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December 4, 2014

HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS

Vol. XLVII No. 51

The House met at 1:30 p.m.

MR. SPEAKER (Verge):

Order,

please!

Admit strangers.

I am pleased to welcome to the public gallery today a number of people:

Juno award winning singer-songwriter Amelia Curran; actors and writers

Andy Jones and Mary-Lynn Bernard; Heidi Edgar, Executive Director of the

Canadian Mental Health Association; Co-Chair Meaghan Barnhill; as well

as members of the Community Coalition 4 Mental Health.

Welcome to the House of Assembly.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear,

hear!

Statements by

Members

MR. SPEAKER:

Today we have

members' statements from members for the District of St. George's

Stephenville East; the District of Placentia St. Mary's; the District

of Bonavista North; the District of Cartwright L'Anse au Clair; the

District of Torngat Mountains; and the District of St. John's Centre.

The hon. the Member for the District of St. George's Stephenville

East.

MR. REID:

Thank you, Mr.

Speaker.

Today I rise to congratulate Mrs. Alfreda Gillis who will celebrate her

104 th birthday tomorrow.

Mrs. Gillis married Tommy Gillis in 1931 and they had five

children. They lived in

Highlands, where they owned a farm and made or grew everything they

required. Mr. Gillis often

worked away, and Mrs. Alfreda Gillis had to care for five children and a

farm at a time when there was electricity and no running water.

In the 1950s her and her husband started a business which employed many

people in the area and supplied pulpwood to the Bowater mill.

Mrs. Alfreda Gillis carried out the administrative work for the

business.

Mrs. Gillis is still very active.

She cooks, knits, does crossword puzzles, and reads newspapers to

follow provincial politics very closely.

I ask all members of the House to join me in wishing Mrs. Alfreda Gillis

a very happy 104 th birthday.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear,

hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the

Member for the District of Placentia St. Mary's.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear,

hear!

MR. F. COLLINS:

Thank you,

Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Ida Young, formerly Ida

Linehan of North Harbour, St. Mary's Bay.

On a June night in 1980, the Linehan home in North Harbour was destroyed

by fire, claiming the lives of five of Ida's siblings.

One of the four who survived, Ida, fifteen at the time, was

severely burned and spent several months in treatment and recovery.

Her family was ripped apart by this unimaginable tragedy and the

community of North Harbour was changed forever.

Mr. Speaker, Ida survived near death to graduate from high school, and

married her fisherman husband, Thomas Young of St. Bride's, and

following the struggles of the cod moratorium and as a mother of three

small children, she travelled daily from St. Bride's to St. John's to

return to school, and today is a successful employee with the federal

government.

Mr. Speaker, on September 7 in North Harbour, Ida launched her book

entitled No Turning Back:

Surviving The Linehan Family Tragedy.

The little community literally became a giant parking lot as over

500 people showed up to support the launch.

The book is a story of tragedy, heartache, and indomitable

courage as well as incredible community support, and I understand will

soon to third printing.

Mr. Speaker, if there ever was a story of inspiration and courage, it is

the story of Ida Young.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear,

hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the

Member for Bonavista North.

MR. CROSS:

Thank you, Mr.

Speaker.

I stand here today to recognize the power of wanting to make a

difference with a little compassion, love, and help from friends.

Before Christmas 2013, Collette Kean Attwood of Badger's Quay wanted to

do a little something extra for people who are elderly, lonely,

bereaving a recent loss, on fixed or reduced income, or afflicted with a

special need: physical, mental, or medical.

She used Facebook to contact friends to ask them to buy an extra

Christmas gift of a pair of PJ's for someone who might fit the

aforementioned criteria.

Last year, the PJ project saw nearly 100 people in our area receive a

gift.

This year, Collette, along with Denise Hounsell Kean and friends too

numerous to list, have named their mission Something Small Blanket

Project and are preparing gifts of blankets.

One participant reports buying a blanket at Gander, relating the

Something Small story and then got an extra blanket donated by the owner

of the store. Currently,

there are well over 100 participants.

As the Something Small crew plan to collect and distribute their

blankets in the coming days, I ask all members to join me in saluting

their humanitarian gesture of warmth and care.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear,

hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the

Member for Cartwright L'Anse au Clair.

MS DEMPSTER:

Thank you, Mr.

Speaker.

I rise in this hon. House today to recognize Mr. Claude Rumbolt of

Mary's Harbour who just retired from the FFAW.

Claude was a true visionary who spent his lifetime working for and with

the fisher people along the Labrador Coast.

After the collapse of the cod fishery, Claude saw tremendous

opportunity in the crab fishery, when everyone else thought it would

never work. Twenty-five

years later, crab remains king.

Claude spent twenty-one years as the Labrador representative with the

FFAW where he worked tirelessly on behalf of the people of Labrador,

advocating for quotas and policies that would benefit the harvesters and

processors.

As quoted by the general manager of the Labrador Fishermen's Union

Shrimp Company, Claude's philosophy was we will find a way!

In 1977, Claude did a fishery report for then Fisheries Minister Walter

Carter that resulted in plants being constructed in Mary's Harbour and

Cartwright.

Claude was also very active in his community, participating in many

development associations and community councils in Southeast Labrador.

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

Rumbolt on his well-earned retirement and wish him well in all future

endeavours.

Thank you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear,

hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the

Member for Torngat Mountains.

MR. EDMUNDS:

Mr. Speaker, I

rise in this hon. House today to pay tribute to a well-known and

respected Inuit elder, Mr. Boas Jararuse of Makkovik who passed away on

Monday at the age of eighty-five.

Mr. Jararuse was born in Killinek in 1929 and relocated to Makkovik from

Hebron in 1959.

He was actively involved in helping to improve community infrastructure

and an active member of the Moravian Church.

He was dedicated to the preservation of the Inuktitut language

and was a role model in the preservation of Inuit culture.

He served as a board member for the then Labrador Inuit Association in

the 1970s and 1980s including one term as vice president.

Up until recently, Mr. Speaker, Mr. Jararuse would travel by snowmobile

back to his childhood home in Hebron every spring.

I had the pleasure and privilege of being out on the land with

him on several occasions. I

will always cherish those memories.

Mr. Speaker, I ask all hon. members to join me in paying respect to Mr.

Boas Jararuse and expressing our condolences to his family.

Labrador has indeed lost another native son.

Thank you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear,

hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the

Member for St. John's Centre.

MS ROGERS:

Thank you, Mr.

Speaker.

I am proud to stand today to congratulate the Community Coalition 4

Mental Health. Last spring I

held a

Mental Health Town Hall in St. John's Centre.

Over 300 people attended.

Together we identified huge challenges facing people with mental

health needs, but raising dialogue is not enough.

Key groups and individuals came together to collaborate and

decide how to move forward.

The coalition was born.

The over thirty-five members met every Friday morning

for months and shared insights, strengths, and strategies.

Next came the LAUNCH, a celebration of all things mental health.

Over 1,000 people came because mental health affects us all.

This wonderful coalition of dedicated, determined

service providers, activists, consumers, and allies has done much to

encourage public discussion of mental health issues and is working to

find solutions. This is

civic engagement at its best.

Among the members are actors Andy Jones, Mary-Lynn

Bernard, Mary Walsh, and Lynda Boyd; comic John Sheehan, musician Amelia

Curran, labour leader Mary Shortall; activists Mark Gruchy, Meaghan

Barnhill, Tina Davis, Darren Fancey, Paula Corcoran, Boyd Perry, Robert

Leamon, and more.

I ask all members to thank the coalition who care and

who will work together to ensure we have the best mental health services

possible for the people of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

Order, please!

The Speaker is going to part with a little bit of

Parliamentary tradition here now. I

was thinking, as the Member for St. George's Stephenville East read

his statement, about a lady who reached the milestone of 104.

I thought it would be good if we started a tradition in this

House. I think whenever anybody

is recognized here for passing the 100-year mile mark, that as members

we should all stand and give them a round of applause.

[Applause.]

MR. SPEAKER:

Statements by Ministers.

Statements by Ministers

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Premier.

PREMIER DAVIS:

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the National Day of Remembrance

and Action on Violence Against Women.

Almost twenty-five years ago, on December 6, 1989,

fourteen women were brutally murdered at Montreal's

cole Polytechnique.

These women were deliberately targeted because the gunman

believed them to be feminists.

This remains one of the worst incidents of mass murder in

Canadian history.

as National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women in

memory of those lost in what has become known as the Montreal Massacre.

The loss of these women is still felt keenly by their families, their

friends, their industry, and their country.

This horrific act precipitated a movement that strives for a

society where women are treated with equality and respect, and we still

work every day to achieve those aims.

Mr. Speaker, if we are to effectively prevent and reduce violence in our

society, we must first raise public awareness of the unacceptability of

all forms of violence and abuse.

Through the Violence Prevention Initiative our government

continues to partner with community stakeholders towards ending violence

against women, and towards achieving equality.

Just recently, the Provincial government launched the fifth annual

Purple Ribbon Campaign with the purpose of promoting public awareness

about the prevention of violence against women.

It coincides with the 16 Days of Activism against Gender

Violence, beginning on November 25 with the International Day for the

Elimination of Violence Against Women, and running until December 10,

which is International Human Rights Day.

Mr. Speaker, as a reminder to us all of the events of December 6, 1989,

I would like to read the names of those fourteen women who died that day

into the record of the House of Assembly:

Genevive Bergeron, Hlne

Colgan, Nathalie Croteau, Barbara Daigneault, Anne - Marie

Edward, Maud Haviernick, Barbara Klucznik-Widajewicz, Maryse Laganire,

Maryse Leclair, Anne -Marie

Lemay, Sonia Pelletier, Michle Richard, Annie St. Arneault, and Annie

Turcotte.

On Saturday, flags at Confederation Building will be at half-mast from

sunrise to sunset to mark this tragic day.

Mr. Speaker, at this time, I ask that we all take a moment of silence to

remember these women and all the women whose lives have been impacted by

violence.

Thank you.

MR. SPEAKER:

At the Premier's

request, the House will take a moment of silence.

[Moment of silence]

MR. SPEAKER:

Thank you.

The hon. the Leader of the Official Opposition.

MR. BALL:

Thank you, Mr.

Speaker.

I want to thank the Premier for his advance copy of his statement.

Of course, December 6 is a somber day.

It is a day that all Canadians remember those tragic and those

horrific events a day that will be remembered, as I said, forever.

Almost twenty-five years have passed since these fourteen bright

and promising young engineering students were murdered on the last day

of classes at the cole Polytechnique.

The Montreal massacre was a backlash against the women's movement.

The gunman, whose name will never be read into any record,

ordered the men out of the classroom before opening fire on those young

women. Women have and

continue to endure tremendous injustice because of their gender, both

here and abroad.

December 6 is the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence

Against Women; but, really, every day needs to be a day of remembrance.

It is crucial to remember.

We remember because we learn.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the

Leader of the Third Party.

MS MICHAEL:

Thank you very

much, Mr. Speaker.

I, too, thank the Premier for the advance copy of his statement.

With everybody in this room, I remember only too well that day

twenty-five years ago this coming Saturday.

We must never allow ourselves and society to forget that these

fourteen women died for no other reason than being women.

We must always challenge anyone who might question and

unfortunately it happens why we stop on December 6 to remember these

women and all women who have died for the same reason.

We should be proud as Canadians that we have this National Day of

Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women.

