March

23, 2009

HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS

Vol. XLVI No. 53

The House met at 1:30 p.m.

MR. SPEAKER (Fitzgerald): Order, please!

Admit strangers.

The hon. the Premier.

PREMIER WILLIAMS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, on Thursday, March 12 of this year, the people of Newfoundland

and Labrador, Nova Scotia, British Columbia, and indeed all of Canada, suffered

a profound and unimaginable loss. Cougar Flight 491 tragically went down off our

shores, taking with it seventeen lives. Lost that day were fathers, sons and a

daughter, brothers and a sister, uncles, friends and colleagues; and, while we

may have lost them physically from this earth on that day, they will never,

ever, be lost in our memories, in our hearts, and in our prayers.

On that final day, these individuals were doing what they did every other

day: going to work, performing their jobs, and providing for their families. It

was, I am sure, a day like most others. For one man it marked the beginning of a

new and exciting career. For others it was an unremarkable morning, and

commonplace after years of devotion to an industry they all loved. Little did

they know as they took off on that fateful flight that they were leaving behind

families and friends who would be left to mourn lives that were taken much,

much, too soon.

I cannot bear to think of the devastation and aguish of those who are left

behind. I cannot bear to think of their sadness and their pain. Yet, I know that

eventually, as time begins to heal those aching hearts, there will be left

behind a legacy of love from each of those seventeen precious individuals.

The people of our Province know all too well the dangers and the perils of

living from the sea. For centuries we have mourned the loss of our fishers who

were the pioneers of working from home in the most inhospitable of natural

environments. They know the hazards and the risks, and there are many families

of fishers who can relate all too well with the heartache of this tragedy.

Like true Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, those seventeen individuals

thought not of themselves when they went to work on March 12. They did not dwell

on the inherent dangers of earning a living from the unforgiving seas that

surround us. They were brave, they were courageous, and they will forever be

remembered in our hearts as heroes.

We will never forget them, and we will always keep in our thoughts and

prayers those who have been left behind.

And they left behind one miracle: one amazing individual who will be

remembered as the lone survivor in one of our most tragic offshore accidents.

Rob Decker remains to remind us of those we have lost, and to represent some

hope for the future in the most dismal of times. We wish him good health and a

complete and a fast recovery.

We also honour those selfless individuals who participated in the search and

rescue and recovery efforts, and pay tribute to their outstanding work under the

most trying of circumstances.

As we remember these brave souls who found their resting place in our seas, I

would quote portions of the famous poem Sea Fever by John Masefield:

"I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky; and all I

ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by" "I must go down to

the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life, to the gull's way and the whale's

way, where the wind's like a whetted knife; and all I ask is a merry yarn from

a laughing fellow-rover, and quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick's

over."

Those lost on March 12, 2009 were: Thomas Anwyll, Langley, British Columbia;

Peter Breen, St. John's; Gary Corbett, Conception Bay South; Captain Matthew

Davis, Holyrood; Wade Drake, Fortune; Wade Duggan, Witless Bay; Corey Eddy,

Sibley's Cove; Keith Escott, Goulds; Colin Henley, St. John's; First Officer

Tim Lanouette, Comox, British Columbia; Ken MacRae, Kingston, Nova Scotia;

Allison Maher, Aquaforte; Greg Morris, Logy Bay-Middle Cove-Outer Cove; Derek

Mullowney, Bay Bulls; Burch Nash, Fortune; John Pelley, Deer Lake; and Paul

Pike, Shearstown.

Mr. Speaker, I would ask all hon. colleagues and all present in the public

galleries to rise today to join us for a moment of silence in honour of our

fallen heroes.

[Moment of silence]

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

MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I certainly thank the Premier for his statement and for the beautiful words

he uses today to describe and offer condolences in the midst of such a tragedy

in our Province.

Mr. Speaker, all people in the Province remember in their thoughts and

prayers those men and women of the Cougar helicopter crash of 491, and their

families and loved ones who are left to mourn.

We, too, join with the many people who have offered their condolences in a

time of extreme heartbreak and devastation. We also offer our best wishes to

Robert Decker, that he may overcome the injuries he now suffers and move forward

to a full recovery.

This tragedy has touched all people of the Province and around the country.

Its impact has been felt in all regions of Newfoundland and Labrador as families

continue to pay personal and lasting tributes to those they have loved and lost.

It is also a reminder to many more families of the loved ones they have lost

to the sea. Whether it be the Ocean Ranger disaster, the Ryan's Commander

sinking, or many of the other tragic events that mark our history on the ocean,

Newfoundland and Labrador has paid the ultimate price for the rewards that we

reap as an island province rich in fish and oil. It is the irony of our

homeland, a place that can give so generously but claim so much more in return.

Today, Mr. Speaker, I want to acknowledge and commend the professional men

and women who participated in the search and rescue operations and recovery

operations. For many of them, this could not have been easy, as they searched

for coworkers and comrades. However, their work and their efforts are a source

of pride to us in Newfoundland and Labrador.

I want to acknowledge the support that was provided by the companies in the

aftermath of this tragedy. The extending of a hand and the comforting of family

did not go unnoticed or unappreciated by those that were impacted.

I acknowledge the religious leaders of the Province for the spiritual healing

that they have provided to the people at a time when it is greatly needed and I

am sure that they will continue to provide to those families for the many months

to come.

Finally, Mr. Speaker, I offer my deepest sympathy to all of the families and

commend each of them for the courage that they have shown in dealing with their

loss in what has become a very public issue. They themselves have been the

greatest support to each other. I admire them for the love and support that they

so readily gave at a time when their own pain was immeasurable. I have talked

with some of them and I do know that they are so appreciative of the kind words

and actions of the many people of our Province during this time of sadness and

grief. As we move forward, Mr. Speaker, I ask government to consult with these

families, to establish a proper memorial to remember the sixteen men and one

woman who lost their lives on Cougar Helicopter Flight 491.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the member for the District of Signal HillQuidi

Vidi.

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

I thank the Premier and the Leader of the Official Opposition for their

sincere statements. It is an honour to rise with them and to bring my

condolences to the families affected by the crash of Flight 491.

Our thoughts for the past almost two weeks have been with the families of the

seventeen workers who were killed in the accident, as well as with Robert

Decker, the lone survivor. They will continue to need all the support that we

and the community can offer them in this terrible time.

Many of us in the House have attended wakes and funerals of the deceased. It

was heart-rending to see the pain and sorrow expressed by families and friends.

It is very sad and tragic to have had another major accident related to our

offshore. We now owe it to the passengers and crew of everyone on that flight to

ensure that we find out what caused the failure of the helicopter. We also owe

it to their coworkers and to the many people either working in or supporting the

offshore oil industry in our Province. We have to be able to assure them and

their families that everything about their workplace is as safe as it can

possibly be.

The offshore workers and their loved ones need to know that continuing to

make the choice for the offshore will be something that they will not regret

down the road. We also need to offer some comfort to those left behind from the

crash of Flight 491, that the death of their loved ones is not in vain, that we

never take for granted that everything is safe and under control, and that the

crash of Flight 491 will teach us many lessons that will make the future of

safety in the offshore the number one priority of all who have responsibility

for this industry: government and regulators, and those who run the operations.

I feel confident that all of us will be ready to work together towards this goal

as we all move forward from this disaster.

I would like to say one thing, I think, very personally: the fact that there

was actually a family for whom the loss was a second person, because there was

one man whose brother was on the Ocean Ranger, and we never want this to happen

again - none of us - I know that.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

Statements by Members

MR. SPEAKER: The following members' statements will be heard: the hon.

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

District of Bay of Islands; the hon. the Member for the District of Cartwright-L'Anse

au Clair; the hon. the Member for the District of Mount Pearl North; and, the

hon. the Member for the District of Bellevue.

Before I recognize the hon. the Member for the District of Port de Grave, I

ask all members to join with me in welcoming a new Page to the House of

Assembly; Ms Rebekkah Sheppard will be joining us for this session of the House

of Assembly.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. BUTLER: Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute and extend

condolences on the passing of a former MP and a Member of the House of Assembly.

Born at Upper Island Cove, the late John H. Lundrigan was truly a colourful

politician at both the provincial and federal levels of government.

John Lundrigan was the Member of Parliament for the riding of Gander-Twillingate

between 1968 and 1974. While in Ottawa, he served as the critic for Employment

and Immigration. One year after exiting from federal politics, he represented

the District of Grand Falls-Buchans. He served as Minister of Industrial

Development, Rural Development, and Public Works and Services in the government

of former Premier Frank Moores. He retired from provincial politics in 1979. In

private life he was a businessman and a teacher.

He was a dedicated and committed worker, not only to the people he

represented but the Province as a whole. He was a very colourful and vocal

individual. I remember the day, Mr. Speaker, his persistence brought on the

infamous "fuddle-duddle" comments.

I had the opportunity to work with Mr. Lundrigan in construction, and I can

honestly say he was truly a man of his word.

On Sunday, March 8, 2009, I was honoured to join with Premier Williams, Mr.

French, the MHA for Conception Bay South, and yourself, Mr. Speaker, as well as

hundreds of others, in a service of thanksgiving.

I will end with this quote from former MHA Mr. Bill Callahan, when he stated,

"It takes skill and work to be a good MHA; John Lundrigan had that in great

measures."

Mr. Speaker, I ask all hon. members to join me in expressing deepest sympathy

to the family of the late John Lundrigan, truly a credit to this hon. House of

Assembly.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. LODER: Mr. Speaker, I rise today in this great House to recognize a

young lady by the name of Melissa Taylor, a resident of Summerside, Bay of

Islands.

Melissa is a Grade 6 student attending Templeton Academy at Meadows. This

talented young lady entered the Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador

2009 Heritage Day Poster contest with her painting entitled, Blanchard

Fishing Premises in McIvers . There were 450 students from Kindergarten to

Grade 12 from thirty-four schools competing.

Mr. Speaker, on February 16, 2009, I had the honour of participating in the

Heritage Day Awards celebration here in St. John's, at which time it was

announced Melissa was the overall winner of the poster contest. This was a proud

day for Melissa, her parents, and in fact the entire school.

I would ask all members here today to acknowledge the success and talent of

this young lady, Melissa Taylor.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for the District of Cartwright-L'Anse

au Clair.

MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I rise in this House today to pay tribute to the amazing feat of Michel

Andrew of Sheshatshiu, Labrador, who just spent five weeks in the Labrador

wilderness walking to raise awareness around diabetes.

Mr. Speaker, for Michel Andrew, known as Giant, his 300 kilometre walk

through Sheshatshiu to Natuashish began with a dream involving his grandfather,

who was known to help others. In his dream he was walking with his grandfather,

breaking trails for others, and he knew that his dream had a message. His

reaction was immediate, "I want to walk to create awareness about

diabetes," he said, and so began the planning of his personal journey.

