PDF Version

April

24, 2013 HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS

Vol. XLVII No. 9

The House met at 2:00 p.m.

MR. SPEAKER (Wiseman): Order, please!

Admit strangers.

Before we start today's proceedings, I want to acknowledge some special

guests we have in our gallery. Today we have members from the Canadian Cancer

Society, Newfoundland and Labrador Division: Mr. Matthew Piercy, Executive

Director; Ms Kristin Hanlon, the Manager of Finance and Operations; as well as

some other representatives from the organization.

Welcome to our gallery.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: We are also very pleased to have with us today Mr. Jeremy

Mueller. I think Jeremy might have been in this House a little while back. He is

sitting here today, though, as the World Champion from Seoul, South Korea, in

the Special Olympic Games.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: It is not every day we have a World Champion in the House.

Welcome.

Statements by Members

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

the District of Burgeo La Poile; the Member for the District of Cape St.

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

District of Fortune Bay Cape La Hune; the Member for the District of Baie

Verte Springdale; and the Member for the District of St. John's Centre.

The Member for Burgeo La Poile.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

I rise today to recognize Mrs. Joyce Samms of Port aux Basques who was

recently awarded a Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.

Mrs. Samms was born in Yorkshire, England in 1923. She served in the Women's

Royal Naval Service in England during World War II. She was a courier during the

Battle of Britain, riding a motorcycle to transport documents from the admiralty

to various news organizations. She came to Newfoundland as a war bride in 1952

with her late husband, Frederick Samms.

Mrs. Samms has devoted her life to the Royal Canadian Legion. During her time

with Branch 11 and the Ladies' Auxiliary, she has served as President,

Secretary, Poppy Chair, Honours and Award Chair, and Membership Chair. She was

the first woman to be elected as District Commander and the first woman to serve

as Provincial President.

Mrs. Samms has also received the Meritorious Service Medal, the Palm Leaf,

the Minister of Veterans Affairs Commendation, and the Queen's Golden Jubilee

Medal.

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

congratulations to Joyce Samms upon receipt of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond

Jubilee Medal. The medal could not have gone to a more deserving individual.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The Member for the District of Cape St. Francis.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. K. PARSONS: Mr. Speaker, what a privilege to stand here today and

welcome back to this hon. House a World Champion.

Just a short while ago we were here congratulating Jeremy Mueller for being

awarded the Male Athlete of the Year for Special Olympics Canada. We wished him

good luck at the World Special Olympic Games in Seoul, South Korea, where 112

countries competed. Jeremy was the only person from this Province on a team of

Well, Mr. Speaker, Jeremy competed in the 200-metre dash where he placed

fifth, in the relay race where he won a silver medal, but it was the 400-metre

race where he brought home gold as a World Champion.

Mr. Speaker, Jeremy is hard-working young man. Whether it is at work at Tim

Horton's or at sport, he shows great commitment and dedication. Jeremy's

accomplishments are among the greatest achievements this Province has ever seen

in sport.

I ask all hon. members to join with me in congratulating World Champion

Jeremy Mueller on his accomplishments. I know that you are as proud of him, as I

am.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. LITTLEJOHN: Mr. Speaker, I stand today in this House to congratulate

All Hallows Elementary School who have been selected to receive a Helping Hand

Award from the Let Them Be Kids program.

The announcement was made on Valentine's Day which elicited widespread

excitement throughout the school community. The gymnasium was packed with 420

students, their parents, school supporters, and invited guests. They danced and

cheered at the announcement.

Last fall, the school playground was condemned as unsafe for play. A group of

parent-teacher volunteers started to refurbish and look for ways to upgrade the

existing playground. With the assistance of the Let Them Be Kids program award,

every dollar the committee raises, the Let Them Be Kids program will match

dollar for dollar. The fundraising campaign received a kick-start with a

contribution of $20,000 from the school council and a contribution from the

provincial government.

Students will play an important role in the design of the park by voting on

the structures and amenities that they would like to see in their new park. The

whole school community is now working toward Build Day, June 8.

I ask all members to join me today in congratulating All Hallows Elementary,

its students, staff, and parent volunteers for their foresight and hard work.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The Member for Fortune Bay Cape La Hune.

MS PERRY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I rise in this hon. House today to deliver accolades to some special

volunteers in the Town of Harbour Breton. At the annual Lions Club banquet in

February, the Lions named two people as Citizens of the Year for 2012. This high

community honour was awarded to Mr. Anthony Casey and Ms Millie Skinner.

Mr. Casey was nominated by the Town of Harbour Breton for his dedication to

the Volunteer Fire Department, which he joined in 1993 and became fire chief in

2010. He has been instrumental in lobbying for improved equipment and training,

and has become a Certified Fire Inspector, and a Certified Instructor by Fire

and Emergency Services.

Ms Millie Skinner was nominated by the St. Bartholomew's ACW, and by the

Harbour Breton Hospital Auxiliary. Although she is not an official member of

either organization, she dedicates hours and hours to both groups, and is an

active volunteer for fundraisers such as cold plates. She also helps with the

King Academy's Breakfast program, and visits patients at the cottage hospital

twice a month.

I ask all members of this hon. House to join me in thanking these citizens

for their outstanding community service and volunteerism.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Baie Verte Springdale.

MR. POLLARD: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

It is indeed a pleasure to rise in this hon. House today to congratulate

Valmont Academy Vikings Boys Basketball Team for capturing gold.

In the six team provincial tournament, Valmont crushed Lakewood Academy in

the quarterfinals and posted a convincing victory over Bayside Academy in the

semi finals. In the championship game, with lightning speed and razor sharp

passing, Valmont out-hustled Swift Current Academy to seize the title.

Members of the gold medal team include Kyle Burt, Daniel Thomas, Cody Caines,

Jonathan Janes, Daniel R. Thomas, Adam Wright, Drake Noble, Andrew Brown,

Brandon Burt, and Coaches Ryan Kelly, Adam Mathews, and Ian Campbell.

Mr. Speaker, the staff and coaches of Valmont Academy are to be applauded for

such outstanding support and dedication they give to extracurricular activities,

which builds not only on school spirit but also community spirit, resulting in

better student achievement.

Please join me in conveying sincere congratulations to Coaches Ryan Kelly,

Adam Mathews, and Ian Campbell and the Valmont Academy Boys Basketball team for

capturing the Provincial A School Sports Newfoundland and Labrador

Championships.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MS ROGERS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I am so very happy to honour Bev Moore-Davis and her team for so courageously

organizing Miles 4 Smiles, a most profoundly powerful event designed to raise

awareness of child abuse.

The walk happened this past Sunday morning at Bowring Park. Many of the

organizers and speakers were women who had been sexually abused as children, who

are so determined to make this world a safer place for all children.

One of those women, Kora Leigh Russell, shared a letter that she wrote to her

future child. She read it to the few hundred people gathered. From that letter

she wrote: I write this long before you will enter this world my future child.

"Because my childhood was denied the innocence it should have had, I will do

everything in my power to make sure yours is as innocent and carefree as humanly

possibleAnd when it's time to go to sleep, the only possible thing to scare

you, will be the imaginary monsters under your bed." To hear more of her letter,

it is available on their Web site Miles 4 Smiles.

During this Violence Awareness Week I want to thank these women for their

courage and strength and ask that we all commend them for their commitment to

make this world a safer place for all children. Once again, I ask my colleagues

to join me and say bravo to Miles 4 Smiles.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: Statements by Ministers.

Statements by Ministers

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Education.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. JACKMAN: Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today to announce the

chair and trustee members of the school board transition committee which will

in place in September 2013. This committee will further our commitment to build

resources in the classroom and deliver services more effectively to students.

Lorne Wheeler, a former educator, school administrator, and Deputy Minister

of Education, has been appointed chair of the transition committee.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. JACKMAN: Mr. Speaker, Mr. Wheeler has had more than thirty-five years

of experience as a teacher, a principal, a former President of the Newfoundland

and Labrador Teachers' Association, and has held a number of senior executive

roles within the Department of Education, including as Deputy Minister. He

brings a wealth of knowledge and experience, and a wide range of educational

perspectives to this role and I thank him for taking on this assignment.

Mr. Speaker, members of the transition committee also include the chairs and

boards. The committee members are: Mr. Goronwy Price and Guy Elliott, Labrador

School Board; Don Brown and Nada Borden, Western School District; John George

and Kim Cheeks, Nova Central School Board; and, Milton Peach and George

Sheppard, Eastern School Board.

Mr. Speaker, each of these volunteer school board representatives has agreed

to assist in the transitioning process to ensure the delivery of educational

programs and services to students, teachers and staff will flow smoothly in

September. I would ask current board trustees, or others who have ideas as to

how to assist in this effort, to make representation to the transition

committee.

I am further pleased to note, Mr. Speaker, that the position of CEO for the

We have much work to do in preparation for September 2013, Mr. Speaker, and I

want to sincerely thank the individuals who have agreed to take on this task.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The Member for the District of St. Barbe.

MR. BENNETT: Mr. Speaker, I thank the minister for an advance copy of his

statement. This is one of the most political committees appointed by one of the

most misguided Ministers of Education in the most unpopular and misguided

government we have known since Confederation.

Mr. Speaker, the only thing this committee ensures is that the minister has

loaded this up with enough Tory hacks to get whatever response he wants. This is

purely a rubber stamp for the minister. If what he was doing to education was

not a tragedy, the appointment of this committee would be a farce.

Thank you, Sir.

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

MR. KIRBY: Thanks to the minister for an advance copy of his statement.

Newfoundland and Labrador has been rightly denounced by the Western School

District Board of Trustees, the Nova Central District Board of Trustees, a

number of Labrador and Eastern District trustees, several retired school

district CEOs, and many others.

In recent days, government's decision has been variously called a hasty

decision, tokenism, and a sham. This decision flies in the face of all

contemporary notions of democratic local school governance. It is wrong-headed

and it should not be permitted to proceed.

Thank you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: Further statements by ministers?

The hon. the Minister of Health and Community Services.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS SULLIVAN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to inform this hon. House that April 27 is National

Daffodil Day. In our lifetime, one in three people in our Province will be

diagnosed with cancer. The Canadian Cancer Society created Daffodil Day to let

them know they are not alone.

On Daffodil Day, the Canadian Cancer Society asks that individuals wear a

daffodil pin as a show of support for those living with cancer. Daffodil Day is

a day to take a moment to reflect on the individuals we know who are on a cancer

journey and to remember those who have died.

Mr. Speaker, our government continues to work to enhance cancer care in the

Province and to improve quality in our health care system through investments in

equipment and services for prevention, early diagnoses, and treatment of cancer.

Including Budget 2013 funding, the provincial government has invested over $155

million in cancer treatment and prevention since 2004.

Our government continues to demonstrate high levels of support for women and

men who access cancer care and treatment. The recent Budget included an

allocation to the Newfoundland and Labrador Prescription Drug Program to allow

for the funding of twelve new drug therapies, eight of which will assist in the

treatment of various forms of cancer; funding to allow for new cancer drug

therapies for the Cancer Care and Hematology Program at Eastern Health; the

continued expansion of the Provincial Breast Cancer Screening Program to allow

women aged forty to forty-nine to participate in screening; and funding for the

continuation of the highly successful Newfoundland and Labrador Colon Cancer

Screening Program.