Promoting awareness is important, but we must also have programs

essential for the protection of women who are at present suffering

violence again, for no other reason but that they are women.

We must stop the cycle of violence.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the

Minister of Health and Community Services.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear,

hear!

MR. KENT:

Thank you, Mr.

Speaker.

Today I am pleased to rise in this hon. House to recognize tomorrow,

December 5, as International Volunteer Day.

Volunteers are the backbone of our society, and many of the essential

services available in our communities are a result of the time, energy,

and dedication of our volunteers.

Nowhere is that more true than in Newfoundland and Labrador, where

volunteers, on average, give 155 hours of service per year.

For a Province that has just over 500,000 people, we have well

over 190,000 active volunteers.

The efforts of volunteers to improve the lives of people in our

neighbourhoods and communities, our Province, our country, and

increasingly around the world, are proof that the spirit of giving back

in Newfoundland and Labrador has never been in better shape.

Mr. Speaker, International Volunteer Day, observed annually by the

United Nations, recognizes and celebrates volunteerism, with a special

focus this year on honouring people's participation in making a

difference at all levels: locally, nationally, and globally.

This year's theme, People's Participation.

Make change happen, volunteer! highlights the ability of

volunteerism to help create open spaces for dialogue and inclusion,

ultimately fostering the participation of people from all age groups,

genders, and backgrounds.

Mr. Speaker, as a government, we acknowledge the role of the community

sector and its immense value and importance to the social, economic and

cultural fabric of our communities. In

fact, we commenced an ambitious Open Government Initiative this year to

build even stronger partnerships with communities and give people a

greater say in the decisions that make a difference in their lives.

As I look around this hon. House, Mr. Speaker, I see colleagues who are

supporting and recognizing the contributions of people across this

Province on a daily basis.

You thank volunteers and acknowledge their outstanding efforts in many

ways, including through special events, awards, and even statements by

members.

On International Volunteer Day, I encourage everyone in Newfoundland and

Labrador to be inspired by these examples, and to look around their own

communities and celebrate exceptional people and organizations that are

enriching the lives of others.

Thank you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear,

hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the

Member for The Straits White Bay North.

MR. MITCHELMORE:

Thank you,

Mr. Speaker.

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

Volunteers are incredible people.

Their devotion, hard work, and countless hours they give to

advance social and economic causes bring tremendous benefit to all our

communities. On behalf of

all members of the Official Opposition caucus, we recognize the value of

volunteerism and acknowledge volunteers being at the heart of every

single community.

Our volunteers serve on local service districts and our municipalities

across the Province, on recreation and heritage committees, operate

local museums, social enterprises, and advocate for change, both locally

and abroad. Our volunteer

firefighters dedicate endless hours to saving lives and protecting

personal property.

Service clubs like Rotary, Lions and Lionesses, Kinsmen and Kinettes,

United Way, Community Food Sharing Association, and a number of

charities, non-profits, and organizations have lasting impacts in our

community. Volunteers have

been making incredibly big things happen in my district and across the

Province from inclusive playgrounds, community centres, to establishing

programs for people with disabilities.

Government has really failed to inspire me with their lack of movement

on their proposed Open Government Initiative as it fails to provide

high-value data, information, that can serve beneficial to volunteers

and the non-profit secretariat.

People matter and our volunteers deserve to be celebrated.

Thank you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear,

hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

Order, please!

The hon. the Member for St. John's Centre.

MS ROGERS:

Mr. Speaker, I

thank the minister for an advance copy of his statement.

Today, we have several volunteers and activists in the gallery who are

passionately concerned about mental health services in our Province.

Most work with non-profit community organizations that provide

essential and crucial services.

They work on shoestring budgets, yet over the past two years

government has reduced funding to many of these groups.

These volunteers and organizations must be fully supported.

Their work is essential to the well-being of our people of

Newfoundland and Labrador.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear,

hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the

Minister of Transportation and Works.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear,

hear!

MR. BRAZIL:

Thank you, Mr.

Speaker.

As Christmas approaches, residents and businesses in communities and

regions throughout the Province will begin decorating their properties

for the holiday season.

As properties come alive with sparkling lights and decorations, they

symbolize the magic of the Christmas season, the innocence of children,

the warmth of the time spent with family and friends, and the treasured

traditions and customs.

Over the last number of years, a special tradition has been formed in

capital cities around our great country called the Christmas Lights

Across Canada. At each of

these events, Christmas lights are illuminated on public buildings and

public grounds.

For the launch of this truly Canadian celebration, the community comes

together and revels in the holiday spirit.

This year, hundreds of thousands of holiday lights will brighten

the country, creating a joyful connection among all Canadians.

Tonight, our residents will join other Canadians for the twenty-eighth

time as we launch Christmas Lights Across Canada.

With approximately 60,000 LED lights sparkling on a Christmas

tree in front of the Confederation Building, around the Petten Building,

the Arts and Culture Centre, and along Prince Philip Drive, it will

surely be a joyous event.

Mr. Speaker, this event will be entertaining for families and people of

all ages.

I am pleased to be joined by our hon. Premier this evening to host this

event and to have the Hits 99.1 Morning Show team of Mitch Colbourne,

Brian Bradley and Keliegh Butt serve as the Masters of Ceremonies.

The Royal Newfoundland Regiment Band and the Beachy Cove Elementary

School choir, also known as the Beachy Tones, will be performing and

singing Christmas carols.

Refreshments will be served.

I encourage all members of the public service, members of the hon.

House, and all residents to attend tonight's event and help us kick-off

the Christmas season.

The event begins this evening at 6:15 in the lobby of the Confederation

Building, East Block. We

hope to see you all there.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear,

hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the

Member for St. John's South.

MR. OSBORNE:

Thank you, Mr.

Speaker.

I certainly encourage everybody to come out to tonight's event as well.

Christmas is one of those times where, especially in this House,

we put our politics aside and join together to celebrate.

It is a season, Mr. Speaker, that is magical.

I look forward to tonight's event and look forward to the festivities

that the Premier and the minister are about to undertake.

It is the brightest and best thing that I can say they have done,

Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear,

hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the

Member for St. John's East.

MR. MURPHY:

Thank you, Mr.

Speaker.

I would like to thank the minister for the advance copy of his statement

as well. We also would like

to wish everybody a very good time this evening.

We know that it is always a special time whenever the lights on

Prince Philip Parkway are lit up with the colours of the season.

On behalf of the New Democratic Party, the Third Party, we wish

everybody to have a good time.

Remember everybody to play safe as well this Christmas and enjoy

yourselves this evening over a cup of hot chocolate.

Thank you very much.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear,

hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

Oral Questions.

Oral Questions

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the

Leader of the Official Opposition.

MR. BALL:

Thank you, Mr.

Speaker.

One of the objectives of questioning the Humber Valley Paving contract,

our issue was to ensure that all subcontractors and suppliers that are

owed money get paid for the work that they have done.

The minister said yesterday that any company out there that feels

they have a claim should go to Small Claims Court and put the claim in.

He went on to say that we will look at the avenues that we have

at our disposal to be able to rectify that.

I ask the Premier: Are you now saying and suggesting that government is

willing to cover all costs, including legal costs, for these companies?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the

Minister of Transportation and Works.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear,

hear!

MR. BRAZIL:

Thank you, Mr.

Speaker.

As I outlined over the last number of days, the mechanics' lien is in

place to ensure that subcontractors are taken care of if they feel they

have a legitimate claim against the contractor.

In this case, we have the $1.18 million still held in trust in

our department, Mr. Speaker.

What we are asking is, if companies feel they have a legitimate claim,

to go to the court system.

The court system then will decide exactly what legitimate claims are.

We will then release the monies to the court system.

The court system then will rectify that by paying the outstanding

debts.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear,

hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the

Leader of the Official Opposition.

MR. BALL:

Thank you, Mr.

Speaker.

There is some confusion around all of this.

So I remind the minister that no, there is no mechanics' lien in

place. That expired because

you cancelled this contract within seven-and-a-half hours.

My question for the minister is this one.

Small businesses are concerned about the legal costs.

Yesterday you mentioned this.

Are you willing to pay for the legal costs for those small

companies? All they want to

do is get paid for the work they have done.

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the

Minister of Transportation and Works.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear,

hear!

MR. BRAZIL:

Thank you, Mr.

Speaker.

Again, as I mentioned, the mechanics' lien is in place.

The money is held in trust so we can rectify any legitimate

claims. The courts decide

exactly what the legitimate claims are there.

We hold it. The

process is to go through a claim system.

The courts will look at that.

They will determine what legitimate claims.

That could include other attached expenses relevant to that

claim, Mr. Speaker, but that is for the courts to decide.

That is the legal process we have in this Province, and it works

very well for those companies involved.

Thank you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear,

hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the

Leader of the Official Opposition.

MR. BALL:

Thank you, Mr.

Speaker.

Those small companies, of course, are not really used to going to court

to actually collect money.

They expect to get paid and since you cancelled this contract in

seven-and-a-half hours that makes it pretty difficult for these now.

The question to the minister is: You mentioned that one of the things

you would look at is all of the options that are available; will you pay

the legal costs for those small companies, those contractors, who are

merely trying to get paid for the work they have done?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the

Minister of Transportation and Works.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear,

hear!

MR. BRAZIL:

Thank you, Mr.

Speaker.

As I outlined, the courts decide exactly what the claimant is entitled

to. In this case, the

claimants can put in for other expenses.

The court, in their judgement, will determine exactly what should

be paid out. We then release

the money to the courts. The

courts then will pay the subcontractors.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear,

hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the

Leader of the Official Opposition.

MR. BALL:

Thank you, Mr.

Speaker.

One of the things we talked about of course was the small companies.

The minister mentioned about the option and the possibility of

going through Small Claims Court.

Well, government has only talked about the Small Claims Court and

these are for claims that are under $25,000.

I ask the Premier: What are

you going to do for the companies there are a few of them out there

that are owed more than $25,000?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the

Minister of Transportation and Works.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear,

hear!

MR. BRAZIL:

Thank you, Mr.

Speaker.

Again, any company, regardless if it is $5,000 or $125,000, have a legal

avenue open to them, and that is go through the court system.

The Small Claims system, you are right, it is up to $25,000 and

it is a very inclusive process and very simple to follow.

Other companies then would go through the same legal process.

The courts would decide exactly what payment would be part of

that settlement.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear,

hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the

Leader of the Official Opposition.

MR. BALL:

Thank you, Mr.

Speaker.

Yesterday, the minister went on to say that there was nothing wrong with

the way Humber Valley Paving the way the contract was cancelled,

nothing wrong with that. He

even said that the Auditor General found nothing wrong with it as well.

Of course, we know this is not the way it happened.

We know this is far from the truth.

I ask the Premier: If indeed there is nothing wrong, why is the former

minister now sitting as a backbencher?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the

Premier.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear,

hear!

PREMIER DAVIS:

Mr. Speaker, the

former minister is sitting as a backbencher because he resigned his

seat; he resigned his position.

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the

Leader of the Official Opposition.

MR. BALL:

Thank you, Mr.

Speaker.

I ask the Premier: If he did not resign, why were you going to fire him?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the

Premier.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear,

hear!

PREMIER DAVIS:

Thank you, Mr.

Speaker.

We expect a level of due diligence in all aspects of governing the

affairs of the Province. Mr.

