Newfoundland and Labrador Hansard — Oral Questions — 14 April 2004 (45th General Assembly, 1st Session, Vol. XLV No. 16)
2004-04-14
Newfoundland and Labrador — Debates (Hansard)
April 14, 2004 HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY
PROCEEDINGS Vol. XLV No. 16
The House met at 2:00 p.m.
MR. SPEAKER (Hodder): Order, please!
Before we begin today's session, the Chair wishes to welcome all visitors
to the public galleries. However, in doing so I must remind all visitors that
they are not to participate or to demonstrate in any way nor to show any
approval or disapproval of any proceedings in the House.
On several occasions in this session, the Chair has been obliged to suspend
the sitting due to disorder which has originated in the galleries. In such
matters the Chair, as the presiding officer with responsibility to maintain
order and decorum, has had very few options but to ask persons who offend the
traditional rules of our House, to respect the House rules on order and decorum.
Any failure to immediately comply with the Speaker's request, leaves the
Speaker with no option but to suspend the sitting until order can be restored,
and no Speaker wishes to do that.
The Speaker, again today, asks all members to refrain from any participation
that might be seen as showing approval or disapproval of any proceedings in the
House. Again, I wish all visitors to know that you are always welcome in the
people's House.
Statements by Members
MR. SPEAKER: Today we have Statements by Members. Statements by the
Member for Grand Bank, the Member for Terra Nova, the Member for Grand Falls-Buchans.
The hon. the Member for Grand Bank.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MS FOOTE: Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Grand Bank
Theatre Festival Committee on signing well known writer and performer, Bernie
Stapleton, to write a new play for the 2004 festival season and to direct two
other plays for the festival this summer.
The Grand Bank Theatre Festival has had eight successful seasons to date and
each year boasts larger audiences. The addition of Bernie Stapleton to the
roster is sure to see even greater audience participation. In addition to the
tremendous support from people in Grand Bank and surrounding communities, the
festival has become a drawing card for tourists to the Burin Peninsula. It is
featured as a highlight in all of the tourism literature.
Local actors feature prominently in all productions and auditions for Ms
Stapleton's play will be held in May.
The performance this year will coincide with the celebrations of the French
presence in Newfoundland and Labrador. Nowhere is this presence felt more than
on the Burin Peninsula where there exists a very close relationship with the
people of St. Pierre and Miquelon. Many of whom are people from the Burin
Peninsula who married and moved to St. Pierre and Miquelon to live.
Mr. Speaker, I ask all members of this House to extend best wishes to the
Grand Bank Theater Festival Committee and to Ms Stapleton for a most successful
theater season.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Terra Nova.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. ORAM: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate a young entrepreneur from my
district, Mr. Chad Holloway of Port Blandford who has received equity funding
through the Department of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development, under the
Small Business Seed Capital Equity Program. This funding, Mr. Speaker, will be
used to purchase new equipment and to make other improvements to help expand the
operation by opening new markets.
Chad Holloway, who is currently a business student at Memorial University of
Newfoundland, started Newfoundland Firewood in 2000, and has grown this business
to be a major supplier of camp firewood to convenience stores, service stations
and parks.
Mr. Speaker, Newfoundland Firewood is a company with a new idea, and is
laying a foundation for the firewood industry across this Province. This company
has also developed a well deserved reputation for providing quality and
convenience to its many clients.
Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to ask this House to join with me in
wishing Chad much success as he continues to show the people of this Province
that young people can make a difference as entrepreneurs in Newfoundland and
Labrador.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Grand Falls- Buchans.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MS THISTLE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Kiwanis Club of Grand
Falls-Windsor, now in their thirty-ninth year of providing a center stage to
showcase the vast array of musical talent in our region.
Following an exciting week of performances by our very talented young people
in March, I am delighted to congratulate all participants and highlight the
major award winners for this year's festival.
The Exploits Valley High-Maple Big Band, under the direction of Michael
Snelgrove, was presented the Abitibi Consolidated Award for the Most Outstanding
Performance of the festival, as well as the Alphonsus Hennessey Memorial Award
for the Best Performance by a concert or jazz band.
Alana Noftall was the recipient of the Cater Memorial Rose Bowl for the Best
Solo Performance in Senior Competition and also received the Bernice Edwards
Memorial Award for the Best Piano Performance of the festival.
For the second time, Mr. Speaker, Carolyn Hatt was presented the Laura
Blackmore Award for the Best Solo Performance in Newfoundland Folk Music. Sarah
Evans' public speaking skills earned her the Effie Pike Memorial Award for
Best Performance in Solo Speech, and she was also presented the Greco Pizza
Donair Award for Best Performance in Junior Piano.
The Immaculate Conception Cathedral Choir, under the direction of Yvonne
Courtney, was presented the Howell Memorial Award for Best Performance by a
Church Choir, and Joel Burke was this year's recipient of the Kiwanis Club of
Grand Falls-Windsor $2,000 scholarship.
Mr. Speaker, I ask all members of this hon. House to join with me in
congratulating the award winners and as well congratulate the Kiwanis Club of
Grand Falls-Windsor on another successful music festival.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
Oral Questions
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Opposition.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. GRIMES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, media reports indicate that the union leaders have called for a
return to face-to-face talks today. Let me ask the President of Treasury Board,
since yesterday it is clear that the Premier has decided he is no longer
interested enough to answer questions in this House regarding the issue - and
maybe that is not a bad thing, the way he has been handling it, in any event.
Could I ask the President of Treasury Board: Will government and does
government plan to take the union leaders up on their offer in an effort to end
this strike, or do they plan to continue with their stubborn ways and refuse to
hold discussions unless there are written proposals exchanged?
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Finance and President of Treasury
Board.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SULLIVAN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
It has been, I must say, five days since we have put a proposal -
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!
MR. SULLIVAN: I do agree, Mr. Speaker, that we want to see this process
moved along.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
MR. SULLIVAN: Mr. Speaker, at the conclusion of the House today, or
shortly thereafter, I will put in a call -
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
Again, today I have to ask members for their co-operation. The minister has
been asked a question and is attempting to answer. I do believe that we should
let the minister answer without a lot of interruption.
The hon. the Minister of Finance and President of Treasury Board.
MR. SULLIVAN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I have already said that we have waited a fair amount of time, and I think it
is important that we get a resolution to it. We have to do our utmost. We want
to see a resolution to it. I will be phoning Mr. Puddister later today and
hopefully we can get things on track and get a resolution to this strike that is
occurring.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: A supplementary, the hon. the Leader of the Opposition.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. GRIMES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I am glad to see that, fourteen days into a totally unnecessary strike, they
might actually be going to talk to somebody. I guess that is encouraging news.
Mr. Speaker, the problem is that the incompetent and inexperienced
negotiators, like the President of Treasury Board and the Premier, basically
caused this strike and are continuing to prolong it.
Might I ask this question: Would he acknowledge, as the chief negotiator for
the government, that the union leadership at a point in time in these
negotiations have already agreed to a two-year wage freeze, provided concessions
disappear, and that their own experienced negotiators are telling them that
issue is not outstanding, is resolved, and that they do not have to worry about
whether or not there is going to be a two-year wage freeze?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Finance and President of Treasury
Board.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SULLIVAN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I can only go by what we have officially received. The last two offers we
have received from the union in writing, Mr. Speaker, indicate that - the first
offer indicated that they wanted 2 per cent in the first year, 2 per cent in the
second. The latest offer they put to us in writing indicated they want 1.5 per
cent in the first year and 1.5 per cent in the second year, so that is
absolutely not the written position we have received from the union.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: A supplementary, the hon. the Leader of the Opposition.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. GRIMES: Mr. Speaker, again, the inexperience, I guess, and the
incompetence is showing. They have not obviously talked to their senior
negotiators who would tell anybody in the world that they know this contract is
going to contain zero and zero.
Mr. Speaker, let me continue. The Premier and the President of Treasury Board
took advice from many of their very experienced negotiators on their own staff.
They would also realize that the pension issue - and they are being told, as I
understand it - is no longer outstanding; that, in fact, all the President of
Treasury Board has to do is put in writing, sign his name to what he said in
this Legislature yesterday and what he has said publicly to the people of
Newfoundland and Labrador, and the pension issue is -
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
I ask the hon. member now to complete his question.
MR. GRIMES: Yes, Mr. Speaker.
- resolved for the duration of this agreement. Does the President of Treasury
Board understand that? Is that not the advice that he has been given by his
chief professional negotiators?
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Finance and President of Treasury
Board.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SULLIVAN: Mr. Speaker, I have indicated that I will be calling Mr.
