Newfoundland and Labrador Hansard — Members' Statements; Statements by Ministers — 17 May 2012 (47th General Assembly, 1st Session, Vol. XLVII No. 34)
2012-05-17
Newfoundland and Labrador — Debates (Hansard)
May
17, 2012 HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS
Vol. XLVII No. 34
The House met at 1:30 p.m.
MR. SPEAKER (Wiseman): Order, please!
Admit strangers.
Today we are very pleased to welcome to the Speaker's gallery, Ms Kim Bennett
and her daughter Sophie, who are the daughter and granddaughter of Ms Hazel
McIsaac, who was the first female elected after Confederation.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: Welcome to the gallery.
We are also very pleased today to welcome thirty-six Grades 7 and 8 students
from Our Lady of Mercy Elementary School located in the District of St. George's
Stephenville East.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The students are accompanied by teachers: Darlene Sexton and
Cynthia Hicks, together with their chaperons: Theodore Bennett, Kim
McIsaac-Bennett, and bus driver: Vaughn Hepernan.
We are also very pleased to welcome twelve students from the Spaniard's Bay
Campus Discovery Centre. The members here today are from the districts of Port
de Grave, Bellevue, Trinity Bay de Verde, Carbonear Harbour Grace, and
Placentia St. Mary's. The students are accompanied by their instructors:
Margaret Taylor, Paula King, and Kristen Penney.
Welcome to our Assembly.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
Statements by Members
MR. SPEAKER: Today, we have members' statements from the Member for the
District of St. John's East, the Member for the District of St. John's South,
the Member for the District of Burgeo La Poile, the Member for the District of
Cape St. Francis, the Member for the District of Bellevue, as well as the Member
for the District of Fortune Bay Cape La Hune.
The hon. the Member for the District of St. John's East.
MR. MURPHY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, today I rise to congratulate a resident of my district who
received the Arts Achievement Award from the Newfoundland and Labrador Arts
Council in Gander recently.
Dr. Douglas Dunsmore of Memorial University's School of Music is certainly a
choral conductor of national and international renown, and he is well-known and
well-respected as an integral part of our vibrant provincial choral community.
The NLAC's Arts Achievement Award recognizes a practicing artist who has made
an outstanding contribution to the cultural life of Newfoundland and Labrador
over a number of years, and surely nobody could be more deserving than Doug
Dunsmore.
He has been a major force in shaping choral music in this Province since he
joined the MUN School of Music in 1979, touching thousands of students through
Memorial choirs alone. He has conducted the Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra's
Philharmonic Choir since 1996. As a faculty member, of course, his work reaches
through his own students into almost all of our Province's schools.
On top of all this, Dr. Dunsmore is the founding artistic director of the
widely acclaimed Festival 500: Sharing the Voices, an international choral event
that takes place in St. John's every second year.
Mr. Speaker, I ask all hon. members to help me congratulate Dr. Douglas
Dunsmore on his fine achievement.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for St. John's South.
MR. OSBORNE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
It is with pleasure that I recognize Blair Trainor who received a URock award
this past Saturday night.
Blair was recognized for launching Sleep-Out 120, this is an initiative which
requires youth volunteers to live on the streets for 120 hours so they can get a
feeling for what it is like to be homeless. The volunteers are to take only the
clothes they are wearing, a sleeping bag and pillow to get them through the five
days they participate.
Over the previous two years Sleep-Out 120 has raised approximately $25,000 to
support youth homelessness initiatives in the St. John's area. Blair has also
put together a tool kit for youth who wish to replicate Sleep-Out 120 in other
areas across Canada.
Blair is an active volunteer with the NL Housing and Homelessness Network,
Choices for Youth, the Community Pancake Breakfast, as well as being involved in
For the Love of Learning.
I ask all members of the House to recognize Blair for his tremendous
volunteer work and efforts.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Burgeo La Poile.
MR. A. PARSONS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I rise today to recognize and congratulate five Grade 9 students from St.
James Regional High School of Channel-Port aux Basques, who recently competed
and won the provincial junior high trivia competition hosted by SAFE Work NL, at
Empire Theatres here in St. John's, on May 2.
The five student team was comprised of Patrick Chippett, Andrew Hayes, Jordan
Hulan, Jade Lawrence and Courtney Musseau, and they were accompanied by their
teacher, Ms JoAnn O'Brien.
The competition was part of SAFE Work NL's: Who Wants to Save a Life?
initiative. It is a trivia game designed to educate youth about workplace health
and safety and more than 12,000 students and teachers have experienced the game
show since it was launched in 2008.
Members of the winning junior high team each received iPads and $5,000 for
their school. Each student fully enjoyed this experience and their time in the
capital city. I was very proud to be there in person to cheer them on and marvel
at their level of knowledge. I would note the minister, as well as the Member
for Mount Pearl North, were there.
Mr. Speaker, I ask all members of this House to join with me in extending
congratulations to Patrick, Andrew, Jordan, Jade, Courtney, and Ms Jo Ann
O'Brien.
Thank you.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Cape St. Francis.
MR. K. PARSONS: Mr. Speaker, I rise in this hon. House today to pay
tribute to St. John's Regional Fire Department Deputy Chief Jack Hickey who,
after thirty-six years of service to the community, has retired.
