May 10, 2012

HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS Vol. XLVII No. 30

The House met at 1:30 p.m.

MR. SPEAKER (Wiseman): Order, please!

Admit strangers.

Today we are very pleased to welcome to our galleries six Level II students

who are Silver Edinburgh Award recipients. The students attend Elwood High and

are from the District of Humber Valley. They are accompanied today by a number

of their chaperones, together with their teacher Brenda Bingle, who is also the

leader of their program.

Congratulations on your award, and welcome to our Assembly.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

Statements by Members

MR. SPEAKER: Today we are going to have members' statements from the

Member for the District of Bonavista South; the Member for the District of St.

John's Centre; the Member for the District of Terra Nova; the Member for the

District of Lake Melville; the Member for the District of Humber Valley; and

together with the Member for the District of Burgeo La Poile.

The hon. the Member for the District of Bonavista South.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. LITTLE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, hon. colleagues, I would like to recognize and congratulate the

members of the Heritage Huskies Cheerleading team of Heritage Collegiate School

in Lethbridge, Bonavista Bay for their recent victory. The thirty-two member

team participated in a two-day competition on March 24 and March 25 at Cheer

Expo in Halifax, Nova Scotia that included over 200 cheerleading teams. The

Huskies competed in the Open Senior Level II category, and due to a flawless

performance, they were able to bring home a national banner. This was achieved

through many hours of hard work and dedication.

After only two years as a team, it is quite an accomplishment that they

secured a national banner, while competing with individuals who had been

practicing since they were as young as five-years-old or six-years-old. In fact,

this is only the second time the team performed in public, the first time being

when they attended the provincial competition and won the title in their

category. Coach Janice Harnum is to be commended for giving so much of her time

and effort.

Mr. Speaker, members of the House, please join me in congratulating the

Heritage Huskies on a job well done.

Thank you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS ROGERS: Mr. Speaker, it is Mental Health Week here in Canada, and I

rise today to thank an organization based in my district for all the incredible

work they do to help people living with mental illness.

The Consumers' Health Awareness Network Newfoundland and Labrador, better

known as CHANNAL, is a provincial grassroots organization run for and by

individuals with mental health issues.

CHANNAL does so much to help people get stronger. They provide all kinds of

support for people, including self-help groups, social activities, counselling,

and advocacy.

In any given year, one in five Canadians will face a mental health problem.

Mental illness still causes fear among those who do not understand it and people

living with mental illness often face a double challenge of dealing with stigma.

CHANNAL works tirelessly to combat that stigma. In a joyous and a strong way,

what fantastic work they do.

Mr. Speaker, I ask all hon. members to join me in celebrating the employees

and volunteers at CHANNAL. Bravo, yes, bravo again to CHANNAL for their

incredible work!

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

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

I rise today to recognize and commend the Dover and Area Community Family

Coalition. This non-profit, community-based organization provides a valuable

service in a number of towns throughout my district. While the hub site is in

Dover, there are satellite sites in Gambo, Glovertown, and Eastport, as well as

a site operated in my colleague's District of Bonavista North in the Town of

Centreville. In total, Mr. Speaker, they provide service to seventeen

communities.

Their mandate is to create healthy and safe environments for children to

learn and grow, while at the same time teaching both the children and their

parents, important skills.

Mr. Speaker, I have firsthand experience with this group, as my

fifteen-month-old daughter is currently enrolled in one of the programs at the

Family Resource Centre in Glovertown. As new parents, such groups are so vitally

important. It allows children to have interaction amongst their peers while at

the same time providing time for parents to network and share ideas with one

another.

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

Nicole Parsons, Program Coordinator, and all her very skilled and capable staff

members and all those who volunteer. You are all to be commended.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Lake Melville.

MR. RUSSELL: Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today in this hon. House

to recognize the 2012 graduating class of the Eric G. Lambert School in the

community of Churchill Falls in the great District of Lake Melville.

Mr. Speaker, it was my pleasure and privilege to be a part of the ceremony

and celebrations this past Saturday, May 5, and it was my honour to bring

greetings on behalf of the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador and address

the fifteen proud graduates.

It started, Mr. Speaker, with an inspirational church service and a wonderful

meal, then, in the school gym; later that evening, these young adults at the

theatre were presented with their diplomas. This is where I had the opportunity

to address the 2012 graduating class of Eric G. Lambert School, and they are:

Mark Acreman, Darian Bird, Emily Bonnell, Mark Brushett, Shane Collins, William

Flynn, Sarah Fowler, Bailey Fudge, Tyler Harris, Brandon Jones, Devon

Lethbridge, Alexis Loder, Adam Loder, Andrew Loder, and Kane Priddle.

I ask all hon. members of this House to congratulate these graduates from the

community of Churchill Falls for their hard work, dedication, and successful

achievement of this most important milestone, and to wish them all the best of

luck in their future endeavours.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Humber Valley.

MR. BALL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I rise in this hon. House today to recognize six Level II students from

Elwood Regional High School in Deer Lake who, this morning, were presented with

the Silver Award in the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Program by his honour, the

Honourable John C. Crosbie, Lieutenant Governor of Newfoundland and Labrador.

I would like to congratulate and recognize Jacob Young, Mackenzie Bingle,

Marisa O'Brien, Courtney Porter, Taylor Moores, Michaela Pye, and their group

leader, Mrs. Brenda Bingle.

Mr. Speaker, these six youth began in June 2011 working towards this goal

that they have achieved today. They spent two nights this past March battling

the elements as they slept in a rugged cabin and cooked all meals in the great

outdoors. They battled the cold, they battled the snow, and they returned

triumphant.

To complete all the tasks of this prestigious youth award, some participated

in various sports, and others assisted in organizing events like: the 30 Hour

Famine, which is a peer-mentoring program; the Shave for the Brave; and the

Youth Relay for Life. These youth contributed to their town, to their school,

and to their overall well-being, and are commended for successfully completing

all requirements.

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

congratulating these remarkable six Level II students from Deer Lake on their

Silver Duke of Edinburgh Award. These are a testament to the success of the

program, as they set goals and successfully achieved them in a fun and a

challenging way.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

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

I rise today to recognize and congratulate the Royal Canadian Legion Channel

Branch 11 men's dart team. Branch 11 took the provincial title in this year's

darts tournament on March 10 and 11 in St. John's.

The four-man team was comprised of Ivan Bragg, Guy Bobbett, Richard LeRiche

of Port aux Basques, and Paul Osmond of Cape Ray. They won the right to compete

provincially by becoming the top four scorers on the local level and then

winning the regionals in Deer Lake.

The provincial tournament had them going up against ten teams in a round

robin, and competed against Clarenville in the finals. Port aux Basques won the

best of three series, and then became the provincial champions. They represented

the Province at the national tournament in Vancouver, BC on May 5 and 6, and

placed fourth in singles, doubles, and teams.

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

congratulations to Ivan Bragg, Guy Bobbett, Richard LeRiche, and Paul Osmond on

becoming the provincial dart champions and a good showing in the nationals at

Vancouver.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: Statements by Ministers.

Statements by Ministers

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

Development.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. HUTCHINGS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, last Friday I had the good fortune of joining representatives

from Statoil, Terra Nova, ExxonMobil, and Ocean Quest to help launch the Marine

Advanced Technology Education Centre's 2012 Remotely Operated Vehicle

Competition at the Marine Institute.

This annual competition brings together students from throughout Newfoundland

and Labrador to execute specified tasks using remotely operated vehicles that

they have designed and built themselves.

This year's competition highlighted the role that remotely operated vehicles

play in evaluating World War II shipwrecks and the potentially hazardous

material that they may still contain. During the competition, which took place

in the Marine Institute's Flume Tank, teams completed tasks where they surveyed

a shipwreck site and removed oil from that shipwreck.

The competition is an engaging and rewarding experience for students and

continues to grow in popularity. This year, 200 highly-energized students

representing twenty high schools participated in the competition.

Clarenville High School repeated as provincial champion and will now

represent the Province at the international competition in Orlando, Florida.

I congratulate Clarenville High School and wish them all the best in Orlando.

I would also like to acknowledge the important contribution of the event

co-ordinators at the Marine Institute, all of the teachers, participants and

sponsors for making this event possible. It requires a significant commitment as

they volunteer evenings and weekends to construct these impressive vehicles and

deliver first-class events.

Mr. Speaker, events of this nature are critical in sparking the interest of

today's youth to the vast opportunities that exist in Newfoundland and

Labrador's ocean technology sector a sector that is looking to double its

value to $1 billion by 2015. Past students have already used this experience to

guide them through their career choice and are now actively engaged in this

promising sector.

As a government, we are working with our industry and community partners to

advance initiatives of this nature that support the long-term growth of key

industry sectors. By providing unique learning experiences to those 200 students

and countless others throughout the Province, we are increasing their ability to

discover new riches, develop new businesses, and to become future pioneers.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. BENNETT: I thank the minister for his advance copy.

Mr. Speaker, it is always great to see further successes of our young people.

As often as not, the best support we can give to our energetic and bright young

people is to give them the tools they need to succeed and then just get out of

the way.

Remotely operated vehicles, (ROVs) are amazingly useful technologies. They

have visited the Titantic and are broadly used to explore exotic life at extreme

depths. In this jurisdiction, remotely operated vehicles are useful in the

offshore oil sector, examining and maintaining the underwater well heads. As a

people with a focus on the water, we have long sailed upon it, we have fished

from it, now we can develop the technology to send vehicles down and explore the

deepest levels.

Congratulations to this team from Clarenville and good luck in Orlando.

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

MR. MURPHY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I also want to thank the minister for the advance copy of his statement

today. Mr. Speaker, we congratulate all participants in the Marine Advanced

Technology Education Centre's ROV competition at the Marine Institute this year,

along with the volunteers who dedicated time and their leadership to this

worthwhile event.

If there is anything that catches the imagination of youth and the young

entrepreneur, it is the spirit of being able to use one's imagination to explore

the realms of the possible. The success of the students and participants in this

program is evident in the time and the commitment that was sacrificed. The

evidence of their success was probably matched by the smiles on their faces at

the end of this event.

By using imagination, some have probably already set a new course in their

chosen careers. We hope that government continues strong investments in

education and innovation in all sectors to make the imagined outcomes a living

reality.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Service Newfoundland and Labrador.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. DAVIS: Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today in this hon. House to

provide an update on the BizPaL program.

Mr. Speaker, BizPaL is an innovative service that provides entrepreneurs with

simplified access to information on permits, licences, or other approvals needed

from all three levels of government to establish and run their businesses. The

service saves time and money, and improves business planning. This unique

partnership among federal, provincial, territorial, regional, and municipal

governments is designed to cut through the paper burden and red tape that

business owners may encounter.

The success of this program has been seen through its growth and expansion

across Newfoundland and Labrador. Service NL continues to invite communities

from all areas of the Province to join the program at no cost and works to

support them on implementation.