Speaker, as a result of the report by the Auditor General, the former

minister I will try not to use his name now MHA, resigned his

position. It was as a result

of the results of the Auditor General's report.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear,

hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the

Leader of the Official Opposition.

MR. BALL:

Let me clarify this.

You are claiming that there was nothing wrong with the way the

contract was cancelled, yet you would have fired the minister if he did

not resign. I would like for

the Premier to clarify that.

If there is nothing wrong, would you fire a minister?

Why would you do that?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the

Premier.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear,

hear!

PREMIER DAVIS:

Mr. Speaker, this

was about process. We

require and expect that due diligence and process is followed in all

activities of carrying out and executing the duties of a government, the

ministers in running their own department.

In this case, there was a better process that could have been

followed. As a result, as I

said, the minister resigned.

He did that and I accepted his resignation.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear,

hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the

Leader of the Official Opposition.

MR. BALL:

Thank you, Mr.

Speaker.

The Premier is admitting that the process was wrong.

I would like for the Premier to let the people of the Province

know, what was wrong with the process?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the

Premier.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear,

hear!

PREMIER DAVIS:

Mr. Speaker, we

expect ministers when they do their work, and I expect ministers when

they do their work, to follow all the processes that are necessary to do

due diligence to the work and the decisions that they make.

In this case, and as has been expressed by the Auditor General in

the review that he had done, the due process and consideration of

options was not completed to the full extent that it should have been.

As a result of that, the minister resigned and I accepted his

resignation.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear,

hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the

Leader of the Official Opposition.

MR. BALL:

Thank you, Mr.

Speaker.

Yesterday, the current minister not the one who resigned, but the

current minister said that everything was above board and everything was

out in the open.

I ask the Premier: If everything was out in the open, will you now tell

us why this contract had to be terminated the day before the PC

leadership deadline?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the

Premier.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear,

hear!

PREMIER DAVIS:

Mr. Speaker, it

is one thing to talk about above board and another thing about following

process. In this case, the

minister did not follow all of the processes that should have been

followed in the decision-making process.

That is what resulted in his resignation.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear,

hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the

Leader of the Official Opposition.

MR. BALL:

Thank you, Mr.

Speaker.

Well, maybe the minister could clarify when he said yesterday just

yesterday; that is not a long time ago in this House that everything

was above board and everything was out in the open.

What is the difference in what you are saying now why this

minister was fired? What was

not above board?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the

Premier.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear,

hear!

PREMIER DAVIS:

Mr. Speaker, the

hon. member is confusing the words that he is using.

He should be careful in those words, to be clear and to be fair

to all.

The Auditor General had a number of options available to him when he

carried out his review of the circumstances.

He had full, unobstructed access to officials and documentation.

He had documentation from 185 officials and former officials in

government. He had the right

and legislative ability to interview anybody he wanted.

He examined sixteen individuals, cross-examined with the use of external

legal advice and assistance from there.

He made recommendations, five recommendations, as a result of

that. He had a full, open

process available to him, as provided to him under law and supported by

the House of Assembly.

He did his work, Mr. Speaker; it has resulted in the report he has

submitted.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear,

hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the

Leader of the Official Opposition.

MR. BALL:

Thank you, Mr.

Speaker.

I remind the Premier, these were not my words; these were quotes from

your own minister just yesterday.

Less than twenty-four hours ago, it was your minister who said

everything was above board and everything was out in the open.

These are not my words, Premier.

The Minister of Advanced Education and Skills said he had heard

colleagues saying there were issues about the Humber Valley Paving

contract, but he has provided no details on who those colleagues were.

I ask the Premier: If everything is out in the open, as was suggested

yesterday, who specifically are the colleagues that the minister

referred to?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the

Minister of Advanced Education and Skills.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear,

hear!

MR. O'BRIEN:

Mr. Speaker,

yesterday I gave an answer in this House in regard to a call that I had

made in regard to that particular on two other items actually and a

curiosity question in regard to the Humber Valley Paving contract.

I overheard but I just cannot remember.

There were whispers, even in the general public.

I have people approach me and say Mr. Coleman would not be

running and whatever.

Then when I heard there were issues with the Humber Valley Paving

contract, I asked the question because I was the Minister Responsible

for Fire and Emergency Services at the time and I had not heard of any

kind of negative impact on any companies up to that time.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear,

hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the

Leader of the Official Opposition.

MR. BALL:

Thank you, Mr.

Speaker.

So just to clarify, there were a number of colleagues at least, there

is more than one. I just ask

the minister one more time: The colleagues you refer to, you cannot

remember even one?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the

Minister of Advanced Education and Skills.

MR. O'BRIEN:

Mr. Speaker,

there are many things that happen in a minister's day; I will be quite

honest with you. When you

are in caucus and you are with your other colleagues around tables and

whatnot and you are in the general public to be quite honest with you,

I even heard it in the general public, in the construction industry,

that there were issues with Humber Valley Paving, probably a day or two

or three or four days before.

I just asked the innocent question, was there any kind of negative

impact due to the fires up in Labrador the year previous, because I was

the Minister Responsible for Fire and Emergency Services.

At that particular time, the Minister of Natural Resources was

not even in the Province, and I handled it all.

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the

Leader of the Official Opposition.

MR. BALL:

Thank you, Mr.

Speaker.

When the Humber Valley Paving contract was cancelled, the current

Premier was the first alternate Minister of Transportation and Works.

So I ask the Premier: As the first alternate minister on the file, were

you aware that the contract had to be cancelled that day, and did you

play any role in this?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the

Premier.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear,

hear!

PREMIER DAVIS:

No, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear,

hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the

Leader of the Official Opposition.

MR. BALL:

Thank you, Mr.

Speaker.

Well, yesterday the minister said that terminating the contract was done

in the right manner and in the right process.

So I ask the Premier: Do you agree with your minister that cancelling

the contract and releasing $90 million in bonds all within

seven-and-a-half hours, without letting Cabinet know, just prior to a

Cabinet meeting, on the day before the PC leadership deadline is this

the right process?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the

Minister of Transportation and Works.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear,

hear!

MR. BRAZIL:

Thank you, Mr.

Speaker.

What I did say yesterday was that the process was followed.

The minister made a decision in consultation with his officials,

and that decision stands, Mr. Speaker.

The Auditor General came back with four recommendations relevant

to my department about how we could streamline that and how we could

make it more fluent. Mr.

Speaker, we are in the process of implementing those to show that this

government is transparent and open.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear,

hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the

Leader of the Official Opposition.

MR. BALL:

Thank you, Mr.

Speaker.

Well, whatever process was followed, obviously there is a disconnect

between the Premier's process and the minister's process.

The Premier just said that there was a problem with the process.

So I ask the minister: Was your process followed, or was the Premier's

process followed?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the

Minister of Transportation and Works.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear,

hear!

MR. BRAZIL:

Thank you, Mr.

Speaker.

The minister of the day followed a process, Mr. Speaker.

The decision was made.

Since then, the Auditor General has come back with some

recommendations that we have started the process of implementing, and

they will obviously help in assessing further contracts in the future .

Thank you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for St. John's North.

MR. KIRBY:

Mr. Speaker, parents, students, and educators have told us that our

schools lack critical mental health support services for youth.

Earlier this year the Federation of School Councils called for

the creation of youth, mental health, and addictions counsellors in

schools, but government has failed to address this.

I ask the minister: Has her department assessed what

mental health supports are needed in our schools; and, if not, when will

you make mental health support services a priority in our schools?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MS SULLIVAN:

Thank you very much.

Mental health supports within our schools will always

be a priority, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MS SULLIVAN:

Attending to all of the needs of the children within our care will

always be a priority.

At this point in time, what we have are a number of

guidance counsellors within our schools.

We have a number of educational psychologists within our schools.

Mr. Speaker, they offer support to our children in many different

facets, mental health and addictions included.

Mr. Speaker, when the professionals we have within our

school system feel that we need other supports, then they encourage

families to seek outside supports through the Department of Health and

Community Services. We look

at that in the full package of trying to support from many different

angles any students who require any mental health and addiction support.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for St. John's North.

MR. KIRBY:

Mr. Speaker, the lack of mental health supports for youth is one of the

most pressing issues in Newfoundland and Labrador today.

Students, parents, and educators are literally crying out for

help. It is time to stop

ignoring this problem and ensure we have enough mental health and

addictions professionals in our schools.

Again, I ask the minister: Will you commit today to

addressing the deficiencies in school mental health and guidance

supports?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MS SULLIVAN:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, what I am hearing over there is a

condemnation of the supports that many of our professionals are offering

every single day. They are

offering that in the best way they can within a school system.

When they see that they are not able to offer the level of

support that is needed, then they engage outside support as well.

That outside support comes through social workers; it

comes through mental health and addictions counsellors.

There are about 900 people throughout the health care service,

Mr. Speaker, that are also accessed through the school system itself.

Mr. Speaker, the indication that we would leave

untended a child with a mental health and addictions issue is really

something that I find very difficult to take.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for Burgeo La Poile.

MR. A. PARSONS:

Mr. Speaker, Saskatchewan has just released a ten-year strategy for

mental health and addictions.

While we have many groups out there working as supports and

advocates, what we desperately lack is co-ordination.

I ask the minister: In the eleven years that this

government has been in power, why have you not developed a mental health

strategy?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of Health and Community Services.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. KENT:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

We do, in fact, have a mental health and addictions

strategy. It is called

Working Together for Mental Health and it was released in 2005.

Considerable progress has been made over the last eight years.

I will be the first to acknowledge in this House and to

the people of the Province, Mr. Speaker, that more work needs to be

done. That is why I will

commit here today to developing a new strategy.

Early in the new year, we will commence a Province-wide

engagement process to ensure that we get it right, that we truly

understand the needs and concerns, and that we come up with solutions

that are going to be meaningful.

We do need to create lasting change in this Province.

One in five people in this Province, Mr. Speaker, are

affected by a mental health issue.

We have come a long way, but I recognize we still have a long way

to go.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for Burgeo La Poile.

MR. A. PARSONS:

Mr. Speaker, I am glad to hear that from the minister.

I am sure all members in this House on both sides would like to

play a

part in that.

Mr. Speaker, Western Memorial Regional Hospital

currently serves 80,000 people from Port Saunders to Franois.

Right now, there are eleven obstetrics beds and we hear that the

number could be reduced to five in the new hospital.

I ask the minister: Is this true?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of Health and Community Services.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. KENT:

Mr. Speaker, the functional program for the replacement for the Western

Memorial hospital has been developed through interactive sessions with

various staff and various executives and experts within Western Health

and outside Western Health.

The latest version of the functional program for the new hospital does

include six labour and delivery rooms, which is down from the current

eleven. The need for the six

rooms in the new facility is based on demographic and population

projections.

In fact, just to give you an example, today, there are

only two of the rooms occupied.

The occupancy rate over the last number of years has continued to

drop from 55 per cent occupancy in 2010 down to 38 per cent in present

year. We believe that the

plan proposed makes sense.

MR. SPEAKER:

Order, please!

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for Burgeo La Poile.

MR. A. PARSONS:

Mr. Speaker, so the minister is confirming here today that there will be

less room for expectant mothers and families in this new hospital, which

is completely unacceptable.

Speaking on behalf of all the people I know who have been shuffled out

of rooms because there was not enough space, not enough time, I say: Do

you find this acceptable?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of Health and Community Services.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. KENT:

The new health complex in Corner Brook to serve the needs of the West

Coast of the Island will be state of the art, and there will be expanded

services, not less services for the people of the West Coast of the

Province.