Mr. Speaker, his journey continued for five gruelling weeks through storms

and rugged terrain, and as he made it further north his fan base grew. Giant has

received attention across the Province and country for his walk. He has met

diabetes survivors and sufferers along the way. He became not only an

inspiration for those suffering from diabetes but also to his fellow Innu, as he

set out to complete a journey once familiar to their own ancestors and

grandparents.

He was met by many supporters in the communities along the way and attended a

supper held in his honour in Hopedale. His journey ended in Natuashish with

nearly 400 people on hand to greet him.

Mr. Speaker, I had hoped to be in Natuashish but unfortunately due to

circumstances I could not attend, but his hometown of Sheshatshiu also held a

day and night of events to honour Michel's Giant accomplishment.

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

Michel Andrew and his extraordinary journey to raise awareness around diabetes,

especially diabetes in our aboriginal people, and to connect to his ancestral

history of the Innu people of Labrador.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KENT: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I rise in this hon. House today to recognize the Mount Pearl Sports Alliance

and those athletes and sports organizations recognized at the recent Recognition

and Achievement Awards Ceremony held at the Mount Peal Glacier.

Mr. Speaker, it is very important that we encourage our young people to

participate in sport. Not only are good habits of exercise and fitness important

and essential for overall good health, but the benefits from the socialization

for youth who participate in team sport and athletic organizations are

significant as well. Organizations such as the Mount Pearl Sports Alliance

assist in ensuring that children are given the opportunity to be active, and are

recognized for their achievements in sport. This recognition is oftentimes the

driving force behind keeping kids interested in athletics and physical activity.

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

Mount Pearl Sports Alliance in recognizing the hard work of these individuals. I

would also like to congratulate specifically, as achievement award winners -

Campia Gymnastics and the Mount Pearl South Summer Games Swim Team, Daniel

Kelloway, Keely Whitelaw, and Krista Burton. Recognition Award recipients

include Sarah Slaney, Shawn Morrissey, Nicole Chan, and Sarah Squires.

Congratulations once again to all award recipients.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. PEACH: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I stand here in this hon. House today to express the gratitude of the Town of

Southern Harbour for the new addition to their fire fighting services, a brand

new fire emergency truck.

The Fire Chief of Southern Harbour was presented with their new truck on

February 13 of this year. The new ride replaces a 1974 Chevy pick-up truck they

were using.

The Southern Harbour Fire Department currently has twenty-three members who

are very active, and they are still recruiting new members. This department

actively responds to regional calls from Little Harbour to Arnold's Cove,

including calls of the Trans-Canada Highway, along with dealing with emergency

calls from their own hometown of Southern Harbour.

I ask that this hon. House join me in congratulating the Fire Department of

the Town of Southern Harbour in their hard work and dedication in attaining this

new fire truck.

Thank you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: Statements by Ministers.

Statements by Ministers

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Human Resources, Labour and

Employment.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS SULLIVAN: I rise today to inform this hon. House that the provincial

government has officially proclaimed March 21-27 as Multiculturalism Week for

the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador.

March 21 was chosen, Mr. Speaker, because it is designated by the United

Nations as the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

March 21, 2009, also marks the second anniversary of the launch of our

provincial immigration strategy.

Mr. Speaker, the provincial government views increased immigration as a

partial solution to the skill shortages and demographic challenges faced by our

Province. That is why we announced an immigration strategy and committed $6

million over three years.

Considerable progress has been made in the implementation of our immigration

strategy since its launch in March of 2007. Most notably, the Office of

Immigration and Multiculturalism has been established with thirteen permanent

staff, including a Settlement and Integration Consultant on the West Coast. In

June 2008, the Province launched its Policy on Multiculturalism, which

recognizes that diversity leads to creativity, innovation and economic growth.

Mr. Speaker, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is committed to the

promotion of inclusive citizenship, welcoming communities, and a society where

the cultural diversity of all people is valued, supported and enhanced.

This is why we proclaimed a week of celebration that fosters a greater

understanding and respect for the contributions of all of our cultures. Mr.

Speaker, it is our hope that Multiculturalism Week will further establish

cultural diversity as a key strength of Newfoundland and Labrador, and I am glad

to recognize a number of people present in our gallery today who have enriched

our Province by making it their chosen home.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS SULLIVAN: To make our first Multiculturalism Week even more special,

our Office of Immigration and Multiculturalism, through its various

partnerships, has organized a series of special events called Together, We Rock:

Celebrating Multiculturalism Across the Province.

I encourage everyone to attend the many potlucks, cultural nights, meets and

greets, and other events organized by community groups throughout the Province

as part of the Together, We Rock festivities.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to conclude by congratulating our Office of

Immigration and Multiculturalism, and all of their partners for organizing such

a wonderful tribute to the people who have chosen to build new lives, new homes

and new futures here in the great Province of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. BUTLER: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I want to thank the minister for an advanced copy of her statement and to say

we, too, want to join each and every individual in this Province in taking part

from March 2127 in Multiculturalism Week here in our Province.

Mr. Speaker, we all know the benefits by having people come to our Province.

I can speak very freely on individuals that I know who have moved to the

district that I represent, Mr. Speaker. I understand - it is wonderful for each

and every one of us to be able to come together with those people and to make

this place a better place for us all here in the Province.

I was very intrigued by the slogan, I guess, Together, We Rock: Celebrating

Multiculturalism Across the Province. Yesterday, I did not get an opportunity to

get to it but I understand there was a wonderful event at The Rooms. One of our

staff members was in attendance. It was a wonderful occasion to see immigrants

becoming Canadians, and the wonderful displays and the dancing that took place.

I understand that one of the unique things was to see Newfoundlanders join

Asians, South Americans and people from all around the world to take

part in a

dance I think it is from the movie Slumdog Millionaire .

I want to say to them, I welcome them here to the hon. House and it is truly

wonderful to see those people coming to our Province to help make this place a

better place to live. Together, we can all come together and bring an end to

racial discrimination.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

Vidi.

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

I, too, thank the minister for the advanced copy of her statement. I am

really pleased to respond, especially as the granddaughter of a family of

first-generation Newfoundlanders - they were Newfoundlanders by the way, they

came at the turn of the twentieth century.

What the ministry is doing now for the new people coming to our shores is a

far cry from what my grandparents and their children received when they came. It

is wonderful that we are at a point in our life in this Province that we are

putting more financial support and practical support into services for

immigrants who are choosing to come here.

Last year, the Multicultural Women's Organization attended a diversity

conference, it was in the fall actually, and there were some things that they

pointed out at that conference, and I just say it here now because we heard it

from them. While we are doing well, they would like to see more money going into

more to do that way. They also would like to see more assistance to

professionals to practice their profession in this Province and ensuring that

they remain here in this Province and not find opportunities outside of the

Province. The third thing we have heard from them is that there is a level of

violence against women and children, immigrant, newcomer women and children, and

they need support and increased programming for that area. I know the minister

will take these things seriously from the Multicultural Women's Organization.

Thank you.

MR. SPEAKER: Further statements by ministers?

The hon. the Minister of Labrador Affairs.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. HICKEY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the competitors of the annual Cain's

Quest snowmobile endurance race that took place in Labrador from March 14 to

March 21.

The race is a two-person snowmobile competition where entrants negotiate a

2,300 kilometre off-trail, ungroomed areas of Labrador wilderness. I was pleased

to see that this year, of course, the course went into Northern Labrador Inuit

communities of Postville, Makkovik and Rigolet, truly making this a pan-Labrador

event. As well, I am pleased to note that the Nunatsiavut government was also a

sponsor in this year's event, and we look forward to their future

participation.

Mr. Speaker, this race, with its international cast of players, could not run

by itself. The Williams government, on March 13, announced a substantial

investment of some $90,000 for the event, which we are proud to support both as

a tool for economic development and a celebration of the Labrador culture and

lifestyle.

Now in its third year, Cain's Quest is garnering a reputation as the most

challenging snowmobile race in North America. Through rugged and relentless deep

snow, thick forests, and over treacherous moving waterways, teams travel for one

goal: to be the fastest across the finish line.

This is a race that draws international attention. This year observes from as

far away as Norway looked on as racers from Canada and the United States took

part. I was particularly pleased to see so many teams from Newfoundland and

Labrador, including two teams from Natuashish, with Mark Nui, Grand Chief of the

Innu Nation, taking part.

Mr. Speaker, it was Jacques Cartier who is said to have described Labrador as

"the land God gave to Cain." He could not have been more wrong.

Labrador is a beautiful, rugged and vast expanse. Geographically, it is larger

than Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and the Island of

Newfoundland combined. Even today, much of the land and waterways of Labrador

has been seldom touched by humanity.

Mr. Speaker, it takes tremendous courage and dedication to organize and

compete in Cain's Quest. The entire organizing team of officials and

volunteers, including the White Wolf Snowmobile Club and the Grand River

Snowmobile Club, and the racing teams, should be commended for once again

pulling off an exciting world-class event.

Mr. Speaker, I ask all hon. colleagues to join me and congratulate the

first-place team of Tim Lessard and Eric Hall, Cain's Quest champions for

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I certainly want to acknowledge Cain's Quest, which has become a very

prominent event affiliated with tourism and culture in Labrador, and which has

grown to be probably one of the most challenging snowmobile races to exist in

the eastern seaboard, and we have been able to draw attention not just from

around the Province but across the country and from the United States.

Mr. Speaker, we are pleased that government continues to support such events

like this in our Province. Not only does it promote the culture and heritage,

and draw awareness to our Province and the communities in it, but it also gives

us an opportunity to promote ourselves in ways and to people to whom we would

not normally have access.

There were sixty competitors in this particular event that competed for over

$62,000; and it was not any cakewalk, or I should say any pleasure ride. When

you are talking about going through 2,300 kilometres of wilderness in Labrador,

battling against the climate, such as snow and wind and storms, over ungroomed,

rugged terrain, it cannot be easy, and I am sure that many of these riders will

tell you that.

Of the sixty participants, Mr. Speaker, I think they all had a good showing.

There are always going to be factors that will cause you to have interruptions

and have to back out of the race, because safety has to be first and foremost,

but I certainly want to commend the organizers of the event, the people in the

local area and throughout Labrador, and also to commend the people who won from

the State of Maine: Tim Lessard and Eric Hall. Mr. Speaker, they

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

I ask the hon. member to conclude her remarks.

MS JONES: I will, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

They outran three other teams that were very near competitors of them, to be

able to win the race.

I remember one of the quotes that Mr. Lessard made after the race was over.

He said he had been on snowmobile then for about sixteen hours; they were hoping

to get into Postville, and he never thought they were going to make it.

I think these are the kinds of things that will give you a good feeling for

what these snowmobilers went through, to take on this endurance. Certainly,

congratulations to all of them involved.

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

Vidi.