During the past twelve months, Mr. Speaker, we have seen continued expansion

with twelve new municipalities added to increase the total number of partner

communities to thirty-eight. These new municipalities are: Deer Lake, Kippens,

Portugal Cove St. Philip's, Bay Roberts, Bonavista, Pasadena, Flatrock,

Cormack, Steady Brook, Humber Arm South, Burin, and Marystown. Along with the

previous twenty-six communities, these municipalities are ready to work with

entrepreneurs locally and from around the world.

In addition to simplifying access to business forums and information, BizPaL

raises the profile of partner municipalities to national and international

levels. The national BizPaL site is accessed, on average, 4,000 times each week.

Our statistics show us that these visitors are coming to the site from all over

the Province, across the country and around the world, from countries as far

away as India, South Korea, and Russia. These visitors are interested in doing

business in this Province, and BizPaL offers an on-line, step-by-step guide to

help them with every aspect of conducting their activities in Newfoundland and

Labrador.

Mr. Speaker, Service NL has a mandate to make government services more

readily available to the people of the Province. BizPaL is a great example of

these efforts and will continue to be an important tool for service delivery by

government. Most important, BizPaL is a means for business people to obtain

valuable information to assist them as they work to establish and maintain

successful business ventures.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The Member for Torngat Mountains.

MR. EDMUNDS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

states, Mr. Speaker, BizPaL is an on-line, one-stop service for entrepreneurs

that simplifies the process of finding information on business permits and

licences from all levels of government: federal, provincial and municipal.

Mr. Speaker, any tool that improves business delivery in the Province is to

be commended. Mr. Speaker, I remind the minister there are 276 incorporated

municipalities, so this government has a lot of work yet to do. As of now, as

the minister states, there are only thirty-eight in this program which began

back in 2009.

Also, Mr. Speaker, this program only works for those communities that have

Internet access, and we know that there are still communities across this

Province that are part of the dark zone where Internet access is not provided. I

also suggest, Mr. Speaker, that in terms of on-line service delivery, I look

forward to the day when the minister has a statement boasting about the improved

motor vehicle computer system that is currently out of date.

Mr. Speaker, in some districts, vehicle licences are for seven-month periods;

this is common. Unfortunately, the constituents cannot avail of the on-line

discounts as people in other parts of this Province can. This is primarily due

to outdated computer technology.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

MR. MURPHY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I, too, also want to thank the minister for the advance copy of his

statement. I am glad to see the BizPaL service for businesses is expanding to

more communities. Small businesses just starting out need as much help as they

possibly can with red tape involved. For most businesses in rural areas, a major

barrier to utilizing government services is a lack of high-speed Internet. We

hope that government moves quickly to fulfill its obligations to bring

high-speed Internet to all parts of the Province so that all businesses can have

access to innovative government services.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER: Oral Questions.

Oral Questions

MR. SPEAKER: The Leader of the Official Opposition.

MR. BALL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

It was disturbing yesterday to hear that the marine medical calls from our

Province were being routed to Italy. On April 26 in this House, the Premier

stated she would be monitoring what was happening with the closure of the MRSC

and move to Halifax you would be monitoring this very, very carefully.

I ask the Premier: During the very, very careful monitoring, how did you miss

this important link?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KING: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Certainly, we do share a concern with the Opposition on what transpired

there. The Premier has had direct conversation with Minister Ashfield on this

issue to express our concern with the events that transpired and surprise, in

fact, with how things happened.

Mr. Speaker, it is our understanding that the crux of the matter happened

with the closure of the service centre here in St. John's. There was a contract

with a company, PRAXES, that was terminated. About 100 or so calls per year that

were being received here were transferred to QEII in Halifax. When they received

the extra workload, they decided to withdraw their services because they could

not handle it. The service that was then taken on from Italy was a very interim

measure while they finished contract negotiations with PRAXES for all of

Atlantic Canada. That has been done. It was secured last night.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. BALL: Mr. Speaker, the Premier also stated in the House that search

and rescue services in our Province would not be diminished. She stated that she

had a commitment from one Rear-Admiral Gardam that together they would ensure

the maximum standards were in place. I know now that you have been talking to

Minister Ashfield.

Can you now ensure us that this type of activity will never happen again?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

PREMIER DUNDERDALE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, we have expressed our concern over and over to the federal

government with regard to the amalgamation of JRCC in Halifax. There was no way

to anticipate that QEII would terminate their contract and walk away from their

contract, not only regarding the calls in Newfoundland and Labrador, I say, but

with regard to the calls in Atlantic Canada. All of JRCC, they withdrew totally

from the contract.

I understand there was a two-day period that the services were being provided

by the company in Italy while a contract was negotiated with PRAXES to handle

all of the calls, Mr. Speaker. I am not responsible for the Coast Guard. I will

continue to be vigilant and bring issues to the attention of the federal

government as they arise.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. BALL: Just a quick question, for clarification: You were not notified

what was happening with this call centre? You only found out just yesterday?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

PREMIER DUNDERDALE: Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, I was made aware yesterday. I was not called directly on this

matter. I found out yesterday. I was surprised and I was extremely concerned. I

have relayed that to Minister Ashfield.

I am glad that the matter has been resolved quickly because that is extremely

important to the people whose lives depend on it, Mr. Speaker. I have asked

Minister Ashfield to do everything that he can do to ensure this does not happen

again.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. BALL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

On May 3, in this House, the Minister of Natural Resources stated that his

government's vision for Muskrat Falls was closely aligned to that of Premier

Dexter's in Nova Scotia. Today, there is a little different approach, because

Premier Dexter just introduced legislation in his province to ensure a proper

regulatory review of the Muskrat Falls Project.

So I ask the Premier: Why are Nova Scotians getting a more thorough and a

more rigorous review than we are in Newfoundland and Labrador?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

PREMIER DUNDERDALE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, there has never been a project in the history of this Province

that has received the scrutiny that the Muskrat Falls Project has received, Mr.

Speaker and that is a good thing.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

PREMIER DUNDERDALE: That is a good thing, Mr. Speaker. I have encouraged

people over and over and over again to ask questions. I have encouraged people

to show us, show us in a very concrete way where the gap in our analysis might

occur, if they have identified one. Nobody has been able to do it to this end,

Mr. Speaker. In terms of what has happened here with the PUB and what is

happening in Nova Scotia, the bill in Nova Scotia is allowing the Nova Scotia

government to set up the parameters

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

The hon. the Leader of the Official Opposition.

MR. BALL: I would remind the Premier that there were two very credible

sources that actually did not give the green light to this project - that being

the Joint Review Panel and their own PUB - and that decision is now being

dismissed. So, the legislation in Nova Scotia states that there is a need to

provide a predictable, timely, and transparent regulatory review process.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

MR. BALL: So, given the significant financial risks that we will be left

with in this Province, do Newfoundlanders and Labradorians not deserve a

predictable, timely, and transparent review process similar to what has happened

in Nova Scotia, on the Muskrat Falls review?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

PREMIER DUNDERDALE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, what happened here in Newfoundland and Labrador was, the

government directed the PUB to do a review of Muskrat Falls, answering the

burning questions that have been put forward, the two questions that were put

forward by the Opposition day in, day out, day in, day out in this House. We

took their questions, Mr. Speaker, and referred them to the PUB.

What is happening in Nova Scotia is a bill before their Legislature that will

allow the Government of Nova Scotia to set up an inquiry in the same manner,

with the same kind of to be able to set parameters in the same way that the

Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. BALL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Just a week ago a downtown pharmacy closed in St. John's leaving 100 patients

who were on methadone displaced. Now these people are being transferred to

Pleasantville, to the Opioid Treatment Center, but this is not a long-term

solution. New pharmacies or new locations need to be found to help those

patients with methadone.

I ask the minister: Has there been any success in recruiting new locations or

new pharmacies to accommodate these 100 patients?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS SULLIVAN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Yes, Mr. Speaker, we are in the process of trying to find additional

opportunities for those 100-or-so methadone patients to be able to be

accommodated at other pharmacies throughout the city area.

In the meantime, what is happening is that the patients are being treated at

the Opioid Centre. We are not impacting the clients that we had there

previously. They are still receiving their treatments without any difficulties

at all. The times have simply been managed in such a way as the new clients are

coming in from 2:30 to 7:30 in the evenings, and it seems to be working well.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. BALL: Mr. Speaker, the methadone program across the Province is

sorely lacking. We only have about four or five doctors who actually prescribe

methadone, for people with addictions. Only one of those is outside the St.

John's area, this is in Grand Falls Windsor. There is no one on the West Coast

or in Labrador. We have often heard stories of people actually going to

methadone treatment centres in Grand Falls, for instance, having to hitchhike

their way to see the doctor.

I ask the minister: When will this government finally put a methadone program

that is provincial wide and not solely dependent on the services here in the

Avalon and in Central?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS SULLIVAN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, we are doing everything we can in terms of providing methadone

to those clients that are determined to need methadone. I should remind the

member opposite that in terms of treating addictions in this Province methadone

is only one of the options that is available.

The member opposite suggested that we only have four or five physicians who

are prescribing. We actually have ten physicians in the Province who are

prescribing methadone.

Mr. Speaker, there are however, a large number of other options that have to

do with our crises centre, that have to do with our recovery centre, that have

to do with the Opioid Centre. There are many, many options that are available.

Counselling is another very important method of being able to deal with serious

addictions, Mr. Speaker. Many of our clients have referred to counselling -

individual, group, or self referral - and they are doing very well through that

mode as well.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. EDMUNDS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, the federal government data base has identified 2,396

federally-owned potential contaminated sites in this Province which need to be

cleaned up. I have a list of the 2,396 sites in this Province.

I ask the minister: What representation has he made to the federal government

to have these sites assessed, prioritized, and eventually cleaned up?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Service Newfoundland and Labrador.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. DAVIS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

These sites that have been identified are known to officials in the

Department of Environment and Conservation here in the provincial government,

but these sites are federal sites. The responsibility lies with the federal

government, but I can assure you that officials in the provincial Department of

Environment and Conservation will continue to work with those federal officials

to ensure the environment of Newfoundland and Labrador is protected.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. EDMUNDS: Mr. Speaker, at least the federal government has done an

inventory of the contaminated sites in their responsibility. The Auditor

General, Mr. Speaker, for this Province has pointed out several times that the

Province has no central inventory of contaminated sites and this makes it

difficult for the government to prioritize and estimate the cost of clean up.

I ask the minister: Is this government going to act on the advice of the

Auditor General?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Service Newfoundland and Labrador.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. DAVIS: Mr. Speaker, I thought the last answer I provided to the hon.

member was quite clear, that the sites that he is referring to are the

in the Province of Newfoundland; we are the Government of Newfoundland and

Labrador. It is their sites that he is referring to.

Now having said that, officials in the provincial Department of Environment

continue to have working relations with the federal government officials, will

continue to do so, and in many matters, including these sites. We will continue

to work with those federal officials to ensure that the environment of

Newfoundland and Labrador is being protected.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. EDMUNDS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

One of the major contaminated sites in this Province is the former Abitibi

Consolidated site in Grand Falls. Mr. Speaker, the clean up cost has been

estimated to be in the range of hundreds of millions of dollars.