The current occupancy rates indicate that there is a

need for six rooms in the new hospital.

The occupancy rate for year to date is only 38 per cent, Mr.

Speaker. The new health

facility on the West Coast will have more services and more rooms, not

less but in the case of labour and delivery rooms, we believe that six

is the right number, based on the statistics which are readily

available.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for Conception Bay South.

MR. HILLIER:

Mr. Speaker, periodically government has to tender for external office

space in the Capital region.

I ask the minister: What location considerations are

taken into account when awarding such a tender?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of Transportation and Works.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. BRAZIL:

Mr. Speaker, we assess exactly the best location.

We engage stakeholders in this area.

We look at what assets we already have as we look at those

processes, and we determine what the best investment is here for the

people when we move forward on any project.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for Conception Bay South.

MR. HILLIER:

Mr. Speaker, recent tenders for office space in the Capital region have

specified that it be located in St. John's, Mount Pearl, or Paradise.

Given that the town has the necessary amenities and is

within the government's definition of Capital region, I ask the

minister: Why was the Town of Conception Bay South excluded from these

tenders?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of Transportation and Works.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. BRAZIL:

Mr. Speaker, we also assess geography.

We assess the ability for the travelling public to access those

particular facilities. So,

geographically we go broader sometimes; geographically we go on to

smaller confines. In this

case, we have looked for a particular area where we could service people

better, and in this case we went with a more confined process versus a

larger one. Some cases we go

larger and sometimes we go smaller, but it is about ensuring that the

best service for people is accessible by geographic locations.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for Conception Bay South.

MR. HILLIER:

Mr. Speaker, one of the facilities is for the 911 call centre.

I ask the minister: Why, if 5,000 people can drive to

St. John's every day, can't enough people go to Conception Bay South to

work in that call centre?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of Transportation and Works.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. BRAZIL:

Mr. Speaker, we assess all of our services that we offer all through

this Province, and we again put out tenders and RFPs to look at where

the best locations for those services may be.

In this case, we chose a certain geographic area.

There was no slight against CBS or any other community.

This was a geographic area that we had selected to go for our

RFP. We are going to look at

our best investment. This

will be a return on that best investment, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear,

hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the

Member for Torngat Mountains.

MR. EDMUNDS:

Mr. Speaker,

residential ratepayers along the Labrador Coast could see a staggering

11.4 per cent increase as a result of Hydro's latest application to the

PUB. The Minister of Natural

Resources stated in this House that he supports the proposed increase.

Mr. Speaker, I ask the Minister of Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs: Does

he also support Hydro's latest proposal to the PUB that will see rates

increase by 11.4 per cent?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the

Minister of Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear,

hear!

MR. RUSSELL:

I thank the hon.

member across the way for the question.

Mr. Speaker, it is about supporting the process.

It is about the regulator.

It is about the company going to the regulator and requesting

that. It is about process.

What it is about is making sure those companies that are the providers

can provide that service in a responsible and a professional way, Mr.

Speaker. When it comes to

talking about the Northern communities, of course we are always

concerned, but it is about supporting process.

There has not been a rate application for some time.

Mr. Speaker, I will say to the hon. member across the way, the coastal

communities and their residents are heavily subsidized.

The residential customers only pay approximately 13.5 per cent of

what it actually costs to produce that power, and the businesses only

32.5 per cent, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear,

hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

Order, please!

The hon. the Leader of the Third Party.

MS MICHAEL:

Thank you very

much, Mr. Speaker.

There has been a huge outcry from the public about the need for better

mental health services in this Province.

I ask the Premier: Will his answer to these people be the tough

decisions of further cuts to these services, to use his language from

the last few days?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the

Premier.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear,

hear!

PREMIER DAVIS:

Thank you, Mr.

Speaker.

The member opposite is correct in identifying the level of importance

for mental health and addictions and the impacts that it has on

individuals and families in communities throughout Newfoundland and

Labrador.

We heard from the Minister of Health just a few moments ago, who said

early in 2015 another process, a consultative process is going to take

place that we are going to hold.

We are going to do this throughout the Province so we can engage

with Newfoundlanders and Labradorians all throughout our entire

Province, and we can make our best efforts to get it right, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear,

hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the

Leader of the Third Party.

MS MICHAEL:

Thank you, Mr.

Speaker.

Government finally agreed to replace the Waterford Hospital after years

of the public's outcry.

I ask the Premier: Is one of

his tough decisions going to be leaving us with the old Waterford, or do

we have to wait for years of consultation?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the

Premier.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear,

hear!

PREMIER DAVIS:

Mr. Speaker, the

member opposite is quite aware of the fiscal challenges that face the

Province. When it comes to

significant infrastructure projects, we have to do what is right and do

a full review of the projects that are underway.

We have a variety of projects that are in the very, very early stages

and we have projects that are in some form of development.

We have some that construction has begun and is underway, and we

have some that are nearing completion.

It is very important that we consider all of the factors and all

of the projects with a higher viewpoint of the fiscal challenges that we

face when we make all those decisions.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear,

hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the

Leader of the Third Party.

MS MICHAEL:

Thank you, Mr.

Speaker.

I say to the Premier that I am aware of the mental health needs of the

people in this Province, too.

I ask the Premier: Are his tough decisions going to mean further

hardship for people waiting a year or more for psychiatrists and

counsellors?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the

Minister of Health and Community Services.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear,

hear!

MR. KENT:

Mr. Speaker, over the

last four years alone we have invested $60 million in new services to

support mental health and addictions.

We recognize that more work needs to get done.

We need to continue to reduce wait times.

That is an important issue.

We need to continue with the redevelopment of the Waterford

Hospital, as the member raises.

In fact, tenders, if they have not already been called, are about

to be called for the demolition of the administration building and

community health houses on the site.

That project is well underway.

We need to improve and expand mental health services in Newfoundland and

Labrador. That is a

commitment that this government will continue to honour.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear,

hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the

Member for St. John's Centre.

MS ROGERS:

Thank you, Mr.

Speaker.

Mental illness affects everyone in our Province.

The Community Coalition 4 Mental Health and the minister's own

advisory committee on mental health and addictions have identified huge

gaps in mental health services Province-wide.

People are desperate.

I ask the Premier: Will he immediately strike an all-party committee to

consider the mental health and addictions needs of the entire Province

and to develop a comprehensive mental health and addictions plan?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the

Minister of Health and Community Services.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear,

hear!

MR. KENT:

Mr. Speaker, I thank

the member opposite for raising the issue of mental health and

addictions and the need for greater supports and services.

I thank the Community Coalition 4 Mental Health for their

advocacy and their amazing work in the recent months as well.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear,

hear!

MR. KENT:

An all-party

committee, as the NDP often suggests, is one method of engagement, but I

think we need to do more. I

think we need to do better and we need to do something bigger.

I believe there is a better way that can still lead to

collaboration with parties opposite.

What we need is meaningful dialogue and we need action and we

need solutions.

That is why I am committed to the Province-wide public engagement

process that I announced today.

I am also committed to strengthening our advisory council on

mental health and addictions.

In fact, I have invited the co-chairs of the Community Coalition

4 Mental Health to join that advisory council.

I am committed to work with the member opposite as well, Mr.

Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER:

Order, please!

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear,

hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the

Member for St. John's Centre has time for a very quick question.

MS ROGERS:

Mr. Speaker, I

ask the Premier: Why will he not use every available tool to address

this huge mental health crisis and strike an all-party committee on

mental health which is an effective tool of this House?

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear,

hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the

Minister of Health and Community Services for a quick reply.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear,

hear!

MR. KENT:

Mr. Speaker, we are

committed to doing more and we will do more.

As the member identifies, an all-party committee is one tool.

I believe there are better tools and better ways to engage the

public, to engage interest groups, to engage parties opposite.

We will launch a Province-wide engagement process early in the New Year.

I welcome the input from the member opposite.

I welcome input from the Official Opposition.

I certainly welcome input from the Community Coalition 4 Mental

Health because what we need is more than just more consultation.

We need action, Mr. Speaker, and we are going to take further

action.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear,

hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

Order, please!

Time for Question Period has expired.

Presenting Reports by Standing and Select Committees.

Tabling of Documents.

Notices of Motion.

Notices of Motion

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the

Minister of Service NL.

MR. CORNECT:

Mr. Speaker, I

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

An Act

To Amend The Highway Traffic Act, No 2, Bill 37.

MR. SPEAKER:

Further notices

of motion?

The hon. the Government House Leader.

MR. KING:

Thank you, Mr.

Speaker.

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

An Act

Respecting Missing Persons, Bill 36.

MR. SPEAKER:

Further notices

of motion?

Answers to Questions for which Notice has been Given.

Petitions.

Petitions

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the

Member for St. John's Centre.

MS ROGERS:

Thank you, Mr.

Speaker.

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

Labrador in Parliament assembled, the petition of the undersigned

residents of Newfoundland and Labrador humbly sheweth:

WHEREAS mental health programs and services are crucial to the health of

individuals, families, and communities; and

WHEREAS despite mental health services being delivered by government,

community-based organizations and informally by families and friends,

there are still large gaps in services and programs in the Province; and

WHEREAS despite these efforts, stigma remains a significant barrier for

people needing to access mental health services, and participate in

society; and

WHEREAS new directions and priorities are needed for mental health

programs and service delivery, especially for unique groups such as

youth, Aboriginal people, immigrants and refugees; and

WHEREAS recent budget cuts have placed a great strain on organizations

delivering mental health services in the Province;

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

the House of Assembly to urge government to immediately strike an

all-party committee on mental health which, through extensive public

consultation, will review the current state of provincial mental health

services, receive expert testimony on best practices in mental health

care delivery, and report their findings with the intent to provide

guidance and oversight in redesigning mental health programs and

services to better serve the needs of all the people of Newfoundland and

Labrador.

As in duty bound, your petitioners will ever pray.

Mr. Speaker, I have been presented today, from people all over the

Province, with thousands of signatures representing the desires and the

wishes of people from across the Province.

The Community Coalition 4 Mental

Health has gathered these signatures.

It is clear why there is call for an all-party committee.

Because of the clout and the legislative verification of that

committee, it enables the committee to do an interdepartmental across

all departments examination, using the lens of mental health to look

at housing, to look at justice, to look at women, to look at youth, to

look at education, to look at poverty.

An all-party committee is an essential tool an absolutely essential

tool that is at the hands of this House in order to do a very

transparent, thorough, and open process of reviewing the crisis that we

are currently in in our mental health services and to come up with

recommendations that will guide our department to provide the best

services to the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador.

There is no reason not to strike this committee.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear,

hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

Order, please!

The hon. the Member for St. John's North.

MR. KIRBY:

Thank you, Mr.

Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, under Standing Order 97, I ask for leave of the House of

Assembly to speak to the Member for St. John's Centre's petition.

MR. SPEAKER:

The member is

asking for leave to be able to respond to a petition.

Does the House grant leave?

The hon. the Government House Leader.

MR. KING:

Yes, Mr. Speaker, we

are more than agreeable to grant leave and would ask leave to have a

response as well.

MR. SPEAKER:

Order, please!

AN HON. MEMBER:

No leave.

MR. SPEAKER:

No leave?

The member does not have leave.

