of the industry to just about 12 per cent. So we have

seen significant growth in the aquaculture industry, Mr. Speaker. Last year

alone, the total market value was in the area of $120 million. That is

significant, Mr. Speaker, significant growth, but also making a very significant

contribution to the fishing industry in Newfoundland and Labrador. It is the

result of a lot of hard work, a lot of commitment by many partners in the

industry working with the provincial government, Mr. Speaker, and I certainly

say thank you to all of those who have been a part of this growing industry and

who continue to work hard with us.

Mr. Speaker, aquaculture is spread throughout the Province in a number of

areas. In particular, what I call the Bay d'Espoir-Connaigre region of the

Province is where we see the most growth in one particular area. It is also an

area, I remind people, where we had a lot of challenging times over the years,

with the downsize in the fishery not too long ago and a place where we saw fish

plants closing. Because of the hard work of entrepreneurs and because of our

provincial government's commitment, Mr. Speaker, to this industry, we are now

seeing, and we have been seeing for a number of years, a rebirth and a

continuous growth in that area of the Province with a lot of employment

opportunities, significant economic development actions taking place down there.

It is certainly making a very significant contribution to the Province and to

that particular region, as it is to other regions of the Province, Mr. Speaker.

I am confident over the next period of time we are going to hear about some of

that.

Mr. Speaker, as the industry grows, it is very important that we acknowledge

changes that are occurring and that we ensure that our laws and our regulations

are in sync with where we need to be. The Aquaculture Act, Mr. Speaker, is

really the primary document that provides governance to the aquaculture industry

in Newfoundland and Labrador. The purpose of the Aquaculture Act is to promote

prudent and orderly development in the aquaculture industry, to help us secure

property rights for industry, Mr. Speaker, to minimize any conflicts that arise

as a result of the use of resources, and to engage as much as we can in

co-operative decision making with the industry.

Mr. Speaker, we have been very pleased and very proud with the kind of

relationship that we have been able to develop with the Aquaculture Industry

Association of Newfoundland and Labrador, and the many stakeholders and members

of that group that are engaged on a daily basis in the aquaculture industry.

Mr. Speaker, the amendments that we are going to talk about today for this

act are intended to modernize the regulations contained within Bill 22, which is

essentially the all-encompassing act that provides oversight for the aquaculture

industry.

Mr. Speaker, specifically, what we hope to do with the amendments brought

forth here today is to ensure we bring the industry in line and, in some cases,

put us ahead of the jurisdictions throughout the rest of the country and,

indeed, throughout the world, Mr. Speaker. It will strengthen some of the

regulations that we need and it will provide for enforcement opportunities for

the department and for our officials who are out there working in the field on a

daily basis. It will provide a greater opportunity for enforcement to make sure

people are following the rules and doing the kinds of things and engaged in the

kinds of activities within aquaculture that they ought to.

These amendment today and I will give you just a short highlight were

developed, again, in consultation over a period of time with all of the

stakeholders in the industry. There are number of things that I will touch on

very briefly. The act itself, the changes we are going to make, will provide the

minister with a greater opportunity to put requirements on licensees so that

they are required to restore aquaculture sites to the satisfaction of the

government and the minister. It will provide aquaculture inspectors with greater

powers, similar to that of peace officers when they are out there on a

regulatory mission. It will enhance our powers and regulations around sites,

facilities, vehicles, and any of these types of things used within the

aquaculture industry.

It will also transfer some of the regulatory-making power to the minister,

Mr. Speaker, to allow us to react on a more regular basis in terms of developing

regulation versus having to come back to the Legislature for any significant

change that needs to be made. It will provide the minister with an opportunity

to issue directives to the industry. It will provide those engaged in the

regulatory regime, Mr. Speaker, with the ability to provide tickets and

administrative penalties to companies in the industry.

Mr. Speaker, all of us recognize here in this House, I am sure, that as the

industry grows we have to continue to grow with it. As the industry changes, we

have to change with it. As the way people do business changes and the kinds of

techniques they engage in, and the kinds of activities they engage in within the

aquaculture industry as all of that changes, we have to ensure to the best of

our ability that we make adjustments to the legislation we have before us and to

the regulations that accompany that legislation to ensure we maintain the

highest standards possible for this industry, Mr. Speaker.

I have said a number of times in this House when I have been asked in

Question Period about biosecurity, safety, and fish health, that it is a

priority for our government and it is a priority for the industry in

Newfoundland and Labrador to have the highest standards, Mr. Speaker. In order

to have the highest standards, you have to reflect that in the law of the land,

in the act that governs the industry. That is what the amendments are about

today, Mr. Speaker. We recognize we have a responsibility to make sure we

maintain those standards.

