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April 11, 2019

HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS

Vol. XLVIII No. 5

The

House met at 1:30 p.m.

MR. SPEAKER (Trimper):

Admit strangers, please.

Order,

please!

I would

like to welcome several guests that we have both within the Chamber and outside

the Chamber today. First of all, outside the Chamber and watching us from Bell

Island are Ms. Lahey's grade five class. They're at St. Augustine's Elementary

and they're watching in support of one of their classmates who is the subject of

a Member's statement today.

So a

great welcome to you out there in television land.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

I'd also like to acknowledge

several members of the arts community who are joining us today. We have with us:

Courtney Browne, Amy House, Pete Soucy, Kevin Major, Marilynn Bernard, Josh

Goudie, Bridger Canning, Lynn Panting and Calla Lachance.

Nice to

see you all. Welcome.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

Statements by

Members

MR. SPEAKER:

Today we'll hear from the

hon. Members for the Districts of Harbour Grace - Port de Grave, Fogo Island -

Cape Freels, Conception Bay East - Bell Island, Baie Verte - Green Bay and

Windsor Lake.

The hon.

the Member for Harbour Grace - Port de Grave.

MS. P. PARSONS:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

It was

an exciting event last evening at the Volunteer Appreciation Reception at the

Visitors Pavilion in Bay Roberts. Volunteers are the heart of our community. The

dedication and commitment demonstrated throughout my District of Harbour Grace -

Port de Grave is both heartwarming and outstanding.

We have

secured the Newfoundland and Labrador 2020 Summer Games, which will require

immense dedication and hard work by the volunteer community of Conception Bay

North to successfully host the thousands who are anticipated to visit our area

next summer.

Last

night it was a pleasure to be joined by my colleagues, the Members for

Lewisporte - Twillingate and Terra Nova, to show support for the future of the

2020 Summer Games and to attend this special volunteer celebration during

National Volunteer Week. It was a great way to show support for people who

contribute their personal time and efforts to help others and to say thank you.

I ask

that all hon. Members join me in congratulating the Bay Roberts 2020 Summer

Games Committee and all volunteers.

Thank

you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

Thank you.

The hon.

the Member for Fogo Island - Cape Freels.

MR. BRAGG:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

It's a

privilege to rise in this hon. House to highlight milestones in my District of

Fogo Island - Cape Freels. This past weekend marked the 25th anniversary of the

Crystal Gliders Figure Skating Club. Skaters from the past 25 years filled the

Beothic Arena to celebrate the occasion.

highlight the evening, the club held a special fundraiser to bring in world

champion Kaetlyn Osmond. Her speed and grace wowed the crowd, bringing cheers

and applause. The club also showed their appreciation to two long-time members.

Claudia Drover has been coach since the club started, dedicating 25 years to

training young skaters. Daphne Hounsell has served in many positions on the

Crystal Gliders Skating Club. She has also dedicated 25 years of volunteering.

A few

years ago, I spent time as a volunteer with this club; therefore, it gives me

extra special honour to thank everyone who has served on this club. Each and

every one who volunteered for this club has ensured its success. For that, I

thank you all.

Thank

you very much, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

Thank you.

The hon.

the Member for Conception Bay East - Bell Island.

MR. BRAZIL:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I stand

today to acknowledge a young man in my district who has shown true leadership,

community spirit, ingenuity, but particularly empathy and compassion. I speak of

10-year-old Evan Byrne who was honoured yesterday at his school, St. Augustine's

Elementary, by the Town of Wabana and the residents of Bell Island for his

commitment to support the Young Adult Cancer Canada program.

This

year, Evan shaved his head for the sixth consecutive year to raise money for

Young Adult Cancer Canada, and to bring awareness to the need to support cancer

patients. Evan has raised thousands of dollars locally by selling tickets,

hosting special fundraisers and by contributing his allowance to the effort at

the young age of 10

He, like

so many young people, have been affected by the loss of a family member to

cancer, and wanted to do his part to make the lives of those facing cancer a

little brighter. When asked as a five-year-old why he was doing this, he

replied: Cancer makes people sad, and I want to make them happy.

I ask

all Members of this House to join me in congratulating and thanking Evan for his

leadership and for making people happy.

Thank

you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for Baie

Verte - Green Bay.

MR. WARR:

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to

congratulate Dr. Todd Young, this year's recipient of the Society of Rural

Physicians of Canada's Rural Service Award, and also announce his nomination for

the Digital Health Canada Clinical Innovator Award. Both these announcements are

a testament to his leadership, compassion and investment in technology.

Founder

and owner of Medicuro, the only virtual health clinic in the province, recently

launched an accompanying mobile app. Patients are able to request an appointment

via embedded website chat or web-form clinical sessions hosted via live video

chat.

Main

Street Medical Clinic in Springdale was a pilot site for web-based electronic

medical records and provides a web-based education platform for delivery

training to patients and care providers.

Providing addiction services from eight locations across the Island, Dr. Young

has demonstrated his leadership and care for addiction patients throughout

Newfoundland and Labrador. Even as a busy rural physician Dr. Young finds time

to continue his training and personal education in the following: Addiction

Medicine Diploma program, University of BC; medical review officer, the American

Association of Medical Reviewed Officers; Executive Master of Business

Administration, University of Fredericton.

I ask

all my hon. colleagues to join me in offering congratulations to Dr. Todd Young

on his many accomplishments.

Thank

you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

Windsor Lake.

MR. CROSBIE:

Mr. Speaker, we here in the

House of Assembly recently joined in with the Be Cool for Autism Day, taking to

tribute, was in fact support of the vital work of the Autism Society of

Newfoundland and Labrador.

I'm

proud to report that the students at Roncalli Elementary, MacDonald Drive

Elementary and MacDonald Drive Junior High also joined in support of this

compelling cause, and of their fellow students on the autism spectrum.

Persons

with autism are friends, colleagues or family members with so much to contribute

to the province and people. I commend and personally support the work of the

Autism Society Newfoundland and Labrador for their excellent work in challenging

the stigma surrounding autism and providing support to individuals and families.

encourage the Members of this House to continue their support for the Autism

Society and its families and programs.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

Thank you.

Statements by Ministers.

Statements by

Ministers

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Service NL.

MS. GAMBIN-WALSH:

Mr. Speaker, in October our

government, in partnership with Bluedrop Performance Learning, launched

SkillsPass NL. These online programs are targeted to help owners, managers,

employees and job seekers gain employability skills, save time and money by

being prepared for inspections, and ensure personal and public safety by

complying with regulations.

Just six

months ago, SkillsPass NL launched with four programs. Today, there are 12

programs available to anyone interested, including training on food safety,

tobacco and vapour products retail, as well as training for public pool

operators and marriage licence issuers and commissioners.

Mr.

Speaker, we want people and businesses to be successful and this initiative

makes a positive contribution to compliance, and to employee and employer

success. The e-learning is available free of charge to anyone interested. Plus,

participants' training records will be available to them electronically.

keeping with the objectives outlined in

The Way Forward , we have entered into a four-year partnership with Bluedrop

to develop SkillsPass NL. Our government will continue to work with Bluedrop to

offer additional courses with other departments on a number of initiatives.

We are

certainly looking forward to our province's workforce using this innovative

training technology to improve their knowledge and skills.

Mr.

Speaker, I invite my hon. colleagues, and all residents of this province, to

explore these programs at ServiceNL.myskillspass.io.

Thank

you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

Thank you.

The hon.

the Member for Conception Bay South.

MR. PETTEN:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I'd like

to thank the hon. minister for an advance copy of the statement. Mr. Speaker,

we, on this side of the House, join the minister in recognizing the value of

SkillsPass NL by bringing more government programs and services online. We also

know the value of a digital economy is unquestionable. I'm glad that after three

years of little action, government has engaged with Bluedrop to offer more help

for those unemployed and more user-friendly platforms for businesses and

organizations. Clearly, the early success of SkillsPass NL has only been

successful through the massive unprecedented expansion of Internet coverage

through our administration.

Mr.

Speaker, in closing, whatever we can do to serve the people of the province

better is a good thing. I encourage all residents of the province to take

advantage of SkillsPass NL.

Thank

you very much.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

Thank you.

The hon.

the Member for St. John's East - Quidi Vidi.

MS. MICHAEL:

Thank you very much, Mr.

Speaker.

I, too,

thank the minister for the advance copy of her statement. It's good to see one

of our local technology firms continuing to develop this online training.

Hopefully, this training will help owners and managers comply more easily with

regulations. We are told it will also help employees and job seekers.

So, I

ask the minister will she be reporting on a follow-up review of how the impact

of this training is on people looking for work.

Thank

you very much, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

Thank you.

Further

statements by ministers?

The hon.

the Minister of Municipal Affairs and the Environment.

MR. LETTO:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr.

Speaker, I rise today to highlight our government's investments in municipal

infrastructure. By collaborating with the federal and municipal governments, we

have invested more than $259 million in provincial funding for over 630

municipal infrastructure projects in the past three years. We are providing

quality infrastructure, creating jobs and enhancing services for Newfoundlanders

and Labradorians.

The

provincial government prioritizes projects that communities tell us are

important to them. Earlier this week, the Premier announced budget 2019 will

commit $129 million for municipal infrastructure. This includes new cost-shared

projects to provide 29 communities with better quality water and waste water

systems, improved roads and community buildings, and regionalized services.

In line

with The Way Forward , we are using

some of that investment to leverage as much federal funding as possible. In

September, we signed an agreement for $555 million in federal funding under the

Investing in Canada Plan. We anticipate releasing this year's project list after

the federal government completes its review.

Mr.

Speaker, I would like to acknowledge the supportive relationship we have with

municipalities and our private sector partners. We look forward to continuing to

work together to build safe and sustainable communities.

Thank

you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

Thank you.

The hon.

the Member for Cape St. Francis.

MR. K. PARSONS:

Thank you very much, Mr.

Speaker.

I want

to thank the minister for an advance copy of his statement. We, in the Official

Opposition, clearly support investments of improved infrastructure in

communities throughout the province. There are many municipalities that are in

need of upgrades on their water, waste water and community buildings, roads and

other services.

However,

projects announced by the Premier on Monday will only go ahead if the federal

government gives approval. Instead of waiting to have all three levels of

government, the Premier wanted to start his election campaign early.

I look

forward to the federal government giving these funding approvals and to the

improvement of services and infrastructure which our communities badly need.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

Thank you.

The hon.

the Member for St. John's East - Quidi Vidi.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER:

Order, please!

MS. MICHAEL:

Thank you very much, Mr.

Speaker.

I, too,

thank the minister for the advance copy of his statement. It's good to see that

much-needed money being spent on municipal infrastructure projects. It's sorely

needed and thank goodness there's a federal government there to back it up.

Government knows the huge deficit in the province's municipal infrastructure,

the need for cash for roads, for water systems and the like.

Under

the current cost-sharing formula set by the provincial government, however, most

municipalities struggle to come up with their share, so I encourage the minister

to revisit these formulas to relieve the financial burden faced by so many

municipalities.

Thank

you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

Thank you.

Further

statements by ministers?

Oral

Questions.

Oral Questions

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Leader of the

Official Opposition.

MR. CROSBIE:

Mr. Speaker, in last week's

Throne Speech government boasted that it has stabilized spending, yet so far

this week government has announced almost $350 million and counting.

How do

all these announcements impact the fiscal forecast?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Premier.

