Newfoundland and Labrador Hansard — Members' Statements; Statements by Ministers — 14 March 2013 (47th General Assembly, 1st Session, Vol. XLVII No. 77)
2013-03-14
Newfoundland and Labrador — Debates (Hansard)
March
14, 2013 HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS Vol.
XLVII No. 77
The House met at 1:30 p.m.
MR. SPEAKER (Wiseman): Order, please!
Admit strangers.
I am very pleased today to have some special guests in our gallery. We are
joined today by forty Level II students from the Botwood Community Youth Network
and Botwood Collegiate located in the District of Exploits. The students are
accompanied today by the chaperones Heather Brown, Darlene Rice, Gloria Cooper,
and Chris Laing.
Welcome.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: We are also joined by Meaghan Barnhill and Andrew Butler,
members of the One Billion Rising Committee of St. John's.
I also want to acknowledge an individual in the gallery today, she marks a
milestone in the history of one significant organization in our Province, but
also a significant movement for the skilled trades and females involved in the
skilled trades. Today we are very pleased to welcome Shauna Sutton, who is the
first female carpenter hired by the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing
Corporation.
Welcome.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
Statements by Members
MR. SPEAKER: Today, we have members' statements from the Member for the
District of Cape St. Francis, the Member for the District of Conception Bay East
Bell Island, the Member for the District of Bonavista South, the Member for
the District of St. John's Centre, the Member for the District of Baie Verte
Springdale, and the Member for the District of Port au Port.
The hon. the Member for the District of Cape St. Francis.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. K. PARSONS: Mr. Speaker, I rise in this hon. House today to recognize
a wonderful person. Recently, I had the honour of presenting Mrs. Mary Power
with the Queen's Jubilee Medal.
Mary Power's passion and dedication truly impresses her peers, community
residents and everyone that has the pleasure of knowing her.
Mrs. Power is currently volunteering at Eastern Health where she is a health
care auxiliary lifetime member. Mary visits and serves lunch to patients at the
Miller Centre, and volunteers at Easter Seals and the Newfoundland and Labrador
Heart and Stroke Association. She also visits seniors' homes on a regular basis,
the Hoyles Escasoni and North Pond Nursing Home in Torbay, where she brings
Communion and leads the Rosary every Friday.
Mary is a Eucharistic Minister at the Holy Trinity Church and a Legion of
Mary member. At St. Thomas' Anglican Church, Mrs. Power serves Christmas Day
dinner.
Every day Mrs. Power gives time to someone in need, visiting seniors' homes
and advocating for the sick and needy. She always has a smile on her face, and
the warmth she gives people is unbelievable.
I ask all members in this House to join with me in congratulating Mrs. Power
on a lifetime of good work.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Conception Bay East Bell Island.
MR. BRAZIL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I stand in this House to recognize a community event I attended recently
which exemplifies the independence, resourcefulness and camaraderie of rural
Newfoundland and Labrador. I talk of the presentation of a $54,000,
sixteen-passenger van to the Wabana Boys and Girls Club.
This resource will ensure that the youth of the Island are not hindered from
participating in programs offered by the club. This asset will give the 380
members of the club the ability to participate in education, recreation, and
sporting events off the Island. This van will add pride and peace of mind for
staff, parents, and members who will travel in a safe, comfortable manner.
Through a sixteen-month initiative led by the local senior hockey team and
supported by the business community and residents, ticket draws, special
tournaments and personal donations were collected from alumni of the club from
as far away as Africa. Local club alumni members Bob Basha, Walter King, Terry
Yetman and Joe Somerton co-ordinated the campaign. No government money was
requested or required for the purchase of this community asset.
I ask all members to congratulate such an independent community.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for the District of Bonavista South.
MR. LITTLE: Mr. Speaker, hon. colleagues, I rise today to recognize Katie
and Shane Hayes, who were recently bestowed with the Restaurateur of the Year
award from the Restaurant Association of Newfoundland and Labrador. This
presentation was made at the 2013 Hospitality Newfoundland and Labrador Awards.
Katie and Shane are the owners and operators of the Bonavista Social Club, a
restaurant and a food production outlet located in Upper Amherst Cove, a small
rural community in the District of Bonavista South. They offer a truly unique
dining experience, promoting local food and culture, practicing agriculture and
animal farming to provide much of the products used in the foods prepared at the
Bonavista Social Club. A variety of breads are prepared daily in the only
commercial wood-fired bread oven in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Katie is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of Canada and a Red Seal Chef.
The couple has incorporated hands-on events such as an annual Garlic Festival
and a Harvest Work Weekend, making their business more about a lifestyle and not
just a business.
Mr. Speaker, hon. colleagues, please join me in congratulating Katie and
Shane Hayes on receiving such an honourable recognition in the short time since
they started business in May of 2012.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The Member for St. John's Centre.
MS ROGERS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I rise today to celebrate an historic event in my District of St. John's
Centre.
Eve Ensler, the writer of The Vagina Monologues , created One Billion
Rising, a global call to action to end violence against women and a
celebration of the work done globally and locally. Eve called 1 billion people
to rise up. We sure did in St. John's Centre.
I was proud to sponsor One Billion Rising St. John's, along with the women
of the Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Labour, NAPE, CUPE, the FFAW,
Marguerite's Place, the CLC, and MUN's Women's Resource Centre.
Together we organized a huge community event that was open to everyone in the
public. We had information booths, live music, and dancing. More than forty
social action community groups participated.
I want to single out the Multicultural Women's Organization of Newfoundland
and Labrador. They played a huge role; their members from all parts of the world
cooked food, danced, entertained, sang, and sold crafts.
One Billion Rising St. John's was an incredible success. Open to everyone
in the community, over 1,000 people came to our February 14 celebration at the
Knights of Columbus Hall to celebrate and to thank those who do such important
work in this area. We did it in style!
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The Member for the District of Baie Verte Springdale.
MR. POLLARD: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
At the Atlantic Craft Trade Show in Halifax, attracting about 1,200 buyers
from across Canada and the Northeastern United States, representing more than
150 craft makers from the Atlantic Region, King's Point Pottery took home the
Outstanding Craft Retailer Award.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in this hon. House to congratulate owners David Hayashida
and Linda Yates for their immense dedication, unmatched hard work, and this
recent major achievement.
This award recognizes an individual, organization, or company that
demonstrates excellence in display, merchandising and service to the public and,
through retailing, represents their Province with quality craft and giftware
products.
Elated with capturing top honours, Yates says that this award will "take our
shop and gallery from being known mainly as a Newfoundland attraction and turns
it into an Atlantic Canadian destination."
Mr. Speaker, I invite all colleagues in this hon. House to join me in
applauding King's Point Pottery upon their outstanding accomplishment and wish
them every success as they continue to grow their business and promote the arts
and craft industry.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The Member for the District of Port au Port.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. CORNECT: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I rise today to recognize Danny and Mary McCann for their untiring volunteer
work in the community of Port au Port West. They are a dynamic and creative
husband-and-wife team that truly exemplifies the heart of what volunteers are.
Recently, Danny and Mary each received the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal in
recognition of their great community work.
The value of Danny and Mary's contributions to the community over their
lifetime are immeasurable. This couple has been involved in several local and
provincial committees. They initiated the Gravels Development Group that created
a 3.5 kilometre hiking trail, the restoration of Our Lady of Mercy Gym, and the
maintaining of Our Lady of Mercy Church as a tourist attraction, and, Mr.
Speaker, the list just goes on of their accomplishments.
Volunteering is a selfless act that is motivated by a desire to help and
enrich the lives of others.
Mr. Speaker, I ask all hon. members to join with me in offering my
appreciation and to thank Danny and Mary McCann for their many, many hours of
endless volunteer work that has led to the betterment of our community, our
region, and our Province.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: Statements by Ministers.
Statements by Ministers
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Advanced Education and Skills.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MS SHEA: Mr. Speaker, I am honoured to rise today to highlight the
achievements of an employee of Newfoundland and Labrador Housing.
carpenter ever hired by the corporation. What sets Ms Sutton apart is not her
gender, but the example she puts forward as a mentor to other young women
wishing to pursue a career in the trades here in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Ms Sutton's record of achievement began while enrolled at the Carpenters
Millwright College in Paradise in 2008, where she won the school's Award of
Excellence for education, leadership, and safety skills. In 2009 she became the
first female apprentice registered with the Office to Advance Women Apprentices,
and the first to find employment with Newfoundland and Labrador Housing
Corporation.
Recently, she joined other female tradespersons selected from across North
America by the United Brotherhood of Carpenters to take
part in a three-day
female mentorship program in Las Vegas.
Ms Sutton is a committed mentor, volunteering time to appear at high schools
and as a demonstrator for Skills Canada intermediate competitions, and visiting
community centres to speak to female youth about her career path. She has also
been blessed with terrific mentors in her own life, including family,
co-workers, and instructors.
Mr. Speaker, a carpenter of Ms Sutton's experience and skills could likely
find employment abroad; however, she has made a conscious choice to stay and
contribute to the growth of our Province through affordable housing construction
and mentorship to young women pursuing careers in the trades.
Ms Sutton is a shining example of the incredible time of opportunity for
women in Newfoundland and Labrador, especially when it comes to opportunities in
the skilled trades. In fact, Mr. Speaker, since 2009, the number of women
enrolled in skilled trades in the Province has grown by 33 per cent.
Through innovative programs such as our Journeyperson Mentorship Program, we
are increasing job opportunities in the skilled trades, particularly for
under-represented groups, including women.
I invite my colleagues in this hon. House to join me in congratulating Ms
Sutton for her contributions and to wish her all the best on her upcoming
journeyperson exam.
Thank you.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Burgeo La Poile.
MR. A. PARSONS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I thank the minister for the last-minute copy of her statement.
Congratulations to Shauna Sutton for being the first female carpenter hired by
the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation. As an award-winning student
and mentor, Newfoundland and Labrador Housing are fortunate for this addition.
I imagine it must be intimidating for women like Shauna, who are making their
way through traditionally male-dominated professions. It takes bravery and
courage to be a trailblazer for other women. With a labour shortage of 70,000,
encouraging women to try the trades, which are well-paying career paths, is a
positive step forward for both women and industry.
I would be remiss, Mr. Speaker, if I did not address the 226 EAS job losses
this minister instructed, many of whom are also women. All of these workers
encourage people to try the trades as well, although they were not given the
extension they needed. What seems to be lost on government is the means to this
end of labour shortage: EAS agencies.
In closing, Mr. Speaker, congratulations to Ms Sutton on her achievements and
on being such a pioneer.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for St. John's North.
MR. KIRBY: Thanks to the minister for an advance copy of her statement.
I offer congratulations to Ms Sutton on her achievements. Women still
represent only a small proportion of those registered in the trades, so the
Journeyperson Mentorship Program may help to change that. It is important to
note that according to government's own research, family responsibilities are
the primary reason why women do not complete their trades and get their Red
Seal.
This research shows that 28 per cent of women in Newfoundland and Labrador
quit their training for family reasons, compared to only 8 per cent of men.
Addressing the lack of affordable child care in this Province will help us to
see more successes like this one.
Again, congratulations.
Thank you.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: Does the hon. the Member for St. John's South have leave?
AN HON. MEMBER: No.
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Municipal Affairs.