I am very pleased to bring this act before the House today. I look forward to

speakers who will follow me, hear what they have to say, move through to

Committee, and address any questions or any suggestions that might be brought

forward by members opposite.

Thank you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER (Verge): Order, please!

The hon. the Member for St. Barbe.

MR. BENNETT: Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to speak to this bill and support

this bill today. This is a very important bill. If we think of aquaculture, in

my view the aquaculture industry is really in its infancy in our Province. We

are only just getting started. We are only just getting going.

Aquaculture provides probably more employment than a person might realize,

and more steady employment. In my own community, five people work in

aquaculture. They work hatching and growing small fish and then the fish are

shipped out for growth on the south part of the Province.

Mr. Speaker, as we experience global warming, we can see that the Gulf of St.

Lawrence gets very, very little ice now as compared to a few years ago, and this

seems to be opening up a large number of potential aquaculture opportunities.

Some of the opportunities come with risks and this bill, in part, deals with the

risks in aquaculture.

Before going further into the risks, the aquaculture that we are dealing with

today, it would be unfortunate if it came to the exclusion of the wild fishery;

in fact, aquaculture should come in addition to the wild fishery. The

aquaculture industry can be a supplement, not an alternative. It can be

complementary to the wild fishery, it can be complementary both in the resource

that we are dealing with, and it can be complementary in the markets that we

have; it can be complementary in using the same water that we have, and we have

thousands and thousands of square miles of clean water, Mr. Speaker. It can be

complementary to the labour that we have; the people who are involved in the

wild fishery certainly are quite capable of being involved in the aquaculture

industry. It can also utilize the human capital that we have.

Mr. Speaker, the aquaculture industry needs strong legislation. It needs the

type of legislation and enforcement of that legislation, which means we can deal

with potential ecological fallout. There is no doubt that with any type of an

industry, there come benefits; there also come risks, and there are risks in the

aquaculture industry of home-grown fish escaping, of disease going into the wild

fishery. Mr. Speaker, we are able to benefit from the experience of others in

British Columbia, Europe, and throughout the rest of the world.

Approximately 50 per cent of the fish that is consumed in China is

domestically grown in China. If you go to a restaurant and you order tilapia,

odds are it will be domestically grown.

Mr. Speaker, we have an opportunity to learn from others. This legislation is

legislation that is needed and it is legislation that I hope will be strongly

enforced, improved upon, and modified over time. I look forward to the

aquaculture industry growing, but not at the expense of the wild fishery, in

addition to the wild fishery.

I will reserve any further comments for Committee, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Fortune Bay Cape La Hune.

MS PERRY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

It is certainly a pleasure for me to rise here today and speak to Bill 22,

which is

An Act To Amend The Aquaculture Act.

The member who just spoke talked about how the aquaculture industry should

not come at the exclusion of the wild fishery but complementary to it. I thought

before I get into my notes I would just point out how that is indeed happening,

especially in my District of Fortune Bay Cape La Hune.

For example, I got an e-mail from the Mayor of Belleoram last week. One day

in Belleoram, last Thursday, six tanker trucks brought smolt from the hatchery

in St. Alban's, twenty-five vats of harvested salmon on a flatbed were shipped

out. There was a tractor-trailer load of crab landed and shipped out, and a

tractor-trailer load of whelk was landed and shipped out.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS PERRY: So, we certainly are seeing both industries thrive and survive

side by side. We also have workers who fish for a few days, and they work in the

aquaculture industry for a few days. On their days off is when they actually get

to fish. So they are able to work in both sectors; certainly very complementary

industries and really making a difference in our life in rural Newfoundland and

Labrador.

Mr. Speaker, believe it or not, there is so much positive development

happening and so many positive investments being made by this government that I

can barely keep track of it; but I do, Mr. Speaker, because I am so very proud

of each and every one. We are investing in biosecure wharves, capital

investments for new growth, and ongoing fish health initiatives that allow us to

continue to build the salmonid industry and provide enormous benefit for the

people of this great Province. As you will hear speakers throughout the next few

days, it is not just in the Coast of Bays region. The benefits and impacts of

this industry are being felt throughout the Province, and we are going to see

much more of that to come.

Mr. Speaker, I hope at some point in time to be able to get up and elaborate

more to my hon. colleagues about the history of this great industry, an industry

which was driven by pioneers who went through some years of struggle but

persevered. Their commitment enabled the industry to survive. In 2004, this

government, when it went into place, finally began to listen to the industry and

put in place the measures that were needed to enable it to grow and flourish;

measures like the loan guarantee program, measures like the new capital equity

program, which enabled us to attract companies like Cooke Aquaculture, Grey's

Aquaculture, and Northern Harvest. We are looking forward to more investors to

come, and we are looking forward to the survival of the smaller entrants who

entered the industry and continue to thrive as well.