I ask the minister: Can he give the House an update on the dispute between

the government and Abitibi over who will cover this cost?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

PREMIER DUNDERDALE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, again, another fallout of Abitibi's failure to live up to its

responsibilities here in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Mr. Speaker, they were required by our law to clean up the mess that they

left behind. Not only have they walked away from their responsibility, with the

help of the courts of this country, from their responsibilities in the areas

where we did take back properties, but they have walked away from everything in

this Province, Mr. Speaker, and it is nothing short of scandalous.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The Member for St. Barbe.

MR. BENNETT: Mr. Speaker, on December 7, 2010 government announced

funding for a Fish Harvesting Safety Association and a Fish Processing Safety

Council so the Province could enter into a new era in fishing industry safety.

That was over seventeen months ago and we have not heard a public update on this

initiative.

I ask the minister: What is the status of these long overdue initiatives to

protect our people?

MR. SPEAKER: The Minister of Service Newfoundland and Labrador.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. DAVIS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

In 2010, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador announced $500,000 to

work towards the establishment of a fishery processing industry safety

association as well as a fish harvesters' association. As well, the Workplace

Health, Safety and Compensation Commission also contributed $500,000 towards

this initiative.

Mr. Speaker, in August of 2011, the work got underway. The work is

progressing very well in regard to the fish harvesters' association. We are

still trying to move forward with the work for the fish processors' association

as well.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The Member for St. Barbe.

MR. BENNETT: Mr. Speaker, the Professional Fish Harvesters Certification

Board has had a proposal in to WHSCC for over five months.

Can the minister explain why this proposal has not been accepted? What is the

hold up and when will the association get the green light for their proposal?

MR. SPEAKER: The Minister of Service Newfoundland and Labrador.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. DAVIS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I can tell the member opposite and as well the people of Newfoundland and

Labrador that the safety of workers in Newfoundland and Labrador is of utmost

importance to this Province and to this government, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. DAVIS: That includes people in the fishing industry as well, Mr.

Speaker. I am going to tell you, what we are going to do is we are going to do

this properly. We are going to take our time, we are going to give due diligence

to this process, and we are going to make sure that we get it right in the best

interests of the workers of Newfoundland and Labrador.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The Member for St. Barbe.

MR. BENNETT: Mr. Speaker, just this past week alone there have been two

deaths on fishing vessels on the Northern Peninsula. This is occupational health

and safety week and according to the government's own statistics, fatalities in

the fish harvesting sector represent a quarter of all workplace deaths.

I ask the minister: What is he doing to ensure a more timely solution that

will reduce fatalities on the water?

MR. SPEAKER: The Minister of Service Newfoundland and Labrador.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. DAVIS: Mr. Speaker, the hon. member opposite is correct, this is

North American Occupational Safety and Health Week. It is a time where we make

efforts in our department and throughout government to impress upon all workers,

all employers in the Province as well, and everyone, not only in the workplace

but at home as well to be ever vigilant about safety safety in their

day-to-day lives, as I said in the workplace, and at home as well.

I can tell you, Mr. Speaker, that the safety of people in the fishing

industry is very important to us as well. It is very important that we do what

we can to ensure the safety of all people, including those in the fishing

industry. We are going to give this due diligence. We are going to do this

properly. We are going to move forward on this project. It is very important to

us. We are going to work with the industry, and we are going to make our best

efforts to make sure that we reach a successful conclusion on this project.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The Member for Burgeo La Poile.

MR. A. PARSONS: Mr. Speaker, on January 26, 2011 government received the

report of a statutory review by Commissioner John Cummings into the Access to

Information and Protection of Privacy Act. From this report, we were lead to

expect that substantial amendments to the act would be presented for

consideration by the House.

My question to the minister: Will we be receiving these amendments for

consideration during this session?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

Yes, Mr. Speaker, the hon. member is correct; we did receive the report from

Mr. Cummings. The ATIPPA legislation, Mr. Speaker, is a very significant,

comprehensive piece of legislation. It had to be submitted to all departments

for input and analysis. That analysis and consideration is still ongoing. If we

have it ready, Mr. Speaker, in time to get it into this House, we will. We want

to make sure when it does come to the House, it is the best piece of legislation

we can get.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The Member for Burgeo La Poile.

MR. A. PARSONS: Mr. Speaker, I am confused because the minister's answer

was similar to the answer that he gave during the Estimates Committee; however,

on May 2 in this House when we actually debated the private members' motion to

regulate the House calendar, the Government House Leader said we should expect

the legislation in early June.

My question to the minister is: Who is right or wrong here, and will we

receive these this session?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. F. COLLINS: I answer it the same. We are working on it, trying to get

it ready for presentation in this session of the House. If we have it ready, we

will certainly bring it.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The Leader of the Third Party.

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

Mr. Speaker, the Harper government has moved from treating us in this

Province with indifference to treating us with contempt. There is no other

conclusion to be made from the latest revelations of marine distress calls

routed to Italy. Mr. Speaker, earlier in this session the Premier stood in this

House and said she would hold Harper accountable to the people of this Province.

In her words, she said: I step up, and I step up every day.

Mr. Speaker, I ask the Premier: What is she doing now to live up to that

commitment?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

PREMIER DUNDERDALE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I expect I am doing the same thing the Leader of the Third Party

is doing. I am doing the same thing that the Leader of the Opposition is doing.

I am doing the same thing that every concerned Newfoundlander and Labradorian is

doing, Mr. Speaker. We are messaging to the federal government that we have the

right to have a certain level of service here in this Province and that the

federal government has a responsibility to provide the same, Mr. Speaker. Where

we think they are deficient, we are going to point that out and ask them to

address it. That is what I am doing. I hope you are doing the same.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MS MICHAEL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

MS MICHAEL: Mr. Speaker, I point out to the Premier that her track record

with her federal counterpart is abysmal, whether it is her inability to keep the

vital Marine Rescue Sub-Centre open or have an independent offshore safety

authority created.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

MS MICHAEL: Mr. Speaker, I ask the Premier: She has talked the talk, but

she is in a position to walk the walk, so what is she prepared to do as she

walks that walk?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

PREMIER DUNDERDALE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, day after day after day in this House of Assembly we hear

members opposite trying to hold the provincial government responsible for what

happens in Ottawa. What is your track record? What is your track record? You

have as much influence in Ottawa, one assumes, as anybody else in this House,

Mr. Speaker.

We make our positions clear to the Prime Minister. I have said time and time

again, when the Prime Minister does things that are good for the people of

Newfoundland and Labrador

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

PREMIER DUNDERDALE: as he has done, Mr. Speaker, we will speak to that.

When we do not feel that the legitimate aspirations of the people of

Newfoundland and Labrador are being heard and addressed, we are going to speak

to that as well.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

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

So all the Premier can do, Mr. Speaker, is

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

The Speaker has recognized the Leader of the Third Party.

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

So the Premier has acknowledged that all she can do when it comes to Ottawa

is talk the talk.

Mr. Speaker, it is National Nursing Week and public sector unions are calling

on government to acknowledge the growing responsibilities of nursing

professionals in health care today. One thing they want is for government to

recognize the extra training and responsibilities that licensed practical nurses

have in our health care facilities.

Mr. Speaker, I ask the Minister of Health and Community Services: Will her

department formally recognize LPNs for their actual training and day-to-day

scope of work?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS SULLIVAN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I am really uncertain as to what that question is about. We have

always valued the work of LPNs in this Province of Newfoundland and Labrador.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS SULLIVAN: Mr. Speaker, in fact, scopes of practice in Newfoundland and

Labrador have been recognized for our LPNs right across this country. We are

very proud of that. They do phenomenal work in this Province.

Mr. Speaker, in terms of recognizing their ability to perform to a scope of

practice that is nationally recognized, we are using them more and more,

particularly in our long-term care facilities.

I am really not sure what she is referring to when she says we do not have an

appreciation for LPNs in this Province. We are very, very much appreciative of

the work they do.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MS MICHAEL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, Canada's provinces, through the Council of the Federation, are

looking for innovative ways to make health care delivery more sustainable. They

see one solution in patient care teams of registered nurses, practical nurses,

and others such as licensed practical nurses who are utilized fully according to

their training and skill level.

Mr. Speaker, will the minister ensure that licensed practical nurses are

utilized fully in patient care and recognized for their qualifications? I hope

she understands what I am asking now.

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS SULLIVAN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I am equally baffled as I was with the last question. We recognize the work

that LPNs do in this Province. They work to their full scope of practice, Mr.

Speaker. They are appreciated for the work that they do and we will continue to

see that LPNs work to their full scope of practice.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MS MICHAEL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, physicians strongly support the work of nurse practitioners

because they can take on much of the work of diagnosis and treatment. Patients

want to see more nurse practitioners in the system because they can reduce wait

times and provide individual attention, but we need nurse practitioners in

health centres and other facilities across the Province.

I ask the minister: When will she sit down with nurses and health authorities

and come up with a plan for getting more nurse practitioners into every part of

our health care system?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS SULLIVAN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I sit down with nurses whenever they request that meetings are

required.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS SULLIVAN: Mr. Speaker, I will continue to do that.

In Newfoundland and Labrador we currently have 105 nurse practitioners that

are in service already. Mr. Speaker, this Province was the lead in terms of

being able to put nurse practitioners into practice and we will continue to work

to see that the nurse practitioner program is supported and that nurse

practitioners are supported in the work that they do in this Province.

We recognize the good work that they do, Mr. Speaker. We value it.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. KIRBY: Mr. Speaker, in response to a question in the House a week ago

regarding salary details, which the government decided not to make available

this year, the Minister of Finance said he would be happy to provide this

information when he has it.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

MR. KIRBY: Mr. Speaker, I ask the Minister of Finance: Do you have the

salary details information yet and will you endeavour to provide this

information as soon as possible?

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

Board.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. MARSHALL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Leader of the Opposition, the Leader of the NDP requested that the

information that was normally contained in the Salary Details book would be

gathered and released to them. Government had not planned to do that, but in

light of the request we undertook to do it.

The day it was asked for, we instructed our officials to gather the

information. I am advised that it has taken a little bit longer than we had

anticipated, due to gathering information about the reorganization of some

departments that took place during the year. I am told we now have the

information; it is in the process of being consolidated. As soon as it is given

to me and it is completed, I will be very happy to deliver it to the Opposition

and the Third Party.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. MURPHY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Two days ago in the House, the minister referred to an investment in

defibrillators as part of a strategic investment towards heart health in the

Province. The minister refers to these as being an excellent investment in heart

health, and they are. However, last month a news story broke through CBC Nova

Scotia referring to a defibrillator that did not receive proper maintenance that

almost led to tragedy. Further to this, Health Canada reports 562 incidents and

nine deaths associated with non-working defibrillators in recent years because

of poor maintenance.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

MR. MURPHY: Mr. Speaker, I ask the minister: What is being done to

maintain and service these automated external defibrillators to ensure that they

will be effective and working when they are needed the most?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Intergovernmental and Aboriginal

Affairs.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. McGRATH: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, our government has supported a program up to funding of $200,000

over the last two years in the automated defibrillators. When those automated

defibrillators go out there, Mr. Speaker, you have to do a course - I personally

have done the course myself - and then the Occupational Health and Safety

Committees are the ones that are responsible to make sure that they are kept up

to standards, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. MURPHY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Province of Manitoba has passed legislation ensuring the maintenance of

defibrillators in publicly used areas, as well as public access programs to

educate the public and emergency 911 operators on the location of these devices.