MR. O'BRIEN: Mr. Speaker, I rise today in this hon. House to provide an
update on our milestones and successes as we move forward with the Provincial
Solid Waste Management Strategy.
The strategy aims to reduce the amount of materials in provincial landfill
sites by 50 per cent and to encourage residents of Newfoundland and Labrador to
participate in waste diversion programs such as recycling and composting.
The strategy also aims to reduce the total number of waste disposal sites by
80 per cent, eliminate open burning of waste at disposal sites, and phase out
incinerators and unlined landfills.
Mr. Speaker, this is an ambitious strategy, but one that is necessary as we
look ahead to a greener future in this Province. We have achieved a number of
key milestones in recent months as we move along the process of full
implementation of our strategy. In fact, last year we saw the opening of the
Central Newfoundland Waste Management Facility at Norris Arm, which represented
a total investment of $64.6 million.
We also continue to work closely with our colleagues in the Department of
Environment and Conservation and the Multi-Materials Stewardship Board, who are
working towards some very important projects that complement this strategy.
Examples include the paint recycling program as well as the new illegal dumping
surveillance program, which will see municipal enforcement staff from the Town
of Conception Bay South training other municipal colleagues across the Province
to develop skills and programs to combat illegal dumping.
Mr. Speaker, approximately two-thirds of the Province's population is now
disposing of its waste in a lined landfill at either Norris Arm or Robin Hood
Bay. Close to 50 per cent of the Province's population also have access to
recycling facilities. Throughout the Province, a number of disposal sites have
been reduced, with over 140 dumps closed to date, which represents a 58 per cent
reduction.
Mr. Speaker, through those many successes, the provincial government
continues to promote a modern and environmentally sound approach to waste
management. My department will continue these efforts as they work towards full
implementation of the Provincial Solid Waste Management Strategy.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for the District of Bay of Islands.
MR. JOYCE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I thank the minister for the advance copy. It was a bit late, but thank you
in advance anyway for the copy. Protecting our environment is everybody's
concern in the Province and everybody in this Legislature, also. It is an
aggressive strategy, one that we all hope we can achieve.
Mr. Speaker, I visited the site at Norris Arm last year and it is a very nice
site, a very great site. Ed and the group are doing a great job on the site
itself. Waste management is something which recycling also is a big part of and
illegal dumping is a big part of it. I am just glad that the Bay of Islands was
the first area in the Province to actually put surveillance in for illegal
dumping, and we did it through Google. Back years and years ago, it was the
first one to start it. I am glad that illegal dumping is a big issue.
Mr. Speaker, in Labrador we still have work to do on the strategy in Labrador
for waste management. I have to speak about the West Coast strategy for waste
management.
One of the first things we have to do with the waste management, in my
opinion, is put someone in who is qualified to do the job. I just do not think
the defeated PC candidate appointed is good enough to do the job. I do not think
he is qualified to do the job. He is making decisions without consultation. That
is something that we must as a group, ensure that all of the communities are
informed
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
MR. JOYCE: they are all being respected, and their opinions.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for St. John's East.
MR. MURPHY: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
I would also like to thank the minister for the fifteen-minute advance notice
of the statement. A couple of things came to mind, Mr. Speaker, when I got the
notice. One of the big concerns, of course, is that we have tough Budget times
coming up. We know the government has made it an issue by pouring dollars into
some of these programs, but we worry. I get phone calls every day talking about
the worry about whether these programs are going to be able to continue under
the austerity measures that government is probably going to have to carry out.
So the question remains about the carrying on of some of these recycling
programs.
As well as that, municipal recycling programs, of course, need funding. A lot
of the calls I get also deal with municipal funding, and municipal funding, of
course, is an integral part of recycling in this Province, Mr. Speaker. A lot of
these municipalities need money for that. Municipalities are certainly looking
forward to hearing what that new funding arrangement is going to be in the next
Budget.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: Does the Member for St. John's South have leave?
AN HON. MEMBER: No leave.
MR. SPEAKER: Oral Questions.
Oral Questions
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Official Opposition.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. BALL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Well, senior bureaucrats at Nalcor have a similar bonus program to the one
just suspended by government. When I asked the Premier about this on Tuesday she
completely avoided the question, so I will try it again.
I ask the Premier again: Will you now direct Nalcor, a 100 per cent
government-owned corporation by the taxpayers of this Province, to immediately
suspend the bonus program?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Finance.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. KENNEDY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
When we created Nalcor it was created in the image of Statoil and trying to
duplicate what had been done so successfully in Norway, Mr. Speaker. A lot of
our management component was based on that. Nalcor's bonuses I think were
published last year. They were put on the Web site.
One thing I can say to the member opposite, that the CEO of Nalcor, no matter
what bonus he may get, no matter what salary he may get, it is a good deal for
us, Mr. Speaker, and it is a good deal for the people of this Province.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Official Opposition.
MR. BALL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
We are not talking about the individuals. What we are talking about is having
the salary details, the bonus details, making that readily available to the
people who are actually paying their wages. So, Mr. Speaker, we have asked to
suspend the programs.
Mr. Speaker, working for government means getting your paycheque from the
public purse. Management should expect that remuneration is a matter of public
record.
I ask the Premier: Since your government is often hiding behind Bill 29, not
releasing the salary and bonus details, will you immediately change and make the
salary details, including bonuses, available to the public?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Finance.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. KENNEDY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Again, we have the Leader of the Opposition attacking the members of the
public service again today, like he did yesterday with the officials in the
Department of Finance.
Mr. Speaker, the deputy ministers in these departments have a very onerous
role. They work tremendous hours, Mr. Speaker, in trying to run their
departments and assist our government. Mr. Speaker, the salary estimates outline
what we pay out in salaries. During the Estimates process you can certainly ask,
but they also have a right to privacy.
Mr. Speaker, what we have is a situation where there were a couple of
individuals asked about yesterday, we released the details. They provided their
consent, but twenty-six to thirty people in the various aspects in government
are entitled to this bonus provision that was in place. That has been suspended,
Mr. Speaker. That is another step we are taking in line with as we prepare to
deliver the Budget with the hiring freeze, the suspension of hiring, Mr.
Speaker, the retirement incentive bonus. These are all steps we are taking to
try to address the fiscal situation of the Province.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Official Opposition.
MR. BALL: Mr. Speaker, I cannot believe the Minister of Finance really
has the gall to stand here today and talk about attacking public sector workers.
This government itself, in the last few weeks, has often talked about it. We
have seen it with EAS. We have seen it with a number of employees who are
looking at going out the door.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
MR. BALL: Mr. Speaker, our choice, as you know, is to repeal Bill 29.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
MR. BALL: This request to amend Bill 29 is only reasonable and necessary.
The public deserve accountability from this government. It does not need to be
studied to death; it is really common sense.
I ask the Premier: Will you bring forward this amendment immediately?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
PREMIER DUNDERDALE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, this government is highly accountable, unlike our friends
opposite. Mr. Speaker, the Liberals introduced the ATIPP, the access to
information legislation in this House; they brought it here. We supported it,
voted for it, Mr. Speaker, but they did not proclaim it.
Mr. Speaker, it is do as I say, not as I do. They did not want anyone to know
the details of any of their transactions with regard to salaries, with regard to
the operation of this House of Assembly, or anything that went on within
government, Mr. Speaker.
We proclaimed the access to information act. This government is more open
than any government in the history of Newfoundland and Labrador, and we are darn
proud of it.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The Leader of the Official Opposition.
MR. BALL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Now that the Premier is willing to be open and transparent, will you amend
Bill 29? Just get up and tell the people of the Province: will you amend Bill
29?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
PREMIER DUNDERDALE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, in the words of the commissioner himself, he has stated publicly
that there is no more restriction or less access to information by the general
public of Newfoundland and Labrador after Bill 29 than there was before Bill 29.
Certain individuals do have a right to privacy, Mr. Speaker, even though they
might work for the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. It does not matter
who those individuals are. We all have a right to privacy. Bill 29 protects that
right.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The Leader of the Official Opposition.
MR. BALL: It is interesting to listen to the Premier's comments when just
this week the commissioner was saying: Come to me and I will help you go to
court. That is what you are suggesting that the people of this Province should
do to get the accountability that you are saying your government has.
Mr. Speaker, SNC-Lavalin was given a multi-million dollar contract on Muskrat
Falls by this government. Since then, the company has repeatedly been in the
news with allegations of improper payments, money laundering, and even
corruption. Today, they are in the news again. This time, alleging that senior
executives were hiding commission fees.
I ask the Premier: Since the latest scandal involves SNC's hydro power
division, have any of those people involved had anything to do with Muskrat
Falls that you are aware of?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Natural Resources.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. MARSHALL: No, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, the hon. Leader of the Opposition indicated that these were
matters of allegation, matters under investigation. There is a process that
takes place; there is a process of due diligence. We should not be impugning the
integrity of certain people, unless that process is completed before the courts.
In this Province, Mr. Speaker, whether you are in this House or in the
private sector out there, we expect people to obey our laws and we will enforce
our laws. We are not the government for Africa. We are not the government for
North Africa. We are the Government for Newfoundland and Labrador. We have laws
and we expect the people to obey those laws.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The Leader of the Official Opposition.
MR. BALL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Well, the current allegations of hiding commission fees are against the
former SNC Executive VP, Patrick Lamarre, who resigned from the company in
January. Mr. Lamarre is quoted in a press release from the company announcing
their work at Muskrat Falls.
I ask the Premier: Now that you know that there is a direct connection
between the former SNC executive and the Muskrat Falls Project, what are you
doing to investigate this issue?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Natural Resources.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. MARSHALL: Mr. Speaker, there have been allegations of wrongdoing in
Africa, and the Attorney Generals in Africa will look after that. We will look
after what is going on in Newfoundland and Labrador.
With respect to that, the contract to SNC-Lavalin was properly awarded, as
are all engineering and procurement contracts in the development industry.
Nalcor retains full ownership, full oversight, decision making, and financial
authority over all contracts that are awarded. We will continue to monitor the
situation very closely on behalf of the people of Newfoundland and Labrador, as
we have done in the past and we will continue to do so.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The Leader of the Official Opposition.
MR. BALL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
What I am hearing here is not about the individual, what I am hearing here is
about the location. So, you are saying it is okay for these executives to do
what they want in Africa and that does not apply to Newfoundland and Labrador.
Well, it should apply. It is about the individual, the executives, which we are
talking about.
Mr. Speaker, with such a serious allegation against SNC, the Premier needs to
be fully transparent of her government's involvement with this company.
I ask the Premier: How much money has Nalcor paid SNC to date, and will you
release the contracts Nalcor has signed with this company?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Natural Resources.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. MARSHALL: Mr. Speaker, there are legal matters going on in other
jurisdictions. The Leader of the Opposition is disgraceful in the way that he is
getting up and trying and convicting these people when the trial has not been
held yet. Are you the judge, the jury, and the executioner? It is shameful what
you are doing here.
There is a process that has to take place, and we are going to respect that
process in another country. In this country, anybody doing work for Nalcor is
overseen by Nalcor. They are overseen by the Government of Newfoundland and
Labrador. They report to us. We will monitor the situation closely, and we will
continue to do so.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The Member for Burgeo La Poile.
