November

30, 2009

HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS

Vol. XLVI No. 31

The House met at 1:30 p.m.

MR. SPEAKER (Fitzgerald): Order, please!

Admit strangers.

Before we proceed with the routine proceedings, I would like to observe an

old parliamentary tradition. I have the pleasant task today of formally

welcoming a new member who has been duly elected in a by-election since the

House last met in September of 2009. The new member is Mr. Marshall Dean,

representing The Straits & White Bay North.

I have been advised by the Clerk of the House that the member has taken the

Oath of Office and the Oath of Allegiance to the Crown as required by the

Constitution, and has signed the Members' Roll.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MS JONES: It is my honour, Mr. Speaker, to ask that Marshall Dean, the

Member for The Straits & White Bay North have the right to claim his seat.

MR. SPEAKER: Allow the hon. member to take his seat.

The Chair would also like to welcome, sitting in the Speaker's gallery, the

Member Elect for the District of Terra Nova, Mr. Sandy Collins.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: According to our Standing Orders again, that Mr. Collins,

the Member Elect, will take his seat after fifteen clear days of the election,

and will be duly sworn in and presented to the House of Assembly at that time.

Statements by Members

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

the Member for the District of Cartwright-L'Anse au Clair; the hon. the Member

for the District of Exploits; the hon. the Member for the District of The

Straits & White Bay North; the hon. the Member for the District of Kilbride;

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

for the District of Port au Port.

The hon. the Member for the District of Cartwright-L'Anse au Clair.

MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I rise in the House today to congratulate Christy Groves of Forteau, Labrador

on being selected by Coca-Cola for the prestigious Aboriginal Art Bottle

Program.

Mr. Speaker, this program provides Aboriginal people across the country the

opportunity to showcase their artwork and culture to the world at the 2010

Olympics in Vancouver. Fifteen artists were selected from more than 100

Aboriginal artists across Canada. The artists, both amateurs and professionals,

are First Nations, Inuit or Metis. Ms Groves, an eighteen-year-old university

student, of Metis descent, was informed that she was the youngest winner

countrywide by roughly fifteen years.

Mr. Speaker, her work is inspired by the Olympic flame and an Inukshuk and is

displayed beautifully on a six-foot fibreglass bottle. The artwork will first be

unveiled regionally throughout the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games. Each

bottle will then be auctioned to collectors from around the world. The proceeds

from the sale will go to the Vancouver 2010 Aboriginal Youth Legacy Fund to

support sport, culture, sustainability and education initiatives for Aboriginal

youth across Canada.

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

Christy Groves on being selected to have her artwork displayed at the 2010

Olympics in Vancouver.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. FORSEY: Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure today to stand in

this House to recognize the contribution of three volunteer firefighters on

achieving thirty-five years service, each with the Bishop's Falls Volunteer

Fire Department.

Mr. Speaker, in 1974, Ed Harnum, Wilf Carey and Onnie Balsom joined the

Bishop's Falls Fire Department. For the next thirty-five years they made a

commitment to be on call twenty-four hours a day to respond to emergencies that

would affect their community and surrounding area.

Mr. Speaker, these firefighters have given unselfishly of their time to fire

and emergency training, responding to emergencies such as residential and

commercial fires, to highway traffic accidents, and volunteering to raise

awareness and funds for worthwhile causes such as muscular dystrophy, the wish

foundation and many others.

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

Harnum, Wilf Carey and Onnie Balsom on their thirty-five years of volunteer

service with the Bishop's Falls Fire Department.

Thank you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for the District of The Straits &

White Bay North.

MR. DEAN: Mr. Speaker, I rise in this House today to recognize the St.

Anthony Volunteer Fire Department and to thank them for the tremendous service

they provide to St. Anthony and the surrounding area.

Mr. Speaker, this group of dedicated volunteers, including the firefighters

who risk their lives to save life and property, and the firettes who work behind

the scenes on fundraising projects to provide the equipment for them to do their

job, are a part of the best equipped volunteer fire department in the Province.

This year, in addition to responding to fire calls, rescue assistance and

accident calls, members have completed thirty-nine training sessions and are

working on getting all members to level one status for the new year.

Mr. Speaker, the St. Anthony Volunteer Fire Department celebrated its

volunteers on November 21 at the Annual Firefighters Appreciation Supper where a

number of awards were passed out. Captain Harvey Richards was named Officer of

the Year; Bonnie Hynes was names Firefighter of the Year; while Mike Boiduk was

runner-up; and Josh Slade, second runner-up.

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

congratulating members of the St. Anthony Volunteer Fire Department for their

commitment to their community, region and Province with best wishes for

continued success.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. DINN: Mr. Speaker, I rise in this hon. House today to recognize and

pay tribute to a constituent of mine, Shawn Lahey of Kilbride.

Shawn was recently awarded a Medal of Bravery by Governor General Michaelle

Jean for bravery in his courageous rescue of a partner on a night in January,

Shawn is a corrections officer working at Her Majesty's Penitentiary in St.

John's for the past six years. On that night referenced, he and his partner

were letting Unit 1 inmates out one at a time for their showers. One of the

inmates, after being let out, grabbed Shawn's partner around the neck and put

a shank up to his throat. Shawn Lahey did not panic but immediately sprung into

action. He disarmed the inmate and with the help of his partner was able to

handcuff him as they held him to the floor.

Mr. Lahey's partner escaped without serious injury, only sustaining a

puncture wound from the shank. The inmate had intended to use Shawn's

correction officer partner as a hostage while he escaped from prison.

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

congratulating Shawn Lahey for his distinctive act of bravery.

Thank you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. BUTLER: Mr. Speaker, I stand today to congratulate fifteen-year-old

William Rose of Shearstown on being named tournament top batter at the Atlantic

Bantam AA Baseball Championships earlier this year.

William was a member of the Spaniard's Bay Bantam AA Pirates this summer.

After winning the provincial championship in Corner Brook, the Pirates went on

to represent the Province at the Atlantic tournament. During the provincial

championships, William Rose won three of the possible five individual awards. He

went on to win the top batter award with an average of 538 at the Atlantic

championships which were held in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia. A very quiet and

mannerly individual, he is not only a credit to his team but to the community

that he represents.

Mr. Speaker, I ask all hon. members to join with his family and many friends

in wishing William Rose every success as he continues with the sport he truly

loves.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. CORNECT: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. CORNECT: Mr. Speaker, I had the privilege of attending the first

annual Aboriginal Business Gala earlier this fall in Stephenville. The

Aboriginal Community-Business Advisory Committee is to be commended for

organizing this successful event. The gala provided the opportunity for

showcasing Aboriginal businesses in the Port au Port, Bay St. George and Burgeo

area.

Mr. Speaker, throughout Newfoundland and Labrador, Aboriginal peoples have

been celebrating, expressing their origins and traditions with arts and cultural

events. It was exciting to see this Aboriginal Business Gala celebrating and

giving recognition to Aboriginal groups and individuals who are developing and

diversifying our growing economy here in Newfoundland and Labrador.

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

applauding the Aboriginal Community-Business Advisory Committee on the success

for their first annual Aboriginal Business Gala, and, Mr. Speaker,

congratulations to all Aboriginal entrepreneurs, artists and artisans in our

Province.

We'lalin.

Thank you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: Before the Chair continues with routine proceedings, the

Chair would like to recognize a former member of the House of Assembly who is in

the public gallery today. Mr. Alvin Hewlett, welcome back to the House of

Assembly.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: Statements by Ministers.

Statements by Ministers

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

PREMIER WILLIAMS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to inform members of this hon. House and the

general public of action taken today by Churchill Falls (Labrador) Corporation

as a result of information which was passed on to that corporation by the

provincial government.

As everyone in the Province is aware, in 1969 CF(L)Co signed an agreement

with Hydro-Quebec for the development of the Upper Churchill River. Today the

terms of this agreement provide grossly inequitable compensation in favour of

Hydro-Quebec while our Province reaps a pittance by comparison.

For example, last year it is estimated that Hydro-Quebec reaped profits from

the Upper Churchill contract of approximately $1.7 billion while Newfoundland

and Labrador received a mere $63 million. CF(L)Co is also responsible for the

running, and the upkeep and the maintenance of the Upper Churchill facility.

Power which is bought from our Province for a quarter of a cent per kilowatt

hour is then resold by Hydro-Quebec for up to thirty-six times the price that

they pay for it.

Mr. Speaker, the gross inequity of this agreement cannot be denied. It is

without a doubt considered the biggest giveaway of resources by this Province;

in fact, I would venture to say that there are no other similar agreements of

such a disproportionate magnitude in the entire country.

Several previous administrations have attempted to remedy this by either

requesting a renegotiation of the contract with Quebec or through the pursuit of

various legal actions. To date, neither venue has successfully addressed the

inequity of this contract.

A couple of years ago, I instructed officials to undertake an extensive and

thorough review of potential legal remedies. As a lawyer by profession, I was

determined to ensure that no legal stone was left unturned.

As a result of this review, we have discovered a very legitimate and a

compelling legal argument that has not yet been tested in relation to the Upper

Churchill contract. Under Quebec's own civil code, there is an obligation

imposed by law for parties to act in good faith in all legal relationships,

including the negotiation and the ongoing performance of contracts.

It is a very important and fundamental underpinning of the Quebec civil code,

and one we feel is very relevant to the 1969 Upper Churchill contract. After

many, many months of research and having received firm legal opinions from some

of the most eminent and brilliant legal minds in Quebec, our Department of

Justice informed CF(

L) Co of our legal opinion.

Mr. Speaker, today President and CEO of CF(

L) Co has informed me that after

seeking and receiving their own legal opinions he has in fact sent a letter to

Hydro-Quebec requesting that they enter into negotiations to amend the pricing

terms of the contract for the future so as to finally provide a fair and

equitable return to both CF(

L) Co and Hydro-Quebec. This would be consistent

with the good faith principle that is fundamental to the Quebec civil code.

Mr. Speaker, it is our firm hope and desire that Hydro-Quebec will affirm

their desire to renegotiate this lopsided contract based upon the moral

principles of fairness and more importantly upon the legal obligations under

Quebec's own law, which ensure that both parties in an agreement enjoy equity

and fairness.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I certainly thank the Premier for an advance copy of his statement today.

Mr. Speaker, what a difference a few weeks makes. It was only a week or so

ago when the Premier was looking at Quebec Hydro as a despicable power grabber

in the country and today he is sending a note up along asking for a meeting to

discuss some legal challenges they feel they may have within the contract. So it

should be good context, I would say, Mr. Speaker, under which to get a meeting.

Having said that, Mr. Speaker, redress on the Upper Churchill has been the

desire of every single person in Newfoundland and Labrador for over three

decades, and, Mr. Speaker, it has been a priority for almost every successive

government over the last three decades. Attempts have been made to reopen the

contract, to look for redress, both through constitutional means and through the

Supreme Courts.