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

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

I, along with the minister, actually, and the Leader of the Official

Opposition, were all at the Combined Councils of Labrador when Cain's Quest

was on the go in Labrador last week, a whole week ago. It is the second time I

was in Labrador. Two years ago I was there also when Cain's Quest was on, so I

am aware of the great excitement surrounding this race in Labrador, and the fact

that these teams will take on 2,300 kilometres in Labrador, in some of the

harshest weather and environment.

I remember the first year I was in Labrador and I was speaking to one of the

mothers of a team and she was not that excited about it, but the community is. I

do want to congratulate all of those who participated, as well as the team that

came first: Tim Lessard and Eric Hall.

I think Cain's Quest is a tremendous example of the great spirit that

exists in Labrador - spirit in the community. I have been lucky enough over

twenty years now to be going back and forth to Labrador for various reasons, so

I would like to use this as an opportunity to say to people out there on the

Island: If you have not been to Labrador and you want to find a good place to go

for a holiday, think about going to Labrador. There is a lot to learn when you

go there.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER: Further statements by ministers?

Oral Questions.

Oral Questions

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

MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Premier today.

Mr. Speaker, Justice Margaret Cameron recently delivered a report into the

faulty breast cancer scandal that has been ongoing in the Province. It was a

damning overview of the problems that can occur when the appropriate leadership

and accountability are not present in our health care system. There were sixty

recommendations made by Justice Cameron.

I ask the Premier today: Has government developed an action plan with

timelines as to when the entire report will be implemented? If so, can that

information be tabled in the House of Assembly so the public is made aware of

it?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. WISEMAN: For the member's benefit as well, Mr. Speaker, I want to

acknowledge that government already released that report back the first part of

March. In fact, I have a copy to be tabled in the House for members present

today.

There are, as she has indicated, sixty recommendations in that report. In

fact, many of them, Mr. Speaker, have already been actioned. We have, over the

last two years, made some significant investments in our health system, and many

of them are targeted towards the issues that are identified in those

recommendations.

I can tell the member opposite, and the people of Newfoundland and Labrador,

that the government has already made significant investment towards those sixty

recommendations, so many of them are well underway.

With respect specifically to the question she asked with respect to an action

plan, I should be in a position, before this session is concluded, to table in

this House the action plan that she has referenced. Many of the initiatives

identified in that recommendation have not only been actioned prior to that, but

some of the new ones we have already started to work on in the last couple of

weeks.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MS JONES: I thank the minister for that response.

Mr. Speaker, government has also had a number of weeks to review the report

since it has been release to the public, and I ask the Premier: Has government

costed these recommendations? If so, can you table that information as well, so

that we have an idea of what the cost factors are to implementing all of those

recommendations?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. WISEMAN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Some of those recommendations in there, as I have said, because we have

already actioned them, we have some costs pretty well nailed down. Some of the

other ones, we have some tentative figures and some order of magnitude of what

it would be, and we would be only too glad to share those with members of the

House, but the ball park we are talking about is around $100 million.

I think the figures that we worked up are some $98 million, as a preliminary

estimate of what some of those costs might be. There are a couple of areas where

those figures may be a bit soft because they are forecasts because we need

to get some additional information.

The member opposite might recall that some of the recommendations call for an

independent review to come in and look at a couple of aspects of the operation.

Until that review is concluded we will not know for certain what might come out

of those, but that is the order of magnitude that we are talking about and I

would be only too glad to share it with members of this House.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Justice Cameron also identified the need for more staffing positions within

Eastern Health and in the other four health authorities.

I ask the Premier: In total, how many new staffing positions will need to be

added at Eastern Health and in the other health authorities, and when can we see

the recruitment of those positions starting?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. WISEMAN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

That is one area where I am very pleased to be able to say that we have

already taken some action.

Over the last two budgets, Mr. Speaker, we have made significant investments

in our lab services, not only in Eastern but throughout Newfoundland and

Labrador, and I will be only too glad to table those new positions that have

been created in the labs and the associated costs with them.

In terms of the recommendations of what it might mean for additional staff in

the future, some of those adjustments have already been made and we forecasted

what new ones we will need to add for this year. Some of the other pieces

growing out of - the implementation, for example, of the new accreditation

process, until we get further advanced in that process we will not be able to

tell you exactly how many people we will need but again, we have an order of

magnitude. I will be only too glad to share with her those numbers that we have

already created and those that we are forecasting to create over the course of

the next year or two.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Justice Cameron also outlined the need for a crisis management plan to be

developed that will help staff deal with and address the problems in our health

care system. She asked that this be one of the first items of priority.

So I ask the government today, have you developed a crisis management plan or

is one in the process of being implemented or developed by the department?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. WISEMAN: The member opposite might recall that in addition to calling

for this inquiry in the first place, our government commissioned a task force,

put in place a task force to look at adverse events, and as a result of the work

of that task force, we received a report late in 2008 that outlined for us how

health authorities would react in the event, if there is an adverse event or

critical incident within their organizations and what might be their response,

how might they communicate that, how might they report it and document it. That

will form a piece of the crisis management recommendation that Justice Cameron

has included in her report and it is a piece of work in progress.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The problems that were outlined in this report were meant to deal with breast

cancer testing in particular, but we all know that this is just a tip of the

iceberg in terms of looking at some of the challenges that exist within our

health care system. However, we all know that there are many problems that were

discussed in this report that can be expanded to those other sectors of the

health care system.

I ask the government today: Will you be expanding the findings of this report

to look at how you address problems in other areas of the health care system as

well?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. WISEMAN: One of the underpinnings of this report, if you look at the

inquiry itself and all the testimony that we heard throughout that period of

time, and pretty well anybody who testified during that period and the

recommendations themselves imbedded in the body of the report, the whole theme

that runs through is quality; quality improvement initiatives, focusing on

quality, focusing on monitoring progress, reporting progress, picking up on

adverse events that may occur and putting in place corrective action.

I think I can say to the member opposite, the general thrust of that

Commission's report and some of the commentary we heard which focuses on

quality, I would agree that is a belief, a philosophy, a mindset and an attitude

that needs to be entrenched throughout our entire system, not just in our labs,

but our health system overall.

I can assure the member opposite and the people of Newfoundland and Labrador,

that focus on quality improvement will continue to be our primary consideration

as we move forward to continue to invest, enhance and improve our Province's

health system.

MR. SPEAKER: Order please!

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Patients are still waiting to be compensated for the problems that they have

faced as a result of this scandal in our health care system. We know that HIROC,

Eastern Health's insurance company, is willing to compensate some but not all.

Patients have argued that their mental anguish alone should include them in any

settlement.

I ask the Premier today: What is government doing now, or will do in the

future to look after the patients who HIROC is trying to exclude from any

potential settlements?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. T. MARSHALL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The court action is against Eastern Health, which is a separate corporation

and has its own legal counsel, but obviously, the Department of Justice would be

available to join in a review of the liability issues and any potential

settlement that might be involved.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MS JONES: Mr. Speaker, the Premier has continuously stated that patients

should be compensated, but I have to ask: What is government willing to do about

it?

As you know, there is a precedent to deal with situations such as this. Under

the Tobin government, in 1996, they did move forward to compensate victims of

Mount Cashel and to alleviate further pain and suffering for them and their

families.

I ask the Premier today: Will government commit here to compensate any

patients and families who may be excluded from compensation by Eastern Health

and by HIROC?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

PREMIER WILLIAMS: Mr. Speaker, I am very familiar with the Tobin

compensation that took place. I was actually involved in a law firm that was

involved in that particular process. I cannot give you the exact timeframe or

the duration of that process but that took several years. It may have taken

I could be off - as much as five to seven years. It was a lengthy inquiry that

took place, then after that there was a legal process. Court actions were

issued. The questions of liability had to be determined and then subsequent to

that, there was a whole question of a portion of damages.

So there is a fairly complicated process that has to take place. As a

government, we need to allow that to take place. There is a question here of the

liability of HIROC, there is a question of the liability of insurers for some of

the doctors and then there is a question of degree of damages for people that

have been harmed by somebody's wrongful action or negatives. So we have to

allow that to take place in order that damages can be ascertained, and that is a

process that we would allow to happen and be observers in that process. If we

can be facilitators by providing information in any way possible, we would only

be too delighted to do so.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

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

Madam Justice Cameron also made recommendations suggesting that legislative

changes ought to be made, changes involving apology legislation, regulation and

licensing of medical laboratory technologists and the Evidence Act.

I ask the Premier: Will we see any of that legislation during this session of

the House of Assembly?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. T. MARSHALL: Thank you Mr. Speaker.

As the hon. member mentioned, Madam Justice Cameron, the Cameron Report did

recommend I think it was recommendation 56 that there be apology

legislation passed and the Task Force on Adverse Health Events also, in one of

its recommendations, recommended the same thing.

Our government has been looking at the legislation of the six jurisdictions

in the country that do, in fact, have that legislation, as well as jurisdictions

in the United States and Australia, and those consultations and that

investigation will help inform the government as it makes a decision on how to

move forward.

I can tell hon. members that that legislation is under very accurate review

by government at the present time.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. KELVIN PARSONS: Thank you.

I wonder if the minister could be more specific. It is suggested that we

should be able to do this in a timely fashion and we did, after all, take

Abitibi Bowater in an afternoon. I do not think it is rocket science to think

that we might get these changes made, which are fairly straightforward, by the

end of this session, which is May 24.

Can the minister commit to having something done in that time frame?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. T. MARSHALL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I have been in this House long enough to know that you do not commit to

anything until you know you can exactly do it. I can assure the hon. member that

we are working

AN HON. MEMBER: (Inaudible).

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

MR. T. MARSHALL: - that we are certainly working on this. We are

examining quite carefully the proposed or the recommended legislation of the

Uniform Conference of Law Commissioners. We are aware that the purpose of the

legislation is to help some of these disputes be settled on a timely basis. I

know a number of people who have talked about this have indicated that it

encourages also the number of settlements as well as the time it takes to get a

settlement.

The whole idea of the legislation is to say to someone to take responsibility

for what they have done, to express remorse, to express contrition, and the

legislation will ensure that such an apology will not be an admission of

liability, that it cannot be used in a legal proceeding to prove liability, and

also to ensure that the apology cannot be used to void an insurance policy even

if the terms of the insurance policy or legislation provide that.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

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

I thank the minister for his non-answer again. It is a pretty straightforward

question: Can we get it now or not? You have just indicated that there are lots

of templates in the country you can use. It is not rocket science to take one of

those and adapt it to our situation, I would suggest.

My next question talks about delivering on commitments. We have certainly

gotten lots of indications from this administration that they have made some

commitments they have not delivered upon.

Mr. Speaker, there remains a culture of secrecy within the health care

system. People are afraid to speak out because of punishments they may receive

from administrators. We haven't seen the promised whistleblower legislation

which was promised some two years ago.