MR. A. PARSONS: Mr. Speaker, in a time when people are losing their jobs
to make up for this government's out-of-control spending, the Minister of
Advanced Education doles out a minister's salary to failed Tory candidate John
Noseworthy to determine how best to organize her department and deliver
services.
So I ask the minister: Is this not your job?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Advanced Education and Skills.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MS SHEA: Mr. Speaker, the Department of Advanced Education and Skills was
formed following the last General Election in this Province. The department came
together, which was the former HRLE Department with the Labour Relations Agency
taken out, as well as a division of the former Department of Education, how that
stood.
Mr. Speaker, we could have operated the department as silos that came
together, but we wanted to make sure we looked at the business transactions, a
business transformation project, to ensure that this department was set up to
look at how best to help Newfoundlanders and Labradorians attach to the labour
market. We are at an unprecedented time in our history and in our economy where
people have opportunities. This new department was formed to make sure we could
maximize that; in doing so, everything in the department had to be transformed,
including how we do our business transactions.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Burgeo La Poile.
MR. A. PARSONS: Mr. Speaker, I guess this explains why you hired him four
months after you created the department.
It is now over thirty days since our Access to Information request for John
Noseworthy's report was acknowledged, meaning the minister responsible is
breaking the ATIPP Act. In the Tory 2003 Blue Book, they committed to releasing
every government-commissioned report within thirty days of receiving it.
So I ask the minister: Why are you delaying access to the report, and will
you Table it in the House?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Advanced Education and Skills.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MS SHEA: Mr. Speaker, as I was saying, we are at a point in time in the
history of this Province where people have opportunity to participate in our
labour market like never before.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MS SHEA: We wanted this new department established so that people can
take advantage of that opportunity, Mr. Speaker. Whether we reviewed the
operations before, four months after, or into the future, it did not matter as
long as we made sure that as this department is set up, the services that it
offers serve the people of Newfoundland and Labrador who truly need those
services.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Burgeo La Poile.
MR. A. PARSONS: The minister has said the cuts in her department have
nothing to do with the report commissioned by her Tory friend.
I ask the minister: How can you make such excessive cuts, laying off so many
people, without first considering the $150,000 report?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Advanced Education and Skills.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MS SHEA: Mr. Speaker, there are two separate processes going on in
government today and in the Department of Advanced Education and Skills. As I
just outlined, as a new department it is incumbent upon us to ensure that the
processes of that department work for the people of Newfoundland and Labrador.
In a very separate exercise, Mr. Speaker, this government was facing a fiscal
situation where they had to deal with a deficit. With or without having formed a
new department, the minister of either the former HRLE and Education or the
newly formed department would be responsible to do whatever was necessary to
streamline functions within that department to ensure that services were
maintained, but yet be able to live within the new fiscal situation we have in
this Province.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for St. Barbe.
MR. BENNETT: Mr. Speaker, fish plants are dropping like fish flies all
over this Province, twelve in the last fifteen months. Last week, the fisheries
minister admitted that he has no answers for rural communities losing their fish
plants.
So I ask the minister of rural development: Now that you have cleaned out all
the RED Boards, what is your plan for rural communities, or is this resettlement
by neglect?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. DALLEY: Mr. Speaker, the fishing industry is a very important part of
the economy in this Province. Our government has provided strong support to the
fishing industry in a number of ways, whether it is technology, engineering,
development, or marketing, and we have been there to support the workers in the
fishery.
In this particular case, Mr. Speaker, with plant closures, private business,
some eighty-five years in this Province, have recognized some challenges well
beyond anyone's control. In terms of global market competition, market forces,
and the challenges with the Canadian dollar very unfortunately, we have seen
some plant closures. As we have in the past, and will continue in the future, we
will support the communities, we will support the people who are impacted by
this closure, and we will do all we can to ensure communities are
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
The hon. the Member for St. Barbe.
MR. BENNETT: Mr. Speaker, nine years ago this government set up the Rural
Secretariat for economic development in this Province. Currently, there is a $2
million budget and sixteen people employed.
I ask the minister of rural development: What is your plan for economic
development in this Province because I tried to ask you before, and the other
minister answered or are we witnessing resettlement by neglect?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Innovation, Business and Rural
Development.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. HUTCHINGS: Mr. Speaker, the plan is very similar to the plan since we
came in 2003. It is to build schools, build hospitals, build rural Newfoundland
and Labrador, and continue to build and invest billions of dollars in
infrastructure, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. HUTCHINGS: Now, in regards to the Rural Secretariat, it was not set
up as an economic delivery unit. It was set up to basically engage people in
rural Newfoundland and Labrador over a hundred volunteers all throughout
Newfoundland and Labrador, on the ground, leaders in the community, volunteers
who are dialoguing with government and telling us what we need to know in terms
of driving economic and social policy. Sometimes it is not what we want to hear,
but we need to hear it, we are hearing it, and we are using it to drive economic
and social development in Newfoundland and Labrador, and we are going to
continue to do it.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Opposition House Leader.
MS JONES: Yesterday, Mr. Speaker, I asked questions on the Strait of
Belle Isle ferry contract. April 1 is fast approaching and now we hear the
Ionian Spirit may be another Orlova saga.
I ask the minister: Will you confirm that this vessel is tied up in legal
wrangling with its crew in the Port of Brindisi.
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Transportation and Works.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. DAVIS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I am glad I get a chance to talk about this very important tender because I
can tell you that the service to the people of Labrador, to Southern Labrador,
Northern Labrador and right around the entire Island of Newfoundland is very
important. The ferry services are very important to those people. We have good
relations with those people, Mr. Speaker, I say to you and I say to the House.
We consult with those people on a regular basis and we are doing that.
With this tender, we have to follow the process. Unlike the member opposite
here, who would like for us to run out and throw away the Public Tender Act,
would just want to throw it away, and sending out e-mails to people in their
district saying disregard the Public Tender Act and disregard process. We are
going to follow process, Mr. Speaker, because that is what this government is
built on. It is built on principle, it is built on process, and it is built on
following the law, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Opposition House Leader.
MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
In all the talk about process, maybe the minister does not even know what the
wrangling is that is going on over there with regard to this ship because he is
certainly not telling us.
Mr. Speaker, the Public Tender Act is one thing. It is another thing when
government is contemplating giving a contract to a company that has a ship they
are intending to put on the service that is tied up in legal wrangling, Mr.
Speaker, for one thing; and secondly, that is not meeting Transport Canada's
requirements to be operational in this Province.
I ask the minister today we are only days away from wanting to have this
ferry back in operation. I ask the minister: What he is going to do to serve the
needs of the people in that region of the Province?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Transportation and Works.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. DAVIS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I can tell you what we are not going to do. We are not going to
race out and buy another Nonia like they did over there. That is what we
are not going to do.
We are going to follow the process. We are going to get all the information,
because that is what we are required to do. We have
an act to follow, we have a
tender process that we have to follow, and we are going to do that.
Unlike the member opposite who can be out and advocating for the highest
bidder for her friend, the highest bidder instead of doing that, what we are
going to do, Mr. Speaker, is we are going to follow the process. We will get all
the information, we will properly assess all the information, and then we will
make our decision to move forward.
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Third Party.
MS MICHAEL: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
On Monday, the Premier talked about
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
MS MICHAEL: phase one and phase two of her core mandate review.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
The Speaker has recognized the Leader of the Third Party.
MS MICHAEL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The Premier talked about phase one and phase two of her core mandate review
and the fact that these phases had been completed. She said that they had talked
about this plan last fall, but this plan must exist in the Premier's head, Mr.
Speaker, since we cannot find anything of substance in writing.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
This is Question Period. Important questions are being asked. I ask members
to respect those asking those questions, and provide time for the member to
respond.
I recognize the Leader of the Third Party, and ask her now to conclude her
question.
MS MICHAEL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I ask the Premier: Will she please reveal the details
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
The Speaker is quite serious when he brings attention to the fact that there
is disorder in the House. I expect members to respect the direction of the
Chair, and I have already acknowledged the Leader of the Third Party to ask her
question. I ask members to listen in silence until she poses that question.
MS MICHAEL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I ask the Premier: Will she please reveal the details of what exactly were
the two phases that she says have been finished?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Finance.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. KENNEDY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
What this core mandate review involves is a review of each department, all
aspects of the department, the jobs that are done in the department, and the
programs that are offered by each department. It has gone through all sixteen
departments in government and some of the agencies, Mr. Speaker.
It is, basically, the deputy ministers are instructed to go along with their
assistant deputy minister right through their department to determine: Is there
anything here that we do not need to do any more? Is there duplication of
effort? Is there duplication of jobs? Are we spending money that we do not need
to spend?
Mr. Speaker, that is the process that has been ongoing. If she does not like
the term review core mandate, it is simply a review of the processes of each
department in the extent to ensure that there is efficient and effective
delivery of services.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Third Party.
MS MICHAEL: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
That is the closest to a plan that I have heard an answer from the other
side. I am glad the Minister of Finance could give some kind of an answer to me,
but, Mr. Speaker, all of these plans do not seem to be on paper.
So I am wondering, since we cannot get these plans, if the Premier can tell
this House which phase in her plan includes steps to reach a stable revenue
stream for the Province so government can avoid creating another fiscal mess
like the current one that they have put us in.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
PREMIER DUNDERDALE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I can tell her what my plan does not include. My plan does not
include shutting down development in Newfoundland and Labrador.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
PREMIER DUNDERDALE: It does not include shutting down projects like
Muskrat Falls, Mr. Speaker. It does not mean going out and imploding a tax on
offshore agreements that have already been negotiated and settled. It is not a
plan against firming up our oil reserves in Western Newfoundland and Labrador.
Mr. Speaker, this Province is in the best economic shape it has been since
Confederation, and that is due in large part to the work of this government. It
is something we are very proud of and something we are going to continue.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
The Leader of the Third Party.
MS MICHAEL: Thank you.
The plan obviously involves spending billions of dollars on that project that
she is talking about billions of dollars belonging to the people of the
Province.
I have been asking the Premier about her many plans for the past few days of
this sitting of the House. She has repeatedly told me to wait for the Budget
when all will be revealed a mantra that is also being used by the Finance
Minister. This government has shown they cannot properly budget the dental
program that they announced a year ago, let alone give us a balanced budget.
Mr. Speaker, I ask the Premier: How can she expect the people of this
Province to trust them on big-ticket economic issues when they cannot even
accurately assess a small program like the dental program?
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
PREMIER DUNDERDALE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, it all depends on what day of the week you tune in to the House
of Assembly to listen to what criticism is coming from the other side.
Routinely, we are criticized for all of our strategies, Mr. Speaker, like our
Poverty Reduction Strategy, which is lauded from one end of this country to the
other, to our rural development strategy, from our aquaculture strategy, for our
infrastructure strategy.
We have increased the revenue of this Province by billions of dollars, Mr.
Speaker. We have done negotiations around Hebron. We have strengthened the Vale
Inco contract.
Mr. Speaker, this is a great place to be, there are more opportunities in
this place than ever before, and that is due to this Progressive Conservative
government.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The Leader of the Third Party.
MS MICHAEL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The Premier has repeatedly talked about their ten-year plan to reduce the
debt. In actual fact, she has talked about it many times over the past month and
told us it exists; but, other than a few references to bringing down the per
capita debt to some undefined national average, we can find no plan.
Mr. Speaker, a very simple question: Could we please see this plan in
writing?