Will the minister take a proactive approach to introduce legislation, as the

Manitoba government has, to ensure the accurate maintenance and use of these

life-saving devices?

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Intergovernmental and Aboriginal

Affairs.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. McGRATH: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Again, I said that when the defibrillators are put out, they are put out and

there is a committee put in place wherever the defibrillators are that are

trained and certified to maintain those defibrillators. That process is already

being done.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MS ROGERS: Mr. Speaker, addicts and their families are crying out for

help as the drug addiction crisis in the Province grows. People do not set out

to become addicted. Were this another type of sickness, government would

scramble to find the resources. Mr. Speaker, to not deal with this properly

results in increased suffering, lost lives, and increased crime.

I ask the Minister of Health and Community Services: What is she doing to

quickly and comprehensively deal with this growing crisis?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS SULLIVAN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, on this side of the House, we also understand that addictions

are a serious problem. We understand that and we also are working. In fact, to

the tune of $29 million over the last two years we have been working to address

situations with regard to addictions in this Province, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I have outlined in this House, and I am willing to outline time

and time again until they understand on the other side of the House, that there

are a number of options that are available for persons in this Province who have

addictions-related issues. It is not simply to talk about methadone. That is one

option. There are a number of options that we can put forward, Mr. Speaker, and

if I get a second question I will certainly put those forward.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MS ROGERS: Mr. Speaker, health professionals tell me that people with

addictions need wraparound services that include real assessment, medical detox,

and ongoing counselling in a timely manner in order to successfully beat their

addictions. Wait-lists in this Province for treatments are growing. Making them

wait for months does not work.

Mr. Speaker, I ask the Minister of Health and Community Services: These are

your experts, why aren't you listening to them and giving them the resources

they need to do their job properly?

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

a quick response.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS SULLIVAN: Mr. Speaker, first of all I take exception to the fact that

I am not listening to people out there. I am listening on a daily basis.

Mr. Speaker, we have a Mental Health and Addictions ministerial advisory

committee that I very much value in the department, and I listen to them on a

regular basis in this department.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS SULLIVAN: Mr. Speaker, in terms of what we are doing as a result of

listening to these people who are advising us in the department, let me go

through the list. There is a recovery centre in St. John's, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

The time for Question Period has expired.

Presenting Reports by Standing and Select Committees.

Tabling of Documents.

Notices of Motion.

Notices of Motion

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

MR. KENNEDY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I give notice that under Standing Order 11 I shall move

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

The Speaker has recognized the Government House Leader.

MR. KENNEDY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I give notice that under Standing Order 11, I shall move that this House not

adjourn at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, May 14, 2012.

Further, Mr. Speaker, I give notice under Standing Order 11, I shall move

this House not adjourn at 10:00 p.m. on Monday, May 14, 2012.

MR. SPEAKER: Answers to Questions for which Notice has been Given.

Petitions.

Petitions

MR. SPEAKER: The Member for Burgeo La Poile.

MR. A. PARSONS: Mr. Speaker, I have a petition to the hon. House of

Assembly of the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador in Parliament Assembled.

The petition of the undersigned residents humbly sheweth:

WHEREAS the people of La Poile must use the provincial ferry system in order

to travel to and from La Poile; and

WHEREAS the people of La Poile and visitors are required to wait at the Town

of Rose Blanche-Harbour Le Cou from time to time for ferry services; and

WHEREAS there is no restroom-waiting room area at the Town of Rose

Blanche-Harbour Le Cou where users of the ferry service may utilize washroom

facilities; and

WHEREAS citizens of all ages including men, women, children, seniors and

disabled persons require washroom

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

MR. A. PARSONS: facilities as a basic human need in the course

of their travels or wait inside out of the elements in harsh weather conditions,

and particularly while awaiting the transit systems; and

WHEREAS it is an abuse of human dignity as well as health and safety

regulations to allow such degrading and dehumanizing circumstances to continue;

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

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

immediately construct and operate a waiting room-restroom facility at the Town

of Rose Blanche-Harbour Le Cou such that all users of the provincial ferry

service may be able to utilize such a waiting area and washroom facilities.

As in duty bound, your petitioners will ever pray.

This is the second time I have had the opportunity to stand on this petition.

Again, it is a conversation that I have had with the minister and I do believe

that the government realizes that this is an issue because not only do we have

ferries that must go to and from the remote parts of this Province, but we must

have the facilities there.

The reason that I stand and enter these petitions is that they are proven to

work, and certainly there is a beautiful facility that is in the Town of Burgeo.

It is a fantastic area, and it really does what it was set out to do, which

allows people somewhere indoors, out of the elements, to sit and wait or use the

washroom while they are waiting for the ferry. We all know what the weather

conditions can be like; we might have ferries that are delayed. To sit and wait

in your car is just not good enough in this day and age.

Again, entering these petitions can get things done. It is an issue that is a

huge concern, not only to the people of La Poile but to the people who are

travelling to La Poile, whether it be the provincial employees that are going

down for various departments I know Transportation has to go down, Fire and

Emergency Services, and I go down myself quite often.

I put this forward, I am sure the minister hears this, and I look forward to

when we can get a facility at that port.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

MR. JOYCE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I present a petition here today concerning cellphone coverage, Mr. Speaker.

WHEREAS the lack of cellular phone coverage in Lark Harbour, York Harbour,

and Frenchman's Cove is a major safety concern for residents, especially in

times of emergency; and

WHEREAS the lack of cellular phone coverage restricts and negatively impacts

local businesses in the area, as compared to most areas of the Province; and

WHEREAS the tourism destinations in our area are without cellular phone

coverage, causing a safety concern and inconvenience for tourists who visit;

furthermore, the lack of cellular phone coverage can be a deterrent for people

in choosing our region as a tourist destination; and

WHEREAS the residents of Lark Harbour, York Harbour, and Frenchman's Cove

should have the same cellular phone coverage available as other areas of

Newfoundland and Labrador that, as in some areas, have long had such service;

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

House of Assembly to urge government to support our request to obtain cellular

phone coverage.

As in duty bound, your petitioners will ever pray.

Mr. Speaker, once again, I stand and present this petition on behalf of the

people from Lark Harbour, York Harbour, and Frenchman's Cove concerning

cellphone coverage. As in the petition, it states the number of deterrents and

safety concerns. It is a deterrent to business. It is a deterrent for tourism.

It is a service now that most people in Newfoundland and Labrador are accustomed

to and most people are willing to pay the extra for, Mr. Speaker, because it is

becoming a way of life for business, it is becoming a safety concern

especially out in York Harbour and Lark Harbour, Mr. Speaker. I see the Minister

of Tourism always promoting hiking trails. We have a lot of hiking trails and

walking trails. A lot of people from Newfoundland, all over Newfoundland and

Labrador, and across Canada, come out and do the trails and do the mountain

climbs, and it is a very major safety concern.

I was encouraged to hear the minister say that he is having meetings with the

federal government and possible providers in Newfoundland and Labrador. I

congratulate the minister for that, and I will offer my services, Minister, if

there is anything I can do there to sit in on the meetings, to help facilitate

and pass on concerns and urge the local carriers. Anything that the federal

government can do, I would support this, because as I mentioned before, on many

occasions, and I mentioned at the meetings, this is not a one-area issue, this

has a provincial scope, and to get this solved we have to get the provincial

government, the federal government, and all the carriers at the same table so we

can all try to work out a solution for all people in Newfoundland and Labrador.

So, I offer my services to the minister. If you need someone from the Opposition

to go to push that this is from all the parties in Newfoundland and Labrador,

trying to represent all Newfoundland and Labrador, and I hope the minister will

avail of that request. If there are any meetings that you want me to sit on

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

I remind the member of his time.

MR. JOYCE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I thank the minister for offering that, and I will definitely take you up on

that request.

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

MR. KIRBY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

This is a petition for needed changes to the Department of Education's school

bus transportation policy.

To the hon. House of Assembly of the Province of Newfoundland in Parliament

assembled, the petition of the undersigned residents of Newfoundland and

Labrador humbly sheweth:

WHEREAS school district restructuring has resulted in longer bus travel times

and more hazardous winter travel for rural students of all ages; and

WHEREAS due to recent school closures, children living within 1.6 kilometres

of school face increased barriers of congested streets and busy intersections in

the walk to school, and parents without cars are having more difficulty getting

children to different schools on foot; and

WHEREAS only those child care centres outside the 1.6 kilometre zone and

directly on bus routes are included in kindergarten noontime routes, causing

hardship for working parents; and

WHEREAS the 1.6 kilometre policy has been in place since 1975, and student

transportation policies have not been reviewed through public consultation since

1996; and

WHEREAS parents are expressing the need for more flexible policies for

student transportation and school restructuring to meet the current needs of

school children;

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

conduct a review of school bus transportation policies and school restructuring

to ensure safe and quality education for all school children in the Province.

As in duty bound, your petitioners will ever pray.

Mr. Speaker, I know that the weather is improving now and it becomes easy to

forget the sorts of treacherous conditions that elementary school children and

primary school children have to contend with in their walk to school. As I have

said a number of times here in the Legislature, there are several schools in the

Eastern School District alone on the Northeast Avalon, in fact, where young

children have to cross up to five lanes of traffic to get to school.

While other things were going on here in the House yesterday, Mr. Speaker, I

got an e-mail from this will be of interest to the Member for Conception Bay

South somebody who provides in-home family child care. This person was saying

that there are a lot of problems trying to get school bussing for children in

child care out there, especially the ones that she is taking care of, but also

for other larger child care centres. She goes on to say that this really is

impacting on children's experience with school. She says, listen up; we are

talking about children in elementary school here.

I urge the government to undertake public consultations on school bussing

policy, because these sorts of things are happening and it is really putting not

just parents and children but also child care centre operators under undue

hardship.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. BENNETT: Mr. Speaker, I bring this petition:

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

in Parliament assembled, the petition of the undersigned residents humbly

sheweth:

WHEREAS home care allows the elderly and people with disabilities to remain

within the comfort and security of their homes; home care also allows people to

be discharged from hospital earlier; and

WHEREAS many families find it difficult to recruit and retain home care

workers for their loved ones; and

WHEREAS the PC Blue Book 2011 as well as the 2012 Speech from the Throne

committed that government would develop a new model of home care and give people

the option of receiving that care from family members; and

WHEREAS government has given no time commitment for when government plans to

implement paying family caregivers;

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

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

implement a new home care model to cover family caregivers.