Puddister and speaking with him and I do not think it is appropriate to go into
aspects. I think that is best to be done in my conversation with Mr. Puddister
or at the negotiating table on those processes. I do not think it is the
appropriate place to exchange with the Leader of the Opposition to negotiate an
agreement through him.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: A supplementary, the hon. the Leader of the Opposition.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. GRIMES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, some people might find it a bit strange that it is okay
according to the President of Treasury Board to spell this out in full-page ads
but not to talk about it in the Legislature. This is where we should be talking
about some of these issues because they have made a complete and total mess of
it.
Let me deal with one other issue, Mr. Speaker. The school boards experienced
a nine-week strike two years ago because of inadequate staffing levels for
secretarial and janitorial services. The then Opposition encouraged us to find a
solution and applauded the government when we did.
Let me ask the President of Treasury Board: Why won't this government
simply renew the commitment - no new funds being asked for - to dedicated
funding for secretarial services and janitorial services so we can have safe and
clean schools rather than leave your request to have that disappear on the table
and leave it as an outstanding deal maker and deal breaker in this unnecessary
strike?
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Finance and President of Treasury
Board.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SULLIVAN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The Leader of the Opposition did reference what was in the media and what was
in an ad that we put out, and up until March 31, we had an offer on the table.
Since negotiations broke down up to that time, we did articulate our position
clearly.
AN HON. MEMBER: What was it?
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
MR. SULLIVAN: Mr. Speaker, as of today - and I have indicated here in the
House to the Leader of the Opposition, in response to his questions - I will be
calling Mr. Puddister and dealing with it. I do not think - having made the
decision that somebody has to move past this impasse and the willingness for us
to get back and do something - I do not think it is appropriate to discuss that
now here in a public forum -
AN HON. MEMBER: (Inaudible) in the newspapers but not in the House of
Assembly.
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
MR. SULLIVAN: - unless there is a breakdown in negotiations and the
impasse is not passed. I am hoping we will get by the impasse and we can move
forward.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
The hon. the Leader of the Opposition.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. GRIMES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Believe me, no one wishes more than I do that this unnecessary strike would
end. I believe that today, maybe instead of just being a phone call, they would
actually go and look each other in the eyes. Look at each other, respect each
other, Mr. Speaker, and find a solution. That is the answer.
Let me ask about the main issue that is at the very heart of this one. The
others are there, but this one, sick leave. The sick leave issue, Mr. Speaker,
continues to dominate public discussion. Government has already agreed that all
current workers can maintain their benefits. They have agreed to that. I see the
nodding of the heads. They have. Government and the health boards, through Mr.
Peddle, have agreed to a task force to formulate and recommend solutions for the
future.
Mr. Speaker, let me say this: There will be no new employees in the next four
years because there are going to be 4,000 people leaving -
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
I ask the hon. member now to get to his question.
MR. GRIMES: Yes, Mr. Speaker.
- leaving the public service, so there is no way to address any changes, have
any benefits and any savings for the government for at least four years with
respect to this issue. Why, Mr. Speaker, is this still the major issue in
government's mind, still the focus of their advertising campaigns, and the
main reason today for prolonging a totally unnecessary strike that they have
caused?
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Finance and President of Treasury
Board.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SULLIVAN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
We waited five days and we have decided to take a step, respond and try to
get this moving along. I do not think it is the proper thing. The Leader of the
Opposition asked - he talked about a blackout. We have agreed to try to move
this along after five days. I want to do it in good faith and that is to speak
to Mr. Puddister and deal with those issues in that process here, rather than
dealing with them in a public forum.
We only went, I might add, out in a public forum when negotiations broke
down, there was an impasse, and information was going out in the public that was
not accurate information that we had presented. We will continue to articulate
our position. We want to see a resolution to this. I am going to do what I can,
Mr. Speaker, to get a resolution. I think, in all fairness, give us an
opportunity to speak to Mr. Puddister to see if we can do something and do not
inflame the processes here in the House of Assembly.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Opposition.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. GRIMES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I am glad that the President of Treasury Board led to exactly
where I was going, and that is, unless the sick leave issue, which is as I have
just described, can do nothing to benefit anyone in the health care system or
anywhere else for the next four years at least, while the government's plan to
downsize the public service unfolds, unless that stays on the table and unless
there is another agenda to remove it anyway against the workers' will, all of
their professional negotiators are telling them they can have a deal within
fifteen minutes if they would only go into a room, act like grownups instead of
children, deal with the issues and end this strike.
Mr. Speaker, to help it happen, let me make the same offer I made a week ago.
I will gladly stop asking these questions and I will gladly agree to be part of
a media blackout so that the call he is going to make and the meetings that are
going to occur might actually finally, fourteen days later, lead to a
resolution.
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
I would ask the member now to complete his question.
MR. GRIMES: Would he like to have my commitment again today to stop
asking the questions and let the process occur?
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please! Order, please!
Again I remind people in the Gallery that they are not to participate or show
approval or disapproval of anything that is occurring on the floor of the House.
Again I ask all visitors here to respect the rules of the House, and we thank
you for that.
The hon. the Premier.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
PREMIER WILLIAMS: Mr. Speaker, we obviously have no problem with the
Leader of the Opposition asking questions, that is his right. We respect his
right to ask questions, and he is perfectly free to do so. We see no benefit in
having the Leader not ask questions. We think that is to everybody's benefit.
Just to inform this House and all members, I have instructed the minister, as
of today, as he has clearly indicated, that he is to contact Mr. Puddister this
afternoon. We have waited patiently for five days in order to get a response to
our last offer which was very clearly put in writing. The union has indicated
that it is not prepared to come back and respond to that offer. In order to move
things forward, in the best interests of the people of Newfoundland and
Labrador, in order to bring this strike to a successful conclusion, the minister
will be contacting Mr. Puddister this evening in order to move that forward. We
think that is the most constructive action we can take in order to end this
strike.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Torngat Mountains.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. ANDERSEN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
My question today is for the Premier.
Premier, last fall you made a commitment that your government would
commission an independent study to determine the best configuration for the
Labrador marine service. The survey cost approximately $150,000 and funds were
taken from the Labrador Transportation Fund. You also gave your word and your
government would implement this report. Premier, why have you once again
backtracked on your word, and why have you and your government once again misled
the people in Labrador?
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Transportation and Works, and
Aboriginal Affairs.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
Members know on this side of the House that it is their right to ask
questions, it is also the right of the government. All questions are always
directed to the government. The government will decide which minister, if either
minister, is going to reply.
The Chair recognizes the hon. Minister of Transportation and Works, and
Aboriginal Affairs.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. RIDEOUT: Mr. Speaker -
AN HON. MEMBER: You are not big enough (inaudible). You're not man
enough.
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
The proceedings of the House are not facilitated in any way by the throwing
of insults from one side of the House to the other. That does not facilitate the
purpose of Question Period. I ask all members for their cooperation.
Again, the Chair recognizes the Minister Transportation and Works, and
Aboriginal Affairs.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. RIDEOUT: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for his question, and I say this to him:
No government worth its salt would abrogate its responsibility to govern and
make decisions to a consultant. Mr. Speaker -
AN HON. MEMBER: Why did you hire him?
MR. RIDEOUT: Mr. Speaker, those people, when they were the government,
hired the SGE Group -
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!
MR. RIDEOUT: - they hired the SGE Group, Mr. Speaker, who made a
recommendation that the government of the day -
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
Again, the Chair asks members for their cooperation. The minister is trying
to give the answer, and disorder has occurred. Again, I ask members for their
cooperation. I am not sure whether the hon. minister is finished his answer or
not. If he has not, we can give him another twenty seconds or so to do so.
MR. RIDEOUT: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
As I was saying, that honourable crowd, when they were the government, hired
this group to do a study for them on the Labrador Marine Service. When they got
the recommendation, the recommendation said the service should stay in
Lewisporte until the road connection was completed to Happy Valley-Goose Bay,
and that honourable crowd, Mr. Speaker, rejected the recommendations of the
report.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Torngat Mountains, on a
supplementary.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. ANDERSEN: Premier, you gave your word. Premier, you gave your word to
the people in Labrador. Premier, your government talks of financial restraint,
yet you found money to do a study for a tunnel. You spent $130,000 to have an
audit of the provincial finances done to which you and your government claim you
already knew the answers. Now the coauthor of your $150,000 wasted Labrador
Marine Service study says your new configuration for Labrador Marine Services
will cost $1.7 million more annually, and not $600,000 that your government
says.
Premier, if the Province is as broke as you say we are, why are you and your
government cutting jobs and essential services while you continue to waste
money?
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Transportation and Works, and
Aboriginal Affairs.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. RIDEOUT: Mr. Speaker, the commitment made by the Premier, on behalf
of this government, when the public policy institute at Memorial University was
engaged to carry out the study of the Labrador Marine Services, was this: the
Premier committed publicly not to interfere with the independence of that group.
This government, or this Premier, or this minister - we have kept that
commitment, Mr. Speaker, no other commitment was made. That is the commitment
that was made and we have kept it.
On the figures that the hon. gentleman is throwing across the House, Mr.