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
PREMIER DUNDERDALE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Now, Mr. Speaker, earlier in the week we heard from the Leader of the NDP
that she did not know that there was going to be a deficit in 2013-2014. She did
not know, Mr. Speaker, because she did not read the Budget documents. On page 12
of last year's Budget, there is a prediction of a $400 million deficit for
2013-2014.
Mr. Speaker, she continues her long history of not doing the proper research
when she comes to this House to ask questions. Last year, we talked about a
ten-year plan to reduce our debt. That was to take one-third of our surpluses
and apply to the debt applauded by our bond rating agent.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The Member for The Straits White Bay North.
MR. MITCHELMORE: Mr. Speaker, closure of Bayview Collegiate would mean up
to 1.5 hours on a bus for students from L'Anse aux Meadows over a dead zone
highway. These students will pass by another K-6 school that is part of their
town, able to accommodate them. A reasonable decision one would have one K-9 or
K-12 school retained in the community.
Mr. Speaker, I ask the minister why he operates his department and a board
that he controls like a dictatorship, which ignores the voice of the people and
denies presentations at public meetings.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Education.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. JACKMAN: Mr. Speaker, I am starting to get at wit's end. I think many
of the staff are getting at wit's end with the questions that are coming from
the Member for The Straits and the Member for St. Barbe.
You see a news release that came out this morning that says that he has the
final say on the final decision absolutely false, Mr. Speaker. It is
absolutely false. I will not say that they are lying, but they are playing
politics. They are playing politics with a situation here. Consultations were
held and an investment of $18.4 million in a new state-of-the-art school that
offers an array of programs, through a consultation process. The board has made
their decision, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The Member for The Straits White Bay North.
MR. MITCHELMORE: Mr. Speaker, the Western School District has said it
never develops an implementation plan in advance for closures. It downloads this
responsibility on local administrators, so no programming is in place. A 2008
document included the option of alternative busing being provided. Years later,
still no plan.
Well, Mr. Speaker, I ask the Minister of Education: Why would Bayview
students trust the board for after-hour buses for extracurricular activities
when other communities like Ship Cove, Raleigh, Goose Bay and Great Brehat were
never offered such service?
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
The hon. the Minister of Education.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. JACKMAN: Mr. Speaker
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
The hon. the Minister of Education.
MR. JACKMAN: Mr. Speaker, the closure of a school is a very emotional
thing. We have said that on several occasions here.
Mr. Speaker, if you look at the results in the education system in this
Province, not too long ago Newfoundland and Labrador had the highest dropout
rate in Canada. Today, Mr. Speaker, we are the second highest in retaining
students. We have a 92 per cent graduation rate.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. JACKMAN: Mr. Speaker, our system is working.
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for St. John's North.
MR. KIRBY: Mr. Speaker, three years ago the Auditor General identified
significant problems with the escalating costs of the Protective Intervention
Program which places children in alternative living arrangements. He also
identified an increased risk of harm to children due to long stays and uncertain
standards of care. Last month, government finally released a Request for
Proposals for staff residential placement resources with a commitment to best
practices.
Why did this government drag its heels and wait three years to finally act on
this issue?
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Advanced Education and Skills.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MS SHEA: Mr. Speaker, let me first acknowledge that this government did
not wait three years to move on issues in the area of child protection. This
government started the new Department of Child, Youth and Family Services to
respond to some very serious issues that were pervasive within the system.
Systemic issues, Mr. Speaker.
I also want to indicate as we look at these issues and there were concerns
about the placement of children, part of the plan was to ensure that children
had the appropriate environments. Mr. Speaker, in November of this year and as
many people who are watching today or in this House of Assembly understand that
there is a campaign underway to attract and to be able to have new foster homes
in this Province. To date, it has been a very successful campaign and it will
continue because the health and safety of children and the protection
intervention services has always been a priority of this government, Mr.
Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The time for Question Period has expired.
During Question Period, while the Leader of the Official Opposition was
posing a question to the hon. Minister of Natural Resources, in his response I
call upon the Minister of Natural Resources to apologize for his unparliamentary
comment when he accused the Member for Humber Valley of being disgraceful.
I ask the member to apologize for his comment.
MR. MARSHALL: Mr. Speaker, if I have attacked the
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
MR. MARSHALL: Mr. Speaker, I apologize unreservedly.
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Opposition House Leader.
MS JONES: Yes, Mr. Speaker, I am
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
MS JONES: Mr. Speaker, I am rising on a point of privilege. I am just
looking for the
section because I lost it while I was getting up.
Mr. Speaker I am raising on a point of privilege based on a comment that was
made by the Minister of Transportation and Works during Question Period. I asked
a very legitimate question on behalf of my constituents and other people in the
Province of Newfoundland and Labrador who use a ferry service in this Province.
I was carrying out my duties as an MHA and as a member of the Official
Opposition.
I expected, Mr. Speaker, a response from the minister that would be
appropriate of a Minister of the Crown. However, the minister in question went
on to make commentary about where I spend my time outside of this House of
Assembly, where I may have been, accusingly saying I was in a certain place on a
Saturday evening. Mr. Speaker, that only leads me to believe that the minister
in question, or someone within the government, is keeping tabs now on where
Opposition MHAs may be
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!
MR. SPEAKER: Hear, hear!
MS JONES: and implying impropriety on the part of the MHA.
Mr. Speaker, I know the member opposite, in his previous life, was an RNC
officer
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
There is a point of privilege being raised. Breaches of privilege in this
House are a serious matter and I would ask members to recognize the member who
is on her feet raising a point of privilege, which is important for all of us to
appreciate the significance of a point of privilege in this House.
MS JONES: Mr. Speaker, I cannot say unequivocally that there has been
anybody following me. I do not know. I do not know if there are squad cars
driving past my house. I do not know.
What I do know, Mr. Speaker, is that the minister today made a statement
implying where I spent my time and in doing so indicated impropriety of some
sort on my part. In fact, Mr. Speaker, it was a breach of privacy because what I
do in my private life is of no concern to the minister or to other members in
the House of Assembly when being posed a question here.
I feel, Mr. Speaker, that the remarks of the minister were obstructive, they
were interfering, and they were intimidating, in causing me to carry out the
responsibilities of my constituents and that of my job as a member of the
Opposition office.
I would ask that the member, Mr. Speaker, would withdraw the comments and I
ask that he would apologize for making such references in the House of Assembly
in responding to a question in Question Period.
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Government House Leader, to the point of
privilege.
MR. KING: Yes, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I listened intently to the points made by the member opposite
and I would first urge you to consider checking Hansard as to exactly what was
said and what was not.
In considering a point of privilege, Mr. Speaker, I think the rules that
guide our Parliament here in the House of Assembly are very clear that a point
of privilege would be raised on a basis where a member's ability to perform his
or her functions as a member of this House has been some way blocked, inhibited,
or prohibited. I would suggest to you, Mr. Speaker, that has not happened.
Mr. Speaker, further to that, I do believe in raising the point of privilege
that the member opposite has called into question the integrity of the position
of the Minister of Transportation and Works in this House, and in a broader
context, the member has raised the question of whether this government as a
whole has engaged in some secretive service or other to be following the member
or doing something that many would consider untoward.
Mr. Speaker, I would suggest for your consideration that in raising the point
of privilege she may actually have brought on another point of privilege against
the government as a whole, and the Minister of Transportation and Works in
particular.
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Opposition House Leader, to the point of
privilege.
MS JONES: Yes, Mr. Speaker. While I appreciate the input that anyone
would like to have into this matter, I think it is very clear for the record
what the minister said; it could be heard all throughout the House of Assembly,
absolutely no doubt about that.
Any time, Mr. Speaker, that there is a commentary made on the floor of the
House in response to me doing my job asking a question that is referring to
something I may or may not do on a Saturday night in my personal life, in my
mind is an implication, it is intimidation, and it is done primarily to
influence how I do my job. I take extreme offence to that, Mr. Speaker. It does
affect my ability to do my job. I ask for a ruling on this particular issue,
because I do believe it is indeed a breach of privilege, Mr. Speaker.
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Government House Leader, to the point of
privilege.
MR. KING: Yes, Mr. Speaker, and thank you.
With greatest respect to the point being raised, it is my role as Government
House Leader to argue the same points on behalf of the Government of
Newfoundland. I am not challenging or suggesting that there was anything
untoward or not with respect to how the member received what was said, but I do
believe, on behalf of the government, in my capacity as House Leader, that I
have a responsibility to argue the point.
On a point of privilege, I believe it is very clear that the matter of
privilege here was not violated. Whatever may or may not have been said or
intimated, there was no infringement on the ability of a member to carry out
their particular function. I would suggest, Mr. Speaker, as it is stated in the
House of Commons Procedure and Practice , that what we have here is no
doubt a disagreement between two members, but that is the extent to what we have
here.
MR. SPEAKER: The House will take a brief recess while the Speaker reviews
the tape of the proceedings that the member references. We will recall the House
when I have had a chance to listen to the tape.
Recess
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
The Speaker has had an opportunity to review the tape from the Question
Period today, and there is nothing in the tape that speaks to any valid point of
privilege. There is a lot of background noise, and there is a lot of chatter
that is obviously taking place, but it is not a part of the official proceedings
of the House, and I am unable to distinguish the individuals who may be
speaking. Nor am I able to distinguish the comments that are being made.
It does, I believe, and it is an important point, and it is timely to raise
it: one of the challenges we have in this House is recognizing that only those
individuals who have been recognized by the Chair are permitted to speak in the
House. During Question Period, for example, today, on several occasions we had
to stop proceedings because individuals who were not recognized were continuing
to contribute to the conversation.
When we are in Question Period or when we are in debate, if members in
addition to those who have been recognized by the Chair continue to make comment
and continue to contribute to the debate while not being recognized, they do
have an influence on what takes place on the floor of the House but it is not
captured in Hansard; it does not form a part of the official transcript, but
members, as they speak, react and respond to it.
The issue that we saw unfold here this afternoon that gave rise to the point
of order is a good example of what happens when members of the House do not
abide by the rules of the House, and very specifically that rule which states
that only those members who are recognized by the Chair can stand in their place
and speak, and address the Assembly. When they do that, all others are to remain
in silence and listen to the comments being made.
Whenever we have multiple people not recognized in the debate contributing to
the conversation, it tends to be personal and it tends to be emotional and
detracting from the main focus of the debate, and we end up with disorder in the
House.
Inasmuch as there is no point of privilege with the issue being raised by the
Opposition House Leader, there is a valuable lesson for all members in what we
witness unfolding.
I ask members to be guided by my comments.
Thank you.
Presenting Reports by Standing and Select Committees.
Tabling of Documents.
Tabling of Documents
MR. SPEAKER: In accordance with
Section 19(5) (
a) of the House of
Assembly Accountability, Integrity and Administration Act, I hereby table
minutes of the House of Assembly Management Commission meeting held on December
4 and December 5, 2012.
Notices of Motion.
Answers to Questions for which Notice has been Given.
Petitions.
Petitions
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for St. Barbe.