MS MICHAEL:

(Inaudible).

MR. SPEAKER:

Is the member

willing to grant leave?

MS MICHAEL:

(Inaudible).

MR. SPEAKER:

Order, please!

The Leader of the Third Party, I will recognize you to answer the

question through your mike.

Are you willing to grant leave?

MS MICHAEL:

Yes, I am

granting leave to both sides of the House the Government side, as well

as the Official Opposition.

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the

Member for St. John's North, with leave.

MR. KIRBY:

Thank you, Mr.

Speaker.

Firstly, on behalf of my colleagues in the Official Opposition caucus, I

would like to congratulate the Community Coalition 4 Mental Health for

all their hard work on this particular issue, and I urge government to

hear the pleas of the petitioners, as the Member for St. John's Centre

just read.

It was just last night, Mr. Speaker, that myself and the Member for St.

John's Centre and I am not sure, maybe other Members of the House of

Assembly attended a forum on youth homelessness down at Gower Street

United Church. It was

pointed out and this is interesting for me as an educator and the

Education critic that educators, teachers, are some of the best people

to identify mental health challenges amongst our young people, just from

being in front of their students and working with them on a daily basis.

As we have raised in the House of Assembly time and again, issues

related to students suffering from untreated mental health issues are

becoming more and more prevalent in our communities.

Parents and students who contact our offices tell us that they do

not know where to go to get help for issues such as depression.

Help is simply not available.

Concerns around mental health and lack of supports for our youth are

coming up time and time again in the media through the work of the

coalition, in the House of Assembly, and so on.

The current levels of services, as we have seen, as we know,

cannot adequately address the needs of children and youth who are

suffering from fairly significant mental health issues.

Issues such as drug and alcohol abuse amongst our youth go hand in hand

with mental issues and are increasing at an alarming rate.

Youth are not only more likely than adults to engage in risky

substance use, but also to experience greater harm when they do that

sort of thing. It negatively

impacts their health, their safety, their well-being, the safety of

others, and their academic achievement.

I could go on and on, Mr. Speaker, but I know I am limited by time.

Again, I would like to commend the coalition for their work,

thank the member for presenting the petition in the House of Assembly

today, and urge the government to hear the petitioners.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear,

hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

Does the hon. the

Minister of Health and Community Services have leave to respond?

MS MICHAEL:

Yes.

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the

Minister of Health and Community Services, with leave.

MR. KENT:

Thank you, Mr.

Speaker.

Thanks to members opposite for granting leave as well so that I can also

respond. We recognize that

this is an issue that affects one in five people in Newfoundland and

Labrador. It is a really

important issue and it is not a new issue.

It is certainly one that we have been working on.

In the last number of years, we have spent $60 million on new

services for mental health and addictions.

I want to thank the MHA for St. John's Centre for raising this important

issue. I can assure her, and

I think I can assure anybody watching, that every member in this House,

no matter what political stripe you wear, is concerned about mental

health and addictions issues in Newfoundland and Labrador.

I have written the leadership of the Community Coalition 4 Mental Health

asking for a meeting. I want

to hear first-hand from the people involved in the community coalition

about their issues and concerns, and their ideas.

We want to have them actively engaged in the process that we are

going to roll out over the next month or so.

As I said during Question Period, an all-party committee is one method

of engagement, but I believe we can do something bigger and I believe we

can do something better than that.

I believe there is a better way that can also enable

collaboration with the other parties as part of that process.

Let's identify the improvements we need to make to mental health

services in this Province and let's do it quickly.

We need to have meaningful dialogue on the best way forward.

I will commit today to a Province-wide engagement process

starting in the new year. I

welcome input from parties opposite.

I welcome input from the community coalition.

I have already gathered input from my own advisory council on mental

health and addictions.

Speaking of which, I will commit as well today to strengthening that

advisory council, including involving the leadership of the Community

Coalition 4 Mental Health. I

also believe there is a need for a greater voice from the education

sector on that advisory council.

I will commit to that today as well.

In addition to inviting the co-chairs and the steering committee from

the community coalition to meet, I have reached out to Mr. Jones and his

family. I would like to hear

more of their story first-hand because I believe it is a powerful and

important one. I have

offered to meet with the MHA for St. John's Centre and I will make that

offer again today. I would

like to have further dialogue with her about the process that we intend

to embark upon in the new year.

We have also heard a real focus on mental health during the recent

regional forums that will lead up to the Premier's summit in January.

I can assure members opposite and the people of the Province that

the Premier's Summit on Health Care taking place on January 14 will also

include a major focus on mental health and addictions issues.

This is an issue that we are very aware of.

We know it has a profound effect on individuals, families, and

communities. I want to

congratulate the MHA for St. John's Centre and the Community Coalition 4

Mental Health on showing some real leadership.

They had a very successful launch earlier this year in October.

We are listening closely to what groups like that are telling us

and we will continue to do so, Mr. Speaker.

The MHA also referenced the stigma associated with mental health.

Our anti-stigma awareness campaign, Understanding Changes

Everything, addresses the fact that mental illness and addictions are

illnesses. It highlights

that we are people first and should not be defined by any illness.

It is our responsibility to listen to what our mental health and

addictions advisory council is telling us.

It is our responsibility as a government to listen to what the

Community Coalition 4 Mental Health is telling us, and other

stakeholders as well. I

commit to this House that we will show leadership and we will take

action.

We have been watching and listening very closely.

We will continue to do so.

We know we have made lots of progress over the last number of

years through our Mental Health and Addictions strategy, but I will also

acknowledge in this House, Mr. Speaker, that there is more work to be

done.

We have increased funding to a number of community groups like CHANNAL,

the Eating Disorder Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador, Turnings,

the Canadian Mental Health Association, and others.

For the first time, as a result, CHANNAL and the Canadian Mental

Health Association were able to establish offices outside of the St.

John's region and address needs in rural communities as well.

I believe there is a greater role for the community sector as we

tackle mental health and addictions issues.

The member opposite also referenced the need to involve housing, and

justice, and education, and women and youth, and poverty, and she is

absolutely right, Mr. Speaker.

I will ensure that the process we embark upon does consider all

of those issues and consider those interests and those groups, because

we do need to have a holistic process.

We need one that is inclusive.

We need one that is not about politics and is about real

solutions and real action.

Health has to be a whole of government priority, and that is a

commitment that this government has made and will continue to honour,

Mr. Speaker.

So, again, I thank the member for raising this important issue, and I

appreciate the opportunity to respond for a few minutes here in this

hon. House.

Thank you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear,

hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the

Member for St. John's Centre is standing.

MS ROGERS:

I would like to

respond, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER:

Are you looking

for leave to also respond?

MS ROGERS:

I am looking for

leave to respond, yes, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER:

Does the Member

for St. John's Centre have leave?

AN HON. MEMBER:

Leave.

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the

Member for St. John's Centre.

MS ROGERS:

Thank you very

much, Mr. Speaker.

I appreciate all the comments from both sides of the House, and I also

appreciate the Minister of Health's commitment to a Province-wide

consultation. However, Mr.

Speaker, we do know the influence of an all-party committee, and it is a

mystery to me at this point why government would not agree to an

essential and important tool that is available to this House.

We know the role of an all-party committee.

It is transparent; it is open.

If the minister is saying he wants to consult with the Community

Coalition 4 Mental Health, and he wants to listen to it and to hear what

the committee has said the committee has clearly stated their desire

for an all-party committee on mental health, to take the politics out of

it. We know that mental

health services in the Province are in a crisis situation and we have to

use every tool available to this House.

I would strongly urge the government, once again, to consider the

importance of this. I am

hoping my colleagues on this side of the House as well would support

this. On Wednesday, December

17, I will be presenting a private member's motion asking government,

once again, to strike an all-party committee for mental health.

We cannot do anything less.

Mr. Speaker, we know that Ontario did this process.

They used every tool within their Legislative Assembly.

They struck a select committee on mental health.

Out of that came an excellent, excellent approach and report.

Because what the all-party committee can do, we can call experts

from around the world. We

can look at best practices.

The other thing the all-party committee does is it informs debate, and

we need to be able to do this in this House.

We cannot leave it simply in the hands of the Department of

Health. We must use every

tool at our disposal in order to be able to come up with an effective,

comprehensive plan and strategy addressing the mental health and

addiction needs of the people of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear,

hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

Order, please!

I remind people in the public gallery, we welcome your attendance, but

you are not to show any approval or disapproval for debates that happen

on the floor.

The hon. the Member for Torngat Mountains.

MR. EDMUNDS:

Thank you, Mr.

Speaker.

A petition to the hon. House of Assembly of the Province of Newfoundland

and Labrador in Parliament assembled, the petition of the undersigned

humbly sheweth:

WHEREAS coastal communities in Labrador already pay extremely high hydro

rates; and

WHEREAS small businesses are struggling to stay in operation against

rising costs of hydro; and

WHEREAS Nalcor, a Crown corporation, is proposing 11.4 per cent increase

to residential hydro rates and a 20 per cent increase to business rates;

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

the House of Assembly to urge the Government of Newfoundland and

Labrador to work with Nalcor to establish rates that are fair and

consistent to the whole Province.

As in duty bound, your petitioners will ever pray.

Mr. Speaker, I asked a question to the minister earlier today, and if I

could narrow down the response I received is that the minister does not

agree with the residents, but he agrees with the process.

Hansard could probably confirm that.

Hansard is not out yet, but that is what I picked out of it, Mr.

Speaker.

When you look at our Province, Mr. Speaker, government has a duty to

provide power. It is a duty.

I heard the Minister of Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs, I heard

the Minister of Natural Resources talk about 13 per cent.

Well, let's remove that 13 per cent subsidy.

A person who has a $200 light bill, guess what?

If you remove the subsidy they would be paying $1,600 a month.

A business paying $800 a month, if you remove the subsidy, will

be paying $4,000 a month.

The subsidy can be removed at any time.

It can be lowered; it can be raised at any time.

What is to say that this government is not going to do more

damage?

My point is, Mr. Speaker, government has a duty to provide power.

From what this government is proposing, it does not really matter

if someone on the Coast of Labrador gets a $1,600 light bill because

everybody over there is supposed to process.

I find it very difficult that the

people on the Coast of Labrador who are paying the highest, even with

subsidies, are going to pay higher rates.

I have said it before and I will say it again, Mr. Speaker, there is a

big difference between 2.9 per cent and 20 per cent.

That is a huge difference on top of a cost that is phenomenal

already. We talk about the

power that is going to come out of Muskrat Falls, Mr. Speaker; everyone

except the Coast of Labrador is going to benefit from it.

Thank you.

MR. SPEAKER:

Order, please!

The hon. the Leader of the Third Party.

MS MICHAEL:

Thank you very

much, Mr. Speaker.

A petition.

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

Labrador in Parliament assembled, the petition of the undersigned humbly

sheweth:

WHEREAS subsidizing day care should be provincial responsibility; and

WHEREAS most Canadian parents are unable to afford day care services,

hindering their career, income, and family life; and

WHEREAS those working parents are forced to take more leave time in

order to care for their children which can be detrimental to their

career and overall income.

WHEREUPON your petitioners call upon all members of the House of

Assembly to urge government to provide subsidized day care services for

parents and guardians of a child up to Grade 1.