As in duty bound, your petitioners will ever pray.

Mr. Speaker, no matter what strides forward the government makes in respect

to many other areas, as long as there are some people who are seriously

disadvantaged, particularly with home care for family members who are ill or

face other challenges, the system cannot really be said to look after everybody.

I am going to quote from a letter that was widely published in various

newspapers, and I will table that letter. Even though this is from an individual

in my district, this was published in The Beacon today. This person is

forced to stay home to care for somebody or wants to go out to work. She says,

"My son is nonverbal and requires constant monitoring." She says, "In order to

improve conditions for my son and myself I have to work. How am I supposed to do

that without the knowledge that my son is being taken care of? I would like to

see changeswhere family members can be routinely paid to take care of their own

special needs adults."

Mr. Speaker, this is a real tragedy for the people whose family members face

developmental disabilities, elderly parents who are infirm, young children who

simply are suffering illnesses and disabilities. This cuts across all parts of

our society. In listening to one hon. member here just two days ago, he referred

to challenges faced by his family. I think that for his family, they are

fortunate that he was in a profession and a very well-paid occupation; however,

everybody does not have the same opportunities. It is critically important that

the government move on with this initiative that they have committed to do and

simply look after the people in our society who are really unable to look after

themselves.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I can table the letter.

MR. SPEAKER: Further petitions?

Orders of the Day.

Orders of the Day

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

MR. KENNEDY: Yes, Mr. Speaker, I call from the Order Paper, Order 1, that

this House approve in general the budgetary policy of the government.

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS SULLIVAN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I am so happy to be able to have an opportunity to speak in the

House today with regard to our Budget, the sub-amendment to the Budget in any

case, but with regard to Budget 2012, People and Prosperity: Responsible

Investments for a Secure Future. Mr. Speaker, I cannot tell you how much comfort

I take from that: Responsible Investments for a Secure Future.

Mr. Speaker, I have three children, and I hope someday to have some

grandchildren as well. When I see that the primary focus of this particular

Budget that was brought down by the hon. Minister of Finance just a little while

ago is to ensure that there is a secure future for my children and my

grandchildren, then I take great solace in that. I am certainly very pleased to

have opportunity to speak to the contents of the Budget and to make reference to

some of the good work that will happen as a result of the fiscal investments

that are contained therein that will ensure the children of Newfoundland and

Labrador have a future. One they can be comfortable in, one that will see to it

that many of the stories that I recall having heard from my grandparents and

some of my more elderly aunts and uncles, Mr. Speaker, will never be a reality

for them.

Mr. Speaker, we see this Province and we understand this Province as a

Province of opportunity, a Province of prosperity. Mr. Speaker, there is such

comfort in that, but having said that, we cannot sit back on our laurels. We

have to continue to ensure that we invest and invest wisely, Mr. Speaker. That,

too, is what I have been able to find as I peruse this Budget. Of course, I know

the health care budget fairly well because we spent so much time trying to make

the very important decisions that Newfoundlanders and Labradorians wanted us to

make.

Mr. Speaker, before I go into taking a look at the Budget in detail, I also

want to take an opportunity to thank the people of the great District of Grand

Falls-Windsor Buchans. This is the first opportunity that I have had to do it

in this House at least, to thank them for the confidence they have shown in

returning this government, the PC Government to power for the next

three-and-a-half years, and also for returning me to this wonderful House of

Assembly to represent them, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS SULLIVAN: Mr. Speaker, the House of Assembly, as we all know, is a

place where we come to express our opinions, as I am doing now, as many of the

members of the House of Assembly have done in the last little while. Mr.

Speaker, it is a place of respect, it is a place of dignity, and it is a place

that I am proud to come. I do not consider the work that I do in here to be part

of a dog and pony show, Mr. Speaker, as I have heard others make reference

yesterday in the media.

Mr. Speaker, it is not where I am at all. For me, this is a House where we

are able to conduct the work of the people of the Province, where we are able to

have healthy debate, and where we are able to make a difference in terms of the

legislation that we bring in, in terms of being able to analyze the Budget that

is brought before the people of Newfoundland and Labrador, Mr. Speaker. Far from

a dog and pony show, this is a place where we make a difference in the lives of

every Newfoundlander and Labradorian, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS SULLIVAN: Mr. Speaker, having indicated that, then what I want to do

is move forward now and talk about the Budget in some detail. Mr. Speaker, the

people of the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador have given us a tremendous

responsibility, and in doing so, I think they understand that we are the

government who can deliver on the responsibility that they have given us. Mr.

Speaker, that is why we have made the investments that we have made. That is why

we have chosen to do what we did in Budget 2012. We have decided that we will

strengthen health care, that we will sustain economic activity in this Province,

Mr. Speaker, so that we all have a future. We have decided to improve child

care, as we have heard the Minister of Child, Youth and Family Services make

reference to her strategies; the 10-Year Child Care Strategy particularly gives

me great hope, Mr. Speaker.

We have decided, as we debated yesterday in the House of Assembly and saw

full support from the entire House of Assembly, to support apprentices in this

Province, Mr. Speaker, because we see the need and the value of the work that

will happen, and the need to ensure that we have a trained workforce. Mr.

Speaker, we have decided, as well, to foster a thriving and skilled labour force

as a result of that and to further strengthen public infrastructure. Now, those

are tall things to have to deliver on, Mr. Speaker, but I have no doubt that we

are going to do it, and we are going to do it because we have invested solidly

in all of it.

Mr. Speaker, let me give you some examples. We have made an overall

investment of just about $3 billion in health care in Newfoundland and Labrador

again this year.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS SULLIVAN: Mr. Speaker, $3 billion represents, for each Newfoundlander

and Labradorian, about $4,752 being spent in health care. Nowhere else in the

country, Mr. Speaker, is that kind of investment being made. Mr. Speaker, we are

doing that because we needed to, we are doing that because the people of

Newfoundland and Labrador deserve it, Mr. Speaker. So, when we see need we are

investing.

Mr. Speaker, I just want to point this out because I think the people at home

would be interested in knowing this. Just in terms of health care infrastructure

alone, since we have come to power, we have invested $1 billion in health care

infrastructure in this Province.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS SULLIVAN: Mr. Speaker, that speaks loudly to the value of what we

consider is important for the people of Newfoundland and Labrador.

MR. JOYCE: (Inaudible).

MS SULLIVAN: Mr. Speaker, I hear the Member for the Bay of Islands over

there. I have to give him credit, he is passionate about his district and he is

passionate about advocating for it. As we have told him before, the Corner Brook

hospital will be part of that infrastructure build that we are doing.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS SULLIVAN: Mr. Speaker

MR. SPEAKER (Verge): Order, please!

The Member for the Bay of Islands, on a point of order.

MR. JOYCE: I thank the minister for her kind words, but the people in

Corner Brook are just going to ask: When?

MR. SPEAKER: There is no point of order.

The hon. the Minister of Health and Community Services.

MS SULLIVAN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

As I said, he is certainly relentless in the pursuit of what he needs for his

district and what he wants for his district. Almost $900 million, Mr. Speaker,

we are going to invest in infrastructure improvements in this Province.

Mr. Speaker, at a time when we are really trying to ensure that we are

fiscally responsible, knowing what we have to face over the next two years, we

are still making these kinds of commitments, not because we decide that is a

good thing to do, that people out there might applaud, but because we know that

the people of Newfoundland and Labrador need and deserve this kind of

investment.

Mr. Speaker, we cannot let things get rundown as they were. We cannot let

things get back into the situation that we found them in when we took power here

in 2003; therefore, we have made that $900 million investment.

Mr. Speaker, we have invested almost $200 million through this Budget for

businesses to facilitate growth and development. I have mentioned this before,

but I think it bears mentioning again. When we came to power in 2003 and I

know this from my work in the portfolio of Innovation, Trade and Rural

Development, and my colleague over there will recognize this as well the

investment then was $25 million in business growth and economic development in

this Province.

Mr. Speaker, I do not say that as blame; the money was not there at the time.

We recognize that and we understand that. Having said that, we recognize that we

stepped up to the plate and we are now investing annually $200 million to see

that businesses continue to grow $200 million to see that businesses continue

to grow in this Province, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS SULLIVAN: Mr. Speaker, in terms of municipal infrastructure, and my

colleague the Minister of Municipal Affairs would attest to the fact, we have

again seen the need to continue to invest in municipal infrastructure in this

Province and over the last two years have seen fit to go to the Treasury and

take $130 million to continue those sorts of investments, Mr. Speaker again,

tremendous investments that will pay off and that speak to, again, the theme of

what this Budget is, which is to secure a future for our children and

grandchildren, to ensure the prosperity that we want for them is going to be in

place; sound decision making, I would suggest.

It is a difficult time doing Budgets; for those who have never had

opportunity to do it, it takes a long time within departments to analyze the

needs that come forward or the wish lists that come forward and to decide on the

needs that we need to meet most efficiently and most quickly. That is one part

of the process and then it is vetted through several committees before it comes

upstairs to Cabinet when we look at it again. Mr. Speaker, I think some very

sound decision making, some strong revenue investment in the Province of

Newfoundland and Labrador; we do it because we are optimistic about our

Province's future.

Mr. Speaker, much was talked about by some of my colleagues in terms of the

fiscal outlook for this Province so I will not go into that. I spoke yesterday,

when I spoke to the piece about apprenticeship in the Province, about some of

the economic indicators of growth and some of the economic indicators of

sustainability in this Province. Mr. Speaker, as Newfoundlanders and

Labradorians we need to be proud of what we have accomplished. The economic

indicators that were identified as the minister brought down his Budget are

accomplishments that we should and ought to be proud of and that we need to

remind ourselves of on a regular basis. They are indicators that what we are

doing here in Newfoundland and Labrador is right. What we are doing here in

Newfoundland and Labrador is that we are making the best possible choices. We

know that; we see that in the evidence that shows the growth in the Province.

We are in good shape, Mr. Speaker. We look at growing exports in this

Province by about 2 per cent. Employment is growing in the Province by 2.7 per

cent; average weekly earnings and disposable incomes are growing by 5.1 per

cent, Mr. Speaker. The value of our mineral shipments, as I mentioned yesterday,

is increasing by 22 per cent. They are all tremendous indicators of the good

work that is being done. Not only are they indicating good work; I think, for

most Newfoundlanders and Labradorians these days who bother to take that look or

who look around and observe what is happening in this Province, they provide so

much comfort. They provide us with a sense of pride in who we are. We have

referred to it here before. There is a different spring in the step of a

Newfoundlander and Labradorian over the last eight years, Mr. Speaker, and it is

because that sense of us, that sense of who we are as Newfoundlanders and

Labradorians

AN HON. MEMBER: Finally coming to our own.

MS SULLIVAN: is finally coming to our own is a good way to put; I thank

my colleague there. We are in a place where we are proud of who we are. We

always should have been, because we have got such a history, we have such a

culture. We are a people who come from roots that are as honest as anywhere in

this world, but the pride that we feel as a result of being able to see the

economic prosperity, I believe, particularly in our social programs, is truly

making a difference.