Speaker, those figures are just as trustworthy as the $3 million to $7 million
that his colleague is throwing across. Those numbers are fantasy, Mr. Speaker.
They are the figments of the hon. gentleman's imagination. They are not close
to reality, Mr. Speaker, and we do not accept them.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Torngat Mountains, on a final
supplementary.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. ANDERSEN: Premier, your government paid $150,000 for a report on the
marine service which was completely ignored by your government; $150,000 which
was taken from the Labrador Transportation Fund only to implement your own plan.
A plan that will see an increase in the cost of delivering goods to Northern
Labrador; the only people, Mr. Premier, in this Province who totally depend upon
the marine service to get their goods delivered. While you and your government
were doing that, Mr. Premier, you axed $140,000 that paid for four Aboriginal
Constables on the North Coast of Labrador.
I ask, Premier, will you have the decency to rise in your seat today and
answer this question that the people on the North Coast of Labrador are asking:
What have we done to receive such harsh treatment from you and your government?
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Transportation and Works and
Aboriginal Affairs.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. RIDEOUT: Mr. Speaker -
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
MR. RIDEOUT: You will have to control them -
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
Again, the Chair asks for the co-operation of all members. A question has
been asked and the minister has the floor to give the answer. The Chair asks for
co-operation to facilitate that process.
The hon. the Minister.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. RIDEOUT: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, if providing a configuration of service that will include
freight delivery to the North Coast on a seven-day return instead of a
fourteen-day return, if that is inflicting pain and harshness on the people of
the North Coast of Labrador, I just do not get it. I do not understand it, but I
will say this, Mr. Speaker: In view of what their elected representative is
saying in the House, that the people of the North Coast of Labrador, according
to him, would prefer a fourteen-day turnaround out of Lewisporte as opposed to a
seven-day turnaround out of Cartwright - if that is what they are saying - I am
asking the people of the North Coast to let me know that and if they want to do
that, I can deliver it for them, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Port de Grave.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. BUTLER: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, the Premier and this government are developing a record of
misleading the public of this Province. The Premier often takes people's words
out of context and manipulates them for this own political purpose. It all part
of the credibility deficit. The latest example, Mr. Speaker, was in The
Telegram of yesterday, when he took comments made by the federal Minister of
Natural Resources, John Efford, out of context -
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!
MR. BUTLER: - and placed them in an advertisement, giving the impression
that he supported the Premier's position against striking workers.
I ask the Premier: Who approved this ad, and does he take full responsibility
for this attempt at manipulation of the facts?
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
PREMIER WILLIAMS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, the ad in question says, "Fiscally Responsible. With
responsible decision making, Budget 2004 reduced expenditures by $240 million.
Yet we still have the highest deficit in the Province's history".
There is a quote there from the Royal Commission on Renewing and
Strengthening Our Place in Canada. It says, "Newfoundland and Labrador's
budgetary deficit trend is unsustainable".
It says, "The province's mind-bogging debt is just not sustainable'."
That is a quote that is attributed to the Toronto-Dominion Bank's chief
economist.
The next quote is a quote from John Efford, the Minister of Natural
Resources. It says, "The province's fiscal situation is a financial
nightmare'."
"Yet, the latest proposal from both unions would cost our province an
accumulated $429 million...".
That is the ad in question. With respect to the comment that was made by Mr.
Efford, I heard last night that he came on the air and took objection to the
fact that his quote was used in this ad. I immediately responded, when I heard
the word. I apologized to Mr. Efford and we indicated that particular quote of
Mr. Efford's, which is an accurate quote, will be withdrawn.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: A supplementary, the hon. the Member for Port de Grave.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!.
MR. BUTLER: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I have to say at least one thing: I got the hon. gentleman out of his seat.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. BUTLER: Mr. Speaker, if people cannot speak publicly on issues
without their comments being taken out of context and twisted, how can
government carry on a dialogue with anyone? Now that the Premier has abused
relationships with our federal minister, I ask him: What long-term damage has he
done to the federal-provincial relationship that he is so proud of when John
Efford himself said, and I quote: This is not the way to go about good
federal-provincial relations.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
PREMIER WILLIAMS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I can also indicate to the hon. member that, in fact, I spoke to
Minister Efford this morning. I called him first thing this morning, as soon as
he was in his office, and indicated to him the context in which this was taken.
I also understand that today Minister Efford indicated that he was not taken out
of context; that, in fact, on the CBC Morning Show he did indicate that
"There's nothing that Minister Goodale could put in the budget today that
was going to address the short-term problems that Minister Sullivan has to
address in his financial nightmare...". Those are Mr. Efford's quotes.
He is not saying that he did not make those statements but I am certainly, on
behalf of the government, apologizing to Mr. Efford for having that quote in the
context of a union dispute. I laid that out very clearly on Open Line. My
comments are clearly on the record. I have said it publicly and I have said it
privately.
With regard to federal-provincial relations, we have very good provincial
relations, unlike the comments of the Leader of the Opposition when he said
under his regime they had hit an all-time low.
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
I ask the hon. the Premier now to finish his answer.
PREMIER WILLIAMS: We are building good relations.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
We have time for one short supplementary by the hon. the Member for Port de
Grave.
MR. BUTLER: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
This ad is further evidence of the Premier's fast and loose abuse of the
truth. He puts things like this out there and hopes no will challenge him on it.
The federal minister took him to task last evening and sent him scrambling to
get to the phone to apologize.
I ask the Premier: Will he also apologize to the people of this Province for
trying to mislead them with this kind of ad? How does he expect anyone to
believe him any more?
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.
I would ask the Premier if he could keep his answer relatively short to meet
our commitments to other members.
PREMIER WILLIAMS: Certainly, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I make no apologizes to the people of this Province, to try -
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
PREMIER WILLIAMS: - to try and do what is in their best interests because
hon. members opposite, and their government, left their Province in a complete
financial mess. What we are trying to do is achieve an affordable agreement that
is in the best interests of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians and our children
and our grandchildren.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Signal Hill-Quidi Vidi.
MR. HARRIS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
My question is for the Premier.
Now that it has become public that the Premier himself was not aware of the
joint task force on sick leave that was not acted on, and that the Minister of
Finance has admitted that there is no plan to change the Public Service Pension
Plan for the life of the proposed agreement, and that the NAPE leadership have
signaled that if concessions are taken off the table that the monetary issues
can be resolved, will the Premier not agree that perhaps the best course of
action right now to try and resolve this issue is to engage in the services of
professional mediators, which the Department of Labour has, as has been
suggested by NAPE, rather than get down face to face with perhaps a
pigheadedness and confrontational approach that may get these negotiations off
the rails rather than reach a solution? Wouldn't he agree that professional
mediation is perhaps the best course?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
PREMIER WILLIAMS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I certainly take the suggestion by the Member for Signal Hill-Quidi Vidi
under advisement; but, of course, what we are doing right now is responding, of
course, to the request by the union leaders. We did have a situation where we
had an impasse, and I indicated that in answer to his question yesterday, that
we had a prolonged period when there was nothing happening - that is now a
little over five days - so in order to break that deadlock today, as a sign of
good faith, what we did do is that the Minister of Finance is going to, in fact,
contact the union leaders and see whether they want a meeting or what course of
action they want to take. It will be agreed between the union and government as
to the next step to take, so we are open to all options.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Labrador West.
MR. COLLINS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
My question is for the Minister of Natural Resources.
Given the fact that the monitor for Voisey's Bay, employment was terminated
on March 31, I want to ask the minister: What was his government going to do to
ensure the people of Labrador West that the adjacency principle for employment
at Voisey's Bay will be adhered to?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Natural Resources.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. E. BYRNE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Just for the record, Mr. Speaker - it is very interesting. The Opposition -
Question Period is their Question Period, and every time they ask a question no
one wants to hear an answer to the question they are asking.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!
MR. E. BYRNE: The Member for Labrador West has asked a question. I would
like the opportunity to answer it, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
Again, I remind members that this constant interruption is merely taking up
time in Question Period unnecessarily. A question has been asked by the hon. the
Member for Labrador West and the Chair has recognized the hon. the Minister of
Natural Resources.
MR. E. BYRNE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
On November 6, the first day that I was appointed as the minister, the first
issue that came across my desk by the deputy minister was that we have no money
for the Voisey's Bay monitor because none was provided by the former
government. What will we do? The first thing we did, I say to the member, was
extend this position until March 31. That would give the new government time to
look at the effectiveness of the monitor.
E-mails that I had received while in Opposition from members from combined
councils to members generally in Labrador, councils in Labrador, even the
combined council meetings that I attended, questioned the effectiveness of the
monitor's position. The answer they had: It had no teeth. That person only
went into the mine site on one occasion.
Mr. Speaker, here is the answer that the member is looking for. For the last
two weeks we have been working on a solution that I am hoping to announce next
week that doesn't monitor the situation and puts in place -
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
I ask the minister now to complete his answer.