Mr. Speaker, if it was only based on moral principle and fairness, I think we

would have had that redress a long time ago because morally what is happening is

indeed wrong, and I hope that this time it will be different and that we can see

more return come to the people of the Province. It is not easy for

Newfoundlanders and Labradorians anywhere in this Province, to watch billions of

dollars of revenue on a resource that we own, going into another province to

build the revenues and to build the infrastructure of that province.

Mr. Speaker, many times we have also seen the expectations of people in this

Province raised around redress on this deal, and we have seen them squashed.

That has always been a concern for me. When I hear this morning about this

particular announcement, I look at it, and I know the closest that we have seen

any Premier come was probably Brian Tobin back some years ago when he got them

to reopen the negotiations on winter availability and also on recall power

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

I ask the hon. member to conclude her remarks.

MS JONES: which he gained some additional revenue on at that time.

What I would say, Mr. Speaker, in conclusion, is that we want to know where

the legal clauses are in this. What the reopeners are. Is there an opportunity

for legal challenge in the courts, and is there really new information here that

will allow us to have some redress (inaudible).

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

Order, please!

The hon. the Member for Signal Hill-Quidi Vidi.

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

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

you know, I, and I am sure everybody else would agree with the Premier that if

there are still legal stones to be turned, then they be turned. I, too, applaud

him for his efforts to attempt any remedy to this terribly one-sided and unfair

contract.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS MICHAEL: I know that all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians would like

to see this odious agreement turned around. Nobody wants this agreement. What I

fear and again, we do not have details, and I guess I can understand why we

are not being given legal details, though I would like to have some sense, more

than what has been given us by the Premier, but I fear that it could be false

hope being given to people. We sit down with Hydro-Quebec, CF(L)Co sits down

with them, they ask them will you sit? They have the power to say yes or no, and

if you sit and they just come up with a no, well then where does this go? Is

that the end of it, or is this going further? Is this going to Supreme Court?

What is happening, based on what is being presented to us by the Premier today?

What is his next step, or is this the final step? I guess we are all going to

have to wait and find out, because I do not want people being given false hope.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER: Further statements by ministers.

The hon. the Minister of Education.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KING: Mr. Speaker, last year thirty schools throughout the Province

received assistance from the provincial government in making their schools safe

and respectful environments. In total, $15,000 in grants were approved under the

Department of Education's Safe and Caring Schools Special Project Fund, with

each school receiving $500.

I am pleased to announce, Mr. Speaker, that this year we are once again

providing funding to help teachers and administrators make their schools and

their communities safe places to be. Safe and caring schools are created and

nurtured on a daily basis in classrooms, gymnasiums and playgrounds around the

Province, and it is important that all educators and parents instill respectful

behaviour in students at a young age.

This special project fund aims to promote awareness of our Safe and Caring

Schools policy, which was launched in 2006 to guide school communities in their

efforts to ensure safe, respectful learning environments. With funding provided

through this special project, we hope to strengthen partnerships and promote

effective actions to create positive school climates.

Schools or districts can submit project proposals which will be reviewed by

the provincial advisory committee for the Safe and Caring Schools initiative.

Projects which best reflect the goals of the initiative and best contribute to a

safe and caring learning environment will be chosen for funding.

Teacher-sponsored student groups may also apply to complete projects

associated with a particular course or curriculum area, or with their club or

school-based organization. Projects, Mr. Speaker, could include a wide range of

activities such as drama, musical or multi-media productions, visual art

projects or any other innovative ideas. The deadline for these projects, the

application deadline is December 7, and applications can be found on the

Department of Education Web site.

I am also pleased that in the New Year, Mr. Speaker, we will be moving ahead

with the Graduate Student Awards. Graduating students who have demonstrated

leadership in helping to create or sustain safe and caring environments can

apply for the award which consists of a $500 tuition voucher.

Mr. Speaker, I offer congratulations to last year's award recipients. I

commend everyone who is working to make our schools safe, nurturing places, and

I encourage all schools to put their project forward for consideration.

Thank you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. DEAN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Mr. Speaker, ensuring that the students in this Province are safe when they

attend school is of vital importance to us. It is good to see programs such as

Safe and Caring Schools which encourage every school to think about and provide

positive learning environments for all students. It is also great, Mr. Speaker,

to see that there will be a graduate student award program in place in the New

Year. Any initiative which encourages our students to develop positive

leadership roles and to be involved in sustaining safe and caring school

environments is something that we would like to see happen.

I would suggest there is still bullying taking place in many of our schools

that we would be concerned about. Trying to eliminate this and working together

would be of vital importance and certainly once violence is taken out of our

schools, I would hope that we can take a closer look at air quality controls and

initiatives and so on.

Again, thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Vidi.

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

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

glad about the statement, Caring Schools Project. I have known about it and I

think it is something that we really need in our schools and that funding is

being accessed by the schools and is available to help teachers and

administrators work with their students and with parents to make their schools

as safe as possible.

I also commend the Department of Education because of its support of a survey

that was done, I think last year. The report is now out. It was done by Egale,

which is a national organization which is concerned about equality and justice

for gays, lesbians, and trans-gender persons. This survey surveyed the attitude

in the schools towards teenagers and others in the schools who are gays,

lesbians and trans-gendered.

I would like to see the fund put a special focus in the future on getting rid

of homophobia in the schools, because the survey indicated that many students in

our schools are suffering from homophobia. All children are entitled to a safe,

respectful, learning environment and we are discovering that many young people

are being harassed and injured because of homophobia. So I encourage the

minister to work with his department in looking further into this particular

aspect of safety for our children.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER: Further statements by ministers?

The hon. the Minister of Human Resources, Labour and Employment.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS SULLIVAN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I rise today in this hon. House to provide an update on the Provincial

Nominee Program.

Mr. Speaker, the provincial government views increasing immigration as an

important part of our approach to addressing the skills shortages and

demographic challenges that are being experienced provincially and nationally.

I am pleased to say, Mr. Speaker, that since the launch of the immigration

strategy in 2007, the number of immigrants to this Province has grown from 512

in 2006 to 627 in 2008, an increase of 22 per cent.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS SULLIVAN: The primary reason for the increase is the changes we have

made to the Provincial Nominee Program since it was transferred to the

Department of Human Resources, Labour and Employment in April, 2007. We are now

focusing on attracting individuals with specialized skill sets who plan to make

Newfoundland and Labrador their new home.

From April 1, 2007, to November 20, 2009, 637 individuals have been nominated

through the Provincial Nominee Program. They come from fifty-five different

countries. These nominees are highly educated with 72 per cent having at least

one university degree, and 8 per cent with a Ph.D. The age distribution is also

very encouraging; 92 per cent of these individuals are forty-nine years of age

or younger. Further, the highest percentage is in the twenty-five to twenty-nine

age range, thus helping to make a positive contribution to our demographic

situation.

Mr. Speaker, another encouraging trend is the number of international

graduates who have chosen to remain in the Province. In 2007 there were six

international graduates nominated through our Provincial Nominee Program. In

2008 there were thirty-five nominated, and so far in 2009, we have nominated

thirty-four international graduates. These are highly educated young people who

have opted to remain in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Our provincial nominees are working primarily in the medical, science,

technology, management, trade, and education sector, and are making their

contributions in thirty-seven communities throughout the Province.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. BUTLER: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I want to thank the minister for an advance copy of her statement. It is good

to get an update on the Provincial Nominee Program, let me assure you. It is an

issue that came to the forefront through the Auditor General's report in 2009

where there were many concerns listed.

The minister gave an accurate account on how many people were nominated

through the program but to this very day we do not know where they are at, Mr.

Speaker. We do not know what happened to the funds for the local businesses, and

not only that, there was $1.3 million in a trust fund that we are still trying

to get documentation on, Mr. Speaker. True, we would love to see those people

come to our Province and when she mentions that those people are coming to work

primary in the medical and the science fields, that is wonderful because I can

tell you, there were three or four doctors who came to this Province, came to

the area where I live, wonderful individuals, but what we have to do is try to

keep them here. They are here for a probationary period then they are gone to

Ontario or Quebec somewhere. No doubt, this is a good program, Mr. Speaker,

AN HON. MEMBER: (Inaudible).

MR. BUTLER: I hear the former Minister of Health; he knows full well what

I am speaking of.

Mr. Speaker, we congratulate those individuals. We welcome them to come to

our Province but I can assure you, this is a good program and if we could only

stand here today and say the 600-and-some-odd people who we nominated were in

this Province, no doubt, the shortage of skills that we do have would be a

problem we would not have to encounter.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Vidi.

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

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

The hon. the Member for Signal Hill-Quidi Vidi.

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

In case you did not hear, I, once again, thank the minister for the advance

copy of her statement.

I am glad to see that there has been

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

MS MICHAEL: - progress with regard to immigration into our Province and

in retaining immigrants in our Province.

I know some individuals who have successfully gone through the program and

have not moved and are using their skills here in our Province, and I applaud

that, but I would ask the Minister to also consider some of the needs of the

immigrants who are coming under the nominee program as well.

I attended a Multicultural Women's Organization meeting earlier this year,

and I would just like to share with the minister a few of the issues that came

up at that gathering with the Multicultural Women's Organization. They talked

about needing more supports for students who immigrate with their families and

While we have that program, they have identified problems within that program

and I know the minister speaks to this organization, I encourage her to

continue speaking with this organization, because they need other academic

language, but it is more than that.

Also, the families need assistance in adjusting to the new culture. I know

that government is working with the Multicultural Women's Organization on

these programs, and I encourage the minister to continue, as I said, working

with this organization. As well, I hope that her colleague, the Minister of

Education, is listening I know he is that teachers also need assistance

in knowing how to work with students who are coming from

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

I ask the hon. member to conclude her remarks.

MS MICHAEL: If I may conclude, Mr. Speaker, just a couple of seconds.

We also know that teachers in the school system also need assistance in

knowing how to deal with students who are coming from other countries and other

cultures.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER: Further statements by ministers.

Oral Questions.

Oral Questions

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

MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

My questions are for the Premier.

Just before we came to the House of Assembly, Nalcor did hold a press

conference and the Premier did give a statement in the House of Assembly stating

that new legal opinions have led them to ask Hydro-Quebec to reopen the Upper

Churchill contract.

I ask the Premier today: Where did the legal opinions, I guess, come from

that were solicited by the Province and how do they differ from other legal

opinions that have been given to governments over the last thirty years?

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

The hon. the Premier.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

PREMIER WILLIAMS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

There has been a fair bit of legal research done over the years in the

Province, as far as I know it. Recently, scholars and jurists have come out, and

their lawyers have given opinions with regard to certain actions that we could

take in specific areas, whether that was taxation, whether was that breach of

fiduciary duty

What we decided to do was go back and look at all the legal opinions, all the

possible options to see if we could find the best option in order to possibly

open the door to a renegotiation of the Upper Churchill contract.