I ask the Premier: What is government going to do to protect the people who

want to bring attention to issues in our health care system and other parts of

government? When will we see the whistleblower legislation?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. T. MARSHALL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

In our party's blueprint in the last election we did indicate that in our

second term we would develop whistleblower legislation, and we are in the

process of doing that. Of course, we already have a form of whistleblower

legislation. All members of this House joined in the passing of what I call the

Green act which is the House of Assembly Accountability, Integrity and

Administration Act which provides for protection for those public servants who

might disclose information about wrongful activity on the part of a member of

this House, an officer of the House, or an employee of the House.

The next step is to move to extend that protection to those who disclose

information, who see any wrongdoing about general civil servants.

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

I ask the hon. minister to conclude his answer.

MR. T. MARSHALL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Officials in the Department of Justice had been engaged in consultation at

the time of the last session. There were meetings planned with New Brunswick and

Nova Scotia, with their information commissioner or with their Citizens'

Representative, and we anticipate that close consultation to be concluded

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. KELVIN PARSONS: Mr. Speaker, they have pulled the switch on us. This

was the Minister of Health who would get on with this kind of non-answer.

Surely again, Minister, I say, you have lots of templates for whistleblower

and you know that the act you referred to only applies to members of the House

and not to other government agencies and bureaucrats.

Mr. Speaker, a task force was developed to look at and address adverse health

events, and the Minister of Health alluded to it earlier today in response to

one of his questions. That report was delivered to government some time ago.

Again, it was identified by Justice Cameron as one of the issues relating to

adverse events.

I ask the Premier again: What is the status of those recommendations? We are

hearing a lot about things we are going to do, going to do. What is the status

of those recommendations? When will we see a government response to those? Will

the costing associated with it be in this budget?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. WISEMAN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The member opposite might recall during the time we released that report back

in December, I had indicated publicly that those recommendations, and as much as

we, as a government, concurred that they were solid recommendations, we wanted

to wait until Justice Cameron finished her piece of work to make sure that if

there were some issues that were addressed in that task force and they could

also potentially be addressed in the Cameron Report - and in some cases, they

actually were. We wanted to make sure that we had the value of that report as

well before we started to move forward with the full implementation.

One thing I can say though, Mr. Speaker, one of the foundation pieces in that

task force report was to ensure that we had an electronic recording system for

adverse events in the Province and we have moved on that. Eastern Health has

actually acquired the necessary software and we are in the process of rolling

that out to the other authorities as well. So that was a significant foundation

piece.

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

I ask the hon. minister to conclude his answer.

MR. WISEMAN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Last fall we asked government several questions regarding pension and

severance programs to workers at the Abitibi mill in Grand Falls-Windsor, should

the company go into bankruptcy. Government said at that time that they were

looking at options and they would not speculate. Well, it is four months later

and it appears the company is in further financial difficulty.

I ask the Premier: Have you had any discussions with Abitibi as to what will

happen to severance and pension plans for workers? Has government developed any

plans to help these workers financially should a bankruptcy be inevitable?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS DUNDERDALE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Yes, Mr. Speaker, we have been in talks with Abitibi and that is with regard

to our expropriation of their assets. At the time that those assets were

expropriated, the Premier said that we would compensate them for the bricks and

mortar for the hydro assets. So talks were ongoing with regard to that issue. As

part of that discussion, Mr. Speaker, severance for the loggers was put on the

table for Abitibi and a request that they do the same for the loggers in that

region of the Province as they did when they closed their mill in Stephenville.

In terms of the bankruptcy, Mr. Speaker, we are still not clear where the

company is going. We are watching it very carefully and we are not going to

speculate at this point in time. We understand where severance will fall and we

understand the implications on pension but we will not be dealing with

hypothetical situations here in the House or publicly, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

But the minister should be aware that these people are impacted and

speculation or not, they expect that government will have some solution or some

answer for them if they find themselves in a position where they can no longer

draw down their severance packages or their pensions. Mr. Speaker, the minister

talks about loggers, and it is my understanding that there was nothing

forthcoming for severance or pension for the loggers that were impacted at the

Grand Falls-Bowater operation.

I ask the minister: Is government prepared to respond to that particular

group in terms of looking at early retirement programs, looking at some kind of

pension or severance packages that could be implemented for those workers?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS DUNDERDALE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

In my answer that I gave to the Leader of the Opposition's first question I

clearly stated that as part of the talks that we had with Abitibi, we clearly

put on the table severance for loggers who are not eligible for such payments

now under their contractual arrangements with Abitibi Bowater. That was squarely

on the table.

In terms of pensions, Mr. Speaker, that is not somewhere that this government

has gone before. We have looked at it from all sides. We have taken a position

that it is not something that we are going to engage in at this point in time.

However, the union has asked that the government, on their behalf, put forward

several proposals to Abitibi Bowater with regard to pensions and we are in the

process of doing that, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

The hon. the Leader of the Opposition.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS JONES: Mr. Speaker, the fact that the minister put the issue on the

table does not give me any comfort. Maybe you would like to tell me what you

have achieved in terms of results?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS DUNDERDALE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

At this point in time, talks have broken off between the government and

Abitibi.

We have to come to a fair evaluation of what the assets are worth, and what

AbitibiBowater's responsibilities are in Newfoundland and Labrador, and we

will continue to press those matters when the opportunity arises, Mr. Speaker;

and the opportunity hopefully will arise again.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I ask the minister if they are prepared to take any of the money from the

Community Development Trust fund an agreement which they signed with the

federal government for well over $20 million and use it to fund worker

adjustment programs in this Province like have been used in other provinces in

Canada, primarily in British Columbia?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS DUNDERDALE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Five million dollars of the Community Development Trust fund has been set

aside for economic diversification and development in the Grand Falls-Windsor

region, and that money will be used, but it will not be used for pensions, Mr.

Speaker.

The Community Development Trust fund is designed for the whole manufacturing

area, sector, which includes the fishery, and there are not enough funds in

there for us to deal with anything with regard to pensions so it is not sensible

for us even to contemplate going there; but it is designed for situations that

we are facing in central right now and, as I said, we have earmarked $5 million

of that fund to be spent directly in that region.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

We know that government provided for up to $700,000 in tax grants to the Town

of Stephenville when the mill closed in that town, to make up for the tax

shortfall that the company used to contribute.

I ask the government today what their plan is to do a similar investment for

the Towns of Grand Falls-Windsor, Bishop's Falls and Botwood, to help them

deal with the tax shortfall that they are going to be facing as a result of

losing the business of Abitibi-Consolidated.

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Innovation, Trade and Rural

Development.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SKINNER: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

As the chair of the task force, we have identified a number of issues that we

need to do some review on. One of them is the issue of grants in lieu of taxes,

payments that would be made to municipalities that were made by AbitibiBowater

in the past.

We have some work that is being done in terms of bringing information

together for task force consideration, and as soon as that information is

completed, that review is completed, we will look at that and make a

determination as to what we will be doing as a government relative to grants in

lieu of taxes.

Thank you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I thank the minister for his response. I am glad to hear that you are having

a look at that particular piece of compensation.

Mr. Speaker, we know that Abitibi has valued the assets that the government

expropriated, at $300 million, and that will be the amount that the company is

seeking to take the provincial government to court for. I understand from the

minister today that any discussions around the value of the expropriated assets,

those talks have broken off. I would like to ask the minister today where that

situation is. Is it going to be left for the courts to resolve, or are there

other actions with which government will proceed?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS DUNDERDALE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. David Paterson, the CEO of AbitibiBowater, in public statements, assigned

a value of $300 million to the assets of AbitibiBowater. We have a view that the

assets are worth less than that, and we have been engaged in talks for some time

with regard to that issue.

As I said earlier, Mr. Speaker, those talks have broken off for the moment.

Events are unfolding on a daily, if not hourly, basis and we will have to see

where they take us in the next few days. That will determine our next actions.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

Vidi.

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

Earlier in our session we recognized that on March 12, 2009, this Province

suffered a great tragedy in the offshore that took the lives of seventeen people

and left one critically injured.

Mr. Speaker, although the questions as to why are as yet unanswered, there

are sure to be recommendations from the investigating organizations. We shall

probably find that there is still much to learn about offshore safety.

Mr. Speaker, Norway, a leader in the offshore oil industry for many years,

decided it needed an offshore safety authority independent from the Norwegian

Petroleum Directorate. The Petroleum Safety Authority Norway was created in

January 2004.

Mr. Speaker, I respectfully ask the Premier: Would this government please

take on investigating why the Norwegian government found it necessary to set up

an independent safety authority?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

PREMIER WILLIAMS: As the members of the Opposition clearly understand, we

all take this as an extremely serious matter. We are monitoring this to the very

best of our ability. As information comes to us we are disclosing it as we did

last week with regard to the suits, the transportation suits.

There are also other issues that have been raised with regard to underwater

breathing apparatus, the issues of the Coast Guard - I am aware of the Norwegian

situation - so I think we need to let the process take its course.

We are in sort of an awkward, for want of a better term, position on this.

The National Transportation Safety Board are now conducting the investigation.

The RCMP are involved from their perspective and we have to stand by as

observers, but we are very interested observers. We actually insisted that we

have an observing presence, for example, on the Osprey recently. So this

and other issues will certainly be taken under consideration when we feel that

the investigation has concluded and firm findings have been reached at the end

of the day.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

Vidi.

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

I am glad to hear the Premier mention that he does know about the authority

which, of course, I would expect he would - and his openness to whatever

comes out of the various investigations that have to happen.

Mr. Speaker, since the tragedy we have all heard people in the Province

speaking up about the concerns with regard to the safety of offshore workers. Of

course, the Premier and the minister have also done that, and he has just

referred to them, but many people feel they do not know what is going on around

safety issues in the offshore.

It appears that while the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum

Board does conduct regular safety audits - I think it is three times a year on

each facility - it does not publish the reports; however, Norway's Petroleum

Safety Authority does report on what it finds, good and bad.

In that spirit, Mr. Speaker, I ask the Premier: Would the Premier be open to

working with the federal government to ensure that all past and future safety

audits conducted by the C-NLOPB would become public?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS DUNDERDALE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

As my colleague across the House has said, the C-NLOPB has complete

responsibility for operational and occupational health and safety in the

offshore. The board has been given that responsibility under the Accord Acts.

There are very stringent requirements that have to be received by companies who

are doing any kind of exploration, seismic exploration or development work in

the offshore. There is a safety officer who does regular audits, and certainly

her question with regard to having those audits published is certainly something

we can take under advisement, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

The time allotted for Oral Questions has expired.

Presenting Reports by Standing and Select Committees.

Tabling of Documents.

Tabling of Documents

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

MR. WISEMAN: Mr. Speaker, I am not certain if this is Tabling of

Documents or Reports. I have the Cameron Inquiry report here that I want to

table today. Am I in the right

section or do I wait until the next one?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. minister can table it now.

MR. WISEMAN: All right, sir.