Mr. Speaker, our investments in cancer treatment and prevention are helping

to improve the lives of cancer patients and their families throughout the

Province. During April, which is Cancer Awareness Month, and especially on

Daffodil Day, I encourage residents of the Province to do something special for

someone living with cancer or to contribute in some way to the fight against

this disease.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The Member for Burgeo La Poile.

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

I thank the minister for an advance copy of her statement. I am very happy to

have my daffodil on today to show my support as well. Indeed, virtually all of

us are affected by cancer, either directly or through the struggle of family

members and friends who are diagnosed.

Our Province continues to have higher cancer incidence and death rates than

most other provinces according to the Canadian Cancer Society. Both genetics and

lifestyle factor into this incidence. The minister has alluded to some

treatments and preventative measures this government has invested in, which is

commendable, but I would be remiss if I did not address this government's

refusal to fund smoking cessation therapies.

Their own agency, the Alliance for the Control of Tobacco, is advocating for

this therapy to help people quit. The NLMA is calling on government to cover

such therapies for low-income residents. We are a society that acknowledges that

addiction is a disease, yet we refuse to fund a therapy that has been shown to

reduce smoking rates considerably.

In 2012, four to five times more people died of lung cancer than prostate or

breast cancer. Considering the higher prevalence of lung cancer and that smoking

causes 85 per cent of lung cancers, it would be a socially and economically

prudent investment for government to fund smoking cessation. We take in almost

$150 million in tobacco tax per year; funding this therapy would cost a fraction

of it.

While we did have the coverage of eight more cancer drugs, I have to point

out this government's refusal to fund ondansetron and Neupogen for children with

cancer. We have pediatric oncologists begging for coverage so kids can have the

same treatment, including chemo, regardless of their income level.

Mr. Speaker, it is great to see representatives of the Canadian Cancer

Society here today. Let us keep working together to fight this disease.

Thank you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

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

We all know that we are all affected by cancer, either ourselves, personally,

or by someone we love. Daffodil Day is very much also about acknowledging

volunteers and all those who work in the area of cancer, whether it be

policymakers, medical staff, volunteers, and especially volunteers and staff of

the Canadian Cancer Society.

I, myself, Mr. Speaker, when I had my first mastectomy, it was my left

breast. The next day after my surgery as I lay in my hospital bed bandaged up,

my partner sat at the head of my bed, the nurse came in and he said: Have you

seen yet? I said no, Sir, I cannot look yet. He said, no, no, no, it is very

important for you to look physiologically. I said I am prepared physiologically,

however, I am squeamish. He removed the bandages and left me in the bed laying

there. My partner, Peg, looked down and said: My God, Gerry, I can see your

heart beating. I looked down and I said that is because it is now closer to the

surface.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage all of us, whether those in our families, those who

are working in the area of cancer, to continue to live with our hearts so closer

to the surface as we continue to support one another in this area.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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.

We understand that people who were laid off in March by this government

cannot get their record of employment. This government is denying overtime to

staff who are responsible for preparing those necessary forms.

I ask the Premier: Is this the respect and the professionalism that was

talked about on Budget Day for those employees?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Finance and President of Treasury

Board.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KENNEDY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

There is a backlog in terms of getting the records of employment out. I

inquired today, once it came to my attention, Mr. Speaker. There are currently

170 that have not been prepared to date. They will be done by the end of the

week.

As for requests for overtime, no one came to my level and requested overtime,

because I can assure the member opposite that it would have been granted. This

is a situation where we understand the vulnerable situation people find

themselves in and we are doing our best to help them through it.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. BALL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Over two years ago government paid out $72 million to one of two energy

companies that had their assets expropriated during the botched Abitibi

expropriation. At the time, they said that negotiations with the other company,

Fortis, was ongoing.

I ask the Premier: Since it has been over two years since you settled with

one company, four years since the botched Abitibi expropriation, why is it

taking so long to settle with Fortis?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. MARSHALL: Mr. Speaker, when expropriation took place representatives

of the government contacted the parties that were involved, the third parties,

other than Abitibi, and indicated what the government was doing. The Enel

Partnership was taken care of a previous Minister of Natural Resources

announced that and negotiations with the remaining hydro partnership, Fortis,

should conclude very soon.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. BALL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Well, before their hydro assets were expropriated by the Premier, Fortis had

recently invested $65 million to add additional capacity to their hydro project

in Central Newfoundland.

Since it cost $72 million to settle with Enel, and Fortis had recently

upgraded their asset, how much is it going to cost to settle with Fortis?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. MARSHALL: Mr. Speaker, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador

will negotiate the acquisition of any asset in a manner that will be in the best

interests of the people of the Province. Those negotiations have gone forward,

and when the negotiations are complete I will be very happy to stand in this

House and advise members opposite, and through them and through this House, the

people of the Province, what the terms of that transaction were in full detail.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. BALL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Well, parents and educators continue to be outraged by the budget cuts to our

education system. Today, NLTA sent a letter to the minister. They are suggesting

that about 40 per cent of the teaching units being cut in this budget will be

coming from a needs-based part of the teacher allocation model.

I ask the Premier: Do you fully understand the impact your decisions are

having on front-line education and our children?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Education.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. JACKMAN: Mr. Speaker, I want to clear one thing up right off the bat,

for some people who may not read and carefully understand what is being said.

This is not special education services, Mr. Speaker. This is an allocation that

did not exist before 2005, and 60 per cent of those allocations remain intact,

Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I am going to ask the member opposite again. Is he suggesting we

continue on the road that we are doing and that we take from our front-line

services where we clearly said we were not going to, Mr. Speaker? Special

education services and classroom caps remain intact.

I would suggest, Mr. Speaker, if the member wants to see our investment in

education, he should have come with me this morning to the site at St. Teresa's

to see a near $23 million construction underway and thirty-nine of those

projects underway in this Province, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. BALL: The minister keeps evading the question. My question was about

the needs allocation and the 40 per cent cut. You continue not to acknowledge

that, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, yet another school trustee has come forward to tell government

that the plan to merge the school boards is a bad move. George Tiller of Nova

Central says the best education for our students cannot be achieved with one

board administered in St. John's.

I ask the Premier: Since the transition team cannot solve this problem, how

are you going to address this significant issue?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Education.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. JACKMAN: Mr. Speaker, in light of the stats, a 17 per cent reduction

in students, 12 per cent reduction in the number of schools, 33 per cent in

operating costs at boards, is he suggesting that we continue to fund that and we

take it from students and teachers? We are not there, Mr. Speaker.

I am going to speak specifically to Gander. In Gander, that corporate piece

will not be there. I can assure you, Mr. Speaker, the trustees, the people of

Gander and the people of the Province, in a site like Gander that strong

educational presence is there. That is what is going to be the focus of that

office now and staffed appropriately, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The Leader of the Official Opposition.

MR. BALL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

What the minister did not say is where it will not be. It will not be in

Burin, it will not be in Grand Falls-Windsor, it will not be in Lab West, it

will not be in Spaniard's Bay, and it will not be in Lower Cove. They are

closing up; the minister did not say that.

Mr. Speaker, the transition team to dismantle school boards is expected to

start work. At the end of this process, we will have an appointed board.

I ask the Premier: How can you justify removing democratically elected school

boards and replacing them with a politically appointed one that will serve

government and not the people?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Education.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. JACKMAN: Mr. Speaker, the member misses the point. This is a

transition committee. Transition means that it is a temporary committee until we

move to the board, Mr. Speaker. At the end of this process, Mr. Speaker, there

will be an elected board. We will allow this transition committee to do their

work.

I would suggest to the member opposite if he has trustees who are writing

him, ask them now to put their suggestions to the transition committee. All of

us are about having the best education system that we can in this Province, Mr.

Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The Leader of the Official Opposition.

MR. BALL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I would suggest to the minister, if you are really concerned about having the

best education system, why not go to those trustees. Why are you saying they

should come to you?

If you were concerned about the best education system, go to them. Have a

consultation process that is open so that people can be fully engaged. You

refused to do that before you made this decision, I say, Mr. Speaker. Why not

get them to come to you?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Education.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. JACKMAN: Mr. Speaker, a very important point the boards that are

presently in place are going to exist until the end of August. Two

representatives from their boards are on the transition team. That is the

opportunity for them to put input to it.

Mr. Speaker, the member is asking that I continue duplication of service,

where we can find efficiencies and to invest them where they need to be, that

being in the education of our students.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The Member for St. Barbe.

MR. BENNETT: Mr. Speaker, all of the school boards that the minister is

about to trash have multi-year plans from 2011 to 2014.

I ask: In the middle of this self-inflicted chaos, what will happen to these

multi-year plans?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Education.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. JACKMAN: Mr. Speaker, I do not know where to go with this question.

Mr. Speaker, the team and the people that are in place that are committed to the

education of this Province, their work will continue. Everywhere from school

councils to committees that are in place, Mr. Speaker, this will continue. The

transition board will work their process through. Through full engagement, we

see an improved education system in this Province.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The Member for St. Barbe.

MR. BENNETT: Mr. Speaker, 2014 is next year, not this year; so these are

plans that these boards had in place for 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014, including

his district.

I ask: What will become of those plans that they made with respect to

student-teacher ratios, buildings, and all their other resources? What will

become of the plans they have invested in and that they have approved, and that

he approved?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Education.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. JACKMAN: Mr. Speaker, it is just quite evident how the man has never

listened. He mentioned in that comment student-teacher ratio. The best of all

the provinces in Canada

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. JACKMAN: The best of all the provinces in Canada, a cap that is

continuing, the continuation of special education services I swear to God

these people want us to take the money away from the students so that we can

continue the operation and duplication of the services, Mr. Speaker, that exists

within the board and can be done more efficiently through this restructuring

process.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The Member for St. Barbe.

MR. BENNETT: Mr. Speaker, the minister is fond of saying how we have the

best student-teacher ratio in Canada, but what about the school board ratio of

all provinces in Canada?

I ask the minister: Could he tell the people of this Province how many

provinces in Canada will go down to one school board and how their students are

doing?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Education.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. JACKMAN: Mr. Speaker, I am sure many of the arguments that are being

said now were said in 2004. We went through a transition process. We, in our

Province, do things because we want to do them a certain way and we are going to

do that.

I would ask the member, if he has some valuable contribution to make to this,

the transition team will willingly hear from him. I look forward to his input,

Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. EDMUNDS: Mr. Speaker, residents of Nunatsiavut who are presently

attending Adult Basic Education courses in their communities are also victims of

budget cuts from this government.

I ask the minister: Can you guarantee the residents of Nunatsiavut that they

will have access to Adult Basic Education programming in their communities in

the future?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS SHEA: Mr. Speaker, as we have said with Adult Basic Education in

Newfoundland and Labrador, our intention is that Adult Basic Education will be

offered throughout the Province. It will just be offered in a different format

than what it is being offered at this time, in particular when we speak about

the College of the North Atlantic.