As the hon. the Leader of the Opposition said before, this is a matter that

sticks in the craw of every Newfoundlander and Labradorian. As I said, it is one

of the biggest giveaways - probably the biggest giveaway that has ever occurred

in the entire country in the history of Canada. So it is something that we feel

should be wronged.

I, personally, feel that the actions of Hydro-Qubec have been wrong. The

term: despicable, was used, and I will continue to use that kind of a term -

AN HON. MEMBER: Odious

PREMIER WILLIAMS: - odious, greedy.

So, on the basis of the legal opinions that we went through and that we

obtained from senior legal firms and from eminent jurists in the Province of

Quebec, we have decided that was information that was important to be passed

over to CF(L)Co, and we did so.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The people of the Province have had their expectations raised around possible

changes that could occur to the Upper Churchill contract many times in our

history. Every time, I would say, Mr. Speaker, they have been left very

disappointed.

I ask the Premier: Have you been able to confirm that the opinions you have

are strong enough to launch a third challenge in the Supreme Court if that is

necessary?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

PREMIER WILLIAMS: This is not about raising expectations. This is about

righting a very serious wrong.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

PREMIER WILLIAMS: The option for this government would be to do

absolutely nothing. That is not an option for this government, it has never been

an option for this government and it never will be an option for this

government.

We are trying to do - as other governments have tried, and with the best of

intentions, and for various reasons, have failed. We are not prepared to give up

on this under any circumstances whatsoever. The loss of revenue to this Province

is enormous. It is a renewable energy source. It is hundreds of millions of

barrels flowing every year, equivalent to some of the major oil fields that have

been discovered out off our coastline.

As a result, we feel that we need to pursue this and the best way to pursue

this is in good faith. The best way to pursue good faith is to have this

information passed over to CF(L)Co. It is my understanding that CF(L)Co have

announced today that president, Ed Martin, has now written the other

shareholders of CF(L)Co to see whether, in fact, in good faith, this matter

would be open for renegotiation, and that is a very good thing.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I guess this is a little different from the hard-nosed tactics we have seen

the Premier playing with the Lower Churchill issue for some time now.

Mr. Speaker, let's not be fooled here. Every single person in this Province

wants to see redress on this particular contract. The fact that we ask questions

about it does not undermine how we feel about it as well.

I ask the Premier, Mr. Speaker: Although the letter has been sent, has there

been any indication given at all by Hydro-Quebec that they would even be

prepared to discuss any new legal clauses or claims that the Province says that

they have been able to find within the contracts, and are they prepared to have

any discussion at all around reopening the Upper Churchill agreement?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

PREMIER WILLIAMS: It is my understanding that they would have probably

just received this letter this morning or just early this afternoon, or within

the hour, or maybe it is on the way right now. I assume that when the

announcement was made the letter had been sent.

We, obviously, have had no correspondence from Hydro-Quebec or indication

from Hydro-Quebec because this is a matter within CF(L)Co. This is a matter that

has to be discussed within them.

If, at some point, the Premier of Quebec decided to pick up the phone and

indicate to me, as Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, that he wanted to enter

into negotiations to reopen the Upper Churchill contract, well then sure,

absolutely, we welcome that, but we do not expect that to happen, it has not

happened before. Efforts by previous governments, it has not happened.

They have never indicated they wanted to renegotiate the Upper Churchill, so

we felt that it was time that we provided information to CF(L)Co so that they

could take the initiative to make it happen.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I am somewhat disappointed to know that the Premier of Quebec would not have

our Premier on speed-dial over an important issue like this.

Mr. Speaker, the Premier has stated in the past that redress on the Upper

Churchill was a precondition to any development of the Lower Churchill with

Quebec. Now, a few weeks ago, I heard him kind of back off that statement in the

media when he said that a commitment - you backed off the commitment saying that

those demands, a deal would not get done.

I ask the Premier today: Are you, again, making redress on the Upper

Churchill part of the prerequisite to any negotiations that would occur on

future Lower Churchill agreements done by yourself or your government?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

PREMIER WILLIAMS: I do not want the Leader of the Opposition or anyone

else to misunderstand. The action, as I understand it, that has been taken by

CF(L)Co today is an internal action taken by that company with their customer,

Hydro-Quebec, in order to renegotiate a very, very unfair and odious and

oppressive contract.

The Lower Churchill negotiations are completely separate negotiations. We

intend to pursue those. Quebec are trying to block us every step of the way.

Their strategic move to attempt to obtain the assets in New Brunswick was

obviously a strategic attempt to try and block us from going through the

Maritime Provinces. Their recent action, again, which is a terrible action, is

the agreement on the water rights for the Churchill River. We attempted to have

a fair agreement put in place, one that was a win-win for both parties. It was

approved by lawyers, it was approved by officials in both companies, it went

before the board of CF(L)Co and Quebec voted that down. As a result, now that is

going before the Public Utilities Board.

So there is no indication from Quebec, in any manner whatsoever, that they

want to play fair, they want to be equitable. Instead, they want

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

I ask the hon. Premier to complete his answer.

PREMIER WILLIAMS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

They want to do whatever they can to prevent us from developing our project.

The Upper Churchill redress is a separate issue from the Lower Churchill and we

are proceeding on both.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Premier continues to lash out at Hydro-Quebec and the Government of New

Brunswick for considering a deal that would see New Brunswick Power sold off to

the Quebec utility. Now, Mr. Speaker, in his comments he has indicated that this

could, in fact, restrict access for Newfoundland and Labrador's capacity to

transport power from the Lower Churchill project through New Brunswick.

I ask the Premier, that if he was so confident that a Lower Churchill

agreement was imminent, why did you not make application under the proposal call

that was issued by New Brunswick more than a year ago to access transmission

capacity at that time?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

PREMIER WILLIAMS: First of all, Mr. Speaker, I cannot understand why the

Opposition is so cozy with Quebec. I cannot understand why they are so concerned

about Quebec interests. I cannot understand why they want us to do business with

Quebec, the way that Quebec shafted them. Maybe it is just a little bit of guilt

to the fact that it was a Liberal government

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

PREMIER WILLIAMS: that gave this away some forty or fifty years ago.

Maybe it is just a little guilt and a little shame that back in 2003, when she

was a member of the Cabinet, Premier Grimes and his government were going to

have the second largest giveaway in the entire Province. Maybe that is what

motivates her.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

PREMIER WILLIAMS: The simple answer to her question is I am not prepared,

on behalf of this government, to authorize spending $10 million a year on

nothing for seven years.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Every time I listen to the Premier when I ask questions about the Lower

Churchill, you are starting to sound like an old gramophone with the needle

stuck, because it is just the same thing over and over again. Well, Mr. Speaker,

I can tell him right now that there is no one cozy with Quebec. No one cozy on

this side with Quebec. Mr. Speaker, I can tell you one thing, at least we can

have a conversation with them, and that is more than what is happening on the

other side.

Mr. Speaker, Prince Edward Island did bid for capacity

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

MS JONES: even though their projects were not ready to be

constructed.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

The hon. the Leader of the Opposition.

MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

When the proposal call went out for capacity on the lines in New Brunswick,

Prince Edward Island did bid. Although their projects were not ready to come on

stream as well, but, Mr. Speaker, they were confident in those projects and they

were looking forward, something that this Province failed to do.

So, I ask today, Mr. Speaker, under the new FERC rules, which the Minister of

Natural Resources claims in this House time and time again that allows for fair

access to the U.S. markets through Quebec and through New Brunswick, I ask: The

fact that the operator in New Brunswick changes, why does that change your

access, your fair access, that you claim to have under FERC regulations?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

PREMIER WILLIAMS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I do not know where the hon. Leader of the Opposition has been for the last

three years because we have said time and time again that we have made

application to the Rgie in Quebec and that application is an open access

application which should go through in about nine months. That was three years

ago. Under that application we would apply to have capacity through Quebec so

that we could wheel down into Ontario, we could wheel down on it to New

Brunswick, and we could carry power on to the United States if absolutely

necessary. Those applications have been blocked every step of the way. They even

went so far on the first application to even deny the jurisdiction of their own

regulator, which is the Rgie. In other words, you have no right or no ability

to hear this, we are just going to do what we want. That was one of their

objections.

Another objection was they would not even tell us the capacity of their

system. So, we are applying for 740 megawatts or kilowatts, I do not know what

the right

MS DUNDERDALE: Megawatts.

PREMIER WILLIAMS: - megawatts of power through Quebec, and they will not

even tell us if there is any space available. These are very, very basic pieces

of information that we are entitled to receive under open access principles, but

I can tell you, that the people at FERC and that is why I went to New York,

and that is why I spoke to the people in New York will ensure that

Hydro-Quebec adheres to open access principles in their country and, hopefully,

it spills over into ours.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order please!

MS JONES: It really does not answer the question as to the reason why

your government fell down on the job when there was access availability through

New Brunswick and you did not take them up on that offer.

Mr. Speaker, we know about the application that was in the system. The

minister talked about it hundreds of times in the House of Assembly. We still

never saw any results on it. We have not seen anything come back whatsoever, so

it really does not answer the question as to why you did not make the

application.

Mr. Speaker, I ask the Premier to confirm that, regardless who the operator

is in New Brunswick under that utility, we should still have free access.

However, isn't the real problem that exists is that there is no capacity left

on the lines either in Quebec or in New Brunswick that will allow you to

transport Lower Churchill power?

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

The hon. the Premier.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

PREMIER WILLIAMS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Before Joan Marie was writing her questions, now Shawn Graham is writing her

questions for her.

We just had the same discussion in Churchill Falls a week and a half ago,

where Premier Graham indicated that there was no capacity. Well, there are a

couple of things. First of all, we can build new capacity. That is one piece of

the equation. We can build a corridor through and we will be writing Premier

Graham in the very near future to request that access. We will be doing that in

conjunction with the Premier of Nova Scotia and in partnership between Nalcor

and Emera Energy. As well, if the interties at Orrington are upgraded, that will

increase the capacity in New Brunswick. So there will be greater ability for us

to go through New Brunswick. So, in fact, with the proper upgrades we can have

additional capacity in New Brunswick. So that is the political answer in New

Brunswick by a Liberal government that is doing another giveaway right there.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

If we were to look at building additional transmission lines for Lower

Churchill power, has the government done any evaluation of what the cost would

be, and if so, can you tell us what that cost would be and could you also tell

us if it will still allow the project to be economically feasible?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Deputy Premier.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS DUNDERDALE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, Nalcor and this government will understand every aspect of this

project before we sanction, and before, unlike previous governments, we will

negotiate a power purchase agreement with anybody in this country or in the

United States. Yes, Mr. Speaker, that has the potential to have to build new

infrastructure on- for transmission either through Quebec or New Brunswick has

always existed. We have factored those costs into the cost of the project and

the project is still feasible. It is part of the necessary homework that you did

not do when you tried to negotiate the last deal.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

You might want to remind the minister, I have never sat at a negotiating

table on the Lower Churchill deal. However, I am getting a little bit of insight

into where they have been all the same.