MR. E. BYRNE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
- that will put in place, possibly through the Public Service Commission, a
compliance position that ensures that Voisey's Bay Nickel Company complies
with their adjacency principle. That is what this government intends to do
within the next week.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
The time for Question Period has expired.
Petitions
[Disturbance in the Gallery]
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please! Order, please!
Again I ask the people in the Gallery for their co-operation. They have every
right to be present -
[Disturbance in the Gallery]
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please! Order, please!
The House will recess until order can be restored.
Recess
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
Before the recess the Chair was calling petitions, and I was about to
recognize the hon. member for Cartwright-L'anse au Clair.
The hon. the Member for Cartwright-L'anse au Clair.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I rise today to present a petition on behalf of constituents in my District
of Cartwright-L'anse au Clair. It is with regard to the Williams Harbour road,
Mr. Speaker. I won't read the entire petition but it will be tabled for the
House to certainly read at their pleasure.
Mr. Speaker, what the petition is asking is that the Government of
Newfoundland and Labrador give strong consideration, very strong consideration,
to building a road into one of the most remote communities in my district, a
route, Mr. Speaker, that not only has been looked at by engineers but also has
gone through an environmental assessment process, and is ready to be built.
Monday, when the people in this community and people all along the coast
heard that government had made a decision to move the Labrador passenger ferry
to Lewisporte at a cost of $1.7 million a year, or more, to the taxpayers of the
Province, they were absolutely astounded, Mr. Speaker, completely astounded, but
they were even more astounded when they found out that money was going to come
out of the Labrador Transportation Fund. Their money that they had been lobbying
for, to have a road to built to their community at a cost of about $5 million,
was now going to be used to provide marine services to people in Lewisporte, Mr.
Speaker. They were absolutely astonished. There was no other way to describe it,
because never in their lives did they ever think there would be a government in
this Province that could be so insensitive to the needs of people in a rural
area. They never dreamed that their money could be taken and put in trust to a
government that would use it to look after a service and to provide a service
that was totally unnecessary, in their opinion, when they were going without a
road connection.
Now, Mr. Speaker, what happened on Monday, the decision to put the Labrador
ferry, the passenger ferry, in Lewisporte to satisfy a commitment that the
Member for Lewisporte made during the election, when that was done, Mr. Speaker,
it was done on the backs of the people of Labrador because the money will come
out of their fund. It will come out of their Labrador Transportation Initiative.
Well, Mr. Speaker, back in 1996, when the Province signed onto a deal with
the federal government to do the transfer of marine services and then government
decided to build roads, that was what the money was intended for, Mr. Speaker,
for roads and marine services in Labrador. Williams Harbour is one of those
communities that is having to give up its marine services. They do not have the
service today that they had years ago and, Mr. Speaker, they thought they were
getting a road.
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
The hon. member's time has expired.
MS JONES: They thought that their money would be used to build a road for
them in their community.
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
The hon. member's time has expired.
AN HON. MEMBER: By leave.
MS JONES: May I have leave, Mr. Speaker?
MR. SPEAKER: The member requests leave.
AN HON. MEMBER: No.
MR. SPEAKER: Leave has been denied.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!
MR. E. BYRNE: (Inaudible) Mr. Speaker.
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
I do understand that leave has been granted, in consultation with the
Government House Leader.
The hon. the Member for Cartwright- L'anse au Clair.
MR. E. BYRNE: (Inaudible).
MR. SPEAKER: The Chair recognizes the hon. the Government House Leader.
MR. E. BYRNE: I have no problem providing members opposite with the
opportunity to conclude remarks on petitions, as one member and as Government
House Leader. We extend that courtesy to each other on a fairly regular basis,
but I do want to make the point that it should not be used - and I am not
suggesting that the member is using this, either - but it should not be used as
an opportunity to go on for another three minutes.
Standing Orders have a certain number of minutes attached for petitions, that
allow members - any member - to present a petition in a period of time to get
their points out. So, while we do not mind providing leave at any time to clue
up, I do want to just make the point generally - and this is not aimed at
anybody; I want to be clear on that - that it not be used as an opportunity to
abuse the Standing Order rule to go on in perpetuity or to double their amount
of time for petitions.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Cartwright-L'anse au Clair, some
concluding comments.
MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I will just say that I will not be at the mercy of the members opposite. I
will conclude my comments and sit down now, and present a petition tomorrow.
MR. E. BYRNE: A point of order, Mr. Speaker.
MR. SPEAKER: On a point of order, the hon. the Government House Leader.
MR. E. BYRNE: What is that? It is the Member for Twillingate & Fogo
again. I am on my feet. I cannot stand up without the Member for Twillingate
& Fogo engaging his mouth and yelling out. Any time he wants to get up and
speak, I will sit down and listen to him. I will provide him the courtesy
without interrupting him. The fact of the matter is, Mr. Speaker, every time I
stand on my feet, the Member for Twillingate & Fogo wants to stand out and
yap at me for something.
Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order today, of comments make by the Member
for Bellevue. Once today he said: Pinocchio - referring to the Premier - will
not get up; and on four other occasions he said: modern-day Pinocchio.
Mr. Speaker, I think it is pretty clear what the Member for Bellevue is
saying. I want to refer, Mr. Speaker - because I believe what he said, and
members heard it -
MR. REID: There is no point of order.
MR. E. BYRNE: The Speaker will decide, I say to the Member for
Twillingate & Fogo, if it is a point of order or not, not you, in your
capacity as the Member for Twillingate & Fogo.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. E. BYRNE: Mr. Speaker, I want to refer -
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
MR. E. BYRNE: Mr. Speaker, I want to refer to a decision made by former
Speaker Lush in this House. I believe it was on May 9, 1991, and here is what he
said, and I will quote it: In all of the proceedings in the House, be it in
Question Period, written questions, presentation of petitions, or debates, the
member's behaviour and presentation must adhere to the proprieties of the
House in terms of inferences, imputing motives or casting aspersions. When we
are talking about rules of the House, our House has made a lot of decisions
based upon the expression - this is important, Mr. Speaker - based upon the
expression that you cannot say indirectly what you cannot say directly, or you
cannot do through the back door what you are not allowed to do through the front
door. Mr. Speaker, he went on to say: and we have had several decisions based
upon these very principles.
I believe my point of order, Mr. Speaker - and I put it to you today to rule
upon - that the language used by the Member for Bellevue, when once he said:
Pinocchio will not get up out of his seat - referring to the Premier - and on
four separate occasions that: We have a modern-day Pinocchio, I think it is very
clear what he was indicating, that he is obviously casting aspersions and
imputing motives on the Premier. Without saying the word that never should be
said in any Legislature, he tried to accomplish what Speaker Lush ruled on in
May 1990. He tried to accomplish through the back door what he is not allowed to
accomplish through the front door.
Mr. Speaker, I ask you to review the situation, and I ask him to withdraw
those unparliamentary remarks.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Opposition House Leader, to the point of order.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. PARSONS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
To the point of order. First of all, we certainly appreciate the Government
House Leader bringing things of importance to our attention. Then, again,
sometimes he oversteps it, I believe, and steps maybe a little bit over the line
himself. It is one thing to keep decorum here, but like I have told him
repeatedly, and I will continue to say as long as I am in this position here and
we are over here, we will not be bullied by him or anyone over there.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. PARSONS: Now, once we get past that and we are past the bully
tactics, all of a sudden we have a very supersensitive Government House Leader,
I see, and the Premier - coming to the Premier's defence because it is very
obvious, Mr. Speaker, that the Premier himself certainly does not get up out of
his chair to answer any of the questions that have been asked here. If anything
has been done here - for the Government House Leader to suggest that you cannot
do through the backdoor what you cannot do through the front door, that is a
very good statement to make, but the Premier, of all people, should not be
relying upon using that type of statement: saying one thing and doing another.
Now, with regard to the exact word Pinocchio, I have heard a lot of things
used in this House referring to the Premier. Yes, it is a fantasy land figure.
Yes, it is a fictional figure. I have heard the word cow used. I have heard
Mickey Mouse being used here repeatedly. Repeatedly. I do not think, in any way,
it casts aspersions upon anybody. It talks about the person's behaviour. For
example, do you do one thing and say something else that is inconsistent? A lot
of times some of the stuff that we are hearing from the government side, and
particularly the Premier, is, in fact, from Disneyland and it does not fit
anywhere in reality of where we live in this Province.
I would suggest to the Government House Leader - and, Mr. Speaker, I would
submit, we do not have a point of order here. We have a very frustrated
Opposition who do not get any answers to the very legitimate questions that get
asked in this House of the Premier day after day after day and we get zero
response. On top of that, they stand up then and say: You have offended us. Do
not offend our sensitivities and call us Pinocchio or cows or Mickey Mouse; don't
do that.