Mr. Speaker, the students who are enrolled in Adult Basic Education this year

will have access to Adult Basic Education next year, or if they are new students

who want to come into that program. At any sites where we have Adult Basic

Education this year, we will continue to have Adult Basic Education next year.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. EDMUNDS: I am glad to hear a reference to College of the North

Atlantic because we also are hearing that the automotive mechanic program

offered at the College of the North Atlantic in Happy Valley-Goose Bay will be

cut from the curriculum. Students who wish to access this program have been told

they are being put on a waiting list to attend another CNA campus.

I ask the minister: Can you confirm that this is true? If so, what assurances

can you provide that those students will have fair and equal access to the

program?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS SHEA: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, the College of the North Atlantic provides skills development to

students in Newfoundland and Labrador so we can match people who want to attach

to the labour market. There are times when that means certain programs may be

delivered in a site where we do not have sufficient enrolment to continue to

offer it, therefore new and other programs may come into those sites.

Mr. Speaker, already today the College of the North Atlantic issued a release

where there are new programs going into various campuses across this Province.

Any of the programs that are not going to be delivered next year that are being

delivered this year, that they announced, Mr. Speaker, have had historically

less than 50 per cent enrolment for at least four years.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. A. PARSONS: Mr. Speaker, the Adult Dental Plan covers $750 per year

for dentures. A full set of dentures costs $1,500.

I ask the minister: Will you make the per person cap responsive to individual

situations so that you are not leaving people in such undignified situations as

having to choose their top or bottom teeth?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS SULLIVAN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, we have, as I outlined this morning in Estimates, one of the

most robust dental health programs in the country, bar none. We have an adult

dental program that is the envy of the country. We invested $6.7 million in that

program last year, Mr. Speaker, and we are investing $6.7 million in that

program again this year. Our intent is to see that as many Newfoundlanders and

Labradorians who need that program have access to that program; but, Mr.

Speaker, we need to fiscally responsible and we intend to be.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. A. PARSONS: I guess the lack of an answer there, Mr. Speaker, answers

my question quite clearly. The fact is you are going to cover it in two years.

It is undignified and it is not necessary.

This morning's Health Estimates also made it abundantly clear that the

minister has no idea how the paid family caregiver program will work. However,

later she said the plan is almost finalized.

I ask the minister: Which is it? How close are you to finalizing this program

that you promised almost two years ago?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS SULLIVAN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, we did have a bit of toing and froing this morning, I must

admit, at Estimates. When I said to him and I was very, very serious about

we welcome any advice that you have. We welcome any suggestions that you have.

His response to me was: I will just ask the questions. Because, Mr. Speaker,

they have no solution over there. They have no way forward over there.

Mr. Speaker, he offered up that in Australia there is a program. Well, Mr.

Speaker, in Australia there is a program that pays $70 a week. Work that out on

an hourly average. Is that what you are proposing, we do a program like that?

In Nova Scotia, he offers up a program there, a $400 tax relief, Mr. Speaker.

Is that what he is proposing, we do $400 a month? I do not know. We have asked

him for his suggestions. He has none, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. A. PARSONS: Mr. Speaker, if the minister wants some advice

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

MR. A. PARSONS: - my advice to her is before you actually make the

promise, why don't you have the plan in place? I can tell by the clapping they

do not want to hear it. Make a promise, why don't you have the plan in place?

The Minister of Health said in Estimates this morning that the rationale for

the annual budget of $8.2 million for the family caregiver program was that they

had to choose some number to include in the Budget to move the planning forward.

I ask the minister: Is $8.2 million a completely arbitrary number or can you

define how the money will be spent?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS SULLIVAN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, the member opposite continues to want us to roll out a program

here in the House of Assembly. Mr. Speaker, when we roll out the program, it

will be to the people of Newfoundland and Labrador.

When we have all of the details in place, we will move forward and launch

that program. I told him yesterday, I told him this morning, and I am going to

tell him this afternoon that will be this year, Mr. Speaker. We have committed

the $6.1 million to doing that.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The Leader of the Third Party.

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

Yesterday in response to a question, the Premier directed me to the front

page of The Telegram to see how well Newfoundland and Labrador is doing.

What I saw was a story featuring a St. John's city councillor talking about how

well off the St. John's region is.

Mr. Speaker, I ask the Premier: What does she say to people in rural

Newfoundland and Labrador who see their children forced to ride buses for hours

over highways to attend school, and to people forced to commute thousands of

kilometres to find work?

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

PREMIER DUNDERDALE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, the greatest number of my colleagues in this House of Assembly

represents districts in rural parts of our Province. I was born and raised and

lived most of my adult life and raised my family in rural Newfoundland, Mr.

Speaker. I am not going to take any lessons from somebody who lived in the heart

of St. John's and the heart of Toronto for most of her life on the reality of

rural living.

Mr. Speaker, we have areas of this Province that are challenged; there is no

doubt about it. I can point to no greater example than the Connaigre Peninsula,

Mr. Speaker, and Fortune Bay and Bay d'Espoir where we go through difficult

times, where people are severely challenged. The government walks the walk with

them, and we work together to find solutions that work for the people.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The Leader of the Third Party.

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

If I were the Premier, Mr. Speaker, I would be ashamed to acknowledge that

somebody

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

MS MICHAEL: from St. John's better understands rural Newfoundland and

Labrador than she does.

Mr. Speaker, I and other members of our caucus continue to receive questions

from people about the way in which decisions were made regarding the cuts and

layoffs in departments and government agencies because of Budget 2013. People

are finding it hard to understand how permanent positions such as environmental

scientists and wildlife officers could all of a sudden become redundant.

Mr. Speaker, I once again am asking the Premier if she will table in this

House the details of the core mandate review that was done to aid the decision

making that has led to the massive cuts and layoffs.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

PREMIER DUNDERDALE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, in terms of the cuts that were done, explanations have been

given. It has been a process that took long over a year. Much of it, Mr.

Speaker, is very straightforward. As I pointed out, we have nine youth in the

Whitbourne Youth Centre. We had over 100 staff looking after nine young people.

The average for the past five years has been sixteen a day for just one year;

otherwise, we have been less than ten a day for four years with over 100 people,

Mr. Speaker, caring for those people. That is not the fault of the people, Mr.

Speaker, but something needed to be done.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The Leader of the Third Party.

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

If this review exists on paper, I do not see why it is so hard for the

Premier to produce it.

People are still reeling from the massive layoffs government has inflicted on

the Province. During Finance Estimates last week, the Minister of Finance told

us that twenty-five jobs have been lost in his department either through layoffs

or positions eliminated. He noted he has that general information for all

departments.

Mr. Speaker, I ask the minister if he would be able to table the figures for

all the departments in this House.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Finance.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KENNEDY: What I would say to the member opposite is if she would stop

pontificating and do some reading, then she would perhaps find the information

right under her nose.

A news release was sent out on March 26, Mr. Speaker, which outlines all of

the cuts per department. It outlines how it breaks down in terms of vacant

positions eliminated, layoffs. It outlines it by department, Mr. Speaker. What

you have here is a situation where it goes to the department, equals the number

of 485, the vacant positions. I would say to her: Read the document for

yourself.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The Leader of the Third Party.

MS MICHAEL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

If my memory serves me correctly, the minister has indicated that since we

received the salary information last week there have been more cuts and more

changes. We want to the up-to-date figures. So, I would like to have the

up-to-date figures, Mr. Speaker.

The Finance Minister also indicated in Estimates that he does not have the

actual details from each department of what the job losses actually look like in

terms of the specifics of the positions which no longer exist, and I understand

that. That information may be found, he said, only in the department itself.

Mr. Speaker, I ask the Premier: Will she direct each of her ministers to

provide a detailed department by department outline of the positions lost

through layoffs and unfilled vacancies?

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Finance.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KENNEDY: Again, Mr. Speaker, if she stopped preaching and asked

questions, she might find some answers.

What we have is a situation where each minister comes before Estimates, that

minister can be asked questions, as to the layoffs; I am assuming that those

questions have been asked.

Mr. Speaker, each department has a list of the number of people who have been

laid off, the positions eliminated, and they can provide that information. As I

indicated last week, it is a matter of asking the questions. You might not get

the answers you want, but you will get the honest answers, not like what comes

from over there.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MS MICHAEL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Year two of government's Sustainability Plan calls for a review of health and

education systems. If these reviews are anything like the core mandate reviews,

then we are in trouble. Carefully developed human resources plans done in

consultation with all participants might stop the last minute knee-jerk decision

making we are currently seeing.

I ask the Premier, Mr. Speaker: Will she commit to developing sensible human

resources plans in consultation with all stakeholders as a framework for

decision making?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

PREMIER DUNDERDALE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, there has been no knee-jerk reactions by government. It has been

a long, well thought out, and well executed piece of work. That has negative

consequences when you have to lay people off and impacts on peoples' lives in a

way that is worrisome for them until they transition through. We understand all

of that, and we are doing all that we can to accommodate them through this

process.

The difference two years makes, Mr. Speaker, because in our last term when

the Leader of the NDP stood on her feet, particularly around health care, she

called for a review of the health care system on a daily basis. Well, we are

very glad to accommodate you, because that is what is going to happen, Mr.

Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. MITCHELMORE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, St. Anthony is the strategic location for Coast Guard services,

complemented with a multi-million dollar facility and staff to ensure the safety

of our fishers. On the public airwaves, former federal Intergovernmental

Minister and Newfoundland and Labrador's regional Cabinet representative said he

stopped Coast Guard from going to St. Anthony.

Mr. Speaker, will the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs meet immediately

with his federal counterparts to investigate potential political interference

and demand that the feds put citizens' safety first?

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. F. COLLINS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, this government is very much aware of the significance of the

federal presence in this Province. We are constantly in contact with our federal

counterparts to make sure they live up to their commitments to keep the federal

presence in the Province that we currently have.

Mr. Speaker, with regard to the hon. gentleman's specific question, if there

is something there that specifically we can act on in terms of

interrelationships with our federal counterparts, we will certainly do so.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. MITCHELMORE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

It is no wonder this portfolio is being collapsed.

Mr. Speaker, in 1991, St. Anthony to the Port au Choix region lost the

northern tax deduction. Since then, my district population dropped 37 per cent.

Attracting lawyers and plumbers has been difficult, and two litres of milk

retails for up to $5.19. In January, I wrote the Minister of Intergovernmental

Affairs, copying all federal counterparts. The minister responded saying: Write

the federal Finance Minister.

I ask the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs: When will he do his job and

engage the federal counterparts to reignite the talks to reinstate this tax

deduction?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

PREMIER DUNDERDALE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker,

Mr. Speaker, one has to suffer quite a bit sometimes to do the job that is

required of us in public service, but the kind of disrespect that is again being

shown by the NDP through duly elected people and representatives of the people

here in this Province, Mr. Speaker, is unacceptable; absolutely unacceptable,

Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, one wonders these days if we are not operating in the twilight

zone. It certainly feels that way, as far as the Opposition parties are

concerned.