Mr. Speaker, maybe the minister could tell us if it is economically feasible

over what period of time, what routes they have looked at, and what the cost

will be?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Deputy Premier.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS DUNDERDALE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, given the nature of the questions that have been asked in this

House, you would think they would have known that. The route will be through

Quebec. The route will be through New Brunswick. We have three applications in:

two in Quebec, one in New Brunswick. The one application in New Brunswick has

two routes that are under consideration. The two applications in Quebec have a

number of routes under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, all of those have been factored in. There will come a time when

we have to have a preferred route that we will have to let the system operator

know, but in all of our planning we have factored in those costs.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

MR. KELVIN PARSONS: My question is for the Premier.

Nalcor is 100 per cent owned by the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador

and the government has funnelled hundreds of millions of dollars into Nalcor

through the last few budgets. It has come to our attention that Nalcor has paid

almost $1 million to an Ottawa lobby company to arrange meetings with federal

government agencies and departments.

I ask the Premier: Why does Nalcor have to use taxpayer money to access

federal government agencies and departments when we have our Premier, we have

the hon. the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and we have Dr. John

FitzGerald who should be doing this?

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

The hon. the Premier.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

PREMIER WILLIAMS: Mr. Speaker, Nalcor is a corporation that is doing

business all over the world. When the hon. member opposite talks about the

hundreds of millions of dollars that we have put into Nalcor, let me tell you

that the dividends, and I don't mean cash dividends to government, I mean the

rewards that the people of Newfoundland and Labrador are going to receive from

Nalcor Energy, even after our lifetime, are going to be absolutely enormous.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

PREMIER WILLIAMS: This is about building for the future. It is about

planning for the future. It is about - not to beat it to death - it is about

children, it is about grandchildren, it is about not giving away any more, it is

about getting equitable ownership in our resources offshore. I am sure the

minister, this week, is going to have some calculations for you on what the

recent announcement meant and what the hundreds of millions of dollars that we

have spent have meant to the Province.

Nalcor is a company that is operating in the best interests of the people of

Newfoundland and Labrador, and we stand behind them 100 per cent.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. KELVIN PARSONS: Mr. Speaker, the lobby company who received this

$960,000 from Nalcor was Summa Strategies Canada. They were asked to access

federal government agencies and departments such as ACOA, fisheries, environment

and the prime minister's office about funding possibilities for the Lower

Churchill.

I ask the Premier: Have relations between this government and Ottawa hit such

a low that we need to pay almost a million dollars to lobbyists in order to

conduct talks with the prime minister's office and federal departments?

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

The hon. the Premier.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

PREMIER WILLIAMS: Mr. Speaker, obviously the hon. members opposite have

no idea of the magnitude and the scope of a project like this. Unfortunately,

that is what happened to us back in 1969. I do not think there was a real

understanding of the magnitude of that project.

I was up there just a couple of weeks ago and saw it, and looked at it, and

just saw what an engineering marvel Upper Churchill is. We own it, it is on our

river, we built it, we maintain it, we pay the cost of maintaining it, and all

that profit, and all that money, billions of dollars goes across those wires and

goes into Quebec. Now, I get that, and 99.9 per cent of Newfoundlanders get it,

but they do not get it.

Now, this is a big deal; this is big stuff. We have to have the best lawyers

money can buy, and the best engineers and the best consultants that money can

buy. I can tell you if, for a million dollars, we could get financing or

guarantees for $2 billion, or $3 billion, or $4billion dollars for the Lower

Churchill, well that would be money pretty well spent (inaudible).

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

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

Nalcor has been set up as a secret corporation by this government. They are

not subject to the freedom of information laws, they are not subject to the

Auditor General, they are not subject to the Public Tender Act. This information

about this lobbyist expenditure only became available through the federal Office

of the Commissioner of Lobbying.

How much more taxpayer money has been spent by Nalcor just to get meetings

and information, which should be readily available to them through regular

channels? Will government force Nalcor to release exactly how much information

they have paid, in addition to this sum that has been revealed today?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.

PREMIER WILLIAMS: It sounds to be now like the Liberal government in

Quebec must be giving them information, and the Liberal government in New

Brunswick must be giving them information, and the Liberal government in Prince

Edward Island must be giving them information, because they seem to be doing

everything they can to advocate the Quebec and the Hydro-Quebec position.

Now, I have to tell you, politically, that is not somewhere I would want to

be. As a Newfoundlander and a Labradorian, that is not somewhere I would want to

be. Newfoundlanders and Labradorians get the fact that the work that Nalcor

Energy and the Department of Natural Resources and this government has done for

the people of this Province has been through the moon. It has been outstanding,

it has been exceptional work, and the return has been incredible.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

PREMIER WILLIAMS: So, to be getting on and want to know what is in the

legal opinions and want to know what consultants are being hired, well that

information goes right straight to Hydro-Quebec and then they use that

information to work against us. Well, that is not going to happen. When we get a

deal done, we will show you the whole lot of it.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

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

Before the Premier gets in a tizzy here about conspiracy theories and brown

envelopes and whatever, I would just point out to the Premier that the

information actually came off the federal government Web site from the Office of

the Commissioner of Lobbying of Canada. There are no big secrets here about

where the information came from.

The issue here is why does a 100 per cent provincially-funded corporation,

such as Nalcor, have to pay a million bucks to talk to our prime minister's

office or any federal department? That is pretty simple.

My final question to the Premier is: The Opposition, and indeed the general

public, have always wondered if the Province is getting its value for Dr.

FitzGerald? In fact, we have dubbed him Dr. Feelgood because it seems his

primary goal was to make provincial cabinet ministers who visit Ottawa

comfortable. Why has Nalcor not used Dr. FitzGerald to arrange these meetings

and save the taxpayers of this Province a million dollars? That is pretty

simple. Why not?

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

The hon. the Premier.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

PREMIER WILLIAMS: What a transformation is after happening of the hon.

member opposite. When he was over here, and he sat in the chair as a minister,

and I asked him, as Leader of the Opposition, when they were going to do the

Lower Churchill giveaway: Did you read the document? He said: No, I have not

read the document. I will read it after I sign. That is what he said to me. That

is exactly what he said to me. Now he is reading government Web sites. He has

lots of time on his hands.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

I ask the hon. the Premier to complete his response.

PREMIER WILLIAMS: I will give you one example. They should be calling him

Dr. Sealgood', because when the seal issue was on the go he went around to

every single embassy on behalf of the people of Newfoundland and Labrador - he

did an outstanding job

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

PREMIER WILLIAMS: He identified for us who was with us and who was

against us, and that was invaluable information to me. That is one example. If

you have a couple of hours, I will give you another couple of dozen.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

The hon. the Member for the District of Signal Hill-Quidi Vidi.

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

Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Minister of Health and Community

Services. For almost two years government has promised the people of the

Province a long-term care and community support services strategy that so far

has not materialized, at least publicly.

Mr. Speaker, people deserve to know what government is proposing. We need a

planned approached to solving problems with home care in this Province.

I ask the Minister of Health and Community Services: Could you please inform

the members of this House if we are going to see this strategy released in this

sitting?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KENNEDY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I can say to the Member for Signal Hill-Quidi Vidi that the long-term care

strategy is not complete. It will not be completed for the sitting of this

House. However, I will also say to the hon. member that we are moving ahead with

the implementation of the long-term care strategy, Mr. Speaker, in building

long-term care homes. This year we have committed $19.2 million for a 236 bed

facility in Corner Brook; $9.3 million for a fifty bed long-term care home in

Happy Valley-Goose Bay; site selection for a 460 bed long-term care home in St.

John's; $500,000 for site selection of a long-term care home in Carbonear; $30

million approximately for the construction of a new long-term care home in

Lewisporte, and fourteen long-term care beds in the new Lab West health centre.

Whether it is a strategy or not, Mr. Speaker, we are moving ahead and we are

serving the people of this Province.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

Vidi.

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

What I have just heard the minister tell me is that the government is

building long-term care facilities. That is great; I am glad. What I asked is:

Do you have a plan with regard to long-term care and community support? People

in a town hall that I held last week in my district told me without any doubt

whatsoever that home care is one of the best ways to take care of our sick and

our elderly when they do not need long-term care. People are being put there

when they do not need it.

Would you please tell me, Mr. Minister I asked the Speaker to allow me to

ask this question what is in that strategy? Where is that strategy headed?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KENNEDY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I have already indicated that the long-term care strategy is not complete.

There are people who are diligently working on the strategy. There is no

question that the strategy will encompass community care, home care, independent

living, all of the aspects which are required for a long-term care strategy.

What I am saying to the member opposite, though, Mr. Speaker, is that without

the strategy being fully finalized, we are still moving ahead. We are

constructing long-term care. We are investing in home care. I also heard, Mr.

Speaker I watch the CBC Web site and I heard the stories of the people who

are affected by home care. I heard the hon. member outline her personal

circumstances and refer to how it affected her. Mr. Speaker, I am aware of the

numbers of home care workers out there, but last year in the budget we put aside

$16 million to increase home care wages, home care worker wages. Since, Mr.

Speaker -

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

I ask the hon. minister to conclude his answer.

MR. KENNEDY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

We have infused $38.5 million since 2005-2006 in relation to the increase for

home care worker wages.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

Vidi.

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

Mr. Speaker, the government has also said that there will be a new financial

assessment process for home care recipients that supposedly will come into

effect tomorrow, December 1. At the forum last week, people talked about their

problems accessing home care, that they do not believe will be helped by the new

financial assessment process.

Mr. Speaker, will the minister tell us when the new financial assessment

process will actually be in place? Is it starting tomorrow, and will he please

give us the details of the new assessment structure?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KENNEDY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

It is my understanding, Mr. Speaker, that the financial assessment tool will,

in fact, be in place tomorrow. The latest numbers I have seen, I think close to

1,200 people who have been assessed or reassessed. I do not have the numbers in

front of me, Mr. Speaker, but one example is that a couple, a seniors couple who

would normally have to pay $1,100, as a result of this $7.5 million tool and the

way it is utilized, will now pay $150; that a single individual, Mr. Speaker,

who had to contribute a certain amount, it could have been around $700, would

now not have to contribute anything.

So, tomorrow I can actually find the numbers - I have those somewhere in

terms of how this financial assessment tool will benefit people. It will be

ready to proceed tomorrow. It is good news, Mr. Speaker, like most of the things

this government does.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

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

My question is for the Minister of Justice. Minister, a year ago a review of

the prison systems called Decades of Darkness: Moving Towards the Light, was

released to the public. It contained seventy-seven recommendations in all. One

of those recommendations dealt with the construction of a pre-trial detention

centre for youth and women in Happy Valley-Goose Bay, $2 million was in the

Budget of 2009-2010 for that construction.

Could you tell us if the tender has yet been issued for that facility, and if

not, what is the justification for the delays?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. F. COLLINS: Mr. Speaker, I can tell this House that this government

is committed, in public committed to correctional facilities in Happy

Valley-Goose Bay, and, at the present time, the discussions are ongoing with

regard to that pre-detention centre. There is a lot of work to be done on it.