Mr. Speaker, I have known Jack for many years and have had the opportunity to
play hockey against him. I can honestly say he is one of the most competitive
and determined people I have ever met, and that is why it is so easy to see how
he had such success rising through the ranks of the fire department. Whether it
is fighting fires or sports, anyone who had the opportunity to know Jack has the
greatest respect for him.
What makes Jack Hickey a unique firefighter is that Jack began competing for
Firefighting Combat Challenges in 1999 a competition recognized as "the
toughest two minutes in sport". Since then, he has clinched eleven world
championships, and also holds three world records and one of those still
stands today.
Mr. Speaker, I ask all hon. members in this House to join with me in thanking
Jack Hickey for his role in representing all firefighters in this Province so
well. I would like to wish Jack an enjoyable retirement with his wife, Loretta,
and their family.
Thank you very much.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The Member for Bellevue.
MR. PEACH: Mr. Speaker, I stand today to recognize the Isthmus Regional
Playground Committee.
This committee received a Valentine's gift on February 14, when it was
announced that they are the recipients of a National Helping Hands Award from
Let Them Be Kids. This award contributes a 50-50 match opportunity that gives
the community a dollar of equipment buying power for every fifty cents they
raise, which helps to significantly cover the costs of the structure and
equipment for building a new playground.
The playground build date is set for June 9, and, Mr. Speaker, they have just
over 200 registered volunteers for build day, including myself. I extend an
invitation to all members.
This committee started with only five members and has grown into a committee
of nineteen. The committee was formed in November, 2011, and since then has
raised almost $70,000 to build the playground. Now, Mr. Speaker, they can not
just build a new playground, but there will also be a new basketball court and
picnic area adjacent to the Holy Family Elementary School in Chapel Arm.
I ask all members to join me in congratulating the Isthmus Regional
Playground Committee on reaching their goal to build a new playground.
Thank you very much.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The Member for Fortune Bay Cape La Hune.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MS PERRY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I rise in this hon. House today to pay tribute to Bud Davidge who received a
honourary doctorate of laws degree from Memorial University for his contribution
to Newfoundland music. Bud is famous for his work with Simani and gifting us
with traditional music that is a part of every Newfoundlander's soul. Our
culture is forever indebted to Bud for preserving our history and traditions in
such an enduring and artistic fashion.
Bud recently released a Christmas CD, a gospel CD, and an album entitled
Black and White , which continues to tell amazing stories about ordinary
Newfoundlanders such as resettlement and famous sea disasters. Bud is a true
Newfoundland treasure and an integral part of the "Heart of the Home" in our
beautiful and unique Province, where "Music and Friends" are enjoyed by all!
The storytelling masterpieces of Mr. Davidge will keep our Newfoundland
stories alive and echo their powerful sentiments throughout every generation. I
ask all members of this hon. House to join me and thank Mr. Davidge for his
contribution to the Newfoundland culture, and extend sincerest congratulations
on his doctorate degree from Memorial University.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: Statements by Ministers.
Statements by Ministers
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
PREMIER DUNDERDALE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, yesterday I had the pleasure of hosting the ninth Annual
Premier's Athletic Awards, and was delighted to recognize some outstanding young
Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.
The youth receiving these awards represent some of the most dedicated,
focused, and committed people in our Province, whose current accomplishments
indicate many great things to come, both in sport and in life.
So I was proud, Mr. Speaker, to present ninety-seven exceptional athletes
from Newfoundland and Labrador with more than $71,000. Each year, the Premier's
Athletic Awards Program provides grants to assist young athletes with the costs
of training and competition at the elite level.
In addition to these awards, target shooter Justin Hearn of St. Joseph's and
swimmer Katarina Roxon of Stephenville each received a Team Gushue Scholarship
Award valued at $5,000. These awards were developed in honour of Team Gushue's
Gold Medal win at the 2006 Winter Olympics. They are presented annually to a
young man and a young woman who have accomplished athletic and academic
excellence. I was pleased that Brad Gushue was available to join me to present
these awards.
Mr. Speaker, the provincial government is committed to providing our athletes
with opportunities to reach their highest potential in their chosen sport. Since
the Premier's Athletic Awards Program was established in 2005, almost $600,000
has been provided to support the continued development of athletic excellence in
Newfoundland and Labrador.
Mr. Speaker, I congratulate all of this year's award participants and
recipients and I wish them the best of luck for their future success.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Official Opposition.
MR. BALL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I want to thank the Premier for the advance copy of this statement. I want to
congratulate and recognize the ninety-seven athletes who received those awards
at the Premier's Athletic Awards yesterday.
It takes tremendous commitment from these athletes to train at this level.
Some of these young athletes went through considerable challenges during
training just to get to the level they were and being able to put themselves in
a position to win these awards. It is great to see that government is
recognizing the fact that this participation and an active lifestyle, what it
can mean to the overall health outcomes of our young people. It is important to
get those lifestyles started early.
It was also nice to see that Brad Gushue made himself available yesterday. We
all remember back in 2006 in the Winter Olympics when the Gushue team won that
gold medal. Today they remain an inspiration, I must say, to all our young
people as they dream to compete at such elite level.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for St. John's North.