PREMIER BALL:

First of all, Mr. Speaker,

before we get into this week's announcements and the opportunity to give back to

people of the province, it really reiterates the plan that we put in place in

2016 is working. But I do want to clarify for those that are watching and would

have listened and just heard some misinformation that just went out there by one

of the PC Members. This is really about cost-shared arrangements about an

announcement that we made on Monday of this week.

The

cost-shared arrangements that we made on Monday of this week were not federally

and provincially funded, they were actually provincially and municipally funded,

cost shared. So the information – facts matter, Mr. Speaker, when you make

announcements like this, but I just really want to clarify about the

announcement that we made on Monday about the $129 million that we're giving

back to the people of this province.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

Thank you.

The hon.

the Leader of the Official Opposition.

MR. CROSBIE:

The question was how the

announcements impact the fiscal forecast, Mr. Speaker.

Monday's

municipal infrastructure announcement stated that some of the money would be

used to leverage federal money.

How sure

is the Premier that these projects will go ahead if the province is still

waiting on federal approval?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Premier.

PREMIER BALL:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

If you

remember back a few months ago, we've entered into multi-year agreements with

the federal government. Much of the announcements around infrastructure that we

can actually joint share with the provincial government are based on multi-year

agreements, but I do want to reiterate the announcement on Monday around

municipal capital works with the 29 communities that we just mentioned, nearly

around $129 million, were really just cost shared with those municipalities,

which is currently in the three-year plan which we announced on Monday. That is

all forecasted, Mr. Speaker.

I will

tell the people of this province that our plan is working; we are on track. Our

fiscal framework that we put in place in 2016, we are still on track with the

forecast that we put in place in 2016.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

Thank you.

The hon.

the Leader of the Official Opposition.

MR. CROSBIE:

Mr. Speaker, next Tuesday,

April 16 is budget day for the province. The school year ends June 27. There's

plenty of time to debate the budget, if the government wanted to do so.

Is the

Premier's intention to debate the budget or will he throw us into an election

with no budget debate?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Premier.

PREMIER BALL:

Good question, Mr. Speaker.

Always proud to be able to stand and debate where we've taken this province

since we took government in 2015.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

PREMIER BALL:

What we faced in 2016, I

think the Leader of the Opposition made mention yesterday about owning up to the

mess that they'd left us. Well, first of all, we saw the acknowledgement that

you did leave us a mess. There's no question about that. I think everyone in

this province would have recognized that.

Mr.

Speaker, we have taken this province a long way in the last 3½ years. I look

forward to the debate, whether it's at the doorsteps or here in this House of

Assembly. But, I will tell you, Mr. Speaker –

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER:

Order, please!

PREMIER BALL:

– one thing for sure is that

the people of this province, unlike 2015, will get an opportunity to get a clear

understanding of the financial picture of this province.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Leader of the

Official Opposition.

MR. CROSBIE:

So, will there be a budget

debate?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Premier.

PREMIER BALL:

Mr. Speaker, there's always a

budget debate. You can't get a budget without having a budget debate.

Very

clearly, the Leader of the Opposition, a few weeks ago, was here sending

messages to me saying bring it on, we're ready, Mr. Speaker. Well, I will

guarantee you this, the financial picture of our province that we will put to

the people in this province, when we're ready for the debate, will look better

than the financial picture that you've missed the opportunity for your own party

– you couldn't even get the financial picture of the PC Party right, Mr.

Speaker.

This is

a crowd that's not ready to govern. They are not ready to govern. They haven't

even got their own caucus in shape.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

Order, please!

The hon.

the Leader of the Official Opposition.

MR. CROSBIE:

That's quite a bombastic

answer to a very simple question: Will there be a budget debate?

Budget

debate is used to flesh out details and examine spending from previous years.

Without budget debate government will hide, not only their plans but their

actions from the past 12 months.

Will the

Premier be open and transparent, as he has promised, and ensure that budget

debate occurs so the people of the province can understand the financial

condition of their province?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Premier.

PREMIER BALL:

Mr. Speaker, every single

government that has (inaudible) – every budget that's passed by previous

governments, and this one for sure, will require a number of hours to debate

that will occur on the floor of the House of Assembly.

Mr.

Speaker, the people of this province, including the Leader of the Opposition,

including the Leader of the Third Party have all been calling for an election.

They've been asking for an election. Are they now moving from that position, Mr.

Speaker? We've been getting ready. The Leader of the Opposition, he's been

getting his – the PC Party has been getting his party ready.

Mr.

Speaker, we have no date picked yet, but I can guarantee you, before we go to

the doorsteps –

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER:

Order, please!

PREMIER BALL:

– unlike in 2015 when we were

left with the mess, people will get a very clear understanding of what this

government has done.

This

province is being turned around by the work of this government, and we're

prepared to have that debate with anybody, anywhere.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Leader of the

Official Opposition.

MR. CROSBIE:

How you spend your money says

what your values are.

Budget

debate gives the public the chance to see what's included and what's not

included in the budget. Now that the Premier is making spending announcements

with money that we don't have, we need the budget debate to determine what the

government has to cut.

Will the

Premier open the books and ensure the budget is debated?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Premier.

PREMIER BALL:

Mr. Speaker, what the people

of this province are expecting is an open debate no matter where it is. That is

what we were missing.

I wonder

if the Leader of the Opposition, when he spoke about owning the inheritance,

does he truly remember what happened in 2012 when the project was sanctioned,

Muskrat Falls? Just imagine a province that we live in today, if they had access

to some $500 million that will be going to rate mitigation, if we could actually

direct that to priorities of people in this province, and the Leader of the PC

Party is yet to stand up and take ownership for that.

We do

not take ownership for the mess that we inherited, that has been caused by you.

What we take ownership for is how we turned this province around, putting people

to work, putting a fiscal forecast in place that is working.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER:

Order, please!

PREMIER BALL:

Our plan is working; people

are seeing the benefits.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Leader of the

Official Opposition.

MR. CROSBIE:

Mr. Speaker, another

bombastic answer that stonewalls a very simple question, the question being:

Will there be a budget debate?

This

government increased the gas tax, brought in the levy, cut libraries, introduced

a book tax, all in 2016, because they needed money. Yet this week –

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER:

Order, please!

MR. CROSBIE:

– they've opened the taps on

spending.

Is the

Premier acting in the best interests of the province, or just in the interests

of getting re-elected?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Premier.

PREMIER BALL:

Speaking of being transparent

and opening the books, Mr. Speaker, the levy – as we said in 2016, the Leader of

the PC Party knows this, if he just looks at the plan, look at the legislation

that was put in place – will be gone. As the Minister of Finance said yesterday,

he will be very pleased to see that gone.

I was

very disappointed when we had to make difficult decisions like that. We had to

make the decisions like that because the PC Party hid the financial information

from the people of this province –

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER:

Order, please!

PREMIER BALL:

I will guarantee you that

this government will not do that.

The

fiscal situation in this province will be laid out there, and we will lay it out

there on Tuesday of next week.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

I remind all Members, I will

not tolerate heckling of any kind. I want to hear questions and answers and only

that.

The hon.

the Leader of the Official Opposition.

MR. CROSBIE:

Mr. Speaker, I think

psychologists call that kind of answer: perseverating. It means you repeat you

yourself.

Monday, the Premier said he wasn't thinking that far ahead regarding the budget

debate. The budget is Tuesday. Will the Premier admit that with all of these

announcements, he is only focused on the election?

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Premier.

PREMIER BALL:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Well,

the Leader the Opposition, the Leader of the PC Party seems to be a little

nervous of getting in front of the people of this province. Mr. Speaker, if I

was the leader of the PC Party right now I would be a little nervous if I had to

go and try to defend a project that will double electricity rates in this

province. If I had to defend a CHEAP plan, which says the electricity rates in

our province will be 17 cents, I would not want to appear in front of the people

of this province.

We are

putting in a credible rate mitigation plan, Mr. Speaker. We are putting in a

plan that will build on the plan that we put in place in 2016, putting people to

work in this province, putting this province back on a sound fiscal track. That

is what we are doing and that is what we will take to the electorate.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Leader of the

Official Opposition.

MR. CROSBIE:

The Premier has been

travelling the province handing out goodies. Will he admit that he is using

public funds to campaign?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Premier.

PREMIER BALL:

Mr. Speaker, when I was

leader of the Opposition I travelled this province and I enjoyed every minute

that I did it. When I'm Premier of this province, Mr. Speaker, I travel this

province and I enjoy every minute that I do it.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

PREMIER BALL:

Any time that I can get in

front of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians – regardless of where they are,

whatever my job is – I enjoy doing it. I can assure you right now, if I was in,

like St. Anthony yesterday or at the Labrador Games, is he suggesting that the

Premier of this province should not go into those communities where they really

want to speak to our politicians? I look forward to seeing the tour wagon show

up where we are, Mr. Speaker, on the campaign trail whenever the election is

called.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

Order, please!

The hon.

the Leader of the Official Opposition.

MR. CROSBIE:

Another stonewalling answer.

All the

indications are we are only days away from an election being called and the

government is making many announcements. When will they announce their rate

mitigation plan? It should be easy to do. You can just look at ours and borrow

from that.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER:

Order, please!

The hon.

the Premier.

PREMIER BALL:

Mr. Speaker, there are about

five or six reasons why we will not be copying the Crosbie rate mitigation plan.

Number one, we don't believe that people in this province can afford a 17 cent

per hour electricity rate. We don't believe that they can. We will put in place

a rate mitigation plan that reflects the affordability of people in this

province, mitigating Muskrat Falls, Mr. Speaker.

I ask

the Leader of the PC Party: Will he once and for all stand up and apologize? We

wouldn't even need to be doing rate mitigation if it wasn't for the decisions of

the PC Party.

Will he

at least once acknowledge that and take the responsibility for the role that the

PC Party played in getting this province in the mess that it is.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Leader of the

Official Opposition.

MR. CROSBIE:

It's refreshing to move from

pure stonewalling to personal attack there; that keeps me on my toes.

With

yesterday's announcement regarding the replacement of Her Majesty's Penitentiary

with an expanded facility, is the minister considering consolidating

correctional institutions in the province?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Premier.

PREMIER BALL:

Mr. Speaker, I'm going to

stand here before the Minister of Justice and Public Safety gets up and talk

about personal attacks.

I have

sat in this House of Assembly when the Leader of the PC Party has come back at

me, Mr. Speaker, and said many words that have personally attacked me. I can

guarantee you right now, no matter what forum we're in, I will defend what we

have done as a government. I will not shy away of telling people in this

province who put this province in the difficult situation that we're in.

If the

Leader of the Opposition thinks it's a personal attack by me asking him to

apologize for his party putting in place this project that is costing hundreds

of millions of dollars, Mr. Speaker, if he is ashamed to apologize and take

responsibility for that, well, I would say right now, I would be silent for him

as well.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Leader of the

Official Opposition.

MR. CROSBIE:

There's a lot more heat than

light in that answer, Mr. Speaker.

Will

this consolidation of penitentiaries result in job losses in Stephenville, Happy

Valley-Goose Bay, Bishop's Falls or Clarenville? If so, what will be done to

help these displaced workers?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Justice and Public Safety.

MR. A. PARSONS:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I have

to go back to the Member's first question, because the second question is led on

a wrongful premise: (

a) there will be no consolidation and (

b) there will be no

job losses.

We are

very proud to be building a new facility in this province that will be open in

2024, but to go back to ensure there's no misinformation put out there, there

will be no consolidation and there will be no job losses.

Thank

you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Leader of the

Official Opposition.

MR. CROSBIE:

Mr. Speaker, we have bills

amending both the Automobile Insurance Act

and the Insurance Companies Act , which

have received first reading.