There is some preliminary work that has been done and planning, but the

discussion is still ongoing and regrouping is the way to how best to handle the

situation.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

The time allotted for questions and answers has expired.

Presenting Reports by Standing and Select Committees.

Tabling of Documents.

Notices of Motion.

Notices of Motion

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

MR. KING: Mr. Speaker, I give notice that I will ask leave to introduce a

bill entitled,

An Act To Amend The Memorial University Pensions Act No. 2. (Bill

38)

MR. SPEAKER: Further notices of motion?

The hon. the Minister of Labrador Affairs.

MR. HICKEY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I give notice that I will ask leave to introduce a bill

entitled,

An Act To Amend The Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement Act. (Bill

46)

I also give further notice, Mr. Speaker, to introduce a bill entitled,

An Act

To Amend The Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement Act No. 2. (Bill 47)

MR. SPEAKER: Further notices of motion?

The hon. the Minister of Government Services.

MR. O'BRIEN: Mr. Speaker, I give notice that I will ask leave to

introduce a bill entitled,

An Act To Amend The Private Investigation And

Security Services Act. (Bill 39)

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

Act To Amend The Engineers And Geosciences Act, 2008. (Bill 44)

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

Act To Amend The Vital Statistics Act, 2009. (Bill 42)

MR. SPEAKER: Further notices of motion?

The hon. the Minister of Justice and Attorney General.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

Mr. Speaker, I give notice that I will ask leave to introduce a bill

entitled,

An Act To Remove Anomalies And Errors In The Statute Law. (Bill 40)

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

Act To Amend The Law With Respect To Definition Of Spouse. (Bill 41)

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

An Act

To Amend The Victims Of Crime Services Act. (Bill 45)

MR. SPEAKER: Further notices of motion?

The hon. the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. FRENCH: Mr. Speaker, I should have a speech, not a sentence for that

response.

Mr. Speaker, I give notice that I will ask leave to introduce a bill

entitled,

An Act To Repeal The Newspapers And Books Act. (Bill 43)

I am sure a significant piece of legislation, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Further notices of motion?

The hon. the Leader of the Opposition.

MS JONES: Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 63.

(3) I move the

following private member's motion:

WHEREAS it is estimated that there are over 120,000 moose living in

Newfoundland and Labrador; and

WHEREAS more than 700 moose-vehicle collisions occur in our Province each

year; and

WHEREAS moose-vehicle collisions result in human fatalities and a higher

prevalence of head, neck and brain injuries than other motor vehicle accidents;

and

WHEREAS the cost estimates to the provincial health care system for just

initial emergency care due to moose-vehicle accidents is averaged at over

$600,000 a year and cost estimates for vehicle damage is over $1 million

annually; and

WHEREAS other provinces with lower moose populations have taken significant

action to reduce moose-vehicle collisions; and

WHEREAS the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador has not conducted a

recent study or review of new technologies and mitigative options, such as

fencing, lighting systems, increased brush cutting and increased hunting quotas,

that could potentially lower the number of moose-vehicle accidents;

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

initiate a comprehensive study to evaluate what technologies and mitigation

techniques and investments can be undertaken to reduce moose-vehicle collisions

in Newfoundland and Labrador; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this review include a detailed analysis of other

jurisdictions, and evaluate options such as fencing, lighting systems, brush

cutting and increasing hunting quotas; and

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

accept and implement the conclusions or recommendations of any such review.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER: Further notices of motion.

Answers to Questions for which Notice has been Given.

Petitions.

Petitions

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

MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I stand today to present a petition on behalf of the people of

Newfoundland and Labrador, asking and calling upon government to take some

action in terms of dealing with the number of vehicle collisions with moose on

our highways throughout Newfoundland and Labrador.

The committee which was started by a number of interested people across the

Province is headed by Eugene Nippard, whom we have all heard of in the media on

many occasions. Mr. Nippard and his organization, called Save Our People Action

Committee, is comprised of people from all across the Province who have been

affected by accidents with moose. They are either individuals themselves who

have been left with tremendous disabilities and anguish, Mr. Speaker, as a

result of accidents they themselves have had, or they are the family members of

others who have lost their lives on our highways due to collisions with moose.

Mr. Speaker, these individuals have come together and they have done research

in other provinces across Canada to look at how other provinces have dealt with

vehicle accidents with moose on highways. They have made a number of

recommendations in the public and they have provided those recommendations to

government through various ministers and departments, asking for government to

look at those options, look at what can be implemented to save lives on our own

highways.

In the past year alone, Mr. Speaker, in fact since January, there have been

four fatalities on our highways where people have lost their lives.

Mr. Speaker, I heard a lady on the radio this morning talking about how her

husband had lost his life as a result of a vehicle collision with a moose; a

lady by the name of Jennifer Pilgrim. Mr. Speaker, her story is all too common.

It is all too common to too many Newfoundlanders and Labradorians today.

I sat in my office only a few weeks ago and listened to the story of a young

woman who worked as a nurse, who had an accident on her way to work, who has

been off work for the last five years and has been suffering from chronic pain

and disabilities, and spending a lot of money to try and rehabilitate herself so

that she, too, can have a satisfactory standard of living. These are the stories

that are all too common across Newfoundland and Labrador.

In addition to four fatalities on our highways this year with moose, we have

had 700 accidents on those highways. If you look at where these accidents are

occurring, some of them are in areas that are much more common. There may be an

increased volume of traffic, but there are also increased moose populations in

those particular areas.

Mr. Speaker, if there is a way that we can reduce the number of families each

year in this Province that are left in mourning for someone they love, who has

been killed as a result of a moose accident, if there is some way, Mr. Speaker,

we can alleviate the pain, the hardship and the financial burden that is put on

many victims of accidents in these collisions on our highways, then we have a

responsibility as governments and as a Province to actually do something about

it.

Twenty thousand of those people across Newfoundland and Labrador are calling

upon you today, Minister -

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

I remind the hon. member that her time for speaking has expired.

MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Just, by leave, to clue up?

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

The hon. member by leave.

MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Twenty thousand of those people today - and I am sure, Mr. Speaker, there are

many more out there across Newfoundland and Labrador who did not get the

opportunity to sign this petition - are asking the government today to hear our

concerns and to take some action. The action that they want is: they want you to

evaluate options. They want you to look at what will work best on our highways

to reduce the number of vehicle-moose accidents, and they want you to look at

this in the light of enacting those particular recommendations.

So, on behalf of those people, Mr. Speaker, I make their case in the House of

Assembly today and I ask that government give this full consideration.

Thank you.

MR. SPEAKER: Further petitions?

The hon. the Opposition House Leader.

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

I take this opportunity to present I believe it is my sixty-eighth petition

on behalf of the people of Southwestern Newfoundland with respect to the lack of

dialysis services in that particular area.

In fact, since we were here - the last one I did was in September, when we

had a brief two days here there have been new developments as well. We, of

course, have a new Minister of Health now in the form of Minister Kennedy,

whereas Minister Wiseman used to be the Minister of Health.

I am pleased to see, in fact - because so far one of the individuals impacted

by the dialysis, besides writing to myself and calling and sending e-mails, in

fact, e-mailed the minister and the minister did indeed get to her and we have

had some ongoing conversations. I think the minister at least this minister

- has an appreciation of the problem,

whereas I cannot say the same for the

former minister. You get lip service being paid to it, and rhetoric, but

absolutely no action.

To date, I must say, this minister is dealing with the thing up front. If

there are answers that need to be given, he goes out of his way to try to get

them. For example, we could not even find out, as a public official in this

Province, or as a person in this Province who lives on the Southwest Coast, we

could not find out from the people at Western Health how many people in

Southwestern Newfoundland receive dialysis.

We did not want any names, did not want any addresses, did not want any

private information, but asked a simple question of the people at Western

Health: How many people from the Codroy Valley down to Rose Blanche, which is

inclusive of Port aux Basques and those areas, and Isle aux Morts, how many

people receive dialysis services and they have to travel for them? We could not

get the information. Now, can you imagine?

Anyway, this lady e-mailed the minister, and I am meeting with him later in

the afternoon; he tells me he has that information. All we need is a simple

number; because, of course, getting the problem solved is based upon numbers.

Because they have been telling us for years, unless you have ten people in your

area we cannot justify the setting up of the dialysis service.

Now, they have done it up in St. Anthony, of course, they have done it down

the Burin Peninsula, they have done it out in Carbonear, and every time our

numbers go up they come up with the excuse: We do not have the money in the

budget. Every time the numbers go down, they say: You do not need it now.

Of course the numbers go up and down; because, believe it or not, folks,

unfortunately, some of these people die. They die. Part of the reason they die

is because they are not getting the proper service that they need in getting

dialysis. That is why the numbers go up and down. Unfortunately, more people are

being added to the numbers as time goes on.

Hopefully, based upon a conversation I am hoping to have with this Minister

of Health this afternoon, we will get the information as to numbers. Hopefully,

we will get some answers as to where we might be able to go to resolve this

problem.

Thank you.

MR. SPEAKER: Further petitions?

Orders of the Day.

Orders of the Day

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

MS BURKE: Mr. Speaker, we are going to ask by leave today to do first

reading of Bills 38, 39, 40 and 41.

MR. SPEAKER: Does the hon. member have leave to introduce Bills 38, 39,

40 and 41?

AN HON. MEMBER: Leave.

MR. SPEAKER: Indication that leave has been granted.

The hon. the Government House Leader.

MS BURKE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

With that, I move, seconded by the hon. Minister of Education, for leave to

introduce a bill entitled,

An Act To Amend The Memorial University Pensions Act

No. 2, Bill 38. I further move that the said bill be now read a first time.

MR. SPEAKER: It is properly moved and seconded that the hon. the

Government House Leader shall have leave to introduce a bill entitled,

An Act To

Amend The Memorial University Pensions Act No. 2, Bill 38, and that Bill 38 be

now read a first time.

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

introduce Bill 38 and that this bill be now read a first time?

All those in favour, 'aye'.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Aye.

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

The motion is carried.

Motion, the hon. the Minister of Education to introduce a bill, "An Act

To Amend The Memorial University Pensions Act No. 2", carried. (Bill 38)

CLERK: A bill,

An Act To Amend The Memorial University Pensions Act No.

2, Bill 38.

MR. SPEAKER: Bill 38 has now been read a first time.

When shall the said bill be read a second time?

MS BURKE: Tomorrow.

MR. SPEAKER: Tomorrow.

On motion, Bill 38 read a first time, ordered read a second time on tomorrow.

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

MS BURKE: Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the hon. the Minister of

Government Services, for leave to introduce a bill entitled,

An Act To Amend The

Private Investigation And Security Services Act, Bill 39, and I further move

that the said bill be now read a first time.

MR. SPEAKER: It is properly moved and seconded that the hon. the

Government House Leader shall have leave to introduce a bill entitled,

An Act To

Amend The Private Investigation And Security Services Act, Bill 39, and that

this bill be now read a first time.