Mr. Speaker, I am very happy to present this on behalf of the

petitioners. Petitioners

whom, I would like to point out for the interest of people in the House,

were all younger people who took

part in the Radhoc gathering earlier

this fall. They came from

all over the Province, from St. John's, Clarke's Beach, Tilton, from Bay

Roberts, Long Cove, CBS, and Whiteway.

These young people who are facing not yet most of them, hardly any of

them I would think, people who are parents, yet recognizing the

difficulty that is going to be there for them as they move past their

education and into looking at becoming parents, and how difficult that

is when you do not have child care.

In the current situation that we have, it does not matter whether I

agree or not, the immediate resolution could be subsidizing daycare

services. I personally

believe that the best way to bring in subsidized daycare services is to

have a public health care system.

That public health care system would allow for affordable

daycare. The subsidization

that would be there would be the subsidization of government being in

charge of this system, administering this system, and subsidizing

through the government involvement of having a program that is called

child care, not just working with an industry out there and letting the

work happen without being involved in the heart of it.

In the short term, I agree with the petitioners: subsidization should

happen, not just for small numbers but for everybody who requires it.

I remember meeting with a woman who was so upset as a single

parent that she had to stop working.

She could not afford child care and had to go on Income Support

in order to take care of her child.

We have to stop that kind of thing, Mr. Speaker.

The best way, as I have said, to do that is not just to subsidize

in the short term but put a full child care program in place.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear,

hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the

Member for The Straits White Bay North.

MR. MITCHELMORE:

Thank you,

Mr. Speaker.

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

Labrador in Parliament assembled, the petition of the undersigned

residents of Newfoundland and Labrador humbly sheweth:

WHEREAS government has a responsibility to ensure that Internet access

is broadly available so people have the right to be able to access the

Internet in order to exercise and enjoy the rights to freedom of

expression and opinion and other fundamental human rights; and

WHEREAS the Town of Goose Cove still remains without broadband services;

and

WHEREAS residents rely on Internet services for education, business,

communication, and social activity; and

WHEREAS wireless and wired technologies exist to provide broadband

service to rural communities to replace slower dial-up service;

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

government to assist providers to ensure the Town of Goose Cove is in

receipt of broadband Internet services in Newfoundland and Labrador.

As in duty bound, your petitioners will ever pray.

Mr. Speaker, in a modern-day society when we talk about how important it

is to be connected and how a number of government services are becoming

more and more online, and how when you look at getting feedback and

talking about public engagement and access and giving people equal

access to have their voice heard, it is so important that communities

have access to broadband Internet so they can tap into these types of

initiatives to provide feedback and to be able to actually have that

voice heard that are in small communities.

This is a municipality, a town, that is trying to provide services to

residents, that is trying to develop new business opportunity and look

at overall sustainability of its population, just ten kilometres from

the largest town on the Great Northern Peninsula of 2,500 people of St.

Anthony.

We have real barriers when we talk about our telecommunications

infrastructure. I think that

is something we seriously need to look at, working with the providers as

we advance the broadband initiatives, and partner with the federal

government as well, with the hundreds of millions of dollars that has

been allocated over the next five years.

Let's stop doing things by patchwork and have a real strategy so

that we are not leaving communities and towns like Goose Cove, Bide Arm,

St. Carols, Great Brehat, St. Anthony Bight, Boat Harbour, and St.

Julien's behind.

I will continue to present these petitions on behalf of my constituents.

Thank you.

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the

Member for St. Barbe.

MR. J. BENNETT:

Thank you,

Mr. Speaker.

A petition.

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

Labrador in Parliament assembled, the petition of the undersigned

residents humbly sheweth:

WHEREAS there is no cellphone service in the Town of Trout River, which

is an enclave community in Gros Morne National Park; and

WHEREAS visitors to Gros Morne National Park, more than 100,000

annually, expect to communicate by cellphone when they visit the park;

and

WHEREAS cellphone service has become a very important aspect of everyday

living for residents; and

WHEREAS cellphone service is an essential safety tool for visitors and

residents; and

WHEREAS cellphone service is essential for business development;

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

the House of Assembly to partner with the private sector to extend

cellphone coverage throughout Gros Morne National Park and the enclave

community of Trout River.

As in duty bound, your petitioners will ever pray.

Mr. Speaker, I presented this petition time and time again from quite a

number of people. The

individuals here, I recognize most of them by name, and I have pledged

to them that I would present their petition in this hon. House.

The Town of Trout River has approximately 650 people.

It is both a fishing community and a tourist community, and one

of its prominent geological features is the Tablelands at Trout River.

The Tablelands at Trout River is what, in large part, makes Gros

Morne National Park a world historic site; that and L'Anse aux Meadows

are the two world historic sites on the Great Northern Peninsula.

The Tablelands the geology is something people find quite striking

and, geologically, it is only found in a few places in the world.

Piggy-backing on this success and this acknowledgement of being a

world historic site, the Town of Trout River has developed a very

significant tourist industry and one of the best restaurants in the

region is seasonally operated in Trout River.

People such as David Suzuki and other individuals have visited

this restaurant and gave it high accolades, but they do not have cell

service. Mr. Speaker,

nowadays people who visit certainly expect to have cell service.

The small number of people in Trout River, being 650, it is the fifth

biggest community in the district in spite of that, certainly it is

increased dramatically all through the course of the summer.

People are building on a shoulder

season for tourism and cellphone service would be an absolutely

important feature to grow these businesses.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the

Deputy Government House Leader.

MR. HUTCHINGS:

Mr. Speaker, I

move, seconded by the Minister of Finance, that we move to Orders of the

Day.

MR. SPEAKER:

The motion is

that we move to Orders of the Day.

All those in favour, 'aye'.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Aye.

MR. SPEAKER:

All those

against, 'nay'.

Carried.

Orders of the Day

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the

Deputy Government House Leader.

MR. HUTCHINGS:

Mr. Speaker, I

call from the Order Paper, Order 2, third reading of a bill,

An Act To

Amend The Registered Nurses Act, 2008, Bill 32.

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the

Deputy Government House Leader.

MR. HUTCHINGS:

Mr. Speaker, I

move, seconded by the Minister of Finance, that Order 2,

An Act To Amend

The Registered Nurses Act, 2008, Bill 32, be now read the third time.

MR. SPEAKER:

It is moved and

seconded that the said bill be now read the third time.

Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion that Bill 32 be read

a third time?

All those in favour, 'aye'.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Aye.

MR. SPEAKER:

All those

against, 'nay'.

Carried.

CLERK:

A bill,

An Act To

Amend The Registered Nurses Act, 2008.

(Bill 32)

MR. SPEAKER:

This bill has now

been read a third time and it is ordered that the bill do pass and its

title be as on the Order Paper.

On motion, a bill,

An Act To Amend The Registered Nurses Act, 2008,

read a third time, ordered passed and its title be as on the Order

Paper. (Bill 32)

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the

Deputy House Leader.

MR. HUTCHINGS:

Mr. Speaker, I

call from the Order Paper, Order 4.

I move, seconded by the Minister of Finance, for leave to introduce a

bill entitled,

An Act To Revise And Consolidate The Law Respecting The

Control Of Liquor In The Province, Bill 34.

I further move that this bill be now read the first time.

MR. SPEAKER:

It is moved and

seconded that the hon. the Minister of Finance shall have leave to

introduce a bill entitled,

An Act To Revise And Consolidate The Law

Respecting The Control Of Liquor In The Province, and that the said bill

be now read a first time.

Is it the pleasure of the House that the said bill be now read a first

time?

All those in favour, 'aye'.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Aye.

MR. SPEAKER:

All those

against, 'nay'.

Carried.

Motion, the hon. the Minister of Finance to introduce a bill,

An Act To

Revise And Consolidate The Law Respecting The Control Of Liquor In The

Province, carried. (Bill

34)

CLERK:

A bill,

An Act To

Revise And Consolidate The Law Respecting The Control Of Liquor In The

Province. (Bill 34)

MR. SPEAKER:

This bill has now

been read a first time.

When shall the bill be read a second time?

MR. HUTCHINGS:

Tomorrow.

MR. SPEAKER:

Tomorrow.

On motion, Bill 34 read a first time, ordered read a second time on

tomorrow.

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the

Deputy House Leader.

MR. HUTCHINGS:

Mr. Speaker, I

move, seconded by the Minister of Finance, for leave to introduce a bill

entitled,

An Act To Amend The Provincial Offences Act, Bill 35.

I further move that the said bill be now read the first time.

MR. SPEAKER:

It is moved and

seconded that the hon. the Minister of Finance shall have leave to

introduce a bill entitled,

An Act To Amend The Provincial Offences Act,

Bill 35, and that the said bill be now read a first time.

Is it the pleasure of the House that the minister shall have leave to

introduce Bill 35 and that the bill be now read a first time?

All those in favour, 'aye'.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Aye.

MR. SPEAKER:

All those

against, 'nay'.

Carried.

Motion, the hon. the Minister of Finance to introduce a bill,

An Act To

Amend The Provincial Offences Act, carried.

(Bill 35)

CLERK:

A bill,

An Act To

Amend The Provincial Offences Act.

(Bill 35)

MR. SPEAKER:

This bill has now

been read a first time.

When shall the bill be read a second time?

MR. HUTCHINGS:

Tomorrow.

MR. SPEAKER:

Tomorrow.

On motion, Bill 35 read a first time, ordered read a second time on

tomorrow.

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the

Deputy House Leader.

MR. HUTCHINGS:

Mr. Speaker, I

move that we move to Motion 1, to move that the House resolve itself

into a Committee of the Whole to consider a resolution relating to the

advancing or guaranteeing of certain loans made under The Loan and

Guarantee Act, 1957. (Bill

31)

MR. SPEAKER:

The motion is

that the Speaker now leave the Chair for the House to resolve itself

into a Committee of the Whole on Ways and Means.

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.

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

Mr. Speaker left the Chair.

Committee of the

Whole

CHAIR (Cross):

Order, please!

We are now debating Bill 31.

Resolution

That it is expedient to bring in a measure further to amend The Loan

and Guarantee Act, 1957, to provide for the advance of loans to and the

guarantee of the repayment of bonds or debentures issued by or loans

advanced to certain corporations.

CHAIR:

Shall the resolution

carry?

The hon. the Minister of Finance and President of Treasury Board.

MR. WISEMAN:

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

It is my pleasure today to introduce this bill to the House.

This bill provides an amendment to the

schedule to the Loan and

Guarantee Act, 1957.

We are bringing this amendment in to allow us to ratify the new loans,

and charges or such increases and extensions to some already existing

guarantees. Very

specifically, Bill 31 and I will just read the explanatory note.

This Bill would amend the

Schedule to The Loan and Guarantee Act, 1957.

The province has guaranteed a letter of credit issued by the

Royal Bank of Canada on behalf of Marble Mountain Development

Corporation to secure the corporation's payment obligations under a

contract to replace the main chairlift.

The guarantee will expire on May 15, 2015.

Mr. Chair, those of us who were listening to the media reports over the

course of the summer would recognize and remember that Marble Mountain

Development Corporation, an operator of a ski hill just outside of

Corner Brook Steady Brook, just outside of Corner Brook as a result

of a lightening fire, had major damage done to one of their lifts.

Initially, this was thought to be some minor damage that could

easily be covered by the amount of insurance being carried by the

corporation.

Upon further examination, and recognizing there had been extensive

damage done, well beyond what was visibly obvious at the initial

inspection, we realized this was going to require a complete replacement

of the lift and some of the apparatus, and the control mechanisms on the

towers. There is a control

panel, or control mechanisms, both electronic and mechanical that

control the lifts themselves.