Mr. Speaker, in terms of some of these investments, I will touch on a few.

The salmonid industry has grown, just to point out from where we have come, from

572 metric tons, worth $2.6 million in 1995, to 14,264 metric tons worth over

$111 million in 2011, Mr. Speaker. The salmonid industry now directly employs

approximately 600 people in farming and processing operations. The spinoff

factor is about double that, Mr. Speaker. Our production is expected to reach

between 15,000 and 20,000 metric tons this year in 2012. Our goal, Mr. Speaker,

is to reach a level of 50,000 metric tons over the next ten years. With measures

such as those we are introducing today in the strengthened Aquaculture Act and

continued support from this government, we certainly look forward to seeing this

industry thrive and flourish.

As the minister has already alluded to, the industry now has grown from an

infancy stage to a maturity stage. We need to keep pace with that growth and

ensure we are developing it in the most sustainable manner possible, that would

be the most beneficial possible for the people of our great Province and that

will enable this industry to be a leader, not just ten years from now, not just

twenty years from now, but fifty years and 100 years from now, Mr. Speaker.

Aquaculture will very much be a part of the fishery of the future.

In the interest of time, Mr. Speaker, I am going to take my place now. I am

certainly looking forward to the opportunity to be able to get back up and speak

to this bill perhaps more in Committee. I will be supporting our efforts to

further continue and strengthen this sector.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

The hon. the Member for The Straits White Bay North.

MR. MITCHELMORE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

It is a pleasure to stand here today and speak to Bill 22,

An Act To Amend

The Aquaculture Act, and to also hear the comments made by the Member for

Fortune Bay Cape Le Hune. It is quite a tremendous success when you look at

the growth of the aquaculture industry in her district.

In my District of The Straits - White Bay North, we have seen a little bit of

ups and downs at times when it came to aquaculture because we have had some

small operators that closed up. Right now, St. Anthony Basin Resources

Incorporated, SABRI, does have a mussel farm, the only one in the district. They

do employ a few people. That is helping out some fish buyers and local people.

We certainly enjoy having the opportunity to have good, clean, safe and healthy

grown mussels in the area.

When we look at this act here, there is certainly a need and I am quite

pleased to see that there are a number of things that are being strengthened in

this piece of legislation, because the original Aquaculture Act was passed in

1988 and this is really the first thorough redrafting since that point; you are

talking twenty-four years, which is basically almost as old as I am. When you

look at that, the industry has certainly changed and accelerated, and we have

seen a high level of growth. We need to look at making sure that we have the

enforcement, that we have the safety issues there.

I really want to thank the minister and his staff for providing a technical

briefing today and providing a lot of information when it comes to the industry

and this act. When asked about the amendments, they stated that there have not

been any major incidents here in the Province and that this is not something

that has been pressed because of the charges that have been laid with Cooke

Aquaculture in other jurisdictions. We do have some concerns when we look at it

from the federal, to the provincial, to other provincial jurisdictions, and how

they treat operations when companies and operators are operating in various

areas, so that we can try to create some level of standardization.

Most of the amendments here seem to meet or exceed the international

standards for the production growth, so there is a real focus placed on quality

here. If we look at not only just about 650 or so jobs that are directly created

and the $400 million in aquaculture here in the Province; from the employment

figures that are annualized, as well as the capital expenditures, to give us a

$400 million industry, we have certainly seen, as the minister said, quite a lot

of growth. There are other entities such as Bishop's Falls, such as Lewisporte,

those districts that are also benefiting by providing affiliated spinoff work,

and in Daniel's Harbour and Stephenville, seeing hatcheries, which the

department talked about as two of the largest enclosed hatcheries in North or

South America. That is quite exciting to see that.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

MR. MITCHELMORE: Mr. Speaker, an official had stated that we have the

best fish health legislation in the Western Hemisphere. That is certainly very

positive if that is the case, because we have had in this Province where we have

tried to develop industries that presented great promise, such as the mink

farming industry; being an Island and being isolated, we have the ability to

keep disease and keep these pathogens out, as the legislation is putting

forward. When it came to mink farming in the Province, we had quite a

devastation with Aleutian disease. We have to make sure that we have very

strong, stringent regulations when it comes to ensuring the bio-security and

protection of the people's health worldwide, and also the positions of the

economic development that aquaculture is presenting.