As I said in the House earlier, Mr. Speaker, we received the report in the

early part of March and we made it public at that time, but this is the first

opportunity we have had to introduce it in the House. So I now table it for

members for their benefit.

MR. SPEAKER: Further tabling of documents?

Notices of motion.

The hon. the Premier.

PREMIER WILLIAMS: Mr. Speaker, if you deem it appropriate, perhaps it

would be in order for letters of condolences be sent out on behalf of all

members to the families of the crew and the passengers of Flight 491 on behalf

of all members of the House of Assembly under your signature, if that is

appropriate.

MR. SPEAKER: It is certainly appropriate and the Speaker will take your

suggestion under advisement and do as you directed.

Further comments?

Notices of Motion.

Notices of Motion

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

Board.

MR. KENNEDY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I give notice that I will move that the House resolve itself

into a Committee of the Whole on Supply to consider a Resolution for the

granting of Interim Supply to Her Majesty, Bill 76.

MR. SPEAKER: Further notices of motion?

The hon. the Government House Leader.

MS BURKE: Mr. Speaker, I give notice that under Standing Order 11, I

shall move that the House not adjourn at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 24, 2009.

Further, I give notice that under Standing Order 11, I shall move that the

House not adjourn at 10:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 24, 2009.

MR. SPEAKER: Further notices of motion?

Answers to Questions for which Notice has been Given.

Petitions.

Petitions

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

MR. BUTLER: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Knowing that Budget Day is coming up on Thursday, I said I will give it one

last kick at the cat. I will not have a petition tomorrow.

Mr. Speaker, to begin again, I was not going to have a petition today but

seeing the Budget is coming up on Thursday - and I was very gracious to the

minister, he responded when he got my presentation during the consultations on

the budget process, and I want to thank him for that.

This will be my last petition now until after the Budget, and hopefully, I

will not have to get up anymore. It is in reference to the long-term care

facility. I keep saying in the Conception Bay North area, but in actual fact,

those two facilities that we are looking at replacing are right in the town of

Carbonear and I have no problem where this goes ahead, in whose district it is

in is not the issue.

Mr. Speaker, everyone would love to see it in their district, but that is not

my issue here today. I just want the government to have a look at it because

this has been on the go for a while. In 2007 it was recommended that a long-term

care facility be built in the Conception Bay North area. I know the minister put

forward in last year's Budget $1 million, and hopefully it is there this year

and hopefully Cabinet will look graciously upon it and we will hear an

announcement in this year's budget. Since we last sat I have heard from many

people, various groups and organizations and I know the minister heard various

comments about it during his budget consultations in his area.

Mr. Speaker, I just want to say that hopefully government will look

favourable upon this facility. We are very gracious for all the other areas that

have a facility that came on stream after the one was recommended for the

Conception Bay North area. All I say, Mr. Speaker, is I hope government and the

minister in their wisdom will see to it that this week when the Budget is

announced, that there will be some announcement for the long-term care facility

for the Conception Bay North area.

Thank you very much.

MR. SPEAKER: Further petitions?

Orders of the Day.

Orders of the Day

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

MS BURKE: Mr. Speaker, by leave and agreement with the Opposition, I give

notice and move that the House not adjourn at 5:30 p.m. or at 10:00 p.m. today,

Monday, March 23, 2009.

MR. SPEAKER: Does the hon. minister have leave?

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Yes.

MR. SPEAKER: By leave.

All those in favour of the motion?

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Aye.

MR. SPEAKER: All those against, 'nay'.

The motion is carried.

On motion, the House do not adjourn at 5:30 p.m. or at 10:00 p.m., March 23,

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

MS BURKE: Mr. Speaker, for Orders of the Day, by leave, we would like to

introduce Interim Supply, Bill 76.

MR. SPEAKER: Again, by leave, does the hon. member have leave to

introduce Bill 76 and the resolution accompanied by that bill?

All those in favour, 'aye'.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Aye.

MR. SPEAKER: All those against, 'nay'.

The motion is carried.

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

Board.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KENNEDY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to inform the House that I received a message from His

Honour the Lieutenant Governor.

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

All rise.

The message is dated19 March 2009, and reads: As Lieutenant Governor of the

Province of Newfoundland and Labrador, I transmit a request to appropriate sums

required for the Public Service of the Province for the year ending 31 March

2010, by way of interim supply. In accordance with the provisions of Sections 54

and 90 of the Constitution Act, 1867, I recommend this request to the House of

Assembly.

Sgd.: _______________________________

John C. Crosbie, Lieutenant-Governor

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

MR. KENNEDY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I move, seconded by the Minister of Health and Community Services that the

message, together with a bill, be referred to the Committee of Supply.

MR. SPEAKER: The motion is that the message, together with a bill, be

referred to a Committee of Supply and that I do now leave the Chair.

Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt this motion?

All those in favour, 'aye'.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Aye.

MR. SPEAKER: All those against, 'nay'.

The motion is carried.

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

Speaker left the Chair.

Committee of the Whole

CHAIR (T. Osborne): Order, please!

We are considering the related resolution and Bill 76,

An Act For Granting To

Her Majesty Certain Sums Of Money For Defraying Certain Expenses Of The Public

Service For The Financial Year Ending March 31, 2010 And For Other Purposes

Relating To The Public Service.

Resolution

"That it is expedient to introduce a measure to provide for the granting

to Her Majesty for defraying certain expenses of the public service for the

financial year ending March 31, 2010 the sum of $2,235,248,800."

CHAIR: Shall the resolution carry?

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

MR. KENNEDY: Thank you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KENNEDY: Mr. Chair, the Interim Supply Bill is required to be passed

by the House of Assembly during the spring session in order to allow for routine

and ongoing operations during the period while Budget 2009 is being introduced,

debated and approved by the Legislature.

When we bring in the Budget, Mr. Speaker, we will be seeking approval for

funding to spend for the entire fiscal year, but it takes time to allow for

debate and approval of the Budget. During the interim period it is necessary to

provide funding for the government to pay its bills, which is the purpose of

Interim Supply.

Mr. Speaker, we are seeking approval in Interim Supply for a sum of

approximately $2.2 billion, representing approximately 34.5 per cent of the

2008-2009 budgeted current and capital account gross expenditures. This will

provide departments and public bodies with sufficient cash flow dollars to

manage expenditures for the period from April 1, 2009 to June 30, 2009 which is

the first quarter of the fiscal year.

Mr. Speaker, in some accounts more than one-quarter of the Budget is required

for those items which will need to be expended early in the year, as well as to

provide for the calling and awarding of tenders and the encumbering of funds.

Mr. Speaker, an increase of $333 million, or 18 per cent, to Interim Supply

is being requested this year. This increase includes provision for increased

infrastructure spending, annualization of 2008-2009 Budget decisions, salary

increases, and other program growth.

Interim Supply, Mr. Speaker, is basically intended to provide for the

continuation of ongoing government programs and projects. Included in the 2009

Interim Supply Bill are ongoing housekeeping expenditures, including funding for

seven pay periods and ongoing project and funding requirements applicable to the

2009-2010 fiscal year.

The legislation will need to be passed by March 25, 2009, Mr. Speaker, in

order to allow sufficient time to meet payroll, social assistance and other

expenditures effective April 1, 2009.

Mr. Speaker, before we begin debating Interim Supply, I would like to take a

few minutes to give a brief overview and discuss the pre-Budget consultations

which I had the privilege of attending this year. This was the first time that I

had attended pre-Budget consultations, having been appointed Minister of Finance

on November 1, I think it was, 2008, and I have to acknowledge, Mr. Speaker,

that it was a very interesting and valuable experience.

This year, Mr. Speaker, pre-Budget consultations commenced on January 16 in

St. John's. In St. John's, if I remember correctly, there were something

like 48 groups that presented over a period of a full day, in the morning and

afternoon. They were broken down into two sessions. They concluded on February

23 in St. Anthony, and I had the pleasure of being snowed in at St. Anthony

overnight, so we got to spend an extra night in that town.

Sessions were also held in Grand Falls-Windsor, Gander, Carbonear, Labrador

City, Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Corner Brook, Stephenville, Marystown,

Clarenville, and three new locations this year, Mr. Chairman: Grand Bank, Old

Perlican and Twillingate.

I am pleased to say that we had a great turnout for these sessions and I was

pleased to have representations from local MHAs. In one session in Grand

Falls-Windsor there were four MHAs in attendance, giving recognition to the

serious situation that exists in that area, and government's commitment to

deal with that situation as best we can.

We had approximately two hours scheduled for that session, Mr. Chairman, but

it went into three-and-a-half hours and there were a lot of good ideas. I was

very impressed by the attitude of the presenters in Grand Falls-Windsor, the

positive attitude. I remember specifically the comment of one individual: that

we had to look to the future and not to the past.

We use the past, Mr. Chairman, to form our present decisions and future

decisions, but we cannot dwell there. What we have to do as a government is to

take into account what we heard at these various sessions, see what we can do in

these challenging economic times, maintain social spending but always be aware

of the need to be fiscally conservative and to practice fiscal restraint.

The question has been raised, Mr. Chairman - I think it was a question of the

day one day on VOCM - whether or not the pre-Budget consultations were a

worthwhile experience. Let me say, Mr. Chairman, to all of those naysayers out

there, that from my perspective the pre-Budget consultations were an opportunity

to meet with people on the ground, to hear what they had to say, and to take

into consideration their concerns.

I can remember vividly, Mr. Chairman, each session, from hearing, in relation

to the foster families - and I note there was an announcement today on foster

families' increase in St. John's, a very emotional plea from a lady in St.

John's. We heard from various sports organizations, the Special Olympics,

various women's groups, the women's multicultural office - I see they were

well represented here today - we heard from various women's groups throughout

the Province.

Mr. Chairman, as I moved throughout the Province, the new sessions were ones

that were really interesting. Old Perlican - the Minister of Environment was

there with me we had a very interesting session in Old Perlican. We went to

Twillingate, where the MHA for The Isles of Notre Dame was present, and had

another very interesting session. These people, Mr. Chairman, I will say they

were very glad to see that our government is willing to come out and listen to

what people have to say, because that is what it is about.

What I would say, Mr. Chairman, despite the comments by the Opposition House

Leader, there is no culture of secrecy. What we are doing is that we are out

there talking to people, saying: How can we help you? What is it you would like

to know about the way government operates? That is what these pre-Budget

consultations allowed us to do, Mr. Chairman. More importantly, Mr. Chairman, or

perhaps most importantly, what these pre-Budget consultations allowed was for a

human face to be given to the needs and requests of various people.

As I said on a number of occasions, Mr. Chairman, it is easy, when you have a

piece of paper in front of you, to say, well, we cannot do that this year; but

when you hear from people, Mr. Chairman - and I have, as I have indicated, some

vivid memories. I think of when the MHA for Notre Dame, we were looking at, I

think it was Change Islands - was it the Change Islands co-op fishery? - how the

community had no unemployment, no need for community enhancement programs this

year.