Mr. Speaker, in Question Period yesterday we had any number of questions

regarding federal responsibility being directed at the government. In the

meantime, we have a federal representative asking questions and commenting on

provincial affairs. Mr. Speaker, I wish they could get their respective roles

right.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. MURPHY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

In the Budget, consumers and motorists in the Province paid out close to $171

million in gasoline taxes this past year. The Finance Department Estimates this

year said that the department will collect about $176 million in gasoline taxes

for 2013-2014 year.

Can the minister please tell this House, why we are looking at a drop in road

maintenance and improvement considering that we have an increase in gas taxes?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. DAVIS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I thank the hon. member for his question. It is a matter that we had good

discussion on last night in Estimates. I will remind him, I advised him last

night in Estimates, we invest heavily in our roads and infrastructure in

Newfoundland and Labrador. This year, Mr. Speaker, we are investing over $170

million of Newfoundland and Labrador taxpayers' money in our infrastructure

right here in Newfoundland and Labrador.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. DAVIS: Mr. Speaker, not only are we doing that, but with that

funding, which is equivalent to the gas tax monies he is referring to, we are

also leveraging in excess of $70 million from the federal government that are

partnering with us in improving the infrastructure in our Province.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. MURPHY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Since 1997 government has collected close to $2.4 billion in gasoline taxes.

It is a few years, and a little bit of money. Consumers and taxpayers have not

seen that same degree of investment of provincial road money into roads over

that same time period.

Why doesn't government begin multi-year planning for the construction of

roads, the same as in Nova Scotia, that they do for construction? It is

transparent to taxpayers.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. DAVIS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, it is unfortunate the hon. member takes such a simplistic view

on the way that government has to operate.

MR. KENNEDY: (Inaudible) is simple, that is why.

MR. DAVIS: We have intensive demands in our Province, the Province of

Newfoundland and Labrador, throughout the Island portion and throughout

Labrador, and we continue to make significant investments.

He has failed to identify, as well, that gas tax funding coming to

Newfoundland and Labrador is filtered through our municipalities throughout the

entire Province, Mr. Speaker, so they can invest in their own infrastructure in

local communities throughout our Province, not only in urban Newfoundland and

Labrador but in rural Newfoundland and Labrador.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. KIRBY: A point of order.

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for St. John's North, on a point of

order.

MR. KIRBY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

We all appreciate the cut and thrust of Question Period, but while the Member

for St. John's East was having a question responded to by the minister a moment

ago, the Minister of Finance yelled out he is simple. That is obviously

unparliamentary language and not called for here in the House of Assembly, Mr.

Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Deputy House Leader, to the point of order.

MR. HUTCHINGS: Mr. Speaker, to the point of order.

There was nothing heard on this side. I am not sure, I will certainly leave

it to your discretion on what you heard, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER: The Speaker will review the tapes of the proceeding and

advise the House at a later time.

Presenting Reports by Standing and Select Committees.

Tabling of Documents.

Tabling of Documents

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

I am pleased today to table the Report of the Auditor General, the 2012

Update on Prior Year's Report, and his Recommendations.

The hon. the Minister of Natural Resources.

MR. MARSHALL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

In accordance with the Transparency and Accountability Act, it is my pleasure

to table the 2012 Annual Report for the Chicken Farmers of Newfoundland and

Labrador.

MR. SPEAKER: Notices of Motion.

Answers to Questions for Which Notice has been Given.

Petitions.

Petitions

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

MR. BENNETT: Mr. Speaker, 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 has been an agreement between the Federation of Newfoundland

Nation Band; and

WHEREAS persons submitted applications, with the required documents, for

registration in the band up to the application deadline of November 30, 2012;

and

WHEREAS the reported number of applications received by the Qalipu Mi'kmaq

First Nation Band are in excess of 100,000; and

WHEREAS the reported number of applicants now registered as members are

approximately 22,000; and

WHEREAS the agreement between the Federation of Newfoundland Indians and the

scheduled to end on March 31, 2013; and

WHEREAS the Qalipu Mi'kmaq First Nation Band Chief has requested, but has not

received, an extension to the agreement to process the remaining applications;

and

WHEREAS to date there is no decision on how to deal with the remaining

applications;

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

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

provide a fair and equal review of all applications.

As in duty bound your petitioners will ever pray.

Mr. Speaker, this is a very simple request by residents of this Province,

citizens of Canada, who are members who claim membership in a certain group of

individuals being a native band. The request has been made by the chief of the

The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is well positioned to make a

simple request to the federal government to move this file forward to provide

equity and balance so that the people who have already been approved, the ones

who wish to be approved, are treated in the same manner as those who have

already been approved. It is a simple request, Mr. Speaker. It does not cost the

government anything to do it, and it would be appropriate for the government to

do so.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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 the Regional Economic Development RED Boards diversify, grow, and

strengthen economies throughout the Province by providing training

opportunities, marketing advice, proposal writing, leveraging funds,

collaboration and other means; and

WHEREAS the federal government's decision to cut funding to the Atlantic

Canada Opportunities Agency, ACOA, is resulting in the elimination of funding to

the RED Boards and their termination in May 2013; and

WHEREAS 75 per cent of the operational funding for the RED Boards, roughly

$3.6 million is provided by ACOA, with the additional 25 per cent from the

provincial government; and

WHEREAS the Department of Innovation, Business and Rural Development, IBRD,

has millions in their suite of programming, some of which has poor uptake; and

WHEREAS just 1.5 per cent of the Business Attraction Fund of the Department

of Innovation, Business and Rural Development was used in the 2011-2012 year,

$366,800 of a $25 million budget.

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

commit to bridge funding in a 2013 Budget, which may come from the Business

Attraction Fund, to help preserve the RED Boards in Newfoundland and Labrador

who provide support to municipalities, communities, organizations, and

businesses.

As in duty bound, your petitioners will ever pray.

Mr. Speaker, this petition was signed by residents from Freshwater,

Placentia, and Dunville. They feel that regional economic development is very

important in their region, that their board was doing good work. It is very

important, with all the development that is happening in a region, to build that

partnership, to work with the municipalities.

If you look at the budgetary items in the Department of Innovation, Business

and Rural Development, they actually increased their overall budget. We were

talking a small sum of money when it comes to what they actually did in terms of

leveraging funds into the region.

I say my own district, the RED Board itself, through its own office,

leveraged over $13 million. That is a $10 million surplus over what the overall

operational cost was. That is a significant loss to any region, especially a

rural area.

There are some RED Boards that are going to be able to stay. They are working

through, but without a proper transition plan and cutting funding in such haste,

we are seeing a real impact as to what this means to rural Newfoundland and

Labrador.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Burgeo La Poile, but I remind you

there is only about one minute and twenty seconds so you might want to be very

quick.

MR. A. PARSONS: I will be very quick.

I have a petition here, Mr. Speaker, that I am not going to go through it

verbatim. It is regarding Employment Assistance services. I will say: The

undersigned, your petitioners, humbly pray and call upon the House of Assembly

to urge the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador to reverse the decision to

cut funding to EAS agencies in the Province.

As in duty bound, your petitioners will ever pray.

I appreciate the opportunity to speak about this important issue. We know

that this is an important issue. I know that the minister actually took the time

today to meet with individuals involved in this. From what I can gather, the

decision is going to stay final and we are not going touch this here, which is

unfortunate because I do believe there is a compelling argument there for us to

at least rethink what the decision is here.

The John Noseworthy report had some serious things to say about Employment

Assistance Services and I know that the AES employees out there are crying when

you call them on the phone because they have not been given instructions on what

they have to do yet.

Again, I will get an opportunity to speak more, but given it is Private

Members' Day I will take my seat.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Orders of the Day

Private Members' Day

MR. SPEAKER: This being Private Member's Day, I call upon the Member for

St. Johns' East, if he would address the motion on the Order Paper in his name.

MR. MURPHY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I am looking forward to this one. It is a good motion and I think that it has

been called upon several times in history.

WHEREAS the well-being of the people of Newfoundland and Labrador depends on

their ability to use reliable transportation links whether by road, air or

water to access employment, government services, and business, as well as to

foster cultural and social benefits; and

WHEREAS after ten years in power government has failed to properly develop

and maintain vital highway and ferry services in many parts of the Province; and

WHEREAS this government has failed to follow its own ferry strategy; and

WHEREAS the people of Newfoundland and Labrador continue to suffer from an

unacceptably large inventory of unpaved gravel roads, aging bridges, culverts

and highways; and

WHEREAS this neglect has resulted in the Canadian Automobile Association

listing five of eleven worst roads in Atlantic Canada as being found in our

Province;

THEREFORE

BE IT RESOLVED that this House of Assembly call upon government to

develop an advanced transportation strategy for road and ferry users.

This motion is also seconded by the Member for The Straits White Bay North.

Mr. Speaker, I am quite pleased to get up and speak to this motion today,

considering the amount of money over the last several years that has been dished

out by government and at the same time has been collected on behalf of the

taxpayer; the taxpayer deserves to see worth for money when it comes to the

monies that they are investing.

Over the last couple of years, of course, we have heard of various failures

or challenges that the government has put up with, has faced, in recent years,

particularly when it comes to ferries and ferry replacements. We know that a lot

of promises have been made when it comes to ferries and ferry replacement, so I

will touch on that for a little bit first when it comes to the importance of the

ferry issue.

When we are talking about the federal service, when we are talking about

Marine Atlantic, Mr. Speaker, and the lifeline that that provides to the Island

portion of the Province, we know ourselves that whenever we have a problem with

the Marine Atlantic ferry system government no doubt, consumers no doubt,

taxpayers no doubt, pick up the hue and the cry, particularly during tourism

season and how much of an impact a bad ferry or a ferry that might be down could

end up costing the Province.

It is interesting to note, too, the overall economic impact that having a

ferry go down mechanically or otherwise can cause the provincial economy at the

same time.

We had promises over the years for invoking a ferry replacement strategy, a

number of years ago. We know that our ferries are getting a little bit older. At

the same time, I think that the people of Newfoundland and Labrador have been

calling for a long time now for a more strategic investment in the ferry system

to ensure reliability of the same.

What could we do with building new boats here in the Province, Mr. Speaker?

The one thing that I think that we have talked about over the last little while

is the possibility that it can be used, for example, for the cornerstone of the

shipbuilding industry in this Province. We know that the shipbuilding industry,

of course, has had its challenges over the last several years, particularly when

it comes to other countries, in competition with those countries, and keeping

your own shipbuilding industry alive.

We have our yards here in the Province, variously sized different yards here

in the Province, that could end up dealing with the building of these boats. So

we know we have the ability then. If we have the product that is needed, we can

use that as a cornerstone to train our welders and train our shipbuilders into

doing other shipbuilding, for example, or even working in offshore yards and

that sort of thing, or even working in our offshore oil industries.