Can the

responsible minister confirm that this legislation will be debated prior to the

election call?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Government House

Leader.

MR. A. PARSONS:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

As you

can see, there's a little bit of a tussle there – both myself and the Minister

of Service NL wanted to speak to this.

Yes, we

have two pieces of legislation that are currently resting at first reading, and

I can confirm that our intent is to move forward with the debate next week.

Thank

you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Leader of the

Official Opposition.

MR. CROSBIE:

To whichever minister wins

the tug of war, can we be informed as to what recommendations of the Public

Utilities Board will be included in the bill?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Government House

Leader.

MR. A. PARSONS:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Obviously, we will be debating that bill in the House of Assembly, but as the

Member knows, any bill that we debate here there will be briefings provided to

all Members of the House of Assembly prior to any debate here in the House. At

that time, Members will have a full opportunity to review the legislation, to

ask questions and then we will move into the House and have second reading and

Committee. I'm sure it will be a very thorough debate.

Thank

you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

Thank you.

The hon.

the Member for Conception Bay South.

MR. PETTEN:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr.

Speaker, there are over 1,000 automated external defibrillators known as AEDs in

our province but there's no link to the 911 system; 911 operators need to be

able to direct individuals to the nearby AED wherever possible.

Why

isn't your government setting up this very important life-saving initiative that

I've been advocating for, for the last two years?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Health and Community Services.

MR. HAGGIE:

Thank you very much, Mr.

Speaker.

The AEDs

were funded through money from Municipal Affairs and were located on the advice

of the Heart and Stroke Foundation. They ware very valuable tools, as the Member

opposite alludes to. The information that's out there is currently the subject

of a Hacking Health enterprise through our young entrepreneurs with the aim of

providing that information for the 911 service.

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

Conception Bay South.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. PETTEN:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I want

to remind government opposite, there's been numerous letters written by the

Heart and Stroke, by myself, by other advocacy groups to all of them, including

several ministers, and still no one has had the decency to respond to any of

those people. I call upon government to provide answers, explain, to be more

clear because this is a life-saving initiative and it's one I'll continue to

advocate for.

What

work, Minister, has been done towards setting up this registry?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Health and Community Services.

MR. HAGGIE:

Thank you very much, Mr.

Speaker.

thought I answered the questions quite clearly the first time but maybe my

strange accent has befuddled people.

The

bottom line is the information is out there. We need to collate it and it is

currently the subject of a Hacking Health enterprise, among other initiatives.

We hope to be able to bring this to fruition in the same way the Hacking Health

chapter here has done with at least three other initiatives.

We have

the biggest and most active Hacking Health

chapter east of Toronto, Mr. Speaker.

I look forward to their deliberations at the next hackathon coming up in the

spring.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

Conception Bay South.

MR. PETTEN:

Mr. Speaker, I want to be

clear, what the minister is saying there now has not been communicated to any of

the groups that I've been talking to. It's great to keep in their own back

pocket, but people in this province, including people who have had heart

transplants, are crying out for this registry and no one over there has the

decency to tell those people. That's just not acceptable, Mr. Speaker.

Minister, these AEDs need a regular inspection to ensure batteries and pads are

working. With this registry, we can ensure that all are inspected and ready to

save someone's life if needed.

Will you

commit to the life saving registry today? Talk in plain terms so people can

understand what you're talking about.

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Health and Community Services.

MR. HAGGIE:

Thank you very much, Mr.

Speaker.

I'm

trying to take the temperature down on the hyperbole – that means exaggeration

for the Member opposite.

From my

point of view, the Member raises some very interesting issues. There are wide

variety of sources of AEDs, some are owned by the Heart and Stroke Foundations,

some are donations to organizations like curling clubs. Those in health

authorities, for example, do have regular inspections in the same way that, for

example, fire extinguishers and such equipment would.

We are

working with Service NL on those background pieces and they obviously would form

an important part of such a registry to make sure this equipment is up-to-date.

We have

not forgotten about it. We're in regular communication with the Heart and Stroke

Foundation, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

Thank you.

The hon.

the Member for Cape St. Francis.

MR. K. PARSONS:

Thank you very much, Mr.

Speaker.

Can the

Premier confirm that he has met with representatives from the taxi industry

regarding insurance issues?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Premier.

PREMIER BALL:

Mr. Speaker, yes, we had a

meeting, at their request, by the way – the members from the taxi industry. We

had a great meeting, all the appropriate time, which went on for quite some

time.

The

minister responsible for Service NL did attend that meeting, as did members of

the taxi industry. We talked about a number of issues that impact their

industry, especially around insurance, but not just insurance.

Mr.

Speaker, there were a number of things that were discussed. We had a very good

meeting. As I said, it was a meeting that was requested by them. It was a

meeting that I had made a commitment to attend as well as the minister, who's

had numerous meetings with the taxi industry.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

Thank you.

The hon.

the Member for Cape St. Francis.

MR. K. PARSONS:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Last

month, the Premier stated that he'd look forward to meeting with the group

because he was sure that there would be some solutions that would come from it.

Can the

Premier provide an update on the meeting and what progress was made on resolving

the serious issues in the taxi industry?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Premier.

PREMIER BALL:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Well,

there is no doubt, we covered a lot of territory and a lot of information that

was provided. Some of this was already available to us in Service NL. We all

know that this issue has been around this province for nearly two decades. We

all know there are concerns around facilities, insurance and the association

that the taxi industry is now having really – have no other choice but buy

insurance through them, but it was more than that.

talked about things like registration. We talked about uninsured drivers and so

on, Mr. Speaker. There was a multitude of things, all on the agenda of the taxi

industry. It was a very good meeting, one that they requested, one that we were

happy to attend.

Mr.

Speaker, collectively and together, we agreed to look forward and look to

putting in solutions to this problem.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

Thank you.

The hon.

the Member for Cape St. Francis.

MR. K. PARSONS:

Yes, thank you very much, Mr.

Speaker.

Why were

there certain members of the taxi industry not allowed to attend this meeting?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Premier.

PREMIER BALL:

Mr. Speaker, there was no one

not allowed to attend the meeting.

AN HON. MEMBER:

Yes, there was.

MR. SPEAKER:

Order, please!

Please

proceed, Premier.

PREMIER BALL:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Once

again, I will say I did not, at no point, ever suggest – if that is what the

Member opposite is suggesting, I would ask him to tell me who it is I excluded

from the meeting.

AN HON. MEMBER:

(Inaudible.)

PREMIER BALL:

I did not.

They

asked for the meeting; I agreed to meet. At no point did I say someone should

not be there, if that's what the Member is alluding to, not at all. There were

people in that room that I met for the first time.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for Mount

Pearl North.

MR. LESTER:

Mr. Speaker, prescription

drugs in Canada –

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER:

Order, please!

MR. LESTER:

– that are not over the

counter are not taxed. However, medical cannabis has both excise and sales tax

applied to all sales.

I ask

the minister: Will the government commit to removing the provincial portion of

taxes for medical cannabis users?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Finance and President of Treasury Board.

MR. OSBORNE:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

As I had

indicated to the Member yesterday, medical cannabis is federally regulated, not

provincially regulated. We do regulate recreational cannabis products in this

province; that's done through the Newfoundland and Labrador Liquor Corporation.

The

question that the Member is asking is more appropriately asked to the federal

government.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for Mount

Pearl North for a short question, please.

MR. LESTER:

It seems to me that we're

more concerned with propping up the tax revenues from cannabis.

This is

a provincial sales tax that's applied to medical cannabis that's prescribed for

people who are in compromised positions. New Brunswick, PEI and Ontario –

MR. SPEAKER:

Quick question, Sir.

MR. LESTER:

– all covered medical

cannabis under the workers' compensation program.

I ask

the minister: Are you in discussions with WorkplaceNL to cover medical cannabis

for injured workers if they require it?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Finance and President of Treasury Board for a quick response, please.

MR. OSBORNE:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Again,

medical cannabis is not regulated by my department. The Newfoundland and

Labrador Liquor Corporation regulates the sale and distribution of recreational

cannabis.

haven't had any discussions with WorkplaceNL regarding medical cannabis, no.

MR. SPEAKER:

Thank you.

The hon.

the Member for St. John's Centre.

MS. ROGERS:

Mr. Speaker, artists have

mounted a respectful and convincing letter-writing campaign calling for an

increase in funding for ArtsNL, the only arts program investing directly in

artists for the creation and development of art. The number of artists applying

for this funding has significantly increased, yet the ArtsNL budget has actually

decreased.

I ask

the Premier: Does he fully understand how crucial this ArtsNL funding is?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation.

MR. MITCHELMORE:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I thank

the Member opposite for her question. Government is firmly committed to the arts

community here in the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador, that's why we put

forward the Status of the Artist legislation, and we certainly value the

important work that ArtsNL does for the promotion and the creation of arts.

I had a

very productive meeting with business and the arts and artists on dialogue on

this particular matter. I just reflect back on a sunrise ceremony that took

place with members of the business community, with business and the arts, where

we had Lynn Panting's dance class and it was a way to start off connecting how

business and the arts are synonymous. Creativity and innovation go hand in hand,

and it's important that we invest in the arts.

MR. SPEAKER:

Thank you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for St.

John's Centre.

MS. ROGERS:

Mr. Speaker, Rick Mercer

wrote: It is thanks to early support from ArtsNL and groups supported by ArtsNL

that I owe my career. Petrina Bromley, Newfoundland actor in

Come From Away on Broadway wrote: I

would never have become a professional actor if I hadn't been hired to act. That

only happened because someone got a small investment from ArtsNL to do a

project.

I ask

the Premier: Have these articulate and passionate artists convinced him yet as

to why ArtsNL investment is crucial to the development of the careers of our

artists?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation.

MR. MITCHELMORE:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I have

the greatest respect for all of these artists and what they're doing for

Newfoundland and Labrador in their production and creation and marketing and

promotion of our province in their artistic endeavours and those new comers who

are looking to become professional artists and the work that they're doing

through their involvement with ArtsNL and all the other entities of government.

They do incredible work.

Our

government has been working with and listening to them. I have to say that it's

important that we continue to have ongoing dialogue, and that's why, as

minister, I've been going to various events and activities and festivals and

also seeing the investment first-hand, talking to the artists directly.

Any

investment in ArtsNL will be reflected in budget 2019.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

Thank you.

The hon.

the Member for St. John's Centre.

MS. ROGERS:

Mr. Speaker, award-winning

writer, actor, Mark Critch wrote: When I was starting out, some friends and I

received a small grant that helped us to put off a show of original comedy at

the hall. That investment led to all I've done since. Investing in ArtsNL will

pay off culturally and economically.

I ask

the Premier: Is there anything else he needs in order to be convinced how

crucial ArtsNL funding is to the well-being and the growth of our cultural

sector? Faint praise is not enough.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation.

MR. MITCHELMORE:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

As I

said in the beginning, we have been investing in the arts. We continue to do so.

We see the value in the arts. This is why we have such a strong cultural

community here. It is because of all the individuals that are involved. We work

in partnership, we work with ArtsNL, government as well.

Any

investment in ArtsNL will come in budget 2019 – that is reflected in the budget

that is coming on Tuesday. And that's when the Member would find out if there's

any particular investment in ArtsNL.

But what

I can say is that the Premier and I have been on site of

Hudson & Rex , we see where film can come from a playwright, can come

from literary works, it's all very interconnected, it all drives the economy,

it's $450 million, there are 5,000 jobs, and the arts and cultural community is

so important to this government.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

Thank you.