MR. KIRBY: Mr. Speaker, I too thank the Premier for an advance copy of
her statement. I congratulate the winners of the Premier's Athletic Awards. It
is important to help young athletes to cover their expenses so that the
opportunity to advance is not just available to those who can afford it.
I also congratulate Mr. Hearn and Ms Roxon, winners of the Team Gushue
Scholarships this year. Given the high rates of diabetes and obesity in this
Province, I would like to see a complete physical education program put into our
schools again so that every child in this Province will have the opportunity for
good health and good fitness.
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Intergovernmental and Aboriginal
Affairs.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. McGRATH: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
In Budget 2012: People and Prosperity Responsible Investments for a
Secure Future , our government announced funding to establish an office with
a new executive director position in Labrador West. I am pleased to advise all
hon. members that the office is now open in Labrador City.
Mr. Speaker, I wish to congratulate and welcome Ms Janice Barnes as the
executive director, Labrador West, with the Labrador Affairs office. Ms Barnes
has been with the provincial government since 1999, working in Labrador City as
an economic development officer with the Department of Innovation, Business and
Rural Development. In tandem with this position, Ms Barnes was the mayor of
Labrador City for three years and deputy mayor prior to that for four years.
In her role as executive director in Labrador West, Ms Barnes will work
closely with many stakeholders including counterparts in other provincial
departments, representatives with the federal government and local
municipalities, and proponents of mining and other economic development
projects.
Mr. Speaker, Ms Barnes has a keen understanding of the impacts that
large-scale developments can have on communities. She has wide-ranging
experience in working collaboratively with industry, community, and government
on efforts to address the many changes associated with mining expansion and
development.
As Minister Responsible for Labrador Affairs, I look forward to working with
Ms Barnes as we continue to build a stronger, more prosperous Labrador for
ourselves and our children.
Mr. Speaker, I ask all members of this hon. House to join me in
congratulating Janice Barnes on her new position as executive director in
Labrador West for the Labrador Affairs office.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Torngat Mountains.
MR. EDMUNDS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you to the minister for advance notice of his statement. I too, Mr.
Speaker, would like to welcome Ms Barnes to the position. I have had the
opportunity to meet with Ms Barnes several times over the past few years and I
find her a very knowledgeable person.
Mr. Speaker, I think this position replaces an earlier position there for
Natural Resources, which has now been transferred to Labrador Affairs. There are
a lot of challenges in Labrador West with the new mining operations and
expansions. Also, in Labrador West, affordable housing and the high cost of rent
are major concerns; infrastructure needs to be accommodated under the present
boom.
Mr. Speaker, towns in Labrador West have requested help from the government
to help them with their infrastructure needs, government needs, and to consider
growth in the region. I think with Ms Barnes' background, Mr. Speaker, I think
the minister has made a good choice and I look forward to meeting Ms Barnes
again hopefully in the very near future.
Thank you.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for The Straits White Bay North.
MR. MITCHELMORE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I too thank the minister for an advance copy of his statement. We acknowledge
that Ms Barnes comes to the job bringing a strong background of community,
economic, and business development. The growth of Labrador West certainly
provides challenges when it comes to providing affordable housing, quality
health care, education, and even recreational services that a burgeoning
industry town demands.
I know the NDP look forward to working closely with Ms Barnes as she works
with others to address Labrador issues. We know Janice Barnes is up for the
challenge and look forward to her in success in this role as we pursue
opportunities in Labrador.
Thank you.
MR. SPEAKER: Oral Questions.
Oral Questions
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Official Opposition.
MR. BALL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The federal Minister of National Defence has stated that the Harper
Conservatives have no plans to establish the long promised, 650 member battalion
at 5 Wing Goose Bay, nor will they establish the 100 member territorial defence
unit here in St. John's.
I ask the Premier: Since you are actively engaged with and campaigned with
Mr. Harper, what steps are you now taking to ensure that the Harper
Conservatives keep the promises to Goose Bay and to St. John's?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
PREMIER DUNDERDALE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, the Opposition Leader is referring to remarks made by Minister
MacKay in the Parliament yesterday. Mr. Speaker, we have some very real concerns
about the promises made in the election of 2005 to the people of Newfoundland
and Labrador by Mr. Harper then, who was campaigning to be the federal Prime
Minister, Mr. Speaker, Prime Minister of this country. He made a number of
commitments to Newfoundland and Labrador. Since that time, since he has taken
over that job we see a movement away from the commitments made to the people of
Newfoundland and Labrador, Mr. Speaker, and that is not acceptable.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Official Opposition.
MR. BALL: The Premier mentioned that she is really concerned about it,
but what we are seeing is a disturbing trend of those broken promises from the
Harper Conservatives. We see this government as being much too passive in its
response. We see the Maritime Rescue Sub-Centre; we see cuts to DFO, Service
Canada, Parks Canada, and what we know of right now, the response has been a
written letter. Now, we have seen the broken promises to 5 Wing Goose Bay and to
St. John's.
I ask the Premier: Why would you sit idly by while the Harper Conservatives
are continuing to break promises and making cuts to this Province?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
PREMIER DUNDERDALE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, the one thing that this government has not done is sat idly by.