Significant damage was done to that.

As a result of that, of course, there was recognition that the total

cost of this replacement, including the cost of dismantling it and

replacing the lifts, and there was a contract negotiated with a supplier

of this kind of equipment.

The total cost was just a little over $5 million.

Obviously, as a result of their application for a rebate of HST,

at the end of the day the net cost of this was going to be just a little

over $4 million. We needed

to find the mechanism, number one, how were we going to actually replace

this?

Let me just speak to that point for a moment, because there was a lot of

discussion around, could it be repaired?

Could it be replaced?

What will we need to do?

When we started looking at the cost of repair, there was a

recognition very quickly that the cost of repair was going to go well

beyond what was going to be reasonable, given the life expectancy of the

remaining portions of this lift.

There was a decision made a prudent decision made, I might add, Mr.

Chair. A prudent decision

was made that the best alternative here was to replace the lifts and the

mechanisms supporting that lift.

As I said, a contract was negotiated with a supplier.

Now we have a decision to make about how we actually go about

financing this.

Marble Mountain Corporation has had a successful history of operating

this hill. They provide a

tremendous recreation activity for people not just in Newfoundland and

Labrador and not just on the West Coast of Newfoundland and Labrador,

but it attracts visitors from outside the Province.

Albeit most of the visitors to that location are people from

within Newfoundland and Labrador.

It is a well-utilized facility.

We believe that it was a significant piece of recreation and

tourism infrastructure for the Province, and one that we needed as a

government to continue to support on behalf of the people of

Newfoundland and Labrador.

It also has a huge economic benefit, particularly for the West Coast of

the Province where this is the centrepiece of our winter tourism

initiatives in that area of the Province.

We were able to work through an arrangement, Mr. Chair, where as a

government we were in a position to assist them financially.

They themselves only had $1.5 million or actually it is not

$1.5 million; it is $1.2 million.

They had $1.2 million insurance payment that they were going to

receive from the insurer, and now we needed to look at how we were going

to bridge the rest to be able to fully fund it.

This was obviously an unexpected event.

Last year when we developed our Budget, we would never have

envisaged this happening, so we did not obviously make a Budget

allocation for a replacement of a lift at Marble Mountain.

This was an unexpected event and now we needed to look at how we

might facilitate the financing of that.

We looked internally within our own financial resources.

There was an area within the Department of Finance where we make

an allocation on an annual basis for such things as the cost of EI

premiums, workers' compensation premiums, the payroll costs associated

with having people work for the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador.

In August month when this happened and September when we started

to consider the issue, we recognized that based on how much we had

actually paid out of that expense category or that Budget allocation, by

the time March 31, 2015 would roll around, we would have some savings in

that particular allocation.

Members might recall each year we come to the House and we do our Budget

and we discuss the Estimates here in the House.

The Estimates have identified areas of allocation.

Under the heading of personnel benefits, that category of budget,

we were able to identify and come to a realization that by the end of

the year we would have some savings in that earlier allocation.

So, what we decided to do was we would take a couple of million

dollars from that particular allocation and put it into this project.

This did not affect, in any way, employees.

There were no staffing changes as a result of this.

This was no money that was budgeted to pay salaries.

This was money that was originally budgeted to cover the payroll

burden associated with having employees working for the Province of

Newfoundland and Labrador.

So that came up with a couple of million dollars to be able to assist

this process. Couple that

with the $1.2 million of insurance money, we need it then because, as I

said a moment ago, this was an unexpected event and, as well,

unintended, but it was something we had not prepared for financially in

our Budget.

The supplier was able to provide some temporary financial support by way

of a line of credit not a line of credit, but if we guarantee that

when this equipment arrived that we would be able to pay for it upon

installation. So the Marble

Mountain Development Corporation arranged a loan with a chartered bank

to borrow $1.5 million, with our guarantee.

They were not in a position to go to the bank themselves and, on

their own, qualify for the $1.5 million loan without a guarantee from

the Province.

What this bill does, Mr. Chair, the House confirms, for the purpose of

the legislation, the House ratifies a decision that has been made to

guarantee a loan to the Royal Bank, the loan that was made to the Marble

Mountain Development Corporation.

Then when we sit in this House again, later on in 2015 when we bring a

Budget forward, in that Budget we will have a document that we will

refer to as the Estimates document where we lay out the money we are

proposing to spend by category, how we spend the money on an annual

basis. All of us have been a

part of the Estimates process in the past and you will recognize that

each time government says they will spend X number of dollars and here

is where we are going to spend it, that is laid out in the Estimates

document.

When we get back in the House in 2015 and we start to debate the Budget

for next fiscal year, we will have in that the $1.5 million allocation

to pay off this loan. As we

see from the bill, Mr. Chair, the bill talks about this guarantee

expiring on May 15. I guess

that is notice to members that we have to have the Budget passed by May

15 because we have to pay off this guarantee.

This $1.5 million will be embedded in next year's Budget to pay

this off. That is the

mechanics of how this loan guarantee works, what it was intended to do,

and how it actually is lending itself to fund this particular

significant piece of infrastructure.

I just want to go back for a moment to the decision to do it in the

first place. One of the

things we have recognized is that we have a very vibrant tourism

industry in Newfoundland and Labrador.

There are many elements to that, many attractions and many areas

of the Province that are popular destination points for tourism, both

winter and summer. There may

not be as many destination points for winter tourism as there might be

for summer tourism, but this happens to be one of the most popular

destinations for winter tourists in the Province, I say, Mr. Chair.

In our decision to support this particular initiative and there were

some people who raised some questions about whether or not we should or

should not be doing this, or whether this was something that government

should recognize it is something it has a responsibility for.

One of the things we had come to realize many, many years ago was

that this particular facility is operated by a Crown corporation.

As a people and as a Province, we get tremendous benefit from

this. Not only does it

provide a tremendous recreation opportunity for many Newfoundlanders and

Labradorians, but it is a significant source of economic activity in the

Western part of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Travel to that area of the Province any time during the winter when

there is snow on the ground and you will see hundreds of people on the

hill. The parking lot will

be filled, hotels, restaurants, gas bars, all enjoying the prosperity of

having a draw of people into their regions who are spending money and

enjoying themselves. We

consider this, Mr. Chair, as being just one more additional strategic

investment that our government continues to make in infrastructure in

this Province for the benefit of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, and

to stimulate and support continued growth and economic activity in many

parts of our Province.

As we deliberated on what we would do here, we recognized that this was

a critical piece of infrastructure that we needed to support.

There were some issues about timelines.

There was a discussion around whether we would do it this year or

whether we would do it next year, and how we might approach doing it.

I am very pleased to say that the hill proposes to open on time, as

planned, on Boxing Day again this year.

The slope that is used that this lift supports is due to be open

sometime in mid-January. So

work is in progress to do the installation and have it up and running

for when the hill opens just after Christmas.

Also, Mr. Chair, we are going to be very pleased next year, in 2016, as

we welcome to our Province the 2016 National Winter Special Olympics,

and they are going to be held in Corner Brook.

They are going to be held at this hill, or one of the venues will

be this hill. Next year, in

2016, we will have an opportunity to once again showcase to Canada the

tremendous infrastructure we have in this Province, the tremendous

hospitality we extend to people who visit our Province, and the

marvelous infrastructure we have in those regions of the Province, we

are able to accommodate both in the hotels and the restaurants.

Once again, next year and these sorts of things do not just happen

because they want to come to Newfoundland and Labrador.

In part maybe, yes, but without having the critical

infrastructure in place to support these kinds of activities these kinds

of events would never exist in this Province.

We would never have the opportunity.

We would miss the opportunity to again showcase our people, our

Province, and extend to those people who will be visiting next year the

great hospitality we have become accustomed to and we have gained a

reputation for, as we host these kinds of national events.

I just use that, Mr. Chair, to point out the kinds of advantages we

have, and the kinds of benefits we derive from when we make strategic

investments, such as this one in Marble Mountain.

Mr. Chair, I notice the time.

I am kind of running out, but I welcome comments from members

opposite. If there are some

questions around the process we have gone through here, or if there is

some question as to why we do it at all, I would be only too glad, and

proudly, to speak to and justify why we have done this because we

believe this is a strategic investment in what is critical

infrastructure of the tourism industry in this Province.

So, I welcome comments from members opposite.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear,

hear!

CHAIR:

The hon. the Member

for Virginia Waters.

MS C. BENNETT:

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

I welcome the opportunity to stand in the House today to debate this

bill,

An Act to Amend the Loan and Guarantee Act, 1957.

I would echo the minister's statement around the incredible hospitality

and beauty of the West Coast.

A place where I spent many fond years early in my childhood.

A place I know very well, and a ski hill I know very well, that

certainly this side of the House supports.

I want to say a quick thank you to the staff of the Department of

Finance for their briefing.

I also want to thank my colleagues, the Member for St. Barbe and the

Member for The Straits White Bay North, as we prepared for this

discussion in the House of Assembly today.

The minister made reference in his comments I think his statement was:

as we all know what happens in Estimates.

As a new member of the House of Assembly this year, the learning

curve has been steep, but one that members on this side of the House

have certainly helped me climb.

I have spent a tremendous amount of time poring over historical

documents and reports, including previous budget documents and previous

Estimates. While we will be

certainly supporting this bill, I was struck by the information I was

able to learn as I did my homework in preparing to come into this hon.

House today and have this discussion.

There is no doubt that this asset on the West Coast is a strategic asset

that many Newfoundlanders and Labradorians enjoy, and also an asset we

will be showcasing in the coming years and have showcased in prior

years; but, fundamentally, this discussion today is not about the beauty

of the West Coast. It is not

about the incredible hospitality of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.

It is about money. It

is about fiscal accountability.

It is about how we, and how this government, make sure that the

finances of the Province and taxpayers' money are spent in the best way

and with the best of intention.

As we were going through the briefing, Mr. Chair, I have to say that at

one moment as the staff were very eloquently explaining the $5.2 million

and how much of that money was being sourced by the corporation from

insurance proceeds, and they were explaining that this particular amount

of loan guarantee was to enable the corporation to finance $2 million

worth, it was very quickly identified that there was a $2 million gap.

As the minister has referenced, he explained that gap was closed by

identifying an allocation of money that I believe he said an

allocation of money related to payroll costs.

I am assuming, as he said, EI, CPP and other costs that were able

to be identified to be provided to close the gap.

I have to tell you, as somebody who has spent many, many years on

an annual basis, on a monthly basis, on a daily basis accounting for

every single penny, I was a little dumbstruck at how quickly $2 million

could be identified.

That prompted me to go and do some work on the Estimates that the

minister mentioned. I spent

hours poring over how budget numbers compare to Estimate numbers.

I was surprised at the gaps that are seen on a frequent basis,

annual basis, from when a number is budgeted and when we go into

Estimates, when my colleagues have gone into Estimates through Public

Accounts Committee and looked at how much money has actually gotten out

the door.

When you think about, well, why would there be a difference?

It really comes down to two things.

Number one, obviously, the money was not spent.

Why was the money not spent?

Was it not spent because a decision was made to cut a program or

service, or something that was important to the people of the Province;

or, did it not get out the door because government failed to actually

execute the plans they committed to in a budget process?

Now, I have not had the pleasure of sitting through Estimates as

my colleagues have. I am

sure they will speak to that when they stand up.