There is a benefit to having the ferries built here and having a strategy

behind ferry construction here in the Province. We know that government is

making a pursuit now, for example, to purchase ferries possibly from other areas

of the world. We think it is time to have a second look here and get back to the

idea of having ferries constructed here for that particular reason.

We need to have a look at that basically on the basis of the possibility that

we can develop a workforce, but also for the pursuit of making our economies a

little bit better. The more reliable we have our ferry system, the better the

chance of economic development we have in the areas that are also using those

ferries too. We can look at the dependability, for example, years ago that the

Island of Fogo had, and we know exactly what a good ferry means to them,

particularly when it comes to the crab co-op up there now.

We know there are opportunities out there and we know the ferry system,

rather than having its problems, if it was turned into something that was

workable and we have that strategy to back it up, we know there are areas of the

Province that can have a better chance at economic development. This is also a

program, not only for the Province as a whole, but it is a rural building

initiative at the same time.

You look at the age of some of the boats that are out there now, Mr. Speaker.

Some people will say that the cost of maintenance for these boats has gone

almost off the board. We saw the case with the Nonia now that is gone,

and I think that the Nonia was purchased in 1997. It is young by the

standard of some of the boats that we have in the provincial ferry fleet now.

Listen to some of the ages of some of the boats here now: the Sound of

Islay is about forty-seven years old; the Captain Earl Winsor is

about forty-four years; the Sir Robert Bond is hitting forty; the

Beaumont Hamel is thirty years old now, and it is hard to believe that one;

and the Winchester , of course, is forty-seven years old. Then we have the

government-leased ferries that are out there: the Apollo is about

forty-five years; and the Northern Seal is fifty years, Mr. Speaker

fifty years old.

I have to come back to the age of the ferries again, because it was the

Auditor General who spoke in 2000, as far back as 2000. The Auditor General said

at that particular time, that the ferry boats in this Province only had a rough

twenty-five years life expectancy. We are well past that now and it is time to

deal with it.

When it comes to a road strategy, I guess one of the areas we can look at, of

course, with the money that we are collecting and we can go ahead and talk

about the facts of population versus Nova Scotia, but I will talk about Nova

Scotia for a minute and what they have done. A five-year plan for the

construction of roads; what they did, they published their future road

construction projects on a Web site and it is transparent. It is there for

everybody to see.

Anybody who is living in a particular community now can go and visit that Web

site and look up their particular highway. It could be the 103, for example.

They can go in and look up Highway 103 and they can see exactly when road

maintenance is going to be done on that particular stretch of highway, or when

pavement is going to happen, or when a new road is even going to be constructed.

They have the foresight here to go ahead and develop a five-year plan.

Now, a five-year plan may not be workable to our government but it could be a

seven-year plan, for example, based on population. We do know that gasoline

taxes to pay for that have been rising every year since 1997. I think with the

exception of one year, back in 2003 was the only year that it showed a decline

by about $500,000 less than what was actually predicted in that Budget year.

We know we have an increasing source of revenue that we can afford the roads.

Again, in some years we have seen some good investment in roads. In other years,

for example, we have seen a drop off. Road maintenance in this Province last

year was $60.1 million. This year it is down to $59 million. We are short a

million dollars there in that particular road maintenance. Whether that is going

to be a realization that maybe maintenance is getting better, we do not know.

The simple fact is that road maintenance has dropped between budgets over the

last couple of years.

We also have a simple fact too, that if government comes out with a

transparent plan for road construction and when road construction is going to

happen, we can remove the whole politicization of roads. That has been talked

about before, that if you were a government member you had a better chance of

getting your road paved. If you were not a government member you were probably

going to have to wait for ten or twelve years. There is another benefit of

having a concrete road plan in place.

I know the minister is concerned with it. He has been dealing with the big

problem, as well as his staff here. I know he expressed the desire last night to

have that plan put in place. I am hoping his department will be going forward

and looking at that and developing a comprehensive road construction strategy,

as he said last night. Hopefully, he will go ahead and support this motion, as

well as other members of the House.

We all know, of course, the economic opportunities that good roads can

present. A good road in is also a good road in, for example, for the tourists.

Tourists are going to take a road that is being badly handled, or a truck driver

is not going to take a road that he is going to have to risk his vehicle and his

life assets over. He is just not going to do it. In some places you have this

chance again for economic opportunity to happen. With a new road going in, it

leads to opportunity as well. Again, I say the emphasis on tourism cannot be

missed in this particular case.

We have the simple example with statistics, for example, on the West Coast.

The impact of tourism over there is about $200 million in the run of a year to

the Province. I think we hit a billion dollar mark last year. We can do a little

bit better when it comes to visitors hitting rural areas. We have the potential

here, at the same time, for small businesses to flourish in rural Newfoundland.

We have the opportunity to get product in and out of Newfoundland.

When it comes to how bad our roads are, Mr. Speaker, we have no finer example

than what happened last year with the Canadian Automobile Association when they

had a little contest on. Out of the top eleven roads that were the worst in

Canada, we had amongst them five different roads that were in need of work, and

severely in some case. We had Route 360 to Harbour Breton. We had Milltown road

as well down there connected to the 360. We had 500 West-Central. We had

Elliston, Route 238, and we had Route 434 into Conche.

Some of these roads, Mr. Speaker, are in abysmal shape. I know of, for

example, the road in Elliston. There are potholes everywhere, pretty much small

rocks, not just pebbles but small rocks on the road. It may get graded but it

needs pavement, and it does. It is a lifeline cutting across the Bonavista

Peninsula.

Let's look at the economic opportunity again, Mr. Speaker. I would be remiss

if I did not talk about one opportunity that I heard about in Labrador last week

when I was up there talking to the Combined Councils of Labrador. This one came

about, I guess, as a result of probably the potential loss of an economic

opportunity to the Town of Cartwright.

Cartwright is a nice little town on Coastal Labrador. It has a deepwater port

and was recognized by one particular company that wanted to ship in product from

Europe, particularly when it came to the opportunity and participation of the

Muskrat Falls Project. I think government has to recognize here that this Dutch

company was actually looking at shipping in product, bringing it into an

ice-free port which happened to be Cartwright, deepwater.

The one thing it lacked was a good road system to bring the freight that was

coming into Cartwright into Happy Valley-Goose Bay. It was an eighty-five

kilometre stretch. With the potential of what could be happening in the Arctic

in the future, particularly when it comes to government's own pursuit of Arctic

opportunities that they talked about, here was a chance to take the Town of

Cartwright and put it on the map when it came to central development on Coastal

Labrador.

There are a number of opportunities that are out there, and there are a

number of reasons why we should have a road strategy. Mr. Speaker, roads and

ferry systems, it is good, hard infrastructure that government puts down. When

government puts that sort of thing in place, government tends to gain a lot of

support. Maybe that is symbolic of what has been happening in recent months.

Mr. Speaker, it is going to be a pleasure to get input from the government on

this particular motion, as well as the other Opposition party, the Official

Opposition, and hear their views on putting a strategy in place. We will take

all these views and weigh them against what we propose, and we will see what

happens.

I am pleased to open up debate on this particular motion today. It is going

to be a pleasure again to hear their views.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Terra Nova.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. S. COLLINS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

It is an honour to rise and speak to this motion today. It is always a

pleasure to rise. It is something that as a rural MHA is something near and dear

to my heart, the road system, because of course I use it every week. Unlike some

of the other members who go on tours every now and again and travel over the

highway, I do it on a weekly basis. So I am very familiar with it.

I cannot support this motion. Mr. Speaker, it has nothing to do with

partisanship or political colour, it all has to come down to facts. That is

something I would like to deal with here today is facts. I think what we see in

this motion is clearly rooted in non-factual political rhetoric. I would like to

address some of that. I am going to take the next fifteen minutes or so to go

over some facts.

Mr. Speaker, over the past ten years we have spent more than $1.6 billion to

build and improve major highways and roads in this Province.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. S. COLLINS: Including construction of bridges and expand core

infrastructure, $1.6 billion. Our Sustainability Plan for the coming years

builds on the work that has been done up to this point, and we will continue to

make strategic investments.

I am extremely pleased to say, Mr. Speaker, we have a busy year ahead of us

in 2013-2014 with $866 million in infrastructure projects planned.

AN HON. MEMBER: How much?

MR. S. COLLINS: Eight hundred and sixty-six million.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. S. COLLINS: Mr, Speaker, that certainly will not be in my district

alone. It will not be in any member's district alone. That is in every single

district. Forty-eight districts are going to avail of that, as they have since

2003 since this government has taken over.

I want to take a few moments to focus on our investments in all regions of

the Province in key areas such as roads, bridges, air, and marine services.

Investments we make in infrastructure, Mr. Speaker, have a power to drive

regional growth and diversification. Unlike the Leader of the Third Party who

would like to diversify the economy through homecare exclusively, we obviously

take a wider view of things. This, as I had said, certainly diversifies and

helps grow regional economies.

This has resulted in unprecedented levels of investment in road and bridge

infrastructure throughout our Province. So, I would like to touch down

specifically on some roadwork that has been done since 2003. Certainly, Mr.

Speaker, before we can criticize where we are, it is important to recognize

where we have come from. I know the members opposite do not like to look back

and see where we were a number of years back, but again, it is very relevant

because you have to take inventory of what you had when this government took

over and compare where we are to where we were. It is very important to do.

In 2003, Mr. Speaker, the government of the day said that we were proud to

allocate $23 million for a provincial roads program $23 million. They touted

it, actually; they were very proud of it. Now, recognizing, of course, that has

to be used for almost 10,000 kilometers of road. So if you spread that $23

million over, it is a skim, figuratively and literally, I would say, Mr.

Speaker.

I graduated high school back in 1996 and I worked at Terra Nova National Park

for the four summers following high school, so I got to interact with tourists

on a daily basis. It was then you get a perspective from people you are not

talking to people in your backyard, but you are talking to people from outside

the Province with a different perspective.

It was at that point that I can remember driving to work, Mr. Speaker, and

the best roads in the Province well, I can speak certainly from Central, East

were in Terra Nova National Park. The federal road was by far the best. There

was roadwork every summer, it seemed. Terra Nova road was always getting

upgraded; the provincial road, not so much. It was actually an embarrassment.

I can remember hearing from tourists from different countries, from different

provinces, everybody said: You have such a beautiful product to offer here in

Newfoundland and Labrador, but your roads are terrible. You expect us to drive

over them, obviously, to get to these beautiful parks, these gems that we have

here in the Province, but the roads were absolutely horrible. I heard that on a

daily basis.

I fast-forward to now. I can remember, distinctly, I was at a gas station in

Goobies gassing up last summer and I was speaking to a couple. I saw the

motorhome had an Alberta licence plate, so I was chatting to the person. They

were not residents of Newfoundland, but they drove down to visit St. John's,

actually, was their end destination. So I asked them how their travels were

going, all that kind of thing, and the one thing they commented on is your

highways are fantastic.

Of course, they got off the ferry in Port aux Basques and here it was in

Goobies I was talking to them, so they drove quite a few kilometers. That was

the one comment besides the beauty and those top-of-the-tree type messages

that they had talked about, the one thing they really specified on was the

conditions of our road network. They were able to comment on that because they

just drove across the entire country, say, British Columbia they left Alberta

and drove right across the entire country and the thing that they noticed was

our roads. I think that speaks volumes.