Is it the pleasure of the House that Bill 39 be now read a first time?

All those in favour, 'aye'.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Aye.

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

The motion is carried.

Motion, the hon. the Minister of Government Services to introduce a bill,

"An Act To Amend The Private Investigation And Security Services Act",

carried. (Bill 39)

CLERK: A bill,

An Act To Amend The Private Investigation And Security

Services Act, Bill 39.

MR. SPEAKER: Bill 39 has now been read a first time.

When shall the said bill be read a second time?

MS BURKE: Tomorrow, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER: Tomorrow.

On motion, Bill 39 read a first time, ordered read a second time on tomorrow.

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

MS BURKE: Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the hon. the Minister of

Justice for leave to introduce a bill entitled,

An Act To Remove Anomalies And

Errors In The Statute Law, Bill 40, and I further move that the said bill be now

read a first time.

MR. SPEAKER: It is properly moved and seconded that the hon. the

Government House Leader shall have leave to introduce a bill entitled,

An Act To

Remove Anomalies And Errors In The Statute Law, and that this bill be now read a

first time.

Is it the pleasure of the House that the hon. the Government House Leader

shall have leave to introduce Bill 40 and that this bill be now read a first

time?

All those in favour, 'aye'.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Aye.

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

The motion is carried.

Motion, the hon. the Minister of Justice to introduce a bill, "An Act To

Remove Anomalies And Errors In The Statute Law", carried. (Bill 40)

CLERK: A bill,

An Act To Remove Anomalies And Errors In The Statute Law,

Bill 40.

MR. SPEAKER: Bill 40 has now been read a first time.

When shall Bill 40 be read a second time?

MS BURKE: Tomorrow, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER: Tomorrow.

On motion, Bill 40 read a first time, ordered read a second time on tomorrow.

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

MS BURKE: Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the hon. the Minister of

Justice for leave to introduce a bill entitled,

An Act To Amend The Law With

Respect To The Definition Of Spouse, Bill 41, and I further move that the said

bill be now read a first time.

MR. SPEAKER: It is moved and seconded by the hon. the Government House

Leader that she shall have leave to introduce a bill entitled,

An Act To Amend

The Law With Respect To The Definition Of Spouse, Bill 41, and that this said

bill be now read a first time.

Is it the pleasure of the House that the hon. the Government House Leader

shall have leave to introduce Bill 41 and that the said bill be now read a first

time?

All those in favour, 'aye'.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Aye.

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

The motion is carried.

Motion, the hon. the Minister of Justice to introduce a bill, "An Act To

Amend The Law With Respect To The Definition Of Spouse", carried. (Bill 41)

CLERK: A bill,

An Act To Amend The Law With Respect To The Definition Of

Spouse, Bill 41.

MR. SPEAKER: Bill 41 has now been read a first time.

When shall Bill 41 be read a second time?

MS BURKE: Tomorrow, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER: Tomorrow.

On motion, Bill 41 read a first time, ordered read a second time on tomorrow.

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

MS BURKE: Mr. Speaker, from the Order Paper we would like to call Order

2, Address in Reply.

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for the District of Fortune Bay-Cape la

Hune.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS PERRY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

It is my pleasure to rise in this House today to speak to the Speech from the

Throne which is primarily focused, I guess, on staying the course. We certainly

have a lot to be proud of here in Newfoundland and Labrador, particularly under

the Administration of the Williams' government which has been leading us to

prosperity; steadily but surely.

Staying the course is one of the pillars of our Throne Speech. For the first

time since Confederation, this year, Newfoundland and Labrador has achieved have

status. Quite an accomplishment for our Province which, for sixty years, has

been trailing behind and are now moving towards leading the way across this

entire country.

Weathering the storm is something we have done quite well. The global

recession which has impacted the entire world, we have fared through fairly well

in Newfoundland and Labrador. Again, it is because of the policies and

procedures put in place by this government that focus on long-term stability,

include a major investment in infrastructure, and certainly includes improving

health care and education.

Mr. Speaker, our government and our Throne Speech this year, the direction we

have taken, is all about preparing our people for self-reliance. We have

measures such as the Poverty Reduction Strategy. We have major investments in

education which are making a difference all across this entire Province,

including rural Newfoundland and Labrador. Capping class sizes, new programs are

introduced, free text books, we are freezing tuition. We are opening the doors

for many more people to be able to afford a post-secondary education and, in

turn, become leaders of tomorrow.

We also have the Youth Retention and Attraction Strategy which was recently

released. Let me tell you, Mr. Speaker, there are some outstanding young people

in this Province of Newfoundland and Labrador and they are providing us with

excellent guidance and vision for where they want to see this Province go over

the next few years.

We are growing our economy, investing in innovation and diversification,

regional collaboration, the Northern Strategic Plan for Labrador, the ocean

technologies sector, fishery renewal, investing in aquaculture, and establishing

ourselves as leaders in research and development by launching the Research &

Development Corporation of Newfoundland and Labrador. This will enable us to

capitalize on new and emerging opportunities in ocean technology, energy and

biotechnology, just to name a few.

The Throne Speech clearly recognizes our respect as a government of people.

We are measuring our success by the difference we are making in the lives of

ordinary citizens of Newfoundland and Labrador. We intend to ensure that our

Province has communities that remain places where people can put down their

roots and raise families in an environment that is socially and economically

secure.

Mr. Speaker, we have great expectations and we continue to focus on our

greatest resources and strengths: our people and our natural resources.

In my District of Fortune Bay-Cape la Hune, the leadership of this government

is clearly producing strong, sustainable, economic renewal in rural Newfoundland

and Labrador. We are experiencing solid growth.

I am going to talk about the fishery a little bit down my way. It is still

the most significant employer for the Coast of Bays region, and it continues to

be a very, very, very important industry for our future. We have over 500 people

directly employed in this sector as fisherpersons, and it is critical to our

long-term survival. We, as a government, are investing in the fishery and

working towards a fishery of the future that is sustainable for our rural

communities.

Some of our investments include the processing policy renewal; increase in

research and development; improved occupational health and safety; we have

enhanced the harvesting sector loan guarantee program; we are strengthening

workforce measures, and we are committed to continue lobbying for custodial

management and an early retirement program. Most recently, we have hired an

accounting firm to further assess the processing and harvesting viability. So,

certainly more great work will be coming through co-operation with the fishing

industry itself.

In my former life, prior to entering politics, I worked very closely with

local municipalities and the regional economic development board, the

Newfoundland Salmonid Growers Association, the Newfoundland Aquaculture Industry

Association, and the industry players at large, to further promote and grow the

aquaculture industry, which has emerged as a very important employer in rural

Newfoundland and Labrador as well. For over ten years, when I worked with the

regional board, we lobbied and lobbied and lobbied government for a significant

investment that was required to bring us to that next step and enable us to

realize that increase in employment. I am very, very pleased to say that since

2003 this government has been listening, and this government has delivered.

Early in 2004, the Aquaculture Loan Guarantee Program was announced. The Budget

for 2007-2008 provided funding for blood-water treatment facilities for all of

the fish processing facilities in the area, where aquaculture and the fishery

are operating side by side fairly harmoniously.

We have also made an investment in infrastructure, with the recent

announcement of $7.8 million for the new fish health facility. We are building

four new biosecurity facilities. There is an over $8.5 million investment in a

new cod hatchery in my district. Over $20 million has been invested through the

Feed Loan Guarantee Program, and this $20 million investment has generated an

additional $150 million in private sector investment that did not exist in this

Province prior to our government taking on this industry and improving the

programs available to accelerate its growth. So, certainly, we are witnessing

the results quite strongly in the Coast of Bays region of what this government

is doing to renew rural Newfoundland and Labrador.

Overall, I am really pleased. In fact, I am extremely pleased with the

investment this government has made in just two short years in my rural, remote

district of Fortune Bay-Cape la Hune, and I know from speaking with my

colleagues that these investments are being made throughout the entire Province

of Newfoundland and Labrador for the well-being of urban and rural communities.

I will take a look at my small community of Pool's Cove, for example, that

has a population of less than 200 people. The difference in that community now

from four years ago is astounding. The community is alive, it is vibrant, and

everybody is at work. We are investing not only in the industries there but in

the social well-being there as well. A new youth centre was recently funded and

certainly that is benefiting not only the youth of the community but everyone

from zero to the oldest person in the community is availing of the programs and

facilities that were put in place there with the support of this government.

We have done small things that make a huge difference, like installing

culverts, removing a large rock at the entrance to Pool's Cove which was

posing a driving hazard for our motorists. That rock was there for decades, no

one done anything about it. This government fixed that problem early this year.

It is measures like this that to me point out how important this government

values the voice of the people and the voice of their members in bringing to the

attention of government things that need to be done.

Some other things that we have done, we provided funding to assist with the

St. Jacques Community Centre, new playground equipment in the Fortune Bay area,

certainly investments in almost every - ambulance service, I have all

community-based ambulance services and they are certainly pleased with the

recent conclusion of negotiations. Our fire departments are benefiting

significantly and my fire departments are in all rural remote communities and

all volunteer based. This government is certainly doing what it can to support

them and we really respect and appreciate the work of our committees in

communities throughout the entire Province.

Rencontre East has had its clinic upgraded and there have been repairs to the

school roof in Hermitage. At Conne River, we have made significant investments

in industry, including aquaculture and tourism. We have provided $15,000 to help

establish a young woman's cultural club at Conne River, and the list goes on.

Our communities in rural Newfoundland and Labrador are strong and vibrant, with

excellent volunteers, and we as a government are committed to working with these

volunteers and improving the programs and services that are offered on the

ground for the benefit of our people.

Speaking now, I guess, to the Province as a whole in terms of this year's

budget and where this government is going. Low income earners and small

businesses are certainly among the beneficiaries of the new tax measures that

were introduced by this government. Some of these include: the low income tax

reduction program; the dividend tax credit for small businesses; the corporate

income tax small business threshold increased from $400,000 to $500,000; the

labour sponsored venture capital tax credit is out there to help small

businesses; and we have had a reduction in commercial electrical permit fees.

You hear often, sometimes: What are we doing for rural Newfoundland and

Labrador? These measures are making a difference in rural Newfoundland and

Labrador. They are helping the small business, they are helping the small

community organizations out there, and everything we can do to help certainly is

a benefit.

The provincial employment level is also higher than it has been in over

thirty years. What a difference six years under the Administration of a new

government can make. Ten years ago it was all bleak, doom and gloom for

Newfoundland and Labrador. She is gone, boy, she is gone. I do not hear that too

much these days; very rarely, in fact, do I hear that these days. The employment

increase and again, going back to rural Newfoundland and Labrador is

especially evident in my rural district. Again, we have seen in the last two

years alone over 500 new jobs created in this emerging sector, and we anticipate

over the next five years or so we will see 1,000 more new jobs, all in rural

Newfoundland and Labrador.