MR. BENNETT: To the hon. House of Assembly of the Province of
Newfoundland and Labrador in Parliament assembled, the petition of the
undersigned residents humbly sheweth:
WHEREAS there has been an agreement between the Federation of Newfoundland
Nation Band; and
WHEREAS persons submitted applications with the required documents for
registration from the Band up to the application deadline of November 30, 2012;
and
WHEREAS the reported number of applications received by the Qalipu Mi'kmaq
First Nation Band are in excess of 100,000; and
WHEREAS the reported number of applicants now registered as members is
approximately 22,000; and
WHEREAS the agreement between the Federation of Newfoundland Indians and the
scheduled to end on March 31, 2013; and
WHEREAS the Qalipu Mi'kmaq First Nation Band Chief has requested but not
received an extension to the agreement to process the remaining applications;
and
WHEREAS to date there is no decision on how to deal with the remaining
applications.
WHEREUPON the undersigned, your petitioners, humbly pray and call upon the
House of Assembly to urge the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador to work
provide a fair and equal review of all applications.
As in duty bound, your petitioners will ever pray.
Mr. Speaker, this is a very important social issue across a large part of our
Province, particularly more so in Western Newfoundland, all up through the
Northern Peninsula, and to a large number of people in my district.
Mr. Speaker, for many years these individuals have worked towards
recognition, recognition as native status, and over the course of time they have
put together a substantial body of evidence, information, genealogical records,
and historical data. It was a tremendous amount of work and many, many people
who are of native ancestry had no idea they even were of native ancestry until
they were advised of their eligibility for native status.
Based on the agreement between the Federation of Newfoundland Indians and the
Qalipu First Nation Band, there is a possibility to have this as a recognized
Band in the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador. In addition to recognizing
people's ancestry, their genealogical background, there are significant social
advantages to be obtained by people.
Indian status. Consequently, it is to the advantage of all residents of the
Province of Newfoundland and Labrador, including our government, to press this
matter and to ensure that whatever benefits should accrue to these residents
actually does accrue to them. This petition is on their behalf.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
MR. SPEAKER: The Member for St. John's Centre.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MS ROGERS: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
To the hon. House of Assembly of the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador in
Parliament assembled, the petition of the undersigned residents humbly sheweth:
WHEREAS with the passage of Bill 29, the Access to Information and Protection
of Privacy (Amendment) Act, the Government of Newfoundland has weakened
citizens' access to information and has reduced government transparency; and
WHEREAS the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador has moved towards greater
secrecy and less openness; and
WHEREAS the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is breaking its own
commitment for greater transparency, accountability, and freedom of information,
which it said at one time was the hallmark of its government;
WHEREUPON the undersigned, your petitioners, humbly pray and call upon the
House of Assembly to urge the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador to repeal
the passage of Bill 29.
As in duty bound, your petitioners will ever pray.
Mr. Speaker, I am happy to stand in the House today to present this petition
on behalf of the citizens who have signed it. Again, one keeps wondering and I
have been presenting this petition for a number of months now. People are
asking: In whose interest was the amendment to Bill 29? In whose interest was
that? Is it in the best interest of the people of Newfoundland and Labrador?
When we see the great human outcry on behalf of the people, people are
wondering why, Mr. Speaker. Why the particular amendments that happened in Bill
29 that appear to so limit access to information, that appear to affect
government transparency, and that appear to make it even more difficult to get
information.
We have seen time again when people have asked for access to information,
documents coming back with sometimes not only some of the information blackened
out, but all of the information blackened out. Does this limit access to
information? One cannot wonder, perhaps it does. That is the perception. That is
the unfortunate perception that we have seen out in the public.
The people of Newfoundland and Labrador are not happy about this amendment.
They are not happy with what they perceive as their right to access to
information. What I think has happened here, particularly at the timing of
introducing this amendment, is that it has weakened the people's trust and
confidence in the government, which does not make for a healthy citizenship in
terms of their understanding of the democracy that is their right.
I again would urge the government to reconsider this
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
Your time has expired.
The Member for The Straits White Bay North.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. MITCHELMORE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
To the hon. House of Assembly of the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador in
Parliament Assembly, the petition of the undersigned residents of Newfoundland
and Labrador humbly sheweth:
WHEREAS the Western School District is considering a multi-year plan to close
Bayview Regional Collegiate at St. Lunaire Griquet in June 2013; and
WHEREAS it has been proven from students that have graduated from Bayview
Regional Collegiate, they have excelled in their studies to prepare them to move
ahead and achieve their career choices; and
WHEREAS teachers and staff at Bayview Regional Collegiate are qualified and
continue to provide a strong academic program with a full curriculum to all
students attending; and
WHEREAS Bayview Regional Collegiate has developed a playground, library,
drama club, Kids Eat Smart Lunch Program, school council, and other activities
with exceptional community support; and
WHERAS Bayview Regional Collegiate housed a K-12 school in the past with
200-plus students who have access to science labs, cafeteria, art room, computer
lab, gymnasium, and extra-curricular activities; and
WHEREAS the parents, business operators, social groups, concerned citizens,
and students of the Municipality of St. Lunaire Griquet request to rescind
this proposal;
Since Bayview Regional Collegiate has met and exceeded all aspects set forth
for a viable school, we, the undersigned, petition the House of Assembly to urge
the government to ensure that the Western School District is provided with
sufficient funding to keep Bayview Regional Collegiate at St. Lunaire Griquet
open.
As in duty bound, your petitioners will ever pray.
Mr. Speaker, this petition is put forward by constituents in my district from
Straitsview, as well from Noddy Bay, Quirpon, and Griquet. These are students
that will have to travel quite a far distance with the closure of this school.
It is important to recognize that there are two schools in this community. One
can be closed; the other can easily house a K-12 school. It would be the common
sense solution, Mr. Speaker, in doing so.
If we look at the public accounts, the public accounts state that the
departments of government, as well as boards such as the health boards and the
school boards, are controlled by and accountable for government. Ultimately, we
recognize, Mr. Speaker, that there are a lot of small rural schools, K-9s,
K-12s, with less than a hundred students. This decision does not make sense.
There are going to be a lot of concerned parents all across Newfoundland and
Labrador in this situation where they are going to be worried, is the Badger
school next? Is there another school less because there is a school closer where
we can bus students an hour-and-a-half and get them there? This is going to be a
real problem.
Many members across this House, who sit on this side and the other side, are
very concerned about this situation. So, we need to work together. We need to
urge and work towards change here, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you.
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for St. Barbe.
MR. BENNETT: Mr. Speaker, a petition to the hon. House of Assembly of the
Province of Newfoundland and Labrador in Parliament assembled, the petition of
the undersigned humbly sheweth:
WHEREAS there is no cellphone service in the Towns of St. Pauls, Cow Head,
Sally's Cove or Trout River, all of which are enclave communities of Gros Morne
National Park; and
WHEREAS there is either very poor service or no cellphone service in most of
Gros Morne National Park; and
WHEREAS visitors to Gros Morne National Park, more than 100,000 annually,
expect to use cellphones when they visit the park; and
WHEREAS cellphone service is an important safety feature for numerous
travellers, hikers and others in the park; and
WHEREAS cellphone service is necessary to modern business development;
WHEREUPON the undersigned, your petitioners, humbly pray and call upon the
House of Assembly to urge the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador to partner
with the private sector to extend cellphone coverage throughout Gros Morne
National Park, and enclave communities within the park.
Mr. Speaker, one might wonder, how do people come to sign a petition such as
this? Clearly, it is a prayer to the House of Assembly to impress on government,
to urge government to partner with the private sector, as the petition says.
You can see that typically, this type of petition would be left at a local
business. I can see by reading the names, many of whom I know, primarily people
from Cow Head, some from St. Pauls, a few from Parson's Pond, Three Mile Rock,
even Norris Point. They would have been going through, would have read the
petition and felt they supported it and wanted to sign the petition.
Mr. Speaker, this type of service, cellphone service, is no longer seen as a
luxury. In many places in Canada, individuals are no longer using hard lines.
Their traditional telephone they have abandoned, because they do not see the
need to have a cellphone plus the hard line service. A cellphone is instant
Even today in your observations about using BlackBerrys, all members of the
House of Assembly are issued these. They are communication devices. The
BlackBerry also features the telephone, as well as being able to send e-mails.
All these people are asking for is the same type of communication. Members of
the House of Assembly feel that these taxpayers should pay for us to do our
business for them.
The House of Assembly should impress on the government the importance that
everybody would like to have cellphone service, and start moving forward maybe
with a feasibility study, maybe with discussion, maybe with a 3P partnership.
Clearly, something needs to be done and that is the reason for this petition.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for St. John's East.
MR. MURPHY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
To the hon. House of Assembly of the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador in
Parliament assembled, the petition of the undersigned residents of Newfoundland
and Labrador humbly sheweth:
WHEREAS Tordon 101 contains the chemicals 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid
(2,4-
D) and Picloram; and
WHEREAS the chemical Picloram is a known cancer causing carcinogen; and
WHEREAS the provincial government has banned the cosmetic use of the
pesticide 2,4-D; and
WHEREAS safer alternatives are available to the provincial government for
brush clearance such as manual labour, alternative competitive seating methods
and/or mechanical removal of brush; and
WHEREAS the provincial government is responsible for ensuring the safety and
well-being of its citizens;
WHEREUPON the undersigned, your petitioners, humbly pray and call upon the
House of Assembly to urge government to cease the use of chemicals covered under
its own cosmetic pesticide ban and begin using safer methods of brush clearance
that will not place its citizens in harms way.
And as in duty bound your petitioners will ever pray.
Mr. Speaker, we are still going on with this petition. This petition is from
some residents of St. John's, from down around the St. Phillips area as well as
to the West Coast; Benoit's Cove and the Corner Brook area, as well as Deer
Lake.
At this time of the year now we are looking at the snow starting to melt and
spring is coming upon us. It is that time of the year where we are going to have
to seriously look at how we are going to be using pesticides on our roadsides
again.
The options are there for competitive growing methods. The options are there
to keep people at work at the same time by using safe cutting methods, cutting
brush back mechanically. We know of course that every year this time of the year
the conversation continues as well with the type of pesticides whenever they get
into water supplies and knowing that they can do some serious harm to some
people, if not youth particularly.
Mr. Speaker, we do hope that government gives this the utmost consideration.
We know that it is going to be a tough Budget and we know that they are going to
have some austerity programming. Certainly we hope this programming is not going
to be affected, the roadside brush clearing programs, but at the same time we do
hope that government saves money on pesticides by cutting out the pesticide use
itself. That is one way for government to save themselves a few dollars if they
want to do it.
Mr. Speaker, again, it gives me some pleasure to present this as part of a
voice for the citizens of Newfoundland and Labrador who are concerned with
pesticide use in this Province.
Thank you very much.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
Before I call Orders of the Day, I want to provide a response to a point of
order that was raised on Monday, March 11. This point of order was raised by the
Leader of the Third Party who stood in her place after Question Period to state
that the Premier had used unparliamentary language in response to a question
posed by the Leader of the Third Party.
Any statements made during debate must be considered within the context in
which they were made and the manner and tone in which they were delivered. Any
term in isolation is not necessarily unparliamentary. As stated in O'Brien and
Bosc on page 618, "the Speaker must rule on the basis of the context in which
the language was used". Also, on page 619, "the Speaker takes into account the
tone, the manner and intention of the Member speaking".
Narrowly construing a word or a list of words as always being unparliamentary
would not serve to promote the debate of issues in the House of Assembly.
Members cannot be totally constrained by such a convention. Consequently, there
is no point of order; it is simply a heated exchange between two members.