When we moved to Labrador, the Leader of the Opposition showed up in

Labrador, in Happy ValleyGoose Bay, and made a very good presentation. I had

the opportunity to meet with a group from her district after that, and I have to

say I was very impressed. They came to St. John's because they could not make

it to the St. Anthony session. We had a very informative and co-operative

session with the representatives from that part of the Province there.

What the pre-Budget consultations allow us to do is to inform the budget

process, but it allows for us to get out there and meet the people and hear what

they have to say. So, Mr. Chairman, people throughout our Province and this

is the message that I heard and it is the message that we hear on the ground. I

am sure MHAs from all parties, when you are in your districts, hear the same

thing; it is the pride that the people of this Province take in this Province,

the pride that people have in where we stand as a Province.

Mr. Chairman, over the last number of years this government has taken

enormous steps to build a strong economic foundation. Later this week we will

hear more of it, Mr. Chairman, but what we have tried to do is to lay a

groundwork, to create surpluses while still spending on social programs, so that

when the economic storm which has hit us now in this country and in this world,

when it hits we will be ready. We are ready, Mr. Chairman, as we outlined in the

economic update. We have done the things that other people are only starting now

to do. Mr. Chairman, we have spent on infrastructure. We have reduced debt. We

have created employment, and we have reduced taxes. So, as the rest of the world

struggles to catch up, we are dealing with the problems.

Now, there is no question that there is an economic reality to this world

that continues to worsen. What we will hear later on this week, I would suggest,

is an acceptance of the reality that exists in this economic world today. As I

have said, we have spent four or five years now building a strong foundation and

what we will continue to do is to build on that strong foundation to make for a

strong and proud Newfoundland and Labrador.

I was very pleased today to hear the Minister of Labrador Affairs. Although I

have no great desire myself to be involved in Cain's Quest, I can only imagine

what a challenge it was to drive 2,300 kilometres on a snowmobile - it is just

absolutely amazing - across that rugged and beautiful part of the Province.

As the Leader of the NDP stated, I have also had the opportunity over the

years to travel throughout Labrador. I am always fascinated, as I travel the

Coast of Labrador in a small plane and look out at that beautiful coastline and

those beautiful mountains and forests, to realize that this is part of this

great Province.

Mr. Chairman, as I travelled throughout the Province getting ready for the

Budget process, I also heard that people have concerns: concerns that surprise

no one here in relation to health care, in relation to education, concerns in

relation to the survival and continued existence of rural Newfoundland and

Labrador. Because, as the Premier said today in his tribute to the crash

victims, the sea is so much a part of us, as a people, and it is so important

that we remember where we came from.

Mr. Chairman, it is true that oil plays a great

part in our economy today,

and it is true that minerals and gas and everything else play a great

part in

our economy, but this Province was founded on the sea, it will continue to exist

based on the sea, and it is important that we always be cognizant that rural

Newfoundland and Labrador is the heart of this great Province.

This time next year we will be preparing, in the district of the Minister of

Fisheries, for the four hundredth anniversary of Cupids, in Cuper's Cove, in

1610. Just imagine what it was like when John Guy showed up in that area, and

what he found there. Look how far we have come.

Mr. Chairman, there are exciting things happening in this Province. We have

had the ECMAs, we have the Junos coming. We are involved in the Olympics. What

we are doing is we are out there as a government promoting this Province.

I did a little test this weekend with my thirteen-year-old daughter. I held

out the back of the Globe and Mail , the last page of the Globe

and Mail , there was a full-page ad. I covered over our logo for

Newfoundland and Labrador. I said Julia, where do you think this place is? Does

that picture want to make you go there? She caught on very quickly because it

was so unique that it was Newfoundland and Labrador, but it was such a great

picture of this Province. When you look at those ads that we have on TV right

now it has to make you want to visit this great Province because that is, again,

so much a part of who we are and what we are. That is why, with everything that

has happened in the last two weeks, people have drawn together as they always

have in this great Province and we will continue to do so.

Mr. Chairman, I just wanted to outline what I heard from the people as we

went through the pre-budget consultations. What I have heard is an overwhelming

positive attitude towards what is taking place in this Province. Mr. Chairman,

the other thing that I did, I encouraged people who had criticism to express

their comments because we wanted to hear them. It is by hearing the criticisms

that we can determine if improvements need to be made.

I heard continued support for government's Poverty Reduction Strategy; a

strategy of which we are so proud of and which we are leading this country in

our approach. We heard support for our cultural strategy and we heard continued

support for the tourism sector. These are just some of the many issues which

arose during these pre-budget consultations.

As I said to the people, Mr. Chairman, on a continuing basis, government

cannot be all things to all people. The easiest thing for me to do as a

politician, or any politician to do, is give everyone everything they want, but

as a government we have built a foundation on fiscal restraint, on paying down

debt, on ensuring our children's future, and, Mr. Chairman, that is what we

will continue to do.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KENNEDY: Mr. Chairman, later this week I will release a budget that I

feel will reflect our governments continued commitment to important social

programs while making strategic investments to grow the economy during this

current economic global downturn.

Mr. Chairman, I look forward to the debate on Interim Supply.

Thank you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

CHAIR: The hon. the Opposition House Leader.

MR. KELVIN PARSONS: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

I appreciate an opportunity to have a few words in debate today concerning

Bill 76, which, as the minister said, is dealing with Interim Supply.

To put it in a nutshell, I guess, for those who might be watching and do not

understand the process, there is going to be a Budget that is going to run from

April 1 this year, 2009, until March 31 next year. In the meantime, it takes

weeks, sometimes months, to get that Budget in and approved by the House. We are

usually in May, sometimes June before that is done. Of course, you need money to

operate on and pay the bills in the Province in the meantime. You have people

who receive cheques for various purposes in this Province and the government

needs to pay the bills. So that is what Interim Supply is, it is basically a

bill which comes into the House and we get it passed before the end of March so

the government can have money and authority to spend a certain amount of money.

The general rule has been, and I allude to this here because the minister

might want to correct me if I am wrong on this information, but the history has

been that it is typically about one-third of the annual Budget that gets put out

into the Interim Supply. Whatever the annual Budget would be, generally we get a

bill here, in this case Bill 76, and it says here are different headings that we

are going to spend it under, all of the government departments are outlined in

there, Executive Council as well, and I do believe Newfoundland and Labrador

Housing Corporation and so on. It says, roughly, this is what we would spend;

this is one-third of what we are going to spend.

So you can usually look at the Interim Supply Bill and get some kind of

indication of what the total Budget is going to be when it comes down on

Thursday, and you can get some idea as to which departments are going to have

increases and which departments may even have decreases. You can get that

for example, I just simply took the bill, I took last year's figures of 2008,

which was attached to that bill last year of Interim Supply, I took the figures

that we have now for 2009, I plug them all in. So I get a comparison very

quickly of what we had last year, what is going on this year on our Interim

Supply, and it can tell me virtually every department that is looking at an

increase or a decrease.

Now, I could be wrong of course if the government does not follow the usual

pattern of the Interim Supply Bill being one-third of the Budget, but I think

that is a fairly safe assumption. I noticed the former Minister of Justice

nodding his head when I said that so I am assuming I am on the right path here,

that that is in fact correct and the current Minister of Finance has not pulled

any fast ones and only given us a certain different proportion or percentage.

I will get into this, because we will have, over the next couple of days, of

course, an opportunity to look at what apparently is going to be increased and

what is going to be reduced. Just off the cuff, for example, my quick read of

it, it looks like it is roughly a $333 million increase in this year's Interim

Supply Bill. If one were to extrapolate that and say, well, if you take that to

the full bill, we are looking at about a billion-dollar increase in what the

government is going to spend next year. That is the overall piece.

Of course that raises questions and concerns of, where are they going to

spend the extra billion dollars? What is it going to be spent on? What

departments are going to have it? Of course, we will get all the answers to that

on Thursday when the good minister delivers his Budget here this Thursday. That

does not, of course, quash people's need to know. Everybody is curious. The

minister alluded to going around the Province and having his consultations and a

lot of people are wondering: is he going to be Santa Claus to me, or is he going

to be the Grinch this year? That will be interesting to see. Now, I will get

into some of those details.

The other thing about Interim Supply and throughout the whole Budget debate

we are going to be having is, there is pretty wide latitude in the debate

itself. Unlike a piece of legislation whereby what you say or cannot say is

usually tempered and restricted as to what is in that particular bill, when you

are talking about a money bill, which Interim Supply is, you have a pretty wide

latitude here. It will be interesting to see where the government members, for

example, are going to go when it comes to their speeches on Interim Supply.

We sat here last year and, in fact, I must have had about a hundred emails

from people around the Province who said: do the crowd in the government benches

do anything other than be a cheerleader for the Premier? I said: well, I do not

know, maybe you should wire your member and tell him or her exactly what your

concerns are and maybe they will bring it up in the House for you. I mean, we

cannot dictate, as an Opposition, what the government backbenchers get up and

talk about. If they choose to get up and be cheerleaders for the Premier, well

that is all we can do.

Anyway, it will give us an opportunity to talk about a lot of issues here in

the next couple of months and, in particular, even during Interim Supply. I will

get into some of those details as the day goes on. Just a few points on it right

off the cuff: in my comparison sheet here, I notice, for example, that there are

twenty heads in

Schedule A of this Bill 76. Of the twenty heads that are

referred to here, there are going to be reductions in six of them, from my read.

That appears to be Consolidated Fund Services, Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs,

the legislative budget for the Legislature, the Department of Business,

Fisheries and Aquaculture, and Innovation and Trade. According to my read on it,

actually now, maybe I am wrong and I would like to be corrected if I am.

Again I am using the assumption that this is one-third of the overall budget.

According to what I am looking at here, if you take the Department of Labrador

and Aboriginal Affairs, for example, it says here that I know in 2008, for

example, it was $2,188,200. In 2009, in this bill here, it talks about

$1,903,200 which mathematically works out to be a reduction of $285,000. That is

based on Interim Supply.

Now, if one were to extrapolate that - that is only one-third of the Budget -

we are looking at somewhere in the vicinity of almost a $900,000 reduction. In

fact, it is a 13 per cent reduction in the Department of Labrador and Aboriginal

Affairs in the forthcoming year.

We all heard lots of questions in this House last year. Some suggested that

there was a small budget in Labrador Affairs because the minister only had three

files anyway. I guess next year, according to this, he is only going to have two

files.

Anyway, that is what we are looking at. It is interesting. It would be nice

to know now, when the minister gets up and gives us some comments on the Budget,

and maybe gives us a little peek-a-boo, about where he thinks there is going to

be a reduction in Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs next year. We have a pretty

good hint right now that there is going to be a 13 per cent reduction. Maybe he

will be able to give us some enlightenment without giving us any berries from

the budget as to where that might be heading.