I think this is not a point of order and it certainly did not cast any
negative aspersions upon anyone. It might be a reflection upon certain people's
behaviour but it certainly does not cast any negative aspersions upon him. Maybe
if the government started to live in the real world and give some real answers,
we would not have to deal with this nonsense by way of points of order.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Labrador West, speaking to the point
of order.
MR. COLLINS: A new point of order, Mr. Speaker.
MR. SPEAKER: No, no. We can only handle one point of order at a time. If
the member is speaking to the point of order that is now on the floor of the
House, yes, but if you are speaking to a new point of order, one at a time.
Any further presentations to the point of order raised by the Government
House Leader? If not, then the Chair will take these matters under advisement.
We will review the transcripts and other matters and come back to the House with
a ruling at a later date.
We have another point of order, I do believe, being raised by the hon. Member
for Labrador West.
MR. COLLINS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
That just demonstrates my great confidence in your ability to deal two at the
one time.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. COLLINS: Mr. Speaker, I want to raise a point of order today dealing
with comments made by the Member for Cartwright- L'anse au Clair that she made
publicly and in this House concerning the change in the ferry service with one
trip a week from Goose Bay to Lewisporte. She has indicated, and others have
indicated, that maybe I am out on a bit of a limb, that there are indeed groups
in my area who are against that.
I want to clarify, Mr. Speaker, that it is indeed far from true. One of the
groups that the Member for Cartwright- L'anse au Clair quoted was the Labrador
West Tourism Association. I have a letter from them saying that the Labrador
West Tourism Development Corporation is pleased with the announcement made by
Minister Rideout concerning the Labrador Coastal Marine Service.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. COLLINS: Mr. Speaker, she is correct -
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
The Chair is cognizant of the member's right to raise a point of order.
However, in doing so he should not use points of order to further debate which
can take place at another stage in our proceedings. So, I ask the member to
conclude his point of order as quickly as possible because we are aware of the
clock. We must go to Private Members in about a minute.
MR. COLLINS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
My point of order is that when any member of this hon. House of Assembly is
making statements in public then these statements should reflect the facts of
the reality and not leave something hanging in the balance which suggests
something that is totally different from what is actually taking place.
With that, Mr. Speaker, I will sit down.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: It is now at 3:00 p.m and I would ask leave of the House for
the Member for Cartwright- L'anse au Clair to speak to that point of order.
AN HON. MEMBER: By leave.
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Cartwright- L'anse au Clair.
MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Just to respond to the point of order for the hon. member's information. I
was quoting a letter from the Labrador West Tourism Association dated December
16, 2003, in which they did outline support for Cartwright for the marine
service. It is obvious, from the member's letter today, that they have had a
change in that perspective. Mr. Speaker, the letter was signed by Brenda Hodder
for Nick McGrath, as president of that association, who I understand is still
the president of that association. I also understand, Mr. Speaker, the past
President of the Progressive Conservative Association in Labrador West.
Thank you.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
As members will know that points of order should deal with either
unparliamentary language or some other infractions of the rules, or should deal
with some procedural irregularity. In this particular case, we have a
disagreement between two members in their
interpretation of facts. Therefore,
the Chair rules that there is no point of order. There might be a point of
clarification, but certainly not a point of order.
Private Members' Day
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
It being 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday afternoon, I do believe that we have a
private member's motion by the hon. Member for Lake Melville.
The Chair recognizes the hon. Member for Lake Melville.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. HICKEY: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
It is indeed a pleasure for me to stand before this hon. House today and to
present this motion on behalf of a very big industry, a major industry, the
economic industry of my district in Happy Valley-Goose Bay, 5 Wing Goose Bay. I
want to just read into the record, Mr. Speaker, the motion.
WHEREAS Canadian Forces Base 5 Wing Goose Bay has long been and remains one
of Canada's strategically important military bases, as well as a key military
training site for countries of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, normally
known as NATO; and
WHEREAS the future of 5 Wing has been clouded in uncertainty in recent
months, to the detriment of the people and economy of Happy Valley-Goose Bay;
and
strengthening its investment in national defence, particularly in light of
concerns about global terrorism and Canada's ongoing military operations in
Afghanistan and elsewhere; and
military flight training at 3 Wing Bagotville, Qubec and 4 Wing Cold Lake,
Alberta; and
WHEREAS the Minister of National Defence has announced significant financial
support for current training partners over the next two flying seasons and is
engaged in developing and implementing marketing, training and cost allocation
initiatives; and
WHEREAS the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is committed to ensuring
the future viability of foreign military training at 5 Wing and has been working
to achieve this objective;
THEREFORE
BE IT RESOLVED that this Hon. House call upon the Government of
Canada to expeditiously develop and implement a new strategic plan for 5 Wing
Goose Bay that includes substantial new investments in the base in order to make
optimal use of the infrastructure, expertise, geography, climate and other
tremendous advantages of 5 Wing while boosting the local economy and making
Canada stronger.
Mr. Speaker, this is probably one of the most important issues facing
Labrador today because the economy of 5 Wing Goose Bay pumps about $100 million
a year into the local economy and Goose Bay has been, certainly, a military
strength for this country ever since the 1940s.
I want to talk, Mr. Speaker, about some of the facts surrounding 5 Wing Goose
Bay and to talk about where we go from here. Mr. Speaker, in 1960, Canada,
through the Department of National Defence, entered into a ten year MOU with
Great Britain, Germany, the Netherlands and the foreign military flight training
program at Goose Bay. Italy later joined the MOU. This arrangement, mutually
beneficial at the time, no longer meets the partners costs and involving
operational requirements.
For 2000-2001, the foreign military flight training program at Goose Bay
provided approximately 1,880 person years of employment, contributed some $97
million to the provincial GDP and generated a further $36 million into
provincial government revenues. There were ninety-four DND military personnel,
124 civilian, 423 Circle employees, and 200 allied personnel, permanent
personnel, equating to approximately $13.3 million in annual wage expenditures.
The Department of National Defence currently allocates approximately $35 million
to $40 million annually to the operation and maintenance of 5 Wing, including
significant corporate and personal income taxes and other economic benefits as a
result, directly and indirectly, from the economic spinoffs of this program
which are returned to the Consolidated Revenue Fund of Canada and not to the DND
budget.
Mr. Speaker, although 5 Wing serves as a NORAD CF-18 forward deployment base
and is strategically located on the Great Circle Route, military officials have
indicated that Canadian Forces Base Goose Bay is not an operational requirement
for the Canadian Forces. From a strictly military perspective, the $35 million
to $40 million annual allocation in DND's budget for Goose Bay is therefore an
unnecessary expenditure which could be allocated to other firm operational
needs.
Mr. Speaker, the current training partners are reducing training and
personnel at Goose Bay, due to budget restraints and operational needs, and
emphasized that these decisions are not related to any dissatisfaction with the
training at 5 Wing. Canadian Forces' presence at 5 Wing has also decreased
over the last number years. Reductions include the Royal Air Force permanent
military personnel at Goose Bay reduced from 120 to thirty in 2002. The Italian
Air Force postponed construction of its $35 million hangar in 2002, the Royal
Netherlands air force withdrew from the MOU in 2003, and the German air force
reduced the number of training squadrons flying in 2003.
Since 1996, Mr. Speaker, there were an average of 6,000 to 7,000 sorties,
meaning flights, each training season, April to October. It is anticipated that
between 2003 and 2005 the average number of sorties will fall to approximately
1,800 to 2,500 sorties.
Mr. Speaker, I want to also talk for a few minutes about where we sit with
this particular industry and I want to talk about the Province's
participation. On December 18, 2003, Mr. Speaker, Premier Williams was the first
provincial premier to meet with Prime Minister Martin during which time the
Premier clearly conveyed the level of importance the Province places on the
future viability of 5 Wing Goose Bay. Premier Williams reiterated this message
during his meeting with National Defence Minister Pratt.
The Province has indicated to DND it is willing to assist wherever possible
and has suggested that within the parameters of environmental protection
legislation the assessment of the proposed training activities will be expedited
to ensure timely implementation. Over the next two years the Department of
National Defence is committed to developing, in conjunction with the Province
and local stakeholders, a long-term strategy to ensure the base's viability.
Premier Williams has publicly expressed interest in participating with the
Minister of National Defence in high-level international marketing activities,
and the Province has publicly indicated it is willing to review options
complementary to federal initiatives.
The Province currently offers significant Crown land, health and education
services to foreign military personnel and their dependants, tax incentives on
large durable goods exported to their country of origin and administrative
assistance wherever possible.
Mr. Speaker, when we look at the expenditure that is spent on defence in this
country, the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador receives less than 1 per cent
of the national defence budget. I think, Mr. Speaker, the time has come for the
federal government to make its commitment to 5 Wing Goose Bay and to start
looking at putting in substantial funds, so that we can put the technology there
to attract foreign allies to further their training in Labrador.