While it is fine to make commentary here, we have to look at this in a

broader picture. I heard the Member for St. John's East referring to roads in

Nova Scotia. I would kindly invite him to go on vacation in Nova Scotia; I was

there just a few short months ago. The roads are horrible, horrible, and then to

come back here and say we should be doing what Nova Scotia is doing. I would ask

the member: What is that, taking the pavement up on the highways here? Because I

can guarantee you, they are in no comparisons to the highways here what we have

in Newfoundland and Labrador.

This year we are investing, Mr. Speaker, a further $169 million, with the

addition of $77 million through infrastructure agreements with the Government of

Canada, again fostering that relationship and it pays dividends, a total

investment of $249 million this year for road, bridge, highway construction in

Newfoundland and Labrador.

AN HON. MEMBER: How much?

MR. S. COLLINS: A total investment of $249 million, which is a quarter of

a billion dollars.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. S. COLLINS: I went over some examples of this that many of the people

would be aware of here. Our government has made tremendous progress in the

construction of the Trans-Labrador Highway with a total investment of $450

million to date, almost half a billion dollars.

It was so refreshing to hear the member who used to sit here representing the

District of Cartwright L'Anse au Clair, it was so reassuring to hear that

member just a short time ago while campaigning federally, she was commenting on

the work that has been done on the Trans-Labrador Highway. She recognizes it.

She is hearing it at the doors. When she goes door to door, she is hearing it.

What a commitment by this government to Labrador, a commitment that was never

there in past Administrations I can assure you. The people of Labrador certainly

see that and they acknowledge it.

In Western Newfoundland, construction of a four-lane divided highway from

Massey Drive Interchange to the Corner Brook Industrial Access Road, and of

course, that is helping enhance the flow of traffic through that region. Then we

see major Trans-Canada Highway rehabilitation projects undertaken including work

near Stephenville and Gander.

Mr. Speaker, I would suggest if the Member for St. John's East does not see

the work himself because again we have to recognize the NDP is 80 per cent

urban; they are not rural focused. They have one member, their token member,

from rural Newfoundland and Labrador. I am extremely happy that he is there

because he can weigh in on a lot of the discussion within their caucus, but

obviously, it is not enough.

I would encourage if the Member for St. John's East is unsure about what our

investments have been or the construction and the condition of our roads, that

he would turn around and ask the Member for The Straits White Bay North.

I would like to ask the Member for The Straits White Bay North: What do

think was spent in your district over the past decade? So I got to looking. I

know the member is very fond of Google, but I said I cannot trust Google for

these numbers, so I went to the department and I asked the question. I said:

What was spent in The Straits White Bay North since 2003? Any ideas? Over $20

million.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. S. COLLINS: Mr. Speaker, this is the member who seconded this motion,

who is going to get up in a moment and criticize this government $20 million.

Now, I would say that was obviously due to a very strong member they had there

for a number of years, obviously, and I would hope to see that strength

continue. I would say the former member was a strong member. He sat on the

Opposition but, again, a very strong member. I would encourage the current

member instead of looking for headlines daily to perhaps focus on his district

and try to secure more funding there. It is very important.

Let us have a look now, Mr. Speaker, at Budget 2013, some specific examples

of what is being done and how the money is being spent because, again, it is

very important. This touches on every member in the House of Assembly: $59

million for provincial road construction projects; $43 million to complete the

last full season of paving on Phase I and commence widening and paving sections

of Phase II and Phase III on the Trans-Labrador Highway, as I said earlier;

$26.5 million to support several major Trans-Canada Highway rehabilitation

projects, as I said, near Stephenville and Gander; $20.6 million for the first

year of construction of the Placentia Lift Bridge, which I know the Member for

Placentia St. Mary's obviously is very proud of and so he should be; and over

$10 million to finish the CBS Bypass, continue construction of Team Gushue

Highway, and complete land acquisitions, and the member from St. John's would be

well aware of those.

So while I am talking about rural Newfoundland, and certainly I like to tout

those things being a member from rural Newfoundland and Labrador, the members

across the way should be very well aware of these types of things going on with

the CBS Highway. I am pretty sure one of the members there drives over it every

day. Team Gushue Highway, they see and drive over that every day.

There is $12.3 million to begin construction of the replacement of Sir Robert

Bond Bridge

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. S. COLLINS: which the Member for Exploits has worked hard on for a

number of years, and certainly that is coming to fruition. So congratulations on

that.

There is over $11 million in heavy equipment, highway depot, and salt storage

shed construction, very important for the type of climate we have here and for

passenger safety. Our government is receiving a further $77.6 million this year

to support many of these road and bridge construction projects: Little Barachois

Bridge; and E.S. Spencer Bridge, which is in my backyard and has certainly lived

its life. It is about ready to be repaired and is actually in the process now.

They have everything done up with the shadow bridge next to it, so certainly

that is something we are looking forward. Every single person who drives through

my district drives on that bridge. As many of these things we talk about, they

affect everybody, not certainly just the districts themselves.

Robinson's River Bridge is another one. These are all through infrastructure

about the co-operation we have and how that pays dividends.

Something else that is particularly near and dear to my heart, Mr. Speaker,

is the ferry strategy and ferry vessels in particular: $76 million for the ferry

vessel replacement refit work and improvements to the marine terminals and

wharves. It is something that is so important to me. As a member who has an

island that is accessed solely by vessel, that is certainly very important. I

know there are a number of members on this side, and I can speak for these folks

over here, that is something very important. Those people out there on the

islands, they deserve the service, and that is something we are providing.

Since 2004, this government has invested more than $185 million in marine

vessels, $185 million. The first two new ferry vessels built in this Province in

twenty years, Mr. Speaker, and the first of the two of our comprehensive vessel

replacement plan entered service in 2011. It was a proud day. I can guarantee

you it was a proud day when the Grace Sparkes and Hazel McIsaac

first entered service.

As the Member for Terra Nova and having the island of St. Brendan's there, I

can remember being down on the wharf with the then Minister of Transportation

and Works, who is now Minister of Environment. It was just like I do not even

know, it moved me almost spiritually it was that wonderful. I can guarantee you

there were a lot of smiles and applause that day.

We are talking about an island that had been neglected for years upon years

upon years, and they had finally gotten what they deserved. It was an extremely

happy day. I know I can speak for the member as well who received the other

ferry. It was a great day, not only for that island but for Newfoundland and

Labrador. To know they were built right here in our shipyards, again, fantastic.

Each vessel represents an investment of $27.5 million, and they invest in the

future of rural communities in this Province. That is a total investment of $55

million in new vessels constructed to date. Like I said, there is much more to

come. Our vessel replacement plan is progressing. A new acquisition, the MV

Norcon Oceanus through a contract with a service provider, is scheduled to

enter service on the South Coast of Newfoundland in the coming weeks.

Moving forward, our government recently called an RFP for the third new

forty-two-metre vessel, much like the Grace Sparkes and the Hazel

McIsaac . As well, we have called for the construction of a replacement

vessel for the Earl W. Winsor which operates on the Fogo Island Change

Island run. That is what we have done to date in advancing the ferry strategy.

When members say not much has been done, I would like to refer back to facts

as opposed to rhetoric because I can provide facts. If they would like to

question any of my numbers I would welcome them to because this is all factual,

all from the department.

We have renewed our commitment to new vessels and we are reaching out to find

new and innovative ways to provide the service to people so they can depend on

it. Challenges exist, Mr. Speaker. There is no doubt, challenges exist, but we

are facing those head on, unlike the former Administration.

I always have to talk about what they did when I talk about what we did. We

know what we did. We have built two new vessels. What did the former

Administration do? I do not know if anybody remembers the Nonia . The

Nonia is almost of legendary proportion and how that was just a ridiculous

purchase. I think they purchased it for $1.2 million. It took another

approximately $10 million to get it into service in six years. That was their

plan, this is our plan. Let's compare apples to apples. I would do it any day

and I can probably stand on our record when it comes to that.

I am going to take the last minute just to talk about some of the investments

in ferries. We will spend $81 million this year on ferry services to provide a

safe, reliable, sustainable ferry service in twenty-two areas in the Province,

utilizing seventeen vessels in the fleet. We will spend $76 million to advance

our vessel replacement program. Investments will include ferry vessel replace,

retrofit work, and improvements to marine terminal and wharfs.

A contract will be awarded for the construction of a new vessel for Fogo

Island and Change Islands, as I had said. A contract will be awarded for a new

swing vessel to support the overall fleet, which again is very important.

Obviously, all these things cannot be done overnight. These are huge projects,

but we are certainly moving forward on a lot of them.

Design work will begin for the new vessel to service the South Coast

communities on the Island. A request for proposals will be issued for the

development of a fifteen-year comprehensive passenger, vehicle, and freight

ferry service for both the Strait of Belle Isle and the North Coast of Labrador

again, investment into Labrador.

I am not from Labrador, I do not have many connections to Labrador, but I

stand very proud on the investments that we put into Labrador. It is a place

that gives so much, not only economically but culturally, to our Province as a

whole. They certainly deserve that respect and we are giving it to them.

So, Mr. Speaker, with that being said, I could go on for quite a bit more,

but I see my time has gone so I will take my seat. I look forward to other

comments.

Thank you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER (Verge): I recognize the Member for Bay of Islands.

MR. JOYCE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I will stand here today to speak on this private member's motion, and also

have the opportunity to have a few words on the private member's motion.

Mr. Speaker, I will be the first to admit, maintaining roads and bridges and

ferries in Newfoundland and Labrador is very complicated for any government.

Because of the number of roads, and because of our geography, and because of our

weather, it is a difficult decision.

I said to the minister last night first of all, before I go any further in

this private member's motion, I just want to acknowledge all the government

workers who work maintaining our roads, our bridges, and our ferries across the

Province because they do a good job, Mr. Speaker. They do a good job and they

supply a good service, and they keep our roads safe. So, before I go on, I just

want to recognize their work. Many times they go over and above to ensure that

our roads are safe so that we can travel the roads in a safe manner with some

comfort.

Mr. Speaker, as a rural member from out in the Corner Brook way, in the Bay

of Islands, I know the demands on all rural members about roads and maintenance,

and pavement. I know the demand is heavy, and I know a lot of times when we are

in Opposition or in government there are many calls to your office to try to get

extra things done for your roads, and repairs in some way.

Mr. Speaker, I was going to stand here today and put on the gratitude of all

the workers and a lot of people I would be the first to admit, there has been

a lot of money spent on roads. There has been some money spent on roads on many

occasions by this government, I do not deny that. I would never deny that. Are

they up to the standards that we should expect to maintain? No, I do not think

so.

The Member for Terra Nova, I did not want to get into partisan politics today

but I have to correct some factual statements that were inaccurate, Mr. Speaker.

When you look at 1993, I was working for the then Premier at the time. When

you look at 1993, the member said there was $23 million spent on roads in 1993.