The hon.

the Member for St. John's Centre for a very quick question, please.

MS. ROGERS:

Mr. Speaker, I ask the

Premier, in the past few weeks his government –

MR. SPEAKER:

Quick question, please.

MS. ROGERS:

– made several funding

announcements totalling hundreds of millions of dollars. Will he now join with

our artists and commit to this modest request for one of the best investments

this province can make for our people?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation for a quick response, please.

MR. MITCHELMORE:

Mr. Speaker, I said that any

reflection of investment in artistic and cultural endeavours would be in budget

2019, but what I can say is that we are firmly committed to the arts community

here in this province, and we continue to make investments. Actually, there's an

announcement being made right now to expand the Princess Sheila NaGeira Theatre

in Carbonear.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

Thank you.

The hon.

the Member for Humber - Bay of Islands.

MR. JOYCE:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I would

ask the question to the Opposition, but they don't answer questions, so I'll ask

the question for any Member of the Management Commission on the government side.

October, 24, 2018, during a technical briefing with the Management Commission

concerning the bullying and harassment reports, I ask, did Bruce Chaulk make a

reference about an individual who refused to participate in the interview

process, in what context was the statement made –

MR. SPEAKER:

Sir, I'm sorry, I have to

rule that question out of order, since it's directed to the Management

Commission and not to the House of Assembly. So I need a question directed to

government.

MR. JOYCE:

I ask the Minister of Natural

Resources, whoever wants to answer: Did Bruce Chaulk make any reference about an

individual who refused to participate in the interview process, in what context

was the statement made, and did Mr. Chaulk –

MR. SPEAKER:

Again, Sir, I see this as

related to the activities of the Management Commission. I'd say it's separate

from the policy of the government. So I see it as not appropriate for this

floor.

MR. JOYCE:

(Inaudible.)

MR. SPEAKER:

You cannot challenge the

Speaker, by the way. The idea of a question is to challenge the policy and the

direction of the government.

MR. JOYCE:

It is.

MR. SPEAKER:

You're talking about the body

of the Management Commission, to which I am the Chair.

The time

for Oral Questions is over.

Thank

you.

Presenting Reports by Standing and Select Committees.

Tabling

of Documents.

Notices

of Motion.

Notices of Motion

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Government House

Leader.

MR. A. PARSONS:

Mr. Speaker, I give notice

that I will ask leave to move the following resolution respecting the

reappointment of the members of the Independent Appointments Commission.

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Assembly as

follows:

WHEREAS

section 6(3) of the

Independent Appointments Commission Act provides that members of the

Independent Appointments Commission are to be appointed by the

Lieutenant-Governor in Council on a resolution of the House of Assembly; and

WHEREAS

section 7(1) of the act states that

a commissioner may be reappointed; and

WHEREAS the appointment of the following

commissioners expires on May 25, 2019: Clyde K. Wells, chairperson; Zita Cobb;

Shannie Duff; Philip R. Earle; Derek Young; and

WHEREAS it is proposed that the said

commissioners be reappointed as commissioners for a term of three years.

NOW THEREFORE

BE IT RESOLVED that the

following persons be reappointed members of the Independent Appointments

Commission for a term of three years: Clyde K. Wells, chairperson; Zita Cobb;

Shannie Duff; Philip R. Earle; Derek Young.

Further, Mr. Speaker, under Notices of

Motion, I give notice under Standing Order 11(1), that this House not adjourn at

5 p.m. this coming Monday.

Thank you.

MR. SPEAKER:

Thank you.

Further notices of motion?

Answers to Questions for which Notice has

been Given.

Petitions.

Petitions

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for Mount Pearl North.

MR. LESTER:

Mr. Speaker, the Adult Dental Program

coverage for clients of the Newfoundland and Labrador Prescription Drug Program

under Access and 65Plus plans were eliminated in Budget 2016.

We, the undersigned, call upon the House of

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

Adult Dental Program to cover seniors and low-income individuals and families

for better insurance of oral health, quality of health and dignity.

Mr. Speaker, this is probably the seventh

or eighth time I've presented this petition since I've had the privilege of

standing here in this hon. House. I've yet to hear a response from the minister

and I, along with the petitioners, would really appreciate it.

As I've said before, people's nest eggs,

the little bit of cash they had poked away for those emergencies and rainy-day

funds or whatever it may be, they're long since used, and now people are putting

their health issues off as long as they can. They're coming to critical levels.

They're ending up showing up at emergency departments with all sorts of problems

that are costing the government and province and people a lot more;

whereas, a

simple reinstatement of this program would ensure that we do not get to those

stages.

It's basically, again, where we're

shouldering the inability for government to rein in spending on the backs of

people who are most vulnerable.

MR. SPEAKER:

Further petitions?

The hon. the Member for Mount Pearl -

Southlands.

MR. LANE:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

There

have been numerous concerns raised by family members of seniors in long-term

care throughout Newfoundland and Labrador, particularly those suffering from

dementia, Alzheimer's disease and other cognitive debilitating conditions,

whereby loved ones have experienced injuries, have not been bath regularly, have

not received proper nutrition and/or have been left lying in their own waste for

extended periods of time. We believe this is directly related to government's

failure to ensure adequate staffing at those facilities.

THEREFORE we petition the hon. House of Assembly as follows: To urge the

Government of Newfoundland and Labrador to instate legislation, which includes

the mandatory establishment of an adequate ratio, one staff to three residents

in long-term care and all other applicable regional health facilities housing

persons with dementia, Alzheimer's diseases and other cognitive debilitating

conditions in order to ensure appropriate safety, protection from injuries,

proper hygiene care and all other required care. This law would include the

creation of specific job position in these facilities for monitoring and

intervention as required to ensure the safety of patients.

Mr.

Speaker, the petition today, signatories are from Labrador area, Lab City,

Wabush and so on. Again, this is a concern that has been raised by the Advocates

for Senior Citizens' Rights. They represent thousands of seniors all throughout

the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador.

presented numerous petitions on their behalf, thousands of signatories and their

concern is about staffing levels in long-term care facilities housing seniors

with dementia, Alzheimer's disease and so on. Their concern is about patient's

safety and their concern is about ensuring that there are enough staff at all

times – that's the important part here – at all times, ensuring there are enough

staff to take care of these seniors that need that help.

They

would like to see actual legislation in place that would dictate a certain

standard, basically without flexibility, saying that there must be a standard of

a certain amount of staff ratio to patients for these people.

That's

what they're asking for. They're not satisfied with regulations that the

minister could change, any minister could change. They're not satisfied with

policy of the health care authorities. They want legislation so that it

guarantees appropriate staffing for these seniors to take care of their needs.

Thank

you, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER:

Thank you.

Further

petitions?

Seeing

no petitions, I call Orders of the Day.

Orders of the Day

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Government House

Leader.

MR. A. PARSONS:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I call

from the Order Paper, second reading of Bill 2.

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Government House

Leader.

MR. A. PARSONS:

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded

by the Minister of Natural Resources, that Bill 2,

An Act To Amend The

Correctional Services Act, be now read a second time.

Motion,

second reading a bill, “An Act To Amend The Correctional Services Act.” (Bill 2)

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Justice and Public Safety.

MR. A. PARSONS:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Happy to

stand here today and speak to Bill 2, which is

An Act to Amend the Correctional

Services Act.

I would

preface, I guess, this debate by saying that this particular amendment itself is

fairly non-substantive in and of itself. It doesn't contain a significant number

of changes per se, but the history of this particular bill and of this

situation, I think, carries some interest to people in the general public. I'll

try my best to explain where we are in terms of this particular piece of

legislation and what we've done since that time.

I think

I'll lead off, Mr. Speaker, by talking about this particular amendment. In

simple terms, this amendment, which is fairly short in length, it's only a few

pages, but it does have a number of housekeeping provisions to it.

This

bill clarifies the reference to cannabis in the definition of illicit drug, and

that's obviously for reasons that come with the legalization of cannabis in the

last year. That's one of the things that obviously was a change from when this

bill was originally done.

includes an additional principle and amends two existing principles, as it

relates to, I guess, the concepts that the bill wishes to cover. It clarifies

the authority for adult probation officers to procure and report information for

the court in respect of a person charged with an offence. It clarifies the

requirement that the dates that an offender is eligible for release be disclosed

to the victim or victim services on request.

I would

point out, these are things that have been happening in practice, but whenever

you do some form of – and this, in many ways, was a statutory review that we did

here. This is about codifying and clarifying practice and amending the

legislation to make sure that it's actually defined.

provides that the director consult with a qualified health care professional or

other qualified person when encouraging and coordinating specific programing and

services to provide for the specific needs of offenders.

In this

particular clause here, again, this is not something that has changed, this is

something that's being done in practice, but it's about codifying practice. It's

about codifying what you have been doing. I will go backwards after I go through

these changes to explain why it is that we are here.

provides authority for the Lieutenant-Governor in Council to make regulations

respecting investigations conducted under the act. That was probably the biggest

change coming from the original act, and one of the reasons that I think that

this bill has been delayed by many years.

Finally,

it replaces the word Aboriginal with the word Indigenous, corrects the name of

the Department of Justice and Public Safety and corrects references to the title

adult probation officer. Those, in some cases, are housekeeping. Obviously,

since the bill was originally done in 2011, the department name has changed. I

think that might have been 2014-ish.

Adult

probation officer, that title is again a housekeeping change. I would suggest

that changing the term Aboriginal to Indigenous, it's housekeeping in terms of

legislation but obviously I think it shows the significance of the terminology

that we use, and I think it's the term that conveys our respect. When you think

about Indigenous, Indigenous itself, when we talk about the definition refers to

origination, the origins. And when we talk about our Indigenous people, they

were the forbears, they were the originators of occupation and inhabitation of

our land. And that's something that we see throughout government and throughout

our federal government.

Now, I

want to go back and provide some history to why we are here today. So we all

know that back in 2011 the government of the day brought in the

Correctional Services Act , and that was basically a response to a

2007 report, Decades of Darkness ,

which was a very significant report into the state of corrections in this

province. We had been governed by two pieces of legislation. Back in spring of

2011, government brought in and debated the legislation for the

Correctional Services Act , which would

be the replacement, the combination of the previous two acts, with a number of

changes.

One of

the big pieces that that act covered off was the disciplinary process going on

within the institution. That was changed. Now, without getting into the entire

debate – and I certainly have no desire to re-debate something. If anybody

wants, they can go back to Hansard

back in spring of 2011 and they can read the entire debate. But what came out of

it? Again, I'd say the vast majority of Members in this House actually, with the

exception of a few on both sides, were actually not in the House.

So what

happened? The bill is debated, goes through second reading, Committee, gets

third reading, it gets Royal Assent, but it was not proclaimed. The reason that

it was not proclaimed is that there was still work that had to be done by the

department. When we talk about the regulations, in many cases the regulations

can form up the substance of a bill, in particular cases. They're obviously very

important. In many cases, I'm passing on hearsay. I'm passing on information

that was passed to me by staff in the department who were there during that

time.

Certainly, I can't say enough about the staff of the Department of Justice and

Public Safety. They would have moved at the pace of the direction that was

provided to them by the people in charge. The reality is that that act was never

proclaimed – never proclaimed.

Now,

does that mean that we were still operating right by the specific confines of

the previous two acts? No, in many cases, policy would be changed, procedure

would be changed and the fact is that there were significant changes that

happened. But when you think about the act, the act was never proclaimed and the

department did – I can't talk about it or attest to what work the department did

between 2011 and 2015.