Mr. Speaker, I have many, many notes that I could refer to here, but my time

is running quickly down. It is because we have so much to talk about.

Mr. Speaker, investments in health care, I want to make some reference to

them. Our government continues to make these investments and I outlined the

overall generic that we are close to $3 billion. Let me tell you some of the

specific areas, Mr. Speaker. Budget 2012 investments focus on priority areas of

dialysis and addressing drug costs, enhancing breast cancer screening,

increasing access, and improving infrastructure, Mr. Speaker.

Sometimes when I am in here during Question Period I tire a little of

particularly the Third Party making reference to the fact that we seem not to

care. Mr. Speaker, how can we making these kinds of investments and still not be

caring about Newfoundlanders and Labradorians? It makes no sense, Mr. Speaker.

The Third Party does not have a monopoly on caring for Newfoundlanders and

Labradorians, Mr. Speaker. In this government we care, and that is why we make

those kinds of investments. We have made a $1.9 million investment in dialysis,

Mr. Speaker. That has seen some of the areas of this Province be able to receive

dialysis that never could before.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS SULLIVAN: I reference Harbour Breton and that has an impact on all

areas. Harbour Breton impacts what happens in Grand Falls-Windsor, because now

many of the residents of Harbour Breton who come to Grand Falls-Windsor on a

daily basis, once we have this facility up and running, they will not need to.

Why did we decide to do that, Mr. Speaker? Because we listened to the people of

Harbour Breton who told us that was the need.

In spite of the fact that the members of the Third Party think we do not

listen, Mr. Speaker, here is another concrete example of how we listen to the

people of Newfoundland and Labrador. I can go on and on with the numbers of

investments that we are making in health care in Newfoundland and Labrador,

particularly in the sense of what we did in this House of Assembly in terms of

generic drugs. The result of that is that we are able to invest $29 million to

help seniors in this Province in terms of the drug plan.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS SULLIVAN: Mr. Speaker, we are investing and reinvesting $37 million to

protect pharmacies. Where, Mr. Speaker? Primarily in rural Newfoundland.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS SULLIVAN: Mr. Speaker, there are so many other investments. I am

worried that I am not going to get them all in and that I will not get the leave

that I need.

Mr. Speaker, when we talk about the Newfoundland and Labrador Drug Program,

one of the best in the country, hailed across this country as one of the best.

Why, Mr. Speaker? Because we invested in it. Why did we invest in it? Because we

listened to the people of Newfoundland and Labrador who told us that we needed

to invest more in drug plans because there really was not much there. We did the

right thing and we put in $155 million in this year's Budget.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS SULLIVAN: Mr. Speaker, we have made strong investments, strong

commitments right across this Province in terms of health care.

Long-term care is another one. In terms of new infrastructure in long-term

care this year, Mr. Speaker, $81 million worth of investment will happen as a

result of investments that we have made. In addition to the $144 million that we

spend every year on home support in Newfoundland and Labrador, we are now

investing another $18.3 million. Why are we doing that, Mr. Speaker? Once again,

because the people of Newfoundland and Labrador said there is a growing need.

Why is there a growing need? There are a couple of reasons. One has to do with

our demographics and the aging demographics in this Province, but, Mr. Speaker,

the other has to do with the fact that we improved the eligibility requirements

so that more people can access home support and home care in Newfoundland and

Labrador. In doing that, not only did we talk the talk, we put the money there

so we can walk the walk with them as well.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS SULLIVAN: A total then of $101 million in that program, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, long-term care, community supports, mental health and addiction,

those are all areas where we put new money. Mental health and addictions, I have

referenced in fact, I did it today here during questions saw a $29 million

investment over this last year.

Mr. Speaker, there are some who say we are not paying attention to mental

health and addictions in this Province. Let me correct the record. Mr. Speaker,

as an indicator of that, as an indicator of what the rest of the country is

seeing in terms of our attention to mental health and addictions in this

Province, my predecessor, the former Minister of Health and Community Services,

received a national award last year for the work done in mental health and

addictions in this country.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS SULLIVAN: Mr. Speaker, what does that tell us? It tells us that the

rest of the country is watching us, Mr. Speaker. It tells us that the rest of

the country is aware that we are doing good work. The only ones not aware of the

good work, Mr. Speaker, would be the members of the Third Party again, because

they continuously say we are not doing anything.

Mr. Speaker, I do not consider $29 million a crumb. I consider $29 million

good, solid investment, Mr. Speaker, so do the people of Newfoundland and

Labrador; so do the people in the rest of the country, as evidenced by awarding

our former minister that national award.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS SULLIVAN: Mr. Speaker, I had hoped that I was going to talk at some

length about what kind of investments we have made in my own district. I have

not yet had an opportunity to do that. I know there will be opportunities to

speak to the amendment and then to the Budget itself, as opposed to simply the

sub-amendment.

Mr. Speaker, suffice it to say that we have made many investments in my

district, the District of Grand Falls-Windsor Buchans, again because there was

need, again because we listened to the people of Newfoundland at a time when

there were difficult situations for us out there. Mr. Speaker, in this year's

Budget for the people of Grand Falls-Windsor Buchans, I can tell you that

there is $15.5 million going to be invested well, half of that for the

development of the youth addictions centre this year. There is another $8.5

million for the continued redevelopment of the hospital. Again, another much

needed service that was identified because we listened to the people and because

we cared, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I will end with that, but I certainly hope I get an opportunity

to speak again to this Budget because there is so much more that the people of

Newfoundland and Labrador deserve to hear and want to hear that helps them be

confident in the fact that this Budget is one that will deliver exactly what it

said, a secure future for the people of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. POLLARD: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

It is a pleasure and a delight to stand in this hon. House to represent the

people of my district, the District of Baie Verte Springdale and to speak to

Budget 2012, People and Prosperity. First of all, I would like to thank the

people of my district for placing their confidence and their trust by returning

me to the House of Assembly. I am humbled every time I enter this building, Mr.

Speaker. It is a privilege and an honour to serve in this capacity.

In addition, I am extremely pleased to serve this Province and this

government under the very capable leadership of our second most popular Premier

in all of Canada. I predict in the very near future she will be number one.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. POLLARD: I say to the Premier of Saskatchewan: move over, watch out,

here we come.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. POLLARD: Her common sense, prudent, steadfast approach on any issue

will resist contrary winds and keep this ship sailing on its charted course.

With this Premier at the helm, I am confident that this Province, this

government will continue to forge ahead in economic development, in solid

leadership and solid governance.

Mr. Speaker, after listening very intently the other night to all of my

colleagues, all Tuesday afternoon and Tuesday night, I drew one conclusion, what

an awesome team we have.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. POLLARD: That just solidifies what I thought all along, Mr. Speaker.

I was invigorated; people spoke with passion, with pride, with energy, with

knowledge, and even with a sense of humour, and certainly with a deep knowledge.

So much so, I wanted to jump to my feet and have a Jericho March.

To you who are not familiar with this phrase, that is a Pentecostal term used

when members, or all of its congregation, get so happy in their church that they

may sing, shout, dance, clap their hands, and they march around the church

sanctuary.

Well, I felt like that Tuesday night. I might do it this evening, Mr.

Speaker, but they all must follow me, even the other side. They are invited.

Mr. Speaker, I am so happy to be part of this formidable team and contribute

in some small way, while at the same time be an effective MHA for the Baie Verte

Springdale district for which I owe them everything because they are the ones

who placed me here in this House of Assembly. I am forever grateful to them.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. POLLARD: This team, Mr. Speaker, is up for any challenge. Again,

under the sound, solid leadership of our Premier, this team is poised, well

positioned to continue to serve the people of Newfoundland and Labrador. We are

not about to roll over and play dead, Mr. Speaker. We are not about to throw in

the towel. I know the Leafs did and the Canadiens did, but we are not, Mr.

Speaker. We are not about to retreat. Our eyes are fixed on the prize. We have

come too far, Mr. Speaker. We have made too many accomplishments. We cannot let

this Province go into anybody else's hands only in our party's hands.

Mr. Speaker, we will continue to engage people. We will continue to listen to

people. We will continue to consult with people and then we will act upon what

we hear, as my colleague the Minister of Health just said a minute ago. We will

continue to fight for our children, our youth, our seniors and our

grandchildren. Why are we doing that? Because we care; not only that, we believe

in what we are doing, Mr. Speaker. We continue with strong fiscal management,

with strong sustainable investments, with strong strategic investments and

programs, and with strong visionary leadership, and yes, by our Premier.

Yes, Mr. Speaker, we are going to continue to fight for maximum benefits from

our resources and for the best interests of Newfoundland and Labrador.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. POLLARD: Unlike the Opposition, who unfortunately has no vision, and

if they were governing today we would be bankrupt, Mr. Speaker.

Now, speaking of bankruptcy, Mr. Speaker, remember this in 2003 when we

assumed power. When we assumed government, Mr. Speaker, we were right on the

precipice of falling over the cliff, just hanging there by our toenails. We were

faced with a paralyzing debt. It choked our ability to govern so we had to come

up with a quick plan indeed, Mr. Speaker. Of course, that plan we all know it

because we have said it so many times. The only problem is they do not listen

over there so I have to repeat it again, Mr. Speaker. Number one, one major

pillar of our plan at the time was to reduce our debt. I am proud to say, after

eight years in office some-$12 billion down to $7.8 billion, a 35 per cent

whopping decrease or reduction.

AN HON. MEMBER: How much?

MR. POLLARD: It is 35 per cent. In case they do not understand that, we

put it at $4.1 billion with a capital B, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. POLLARD: What a remarkable achievement. We have come quantum leaps,

Mr. Speaker. It is no small feat. What does that mean, Mr. Speaker? It means

that we have freed up a lot of money to invest in health, education,

infrastructure, seniors' programs, or what have you. Instead of paying all of

that money to our lenders, we put it back to the people of Newfoundland and

Labrador.

That is tangible evidence, not only that we care, but it is a tangible

evidence that we are serious about fiscal discipline and fiscal management. We

did it, Mr. Speaker - just listen to this - we did it without cutting key

initiatives, without increasing taxes - they wanted to increase taxes - and we

did it without cutting social programs. We just struck that right balance, Mr.

Speaker, between fiscal responsibility and economic growth.

Pillar number two, Mr. Speaker, is tax reduction. Residents are now paying

approximately $500 million less per year in taxes. How did we accomplish that,

Mr. Speaker? Just listen. Here are some of the measures we put in place to

accomplish this major feat. Number one, reductions in personal income tax;

number two, we removed the sales tax on insurance premiums; number three, we

expanded the home heating rebate program; number four, we removed the provincial

portion of the HST on home energy; and number five, we enhanced the low-income

seniors' program. All of these measures contribute to a savings of $500 million;

half a billion dollars tucked into the pockets of Newfoundland and Labrador

people. That is good stuff, Mr. Speaker, more money into people's pockets.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. POLLARD: Awesome news, I say to the Member for Exploits. Thank you so

much.