Mr. Speaker, we have used every opportunity available to us politically and as a
government to influence the federal government. We believe strongly, as do all
Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, that the federal government has a
responsibility to the people of Newfoundland and Labrador regardless of whether
we supported them or we did not, Mr. Speaker.
They made commitments to the people of this Province. They have a
responsibility to live up to those commitments, Mr. Speaker, and we remind them
of that verbally every time we see them. We go see them, we talk about it, we
point it out, and we write letters. What else do you suggest that we do, I ask
the Leader of the Opposition?
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The Leader of the Official Opposition.
MR. BALL: One thing he should know - one thing that the Prime Minister
should know is that we do (inaudible).
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
MR. BALL: So contrary to what the Premier stated, the soft approach to
the Harper Conservatives is just obviously not working for Newfoundland and
Labrador. Harper continues to slash services to this Province.
When are we finally going to stand up for the people of Newfoundland and
Labrador and represent the people we are supposed to represent?
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
PREMIER DUNDERDALE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, sending back six Opposition MPs is not taking a soft approach
with the federal government. Mr. Speaker, we have to make our arguments to the
federal government and make sure they are understood. This government has taken
a lot of time to do that, Mr. Speaker. We do not seem to be getting a response,
Mr. Speaker, particularly from Minister MacKay. It is not acceptable, Mr.
Speaker, and I say it loudly and clearly here in Newfoundland and Labrador, I
also say it loudly and clearly in Ottawa.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The Leader of the Official Opposition.
MR. BALL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
We know we have 308 MPs and we want them to do more too, but we have ten
Premiers who carry a lot more weight.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
The Leader of the Official Opposition.
MR. BALL: We have 308 MPs, like I said, Mr. Speaker, we have ten
provincial Premiers, so they should carry more weight.
Yesterday there was yet another fish plant that has been ripped out of rural
Newfoundland and Labrador, this time it is in La Scie. It has come to our
attention that prior to it becoming public, the minister and the Member for Baie
Verte Springdale met with the company and were aware of the ongoing issues
that the plant would be closing.
Can you confirm when you became aware of this pending plant closure and what
has been done to fix the situation?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. KING: Mr. Speaker, I really detest the manner in which members'
phrase their questions when they are talking about fish plants closing to say
they are being ripped out of communities.
Let me be very clear here, the member who represents the people of La Scie
has been active on this file from day one. He has done everything that he
possibly could to work with the company and the workers and myself to try and
find a way forward to keep that plant operating. We have chatted on any number
of occasions; not once have I yet been told that plant is officially closed.
What I have been told is there have been struggles with the resource, but I can
assure the member opposite that we have been fully engaged on that file, myself
and the Member for Baie Verte Springdale, trying to find a way to keep that
plant open.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Official Opposition.
MR. BALL: Well, in the case of La Scie, the ingredients for a good
business seem to be intact, because what we do know is there is a good resource,
there is a good workforce, and there is good infrastructure in place. The
problem seems to be, from media reports, that there is a lack of trust and
confidence with the operator in that community.
What are we going to do to restore the trust and find a new operator for that
plant?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. KING: Mr. Speaker, I think the member might be a little off on some
of his facts that he is stating there around the availability of resource. The
availability of the resource is actually a significant problem in trying to keep
that plant operating.
Mr. Speaker, developing trust is all about developing relationships between
communities and operators of these plants in particular. It is government's role
to facilitate a process when we are asked to do so, and to provide policy and
other supports as required. We have been there every step of the way in this
process thus far.
As I said a few minutes ago, there is not one minute of the day that the
member behind me from Baie Verte Springdale is not on this file trying to move
it forward. The member opposite fully knows, because his own party members are
experiencing the same thing, that there comes a point in time where this
government does not control the business decisions of private companies.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Official Opposition.
MR. BALL: It has also come to our attention that the company was issued a
seafood licence by the government last year, even though they owed significant
money to workers and to Workers' Compensation.
I ask the minister: Can you confirm this, and does your government grant
seafood licences to companies that actually have outstanding invoices with
Workers' Compensation?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. KING: Mr. Speaker, I am not sure the intent of the question. It
almost sounds as though the member opposite is suggesting we should have revoked
the licence last year and closed the plant on them.
What I can say, Mr. Speaker, is that the issuance of processing licences in
this Province is done through an independent board of government called the Fish
Processing Licensing Board. The process involves applicants submitting
documentation to the board; there is an independent review done of the quality
of the stocks in the area, the quality of the application before it. It is the
board, Mr. Speaker, who will make the recommendations to the Minister of
Fisheries and Aquaculture on which licences will stay in the system and which
ones will go out. Once a licence is in the system, Mr. Speaker, it comes out
only, normally, if it is inactive for a two-year period.
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for St. Barbe.
MR. BENNETT: Mr. Speaker, one of government's requirements for assistance
after a plant closes is for the workers in the community to acknowledge that it
is permanently closed. Why should the people of La Scie give up on their plant
when another operator may come forward?
I ask the minister: Will he relax the requirements around plant closures and
provide this community and its workers with the needed support to help them
attract a new operator?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. KING: Mr. Speaker, the best way I can say this is that the statement
just put before this House is factually incorrect. We do not, as a policy,
require workers to deem a plant permanently closed.