What I

can attest to is that in January of 2016, I am the minister of this department

and what we've done since then is I think we've shone a real light on

corrections in this province. If anybody were to look at the direction coming

from our department, looking at the changes, the legislation, the policy, I

think we've shown a real interest in reforming corrections in this province.

certainly don't take all the credit for that. It's being led by community, it's

being led by staff, by advocacy groups, by inmates, by parents and it's

something that we have an interest in too. We really have a group of individuals

working together to change the legislation.

So, what

happens is we come in – the original bill in 2011 had a five-year statutory

review. So, the thought process would be: Why would we proclaim a Corrections

Services Act in 2016 that the previous administration had not done, when the

fact is that it would have been up for review now anyway? So, that's what we

have done over the last number of years.

Now,

parallel, operating at the same time as that, we've had a number of issues going

on in corrections at the same time, and I can talk about them. One, we have done

reviews on disciplinary segregation and administrative segregation. One of the

biggest challenges that we face when we talk about corrections, one of the first

things we faced was we had over capacity in one of our institutions,

particularly the institution in Clarenville that houses female offenders. That

has a capacity of 26 and we are getting daily calls talking about capacity being

at 32, being at 33, which is not acceptable. So, we had to deal with the

transfer of female inmates back to HMP, a practice that had been done in the

past but hadn't been done within the past 20 years. That required renovations,

required change, required a lot of work.

We look

at the things we were trying to change within our institutions, things we wanted

to do ourselves. So we've had a number of people, and there are groups out there

– they know who they are – many were at our announcement yesterday, they've been

working with us, as well as staff and management of the institution.

One of

the big things, obviously, in the last year, corrections had a very tough year

in the last year, and I say tough in the fact that we had losses of lives within

our institutions. I got to tell you that's something that wears on absolutely

everybody, primarily the families – it's hard to know and put yourself in the

position. You can have empathy, you can have compassion but I can't say that I

know the depths of the sorrow that they face, I can only try.

But you

know what? It's been hard on staff. This has been extremely hard on staff, as

well as fellow inmates. I've had an opportunity to speak to inmates in these

institutions and to listen to them and talk about the difficulties that they

face, and we've tried our best to respond to their needs. Out of that came

another report, the Jesso report, an independent report.

One of

the other issues that hasn't gotten as much attention, for many years, now, many

of our RCMP lock-ups in this province have been housing inmates for far too

long. They're not supposed to be there for any significant period of time, but

the reality is that in many cases, sadly, inmates were serving sentences in

these institutions, which is not acceptable, and we've had no choice but to deal

with that. I had questions yesterday as it relates to our announcement about why

increasing the capacity. Well, the reality is that for many years the system has

not been following the rules. Now, that's through no fault of the individuals;

it's just been the reality of increasing populations and having space issues.

And they've been doing the best with what they can.

That's

one of the reasons that we've had to look at increased capacity, because you

have to be prepared for it, while at the same time we've been taking many steps

on reducing that population. I think that we have a healthier society when we

can talk about prevention and talk about trying to prevent the entrance of

individuals into that system and falling into that cycle where they continue to

perpetuate the same behaviours that lead to incarceration which is tough, not

just on them, but on their families as well.

But I

digress. So, we're doing a review of the legislation. The fact is that our

review of the legislation showed some changes were necessary, which I have

outlined here today, but the fact is a lot of it was already encapsulated, was

already encompassed, it was already done. So what we're promising here today is,

(a), we will bring in the Corrections Act, we want to debate that, I'd like to

pass that, and what we are promising is not just Royal Assent but proclamation

within 2019.

There

are still regulations that have to be drafted, that have to be done, and one of

the issues, too, is with those regulations comes a financial outlay. There is

money that has to be spent. Just to deal with the disciplinary process, where we

bring in outside adjudicators, the proper budgeting had never been done. It's

almost like we brought in a bill to deal with issues but the practicalities were

never worked out.

Again,

let me ensure that I lay that completely on the leadership, previously. I'm not

trying to throw anybody under a bus here but I'm trying to ensure that people do

not ever blame the staff. The buck stops with the political leadership, and

that's why any failures within the department now, I would say, would rest on

me. I would never say these staff that are unseen, working in the department,

doing briefings, doing all the hard work, they've been doing a great job and

they presented that today.

I was

lucky to have people present today, at the press conference, where we spoke

about these changes, and do you know what? Mr. Speaker, we had perhaps one of

the most wide-ranging press conferences on corrections and just the different

things we want to do. It expanded beyond the bill, beyond what we're talking

about here and it was a really good conversation, I felt, of what we're trying

to achieve and what we're trying to do.

I think

I've provided some of the history of why we're here now, what our goals are. Our

goals are, again, within 2019, to ensure that proclamation happens and that the

changes happen.

One of

the questions that came out was, well, this is an election year. At some point

during this year there will be an election. My answer to that is that

corrections and making positive change knows no political stripe. The fact is,

it has to come from leadership and this is something that has to be done,

regardless of who sits in the chairs. We have to ensure that these changes

happen.

Again,

if I were not to be here, no different then when I spoke about the new

correctional institution yesterday, I may not be in the position when the

building is complete but I want to see the building complete regardless of who

is there because it's a necessity and it's something that needs to happen.

On that

note, I think what I will do is take my seat. I think I've spoken to this in

length. I look forward to the debate on both sides. I look forward to the

Committee stage. I'll certainly try my best to answer any questions that come

up, but I will say, and this was something that was brought up during Question

Period today, is that this bill, like any bill that we do, everybody is provided

a full briefing, a full opportunity to question the very knowledgeable staff

that helped to draft the bill, to do the research on the bill.

I want

to thank all the members of JPS that helped to do that. I can't name names

because I may leave somebody out and I don't want to offend anybody. They all

know who they are and thank you to the Justice league for doing that.

On that

note, I will turn it over to my colleagues across the way to continue debate on

this bill.

MR. SPEAKER (Warr):

The hon. the Leader of

the Official Opposition.

MR. CROSBIE:

I thank the minister for his

elucidation of the policy behind this measure, behind the bill. I think it's

fairly apparent that the background to this is the report of RNC superintendent,

retired now, Marlene Jesso, who submitted her report on four deaths in the

system in provincial custody. Her first recommendation was: “ It is recommended the provincial government take immediate steps to

proclaim the new Correctional Services Act and ensure all associated regulations

and policies are updated .” This, I suppose, is the impetus behind this bill.

Just to

go back on that again: “ It is recommended

the provincial government take immediate steps to proclaim the new Correctional

Services Act and ensure all associated regulations and policies are updated .”

The minister has obliged us by explaining that while the government is taking

the laudable step of bringing forward the bill to this House, its proclamation

yet awaits, presumably, some months more of work, including work on the

necessary budget which will be required in order to properly implement the

changes which the bill has made to the underlying piece of legislation.

The

primary work being in terms of budgeting, and the minister might consider

enlightening us as to whether the budgetary work – presumably this is additional

budget – that's needed to achieve proclamation will be reflected in the

Estimates of the budget about to be brought down next Tuesday, at the

appropriate time.

Again,

I'm saying the minister might enlighten the House as to whether – it might be of

interest as well to the House if we could be informed that in respect of the

amendments that deal with inmate health, who might've been consulted on these

amendments.

Again,

the minister – and I thank him for that – gave us an explanation for the change

in terminology. The preferred terminology, it now seems, is not Aboriginal, but

Indigenous. He told us that other legislation, other usages, federal

legislation, the preferred terminology now appears to be Indigenous and not

Aboriginal. I would ask the further question, whether Aboriginal groups,

Indigenous groups, as the case maybe, were consulted and expressed a preference

as to what terminology they preferred in terms of their self-identification. Did

any consultation occur in that connection with Aboriginal groups in this

province?

The

minister has dealt with the question of proclamation sometime in the year. I'll

just briefly state the principles of this legislation because they underscore

the importance of it, the great importance of this legislation and, in fact,

underscore the need for expedition to bring it in.

In the

Principles, part one,

section 4: “This Act and regulations made under it shall

be interpreted and administered in a manner consistent with the following

principles: (

a) the protection of society shall be given paramount consideration

in making decisions or taking action under this Act; (

b) the safety of the

community and the furtherance of a just and peaceful society will be enhanced …”

It goes on to refer to “maximizing individual opportunities for rehabilitation

and reintegration that recognize the needs and circumstances of offenders both

in correctional facilities and in the community.”

The

reason I read those out is that it underscores the great importance of this

piece of legislation, not only to inmates but to the community at large and

indeed to staff members of correctional institutions because it goes on to

describe the duties that the community owes to staff members in correctional

institutions as well.

We would

commend the government for acting on bringing this forward. We're disappointed

to hear that proclamation will be further delayed and the minister might care to

provide some extra information on the few points I've raised.

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for St.

John's East - Quidi Vidi.

MS. MICHAEL:

Thank you very much, Mr.

Speaker.

I'm

happy to stand and speak to this bill today. The minister made reference to this

bill being changes to a bill that came to this House in prior time and some of

us were here. Well, yes, indeed I was on March 31, 2011, as I look at my

briefing notes for March 31, 2011, at which time we were told that Bill 9 it was

then, and it was

an act respecting correctional services, which is what we're

dealing with today, and we were told at that time that that bill in 2011, eight

years ago, replaced outdated, decades-old legislation. The officials said in the

briefing that the new legislation was long overdue. The officials said there was

a need to replace outdated language and outdated terminology, and the list goes

on as to why this bill was so needed eight years ago and was never proclaimed

eight years ago.

Three

years ago, this government came into being and the Minister of Justice and

Public Safety was the minister all during that time, yet we've waited over three

years now for a bill that was helping the

Correctional Services Act become up to date, while we were waiting for that

bill to be proclaimed. So today here we are and the minister obviously realizes

the problem with the fact that this bill here has never been proclaimed, even

though he's been minister since 2015.

He found

it so important that he actually did put out a release this afternoon, earlier

on today, saying that definitely the bill we're talking about today, which is

Bill 2, also Correctional Services Ac t

amendment, that the bill we're talking about today definitely will be proclaimed

sometime this year.

Well, I

would think after waiting since March 31, 2011 for new language, I would think

that this bill should be proclaimed the minute that we vote on it and we get

Royal Assent. I'm rather surprised to hear sometime this year we're going to see

this bill brought into play.

There

are points to be made. Obviously, some of it is so-called housekeeping. It's not

so much housekeeping, what it is doing it is making up for the changes that have

happened in the last eight years from the bill that wasn't proclaimed eight

years ago. For example, we have moved forward with some language in our society,

hence the change of the word Aboriginal to Indigenous.

We have

many things in it which are bringing things up to date, so I suppose even if

this bill, which was Bill 9 back in 2011, even if that had been proclaimed,

there may be changes we'd be making today, but we would at least have been

making them to a bill that had been operative.

The

original bill had to do with changes that were being called for by the 2008

review of corrections in Newfoundland and Labrador, called

Decades of Darkness . So we're even that much more beyond where we

should be because the review was done in 2008, the bill came in in 2011 and here

we are in 2019 trying to bring things up to date from the recommendations of

Decades of Darkness .

The new

bill, 2011, was legislation drafted to include recommendations from the report,

Decades of Darkness , and from best

practices in other jurisdictions. And again, when you read the briefing notes

that I had in 2011, some of it based on what we'd been told by the officials of

the department at that time, they did talk about how they went to other

provinces and looked at the legislation in other provinces. They talked about

how the Yukon was felt to have the most modern legislation, but best practices

adopted from other legislations, they did all kinds of consultations. I wonder

where the Yukon is now? They were ahead of us then; they're probably even more

ahead of us now as we waited eight years for this new bill.