There was talk that there is a mobile testing unit that can stop vehicles

travelling to and from sites, and that is being positioned in Grand

Falls-Windsor as you go down to the area where most aquaculture is taking place.

Maybe we need to look at where it is mobile, but maybe we need to have others in

other ports of call as well, if we look at where things are being shipped

primarily from Port aux Basque area.

When we look at the inspection piece, because that is highly important, we

need to see that the expanded regulations allow for offsite and better be able

to ensure good bio-security safety. The new amendments that are being proposed

in the legislation are allowing for the suspension of licences, not just

because in the old act, you could only revoke, and that can create a lot of red

tape there. Because we are dealing with live fish on these sites, it gives the

opportunity to suspend a licence, to do the due diligence; then, as matters are

corrected, it can be reinstated at the discretion of the minister.

This legislation is certainly giving the minister sweeping new powers, and

the aquaculture inspectors, because in a variety of circumstances they will now

have the ability, at their discretion, to be able to access funds from

aquaculture operators to remediate sites; that is certainly important in our

Province. We have a concept that the polluter pays, so it is highly important

that if there is environmental damage being done and things like that that, we

are able to, and the Crown and our Province is able to recoup any losses from

offenders.

We see that in the fish processing sector, where companies have left

environmental mess, as well as in mining and other sectors. Seeing that there is

an ability to hold a bond and we will have to wait and see in the regulations

in what figure that will be a bond may be quite affordable for the large

players in the industry. If we look at the aquaculture industry, there are not a

lot of players in Newfoundland and Labrador. We have six in salmonid and

twenty-two in mussel farming. For some of the smaller operators or some of the

people that may be interested in getting into aquaculture at this point, this

may pose as a barrier if they have to pose a bond of $50,000 or $100,000 or more

dollars. So, I just would like to see if there is some work that is going to be

done to look at making sure that it is affordable and that it is not a barrier

for the smaller operators. Because when we talk about aquaculture, it seems like

we are looking at talking about being competitive in the global marketplace,

looking at very large-scale production, we have to expand, we have to get there;

but, there is a lot of good work that can be done on a smaller scale as well, or

whether it is a number of players and co-ops and how the industry, the

aquaculture association here, can maybe provide the bonds or guarantees for

smaller operators. I know that in my district with SABRI, they work with a

number of small boat fishers where they do provide loan guarantees up to 50 per

cent. So, maybe there is some work that can be done based on that.

It is very important to see that inspections continue. Right now, there is at

least one inspection per year. We will have to see with the regulations how they

come out, because it does not clearly state in the act yet if that is going to

be enhanced further.

One piece I would like to talk about as well is seizing of live product, that

it presents a challenge, because it crosses many areas when it comes to

environment and conservation, and when it comes to the health and well-being of

animals. So, the new amendments do have some updates there to deal with that

issue, where the owner retains the onus of being able to care for their product,

and the minister has the power to issue the directives.

I am seeing some nice pieces where the limitations are expanded to 180 days,

which is more of a typical industry standard and that is a good thing. When we

talk about penalties that are put in this legislation, there are some ticketing

provisions that allow inspectors to be able to better regulate the industry. So,

government is moving to get the Aquaculture Act in line with the Provincial

Offences Act, so that is certainly cleaning up and dealing with making the

legislation a little more powerful.

An administrative penalty on late licence applications will hopefully take

care of the annual applications and make sure that they come in on a timely

manner. Because if we are looking at the industry and we want to know the stats,

we want to know the employment and we want to know the value, we really do need

to make sure that these twenty-eight-plus players who have multiple sites

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

MR. MITCHELMORE: in the Province to over a $100 million industry, that

is 11 per cent close to 12 per cent, as the minister stated to our seafood

industry, then we really need to make sure that we are getting accurate, timely

information, and being able to put in a penalty there to make sure that this

stuff comes in on a timely manner is very, very important.

I worked in a financial sector where we had to get timely financial

statements from business and year-end returns. Sometimes they were not coming in

on a regular basis. We did have to impose an incentive where if they are put in

on a timely manner, then we will get them and we will get that information.

Sometimes a penalty is a good approach. Other times, providing an incentive is a

good approach to getting the documentation. In some cases, maybe there needs to

be an incentive put into play versus looking at penalizing them financially.

That may get the information there a little more quickly.

It is talked about that ticketing will allow for minor offences to be

applicable if a conviction is there, and not require a court date every time.

For some smaller offences there, ticketing may be the right approach. There is a

limitation period that is being introduced in the legislation, three years from

the date of the first offence being charged. We all know that if there is a

short timeline in place, then you are waiting for documentation to come in and

pieces of legislation, you are looking for evidence to prove your case and

people go back and fort