The process is as follows. It is called a displaced fish plant worker program
because they are displaced through a permanent closure. Somebody has to
acknowledge there is a permanent closure. Normally that is through a two-year
period of inactivity where the licence is withdrawn and thereby the Fisheries
Committee of Cabinet can deem the plant permanent closed; or, secondly, a
company can outright announce, as it has done in Burin, Marystown, and Port
Union, that they are permanently closing the plant. It does not require the
workers to do it as the member opposite suggests.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for St. Barbe.
MR. BENNETT: Mr. Speaker, in May 2006, eighteen Daley companies filed
bankruptcy, owing millions of dollars.
Why has the minister permitted the same operator to hide behind another
company, repeat this charade, and place another fishing community, La Scie, at
risk?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. KING: Mr. Speaker, it is not the actions of this government or the
intent of this government to place any community at risk. I remind members of
this House, it was only last year when we went through a trying time in Port
Union, where we did not know if the plant was actually going to be closed
permanently or remain open. This government provided employment supports to help
the people through a trying time.
It is a policy and a practice of this government and this Premier, Mr.
Speaker, to stand up and fight for communities in every single instance. If I
had the time, I could name off for you community after community after
community. We will work with fish plant operators even when they do have
financial troubles to try to help them succeed. Unlike the member opposite, it
is not our goal to help them fail and shut them down.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for St. Barbe.
MR. BENNETT: Mr. Speaker, Sea Treat, one of the Daley companies that went
bankrupt in 2006, left behind a deteriorating fish plant in Englee.
I ask the minister: How does he expect to enforce a ministerial order of 2012
to clean up that mess if this company went bankrupt six years ago?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Municipal Affairs.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. O'BRIEN: Mr. Speaker, I have explained in this House on a previous
occasion the complicated matter that the Englee plant finds itself under. The
Englee plant is unique as it is part of bankruptcy proceedings, and we have to
adhere to the court proceedings. An order has been issued to the owners of the
plan under bankruptcy, and we have to see how that plays out over a period of
time to see exactly what we can do with the Englee plant.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Burgeo La Poile.
MR. A. PARSONS: Mr. Speaker, on April 17, 2008, the Minister of Justice
was asked about a replacement for the chronically overcrowded, decrepit
penitentiary. The minister stated, and I quote: Stay tuned and you will have
your answer in a few days.
We have now been staying tuned for 1,492 days. My question to the minister:
What actual work or progress has been undertaken by government to replace HMP?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Justice and Attorney General.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. F. COLLINS: I am somewhat baffled, Mr. Speaker, by the precedent in
the hon. member's question: Stay tuned and you will get an answer in a couple of
days on the replacement of HMP. I have no idea what left field or right field
that comes out of.
We are constantly, Mr. Speaker, over the last two years, assessing our
infrastructure system, and I said that several times in this House, assessing
our infrastructure system to see how it can be re-modified or retrofitted in
order to get a better capacity for our inmates.
In the meantime, Mr. Speaker, we are constantly still negotiating with the
feds. We still want to hold their feet to the fire because we think they have an
obligation to this Province. We house fifty federal prisoners. We think the feds
should have an obligation to us.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The Member for Burgeo La Poile.
MR. A. PARSONS: Mr. Speaker, at the rate the government is moving on this
it is going to be His Majesty's Penitentiary as opposed to Her Majesty's
Penitentiary. Government has not even addressed the pen in its latest Budget. As
with the report on Dr. Craig and the whistle-blower legislation, this department
is in no hurry to keep the promises that they have made.
My question: If government is not moving forward on a new penitentiary, what
actions or studies are being contemplated to address the safety conditions at
HMP?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Justice and Attorney General.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. F. COLLINS: Mr. Speaker, Occupational Health and Safety have a
constant relationship with HMP. They are down there when they are called, they
are down there when necessary, they have made recommendations with regard to
safety issues in HMP, and we have followed up on all of them. The safety
conditions all put forth by Occupational Health and Safety has all been dealt
with, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Bay of Islands.
MR. JOYCE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Health, the Minister of Finance, and the Premier
have been telling the people of Corner Brook that the hospital is in its final
stages of design. We learned last night in Transportation and Works Estimates
that, in fact, it is still in the pre-design stage, Mr. Speaker. Before it even
gets to the design stage, it has to go through a program review with the
Department of Health and Community Services and the functional committees.
I ask the Premier: Five years after the announcement and still in the
pre-design stage, will the Premier stop dragging her feet and make this project
a priority?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Transportation and Works.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. HEDDERSON: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
With regard to the Corner Brook hospital, there is no doubt in anyone's mind
the Premier said it yesterday and I will say it today we have committed to
build that hospital and not only build it, but to bring it along in a fashion
where we are making sure that what we are doing is the proper way to do it.
As we stand right now, we are going through a four-stage process; we are
halfway through and ready to move forward into the design stage, once we get
from Health and Community Services that functional program that is absolutely
crucial to any stage that we go into after this.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Bay of Islands.
MR. JOYCE: I thank the minister for confirming that the information that
has been put forth by the government that it is in the final stages is
inaccurate. I just thank the minister for confirming that now.