So, here

we are today with a bill, changing a bill, upgrading to a bill that has been

around for so long because of not being proclaimed that it's out of date, so

we're modernizing the bill. I suppose maybe it's symbolic that we're doing it in

the week where the government says they're going to put in a new facility

replacing Her Majesty's Penitentiary. I hope that we're not going to have to

wait as long for this proclamation as I am sure we're going to have to wait for

the new penitentiary.

Here we

are amending a bill which remains unproclaimed, not in force since 2011,

updating this legislation. I just hope that the piece of legislation is not

going to remain on the shelf the way the 2011 piece of legislation was left on

the shelf, and I do hope that it comes off, but I really have to question why we

have to wait for some time in this year for this to be proclaimed. This should

be proclaimed the minute we get Royal Assent.

Thank

you very much, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER:

Thank you.

The hon.

the Minister of Fisheries and Land Resources.

MR. BYRNE:

Well, thank you very much,

Mr. Speaker.

What a

pleasure to speak on a progressive piece of legislation such as this one. It

does a lot for not only our justice system, but for our communities, as I

consider just the

preamble which captures the essence of the bill and what it

creates for each and every one of us, for a stronger, more just society, for a

more secure community in which we all live.

The

preamble and the principles behind the bill state very clearly that the

protection of society shall be given paramount consideration in making decisions

or taking actions under this act; and further, that the safety of the community

and the furtherance of a just and peaceful society will be enhanced, as far as

possible, through maximizing individual opportunities for rehabilitation and

reintegration that recognizes the needs and circumstances of offenders, both in

correctional facilities and in the community.

And that

staff members who are responsible or charged with the responsibility for

engaging in these services, that staff members will be given, wherever possible,

appropriate career development and training opportunities, and a workplace

environment that encourages integrity and personal accountability and that it is

consistent with the relevant code of professional conduct established under

section 11 of this act be given consideration.

And it

goes on further, Mr. Speaker, offenders shall obey community supervision

conditions and correctional facility rules and will be subject to the least

restrictive measures consistent and necessary for the protection of the public,

staff members and offenders.

It goes

even further, Mr. Speaker, inmates are entitled to fair treatment with access to

effective grievance and disciplinary procedure; that inmates are entitled to

equitable access to health services consistent with the goals of public health;

and that policies, programs and practices will respect age, gender, sexual

orientation, ethnic, cultural, religious and linguistic differences and will be

responsive to the particular needs of women and Indigenous peoples, the needs of

offenders with particular mental health and addictions requirements, the needs

of offenders with respect to the social determinants of health, and the needs of

other groups of offenders with special requirements.

I cannot

help but think, Mr. Speaker, in the context and the backdrop of the recent

announcement by our Minister of Justice for a new provincial prison, and the

importance that we all place on this facility, recognizing that this is a

facility that houses some of the most dangerous, but at the same time, people

who do deserve human dignity and human respect, but most importantly an

opportunity to rehabilitate and to come out better people, more law-abiding

people, and create an environment of safety for each and every one of us.

You know

a very wise person once said to me, a former minister of Justice and Attorney

General of Canada once said to me that to simply be punitive, to simply impose

incarceration for incarceration sake, without being mindful of the further

necessity for natural justice, for good justice, the justice afforded through

rehabilitation, we do not succeed in our objective.

Now,

that was a federal minister of Justice and Attorney General who was seeing it

from the perspective of he himself had been attacked. He himself had been the

victim of what appeared to be a hate crime, someone who was very incensed and

angry, who himself appeared to have been homophobic and was very concerned about

the decisions and actions of the federal minister of Justice related to matters

of justice of equality for members of the LGBTQ community.

He was

attacked viciously, viciously assaulted and attacked, and this individual was

convicted. Upon sentencing, the federal minister of Justice asked: What is

required to occur here? And he said: Do you think I or my family or my community

will be better served if this individual's incarcerated without context, without

reference to rehabilitation, without counselling, without proper mental health

guidance and services? No, I will be less safe under those circumstances.

So a

federal minister of Justice, who himself had been a victim of a vicious assault,

took a very high road, a very reasoned road, and said that it is easy to be

punitive; it is very human and very fair to seek justice in a higher order. That

was Andy Scott. He was a great friend of mine. He's passed away now. He will be

missed dearly but he really, really talked the talk but walked the walk.

When I

think of the prison that was just announced, the necessity of that, I can only

say that this was a good measure. This bill today follows suit with the

initiatives that we see and recognizes a better future for each and every one of

us by responding to the true needs within our justice system, empowering our

justice officials, our probationary officers, those that are so important in

dealing directly with those who face criminal prosecution and conviction and

incarceration of some variety or other. So these are the methods that create a

real 21st-century legal system, a 21st-century justice system.

It is so

important that this prison be replaced to a modern facility. It's not for the

convenience or comforts, per se, of those who would be housed in it, but that is

an element to this. We are not safe as a society. Our safety is not increased by

just simply imposing a very brutish or unfair justice system which does not

respond to the realities and the opportunities of rehabilitation.

That's

why I certainly applaud my government, the Members on this side of the House but

led by our Justice Minister. He's not only bringing in this piece of legislation

which responds to the needs of a 21st-century justice system, but he's going to

take a facility and turn it into a 21st-century facility. That I think, Mr.

Speaker, is why I will be supporting this piece of legislation and all Members

of the House should do so as well.

Thank

you very, very much.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

If the hon. the Minister of

Justice and Public Safety speaks now, he will close debate.

The hon.

the Minister of Justice and Public Safety.

MR. A. PARSONS:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I thank

my colleagues for their contributions to the debate, especially the Minister of

Fisheries and Land Resources for giving us some insight from his many years

within political legislatures, so I appreciate that.

What I'm

going to do now is I know that the Members opposite have asked some questions.

I'm not going to address them now, for the sake of I don't want to answer one

and miss one. So what we will do is put the bill into Committee, the questions

will be asked and I'll certainly try my best to answer them to the best of my

ability. On that note, I will sit and take my seat and conclude second reading.

Thank

you.

MR. SPEAKER:

Is the House ready for the

question?

The

motion is that Bill 2 be now read a second time.

Is it

the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?

All

those in favour, 'aye.'

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Aye.

MR. SPEAKER:

All those against, 'nay.'

Carried.

CLERK (Barnes):

A bill,

An Act To Amend The Correctional Services Act. (Bill 2)

MR. SPEAKER:

This bill has now been read a

second time.

When

shall the bill be referred to a Committee of the Whole?

MR. A. PARSONS:

Now.

MR. SPEAKER:

Now.

motion, a bill, “An Act To Amend The Correctional Services Act,” read a second

time, ordered referred to a Committee of the Whole House presently, by leave.

(Bill 2)

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Government House

Leader.

MR. A. PARSONS:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I move,

seconded by the Minister of Natural Resources, that the House resolve itself

into a Committee of the Whole to consider Bill 2.

MR. SPEAKER:

It is moved and seconded that

I do now leave the Chair for the House to resolve itself into a Committee of the

Whole to consider the said bill.

Is it

the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?

All

those in favour, 'aye.'

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Aye.

MR. SPEAKER:

All those against, 'nay.'

Carried.

motion, that the House resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole, the Speaker

left the Chair.

Committee of the

Whole

CHAIR (Warr):

Order, please!

We are

now considering Bill 2,

An Act To Amend The Correctional Services Act.

A bill,

“An Act To Amend The Correctional Services Act.” (Bill 2)

CLERK:

Clause 1.

CHAIR:

Shall clause 1 carry?

The

Chair recognizes the hon. the Leader of the Official Opposition.

MR. CROSBIE:

My question for the minister

is in connection with the delay in proclamation to sometime during this calendar

year needing budgeting work, will this appear in the Estimates for the budget

coming next Tuesday?

CHAIR:

The hon. the Minister of

Justice and Public Safety.

MR. A. PARSONS:

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

What I

can say is that the delay in proclamation is more to do with finalizing the

adjudication's process, and that right now the actual financial piece is not –

you will not see it specifically allocated in the line by line for the budget,

but obviously it would have to be established within the corrections budget that

you'll see in the line by line when we do the Estimates.

CHAIR:

Shall the motion carry?

All

those in favour, 'aye.'

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Aye.

CHAIR:

All those against, 'nay.'

Carried.

motion, clause 1 carried.

CLERK:

Clauses 2 through 9 inclusive.

CHAIR:

Shall clauses 2 through 9

inclusive carry?

All

those in favour, 'aye.'

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Aye.

CHAIR:

All those against, 'nay.'

Carried.

motion, clauses 2 through 9 carried.

CLERK:

Be it enacted by the Lieutenant-Governor and House of Assembly in Legislative

Session convened, as follows.

CHAIR:

Shall the enacting clause

carry?

All

those in favour, 'aye.'

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Aye.

CHAIR:

All those against, 'nay.'

Carried.

motion, enacting clause carried.

CLERK:

An Act To Amend The

Correctional Services Act.

CHAIR:

Shall the title carry?

All

those in favour, 'aye.'

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Aye.

CHAIR:

All those against, 'nay.'

Carried.

motion, title carried.

CHAIR:

Shall I report the bill

without amendment?

All

those in favour, 'aye.'

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Aye.

CHAIR:

All those against, 'nay.'

Carried.

Motion,

the Committee report having passed the bill without amendment, carried.

CHAIR:

The hon. the Government House

Leader.

MR. A. PARSONS:

Mr. Chair, I move that the

Committee rise and report Bill 2.

CHAIR:

The motion is that the

Committee rise and report Bill 2.

Shall

the motion carry?

All

those in favour, 'aye.'

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Aye.

CHAIR:

All those against, 'nay.'

Carried.

motion, that the Committee rise, report progress and ask leave to sit again, the

Speaker returned to the Chair.

MR. SPEAKER (Trimper):

The hon. the Member for

Baie Verte - Green Bay and Chair of the Committee of the Whole.

MR. WARR:

Mr. Speaker, the Committee of

the Whole have considered the matters to them referred and have directed me to

report Bill 2 without amendment.

MR. SPEAKER:

The Chair of the Committee of

the Whole reports that the Committee have considered the matters to them

referred and have directed him to report Bill 2 without amendment.

When

shall the report be received? Now?

MR. A. PARSONS:

Now.

MR. SPEAKER:

When shall the said bill be

read a third time?

MR. A. PARSONS:

Tomorrow.

motion, reported received and adopted. Bill ordered read a third time on

tomorrow.

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Government House

Leader.

MR. A. PARSONS:

Yes, Mr. Speaker, I call from

the Order Paper, Address in Reply.

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Natural Resources.

MS. COADY:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

It's a

pleasure to rise today to speak to the Throne Speech. I think all of us in this

House had the opportunity to listen the other day, not too long ago, to what I

thought was a Throne Speech that laid out the future of our province. It told of

not only where we've come from in a lot of ways and the struggles that we've

experienced in this province especially the last number of years, Mr. Speaker,

but it also said with hope and aspirations where we are going.

It is on

that vain today I would like to speak about some of the things that are

happening in Natural Resources. I do rise in this House quite frequently to give

explanation as to what's happening in the growth and development of the oil and

gas industry, on growth and development of our mining industry, but it bears

repeating, Mr. Speaker, how often and how much growth that has occurred since

this Liberal government took office back in late 2015, early 2016. It has been

my pleasure to serve as the minister responsible for Natural Resources, the

minister responsible for oil and gas, for mining, as well as for electricity and

energy generation.