Pillar number three, Mr. Speaker, is awesome news, I say to the Member for

Exploits, thank you so much. Pillar number three: we have invested in aggressive

spending in infrastructure . We knew we had to

stimulate the economy. We knew we had to diversify the economy. We knew we had

to create jobs.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

MR. POLLARD: Of course, this became even more apparent when the global

economic recession hit our shores in 2009.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

MR. POLLARD: That infrastructure investment

helped us to navigate through these hard times through the global economic

recession. Because of our plan, we came out relatively in good position, Mr.

Speaker, and we recovered rather quickly, better than most jurisdictions. Five

billion dollars, unprecedented levels we spent on infrastructure

in Newfoundland and Labrador, and we are still continuing.

This also provided much economic impetus to create jobs and to stimulate the

economy, Mr. Speaker.

Today, because of that aggressive spending in infrastructure ,

what are we left with? Just listen now. I think I am in school now, Mr. Speaker,

after I spent twenty-eight years there. Number one, we are left with new

schools, new hospitals, new bridges

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. POLLARD: new roads, roads indeed, water bombers, and long-term care

health facilities. What a legacy. If we did not do anything else today, we will

have changed the face of this Province right there, just on

infrastructure spending alone.

Go all around the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador, especially in rural

Newfoundland and Labrador, you will see awesome changes and

infrastructure changes, Mr. Speaker. Did we do it all? Do we

have much work to do? Oh, yes. We are so far behind it might take 100 years to

get there, Mr. Speaker, because the previous Administration could not do

anything. They just wanted to bankrupt us.

Budget 2012, Mr. Speaker, still contains approximately an investment of $900

million in infrastructure spending. I will say it

again in case the member did not hear it: $900 million, Mr. Speaker. That is no

drop in the bucket $900 million.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. POLLARD: Yes, why not. Mr. Speaker, I am going to drink to that.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. POLLARD: Getting back to my district, Mr. Speaker, just an example of

infrastructure spending: what a proud moment when I

stood with the Premier and the Minister of Education on Wednesday, February 15,

in the K-12 state-of-the-art school in the Town of Baie Verte, to have an

official opening. What an awesome feeling it gave me. Serving approximately 350

students, communities like Wild Cove, Fleur de Lys, Coachman's Cove, Baie Verte,

Seal Cove, Pacquet, Woodstock, Ming's Bight what an awesome facility.

As Mr. Chris Mills, the principal, gave us a tour of that facility, Mr.

Speaker, we saw a modern library, a family resource centre, a special education

suite, a commercial kitchen, a spacious music room, skilled trades suite, a

fitness centre, Smart Boards in every classroom, a hardwood floor in the

gymnasium. A state-of-the-art facility, and you should see the proud moments,

the parents, the teachers, the students, and the educational community beaming

with pride, Mr. Speaker, as they sat in that packed gym, close to 600 people,

grandmothers, grandfathers, boys, girls.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. POLLARD: As we walked the halls of that classroom, that colourful

school, it was just amazing. It was a highlight, Mr. Speaker. I invite anybody

to come out and take a good look at it.

Mr. Speaker, I can go on with the other investments we have made in our

district. For example, the skilled trades suite, investments in Indian River

High School. This September coming, our principal, staff, students, parents, and

teachers of Springdale and surrounding areas will avail of that program this

September. That school will be reconfigured to house that program, Mr. Speaker.

I can go on. In fact, from a provincial point of view I know this is hard

on their ears over on the other side in 2004 and beyond, Mr. Speaker, guess

how much we spent as a government?

AN HON. MEMBER: How much? Tell them.

MR. POLLARD: Over $500 million on new school construction, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. POLLARD: In recent years, Mr. Speaker, nine they might not be able

to count that high new schools constructed in that period of time, five more

under construction, and we have twelve more major renovations and projects

underway since 2004. That is only in education alone.

During that same time frame, just listen to this they cannot handle it but

I have to say it because we have to boast sometimes, Mr. Speaker, because I

cannot help it about 1,600 school infrastructure projects have been approved

province-wide since 2004. We are criticized that we are not doing anything, Mr.

Speaker, and we do not care. Do you know what, Mr. Speaker? This goes to show

that our heart is in rural Newfoundland and Labrador. We care about rural

Newfoundland and Labrador. What a myth when people say that this government

turns its back on rural Newfoundland.

AN HON. MEMBER: Gibberish.

MR. POLLARD: It is gibberish, thank you. There are not enough adjectives

in Webster's Dictionary to describe that, Mr. Speaker.

Pillar four my time is winding down, I am not even halfway through yet, Mr.

Speaker. Pillar four in our plan: strong fiscal management. Our fiscal

management was so good that Standard & Poor's gave us the highest credit rating

in our history: A+.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. POLLARD: When I was in school, A+ was good.

Now, what is the importance of this credit rating, a good credit rating?

Because it is a key factor influencing our ability to borrow and attract

investment, as the Minister of Finance said. By the way, he did an awesome job,

and his officials, in collating all the data and compiling this Budget another

awesome job, congratulations.

Now, what did Standard & Poor's say? Just listen: Newfoundland has a strong

liquidity position reflecting its past operating surpluses and prudent spending

practices. That is not the ordinary Joe giving us these compliments, Mr.

Speaker. Guess what? This year marks the sixth out of the last seven years we

have a surplus. Isn't that tremendous, Mr. Speaker? I am so proud to stand up

and say that.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. POLLARD: That shows that we are living within our means, Mr. Speaker,

just like a normal family if we put to that level would do with their

budget.

Just listen to this: Mark Carney I believe he was voted as the Canadian man

of the year and the Bank of Canada governor. Listen to what he said about a

year-and-a-half ago when he was in St. John's. He said: Everybody should take

note. You should look at Newfoundland as a model, as an example, it would do

people well amazing.

Not only that, Mr. Speaker, Dr. Warren Jestin, a Scotia Bank vice-president

and a chief economist what did they say about Newfoundland and Labrador?

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. POLLARD: They cannot hear good news; they are starving for power over

there. As soon as they hear good news, they cannot take it, Mr. Speaker. I am

going to scream, I am going to shout it anyway, Mr. Speaker, because I am sick

and tired of hearing cotton candy statements from that side over there. Every

time I try to sink my teeth into the cotton candy statement, I bite at it,

nothing there.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. POLLARD: Mr. Speaker, Dr. Warren Jestin: Newfoundland and Labrador

will lead the country in economic growth over the next five years.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. POLLARD: It is amazing. The Leafs are out of the Stanley Cup

Playoffs, but this has reinvigorated me now; I am enthused about this, Mr.

Speaker.

These four features put us in a very enviable position, Mr. Speaker. It gives

a strong economy, a solid footing, we weathered the economic storm and now we

are a respected leader. We no longer take the back seat to anybody, Mr. Speaker.

Look at ocean technology, oil and gas, Poverty Reduction Strategy

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

Does the member have leave?

AN HON. MEMBER: By leave.

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

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

What does all this boil down to, Mr. Speaker they might be sorry for giving

me by leave over there, Mr. Speaker. Thank you anyway. What it boils down to is

this that we are more financially reliant today I will repeat that: We are

more financially self-reliant, less dependent on the federal government than

ever before. I have to get this straight, Mr. Speaker.

In essence, Mr. Speaker, we have become the masters of our own destiny when

we can say 80 per cent you hear it over there of total revenues are being

generated from provincial sources. Astounding, amazing, phenomenal, what a

stellar job this government is doing.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. POLLARD: It makes me proud, Mr. Speaker. I know I get carried away

when I talk about good news. I will clue up by saying this: what a

metamorphosis. I will probably say: What a renaissance.

They are trying to renew over there. They are trying to renew our strength.

Do you know what? The other night, this blue wave crushed the orange crush and

it flattened the renewal strategy over there, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. POLLARD: What an avalanche of outstanding speeches over here the

other night, Tuesday evening. It was just amazing, Mr. Speaker. It was amazing.

What an avalanche of good stuff.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. POLLARD: I will conclude, Mr. Speaker. Like the clergy says, I will

conclude, but they say that four or five times before they give up the sermon.

Just look at the economic indicators. Personal incomes have increased, the

unemployment rate has declined, our population has increased, we are a have

Province, the retail sector is strong, the housing sector is strong, personal

disposable income has increased, we have solid consumer confidence, and our

employment growth is second to none in our Province.

One more, because they cannot take it: capital investment growth Mr.

Speaker, I will conclude on this leads the country. Do you know how much it is

going to grow this year, it is predicted? Thirty per cent, Mr. Speaker, 30 per

cent. Not 10 per cent, not 20 per cent, but 30 per cent.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

I ask the hon. member

MR. POLLARD: Mr. Speaker, thank you so much. I have a lot more to say.

Thank you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

The hon. the Premier.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

PREMIER DUNDERDALE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

It is my pleasure to stand today and speak to Budget 2012. Before I begin,

Mr. Speaker, I would like to pass on behalf of myself and the government our

condolences to two of our members of this hon. House this week who lost parents.

I am referring to the MHA for Cape St. Francis and the Member for Cartwright

L'Anse au Clair. This is a very sad time for them. The Member for Cartwright

L'Anse au Clair lost her father. The Member for Cape St. Francis lost his

mother.

It does not matter how old we are, Mr. Speaker, we are never ready for the

loss of a parent. This is a very sad time in their lives. Grief is about our own

loneliness, Mr. Speaker, because most of us who have a faith tradition

understand that our loved ones are gone on to something better. What we have to

deal with is our own loss and our own loneliness. I want to say to both the

members that I hope there is comfort in knowing that your colleagues in the

House of Assembly are thinking about you and your family, and that we will

support you in whatever way that we can, and our deepest condolences are

extended to you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

PREMIER DUNDERDALE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, Budgets are funny things, they truly are. Last year, we brought

in our first Budget under this new administration, Mr. Speaker, and I was

thrilled with it. I thought it was an absolutely wonderful Budget. Not only was

it balanced, we were predicting over a $50 million surplus. We had a $38 million

tax reduction to every citizen here in Newfoundland and Labrador who had homes

to heat. There were all kinds of initiatives and unprecedented growth in

programs and services to the people of the Province, Mr. Speaker, and, Mr.

Speaker, the reaction was kind of muted.

Mr. Speaker, this year we brought in a Budget, and we continue to be very

responsible; circumstances have changed, Mr. Speaker, and we have had to tighten

our belts. We have had to continue now on a plan of sustainability, but we have

to get much more definitive about that in this Budget, because it is the

responsible thing to do.

Mr. Speaker, the wonderful people of this Province continue to surprise me. I

was a little worried about what the reaction to that was going to be, because

our real growth in programming here is less than 1 per cent. Mr. Speaker, the

reaction of the people of Newfoundland and Labrador has been absolutely

marvellous, and it shows again how our thinking is in sync.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

PREMIER DUNDERDALE: And it is important, Mr. Speaker, that our thinking

be in sync, and that we are talking and listening to the people of our Province

and explaining to them the situation that we find ourselves in fiscally, and

what it is that we believe we need to do, informed by the best advisors that we

can find, to have that exchange of information on the ground between our MHAs

and the people they represent.