Mr. Speaker, in the government's Blue Book, we recognize the importance of
foreign military training at 5 Wing Goose Bay to the economy of the Lake
Melville region and to Labrador generally, and the Province generally, and
immediately identify the future viability of foreign military training one of
the top priorities of this government.
The Province acknowledges the recent commitment of the Prime Minister and the
Minister of National Defence to Canadian Forces Base Goose Bay. It is vital that
the Department of National Defence now move quickly to develop and implement the
measures required to ensure military training opportunities ordered at 5 Wing
meet the evolved training needs of current and potential training partners.
The Province is committed to working closely with the Department of National
Defence and the Goose Bay Citizens Coalition, and we demonstrated that during
the March 6, 2004 visit to Happy Valley-Goose Bay, in which the Premier and the
Minister of National Defence and myself and the MP for Labrador met with the
Goose Bay Citizens Coalition. A successful outcome for long-term viability of
the foreign military training program beyond 2006 will depend on the active
co-operation and collaboration of all three of these parties.
Our government will continue to press the federal government to implement
appropriate cost efficiencies and training opportunities in a timely manner to
ensure that 5 Wing is well positioned to meet the evolving needs of foreign
militaries. The Department of National Defence has the ultimate responsibility
to ensure that the action is taken to implement those specific initiatives. An
aggressive and comprehensive Department of National Defence marking plan is
essential to achieve success.
The Province will continue to support and work with the Department of
National Defence in developing a marketing strategy for 5 Wing and will
participate in high-level marking activities as appropriate. Premier Williams
has publicly expressed interest in participating with the Minister of National
Defence on these high-level international marketing activities.
Mr. Speaker, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is providing support
for training operations at 5 Wing Goose Bay, and that includes 130,000 square
kilometres of land and air space, and the health and education services for
foreign military personnel and their dependents. The Province has publicly
indicated that it is willing to review operations complementary to federal
initiatives.
I call upon this hon. House today, Mr. Speaker, to support this motion
because it is of vital importance to my district, the District of Lake Melville,
to the town in which I live, the Town of Happy Valley-Goose Bay, but more
importantly to the men and women who work there each and every day: men and
women who have been trained to support military operations at 5 Wing; men and
women who have long-term experience dealing with and serving this type of an
operation.
Mr. Speaker, I will do my utmost as a member of this House to ensure that
this issue stays alive and well in this hon. House and in the public eye,
because we cannot lose this opportunity and this base. This would be absolutely
devastating to the people and to the community of Happy Valley-Goose Bay. It
would be a dreadful end to a long military history, a history that has been
prominent with the United States Air Force way back since the 1940s.
I call upon all members of this House to support this resolution as we move
forward and convince the federal government to put the investment in 5 Wing
Goose Bay that it so readily deserves.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Torngat Mountains.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. ANDERSEN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Certainly it is a pleasure to stand and speak to the private member's
resolution put forward by the Member for Lake Melville.
Mr. Speaker, there is no question of the importance of 5 Wing Goose Bay for
what it means to the economy in Happy Valley-Goose Bay. Mr. Speaker, I became a
resident of Happy Valley-Goose Bay in 1974. My two daughters were born and
raised there. One is now graduating from university with a teaching degree, this
spring. My other daughter now is graduating from the College of the North
Atlantic in Happy Valley-Goose Bay. Mr. Speaker, the importance of the base is
crucial to all of Labrador.
Many times people from my riding, who were left out in the cod fishery,
travelled to Happy Valley-Goose Bay. As a matter of fact, Mr. Speaker, I would
estimate that in the last three years close to 300 people from the North Coast
have moved into Happy Valley-Goose Bay and made it their place of residence as
well.
Mr. Speaker, I spent eighteen years involved in the Minor Hockey Association
and I coached young boys and girls in the minor hockey system whose parents were
from Germany, from the United States, from all across Canada and almost every
country in the world. Mr. Speaker, we need stability in that community. The last
four or five years have seen a big decline in jobs in Happy Valley-Goose Bay and
in the surrounding area.
Mr. Speaker, I believe the biggest task that we have is with the federal
government. I know that the Member for Lake Melville, who was the former Mayor
of Happy Valley-Goose Bay, travelled to Ottawa on many occasions. Mr. Speaker,
every time we go to Ottawa with a new approach we have seen that the federal
government is interested, only to come back and to find out that they have now
changed their tune and have a different spin on things.
Mr. Speaker, I believe that until the Minister of National Defence fully
grapples and takes hold and plays a key role here, that we are always going to
have disappointments.
I know that just recently a coalition was formed. The Member for Lake
Melville, along with members from his government here, with the Mayor of Happy
Valley-Goose Bay and the MP, travelled to Ottawa. Since then, the minister
outlined some initiative which would cost allies less; but, Mr. Speaker, my fear
about that is: Did they already know that the allies were on their way out? Even
though they said this, and it was good news for all of us in Labrador, it had
very little effect on how we can attract and maintain people to Happy
Valley-Goose Bay.
Mr. Speaker, I am not going to speak very long today because this is a good
resolution. It is a strong resolution. I would ask this, Mr. Speaker. Some years
ago we had an all-party committee that travelled to Ottawa and lobbied the
federal government for more money for the TAGS program, and we were successful.
I do not want to take anything away from the Member for Lake Melville and from
his resolution, because it is a good resolution. It is one that every member
here should support, because I certainly know the effect it is having on the
people, the men and women, in Happy Valley-Goose Bay. As much as we hear people
here crossing the ferry to go to the Maritimes and down through Canada, we have
people in Goose Bay who are going over the Trans-Labrador Highway. It is not
easy when parents say goodbye to their sons, daughters and their grandchildren.
Mr. Speaker, to take nothing away from the member's resolution, I move the
following amendment to the motion, seconded by the Member for Cartwright-L'anse
au Clair: Be it further resolved that an all-party committee of this House of
Assembly be established to work on this issue.
Again, Mr. Speaker, to have an all-party committee to keep this very
important issue alive and well certainly, I think, would help the people in
Happy Valley-Goose Bay. The member knows that this issue has to be first and
foremost, because any more job losses in Happy Valley-Goose Bay are going to
have a devastating effect, not just in Happy Valley-Goose Bay but all across
Labrador.
Mr. Speaker, again, not to take anything away from the member's motion, I
believe that the success we have had with some all-party committees before, that
I move this motion. Mr. Speaker, the bottom line is that I fully support the
resolution put forward by the Member for Lake Melville. I can tell you that just
as important as the fishery was to most of the Island of Newfoundland, 5 Wing
Goose Bay is just as important to the stability of the economy in Labrador. The
member can rest assured that I will fully support this motion, and I would ask
that they would consider the amendment that I put forward.
MR. SPEAKER (Fitzgerald): The hon. the Member for Cartwright-L'anse au
Clair.
MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
It is a pleasure to rise and speak to the motion that has been put forward by
my hon. colleague, the Member for Lake Melville. Mr. Speaker, I understand fully
how important 5 Wing Goose Bay is to the member's district, but important to
all of Labrador and to our Province. Any business, any base, any operation that
generates revenue and wealth for the people of Newfoundland and Labrador is good
for all of us. Mr. Speaker, I understand that, and I also understand how the
member opposite feels when he knows that this base could be threatened and that
the future of it could be threatened.
Mr. Speaker, I live in a district that has gone through tremendous job loss
over the years with the closure of the fishery. We have had to make some
remarkable comebacks and be very innovative in the things that we have done to
save our communities. Announcements like the one this government made Monday
will put another 100 people in my district out of a job this year. So, I know
how important it is to fight for the industry that we have and the businesses
that we have.
Mr. Speaker, what is unfortunate with regard to 5 Wing Goose Bay is that it
is a base, and I guess we all realize this, we did not have to listen to the
Colonel for 5 Wing Goose Bay say it. Goose Bay is a base, it is a Canadian
Forces Base, that is not an operational requirement for the Department of
National Defence. Mr. Speaker, 5 Wing exists only because of the allied
countries that use it. I think we all realize that, because of the scope of the
work they do and the kind of training they do, I guess it makes it even more
vulnerable in the eyes of the people who work there, and certainly in the eyes
of the people who crunch the numbers within the Department of National Defence.
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
I hate to interrupt the member, but I would just like to make note of the
fact that the resolution that has been put forward by the Member for Lake
Melville has been amended by the Member for Torngat Mountains, and the Chair
rules that this particular amendment is in order. The amendment reads: Be it
further resolved that an all party committee of this House of Assembly be
established to work on this issue. So, the Chair rules that this amendment is in
order.
The hon. the Member for Cartwright-L'anse au Clair.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I certainly thank the Member for Lake Melville for supporting the amendment
put forward by my colleague, the Member for Torngat Mountains, and say to him,
that we are happy to work side by side with you, to try and deal with the issues
that are confronting Happy Valley-Goose Bay
and 5 Wing Goose Bay.