Mr. Speaker, the people of Corner Brook want to know when they will see a new
hospital. They also want public consultations and input in the design of the
hospital and its programs. The functional committees have not met in fourteen
months, and now we know why: It is still in the pre-design stage.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
MR. JOYCE: I ask the Premier: Will you finally be straight forth and tell
the people of Corner Brook when will the steel be put up so the Minister of
Finance can resign?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Transportation and Works.
MR. HEDDERSON: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I do not see any need for anyone resigning. I would compliment the Minister
of Finance for pushing this project to where it is right now.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. HEDDERSON: We have an individual here, Mr. Speaker, my colleague, who
has not only pushed for the hospital in Corner Brook, but let's listen about the
long-term care facility; we committed and we built it. The courthouse, we
committed and we built it. Herdman, we redesigned and we committed to that and
we did it. Again, as with the hospital in Corner Brook, we committed and it will
be done, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Bay of Islands.
MR. JOYCE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I just let the minister know if he is not aware, the long-term care facility
still has a wing that your department announced three years in a row $3 million.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
MR. JOYCE: Just to let you know on your commitments. Mr. Speaker, the
provincial government has been
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
MR. JOYCE: providing security at the Abitibi paper mill, which they
mistakenly expropriated. We learned in Transportation and Works Estimates that
this is costing the taxpayers of this Province $750,000 a year, over $2 million
for this mistake by the Premier which is more than the PUB hearings, Mr.
Speaker.
I ask the Premier: What other costs are the taxpayers on the hook for because
of your mistake that you made in Grand Falls-Windsor?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
PREMIER DUNDERDALE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, the one thing that the people in the region of Grand
Falls-Windsor said to us was: Do not allow those assets to leave Newfoundland
and Labrador.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
PREMIER DUNDERDALE: Mr. Speaker, every day in this House we hear the
Opposition parties crying for all-party committees, all-party committees; our
work will be better if we have all-party committees. Well, on the expropriation
of the Grand Falls-Windsor mill and other assets, Mr. Speaker, we had an
all-party committee. You were all engaged, Mr. Speaker. We all take
responsibility for the mistakes that were made, but they needed to be done in a
timely manner, and we own the mistake. We also own the assets and we hope to
find a new use for it.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for The Straits White Bay North.
MR. MITCHELMORE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, the Town of St. Anthony is trying to be forward thinking in
their bid to develop clean, green, renewable energy. They want to build a
5.25-megawatt wind farm to meet the needs within their municipality, attract new
business, and avoid the inevitable rate increases from Nalcor. Unfortunately
Nalcor has said St. Anthony may not build the farm.
Mr. Speaker, I ask the Minister of Natural Resources: Will he instruct Nalcor
to reverse their decision and assist the town in their bid to develop an
alternate energy source?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Natural Resources.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. KENNEDY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I think in the comments that Thomas Mulcair, the Leader of the Federal NDP,
said in St. John's last week he was fully supportive of a clean, green,
renewable energy project like Muskrat Falls. Mr. Speaker, the NDP opposite, the
provincial party, does not support Muskrat Falls. What we are looking at with
wind, as requested by the parties opposite, is we are going to have a report
done on wind; it will be tabled in this House and it will form part of the
Muskrat Falls debate.
Wind has been looked at, Mr. Speaker. Manitoba Hydro International concluded
that eighty megawatts of wind could be integrated into the system along with
Muskrat Falls.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for The Straits White Bay North.
MR. MITCHELMORE: Mr. Speaker, cleaning up contaminated sites was an
election promise for this government. Just yesterday the Premier made it very
clear that her government will clean sites when they are no longer to be used
for their intended commercial use. We have seen five fish plants close in the
past few weeks. Yesterday we heard that the plant in La Scie is closing. Not
cleaning up these sites can stand in the way of a town's economic development,
as we have seen in Englee.
Mr. Speaker, I ask the Premier: Will she assure the people in these afflicted
communities that they will not be forced to wait years for site remediation as
the people in Englee?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
PREMIER DUNDERDALE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, interesting dynamic going on between the two Opposition parties
here today; we have one party wanting to maintain the infrastructure in
communities in hopes of reactivating them and now we have a suggestion from the
Third Party, Mr. Speaker, that we rush in right now, take down all the closed
plants, take them down, and remediate the sites not the way that we operate, I
say to the member opposite.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for The Straits White Bay North.
MR. MITCHELMORE: Mr. Speaker, another day, another fish plant is closing,
and government will probably strike another cabinet committee. Is this the best
you have? We learned on Monday from the Premier that her government
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
MR. MITCHELMORE: will only step in when a community has a problem
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
MR. MITCHELMORE: yet we have all known about the crisis in the fishery
for a long time.
When will the government decide that proactive, forward-thinking plans to
diversify the economy of rural Newfoundland and Labrador are a good idea, and
put these in place, instead of just initiating damage control procedures?
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. KING: Mr. Speaker, it is actually a great pleasure to hear so many
questions coming from the Third Party on the fishery this session. I think the
member over there was twenty-three months without a question, so it is indeed a
pleasure to stand.
Mr. Speaker, we have actually been very forward thinking and very clear on
where the fishery is headed. The problem is that the Third Party does not share
the same vision. If this industry is to succeed, Mr. Speaker, there is going to
be downsizing. It is the view of this government, it is supported by every
single player in the industry, and was articulated through the MOU process; I
have it here, the member is welcome to read it, or I can give him a briefing on
it. It is a reality, but there is also a reality that communities need our help,
and we will be there to help them.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for St. John's Centre.