The Legislative budget, down by 3 per cent: not a great deal actually on an

overall estimate of $6.4 million.

Then we move on to the Department of Business. Now, according to calculations

again - and I stand to be corrected - there is going to be a 16 per cent

reduction in the funding for the Department of Business for the next year. In

fact, according to the figures here in Interim Supply from 2008 to 2009 they are

going to be down by $1,950,100. If you do the math we are down about $6 million

in the Business Department next year; 16 per cent. It will be interesting to see

if the minister is prepared again to give us any insight as to what we would

think would be a very crucial and important budget in this economic meltdown

time, where we are going to be going with $6 million less than we had. I would

have thought that would have been one of the departments we would be looking at

for stimulus as opposed to retraction. It will be interesting to see where that

pans out.

I am just throwing it out now because government members and ministers will

have an opportunity to respond in Interim Supply. Rather than just be

cheerleaders, maybe they might actually like to be able to comment and give us

some insight into these areas, because we will be back, of course, after

Thursday. Once the Budget is dropped Thursday we will know then if these figures

are correct or not for sure. If they are indeed correct, then we will have more

to go on too. We can poke a little bit further then, because we will see it

actually in the line by line items of the department, and be able to ask the

questions. In fact, another part of the budgetary process is the Estimates

Committees when you get to, shall we say, put the minister in the hot seat and

get into the nitty-gritty details of the Budget, as to what you did last year,

what is in there this year, and where you are going to; not only specifics but

some general policy type pieces as well, and so on.

Fisheries and Aquaculture, for example: It looks like there is going to be a

6 per cent decline, decrease, in the amount of money in the Department of

Fisheries and Aquaculture in the forthcoming year. Again, I would have thought

that is a department we would be looking forward to probably an increase in.

Surely there is infrastructure or program and servicing needs in Fisheries and

Aquaculture that would warrant probably a consideration of more funding as

opposed to less funding in 2009-2010. Here it looks like it is somewhere to the

tune of about a $950,000 decrease. That is just on this. You are looking at

maybe a $3 million decrease next year in Fisheries and Aquaculture.

Next one - a very, very crucial one, I notice, and I found it very crucial

Innovation, Trade and Rural Development. According to the figures here it is

down on an Interim Supply basis to the tune of $5.6 million. That is a 28 per

cent reduction 28 per cent! Now, a $5.6 million reduction, if you take that

over the full Budget you are looking at somewhere like $16.8 million. Again I

ask: How does this impact, or will it impact, the economy again? I would have

thought the department, by the very name itself, Innovation, Trade and Rural

Development, that we would be seeing increases in those areas rather than a

decrease.

We all know and are aware of the unfortunate, yet catastrophic, situation

that we have in central. I am just wondering if we are looking at a department -

that minister, for example, spearheads the oversight committee to help out in

that particular region. Yet, it appears on the surface right here - now maybe I

am wrong, and again I would love to be corrected - it appears that his

particular department is going to be down to the tune of $16.6 million, 28 per

cent.

I am not an economist, nor do I claim to be, but one would think in the

situations of economic meltdown that we have heard about - and anybody who

watches what is happening in Canada, the various institutional reports, the

economic institutions, the various banks in Canada, as to where we are or where

we should go, everybody is talking stimulus. I would have thought stimulus came

in other forms, other than simply through infrastructure in municipal affairs.

Now, there is no doubt there have been some significant increases - no doubt -

and I will not just concentrate on the negatives.

For example, it does appear that Tourism, Culture and Recreation has a 27 per

cent increase. That is pretty hefty. Justice, for example, it looks like Justice

is going to have a 37 per cent increase. It looks like Municipal Affairs is

going to have a 41 per cent increase. Natural Resources, a 15 per cent increase.

The Public Service Commission, a 27 per cent increase. Education, a 14 per cent

increase. Health and Community Services, an 18 per cent increase. Some pretty

hefty increases in some of those departments, no doubt. That is because, as we

say, it looks like there is going to be at least $1 billion increase in budget

over last year. I do believe the figures last year were - total budget -

$6.6-odd million in the Budget. So it looks like we are looking at somewhere

around a $7.6 million budget this year, given just these figures here.

That is just, as we say, the tip of the iceberg right now to get things

started on Interim Supply. We will be back throughout the afternoon. Everybody

gets an opportunity to speak. There are certainly a lot of issues, and I have

not even scratched the surface yet in terms of the economic issues or the

provincial issues that are of concern here. We will all get an opportunity and

put some of these things on the radar, as I like to say. Let's put some things

on the radar. So, instead of just - when the House is closed it tends to be the

government information machine that is in operation. We are going to have an

opportunity now to get out some information, to question some of these things as

to what the merits of them are, and are they all justifiable, and show some of

the shortcomings that exist in some of the government programs and services, and

some of their ways with dealing with some of these issues.

Mr. Chair, I appreciate the opportunity to have opening remarks and we look

forward to continuing debate as the afternoon goes on.

Thank you.

CHAIR: The hon. the Minister of Labrador Affairs.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. HICKEY: Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.

It is indeed a great pleasure to sit in this hon. House and start off our

next session of the House of Assembly, and certainly, from my perspective, to

represent the good people of the District of Lake Melville, Churchill Falls,

Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Mud Lake, Northwest River, and the beautiful community

of Sheshatshiu.

Mr. Chairman, I smiled and I chuckled just a minute ago as I listened to my

colleague opposite when he talked about the Department of Labrador and

Aboriginal Affairs. It shows once again, Mr. Chairman, that my hon. colleague

across the way just has no idea, no concept, no idea, what happens with that

department and what we do.

Mr. Chairman, it is not how much money in the department that I am concerned

about. I can tell you, it is about how much money - we are putting unprecedented

monies into Labrador on a bunch of difference initiatives.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. HICKEY: I can tell you, Mr. Chairman, it is because of the work of

the Department of Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs, working with our colleagues

and with our fellow ministers and department heads, with the support, certainly,

of Premier Williams and the Premier's Office, that we have been able to

accomplish much in Labrador since 2003 when our government took office.

Mr. Chairman, when we talk about Labrador, and when I talk about Labrador, I

always talk with a great passion for it. One of the pillars as we move forward

is our Northern Strategic Plan for Labrador which will see over $800 million of

new investment over the course of the next number of years as we spend monies in

Labrador to improve the infrastructure. Infrastructure, I add, that never got

put there while the hon. crowd on the other side was in government. I can tell

you, Mr. Chairman, while they were trying to find ways and means to take money

out of the Transportation Initiative Fund and put it into general revenue, while

they were trying to find excuses not to improve infrastructures, like the new

hospital in Labrador West, like the new school in Port Hope Simpson and L'Anse-au-Loup,

like these new pieces of infrastructure that our government, right now, today,

certainly has on the drawing books and is working toward, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. Chairman, the Northern Strategic Plan was announced in April 2007. It is

a five year plan, and this plan will be used to improve the health and

well-being of all Labradorians through the development and enhancement of

infrastructure programs and services throughout Labrador.

In February of this year, this government was pleased to announce another

$130 million to increase economic activity and to improve infrastructure in

Labrador. This investment, as I said earlier, is to do certainly with some $800

million of new and ongoing infrastructure projects in Newfoundland and Labrador

for the upcoming 2009-2010 fiscal year, and over $4 billion over the course of

the next several years, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. Chairman, when this government took office back in 2003, as I mentioned

earlier, there were a number of deficits when it came to infrastructure in

Labrador. I will say, I am happy that my colleague here, the Member for Labrador

West, together with the Member for Torngat Mountains, the Minister of Aboriginal

Affairs, we have been able to certainly work with our colleagues in different

departments as we look now at the new construction this year of the College of

the North Atlantic campus in Labrador West, which will see an investment of some

$9.5 million. As well, $19 million has been allocated for the new Francophone

school in Happy ValleyGoose Bay, along with the two schools, one in Port Hope

Simpson and one in L'Anse-au-Loup, which I understand are to be tendered in the

very near future and work is to commence this year, Mr. Chairman.

The Trans-Labrador Highway, as I have said many times as I stand in my place

in this House, is the number one transportation initiative for the Province of

Newfoundland and Labrador for our government; but, while we have made great

strides over the course of the last number of years to improve the road

infrastructure of the Trans-Labrador Highway, I want to say that this year will

mean a milestone for us in Labrador, as the Department of Transportation and

Works has plans for us to complete the last forty-eight kilometres between

Cartwright and Happy ValleyGoose Bay.

This is a significant milestone, Mr. Chairman, from back in 1989 when I

remember coming out here, and I have told this story many times, and meeting

with the Department of Transportation and Works, as a town councillor for the

Town of Happy ValleyGoose Bay, and at that time officials told us that if you

think this government or any government will build a road across Labrador you

are all living in dreamland. That was 1989, Mr. Chairman. This is 2009, and I

can tell you it feels good to be part of a government with a vision that

transportation in Labrador is a very important and vital link for the economic

growth of our communities and for the region, and for the Province as a whole.

Mr. Chairman, this year we will see some $58 million in provincial funding,

in addition to the federal investment of some $26.5 million continued on Phase I

and Phase III of the Trans-Labrador Highway.

Mr. Chairman, this is going to change the way we, certainly in Labrador,

live. It will connect the Island portion of the Province to Labrador closer than

ever we have been before. Certainly, we look forward - our students, I can tell

you, in Happy Valley-Goose Bay look forward to when we can get up in the morning

and be in Corner Brook that night and they are able to attend the campus there.

This is going to mean so much opportunity for tourism development and other

economic development when it comes to the forestry. Certainly, as we look at the

Lower Churchill project and the hydro development in Labrador, this particular

piece of infrastructure and I was happy to note today, Mr. Chairman, just a

few minutes ago I received word from my communications people that the

Government of Quebec has announced some $480 million to upgrade Route 389 from

Vermont to the Quebec-Labrador border to Baie-Comeau and the work is starting on

that this year. So that is very good news for us living in Labrador. This is

very good news certainly for the people who live on the Quebec side as well.

This is a vital link, Mr. Chairman. Transportation has always been, certainly

one of the things that we have seen some great challenges in. I was very

disappointed this morning when I heard of the withdrawal of services, Dash 8

services by Air Labrador, but I do hope that the opportunities are there for

other airlines to move in and pick up some of the void. Certainly, I was happy

to hear that Provincial Airlines will be filling up that void as best they can

to ensure that we get a good air transportation system and network ideally

between Labrador and the Island portion of the Province, and indeed, from

Labrador to Montreal and to our Quebec locations.

Mr. Chairman, when we talk about the Northern Strategic Plan, there are many

different aspects of it. One of the opportunities I have, as the Minister of

Labrador Affairs, is I get to see and to view each and every Cabinet paper from

all departments before it goes to Cabinet so that what we can, through my staff

and my deputies and assistant deputies, directors and our analysts, we can look

at the different policies that are being created by government. As we put what

we call the Labrador lens on those policies, that has been a great opportunity

for us to ensure that we in Labrador get our input into policies as made by

different departments of government.