Mr. Speaker, we know that task is not an easy task, we know that, because we
have seen and heard of the briefing notes that have circulated internally within
the Department of National Defence, the story that broke a few weeks ago about
briefing notes that indicated that the writing was on the wall for the base in
Goose Bay. Mr. Speaker, the minister federally has said that he had no knowledge
of those notes, he had no knowledge of those comments, and that he certainly did
not support them, and would not affiliate himself with the remarks that were
written by bureaucrats within his own department.
Mr. Speaker, we know that the task is not an easy one and so does the Goose
Bay Citizens' Committee, a group of remarkable people in Happy Valley Goose
Bay who went out and put their time and energy into tackling this file. They
have been able to bring some of the strongest partners and leaders in the upper
Lake Melville area to the one table, to deliver a strong message to Ottawa, and
they have been supported by the MP for Labrador on this file, as well, Mr.
Speaker.
Sometimes things are deceiving, because when I sat in the House of Assembly a
while ago and listened, I think it was when the Budget Speech came down, the
government talked about the work they had done on the 5 Wing Goose Bay file. I
listened to all the crowd opposite cheering and, Mr. Speaker, I thought the
problems were solved. I honestly thought the problems were solved and that Goose
Bay was going to be alright. I thought that the long term plan was done, the
Premier had gone to Ottawa, the deal was done and signed and delivered for the
people of Happy Valley- Goose Bay. Mr. Speaker, do you know that what really
transpired was the opportunity to buy two years of time for the people that work
on the base in Goose Bay, two years for the leadership in the community to put
forward a plan to try and save the base, to look at what over kinds of training
can be done there, to diversify the scale and the work that is being offered
through that particular centre. We cannot deceive people into thinking that a
problem is fixed when indeed it is not.
Mr. Speaker, sometimes you have to be very cautious about what you buy into,
because the plan right now in Happy Valley-Goose Bay is to modernize and
downscale the base at Goose Bay to a point where it becomes an efficient
military operation in the eyes of the Canadian Government. Well, I would be very
concerned, and I am very concerned, about that, Mr. Speaker, because we are
seeing military presence decline at a rapid rate. The member gave out the
numbers a while ago. In the British air force alone, I think, we have seen the
personnel go from 120 down to 30 permanent personnel right now. He quoted some
other numbers. Mr. Speaker, we are seeing the number of uniforms decline. We are
seeing less and less infrastructure on that base for them to operate. They are
closing up buildings, they are dismantling properties, they are making a smaller
footprint for the base, Mr. Speaker, and we have to be very cautious about those
things. Although we are buying in and we want to make sure that we can have an
efficient base to operate, remember, Mr. Speaker, the lower the numbers go the
smaller the footprint is, the easier it is for the federal government to back
out on Goose Bay altogether. We have to be very careful of that and we have to
watch it.
Mr. Speaker, I also want to quote a couple of other things. I know that the
member talked about some numbers and he talked about some of the allies, because
we all know that Goose Bay exists only because of the allied countries. What we
have seen is not only a decline in the permanent personnel for the Royal air
force but we have also seen the Dutch air force, who have just ended their MOU
and pulled out in the last year. We have already heard the member talk about
changes in the Italian Air Force and how they have postponed expansions and new
properties they were going to build.
Mr. Speaker, only a little while ago I had an opportunity to meet and have
dinner with the commander of the German Air Force and he indicated to me, at
that time, that they have no plan beyond 2006, in terms of what the German Air
Force presence will be in Happy Valley-Goose Bay. He also told me something that
very much concerned me, and that was that in Germany right now they are closing
out a lot of their small bases all around their own country, which is an
indication of tightening their (inaudible) and National Defence. So that can be
worrisome as well.
Mr. Speaker, no doubt this is a major, major issue for the people in Happy
Valley-Goose Bay area, and for people all over Labrador because when one aspect
of our economy is successful, then other aspects can grow from it. We already
know that there are millions of dollars right now being dropped in the local
economy just in salaries and wages alone. That is not considering the spinoff
effects for businesses, for contractors that have work to do on the base in
Goose Bay. It has, no doubt, been the main driver of economic activity in that
area. I know, I have talked to a lot of the people who worked on this base over
the years.
Actually, back a few years ago there were - I do not remember the exact
number. The member opposite probably does - but I think it was something like
2,000 people who lost their jobs and were moved out of Happy Valley-Goose Bay to
other bases. That had a tremendous impact on the local economy; probably an
impact that we have not really recovered from yet fully. So, I know how the
people on the base and the people in Goose Bay are feeling. I have talked to
people who are uncertain, even about buying a new home there right now; about
investing their money in the community because they do not know if they will
have a job in a year from now or two years from now when the MOU runs out in
2005. So, I mean, these are the kinds of decisions that people are deliberating
with. Yes, we need to be able to shore up the activity there, shore up the jobs
for those people there and shore up the revenue that is generated, not only into
the local economy, but into the national economy. There is a great deal of
revenue that is generated from that base which goes directly into the revenue of
the federal government. So, they are earning money from the activity that is
occurring there from allied countries.
Actually, Mr. Speaker, it could be an operation, with the right money from
the federal government, the right investment in marketing, and the right
approach by the provincial government to help deliver it on behalf of the
people. What you could see in Goose Bay is a base that is generating more
revenue for the federal government than any other base that it has in the
country. We could possibly see that, because it is a new source of money. It is
imported money. It is coming from foreign countries. It is not coming out of the
general revenue of the taxpayers of Canada, like it is in Coal Lake, Alberta -
as the hon. member would, I am sure, agree. Coal Lake, Alberta is heavily funded
by the federal government to provide the operations that are being provided
there. This is an opportunity, Mr. Speaker, for the Canadian government to
partner with us to make the investment and to ensure that we are able to
generate new activity, new training programs, diversify the ability of the base
to be able to do a number of things. In the meantime, they can also capitalize
on it as well. It is about growing the training facility and growing the
programs that are offered there and being able to assure that the allies can
come there and operate there on a cost-competitive basis.
Mr. Speaker, I heard just last week that the base commander in Goose Bay was
informed by Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro that the rates in the base will
again increase. The base in Goose Bay is probably paying one of the highest
industrial rates for electricity in this Province right now. I can understand
why the base commander is concerned when he gets a letter from Newfoundland and
Labrador Hydro in the last week or so telling him that the rates are going to go
up again.
Mr. Speaker, the provincial government, and the Member for Lake Melville,
just brought this motion onto the floor of the House today. One of the things
that he might want to suggest to his Premier and the minister of mines and
energy and forest resources to do immediately, is to go to Hydro and tell them
not to increase the industrial rate for 5 Wing Goose Bay. Because, once again,
that is just a fee that they will have to pass along to the allied countries and
it is a fee that these countries cannot afford at the present time. That is one
thing that the provincial government can do immediately, Mr. Speaker. I know
that the member, who is very concerned about this, will certainly bring that
forward to his government and try and have them interject, intervene, on behalf
of the people of 5 Wing to try and get that sorted out.
Mr. Speaker, there are a number of things, I guess, that have to be looked at
from a provincial level as well as a federal level. One of them I just talked
about with the industrial power. That is just one of them. There also has to be
resources made through the provincial government to provide the kind of support
that the Goose Bay coalition will require to do the research, to be able to get
out there and make their presence known within the federal government, to get
out and do the kind of marketing that needs to happen on an international basis
because, Mr. Speaker, they are competing. They are competing, not in their own
country altogether, but they are competing all over the world for the same
allies, for the same kinds of training, for the same kinds of programs and so
on. They have to make sure that they have the resources as a coalition, as well
as the support of the government, but they also have to have the resources to go
out and put their views forward, and do the best marketing and the best lobby
campaign that they can possibly do. At the end of the day, Mr. Speaker, it is
about people's jobs, people's livelihoods, and it is about people who have
business and money invested that all centres around this economic piece of the
pie. If that does not survive and does not grow in tribe, then neither will any
of the other things that are indirectly affected by it.
Mr. Speaker, I am not going to go on and talk much further. I know that the
Member for Labrador West would like to make a few comments on this, and I am
sure that the Member for Lake Melville would like to add more comments to the
debate, but what I will say, Mr. Speaker, is that we cannot be leading people to
believe that the problem is fixed when the problem is still very substantial. I
say that to the hon. members across, because if you listened to the pounding on
the desk on Budget day, I think it was, I would have certainly thought the
problems all fixed; but they are far from fixed and they will require a great
deal of support from the provincial government, from all the people in the
Province, from the federal government, in order to really stabilize this base in
the way that it needs to be. I only caution the member that there are things
that can be done now with industrial rates and other things that have to be done
immediately, and also to say to him: Be very, very aware of making the footprint
smaller, because the smaller you make the footprint, the less uniforms you have
going into the base; the less military presence you have there, the easier it is
for the federal government at the end of the day to walk away and renege on
their requirements and commitments, Mr. Speaker.