I've had

the experience over the last number of years of managing the Muskrat Falls

project, Mr. Speaker, and you will know, based on the outcomes of the inquiry,

how difficult that project that we inherited and the mess that it was in. I know

yesterday the Leader of the Opposition, of the PC Opposition, stated that we

should own the problems that we inherit, but I reject that premise. I say that

we'll manage them, we'll clean up the mess that we inherited, but I certainly do

not own them. I will do my best for the people of this province to make sure

that they are remedied.

I want

to speak on a positive note here today. I want to talk about some of the things

that are happening in the oil and gas industry, some of the things that are

happening in the mining industry, and the prosperity, I think, that they bring

to the province, and the hope and opportunities they bring, and the amount of

work that we've been able to do as a government, as a people of this province,

of ensuring that we are on the right track of growth and development.

I spoke

in this House about Advance 2030 . It's

a plan that we developed, government developed, with stakeholders in the

industry. About 150 stakeholders came together from the oil and gas industry,

supply and service industry, from what I'm going to call the education industry

– I don't want to call it education industry, but I will do so for this purpose

– from labour and from all different aspects of the oil and gas industry. We

came together to have a conversation and set a path and a course, and it's

called Advance 2030 . It really is

setting up the province as a preferred location for oil and gas development.

I could

tell you over the last year we have advanced that plan forward very, very well.

There are over 30 recommendations that we're actively working on. I think almost

100 per cent of the short-term aspects of that plan are being worked on as we

speak; some are completed, some are still being monitored and managed.

The

targets in 2030 are ambitious; they're ambitious but achievable. For example,

over the next decade, in between now and 2030, we believe we can drill 100 new

exploration wells. That's a significant number, Mr. Speaker, and it will give us

– imagine if some of the prospectively that we're seeing on seismic – and we've

had it independently verified – imagine when we discover that oil, when we

actually drill and there's a positive result, how beneficial it will be to this

province.

So, 100

new exploration wells. We have five companies today, five large oil and gas

companies today with applications before the Canadian environmental assessment

process to drill offshore Newfoundland and Labrador. I know that ExxonMobil, for

example, have an exploration program this year. I was out most recently to visit

the West Aquarius, which will be the drill rig that they will use, and they are

actively pursuing some of the targets that they have seen, both in new areas

like the Flemish Pass, as well as existing areas in the Jeanne d'Arc Basin.

For

those listening, I'd like to make sure people understand that the four projects

that we have active offshore Newfoundland and Labrador, four of them are in the

Jeanne d'Arc Basin.

Now, Mr.

Speaker, we have over 20 basins offshore Newfoundland and Labrador – 20 basins.

It's pretty exciting to think that while we only have four projects today in one

basin, we've just signed up, and I'm looking here, Mr. Speaker, the framework

agreement that we have on the Flemish Pass.

As you

know, this past year we made an agreement with Equinor, a Norwegian company,

they are now working through the sanction process to develop the Flemish Pass.

I have

to say that it's pretty exciting. It's the first remote, deepwater project in

our offshore. It's some-500 kilometres from shore and in approximately 1,200

metres of depth. So, it will be a deepwater project. It will be the first, as I

said. All of our projects today, the four that we have active today, are in the

shallower waters of Jeanne d'Arc. This is in the Flemish Pass in 1,200 metres of

water.

They

have nearly 300 million barrels of oil. The total project cost is $10.9 billion

– $10.9 billion. That's the life-of-field cost, but we're expecting really

outstanding benefits from that.

For the

Province of Newfoundland and Labrador we're expecting $3.5 billion in revenues,

and we're expecting 22.3 million person-hours for the life of the field, in

terms of employment. That really does strengthen our oil and gas industry and

strengthen our economy, and I'm looking forward to Equinor advancing on the

development of that find.

But, Mr.

Speaker, I was speaking about more discoveries. So we have Equinor, who's

currently active in sanction and I know that they're looking at their

exploration program. We have ExxonMobil, for the first time since 1991, doing

pure exploration offshore Newfoundland and Labrador. We also have a company

called Nexen, BHP, BP – all of them actively pursuing exploration offshore

Newfoundland and Labrador. So it's a very, I'm going to call, exciting time

offshore Newfoundland and Labrador. A great time to grow and enhance our

offshore oil and gas opportunity.

I will

also like to tell the people of the province, for those that are listening

today, that our oil offshore Newfoundland and Labrador has one of the lowest GHG

– greenhouse gas emissions – in the world. About 1/3 less than anywhere else in

the world. So I have a lovely chart – I don't have it with me today, but it

shows looking at many of the fields around the world and what the GHG emissions

are for those fields. And if you look at those, Newfoundland and Labrador's

Hibernia Project is on the lowest end of GHG emissions.

So as

the world continues to consume oil and gas, as we know, for the foreseeable

future, at least 40 to 50 years out, that the world will continue to consume oil

and gas. And it's not just in transportation and others, it's in things like –

and I'll hold up my phone, here, Mr. Speaker. Plastic is very much part of the

oil and gas industry. So this is downstream, I realize, but that's where plastic

comes from. It's from the upstream oil.

We have

to realize that while the world is still consuming oil, how beneficial it will

be to develop more oil offshore Newfoundland and Labrador because of many

reasons. But one of which, of course, is the lower GHGs – greenhouse gas

emissions – per barrel.

Secondly, are the requirements under the clean energy plan that my colleague,

the Minister of Environment, recently put before the people of the province.

Under that plan, emissions for oil and gas companies will continue to come down.

That's a requirement. Under a lot of the carbon emission requirements of oil and

gas, and I'll tell the people of the province, I think it's 100,000 tons will

have to be taken out of that industry this year alone and, by 2030, I think it's

2.5 million tons. That represents about 600,000 vehicles taken off the road.

there's a lot of effort going into taking the carbon out of the barrel on our

offshore, making sure we're very focused on environmental protection. But if

we're going to develop oil in this world, I'd rather have it developed offshore

Newfoundland and Labrador because, of course, we have lower GHG levels.

Mr.

Speaker, I'm kind of looking at some of the other opportunities. So I talked a

lot about exploration and the fact that we're looking at having 100 wells

offshore Newfoundland and Labrador between now and 2030. We're looking to grow

the industry to about 650,000 barrels of oil a day, that's significant growth,

and we're looking to employ in operations several thousand people, direct

operations.

Mr.

Speaker, it brings big benefits to the people of the province in terms of

employment, in terms of growth in our economy but it also brings a tremendous

amount of revenues to government. I can tell the people of the province that

over the last decade some $20 billion – I know under the decade from the former

administration, about $20 billion to $25 billion came into this province. This

government thinks that we have to be very prudent in those expenditures and, as

you will have heard in this House before, the Premier speaking about ensuring

that we save some of that money for our future projects.

Mr.

Speaker, currently underway in terms of projects, the West White Rose is under

construction in Argentia. We have a tremendous number of people working there. I

think it's 5,000 person-years of employment during construction, so a tremendous

number of people working on the West White Rose project. First oil is

anticipated in 2022; they're still on track for that. It has about $3 billion in

economic benefits to this province.

So, the

oil and gas industry contributes significantly, but I don't want to just stop

there, the mining industry as well. I can tell you in the last two years in the

Department of Natural Resources we have signed up about $18 billion in economic

activity through oil and gas and through mining. Isn't that tremendous?

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MS. COADY:

A lot of it in Labrador, some

of it in Baie Verte, a lot of it all around the province and we know that both

offshore oil and gas, as well as the mining industry, really do contribute to

our success as a province, and we want to continue to encourage – mining is

vitally important to us all.

I held

up my phone previously. You know, the mining industry, all of the technology in

this phone starts with the mining industry. I know, for example, cobalt and some

of the rare earth minerals are required both in the new green economy, and we're

seeing – pardon me?

MR. HUTCHINGS:

Batteries.

MS. COADY:

Batteries, good point from my

colleague opposite, who is a supporter of the mining industry. I have to say the

Member for Ferryland is a strong supporter of both oil and gas development, as

well as mining development. He's been encouraging that growth and development,

and we all have to come together to do that.

But in

the last year, we had about $48 million in exploration in the mining industry;

$48 million, that's a lot of money, all around the Province of Newfoundland and

Labrador, where junior miners, where prospectors are out looking for the next

Voisey's Bay. We know how many people Voisey's Bay does employ; some 16,000

person-years of employment, 1,700 jobs on a regular basis. So, they're out

looking for the next Voisey's Bay, the next opportunity, and, boy, do we have

opportunities.

I could

tell you that over the last number of years it's been very interesting in the

Department of Natural Resources when we see online prospectors coming in and

making stakes all around the province, and we've seen a bit of a gold rush in

this province, a bit of a gold rush where in one day I think we had one of the

largest rushes, I'll call it that, to stake claims in Central Newfoundland, and

a lot of that exploration is going on today in both Grand Falls-Windsor area, in

Gander area, in the Baie Verte area, a lot of exploration going on.

But, Mr.

Speaker, Mining the Future, again, another plan that we have working with

stakeholders in the industry, we came together with stakeholders all around the

province in the industry and said: How can we grow our mining industry? When we

looked at that, we said: What are some of our yardsticks? So, we're currently at

$48 million in exploration activities. We want to be a $100 million. We want to

be one of the places in Canada where people come to explore, and we're putting

significant investments in our geological survey, as I've talked about before.

We've even had conversations with our neighbouring Province of Quebec to say,

how do we ensure the development of the Labrador Trough? Great opportunities

await us in Labrador, more –

MR. LETTO:

Gem of the world.

MS. COADY:

Gem of the world, as my

colleague from Labrador West says.

Mr.

Speaker, we're looking actively. We had 12 active-field projects under the

geological survey last year. Those have contributed greatly to the knowledge. We

have core samples stored around this province where people come in from all over

the globe looking at the opportunities in the mining industry in Newfoundland

and Labrador, and we want to continue to grow that industry. Currently, there's

direct employment of some 4,800 people in the mining industry. We think we can

really grow that industry and we're looking forward to that. We have a plan,

mining the future, to do just that.

Let me

tell you some of the great things that have happened in the mining industry.

Wabush 3, this is the Moss Pit, recently opened, myself, the Premier and the

Member for Labrador West were all there. It contains some 744 million tons of

iron ore. They're about 1,700 employees in IOC, and they're increasing

production about 23 million tons annually. It's a great story.

We know

last year we made an agreement with Vale to go underground at Voisey's Bay –

16,000 person-years of employment during the construction phase, and once

operational, of course, 1,700 jobs at the underground mine and at the Long

Harbour processing plant. There's going to be about $1 billion spent in economic

activity. Can you imagine – $1 billion spent in economic activity. Just that

activity alone generates about $69 million in tax revenue. Think about that,

that kind of activity.

We also

had the reopening of the Scully Mine with Tacora. They're reactivating the

Scully Mine and mill for a minimum of 26 years – 280 direct positions. We've

seen the reopening of Canada Fluorspar – $250 million in project capital

costs, 3,000 person-years of employment and 255 full-time positions, Mr.

Speaker. That's on the great Burin Peninsula.

I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the Beaver Brook mine. My

colleague from Gander recently joined me and the Premier when we talked about

reopening the Beaver Brook mine. Again, great contributions to our economy.

We're seeing some exciting things happening in both the oil

and gas and the mining industry that are really driving economic success and

employment. I say to the people of the province, we're working hard to ensure

that we continue to grow the economy, we continue to add jobs. As the Premier

said the other day in the House, Mr. Speaker, we're seeing nine months of

consecutive employment growth.