As the aquaculture industry grows, Mr. Speaker, in the Coast of Bays region,

it benefits the Province as a whole. We are seeing it outreach, for example, to

trucking companies on the West Coast, boat manufacturing and barge building on

the East Coast, and in Central Newfoundland and Labrador, the service sector in

Central Newfoundland and Labrador. The Irving Big Stop certainly benefits from

gas sales to all the tractor trailers that are bringing in feed and fish for us.

So even though you hear a lot of talk about the investments directly in the

Coast of Bays region, the benefits of growing this industry are certainly going

to be felt by the entire Province of Newfoundland and Labrador, and we are going

to see more to come.

As I talked about earlier, before entering politics I worked for about twelve

years in community economic development, and at almost every meeting I went to,

whether it was Central caucus, whereby zone boards from all of Central

Newfoundland got together, or the pan-provincial whereby everyone from Labrador

to St. John's came together for meetings, which we did twice a year, or we

were at some other type of conference that was initiated by government that we

were participating in, you always heard, always, talk about out-migration and

the brain drain. That is something else I do not hear a whole lot of talk about

anymore.

Mr. Speaker, this government is changing all of that. In fact, in four of the

last six quarters, for the first time in decades we are witnessing population

growth in both rural Newfoundland and Labrador. I, for one, would certainly like

to see a lot of more people talking about the positive things that are happening

and as much as we talked about the brain drain, we should be talking about how

things really are improving, we continue that positive energy and we continue to

bring people home.

Certainly, in my Coast of Bays region in the last year alone, we have seen

about twenty new families move in. They are having children and we certainly

look forward to more good things like that to come.

As the Member for Fortune Bay-Cape la Hune, I feel that it is critical in my

role as the MHA for the people to raise the profile of my district across this

entire Province and to advocate for the investments that are needed to grow our

economy and sustain our communities.

I am confident, in fact, I know that we have the full support of this

government and we are well on our way to ensuring a bright future. Indeed, we

have already begun. And, as far as I am concerned, we are enjoying a better

today because of the administration, the policies and the vision of this

government and what we are doing in partnership with the people for Newfoundland

and Labrador.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

Employment.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS SULLIVAN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

It is a great privilege for me to stand in this House today and to be able to

speak on the Address In Reply. Particularly, I would like to pick up in terms of

where my colleague, the Member for Fortune Bay-Cape la Hune, just started and

ended, and that is with how well we have weathered the economic storm that has

hit, not just this Province, not just this country, but the whole world.

Newfoundland and Labrador has weathered this storm, I would suggest, better

than most, but my opinion is just that. The opinions of economists from around

this country, the opinion of economists from around the world are saying the

same thing. Global market, in its recent report said that Newfoundland and

Labrador weathered and is continuing to weather this particular economic storm

better than any other jurisdiction in Canada. We need to take note of that, we

need to know that we are on the right course and we need to continue to follow

that road, Mr. Speaker, because we are doing the right thing.

Very early on, Mr. Speaker, this government recognized the perils that were

ahead and immediately, and was quick off the mark, to ensure that infrastructure

spending was high on our list. We jumped into the fray. We invested $800

million, Mr. Speaker, in infrastructure spending in this Province because we

knew that to keep the economy of this Province on the move we had to keep people

employed, we had to have people working, we had to have a sense of confidence

developed in our Province, and we did that

The infrastructure spending that happened in this Province, this summer, I

think is unequal. District after district, you are going to hear, as we stand to

speak in reply to the address. District after district will outline for you the

benefits realized as a result of that infrastructure investment. I, too, will do

the same thing momentarily when I make direct reference to my district and the

difference that this infrastructure spending made.

Mr. Speaker, when we took government in 2003, this government was faced with

a very unsustainable fiscal situation in this Province and strategies were put

in place immediately to take care of this. Immediately, we understood that debt

had to have gotten under control and we did that, Mr. Speaker. Immediately, we

understood the implications of the financial situation in which we found

ourselves and we put in place strategies that addressed those scenarios. Very

quickly, we learned that again, we were on the right road. Indications came to

us early enough as we saw credit ratings improving and so on.

Mr. Speaker, the real indication that told us that where we were going and

the strategies that we were putting in place to address this unenviable

situation of high debt and financial ruin in this Province, the real indicator

that told us that we had put in place the best set of initiatives came when have

status was awarded to this Province, Mr. Speaker.

We, all in this Province, have something to be proud of when we are able to

stand up and for the first time since Confederation say that we are a have

Province in this federation. There is no better indicator of our being on the

right course.

There are a number of issues, Mr. Speaker, that I can outline to give

indication of that particular right course of action, and perhaps I would just

like to take a few minutes to do some of those, because when the recession hit,

we certainly already knew that we had put in a balanced approach and that we

were on the right path in terms of being able to find ways forward.

Let me talk about my district in particular, Mr. Speaker, and the Central

area of the Province was perhaps one of the hardest hit. After 100 years, Mr.

Speaker, in our area of the Province, in Grand Falls-Windsor, we lost our major

employer; a huge blow to the area, but not one that is insurmountable because

this government has made a promise to look after the area and will continue to

do so. The $800 million in infrastructure investment saw huge implications for

my district, but Mr. Speaker, we did more, much more, for the district.

I would like to take a few minutes just to outline some of those for those in

our listening audience, our viewing audience, who perhaps just hear a scattered

news release or a scattered story about infrastructure and other spending that

is happening out in the district and the surrounding districts, because of

course the loss of the paper mill was not simply felt in my district. It was

felt in the District of Grand Falls-Windsor-Green Bay South, it was felt in the

District of Exploits, it was felt in the District of Terra Nova, and so on. Mr.

Speaker, I will leave that to my colleagues to point out all of the spending

that has happened out there to help with the issue.

I will speak directly to spending that has been earmarked for my district.

Five million dollars, Mr. Speaker, in funding allocated for the Community

Development Trust. Seven point three million dollars for the infrastructure

upgrades and improvements to the Trans-Canada Highway in the district, also in

the Buchans Highway area, monies that have been asked for year over year are

coming to the district to help with the loss of the paper mill, but certainly

the upgrade of the infrastructure out there.

Eight hundred thousand dollars, Mr. Speaker, for the expansion of the Mary

March Museum, and I can tell you that over and over again people in my district

are saying: Thank you, Mr. Speaker, that again is something that we have been

asking for, for a number of years. Our district is rich in heritage; our

district is rich in a legacy of the Mi'kmaq and other native groups to the

area. The Mary March Museum does much to promote that, but the Mary March Museum

does much more in the sense that it will bring forward other exhibitions from

across this Province. It will also now be able to introduce school programs for

our children, to be able to educate them in the values and the culture of our

area, and that is such an important piece of work. I hear from teachers, I hear

from parents, and I certainly hear from those interested in the preservation of

our heritage, that this $800,000 investment in the infrastructure of the Mary

March Museum is very well deserved.

There was $1.6 million for the maintenance of and improvement to Newfoundland

and Labrador Housing Corporation units in my district, Mr. Speaker. Again,

something we have very much needed and something that the residents of Grand

Falls-Windsor, in particular, are very happy for; $3.3 million in municipal

multi-year capital works. I would think, and I know because I heard it over and

over again this summer, that the amount of roadwork that was done in my

community, particularly this summer, has been of a size never before seen.

Roadwork, there were parts of the town torn up all summer long; different parts

of the town, because we could finally look to getting this infrastructure done.

Why, Mr. Speaker? Because, again, this government knows the value of investing

in its people, knows the value of investing in its infrastructure, and saw a

direct need in the Central portion of this Province and responded to it.

There was $2.1 million in tax assistance for the towns affected by the

closure of the mill. Mr. Speaker, I cannot begin to tell you how important that

is, or how well accepted that was by the people in my area. This gives them

three years now to find a way forward, knowing and having the reassurance and

the assistance of the provincial government by way of tax assistance. It is a

huge relief for those municipalities.

Also, $500,000, Mr. Speaker, was used for repairs and renovations for our

school facilities. I relate just in the area of my town that we are talking

about, Exploits Valley Intermediate, and you just need to drive by there, you

can see the investment that has been made there, to Millcrest Academy, to

Sprucewood Academy; $500,000 for the upgrades to the College of the North

Atlantic Grand Falls-Windsor campus. Mr. Speaker, as we find our way forward I

have no doubt that education will play a huge role. This initial investment of

$500,000 for upgrades to the College of the North Atlantic is certainly just a

beginning. We know that there is much more to come.

There was $4.6 million, Mr. Speaker, for improvements to the Central

Newfoundland Regional Health Centre. Very much applauded in my district. The

pharmacy renovations that have been asked for, for so long, are currently

underway. In fact, they are 30 per cent completed, I found out when I last asked

a couple of weeks ago; $900,000 invested for those pharmacy renovations at that

particular hospital. They are to be completed in March of 2010. Phase II of the

renovations to the Central Newfoundland Regional Health Centre for this year

will see the redevelopment of the OR suites, the endoscopy and the cystoscopy

units. That will be signed off on very soon and we can look forward again to

more improvements at the Central Newfoundland Regional Health Centre. Again,

very much needed, very much appreciated by the people of my district.

There was $500,000 for the development of a plan to construct the youth

addictions residential treatment centre in Grand Falls as well, Mr. Speaker.

Incidentally, I should point out that the consulting team submitted that final

report and the master plan to Central Health on October 23 of this year. So we

can look forward now to seeing the results of that plan and we know that the

construction of that new facility for the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador

will begin in 2010. Again, a major indicator of support for my area.

Mr. Speaker, this summer we also - those particular announcements that I just

referenced came out of Budget 2009 but this summer, through our taskforce

initiatives and again through our commitment to this region of the Province that

has been hard hit, investment continued. Economic development and stimulus

packages were put in place in various other ways to try to diversify the economy

of the area. Again, something very much needed in the area. Having seen the

closure of the mill in the area we knew we needed to diversify. We knew we

needed to look to other investments. We knew we needed to find new industry. So

to that end, the cranberry industry is a really good example. It has the

potential, Mr. Speaker, to provide for meaningful employment and to contribute

significantly to the economic well-being of our area. So realizing that

potential, Mr. Speaker, this government this summer, committed $2.2 million to

the development of that emerging industry in the area.

Revitalizing the town's downtown core was also a significant piece of work

that people in my area had been lobbying for a long time. Certainly, the town

council of Grand Falls-Windsor has been looking for a way to attract new

visitors, to attract new business to the downtown. We have the beautiful Exploit's

River running right through the downtown area of Grand Falls and yet we have

never done very much to develop that as a means of attracting people to the

downtown. Most towns and cities, Mr. Speaker, would do that. We are looking to

do the same thing. The government of this day, Mr. Speaker, recognized and

understood the need to do that and so therefore we committed this summer $1.5

million in provincial funding to look to that redevelopment of the downtown

core.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS SULLIVAN: Our health and social sciences sectors, undoubtedly a key

growth area for the area as well. I welcome, Mr. Speaker, Memorial University's

announcement that a new research office and a new medical laboratory assistant

program at the College of the North Atlantic will be started. In fact, the

medical research project, I noticed in the paper the other day, the consultants

have been in, they are looking to find space now. They are looking to set up in

the very near future. I am happy to say that our medical lab assistant program

at the College of the North Atlantic is now open for business, has taken in its

first students and they are proceeding through that program with all kinds of

accolades, all kinds of support for the program at a cost of $500,000.