I just want to say that I support the motion put forward, I support the
amendment by my colleague, the Member for Torngat Mountains, and say that I am
certainly prepared to work side by side with any members in this House, any
people in Labrador, to push this file to where it needs to be and to see
stability brought to 5 Wing Goose Bay and protection for the people who work
there, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you.
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Labrador West.
MR. COLLINS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I would like to rise today, as well, and make a few comments on the private
member's motion that was put forward by my colleague, the Member for Lake
Melville.
Mr. Speaker, this is a very serious motion and it covers a very serious
issue. Five Wing Goose Bay is to Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Central Labrador, and
indeed all of Labrador, what the mining industry is to my area of Labrador West.
It is of equal importance because a great deal depends upon it. I shudder to
think, Mr. Speaker, what would happen in my own district if something were to
happen to that 5 Wing Goose Bay, because an awful lot of traffic comes through
my area en route there that would no longer be required if there was a huge
downturn in the base or if it should cease operations all together. So it is
important, Mr. Speaker, to all of Labrador.
Mr. Speaker, given the fact that our allies were great users of 5 Wing Goose
Bay, and the fact that we need to vigorously seek out new markets, seek out new
partners and seek out greater uses for 5 Wing Goose Bay, it is important that a
concerted effort be made by everyone in this Province to make sure that nothing
negative impacts upon the future of Happy Valley-Goose Bay area and 5 Wing Goose
Bay. It is important, Mr. Speaker, that the Minister of National Defence very
soon state clearly some solid concrete proposals that they intend to put in
place for Happy Valley-Goose Bay. I suggest that the time to get that and the
time to nail that down and get some solid commitment is prior to the next
federal election. I think the timing is appropriate. The timing will probably
never be better to get a commitment from the federal government than now.
I know that our federal MP Lawrence O'Brien has been working hard on this
and he has had conversations with many people, not necessarily those who are
actively working on the file but other people besides, like myself and other
councillors around Labrador. He has been updating them from his perspective and
the involvement that he has had. One thing that I feel certain about is that Mr.
O'Brien will not leave any stone unturned in his efforts to seek security for
5 Wing Goose Bay and Happy Valley-Goose Bay in conjunction with the MHA for the
area who, I am sure, is very familiar with what is happening at the base, not
since he has been an MHA but for many, many years prior to that in his role as
mayor and on the council there as well. So, you know, we have two people totally
familiar with what is happening to the base and they are in positions to
certainly generate other people around them, bring them on board to fight as
hard as possible to make sure that the outcome is what people in Happy
Valley-Goose Bay need in order to sustain their community in the way that it has
been in the past.
Mr. Speaker, one of the ideas or one of the uses in addition to the allies -
it may be a smaller thing but I think it is an important thing - we hear a lot
of talk in the last number of weeks and months about our sovereignty in the
Arctic, for example. Goose Bay is strategically located where it can play a big
role in maintaining our sovereignty in the northern areas of Canada and in the
Canadian Arctic. There are other uses, I am sure, that the member has talked
about earlier that can be used to reinforce. They are great additives, in
addition to the allies, that may be able to be attracted to continue using 5
Wing Goose Bay as they have in the past.
It is very important, Mr. Speaker, to understand what happens to any
community when their primary industry or their primary source of employment is
negatively affected by being reduced, because most primary industries or the
primary employer in any area, when they reduce their workforce, the spinoff
industry is hit by about two, three, four to five times as hard. For every one
job in the primary industry there is a reduction - for one job lost - of four to
five jobs lost in the secondary industries and in other sectors that cater to
the industry. There is a ripple effect, Mr. Speaker, that trickles down through
and totally plays havoc with all of the employment opportunities that may be
valuable in any community.
Mr. Speaker, the amendment proposed by the Member for Torngat Mountains, that
an all-party committee be established to help in the efforts to preserve 5 Wing
Goose Bay is, I think, a welcomed addition to the motion made by the Member for
Lake Melville. I think it demonstrates to the public, it demonstrates to
everyone, Mr. Speaker, the seriousness of this issue when, even though there may
be different political stripes in this House of Assembly, on an issue such as
this, so vitally important to all of Labrador, that all parties can come
together united and fight for a common purpose. I think that sends a clear
message not only to the people in Happy Valley-Goose Bay and throughout
Labrador, but it also sends a clear message to Ottawa and to the people who will
have to be dealt with up there.
Mr. Speaker, again, I want to say very clearly to the Member for Lake
Melville, we fully support this resolution here today and we are willing to do
whatever is necessary to help him and others in their efforts to make sure that
5 Wing Goose Bay remains a viable base in this Province and in this country.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Lake Melville.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. HICKEY: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
I want to, first of all, thank the Member for Torngat Mountains, the Member
for Cartwright-L'anse au Clair, and the Member for Labrador West, for speaking
to this motion here today and for their support. I also want to support the
amendment put forward by the Member for Torngat Mountains. I welcome an
all-party committee and to participate in an all-party committee on this
particular resolution.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. HICKEY: Mr. Speaker, there are a number of other points that I want
to make, just for a few minutes, just so that we cover as many of them as we
can. This is a large, large issue, a large file with a lot of information and a
long history, Mr. Speaker.
I want to correct something that the Member for Cartwright-L'anse au Clair,
when she said about the wages for 5 Wing Goose Bay. I want to just put into the
record again that it is $13.3 million in wages that are paid out into the local
economy, to the men and women who work at 5 Wing Goose Bay. That is a lot of
spinoffs, Mr. Speaker. That is really the heart and soul, the economic engine of
the entire Lake Melville region.
I want to talk a couple of minutes, because we did not cover some of the
things that have been very annoying, very troubling for me as a resident, as an
MHA, that is happening in news reports that we are hearing. Over the past week,
Mr. Speaker, we have heard reports that there is going to be in excess of $200
million spent in Bagotville, Qubec for CF-18 training simulators. We have
heard comments made in the press in Coal Lake, Alberta where the Department of
National Defence is wooing the RAF to put most of their assets in planes in Coal
Lake, Alberta for six to seven months of the year. I want to say this, Mr.
Speaker, in our Province of Newfoundland and Labrador we get less than 1 per
cent of the National Defence budget. Ten percent of the recruits of the men and
women of the Armed Forces come from the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. HICKEY: I want to remind the Prime Minister and the Minister of
National Defence and the MP, and all those in the federal system, that we plan
on leaving no stone unturned to ensure the long-term viability of 5 Wing Goose
Bay. It is a billion dollar piece of infrastructure, Mr. Speaker. It is a
billion dollar piece of infrastructure. It has the longest runway of 11,500
feet, anywhere on the East Coast of Canada. And I want to say, Mr. Speaker, that
we are working together to ensure that. That is what the Goose Bay Citizens
Coalition - and I want to recognize their good work here today, in my district,
along with the mayor, Mayor Abbass of Happy Valley-Goose Bay, and Mr. Randy
Ford, president of the local union on the base, Mr. Peter Chaytor, president of
another union here on the base. I want to say all of these people are working
together because we know how important this is to our future.
I have heard members in this hon. House say since I have been here, in the
short time I have been here: We are watching our sons and daughters leave. Well,
I want to say, Mr. Speaker, my goal here as an MHA is to see our sons and
daughters stay in the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. HICKEY: I want to say, Mr. Speaker, that one of the ways they will
stay is if we ensure that the Department of National Defence continues to
support 5 Wing Goose Bay and that we offer our base to our NATO allies because
Labrador is the best training centre anywhere in Canada, anywhere in the world!
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. HICKEY: I want to say, we want to make sure that it stays that way
for the long term, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, in conclusion, I want to thank this hon. House today for their
support and their time. I will say to you that I look forward to working with an
all party committee to ensure that we keep the file of 5 Wing Goose Bay alive
and well in the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador and, in particular, the
great District of Lake Melville, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you very much.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Government House Leader.
MR. E. BYRNE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Just before we move to the vote, I just want to congratulate all members who
participated, in particular, my colleague the Member for Lake Melville, and to
say to the Member for Torngat Mountains, in terms of the amendment that he has
proposed for an all party committee, he can be assured that we will support that
amendment. Between myself, as Government House Leader and speaking with the
Opposition House Leader, we have worked out an arrangement to do exactly that.
We are pleased to support that. We look forward to a unanimous vote on this very
important private member's resolution today, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: Are we ready for the votes?
All members in favour of the amendment please say aye'.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Aye.
MR. SPEAKER: Against?
The amendment is carried unanimously.
All those in favour of the motion as amended say aye'.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Aye.
MR. SPEAKER: Those against?
The resolution as amended is carried unanimously.
It being Wednesday the House stands adjourned until tomorrow, Thursday at
1:30 p.m.