Mr. Speaker, to have our Minister of Finance go about the Province and listen

carefully to what people have to say, whether you are in a NDP district, whether

you are in a Tory district, or whether you are in a Liberal district, and to

bring all of that information back, as well as the information that we get from

experts, and have that inform the budgetary process, and to use the best

abilities that we have on behalf of the people of Newfoundland and Labrador to

chart a way forward and to explain to the people why we need to take the

decisions we are taking, why we need to tighten our belts, why we need to have

sustainable spending. Mr. Speaker, as always, the wonderful people of

Newfoundland and Labrador, the most politically astute people in the country, I

assert regularly, it is my belief, absolutely get it and have warmly supported

the measures that have been undertaken in this Budget, Mr. Speaker.

It is a wonderful Budget, Mr. Speaker. Even though there is restraint in

terms of our spending, Mr. Speaker, we still brought forward measures to

strengthen heath care, sustain economic activity, improve child care, support

apprentices, foster a thriving and skilled labour force and further strengthen

our public infrastructure. It is incredible, the difference that eight short

years have made, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

PREMIER DUNDERDALE: Mr. Speaker, I reflect, and I have reflected in this

House before, on 2003-2004 when we were elected and first began an exercise in

budgeting. For me, Mr. Speaker, and for most of my colleagues at that time on

this side of the House, this was the very first time we had engaged in this kind

of activity on behalf of the people of Newfoundland and Labrador in a provincial

government. To describe it, Sir, as a baptism of fire would be one of the

greatest understatements that was ever made. It was one of the most overwhelming

experiences of my life. I spent many, many hours lying awake trying to fathom a

way through it, because virtually, Mr. Speaker, we were bankrupt.

We talked about how we were going to sustain, first of all, our public

pension plans, because if were not able to do something about the unfunded

liability, Mr. Speaker, there were predictions that by this time 2012, they

could be gone bankrupt and we would have to be paying those pension benefits out

of current revenues. What were we going to do about it? Just imagine, what were

we going to do about it? This was a looming problem for the people of

Newfoundland and Labrador. Where were we going to get the resources?

We sat at the Cabinet table and we debated, and we argued, and we fought. We

went back and we researched, and we carved it off a piece at a time to try and

find a way forward. What was important? What could we live without? Where did we

need to make strategic investments? What could we change? Where were our

strengths in Newfoundland and Labrador, economically? Where were the areas where

we could make some kind of investment? What was in the Budget that we could use

to drive economic activity?

Mr. Speaker, I remember clearly, because I was minister of the lead business

department, what had been allocated in 2003 for economic development in this

Province was $2.6 million. Mr. Speaker, $2.6 million to help businesses, to help

organizations, to help communities drive economic activity in this Province;

$2.6 million. People were not even interested federal government entities that

operated here in the Province were not even interested in inviting us to the

table when they were talking about investment. We were not invited, Mr. Speaker,

because we had nothing to bring to the table. What kind of investment were we

going to make? Mr. Speaker, we rolled up our sleeves, we sat down and we began

to work, and we talked about regional development. We began to dig down, and we

began to engage at the community level, and slowly but surely a picture emerged

of this wonderful place, where the challenges were but where the opportunities

were as well, Mr. Speaker. We began to develop a plan, and very strategically at

first, taking those small amounts of money that we had.

I remember in that first Budget, $3.5 million was a lot of money. That could

have been a school, it could have been a medical program, and it could have been

a new drug. It could have meant whether somebody had teeth or did not have

teeth. This was a big allocation of money in this great big Budget, but

everything was so tied up and nailed down and paying off debt, that in terms of

money that you could work with, the pot was so small, that $3.5 million was

really large.

We got a call from Arnold's Cove telling us that the operator of the plant

was moving on. He was pulling out. There was somebody in that community who was

prepared to operate that plant and was prepared to put everything he had on the

line. He was at a time in his life when he could have walked away at the end of

a happy and successful life, Mr. Speaker, and had a good retirement. Instead, he

was going to take all that he had, invest in that plant, and secure economic

activity for the future of the people in that area of the Province, but he did

not have enough to secure the quota. We did not have any control over the quota.

The company was given the quota and the company was going to sell the quota.

They were going to sell it for $3.5 million.

Mr. Speaker, we did not get the call from the other side of the House, I am

going to point out, where the MHA for the region, for that area and that

district, sat. Not a phone call, not a letter, and not anybody even coming

across the floor and saying: What are you going to do to help? This was a

Liberal district.

The people of Arnold's Cove came to us and the town council of Arnold's Cove

came to us, and the person who was going to make that investment, and said: Can

you help? There will not be as many jobs as there currently are, but we will be

able to save the bulk of them, and we think there is a way forward here. We need

an investment of $3.5 million. I am going to tell you, the angst was up there on

the eleventh floor when we struggled with that decision. We said: Yes, we are

going to make the investment. It is the right thing to do.

Mr. Speaker, that plant still has its challenges, like many of the areas in

the fishery in this Province today, but that plant is operational today. That is

good decision making, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

PREMIER DUNDERDALE: That is good governance, Mr. Speaker. That is good

stewardship, Mr. Speaker. That is good politics, but that is not partisan

politics. That is doing what is right for the people of this Province.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

PREMIER DUNDERDALE: Mr. Speaker, that is what we have continued to do.

Nearly $8 billion in infrastructure , Mr. Speaker, in

this Province over the last eight years it is amazing.

I remember my first trip to the Northern Peninsula, once I became an MHA,

being stopped by people, and being told the tourism industry in that area of the

Province was dying because people would not take their RVs up over the road

because a tow truck had to come and take them back down out of it. The axels

were broken, the tires were broken, and it just was not worth the expense of

going up there.

Now, Mr. Speaker, that is not so for any road in this Province any more.

There are still roads that need work. My colleagues on this side of the House

advocate especially around Budget time, Mr. Speaker, it is veracious, as you

are well aware. Everybody is looking for their roads because they are an

important part of infrastructure in communities. They relate to everything. It

relates to health care, it relates to education, it relates to economic

activity, and it relates to social well-being. They are extremely important. Mr.

Speaker, you needed a horse and cart in some areas of the Province in 2003. That

is no longer so. Even though we have to ramp back on our spending now, we are

still investing over $900 million this year in infrastructure in this Province.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

PREMIER DUNDERDALE: Mr. Speaker, the money that we get from the resources

that belong to the people of this Province is finally being used to the benefit

of the people of this Province.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

PREMIER DUNDERDALE: It is being done in a very, very responsible way, Mr.

Speaker. What a wonderful day it was in this House when spending in education

went over the billion dollar mark, Mr. Speaker. Is there anything more important

in a civilized country than education? When we educate our children, Mr.

Speaker, we are securing their future, but we are securing ours as well. A place

that has a well-educated citizenry will prosper, Mr. Speaker. Evidence supports

that from all over the world.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

PREMIER DUNDERDALE: There is no more important thing in our Province than

our children. We have to make sure that they have good health, that they are

well looked after, that their educational needs are met, Mr. Speaker, that when

there are issues around their safety and well-being that the society as a whole

is there to protect them and their rights, and guarantee as best we can that

they have a safe environment to grow up in. There is nothing more important for

us to do than look after our children. That always has to be our number one

priority. That is what drives so many of the things that we do here in the

Province. That is why you brought the debt clock along, as Minister of Finance,

to make a point when we were doing consultations around Budget, Mr. Speaker.

Sometimes we jokingly say that we are going to bring it over to the other side

of the House, in terms of what gets asked here on a daily basis. Hundreds, and

hundreds, and hundreds of millions of dollars of want, want, want the sky is

falling. Well, the sky was falling in 2003, Mr. Speaker. The sky is not falling

today.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

PREMIER DUNDERDALE: Mr. Speaker, anybody who never heard of this place

before and who would come in and be exposed to Question Period and debate in

this House of Assembly and heard only what came from the other side would think

truly that the sky was falling, that we were in the most desperate of times. As

you have heard here in speeches made by my colleagues here in this House of

Assembly and you have heard in news reports not only here in Newfoundland and

Labrador but from across the country we are leading this country in economic

development, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

PREMIER DUNDERDALE: We have paid down debt, Mr. Speaker, $4 billion.

There are not countries in this world that could make that boast, let alone a

Province in the country of Canada $4 billion. It is wonderful. We need to take

the time to stop and celebrate that. In 2003, when we worried for days and

debated for days about the wisdom of how we invested $3.5 million to be able

to stay that we came from that place in 2003 to 2008 with $4 billion of debt

paid down, Mr. Speaker.

Why were we able to do that, Mr. Speaker? We were able to do that because of

the resources that we have here in the Province and the approach that we have

taken to the development of those resources. Far too long others benefited from

the resources that belong rightfully to the people of Newfoundland and Labrador.

When we came in 2003, we said that the resources had to be developed in the best

interests of the people of the Province. The people of the Province said: We

agree, so therefore we are going to elect you, and you go do that. We have

delivered.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

PREMIER DUNDERDALE: Mr. Speaker, I began talking about our pension plans.

We have put over $4 billion into our pension. Never mind paying down, we have

put over $4 billion into our pension plans, Mr. Speaker. A good thing we did;

without the recession and all of the economic turmoil we had in the world, they

were forecasted to collapse because of the unfunded liability. Imagine if we had

gone through all of this economic upheaval and had not made those investments.

We would be in some kind of a mess today.

We were not, Mr. Speaker, because we had a plan. That plan was driven by

principles. The principle was that we are here to serve the best interests of

the people of Newfoundland and Labrador, Mr. Speaker. That is what we have done.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

PREMIER DUNDERDALE: A large portion of our revenue comes from oil. As

everyone well, most everyone, Mr. Speaker in this Province and in the world

realizes, there is a lot of volatility in predicting oil prices. Some, and some

in this House, dismiss the volatility and the difficulty in being able to

forecast what the price of oil is going to be and thus whether or not you are

going to have a surplus or a deficit, based on production numbers and

forecasting, Mr. Speaker, from experts well outside of government. Some, and

some in this House, will go so far as to accuse the government of some kind of

collusion, fact-finding and fact-hiding, incompetence, and deception in terms of

preparing their Budgets.

Mr. Speaker, that is offensive and insulting, not only to the people who sit

on this side of the House, but to the people of Newfoundland and Labrador. They

are not going to buy it, Mr. Speaker. Everybody understands. We have experts,

self-educated experts, in this House, some on the other side, who are able to

talk to people about the volatility in oil prices and what they can expect to

pay for gas, home heating, and so on. You cannot predict it on a daily basis.

You have to have an agency. It is so volatile, we need agencies now to help us

do that and to regulate as a result.

Mr. Speaker, anybody tuning in and only listening to th