MS ROGERS: Mr. Speaker, this government is breaking its five-year-old
election promise to bring in whistle-blower protection. The working people of
this Province are asking for this legislation for the protection of us all. When
Manitoba developed its whistle-blower legislation they used a legislative
committee to work through the complexity of the bill.
Mr. Speaker: Will the minister immediately bring their review of
whistle-blower legislation out from behind closed doors and into public light by
striking an all-party legislative committee to work on this very important file?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Justice and Attorney General.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. F. COLLINS: Mr. Speaker, as I point out yesterday, we see nothing
encouraging in the legislation that is in the other four jurisdictions of this
Province; there are only four jurisdictions in this country, actually, that have
whistle-blower legislation, this and the federal government.
Mr. Speaker, in this jurisdiction, we have whistle-blower protection in a
number of pieces of legislation: the Environmental Protection Act, the Labour
Standards Act, the Occupational Health And Safety Act, the Personal Health
Information Act; Mr. Speaker,
section 425 of the Criminal Code of Canada makes
it a criminal offence to penalize an employee who was retaliated or intimidated
by an employer for bringing something forward in the workplace. We have a lot of
protection, Mr. Speaker, but that is not to say that we are not continuing to
look and monitor the other jurisdictions to see if we can find something better.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for St. John's Centre.
MS ROGERS: Mr. Speaker, that is a bit of a confused answer there.
Yesterday, the minister said the human rights of transgender people are
covered under the grounds of sex. However, if gender identity is not explicitly
in the act, it covers only discrimination and hate crimes that have already
happened. The act must be amended so it will have the authority to undertake
measures for prevention and education.
I ask the minister: Why would government not ensure full protection for one
of the most vulnerable groups in our society?
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Justice and Attorney General.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. F. COLLINS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, when we did our deliberations and consultations for the
preparation of the Human Rights Act, which, as I mentioned yesterday, is the
best Human Rights Act in Canada, the discussion was a lengthy discussion on
gender for coverage in that act. We received eleven different propositions or
definitions on gender. Mr. Speaker, it was impossible to encapsulate it all into
one single provision that could be dealt with in the Human Rights Code to handle
this particular issue.
Our advice was to leave it for now, Mr. Speaker. The issues that come up
under gender are covered off in the sex prohibition in the act.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for St. John's Centre.
MS ROGERS: Mr. Speaker, I am surprised still to learn that there is
confusion on government side regarding the definition of gender identity. The
United Nations in its Declaration of Human Rights and Northwest Territories have
amended their legislation to include gender identity. The federal government is
following suit.
Mr. Speaker, as a member of the social sector committee, I ask the Premier:
Will you task the social sector committee with developing a formal definition of
gender identity to include in the Human Rights legislation so we can finally
just move on from this?
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Justice and Attorney General.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. F. COLLINS: Mr. Speaker, I reiterate, the discussion on inclusion of
gender in the Human Rights Act was exhaustive and we had a lot of input from all
over this country. The conclusion, Mr. Speaker, was definite on all sides that
it was too confusing an issue to try to explain it in one single provision in
the Human Rights Act. Mr. Speaker, we were advised not to include it for now,
and we went ahead with what we perceive to be the best Human Rights Act in the
country.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for St. John's North.
MR. KIRBY: Mr. Speaker, last year's Budget provided funding to College of
the North Atlantic for a medical laboratory sciences program in Grand
Falls-Windsor. Students who started the program last year are concerned that
suitable laboratory facilities will not be available at the campus in Grand
Falls next fall.
Can the Minister of Advanced Education and Skills assure us that the promised
facilities needed for this program will be up and running for September?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Advanced Education and Skills.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MS BURKE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, this government's commitment to the College of the North
Atlantic and to the medical lab sciences in Grand Falls-Windsor is only one
investment of many investments that we have made in post-secondary education,
and in the students of Newfoundland and Labrador, Mr. Speaker. We announced last
year that the medical services program would be offered in Grand Falls-Windsor,
and, Mr. Speaker, we are working with the College of the North Atlantic to
ensure that that program does continue in Grand Falls-Windsor.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for St. John's North.
MR. KIRBY: Mr. Speaker, government recently sent out a document,
presumably to the whole Province, that was originally released on Budget Day a
month ago. This expensive, mass mail out appears to be timed to coincide with
the CRA polling period. If it is so important that all Newfoundlanders and
Labradorians receive this Budget information in print format
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
MR. KIRBY: then why isn't it equally important to continue to make job
ads available in print format?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
PREMIER DUNDERDALE: Mr. Speaker, we have now gone from questions in QP
they ran out of questions last week so now we have moved to commentary in
Question Period. Mr. Speaker, the people of this Province have a right to know
how their money is spent.
Mr. Speaker, a considerable number of people in this Province, much more than
when we came, have access to technology to get their information. Not everyone
does, Mr. Speaker, so providing information in this way is a cost-effective way
of telling the people of the Province how their money is being spent. Mr.
Speaker, you are certainly not suggesting that we send out our ads in a mass
mail out across they might be, Mr. Speaker, given some of the other things
that they have suggested.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for St. John's East.