Orders of the Day.
Orders of the Day
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Government House Leader.
MR. KING: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I call from the Order Paper, number 2, Committee of Supply,
Resolution and Bill No. 62 Respecting the Granting of Interim Supply to Her
Majesty.
MR. SPEAKER: It has been moved and seconded that the House do resolve
itself into Committee of the Whole and that I do now leave the Chair.
All those in favour, aye'.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Aye.
MR. SPEAKER: All those against, nay'.
Motion carried.
On motion, that the House resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole, Mr.
Speaker left the Chair.
Committee of the Whole
CHAIR (Littlejohn): Order, please!
Prior to beginning debate, I have a ruling on a point of order, on March 14.
I wish to rule on a point of order that was raised on Monday of this week. The
point of order was raised by the Government House Leader, who stood in his place
during Committee of the Whole to state that the Member for St. John's North had
used unparliamentary language during debate.
As it has been stated by the Speaker of this House in an earlier ruling
today, any statements made during debate must be considered within the context
in which they are made and the manner and tone in which they are delivered.
Any term in isolation is not necessarily unparliamentary. As found in O'Brien
and Bosc on page 618, the Speaker must rule on the basis of the context in which
the language is used. On page 619, the Speaker takes into account the tone,
manner, and intention of the member speaking.
Again, as stated earlier today by the Speaker, narrowly construing a word or
a list of words as always being unparliamentary would not serve to promote
debate of issues in this House. Members cannot be totally constrained by such a
convention.
The Speaker of the House of Commons on December 19, 1980 said the
characteristics of parliamentary language are good temper and moderation.
Members must always conduct themselves reasonably during debate. Good temper and
moderation are of the greatest importance.
There is no point of order. Again, this was simply a heated exchange between
two hon. members in the course of debate.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!
CHAIR: Order, please!
The hon. the Member for Kilbride.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. DINN: Mr. Chair, I am glad to have an opportunity to have a few words
here today. I had missed an opportunity before Christmas to have my say and my
opinion on Muskrat Falls so I am going to start off just giving you my opinion
on the rationale that I use to explain to people about approving Muskrat Falls.
As you all know, it is no secret that I totally support Muskrat Falls, but I
can tell you this: I can justify building Muskrat Falls simply as a replacement
for Holyrood, and I will explain to you.
We all know that the Holyrood Generating Station produces electricity by
burning oil. This oil we do not get for nothing. Oil that we use at Holyrood has
to be bought at today's prices. Mr. Chair, when Muskrat Falls is used at full
capacity and there are days when it has to be it burns 18,000 barrels of oil
a day. At $100 a barrel, that is $1.8 million for one day's use.
AN HON. MEMBER: Holyrood, not Muskrat Falls.
MR. DINN: Oh, Holyrood I meant. I am sorry; I got the two of them mixed
up.
Anyway, Holyrood Generating Station has to have oil. As long as Holyrood
Generating Station is in use, it will burn oil. Unless someone comes up with
some harebrained scheme to convert it to wood burning or something like that.
AN HON. MEMBER: Clam shells.
MR. DINN: Or clam shells or something, yes.
Anyway, as it is now, as it exists, it burns oil. We do not get oil for
nothing. So what I am going to do, I am going state a number as a reference
point. In 2011 this is a known fact, now; this is not something coming out of
my head. This has been stated lots of times, and we have all had wheelbarrows
full of information about Muskrat Falls over the last two years. I have heard
all kinds of information about it; everybody else has. Here is a simple little
exercise, a simple little rationale that I use with people who I talk to about
Muskrat Falls.
In 2011, $135 million was spent for oil for Holyrood $135 million. Now,
this is money we are spending every year. This is not money that comes out of
the Budget, or we have to budget for. This is part of the operating costs for
Holyrood Generating Station.
Does everybody have a pen and paper there? Just take a pen now especially
the NDP people. Do me a little favour. I am not playing with your minds or
anything, or belittling you in any way, but just do this. Take $135 million and
multiply it by ten $135 million that was spent for oil for Holyrood in 2011
and times it by ten.
AN HON. MEMBER: You are not allowed to bring a calculator into the House.
MR. DINN: I know, but that is only not hard to do.
That will give you $1,350,000,000 for oil for Holyrood for ten years. Now,
take $135 million and multiply it by twenty and you will come up with
$2,700,000,000. Do the same
AN HON. MEMBER: (Inaudible).
MR. DINN: Okay, I will give you a bit of time. That is a two, a seven and
so many knots. Okay, do you have your homework done yet? We carry on with that
assignment. You can do the same for thirty years, forty years
AN HON. MEMBER: Thirty years?
MR. DINN: You do not have to. I said you can do it after, and do it for
fifty years. I will tell you this when you can work it out if you do not
believe my number, you can work it out yourself.
One hundred and thirty-five million dollars in 2011 was spent for oil. Times
it by fifty and you have $6.750 billion that would be spent for oil for Holyrood
in fifty years. Guess what? That is money we are going to spend anyway. That is
money in order to keep that facility producing electricity. That is based on
2011 prices. If the price of oil goes down, it will be a bit less; if it goes
up, it will be more.
What I am getting at is this: If we keep Holyrood going for fifty more years
burning oil, we will use $6 billion or $7 billion for oil. Guess what we have
when it is all over? Nothing. It is like someone deciding I am not going to buy
a car, but I am going to get a taxi for the rest of my life. I am going to spend
thirty years or forty years using taxis. When the time is up, you have nothing
to show for it.
AN HON. MEMBER: Greenhouse gases.
MR. DINN: That is right.
I am not even talking about the fact that Holyrood Generating Station is
going to need to have refurbishing. I am not talking about the operation and the
maintenance costs for that facility. I am not talking about anything else. Mr.
Chair, $6.75 billion will be spent for oil for Holyrood for fifty years and you
will have nothing to show for it. Folks, the money is going to be spent anyway.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. DINN: Do not go saying that we are going to affect our debt; we are
going to affect our deficits. The fact of the matter is that money has to be
spent to keep that facility going because we need it.
AN HON. MEMBER: What is it going to do for the atmosphere?
MR. DINN: I will get to that.
I have had people come to me over the last number of months talking about
Muskrat Falls, people who did not think we should go ahead with it. I sat them
down with a piece of paper just like I asked you to do. I used those numbers,
and something said it is sensible. It is like taking an old car and you keep
pouring money into it. It does not make sense.
To say that we are going to affect our deficit or we are going to affect the
debt of this Province by building that, it is not true. We will have to borrow
in the beginning because it is an investment, but when it is all over it will be
paid for. You are going to pay for it anyway.
Build Muskrat Falls, replace Holyrood, and this Province will be one of the
greenest energy producing places on earth.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. DINN: Granted, there could be a greater cost than what we are saying.
That can happen any time. No matter what project you do today, the estimated
cost can go up.
I have yet, in the last ten or twelve years, seen contract prices come in
lower. Although at one time they did, today they do not. They do not come in
lower. Do not forget, if it takes another $500 million or $1 billion, add ten
more years to it and that is going to be paid for.
So, to say this is a bad project is foolishness. I do not even consider
selling the energy. If we sell energy from that, that is gravy. It will be paid
for over time just on the cost of the oil that we will have to buy for Holyrood,
so it is a no-brainer. It is a good investment.
If I decide tomorrow to have an investment, I will say I am going to build
another house somewhere in the Goulds or anywhere. I will go and get a mortgage
for it. I pay for this. I will probably put two apartments in it, rent the two
apartments. I take some of the money that I take in as revenue and I pay my
mortgage bill. I can put the rest aside or part of the rest aside, and I have
money left. We are doing the same thing, only on a larger scale.
I had to have my say about Muskrat Falls. I have said it to people
individually. I firmly, firmly believe this is a good decision, without a doubt.
When the future comes we will have it as a revenue source. Remember, we are not
building a wagon train factory. We are going to be building a facility that is
going to produce electricity, a commodity that will be in demand.
Talking about need or anything else, some people say we do not need it. The
fact of the matter is we are using Holyrood now. Do we need Holyrood now? We do.
CHAIR: Order, please!
I have to remind the hon. member his time is up.
MR. DINN: That quick? I had another four pages to go.
Thank you.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
CHAIR: The hon. the Member for Torngat Mountains.
MR. EDMUNDS: Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Mr. Chair, before I begin, I would like to take this opportunity this is
the first opportunity I have had to offer my condolences to the Member for
Lewisporte, and to commend him on his member's statement. It was certainly very
moving, and I can appreciate how difficult it must have been for him.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. EDMUNDS: Mr. Chair, also to the Member for Cape St. Francis; I am
very sorry for their loss, Mr. Chair.
Mr. Chair, I have had the opportunity to sit and listen to some of the
comments. I have been battling the flu over the last week, so it will impact.
On Interim Supply, Mr. Chair, there are a lot of issues out there. I would
like to focus a little bit, if I may, on essential services. I will get to some
of the others later.
I have heard a lot of comments on education and busing, but I would like to
bring up something that is totally new. I would ask the Minister of Education,
the Minister of Labrador Affairs, and the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs to pay
close attention, Mr. Chair. Regulations in our Province state that students who
live outside of 1.6 kilometres require busing. There are also regulations around
temperatures and weather conditions. Certainly, my district is no stranger to
that.
I would like to point out that in the community of Nain, which is a small
isolated community, it is growing. The community of Hopedale is growing. Mr.
Chair, right now the furthest house from the school in the community of Nain is
right around 1.6 kilometres.
Mr. Chair, when you are looking at extreme temperatures, I think on the North
Coast it is minus forty-five, or in Labrador it is minus forty-five. A student
does not have to stand and wait for a school bus at minus forty-five because it
is too cold. Well, in the community of Nain, Mr. Chair, if it is minus
forty-four a kindergarten student is obligated to walk to school under those
same conditions, a one degree difference. I have been approached by members of
the community of Nain to look at transportation. They follow the media, Mr.
Chair, they realize the situation.
I know in Upper Lake Melville this past winter, Mr. Chair, there were
conditions that were so cold that the buses failed to start. I understand it was
the same in some cases in Labrador West. Mr. Chair, some of these kindergarten
students are wearing substandard clothing. It is because of provincial
regulations that have not been adapted that they have to walk to school.
Mr. Chair, if you have a wind chill of minus 50 with a temperature of minus
30, and you are walking against the wind, it can get bitterly cold. Even in my
own young years growing up, many of us have frozen our face walking to school,
but it was normal; it was considered normal, but by the standards of this
Province, Mr. Chair, that is not normal. I think this is something that
certainly has to be looked at, because it is an essential service. It is one
that is offered throughout this Province. I know that there are issues with
schools closing and students having to be bused farther away, but as long as
they are 1.6 kilometres from a school, they do not have to walk.
So that is just one issue that I bring up, because it is new. Certainly, if
the commitment from this government on the education system is what they say it
is, then I look forward to this being taken into consideration and the standards
being applied to all parts of this Province.
I fully realize that we live in the North and we are probably a little bit
tougher when it comes to extreme temperatures, but, Mr. Chair, when it comes to
kindergarten and elementary students, we must set the standard for everybody and
we must make allowances. This is not to say that there should be extra cost
given. This is the simple fact that we have young kids walking over 1.5
kilometres to school, Mr. Chair, in dangerous temperatures. I am sure the
Minister for Labrador Affairs can well attest to it, because the temperatures in
Labrador West are similar.