Now, if

you look back from what was projected under the former Progressive Conservative

government, that wasn't going to happen. It was because of this extra effort and

extra diligence, I say, Mr. Speaker, on the oil and gas and the mining industry

that we're seeing this.

I want

to thank the great people of St. John's West for the opportunity to represent

them and to work hard for them, Mr. Speaker. We've done a lot in the district.

Of course, the extension of the Team Gushue Highway has finally been completed

that runs the length of my district. We've brought some employment opportunities

for people in the district. We most recently announced some announcements in

child care in the district.

I know

that I attend a lot of the events at many of the community centres in the

district and I'm very, very happy to do so and to continue to drive both the

opportunities for the people of St. John's West in our economy but also to help

them with both housing and ensuring effective health care and ensuring effective

transportation, ensuring that we have the money to reinvest in our economy and

that's driven by a lot of what we do in the Department of Natural Resources.

I thank

you for the opportunity today to speak to the event.

MR. SPEAKER:

Thank you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

Are there further speakers to

the Address in Reply?

The hon.

the Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development.

MR. HAWKINS:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

It's

certainly my pleasure to stand in this House in response to the Throne Speech

and to make some comments. Of course, as we know, her Honour, the

Lieutenant-Governor, presented such an eloquent Speech from the Throne with the

plan of government going forward for the next year. Certainly, Mr. Speaker, I

count it a real privilege to be able to stand in this House and be in the

presence of the Lieutenant-Governor as she presented the Throne Speech.

Mr.

Speaker, it's also my real pleasure to represent the beautiful people in my

District of Grand Falls-Windsor - Buchans. I count it a real honour every time

that I stand in his hon. House because if it had not been for the wonderful

people of my district, I would not have had this opportunity. Everyday I reflect

upon that and say a huge thank you to all of them for making this possible.

I know,

Mr. Speaker, in the last 3½ years, I've worked hard on behalf of my constituents

to ensure that their voice has been heard and their concerns have been

addressed. We've been fairly successful in being able to address some of the

issues that have been prevalent in my district.

Mr.

Speaker, as you know, of course, I've taken a number of opportunities to talk

about the people in my district. I realize, and I've said this before, that my

district has been somewhat hard hit over the years. As you know, in 2009, March

31, 2009, a very dark day for the Town of Grand Falls-Windsor when Abitibi

closed its doors and over 700 people were impacted. We know the impact of that,

Mr. Speaker. Then just roll forward a few more years into 2015 when Duck Pond in

the Millertown-Buchans area, they closed and another additional 365 people were

unemployed.

Mr.

Speaker, where we are today in the Town of Grand Falls-Windsor, in Buchans and

in the Badger area, in the Central area, Millertown and Buchans Junction, talks

of the resilience of the people in the area. Many people could have looked at

the glass as half empty, but, thank goodness, most people look at the glass as

half full. As a result, we've been able to rebound. Our economy is growing and

it's been my real privilege over the last four years to look at some of the

significant investments that we've made in my district.

course, most of it, Mr. Speaker, is in relation to the infrastructure, a lot of

the infrastructure having to do with roads. I refer to the Buchans Highway. Last

year, we were able to do nine kilometres of road on the Buchans Highway. Mr.

Speaker, we're not there yet; we haven't completed all the work when it comes to

the Buchans Highway. There are still some concerns in that area that I will be

addressing going forward, Mr. Speaker.

The

other areas – we've worked closely with the Town of Grand Falls-Windsor and in

Badger, we've made investments in water and sewer, and, of course, as well in

the Town of Millertown. A very small picturesque town that has a very vibrant

council, a very small council in that, Mr. Speaker, but yet very energetic. It

was my pleasure just a few weeks ago to be able to go to Millertown where we had

a meeting about the remains of the Beothuks and where it should be; a town hall

meeting that was very, very productive, that was organized by the council in

Millertown.

These

are just some areas, Mr. Speaker, that I think the members of my councils within

my district are making significant progress.

One of

the other areas that I think – it's not unique in Newfoundland and Labrador but

certainly I'm proud of in my district is that the towns work in partnership.

When I say that, there are a lot of opportunities happening there, particularly

in the history. It was also my real pleasure to work with the Heritage Society

in Grand Falls-Windsor. As you know, Mr. Speaker, over a hundred years of

history in the Town of Grand Falls-Windsor, going back to the pulp and paper

mill, and that history, the memorabilia, a lot of the information, even right

from every single Advertiser that was

printed in the Town of Grand Falls-Windsor, was sitting in a very, very small

area.

So I was

able to work with my government to be able to provide, for the Heritage Society,

a new home that they are so proudly working on now to make it to a situation

where they will have, for many years to come, a home whereby they can display

all of the memorabilia that belong to the Abitibi paper mill, and really, not

only the paper mill, but also the entire history of the town and the surrounding

areas.

There's

a lot of pride and there's a lot of interest in ensuring that we do diversify

our economy. I've worked closely with the EXCITE Corporation and with the Town

of Grand Falls-Windsor, and with the investment into research. Research in Grand

Falls-Windsor and the EXCITE Corp is actually on the cutting edge of research,

really in Canada, and the partnerships that have been built there, and I am so

proud of that. So, I will continue to lobby on behalf of my constituents, and

certainly look forward to serving my constituents again.

Mr.

Speaker, just a couple of more references. This of course, as you know, is

Volunteer Week, and without volunteers, really our communities would not

survive, they would not exist, and I just want to make reference of a couple. I

had the opportunity and the privilege of attending the Kiwanis Music Festival

last Friday night, the highlights, the stars of the festival, and that's a very

successful festival, but it is only possible because there are literally

hundreds of volunteers that make it possible. Last week we had participants

right across the Central Newfoundland area, from Springdale to Lewisporte and

down the Connaigre Peninsula.

Every

year our young people come to Grand Falls-Windsor and participate in the Kiwanis

Music Festival, and really that has been the beginning of many of our young

musicians going on to university to become music teachers and have a career in

the music. So, it's very, very important for all of us and for the Music

Festival.

Mr.

Speaker, I want to speak, as well, when we talk about volunteers, my pride and

my joy is the Grand Falls-Windsor Cataracts. I'm been a Cataracts fan all my

life and, as you know, they are now involved in the Herder finals against the

Southern Shore Breakers. And I had the opportunity a few weeks ago to travel to

Mobile for hockey game between the Clarenville Caribous and the Southern Shore

Breakers.

AN HON. MEMBER:

Hear, hear!

MR. HAWKINS:

Thank you, my hon. Member.

Last

weekend I had the opportunity to go to the Jack Byrne Arena in the beautiful

District of Cape St. Francis. As a matter of fact, Mr. Speaker, my colleague was

there as well, two great hockey games and I'm looking forward to this weekend

returning back to Grand Falls-Windsor and looking forward to the Grand Falls

Cataracts and the Southern Shore Breakers. I know where my bias is at, but I

just want to say thank you to all of them because it's very important that

behind both of those teams and every team that's in the province are dedicated

volunteers who give of their time, that really get out there, raise money, they

sell tickets, there are 50/50 draws, they do all kinds of things that are

happening to make it possible.

While

I'm cheering and pulling for the Cataracts, I know that in order for the

Southern Shore Breakers to make this trip this weekend as well, Mr. Speaker,

that it could only be possible with the volunteers, from the coaches to

everybody else that is involved. I just want to say that because I think it's

important from time to time that we recognize all the work that our volunteers

give to our communities.

Mr.

Speaker, for me, this has been an interesting year in a number of portfolios

from Advanced Education, Skills and Labour to Education and Early Childhood

Development, and the transition between two of those portfolios has been an

education in itself. There are many challenges that we face from time to time

and I think it's important that we do that and we face it and we embrace it.

One of

the things that I really wanted to make reference to, of course, over the last

number of weeks, we're looking at changing the Schools Act. The Schools Act is

somewhat outdated. I think the last time it was changed was 1997. We've gone out

for consultations with the general public and we have heard back, and the

consultations from the general public have now concluded and we are meeting one

on one with the stakeholders. We will have those conversations looking for

feedback.

Mr.

Speaker, the early indications are that there are a number of areas that parents

are concerned about and areas that we look at, whether it's inclusive education,

we're looking at better opportunities for our children and addressing some of

these needs. So all of these things will be taken into consideration. Once we

complete our one-on-one consultations with our stakeholders, then obviously I'm

looking forward to a new Schools Act.

One of

the other things that we've been looking at, and consultations are still ongoing

with a tremendous response from the general public and response from different

stakeholders, is in the implementation of junior kindergarten. As you know, the

education task force was one of the recommendations that we would look at and we

would do consultations for implementation.

Mr.

Speaker, so far, initially, there are varying ideas of how implementation of the

junior kindergarten should happen, what the model should be, who should be

delivering it, how it should be delivered. So consultation is an absolute,

tremendous opportunity for whoever, the general public, special interest groups,

stakeholders to have an input in how you would go about implementing such a

program.

I'm

continually looking forward to seeing some more direct ideas on what we're

looking at in the junior kindergarten. Mr. Speaker, that leads me to a couple of

other points I just wanted to make and one of them is that I think it was

brilliant of the Premier when he wanted to put together a Premier's task force

on education. It was certainly something that I think was very important and it

has certainly led to a tremendous amount of work on behalf of the task force, an

independent task force, that really looked at the education from a somewhat a

different perspective. Did they come back with everything new? No, Mr. Speaker,

they didn't. There were some of the things that were taken from previous task

forces.

One of

the things that impressed me was the fact that last July when we looked at the

Education Action Plan, I was really so pleased that the Premier was adamant that

there are 82 recommendations in that Education Action Plan, and that he wanted

to see all 82 of those recommendations implemented. I think that says a lot –

and I'm not pointing any fingers at anybody – but over the years many times we

have a tendency to have a report done, to have put a plan in place, and a lot of

times it just sits there and collects dust and never really anything gets done

about it.

So I was

so pleased and so happy when the Premier gave me the direction and said that one

of the things that, as minister you have to ensure, that the Education Action

Plan, the recommendations are implemented. Mr. Speaker, in such a very, very

short time we have over half of the recommendations already implemented, and we

do have some short-, medium- and long-term plans. So we are on track for the

implementation of all of these recommendations.

Mr.

Speaker, there's a tremendous number of areas within this Education Action Plan

that really speaks to improving resources within the education system. And one

of them is – and I'm not going to go through the details of it, but realizing,

in three years, there will be over 350 additional resources added to the

education system. These are additional. They include specialists in reading and

math, and they include teacher learning assistants, they include librarians and

This is

very important. Last year we did 40 schools, phase one. The results and the

feedback that I'm given, and I've had the opportunity to visit many of these

phase one schools, has been overwhelming, and talking to the teachers and

administrators that are in these schools, very, very positive.

Mr.

Speaker, very shortly the school board will now announce the 40 schools in the

phase two. As you know from the Education Action Plan, beyond year two, in year

three, all of the remaining schools will be included. This is a very important

direction that we're taking in education to ensure that our students are given

every opportunity and making sure that resources are available.

One of

the other areas that we looked at, because mathematics is certainly a focus area

– literacy and numeracy is so very important in our education system. One of the

things that we looked at, mathematics, particularly in K-to-three, K-to-six area

and looking at providing resources.

I saw a

couple of comments – I don't have them with me today, but a couple of teachers

that responded, have done the bursaries that we make available. We make

available bursaries to teachers – not to students, to teachers – to improve and

to look at other methodologies within teaching math, and improving the