AN HON. MEMBER: 2003.

MR. JOYCE: Sorry. In 2003 there was $23 million, this year there is $59

million, but there is a little fact that he forgets to pass on. Back in 2003 it

was $50,000 a kilometre. Today it is $350,000 a kilometre. That is the kinds of

things that I did not want to get into today but you just cannot let this go

unchecked because people might say, well, he said it and no one contradicted

him, so

MR. S. COLLINS: (Inaudible).

MR. JOYCE: The Member for Terra Nova, I did not say a word when you were

standing. Just because you are wrong here, that does not mean you have to go

over and just babble on. Sit down and you just take it. That is all. I did not

say a word to you.

I gave him the courtesy, Mr. Speaker, of saying it, even though the

information was factually incorrect what he was saying, because back in 2003

there was more pavement done then with the $23 million than the $59 million. I

did not want to get into that today, but I just cannot let this factually

incorrect information be put forth because people might think it is true. So,

Mr. Speaker, that is something we have to recognize.

I know the Member for Terra Nova is still over there. I just ask for the same

respect that I gave him. That is all I ask for, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, when the $5 billion infrastructure fund was put out, there is no

doubt, there is no one here, and I know it is not me, accusing that the money

was not spent. There is no one saying that. There is no one saying or anybody

saying there is any money that was misappropriated out of that $5 billion. I

want to get that straight.

I am not making any accusations here that the government is hiding anything,

but what the Auditor General said, and I have asked for on many occasions, was

the plan that the government had for the $5 billion. For whatever reason, it was

never released. Do you know why, Mr. Speaker? In my opinion, I do not think

there was ever plan. I think the money was there and you just take it

helter-skelter and spend as you see fit.

Now, $5 billion is a lot of money to be spent on infrastructure I admit

that but we need to have some kind of systematic plan so that we would know

what is being done, what is in the most severe condition, and we can take it on

bit by bit so that we can get the highest priority, wherever it is at.

Mr. Speaker, I have to go back here. I know the Member for Terra Nova wrote

back in 2003. I have to say this, Mr. Speaker, and if the Member for Baie Verte

were here at the time, he would recognize this. I remember the former Premier

Roger Grimes and we were in our caucus room, Mr. Speaker, and we were discussing

money for roads.

MR. S. COLLINS: (Inaudible).

MR. JOYCE: Can you please ask the Member for Terra Nova if you have

something to say, just stand up. You are acting like a child. You are actually

acting like a child. Let me speak. If you have something to say I gave you the

courtesy.

Mr. Speaker, Roger Grimes at the time and I remember the Member for Baie

Verte, Paul Shelley, came to us he said: Guys, the road to La Scie is absolutely

terrible. It is absolutely terrible. Can you help me out? I remember it plain. I

remember Roger Grimes again, some people who were saying: Boys, it is election

time. He said: Boys, it is unsafe. We have to put a million dollars on that

road. I remember that.

That is the kind of thing that we need to do is develop some kind of

structure, some kind of plan that we get the highest priority, whatever it is

at, wherever it is at. That is what we need to do, Mr. Speaker, is develop

something so that we can go back and check and see when the roads are done and

see the condition that they are in. That is how we are going to improve safety

and that is how we are going to improve the confidence of the people in

Newfoundland and Labrador about our politicians, myself included, that the money

is spent properly, it is spent in a proper manner, and it is not spent in a

political and a non-partisan way. That is what we need to do, Mr. Speaker. With

that, I will be the first to say yes, we need it done.

Mr. Speaker, the Trans-Labrador Highway again, I admit there has been a lot

of money announced for the Trans-Labrador Highway; there has been a lot of money

spent on the Trans-Labrador Highway. If you go back to the Auditor General's

report, if you go back again and you ask him for the plan for the Trans-Labrador

Highway back in 2011, he said there was no plan for it. Now, I admit there is a

lot of money that has been committed to it

AN HON. MEMBER: That was before the announcement.

MR. JOYCE: I hear the member saying before the announcement, but you have

to realize that is probably the third, fourth or fifth time the announcement was

made. That is what I am saying; it is the third or fourth time.

I go back to the hospital in Corner Brook; it was announced three or four

times. The Trans-Labrador Highway it was announced this phase, that phase. So

this is what we need to do, the Auditor General members opposite, again, it is

not me saying this; it is the Auditor General. Go back and look at the Auditor

General's report. It is not me; it is the Auditor General who is saying there is

no concrete plan.

I am not denying that there was not money spent. I am not denying that the

road is much better. I am not denying that.

AN HON. MEMBER: (Inaudible).

MR. JOYCE: I have driven most of it. I went up as far as Cartwright, a

bit beyond Cartwright.

I say to the Member from Labrador West, just relax. Just because you got

called out up in Labrador and you are a bit nervous, there is no need to be

nervous ever since. You can relax here now. I will not call you out like you

have been called out in Labrador and you buckled under. That is all I say to the

member.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

MR. JOYCE: I just find that when you bring up the facts, Mr. Speaker,

about these issues, the Auditor General, they get all sensitive. At any time you

say that things are not perfect, you get criticized. Even when you do give some

accolades, you are still criticized because you have to say everything is

perfect, but everything is not perfect everything is just not.

There has been a lot of work done; I will be the first to admit. I always

said it. I brought it up to the minister about twenty-four hour snow clearing in

some areas of the Province. I think we should have some way that there is call

in for everybody in this Province for twenty-four hour we do not need the

employees on if there is no snow, only if we know there is snow coming. The

people in the Bay of Islands who do not have twenty-four hour snow clearing

deserve the snow clearing just as much as the people leaving the Trans-Canada

Highway and going to Botwood.

The Trans-Canada Highway to Botwood has twenty-four hour snow clearing.

People who come off the boat, the 400 or 500 people in the boat leaving Port aux

Basques going out to Stephenville do not have twenty-four hour snow clearing.

Our access from Port aux Basques to the rest of the Island does not have

twenty-four hour snow clearing.

That is the kind of things that we need to discuss. Mr. Speaker, if you look

at the bridges, if you want to just look at some of the bridges. The Auditor

General's report, once again, Mr. Speaker, I am not trying to push the panic

button. I am not trying to say oh well, everything here is unsafe, all the

bridges are unsafe. They are not.

If you look at the Auditor General's report, we need a plan for the

inspection of the bridges. Because when you read the Auditor General's report

and you look at it, "a significant number of bridges along the Highway route

that had not had official inspections conducted in accordance with the

Departmental policy." only one.

"1 in 29 bridges did not have an official inspection for more than four

years; the remaining 28 bridges did not have an official inspection preformed

within the two year requirement the most recent inspections were conducted in

2009, with the previous inspections conducted three years earlier in 2006".

I am not pushing the panic button; I am just highlighting some of the

concerns. I totally understand the financial pressures of government to try to

satisfy all the needs. We sat with the minister last night and I have to give

the Minister of Transportation and Works credit; he was very upfront and honest

last night. He stayed until we asked every question well past the three hours.

That is the way we should work together. The minister and his staff answered

every question that we put for them last night, stay as long as we like, and I

commend the minister for that.

Vessel replacement that is another thing here. If the vessel program in

Newfoundland and Labrador is so good, why are we having so many concerns? One of

the best things I heard last night from the Estimates that we had with the

minister is that there is a new ADM for vessels in the Province of Newfoundland

and Labrador marine. This person has started more of a consultation process

with a lot of the towns, communication and that is good to hear. I

congratulated the person last night; we met him. Because there for a while, Mr.

Speaker, we had some issues with people getting their ferry taken away on

Friday, not knowing about it, and now there is communication.

Mr. Speaker, in 2003, guess what? It was promised to have a ferry replacement

done in eight years, built here in Newfoundland and Labrador the PC Blue Book

I have here, Mr. Speaker. With the PC Blue Book we are going to have a ferry

replacement strategy, built here in Newfoundland and Labrador. Since that, Mr.

Speaker, twelve years ago, eleven years ago, guess what? We have two built. Now

the rest is going outside of the Province only two.

I am definitely not saying that we should delay it if we cannot get it built

in Newfoundland and Labrador, but I think we should go with every option we can

to try to get them. Because of a disagreement down in Marystown that we cannot

get it done, we are going outside of the Province. Remember, the commitment was

made to have the ferries built and replaced in eight years. That is not me

saying that. That is what half the people across the room were elected on.

What we need to do if we cannot get it done, instead of coming up and

criticizing me for being part of the government who never did anything with the

ferries, let's explain to the people why we did not do it and set a plan out to

get it done. Everybody understands the financial realities of a government;

everybody understands that.

Mr. Speaker, in closing on this, I said on several occasions that what we

need is a plan for road repairs, road bridges, maintenance, and snow clearing.

We need a plan and we need to follow through.

Mr. Speaker, I am going to make an amendment to this private member's motion,

seconded by the Member for Burgeo La Poile. I will read the amendment:

"Replace the period following the word "users" at the end of the resolution

paragraph and substitute a comma (,) and the following words: "which

transportation strategy would consider including the following:

(

i) a rotating three year road development and maintenance strategy based on

need and economic development considerations open to comments and input from

municipalities and individuals;

(ii) a publicly accessible comprehensive geographic information system (GIS)

database of all provincial roads in the province reflecting their state of

repair and snow clearing;

(iii) revamping of the tendering process to allow construction to start as

early in the year as possible;

(iv) establishment of a Road Engineering Research Program."

Mr. Speaker, I put that motion in as a motion to try to strengthen our

commitments here in the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador so that people

will be more open and accountable to all the people in Newfoundland and Labrador

and that we have something that we can show that the people can go on. Mr.

Speaker, I present that as a motion.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

I have an amendment proposed by the Member for the Bay of Islands. The House

will now take a brief recess to consider whether the amendment is in order.

Recess

CHAIR: Order, please!

We have considered the amendment as put forward by the Member for Bay of

Islands, and the amendment is in order.

I recognize the hon. the Minister of Service Newfoundland and Labrador and

the Minister Responsible for Labrador Affairs.

MR. MCGRATH: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

It gives me pleasure to be able to stand here today and speak to this motion

that is put forward. I am certainly not going to support the motion because when

I read the motion, it is good for a vegetarian but there is no meat to the

motion for sure. As for the amendment to the motion, I certainly cannot support

the amendment because he used the word "strategy" and I have not seen any

strategy yet that worked that the Liberals put forward.

I am looking forward over the next fourteen and a half minutes, first of all,

to addressing some of the stuff that I heard from the Member for St. John's

East, and also from the Member for Bay of Islands. I am going to take the Member

for Bay of Islands on a little history ride back to 1997 throughout the next

fourteen minutes to remind you of what the government of that day, in 1997, when

we get into the Trans-Labrador Highway, and we will talk about the ferries then

and what they did with the money they had.

First, we have to talk about the Member for St. John's East. I hope if I am

wrong he will get up and correct me, but I heard the Member for St. John's East

talk about when you were in Labrador. I specifically remember when you were in

Labrador because it certainly was not an enjoyable visit for me, but we have

gotten over that. Hopefully, I will not get accosted again here today.