One of the things that surprises me when we talk about the amount of

money government spends, to be able to find $2 million as quickly as was

able to be found, it was certainly very surprising.

I think it highlights the inability of this government to ensure

the taxpayers' money is well stewarded.

We are looking at three deficits and another one looming.

I think what people are talking to me about are decisions that

government makes with respect to risk.

Interestingly enough, when I did do some additional research on

Marble Mountain, it was certainly interesting to go back and review the

Auditor General's report of January, 2012.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Oh, oh!

CHAIR:

Order, please!

MS C. BENNETT:

In the Auditor

General's report of 2012, when he assessed Marble Mountain Development

Corporation's ability to steward its money as a Crown corporation, there

were a number of things he identified.

One of the things that struck me was he actually

identified in 2012, the board minutes were not signed as approved, and

the terms of appointment for eight board members had expired.

These members continued to serve on the board without the

required approval of the Lieutenant Governor in Council to extend their

terms.

One of the things that struck me when I saw that

the minutes had not been signed was whether or not the board had been

functioning under the processes that would be considered best in class.

I would assume that an audit

committee, functioning from the Marble Mountain Development Corporation,

would have done a risk assessment around the insurance capacity that the

corporation had. Maybe they

made a decision that for financial reasons they underinsured; but if the

minutes had not been signed and the directors had not been in place, I

guess I have to question, as a member of this House, how due diligence

actually took place in making sure the right insurance was in place at

the right time.

The Auditor General's report from 2012, which was

discussed at length in the Public Accounts Committee, references

numerous, numerous, numerous areas where the decisions that needed to be

made to protect this strategic asset, to protect this important asset

for the West Coast of the Province, were questioned by the Auditor

General. Those are things

that I wonder how much of those processes, those processes that were

flawed in the past, contributed to a lack of insurance being in place.

I guess the other thing I would certainly like to bring

up in the House today, as part of this discussion, is the fact that when

the staff revealed to me that we were able to kind of close the gap of

$2 million, we asked: From where?

The staff, certainly in the moment, had some difficulty

explaining the exact place because they had worked with a number of

different ministers and were not really sure exactly where the decision

had been made.

What is frustrating about this conversation is you have

an asset that needs this investment, but it highlights a problem which,

I believe, is the attention to the pennies that are spent in government

attention to where every single dollar and penny of taxpayers' money

goes.

Why is that important?

Well, strategic discussions around priorities and where money

must be deployed are critical.

I suggest that today's conversation, and certainly the

Ministerial Statements about violence against women and the importance

of mental health supports for youth in our Province, indicate there are

many places where government has a responsibility to ensure it is

spending money in the best interest of the taxpayers based on the

priorities of the people of the Province.

Wasting taxpayers' dollars, or worse, not actually

hitting the target and the promises that you make in a Budget document

by not getting that money deployed, is creating a tremendous amount of

questions certainly from the people in my district and I believe from

people throughout the Province.

When people talk about where is the waste happening, I

would suggest that seven by-elections and the amount of office space and

money that has been spent on by-elections I think in Virginia Waters

this government spent $23,000 on office space just for that by-election.

Another area would certainly be things like important

announcements. The CETA

signing last year was a wonderful event that everybody raved about at

The Rooms. It was hugely

costly.

What people are asking about when they hear that this

government can come up with $2 million to invest in this strategic asset

on the West Coast is if they can come up with that money that fast, what

other places are they wasting the money?

People do not want their money wasted.

They want it invested in things like mental health services for

our youth. They want it

invested in our school system so there are mental health services

provided and the right resources are in the right place at the right

time. They certainly want it

invested to prevent women and children from being under siege in the

community.

When you make a priority decision to eliminate the

Family Violence Intervention Court, but you can find $2 million

overnight to fix a problem that was generated from a governance issue

inside a Crown corporation, then the people of the Province have

questions. This side of the

House is going to continue to ask those questions, Mr. Chair.

That being said, I would like to again reiterate that

as a proud person who was born on the West Coast, our caucus on this

side of the House will be supporting helping Marble Mountain Corporation

get through this transition that they need to with this infrastructure

piece they need to buy, and making sure they have the capital to do it.

We are going to continue to ask the tough questions on where

every single dollar is going to be invested on behalf of the people of

the Province to make sure it is in their best interests.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

CHAIR:

The hon. the Member for Signal Hill Quidi Vidi.

MS MICHAEL:

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

I am happy to be able to speak to this bill, which we

have had in our hands now since the House opened almost for this

session. It is an

interesting discussion that I think has to be had with regard to the

request from the government through this bill, which is to do the letter

of credit on behalf of Marble Mountain Development Corporation to secure

the $2 million in payment obligations for replacing the main chairlift.

I have a number of questions

three or four that I want to

put forward to the Minister of Finance and, again, because we are

concerned about accountability and wise management of the public purse,

the answers to the questions that I require for clarification is not

that we will not vote for the bill.

I think voting for the bill is something we are going to have to

do, but we have questions to ensure that down the road we may not need

to stand again to approve a bill of this nature for Marble Mountain, and

the questions I am asking I hope will give me answers that will show

that government is going to ensure due diligence is done as we move into

the future.

The

minister and I thank him, and his staff did the same thing has given

a good explanation of this situation, but there are some whys.

My questions, they actually are whys in some cases and whats in

another. The minister has

not really answered, and I think it is important to ask them so people

will know that the Marble Mountain is being managed well by the Marble

Mountain Development Corporation.

So one of

the questions I have, and which I have heard from others, is: Why is it

that the insurance policy was done in such a way that the insurance did

not cover a larger amount of the cost of damage that was done?

We all know what it is like to have insurance on our homes.

When you take out your policy you make sure you really are given

the full cost of replacement if the house got destroyed, or the full

cost of replacement of outhouses on the property.

If you make significant changes to your house, if replacement

values are going to change significantly, if you change your property

and new buildings are put up on your property, the insurance policies

change and you get adjustments made.

So the

question is: When was the last time the insurance policy was put in

place, and why did it not reflect the replacement of the parts that were

damaged the cost of that replacement?

So that is one question I would like to have answered.

The second

one that goes with that is: Is there going to be, on the part

of Marble Mountain Development Corporation, a review of their insurance

policies to ensure that if such damage were to happen again they would

get the cost of replacement covered, than is happening this time with

the accident that happened with the lightning strike?

I think these are really important questions, Mr. Chair, if we

are going to see that good management is going on in the use of the

people's money.

I want to refer to the study that was done by the Auditor General who

looked at the Marble Mountain Development Corporation in 2011.

The Public Accounts Committee also held hearings with the

corporation on August 29, 2011, but we do not have reports from those

hearings. I do have the

report, though, from the Auditor General.

I think the Auditor General revealed a number of problems with

the operation of the corporation.

I would like to bring those up and ask the Minister of Finance a

couple of questions related to the AG's report.

For example, the AG found the corporation was running a deficit above

and beyond its annual $400,000 operating grant from the provincial

government. The report also

said the resort ran a deficit in five consecutive years requiring an

annual operating grant, as well as an approved line of credit, of $2.1

million. In particular, the

ski lift operations had run a debt totalling more than $1.3 million over

three years.

We all know that sometimes these kinds of deficits have to happen, but

this seems to be an ongoing thing with the Marble Mountain operations.

It is continually running deficits.

At the moment, they are paying interest and bank expenses

totalling $164,115 annually to service the existing debt.

The amount of the debt is going up.

I am presuming that is going to get higher with the current

situation they are in.

We also find from the AG's report there were problems with purchases

which were not properly done through the Public Tender Act and the use

of fuel for snow groomers was not properly monitored.

There are a lot of concerns in the AG's report that we have no

proof have been really addressed.

As well and this is I think a point that needs to be made thirty-one

condominiums built in 1999 at a cost of $3.1 million have never seen

occupancy rates above 25 per cent, and not one unit has ever been sold,

unless something has changed since the AG's report in 2011, which I do

not think has happened. What

was the underestimation that went on here when this project was put

together? What is being done

to try to make more money from these condominiums that are sitting

there? They are lovely

condominiums I am told. I do

not ski myself, so I have never gone there.

I pass it lots of times when I am travelling back and forth.

We have a situation where the latest annual report shows a continued

deficit. We are told that

the corporation's CEO, the chief executive officer, claims the resort

has a long-term sustainable future as a winter tourist destination, but

it seems to me it has a long-term sustainable future as long as the

government is there to bail it out all the time.

Is that a way to go?

Is that the way it should be managed?

I need to know if the Minister of Finance has a plan from Marble

Mountain Corporation that shows it has a long-term sustainable future.

Will it ever stand on its own feet, or has there always been an

overestimation with regard to who is using it, how many are using it,

and et cetera? These are

really big questions here with regard to responsible management of this

facility. I know it is

important to the West Coast.

I know it helps the economy and that is really important, and for that

reason I am going to vote for the bill, but we have to ask these

questions.

I need to find out from the minister if the concerns of the AG are going

to be taken care of, if concerns that must have come up when the Public

Accounts Committee met with the corporation are going to be taken care

of, or is the message to Marble Mountain Development Corporation going

to be it does not matter, you can keep running deficits, you can keep

having problems because we will always be there to take care of you?

I know of things in this Province where they do not get that message

from government. So why is

it that this corporation should get that message from government?

They have to be able to stand on their own feet.

Is government monitoring their PR, their whole public relations?

Are they monitoring the marketing that is going on?

It seems to me there have been problems over there for a long

time. Is marketing the

problem? What is the

problem?

I will leave those questions with the minister.

I am looking forward to hearing some answers because I think

people will want to know government is on top of these issues, that we

are not going to be, ten years from now, government still just giving

money to the corporation as it continues to run a deficit and as it

continues to be, maybe, poorly managed.

I think this is an issue government has a responsibility to look

it.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

CHAIR:

The hon. the Member

for Port de Grave.

MR. LITTLEJOHN:

Thank you,

Mr. Chair.

I am pleased to speak to this bill today, Mr. Chair.

My first exposure to Marble Mountain came way back in 1998, in

the lead up to the 1999 Canada Games.

The Canada Games in 1999 were probably the best Canada Games in

the history of the Canada Games in over forty-five years, and it

continues to be talked about.

At that particular point in time, Mr. Chair, Marble Mountain was then

developed as a centrepiece for the 1999 Canada Winter Games.

Mr. Chair, it continues to be the centrepiece for winter tourism

on the West Coast of our Province.

Marble Mountain is certainly a prime attraction and many business

people on the West Coast have taken advantage of the fact that Marble

Mountain is there and they have built their business around it:

restaurants, hotels, and bed and breakfasts.

All those things were built around the economic activity that is

generated at Marble Mountain.

I know a lot of that economic activity is provincial in scope.

If you get on a plane from December 26 until April, if you get on a

plane here on a Friday afternoon you will see there are many, many avid

skiers from this part of the Island going to the West Coast to avail of

the great facilities and the great skiing, the great cross-country

skiing, the great skidooing that all can take place in and around Marble

Mountain.

Mr. Chair, as we know, in August of this year there was an unfortunate

incident you can nearly call it

an act of God a lightning strike.

A lightning strike took out the main chairlift for Marble

Mountain. It is called the

Governor's Express, or for skiers and the people who are in sports, it

is just called the Governor.

The Governor is the main lift that can get you to all parts of the

mountain so you can enjoy the Marble Mountain ski experience.

When you are on the top of t