I can tell you, Mr. Chairman, Labrador has certainly come into its own over

the past number of years. While we still have many challenges, I am happy that

when it comes to infrastructure we are making great strides. Many of you may

recall, back in 2003 there was a great issue in my hometown of Happy

Valley-Goose Bay regarding a performing arts centre. While most places in the

Province had arts and culture centres, we in Central Labrador had no place for

the performing arts. Well, Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to announce today and to

report to the Province and to this hon. House that we are near the very end of

the completion, with the opening coming very soon of the new performing arts

space in Happy Valley-Goose Bay, some $7 million that we will be seeing move

into place in the next couple of months.

CHAIR: Order, please!

I remind the hon. member that his time for speaking has expired.

MR. HICKEY: I was just getting started, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. Chairman, just to clue up for a few minutes. One of the other programs

that I like at every opportunity to champion and that is the enhancements that

we have made to the Air Foodlift Subsidy Program on the Coast of Labrador.

Basically, we extend the air freight subsidy during the marine shipping season

to the north coast and to the communities of Black Tickle, Norman's Bay,

Williams Harbour. This increase in subsidy has been increased to 80 per cent,

Mr. Chairman. I just want to say this has meant a great deal to the communities

on the Coast of Labrador and we have also seen the subsidy reflected on fresh

milk to those communities.

Mr. Chairman, with that said, I will get an opportunity to read off a bunch

more of our great initiatives that we are doing in Labrador before we end our

debate here in the House.

Thanks very much for the opportunity, Mr. Chairman.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

CHAIR: The hon. the Member for Port de Grave.

MR. BUTLER: Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.

It is a pleasure to be able to stand today and have a few comments with

regard to Bill 76, Interim Supply. Like my previous colleagues, I, too, want to

say it is a pleasure to be back in the House to represent not only the people of

your own district but the people in the Province in general.

I have to say, my district, over the past number of weeks since we last met,

has not gone unscathed from tragedy. We were involved, unfortunately, with the

incident when it came to the accident just last week, as well as an unfortunate

incident in Upper Island Cove when two young people lost their lives.

I want to take this opportunity to thank various divisions in some of the

departments of government who helped provide equipment from time to time during

that search. Unfortunately, we have had three other serious incidents as well.

Mr. Chairman, even though they are going through very trying times, I have to

say the people in that district are very proud of the area where they live and

the Province that they live in.

Today, when we were talking about the multiculturalism and welcoming

immigrants to our Province, I think it just goes to show that we are willing to

accept people from other countries to help enrich our Province and make this a

better place to live, and that they can call home.

I have to say, after listening to my colleague and the Minister for Labrador

Affairs explain to us all the wonderful things that are happening in his

district, that is wonderful, but unfortunately he had to go back to the past.

There are a couple of quotes I want to use. One was used by our Premier of today

when he was in Opposition back in 2003, when he was responding to the Throne

Speech. The quote, I think, was used once before by Winston Churchill. He said:

If the present tries to sit in judgement of the past, it will lose the future.

We must look to the future and not the past.

I read the other day, with great interest, a comment and I hope I am

going to quote this properly that was made by our Minister of Finance and

Treasury Board during a news

article in the paper when he said: We sat for about

three or three-and-a-half hours and we heard from all the union members, and I

have to say their attitude is so positive in terms of trying to look to the

future instead of dwelling on the past.

I have to say to my hon. colleague from Lake Melville, the Minister of

Labrador Affairs: Yes, it is good to look back, but I am proud to be able to

stand here today and hopefully look to the future rather than go back to the

past, regardless of who the Administrations were, or what time and era this took

place.

Mr. Chairman, we talk about Bill 76, and my hon. colleague from Burgeo &

LaPoile looked at some of the departments and used the figures from this

particular Interim Supply bill to the previous year, and he looked at some of

the departments where there will be a reduction in the amount of funding, based

on the figures that we see today, but I am going to look at it in the light of

the other departments where we see a tremendous increase. As we look forward to

Wednesday coming, the Throne Speech, and then on Thursday the Budget, I hope

that we will be able to see some of the things that the people of this Province

are looking forward to.

I will be honest with you, as I stated to the Minister of Finance in my

presentation to him on the long-term care facility, we do not expect to see

everything happen overnight, but I want to just touch on some issues that are

very important and they keep surfacing from time to time.

As my colleague mentioned, in the Department of Education, based on the

figures that we see now, a 14 per cent increase, $51 million. I read recently

that the Minister of Education received a petition, and I think there were

12,000 names on it from students not only in this Province but students

throughout the country who were supporting them, asking government to look at

the possibility of eliminating the interest on the provincial portion of their

student loans. In that article, the students also went on to say they appreciate

how their student loans have been frozen over a number of years. Hopefully, when

we look at this $51 million, something can be done to answer the concerns of

those young people. Because, like they said, many of them, I think, would be

staying here in our Province only they are burdened with their student loans,

and many of them head outside the Province where they hope the grass is greener

on the other side, and that they can end up getting better paying jobs so they

can pay off their student loans.

Mr. Chairman, another thing I want to note through the Department of

Education, in my district over the past two or three years, two or three

projects have gone ahead. I am very appreciative of that, and the people in the

district are. I remember the repairs that were done to St. Peter's School in

Upper Island Cove, when it had to close and the roof had to be repaired. I

remember the extension that at the present time is going ahead at Amalgamated

Academy, where they are joining on so many classrooms to take the children from

Coley's Point Primary to go to that school. I remember also the work that was

done at Ascension Collegiate, but I am hoping in this $51 million this year that

I will see an announcement. I know a new school cannot be built this year, but

hopefully there is something there for Coley's Point Primary School.

I remember, back three or four years ago, a consultation took place where

they were referencing that particular school, and when the report came in I know

full well that the Minister of Education said at that time that the full report

should be shredded. Unfortunately, there were things in that report that should

have been shredded, but that school went down along with all the other work.

That is an older school, it is a wooden structure, and the people there have

been very patient. Even if you went there today, just the grounds around the

school and the parking lot where the parents and the students and the teachers,

the staff, have to park hopefully an announcement will be made, whether it

is going to say they are going to build it this year. I know that schools have

been announced, and that is wonderful, everybody needs new schools, but

hopefully an announcement will be made that at least the preliminary work will

get started.

The other thing I will just touch on, the Department of Health and Community

Services: a $131 million increase, if you base it on the figures we heard today,

that we were presented with. We also heard the minister say, coming out of the

Cameron Inquiry, that the cost of implementing that is probably going to be up

around $100 million. There are many other issues. We all hear about the shortage

with the nurses and doctors that we have in this Province, and I know we are not

going to be able to hire them all at the one time, but I look forward that maybe

there is something in this Budget, a plan in place, where we can help to attract

more nurses so that the workload that is being carried out in our Province today

can be increased upon.

I know, and I have heard over recent days, of incidents that are happening.

You can't blame the people who are working in the hospitals, the nurses, the

technicians, or the staff there, but I know for a fact in Carbonear hospital

and I don't know if it was Christmas eve or New Year's eve this year- that a

nurse who was working in the emergency unit was supposed to be replaced after a

twelve-hour shift, and the other people who would come in to replace her were so

tired and had been working such long hours they didn't show up. This lady

worked twenty-four hours in an emergency unit. If you went there yourself to

have something done or something checked out, on her twenty-third hour you can

imagine what that lady was going through.

All we have to do is just judge by the people who drive our transport trucks.

They have to log in and take rest spells, but here was a lady who was working at

that emergency unit for a total of twenty-four hours before she got off to go

home.

I am hoping, as I announced today during my petition and I will just

briefly touch on this one as time is running out. I am hoping that the

facilities that are already there in Carbonear the minister knows himself

that those facilities have served their purpose. The staff that are working

there can speak up and tell anyone what the facilities are like.

We are definitely due a new long-term care facility in the Conception Bay

North area. Those two buildings are in the district of Carbonear-Harbour Grace.

It is like I said earlier, I do not care where this facility is built but I

honestly believe the time has come in this budget, that the $1 million that the

Minister of Health recommended last year to Cabinet to get the work started on

this facility should definitely come to the forefront this year. I am not

against the $1 million last year when it came to look at work to be done on two

long-term care facilities here in St. John's. We know the need is here as

well, but I have to say that I look forward, hopefully, either in the Throne

Speech or in Budget, knowing that there is $131 million, at least there could be

some work done on that facility for the Conception Bay North area.

Mr. Chair, I thank you for your time and I am sure I will return later.

CHAIR: The hon. the Member for Placentia & St. Mary's.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. COLLINS: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

I am pleased today to be able to offer some comments on Bill 76. Pursuant to

the Opposition House Leader's remarks earlier, I do so, I am afraid, in the

position of cheerleader.

Bill 76, Interim Supply is usually a routine process of this part of the

session. I understand this bill has to be passed by March 25. Government has to

pay its bills and continue the administration and governance of this Province.

It needs funds to look after its ongoing and continuing operations until the

Budget is approved. I certainly want to offer my support to that bill. Given the

fiscal record and the fiscal policies of this government in the past five years,

then it is a very great pleasure, indeed, to do so.

When we consider, Mr. Chairman, where we have come from in five years, where

we are today fiscally in this Province, where we were five years ago, where we

came from, considered in the successive deficits and then the consecutive

surpluses, I understand it is quite possible in this coming year there might be

some glitch in that, but given our record of the past few years, the prudent

spending and wise investments of this Province, with the emphasis on

infrastructure spending, tax reduction and paying down debt, this Province is

well positioned to navigate the global economic downturn that we are facing. In

fact, we are very fortunate to be in that position and we attribute that to the

very wise, prudent, fiscal policies of this Province.

Mr. Chairman, it is because of those fiscal policies that this government

very recently announced an $800 million economic stimulus program. This was a 50

per cent increase over previous years and new infrastructure investments,

including several new projects. It demonstrates and confirms this government's

path of infrastructure investment and staying the course of significant

infrastructure investment in this Province. It is a level of spending never seen

before in this Province's history. It will create 5,400 person years of

employment this year and it builds on the $1.5 billion that we spent on our

provincial infrastructure programs over the last five years.

So, Mr. Chairman, with this announcement, combined with the mega projects of

Long Harbour, White Rose, Hebron, this Province is very well positioned and in

the envious position in comparison with a lot of other provinces to deal with

the economic downturn.

Mr. Chairman, I want to relay a little story if I could. A couple of days ago

I had the opportunity - I was parked in front of a certain business

establishment in Mount Pearl and rather than go into the parking lot I parked

out by the curb, and my wife went inside to pick up some purchases. While I was

waiting I realized that I was probably not parked in a proper location. I went

to back up a little bit to get out of the way of the crosswalk to accommodate

the people