Mr. Chair, having said that, I would like to move on in the little bit of
time I have to talk about the ferries. I realize the commitment that this
government has said they have made, Mr. Chair, but we have to face the cold,
hard facts, and that is that our ferry system is in total disarray. I heard my
hon. colleague the Member for Cartwright L'Anse au Clair talking about a
timeline and no ferry in place yet.
Mr. Chair, two years ago the government across the way came up with a
wonderful plan to improve the services on the North Coast of Labrador, the
district which I represent. Now, what we have gone to since then is what we had
prior to two years ago, Mr. Chair; this government, in their plan to change it,
has brought us back to the same thing that was not good enough.
Mr. Chair, you cannot come out and tell me that the Northern Ranger
and the Astron are a salvation when two years ago the very government
across the way made plans to improve it. I will not go into the Dutch Runner ,
because that is a memory none of us ever want to ever experience again.
Mr. Chair, the Northern Ranger , she broke down last fall and left us
without a ferry. Mr. Chair, the thing is that there was not even a contingency
plan other than an airplane. Now, the Northern Ranger can take
seventy-five, eighty passengers; a twin otter can take eighteen passengers with
no luggage. It was not a replacement. There was no replacement vessel, Mr.
Chair.
In the last four or five years, Mr. Chair, the Northern Ranger , when
she comes in service, has been plagued with troubles. The reason for this, Mr.
Chair, is because anything that is mechanical up to a point serves well, but it
is like a car or a snowmobile or anything that gets old: it breaks down and will
continue to break down.
I was glad to hear the minister last year, Mr. Chair, point out that in 2016
they are hoping to have a roll-on/roll-off vessel that will service the needs of
the people.
If you look around this Province, Mr. Chair Fogo Island, Bell Island, The
Straits at every turn there is trouble with the ferries. This government over
the last ten years has had ample time and ample revenue to look at this problem
and certainly not to bring us to the level we are now.
Mr. Chair, I would just like to move on. I am very pushed for time. I would
like to talk a little bit about housing, Mr. Chair. Housing has always been an
issue in Labrador and I do not just mean Northern Labrador. We are starting to
see problems in Labrador West, and we have already heard all about it. Now we
are starting to hear of problems in Upper Lake Melville.
I would like to make reference to an ad that came out just recently. Mr.
Chair, I will just read it off very quickly. It advertised for a two-bedroom
apartment available to rent to contractors for $3,000 a month; $4,000 if you
want the cleaning done.
Mr. Chair, that level may be affordable for someone who is coming in and
working, let us say at the Muskrat Falls Project. Mr. Chair, it does nothing for
the residents of Happy Valley-Goose Bay. Some of them I have already been
they cannot afford the rent.
In the communities of Nain and Hopedale, it is an ongoing problem with
housing. I would like to thank the government for the third announcement on
affordable housing in the community of Hopedale, Mr. Chair. Just this fall was
the third announcement on the very same housing project. I am looking forward to
the fourth announcement.
In closing, I would just like to say, Mr. Chair, that I commemorate the
government for their involvement. The only thing, Mr. Chair, when announcements
are made in Northern Labrador, a lot of times it is bilateral agreements of
which the Province is a part of, and not delivery of programs and services on
the whole. We have three levels of government up there. We will take one-third,
one-third, one-third, Mr. Chair. We will take it any way we can.
Thank you.
CHAIR: The hon. the Member for Baie Verte Springdale.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. POLLARD: First of all, Mr. Chair, I would like to thank the people of
my district again, the Baie Verte Springdale district, for placing me here in
this House of Assembly. It is a real pleasure, a treat and a privilege to get up
on Interim Supply and have a few words to say. I also would like to thank the
ministers, my colleagues, and the Premier for their support and their mentorship
in the past three or four years or so since I have been here. It has been a
great team support, and I thank them so much for that.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. POLLARD: On a more personal level, Mr. Chair, I hope I do not
embarrass her, but it is a privilege as well to serve under our Premier's sound,
solid leadership. I would like to speak about her unmatched capacity to not only
govern the Province but to reach on a one-on-one basis when an individual is
going through some heartache, or pain or whatever, something in life we all
get sick sometimes, and we need that tender word and we need that encouraging
word.
She has that capacity and that compassion to get from up here and get down on
my level or your level and say those caring words. It comes from a caring and
compassionate heart. I just had to say that, Mr. Chair, because I have seen that
in action on a number of occasions.
Mr. Chair, I have been listening all week intently to what is happening in
the House here. One thing that bubbled up through discussion, and what the
Opposition was trying to say, was that we have mismanaged the public funds
because we spent it on infrastructure. I would just like to dwell on that for a
moment, and I want to go back in 2003, or prior to 2003, just for a moment when
we were nearly bankrupt, not much money to pay our own way, sluggish economic
activity, decrepit, dilapidating, aging infrastructure, and pretty stagnant
economy activity. People were sort of depressed, with not much hope.
When we assumed governance in 2003, we put a plan in place and some of these
features of that plan were to reduce debt. I am happy to say, roughly, we
reduced it from $12 billion and took it down to $8 billion, with a $4 billion
reduction, over 35 per cent. That put funds in our coffers so that we could
invest in education, social programs, or health.
Another feature of that plan, Mr. Chair, was to reduce taxes, so much so that
about a half a billion dollars reduction, and that put money back in people's
pockets again and they had money to spend. Another feature, the third feature,
Mr. Chair, was an aggressive, robust infrastructure spending plan so we could
deal with the dilapidated infrastructure.
Mr. Chair, we were lauded and we were applauded by none other than the man of
the year and the Governor of Canada at the time, Mark Carney, so much so that he
said that other parts of the country would do well to follow Newfoundland and
Labrador's example. If you listen to Dr. Warren Jestin, Scotiabank's senior
vice-president and chief economist. It is the same thing. They lauded and
applauded our fiscal management.
Again, bond rating agencies, chief economists, and others, Standard & Poor's,
gave us a resounding A + on our report card. They endorsed us because
of our fiscal management. They are independent people. They are independent
agencies. They have nothing political at stake. They are people who know
finances. They are people who understand fiscal responsibility.
So, over the last nine or ten years, we did make great strides. We made
tremendous strides, outstanding gains, in fact. I am here to say, and proudly
say, that the last few years or so we did change the face of this Province
because of unprecedented spending in public infrastructure. We laid a
foundation. We spent an unprecedented $5 billion in infrastructure: roads,
bridges, ferries, schools, water and sewer projects, water bombers, long-term
care facilities, fire and emergency services, vehicles, whatever, and we can go
on. That had a positive impact upon our Province, Mr. Chair.
The point I am trying to get at, Mr. Chair I was listening intently all
week. I was totally shocked, appalled, and flabbergasted, I suppose, to hear
that the Opposition and the Third Party would say, or insinuate, or imply that:
well, that infrastructure spending was sort of frivolous, mismanagement, and a
waste of money. I thought roads, hospitals, schools, bridges, ferries, water
bombers what a legacy to leave behind. That is not a waste of money to my
mind, Mr. Chair.
Needless to say, I was totally shocked, appalled, and quite frankly dismayed.
I ask everybody a question, Mr. Chair: whose report will we believe? Will we
believe the report of the Opposition or will we believe the report of
outstanding experts like Mark Carney, chief economist, or what have you?
What they are also saying, then, is that if I could rely upon my district
for some examples over the last six or seven years, over $100 million that was
invested into the District of Bay Verte Springdale, for example, was all
frivolous, a waste of money. That is what they are saying.
Mr. Chair, under no circumstances I repeat, under no circumstances will I
apologize to the people of the Baie Verte Springdale district for spending
$16.7 million dollars on the state-of-the-art K-12 school in Baie Verte.
We attended the opening ceremony, Mr. Chair: the Premier, the Minister of
Education, the school board trustees, Nova Central School District Director,
Charlie McCormack, students, parents, and teachers about 600 people packed in
that gymnasium, beaming with pride. You tell me that is mismanagement. That is
not mismanagement. That is a wise, wise investment, Mr. Chair, of the public
funds.
Under no circumstances will I stand here today and apologize to the people of
Baie Verte Springdale District for investing millions I say millions in
road upgrades, asphalt, or pavement in places such as King's Point, Springdale,
Silverdale, Harry's Harbour, Jackson's Cove, Westport, Brent's Cove, Fleur de
Lys, La Scie Highway, or, yes, even $1 million on an upgrade for the gravel road
to get to Nipper's Harbour so that children, at least when they are traveling on
the school bus, get a good gravel road to go over $1 million on a gravel road.
How about this one, Mr. Chair; how about the $6 million Springdale received
in the past few years for municipal capital works? Is that frivolous spending?
How about the $2 million we have put aside for a municipal complex for Baie
Verte; is that frivolous spending, Mr. Chair? How about the $500,000 that was
committed to the Green Bay Health Care facility, and more to come would that
be frivolous spending, Mr. Chair, on health care? Other examples: two brand-new
ferries, the Grace Sparkes and Hazel McIssac is that
mismanagement? Is that frivolous spending, Mr. Chair? I guess not not at all.
How about the free textbooks and the student aid packages? We can go on and
on, Mr. Chair. We are going to continue to support economic growth and create
jobs through investments in infrastructure. We are not going to stop because
they said so. We have a glowing report card, Mr. Chair. We will continue to
improve access to vital health care services. We will continue to invest in
education. For example, nine brand-new schools since 2004; is that frivolous
spending? Is that mismanagement of public funds? I guess not, Mr. Chair.
We are going to continue to make responsible investments for a sustainable
future. We will continue to support apprentices and foster a thriving skilled
labour force, Mr. Chair. We will continue to fuel business and economic growth
through innovation and a progressive tax regime. We will continue to invest in
strong social programs such as the Poverty Reduction Strategy, which was a model
right across this great nation of ours.
Because of these investments, Mr. Chair, we have become masters of our own
destiny. We are standing on our own two feet. We are paying our own way. In
fact, just listen to this, Mr. Chair: 80 per cent of total revenues are now
being generated from provincial sources; back in 2002, it was the other way
around, Mr. Chair.
We will stay the course so we can have a sustainable, bright, secure future
for years to come.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
CHAIR: The hon. the Member for St. John's North.
MR. KIRBY: Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I would like to take this opportunity before I get started to extend my
condolences to the Member for Lewisporte and to congratulate him on his
courageousness, and also to the Member for the District of Cape St. Francis on
the loss of his father.
Last night, Mr. Chair, I had the good pleasure of being with my constituents
at Kelly's Brook Apartments, and we had quite a time. We had the St. Pat's
Dancers and the Buccaneers and a lot of St. Patrick's Day entertainment. It is a
privilege for me to represent the District of St. John's North, which is more or
less just across the road from the Confederation Building. I have a great
privilege in being able to participate in district events because I reside
within the city and it is close proximity to me.
Having said that, Mr. Chair, I want to pick up where I left off the last time
I was speaking in debate on this motion. Of course, as we heard quite correctly
yesterday from the Member for the District of Bay of Islands, everyone from
esteemed MUN economist Dr. Wade Locke, to former Auditor General Mr. Noseworthy,
to the former Minister of Finance, to the Premier herself, everyone is in
agreement that this government has spent the funds, the revenues that have come
in recent years in an unsustained manner. This fiscal mismanagement and the
absence of any clear plan whatsoever has put us in the situation that we are in
today.