You talked about Cartwright, and the eighty-five kilometres of road going

into Cartwright. Then, if I understood correctly, the Member for St. John's East

talked about what a great economic opportunity it was to have, with the deep

water in Cartwright, a ferry service go into Cartwright and then transport stuff

to Happy Valley-Goose Bay. I hope I heard you correctly with the deep water in

Cartwright, and then we would have the ship go into Cartwright and then

transport things to Happy Valley-Goose Bay.

Now, I strongly recommend that the Member for St. John's East give himself a

little geography lesson, because in order to get into Cartwright you are going

to have to go to Happy Valley-Goose Bay, because it goes to Happy Valley-Goose

Bay first. That does not make sense to me.

When it comes to the eighty-five kilometres, this government, when you talk

about roads, we believe in building, and we believe in building it so that it

makes sense. So, before you can pave eighty-five kilometres and build a road

going into Cartwright, you need to finish building the Trans-Labrador Highway.

Now, the Member for St. Barbe is over there, and I am not going to waste my

time, as the Member for Bay of Islands did, announcing that the member is over

there. I see his lips moving and I do not imagine there is a lot coming out of

it, but we will leave that alone. The Member for St. Barbe is over there and he

should concentrate on his area, because then probably if he was working with

government and co-operating a little more, we could move some economic

development over that way.

I am going to get into the history of 1997, but I want to talk a little bit

first about stuff that is happening in Labrador. Then, as I am discussing that,

I will go back to 1997 when a deal was made with the federal government in the

ferries.

For the Member for St. Barbe over there, it was a Liberal government that

took $100 million. I will go back to the comparisons the Bay of Islands member

was making and we will talk about the $100 million that the government of 1997

took. They said we are just going to borrow that to balance a budget, because

they needed to win an election then. That $100 million never seemed to appear

again, and I can guarantee you that $100 million never, ever did see the surface

of the Trans-Labrador Highway, which it was meant for, and to keep the ferries

running. So that is $100 million.

I heard the Member for Bay of Islands talk about in 2003, how it cost $59,000

per kilometre for pavement back in 2003 and how today, a decade later in 2013 it

costs $350,000 a kilometre. Now, imagine in 1997 how many kilometres you would

have paved through the Trans-Labrador Highway had your money not been used to

balance a budget and used for what it was meant to be for.

I am not going to waste my time on that, Mr. Speaker. I want to talk about

some of the good things this government has done for Labrador, not what the

previous governments did not do for Labrador. I want to talk about the $4

billion that this government, since 2004, has invested in Labrador alone. This

government is about taking care of all of the Province.

We heard the Member for Terra Nova talk about some of the investments that

were made on the Great Northern Peninsula. This government is all about taking

care of all of the Province. We take care of the whole Province.

So let's talk about the $4 billion that has been invested in Labrador since

2004. Let's talk about the Trans-Labrador Highway when there was $450 million

invested from 2004 to today in the Trans-Labrador Highway. When we got the

Trans-Labrador Highway ready in 2007 for some pavement that is when we started

on Phase I. Often you hear about: well, this needs to be done for the

Trans-Labrador Highway. Why is Cartwright not done yet? What about Red Bay? What

about between Happy Valley-Goose Bay and Red Bay? What about coming up from

Blanc-Sablon to Cartwright and Cartwright Junction?

This government, from day one when we started to build the Trans-Labrador

Highway, we said it would be done in phases. I am very proud to say that in 2014

Phase I will be completed. In 2014 that should be all completed. This year

alone, in 2013, there is another $39 million being invested into Phase I of the

Trans-Labrador Highway. We all heard on January 13, in a partnership with the

federal government, $85 million more is going to be invested.

All of that said and done, one of the things that I have to give good credit

to this government for is that we do not go out and just say we are going to put

a tender out and then we are going to move forward. We realize the short seasons

that we have in Labrador. We realize that there is a smaller window than there

is on the Island portion of our Province.

What we do is we put out more than one tender at a time. For example, this

year we have two tenders that were just awarded: one from St. Barbe to the

Cartwright Junction, or from Red Bay, I should say, going up to the Cartwright

Junction; and another one which will be on the other end of that from the Happy

Valley-Goose Bay end going towards Cartwright, which will do widening and

culverts on the highway. The other one is, as I mentioned, the $39 million that

is going to be spent to complete the widening and the paving on the Phase I of

the Trans-Labrador Highway.

I can guarantee you I drive the road a couple of years ago I used to drive

it once a week. This past summer I used to drive it every day. When I was in

Labrador, I would drive every day the Trans-Labrador Highway for about

ninety-five kilometres. It was a pleasure to get in your vehicle and to be able

to drive on a paved highway.

I remember back in the late 1980s, early 1990s when you could only drive

twenty-two kilometres. Today, I heard the member and I asked him as he was

speaking the Member for Bay of Islands, you talk about a geography. He was

going on and on about the Trans-Labrador Highway. I asked him: Did you drive the

highway? His answer was: Yes, well I drove as far as Cartwright. I strongly

recommend that member get in his vehicle and drive the other 1,000 or 1,100

kilometres of the highway and learn what Labrador is all about.

remember when you were living in Labrador you wondered well, you could not

drive out of the highway, are you going to be able to fly out? If you could

drive so far, then you had to take a ferry.

Labrador, that this government in co-operation with private industry and the

are three airlines there right now in I am going to talk about Wabush first.

You have three airlines there. You have Air Canada, you have Pascan, and you

have Provincial Airlines.

From the Wabush Airport alone, we have thirty flights a day coming out of

Wabush Airport back and forth. One airline, Provincial Airlines, which I do not

mind saying, services all of the Island and destinations in Quebec, as well as

all of Labrador from the North Coast to Western Labrador.

Pascan takes you to Quebec, Labrador, and New Brunswick. Air Canada takes you

through Labrador and into parts of Quebec. We are no longer limited and the

word that I do not like to use; Labrador is no longer isolated. It is all

because of parts of the transportation system that this government has made

accessible to the people of Labrador.

Churchill Falls, you can drive out of there on paved road, may I say, to

you have three flights a week coming out of Churchill Falls. Churchill Falls,

week back and forth to get you in or out of Churchill Falls, plus you now can

drive. In Churchill Falls, you can leave and drive west and you can go right to

Island portion of the Province from there.

In Goose Bay, we have Air Labrador, we have Air Canada, and we have

Provincial Airlines. There is an average of forty flights per day coming out of

Goose Bay. When you think about it, that is over seventy flights a day that you

have access to in Labrador. I do not think that is too bad when it comes to

Then you get into the ferry system, and we hear a lot about the ferry system

and I compliment the Minister of Transportation and Works for the announcement

that he made a little while ago about the two new ferries that will be coming on

stream in 2016. We have been waiting a long time for these ferries. When the

ferries come on stream, when they are there, they are going to be ferries that

are designed and built for the access that we need on the Labrador Straits and

certainly on the North Coast of Labrador. Never on the North Coast of Labrador

yet have that had a roll-on/roll-off service; in 2016, they will have that.

I look now and I just checked a little bit to see how accessible are we to

get from the Northern Peninsula into Labrador and then how accessible is the

ferry service on the North Coast of Labrador. From Blanc-Sablon to Corner Brook

during the winter months and that is only recently that we have a year-round

service coming out of Labrador you have two trips per week, and then you have

two more trips per week that return from Corner Brook to Blanc-Sablon. So, four

days of the week you can access by ferry to and from Labrador; ninety-three

trips from Blanc-Sablon to St. Barbe; from St. Barbe to Blanc-Sablon, ninety-two

trips. If my math is right, that is 185 trips on The Straits, coming across from

the wonderful District of St. Barbe. I do not hear the member over there saying

thank you, but I am sure he would like to.

Then, on the North Coast, the North Coast gives you access from Goose Bay,

Rigolet, Makkovik, Postville, Hopedale, Natuashish, and Nain. It leaves on

Monday, arrives back in Goose Bay on Thursday, and it departs again on a Friday.

you think about it, again, I have to say $450 million to date that we have spent

on the Trans-Labrador Highway. This government certainly recognizes the people

Labrador and we will continue to invest in Labrador as long as we can.

I spoke briefly earlier about the tender calls in Labrador for the

Trans-Labrador Highway. What you are getting now is you are starting to see

one thing that I would like to mention; I only have a short while left when we

give our tenders now, normally a tender is done on a one-year basis. For the

Trans-Labrador Highway, what we have been doing is going with a two-year tender.

That widens the season for the construction season on the highway so that when

they shut down for one year, as soon as the road is accessible they have their

tender for the following year. The two-year tender is working and working very

well for the Trans-Labrador Highway. It is expediting the development and the

construction of the highway.

I can guarantee you, as the Minister Responsible for Labrador Affairs, and as

an MHA for a district in Labrador, I am very proud of what this government has

done for Labrador and I am sure that we will continue to do it.

Thank you very much.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

I recognize the hon. the Member for The Straits White Bay North.

MR. MITCHELMORE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I commend the Member for St. John's East for putting forward this private

member's motion, as advanced transportation networks are certainly key. I want

to also thank the Member for the Bay of Islands for putting forward ideas as to

what could be included in this type of strategy.

Mr. Speaker, transportation really is the cornerstone. It is the lifeblood of

all economic opportunities and other activities that come with it. There are

issues when it comes to access to markets, when it comes to transporting goods

and services, and also the movement of people. The challenges are certainly huge

when it comes to this but so are the opportunities, and no one is going to

discredit that. We certainly though, Mr. Speaker, have chronic ferry problems, a

large inventory of gravel roads, and aging and poor infrastructure.

In response to the Member for Terra Nova, I certainly do live in rural

Newfoundland and Labrador. I am very proud to call it my home. I am part of the

commuter economy, like so many other people. I travel on a weekly basis, 962

kilometres to my home in Green Island Cove. You add that twice, that is nearly

2,000 kilometres covering a vast stretch of the highway.

There are so many people in my district who are part of the commuter economy.

They are travelling over roads. It could be a gravel road, whether it is to

transport to work or to get services, and to conduct business as well. It is

quite a concern looking at where we are in the conditions of some of our roads

and the conditions of the ferries. We really need to look at them.

I want to say, just focusing a little bit first on my own district, as

members opposite like to say, how much money was spent there. Well, several

years ago the government rebuilt and realigned Conche Road, Route 434. It was

all prepared for a topcoat of asphalt, but it never materialized. After

expanding and spending basically $6 million of taxpayers' money to improve this

road, the return on investment really was for naught because the road now is

getting worn back to the bedrock. A lot of the cost to pave this highway right

now Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Transportation and Works has noted that it

will cost basically $4 million to pave this highway. It is a significant amount

of money.

The community itself has an economy with a fish plant that is operating. It

is at the heart of the French Shore. It has accommodations, it has a caf. It is

a very unique community. Last year, five kilometres of paving happened on this

road, but it did not happen on the gravel road.

As a member opposite said, do you know what they did? They ripped up the

asphalt. I guess somebody