AN HON. MEMBER: What a government.

MS SULLIVAN: What a government is right.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS SULLIVAN: Furthermore, in terms of looking at investments in the area

of Grand Falls-Windsor and in providing support. The Home Heating Rebate office

has been moved to Grand Falls-Windsor as well as the Parental Benefits Program.

It, too, at a cost of $720,000, Mr. Speaker, has been moved to Grand

Falls-Windsor. The good news about that, of course, is that it will create for

our district, for our area, some twenty-three permanent seasonal jobs. Again,

supporting the people of the region.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS SULLIVAN: Mr. Speaker, we are also happy to be able to show off our

community spirit in Grand Falls-Windsor and in the surrounding areas and to be

able to host the Newfoundland and Labrador Winter Games. The 2010 Games will be

coming to Grand Falls. Grand Falls-Windsor has a reputation, I would suggest,

Mr. Speaker, for hosting and putting off first-class events. With the help of

our neighbouring communities, I have no doubt that we will continue to do that.

Government has invested $250,000 for the operation of the Winter Games and an

additional $100,000 to provide for transportation of athletes and coaches to the

region. Again, we look at the infusion of those athletes in our area; we look at

what happens when we bring in coaches and parents. We know all of our

restaurants are going to be filled, we know all of our accommodations are going

to be filled, and that, sir, in terms of helping the region cannot be

underestimated. More than that, Mr. Speaker, I would say that, again, given the

opportunity to show off in one of the areas where we know we are able to

survive, in the area of being able to host something in a first-class manner

will be equally important to the spirit of Grand Falls-Windsor.

I am not done yet, Mr. Speaker. I can go on and on. I am going to be cut off

before I am finished the number of investments that I can list out here as proof

that this government has been doing everything that it can to support Central

Newfoundland, but more so to show that this government understands the need for

investment, understands the need for spending even during difficult times.

For example, Mr. Speaker, $1.4 million was announced by my colleague the

Minister of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development and the minister responsible

for the task force just this summer in Grand Falls-Windsor. Again, to the

College of the North Atlantic, and this time it is for a trades training

facility. It is a convertible training facility that will allow us to be able to

adjust the training that happens at the college to the need identified by the

market. A very valuable investment in Grand Falls-Windsor and, again, we are

looking at bringing in students into the area. We know that when students come

into the area they spend money in terms of housing; they spend money in terms of

social events. They become part of our community and hopefully, they will find

opportunity to stay in our community once they are trained up in those

particular skills. So we are certainly very happy about that.

Mr. Speaker, we have never overlooked the importance of the forest industry

to the region and neither will we ever. The forestry region is an important

sector and we will continue to find ways to redevelop the forestry sector in our

area. We will continue to find opportunities to reinvest in the forestry sector

of our area as well. Mr. Speaker, so much has been done and yet we know we still

are on a journey. We still have a ways to go.

What I would like to do though is sort of highlight where the provincial

government had come from when they were recognized way back in the early 2000s

as a Province that struggled, as a Province that was in financial debt, as a

Province that perhaps was not going very far, very fast, to a Province that is

now recognized right across this country as a have Province. Mr. Speaker, the

Poverty Reduction Strategy that we have put in place; the Youth Retention and

Attraction Strategy that we have put in place; the devolution of the labour

market agreement. All of these initiatives have highlighted again our government's

sense of vision, our government's understanding of where we need to go. If I

had another twenty minutes on each of those issues, on each of those

initiatives, it still, Mr. Speaker, would not be enough to be able to tell you

about the good work that we have done there.

Mr. Speaker, just as the Province has been able to pull itself up to reach

the status of a have province, to be recognized right across this country as one

of the provinces that has weathered the storm better than any other

jurisdiction, I suggest to you that the central area of this Province is going

to do the exact same thing. The reason, Mr. Speaker, that we are going to be

able to do the exact same thing, or I should say the reasons are twofold. One is

that we have a government that believes in us, in the central area of this

Province. We have a government that is never going to let hold of us. We have a

government that is going to help us find the way and, of course, we have a

people in the area of Central Newfoundland who are resilient. We have a people

in the area of Central Newfoundland who are resourceful. This was the same

people, or their ancestors, Mr. Speaker, who were told you could not build a

mill in the central part of the Island in the first place. Well, we did and we

succeeded.

MR. SPEAKER (T. Osborne): Order, please!

MS SULLIVAN: And we succeeded for 100 years.

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

MS SULLIVAN: I need to tell you, Mr. Speaker -

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

I remind the hon. member that her time for speaking has expired.

AN HON. MEMBER: Leave.

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: By leave.

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

Employment.

MS SULLIVAN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

We have no doubt, all that it takes to succeed in Central Newfoundland - as I

said, we have a government that is firmly committed to us, that is firmly

supportive, but not only that, Mr. Speaker, we have a government that has

vision. We have a government that has a proven track record that is able to show

us how to move forward, and as I said, we have a people that have the resilience

and have the resourcefulness and have the tenacity, Mr. Speaker, to find that

way forward as well.

Mr. Speaker, I thank you for the extra time. Hopefully, there will be a time

when I stand again because there is so much more that I can tell you about what

has happened (

a) in the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador, but also in the

central area of this Province.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

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

I appreciate an opportunity to have a few words in this Address in Reply it

is called. The fall session, of course, is normally a legislative session but

being day one, it takes time to circulate the legislation that we are going to

be debating here. So, I guess tomorrow we will be down to actually debating some

pieces of legislation that the government gave notice of and circulated here

today.

Of course, there is another

section on the Order Paper, or the agenda, that

deals with Address in Reply. Basically, back in March here, we had a Throne

Speech, and there was an address sent in reply to that by certain members of the

government and endorsed as well by the Opposition acknowledging receipt of it.

This is an opportunity for members in the House to speak to that Address in

Reply. It is pretty general, generic in nature. The minister, who just spoke, of

course, alluded to some generalities but also to events in her district and so

on. That is an opportunity basically, I guess, for a member to state what is

happening in his or her district and where they think government might be going

in general. Not always, of course, the government members are going to be

flattering on all occasions of their government's performance, but Opposition

members sometimes do have a different view of how the world works.

We, of course, had the Throne Speech. The analogy was drawn to the famous

Captain Bob Bartlett and his Arctic explorations, and this is the year of

celebration of Captain Bartlett. They compared the movings of this government

since 2003 to Captain Bartlett's ship and trying to calm the waters and how to

manoeuvre properly and so on. That was the analogy that was given, and

hopefully, we are going to go as a Province in the future. I say to the

government members, it is pretty clear that recently the ship hit a rock on one

occasion. On another occasion, the ship took on water, some very serious water.

I refer, of course, to the two recent by-elections that have just taken place in

this Province. One up in The Straits & White Bay North, and one that took

place in Terra Nova. I participated in a few, of course, and also participated

in general elections when I ran myself.

First off, I want to say congratulations to the two persons who were

successful. In the District of The Straits & White Bay North, of course, Mr.

Dean, who is now the member, was successful in that particular by-election, and

in the case of Terra Nova, Mr. Collins was successful. Congratulations and hats

off to both of the new MHAs. One of whom has taken his seat in this House today,

and the other who will be here shortly. I would also like to congratulate all

the other participants in the by-election by way of being candidates, because it

is not an easy thing to do to put your name on the ballot. It is a pretty tough

thing to do. Some people do it frivolously, just to put their name out there.

Others do it because they seriously are principled and want to take

part in the

democratic process. All of them work hard to try to get elected. Some people, of

course, are more fortunate than others. Sometimes it is a combination of

circumstances that are against you, that you are not successful. Sometimes it

has nothing to do, of course, with you as a person. It has to do, sometimes,

with party fortunes. Sometimes it has a lot to do with the individual, I would

submit.

In any case, congratulations to all of the participants, regardless of what

political stripe you may be. It takes courage and it takes determination to put

your name on the sheet and go through it, and it is a tough slog for the

three-week period. Anybody who is involved in it knows it is tough. You do all

the standards things, of course, in the process of putting up signs, you have

meetings with constituents, you have meetings with groups in your district and

associations, you are doing your door-to-door campaigning, you are having your

telephone campaigning going on, meeting with different organizations. A lot of

hard work, a lot of long days, and of course you hope at the end of it that you

are successful.

When I refer to the ship hitting a rock, I am referring to the ship in

this case, she hit the rock up around St. Anthony somewhere. Captain Bob's

imaginary ship analogy that the government used in its Throne Speech; they hit a

big rock up around St. Anthony, major, major rock, folks. Lo and behold, they

went down, the ship sailed on down the coast and got down as far as Terra Nova,

lo and behold she took on some serious water, did not strike a rock, but took on

some serious water.

Now, I was personally particularly pleased with having, number one, been

involved in both by-elections; and secondly, the outcomes of the by-elections.

First of all, let me say why I was pleased to have been personally involved,

because first of all I met a lot of people in this Province in both districts

who I did not know before. Obviously, I am from the Southwest Coast; I have not

had an opportunity to meet a lot of them. I did a lot of door-to-door of both

campaigns, and I am telling you, they say Newfoundlanders and Labradorians are

the salt of the earth, and I can vouch for that more today as a result of

attending and helping out in those two by-elections than ever before. That is

regardless, again, of what political stripe they were. I met both of them.

Tories, we call them, I met Liberals, I met NDPs, no matter - but they are fine

people. They are fine people.

Obviously, you learn about issues. Now, you know a lot about your own

personal issues in your district, for example, but we do not know a lot, and I

do not know a lot and have a lot of involvement when it comes to forestry

issues, for example. For example, in my district, which runs from Cape Ray down

the coast to Burgeo, there is not a lot of forest. So forestry is not an issue

that I have a very, very informed knowledge of. Certainly, out in Terra Nova,

that is a very important industry the people in the Terra Nova District would be

the forest industry. Also, shipbuilding, I was not aware, based on experience in

my own district, about shipbuilding issues, but obviously they are very

important to the people in the Terra Nova district. So, it was informative, it

was very educational and I think that only broadens one's horizons and gives a

person a better opportunity to understand the issues that we have in this

Province.

Some of the district's issues, of course, were very similar - fisheries. No

matter where you live in this Province, probably except for the Northeast Avalon

and the capital city, you are pretty well involved in fisheries issues. Health

care issues, pretty general throughout the Province regardless of where you

live. Employment issues, for example, are very important. Those issues are

pretty prevalent throughout the whole thing.

You meet a lot of fine people, I say, you meet a lot of fine people.