We do hear occasionally that there are plans, like the secret John Noseworthy
review of the Department of Advanced Education and Skills, like the secret $5
billion infrastructure strategy. Those documents have not come to light. So
neither the public nor members of the Opposition parties have any opportunity to
really scrutinize any plan because it is certainly not apparent that this
government has one.
It is unfortunate, Mr. Chair, because this is truly a situation in our
history where we have a government that is on the ropes, a government that is on
the ropes and in a state of disarray. I will give you an example, Mr. Chair, and
everybody who is listening will be acutely interested in this. Sometimes things
happen and you are not fully able to comprehend the gravity of the situation
because you are not as privileged as members of the House of Assembly are in
receiving information.
Just after 5:00 o'clock yesterday evening the Department of Justice, the
Minister Responsible for Labour Relations Agency, sent out a press release
basically bashing the Leader of the New Democratic Party for our position on
Muskrat Falls. Then before the hour was out, Mr. Chair, there was another press
release with the math corrected in it. I thought to myself, that gigantic gag
calculator I used to see across the way there that used to be brandished by
members across the way of course, that is gone.
MR. MURPHY: That is gone now, with the cutbacks.
MR. KIRBY: No, no, that is not where it is gone. That is gone because Dr.
Wade Locke has borrowed that, I think, to try and calculate the equally massive
deficit that we have and to try to figure out a way to use a proper
multiplication to dig us out of the hole that we have been burrowed down into.
Hopefully, Dr. Wade Locke, when he gets it all figured out he can give the
gigantic gag calculator back to the government so that at least the Minister
Responsible for the Labour Relations Agency can do the proper times tables.
I have to say, the Member for Kilbride should have been around 5:00 o'clock
yesterday to try to get some of that math straight. Hopefully, the Minister
Responsible for the Labour Relations Agency was watching, was paying attention
to the member when he was speaking and wrote down some of that arithmetic that
the member over there clearly understands better than the minister does.
I just want to go on to talk a little bit about this situation where we have
gone from our have status to what I would refer to as had status in the Dominion
of Canada. One of the things, of course, that we have heard a lot about, and I
am certainly hearing a lot about from constituents and from people who contact
my office, is the cuts to Employment Assistance Services Providers.
I know that the Y Enterprise, the Northeast Avalon YMCA Employment Enterprise
Services, they have lost twenty positions. Twenty people lost their jobs in one
fell swoop. Then there are five community centres around the City of St. John's,
including the Rabbittown Community Centre, that have also lost jobs; five of
them. That is twenty-five jobs gone there.
I have to say, the Minister Responsible for Newfoundland and Labrador Housing
Corporation was down in my district, down with Harper's new senator I cannot
remember the gentleman's name. I think he was an assistant to Mr. Wells. Yes,
the new senator was an assistant I believe, to Mr. Hearn, is it?
AN HON. MEMBER: (Inaudible).
MR. KIRBY: You have to say, anybody who has done service to Stephen
Harper is certainly making out quite well, I have to say, right. Of course, for
the rest of the people in the Province it is not so bright.
The minister was down in my district, down in the Rabbittown Community
Centre, just a week before these cuts, so you would think he would have had the
courtesy to inform the executive director there, and the young woman who is
going to lose her job now at the end of the June, that this was coming down. I
would say maybe the minister might want to do a little bit of advance the next
time before he goes down to Rabbittown Community Centre.
One of the things about this is these community centres serve hard-to-serve
populations, people who have chronic employment issues, and people who have
difficulty, once they get employment, maintaining that employment and keeping a
job. They have relationships with people in the community. People know people
who have low literacy skills through no fault of their own and people who have
limited computer skills through no fault of their own that they can go,
approach these people, and get the sort of help they need to get a job and keep
a job. That is all going to go away now and that is really unfortunate.
People with substance abuse problems, people with mental health issues, and
people with complex issues these agencies all across the Province of
Newfoundland and Labrador were uniquely staffed to provide services to a diverse
group of job seekers in the Province. Unfortunately now that is all going to go
away. I think it is very unfortunate.
I just wanted to point out that I have received quite a number of letters,
e-mails, and phone calls about this. Somebody contacted me just on Wednesday and
personally this person said: I fear the direction that the Government of
Newfoundland and Labrador has taken. This person said they feel the direction
this government is going in is a detriment to Newfoundland and Labrador as a
whole. That is what this person says. I will not identify them. It would be
unparliamentary.
Another person said to me and this is a town in rural Newfoundland; someone
from the town e-mailed me and said: We believe this decision will have a
devastating, negative impact on the Province, particularly rural areas of
Newfoundland and Labrador. This Province has many small municipalities with
populations of less than 1,000 and less than 500, many communities of that size.
These small communities do not have the resources to hire the necessary
expertise to assist with career development and job-searching skills. This is a
letter from somebody who works for a town in rural Newfoundland.
I have to say, I could go on; I could go on and on because I have received so
much correspondence about this. The only thing that comes close to the amount of
correspondence that I have had from people all across this Province on the
closure of these Employment Assistance Services providers is last fall when the
Eastern School District was proposing to shut down schools.
Of course, we know now that they did succeed in closing Whitbourne
Elementary, or at least they are hoping they are going to succeed in that and
they also are planning to shut down Epiphany as well. That was the only time
since I have been a member of this House of Assembly that I have seen the sort
of public outcry that I have seen in the last two weeks.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
CHAIR: The hon. the Member for Bonavista North.
AN HON. MEMBER: South.
CHAIR: The hon. the Member for Bonavista South.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. LITTLE: Bonavista South it is, Mr. Chair, and thank you very much for
giving me the opportunity to speak in this hon. House today.
I would like to take this opportunity as well to thank the constituents from
the beautiful District of Bonavista South for giving me the opportunity to be
your voice in this great House of Assembly that I am in today.
After listening to some of the comments across the way from the Third Party,
I have to disagree with some comments; unlike the comments made from the Member
for St. John's North the doom and gloom and all of the negativity we are a
government who definitely practice and certainly put the positive out there and
continue to make this Province grow in every part of this beautiful Province of
Newfoundland and Labrador.
If you happen to take time to come to the beautiful District of Bonavista
South, you would see first hand that rural Newfoundland is not dying. Rural
Newfoundland is growing a wonderful tourism industry; people are working
together. We have all kinds of development people who are out there working hand
in hand with community councils, the local service districts, working with this
government.
People of the world come to this beautiful Province and love to come back
again and visit Newfoundland and Labrador, and it is all because of the type of
people we are. I intend, every opportunity that I get a chance to speak, to
speak about the positive and how this government is working on behalf of the
people of Newfoundland and Labrador.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. LITTLE: We definitely take a balanced approach. We have to pay off
the deficit. We have to deal with the debt. We have to deal with where we are
going in the future and we as a Province have a plan, a vision, and it is
highlighted. It has been highlighted and it is sustainable.
Muskrat Falls Project I have no problem standing in this House today
supporting that project. I will continue to support it. It is a wonderful
investment for the future of our children and their children, Mr. Chair.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. LITTLE: As I speak about the project, Muskrat Falls, without a plan
for the future, when the oil developments dry up and some of our mineral
resources dry up, we have to invest in projects like Muskrat Falls, a major
project that is very renewable, takes us into the future and is certainly going
to help pay for some of our infrastructure forever that our Opposition and our
Third Party continuously talks about.
Talking about the negativity: Where is the money going to come from for the
future to spend on different projects and so forth? I hear the Opposition and I
hear, in particular, the Third Party talking about spend, spend, and spend. I
hear it time after time, but we take a balanced approach, Mr. Chair. I have no
problem in saying that and I have no problem in backing up this government in
relation to the initiatives that we put forward. Also, I have no problem in
relation to the Minister of Finance when he puts forward a plan to take care of
our budgetary problems.
We definitely will, on this side of the House, work together in a positive
manner to make sure that the future of this Province is kept intact so our
children and their children can have a very positive future as well.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. LITTLE: I can back up with fact what we are doing. Look at how we
treated our public employees. I used to be a public employee and look how the
last round of negotiations went: eight, four, four, four; $500 million
AN HON. MEMBER: A year.
MR. LITTLE: a year, a half a billion dollars a year increase.
Listen, this government recognizes the importance of our public employees. We
appreciate and value the work that our public employees do, on this side of the
House, Mr. Chair, and we will continue to do that.
We, as a government, have proven with a strong track record that we will be
good fiscal managers of this Province in the past, today, and in the future
because we do have a vision. Right now, we are in a transition. We are in a
little bit of a transition. I can tell you right now that the future is going to
be bright, prosperous, and it is going to be bright and prosperous because of
what this Province has planned for the future, Mr. Chair. We are going to
continue on as a good, fiscal management government and that is what we are.
I would definitely like to take the opportunity to commend the minister who
represents Gander. He definitely puts infrastructure right throughout this
Province, funding, to help the towns, to help communities in Newfoundland and
Labrador and, in particular, rural parts of Newfoundland and Labrador.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. LITTLE: Also, when it comes to the Minister of Fisheries, as far as I
am concerned he is very involved in what is happening out there. We are all
concerned about the future of the fishery. A big part of my district is in the
fishery. It is still the number one place where job opportunities are occurring
and so forth.
I have been in consultation talks with the minister on numerous occasions
talking about the future of the fishery. I would like for some of the Opposition
to come out to the District of Bonavista South and look how vibrant things are
happening in the fishery out there today.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. LITTLE: In light of the negativity that comes from the Opposition, I
will tell you one thing: Come to the Town of Bonavista where a regional plant
is, where OCI, Ocean Choice International, is investing millions of dollars into
the future of the fishery creating employment actually created employment
there last year, 100-plus jobs. I can tell you right now that is positive. We
are working with different companies, different groups, and making sure that our
economy continues to grow in rural Newfoundland and Labrador, Mr. Chair.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. LITTLE: If you look at some of the comments made about reckless
spending, fiscal mismanagement, it is all coming from the Opposition, the Third
Party. As far as I am concerned, it is utterly ridiculous in my opinion. It is
unfounded, there are no facts, and it is just comments.
We are not going to take this serious. We are going to continue on the road
we are on; the road to prosperity is where we are going. We are going to show
the people of this Province that we are good leaders and we are going to
continue to be good leaders on their behalf.
We do have a vision; we do have a long-term plan. We do have a strategy, and
the strategy is outlined. It is not hidden; it is there for everybody to see. I
can guarantee you one thing that this government on this side will continue to
make this Province grow.
There are all kinds of development. If you look at Labrador West where some
of the people from my district go to work and you look at Bull Arm, some of the
sites in Long Harbour and so forth. I have people from my district every other
day helping these major projects. I am sure some of the people in my district
will work on the Muskrat Falls Project, which is a major development that is
going to occur. I will tell you this is very beneficial, not only to St. John's,
the capital city, this is very beneficial for all the Province, and in
particular rural Newfoundland and Labrador.
My son is a university student, and I am proud. He will be graduating within
a short time. The tuition fees that helped me out as a family member and my son,
and is going to give everybody else opportunities, are the lowest tuition fees
in the country. This government has made that happen, Mr. Chair.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. LITTLE: This government certainly is looking at other init