MR. MURPHY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Other provinces have created public ambulance services to ensure that their
ambulances have adequate staff and well-equipped vehicles in both rural and
urban areas.
When will this government create a public ambulance system providing the same
level of resources to both rural and urban ambulances attending to the patients
in this Province?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Health and Community Services.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MS SULLIVAN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Once again, I am not sure if he is suggesting we do not have ambulance
services in rural Newfoundland and Labrador, but I would like to tell him if he
is thinking that, we do have ambulance services in rural Newfoundland and
Labrador.
We have undertaken to do a review of those ambulance services so that we can
ensure that the services we are providing are as good as they can be, and that
includes the training component that you talked about yesterday, that includes
reviewing the ambulance service itself. We are committed to doing that; we
always have been.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The time for Question Period has expired.
Presenting Reports by Standing and Select Committees.
Presenting Reports by Standing and Select Committees
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for the District of Port de Grave.
MR. LITTLEJOHN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The Social Services Committee have considered the matters to them referred
and have directed me to report that they have passed, without amendment, the
Estimates of: the Department of Health and Community Services; the Department of
Child, Youth and Family Services; the Department of Education; the Newfoundland
and Labrador Housing Corporation; the Department of Justice; and the Department
of Municipal Affairs.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Exploits.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. FORSEY: Mr. Speaker, the Government Services Committee have
considered the matters to them referred and have directed me to report that they
have passed, without amendment, the Estimates of: the Department of Finance; the
Department of Transportation and Works; the Public Service Commission; the
Department of Service Newfoundland and Labrador; and the Office of the Chief
Information Officer.
MR. SPEAKER: Tabling of Documents.
Tabling of Documents
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Finance and President of Treasury
Board.
MR. MARSHALL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to
section 26.(5)(
a) of the Financial Administration
Act, I am tabling one Order in Council relating to funding pre-commitments for
the 2013-2014 to 2014-2015 fiscal year, and it is a pre-commitment for the
Department of Health and Community Services to facilitate the extension to the
service agreement with Bell Canada for the Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial
Drug Program, real-time claim adjudication service.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
MR. SPEAKER: Notices of Motion.
Notices of Motion
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Service Newfoundland and Labrador.
MR. DAVIS: Mr. Speaker, I give notice that I will ask leave to introduce
a bill entitled,
An Act To Amend The Highway Traffic Act. (Bill 19)
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Transportation and Works.
MR. HEDDERSON: Mr. Speaker, I give notice that I will ask leave to
introduce a bill entitled,
An Act To Amend The Rail Service Act, 2009. (Bill 21)
I give further notice that I will ask leave to introduce a bill entitled, An
Act To Amend The Works, Services and Transportation Act. (Bill 20)
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture.
MR. KING: Mr. Speaker, I give notice that I will ask leave to introduce a
bill entitled,
An Act To Amend The Aquaculture Act. (Bill 22)
MR. SPEAKER: Answers to Questions for which Notice has been Given.
Answers to Questions for which Notice has been Given
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture
MR. KING: Mr. Speaker, on April 3, the Member for St. Barbe tabled a
question in the House of Assembly requesting information related to the results
of any assessment of the impacts of the growing seal population on the fishery
resource off our coast, any plans relating to countering the anti-seal hunt
propaganda, and a detailed breakdown of the total cost of developing and
implementing such a plan. Mr. Speaker, I am more than pleased to stand today and
provide that information.
The sealing industry has importance for those who engage in the annual hunt,
and it is a part of our history and our heritage. Natural marine systems involve
complex predator-prey interactions and seldom remain static; rather, they are
responsive to both short and long-term impacts from human and ecological
factors.
In ecosystems where a human harvest of only certain components of the food
web occurs which is almost all cases, Mr. Speaker there is an inevitable and
increased likelihood that these equilibrium shifts will become accentuated,
sometimes leading to significant distortions in the dynamics and biotic
composition of these systems. Mr. Speaker, such distortions can have
consequences for individual species populations, as well as for the industries
and human communities relying upon them.
Through the years, there has been considerable debate and much rhetoric
expressed on seal-cod interactions. Recently, in Halifax, Mr. Speaker, I
presented to a Senate committee focused on the grey seal issue and encouraged
them to take a holistic approach to studying the management of the seal
population off Canada's East Coast, including its impact on Atlantic groundfish
stocks.
Mr. Speaker, over the past sixty years the historical ecosystem balance has
been disrupted by increased fishing power, high seas fishing, and failed
resource management regimes. We need now to move toward a balanced, informed,
and carefully managed approach to marine resource utilization.
In a peer reviewed Scientific Advisory Report on the Impact of Grey Seals
on Fish Populations in Eastern Canada , the following conclusion was reached,
"A review of the weight of evidence for each cause supported a conclusion that
predation by grey seals was likely the greatest contributor to increased
mortality in large southern Gulf cod." This, Mr. Speaker, is a significant
conclusion, as the report also concludes that "if current levels of productivity
and natural mortality were to persist, the stock is estimated to decline to
levels of local extinction within the 40-50 years." This report, Mr. Speaker,
goes on to say that grey seal predation is also contributing to high natural
mortality of winter skate and white hake, both of which are also at high risk of
extirpation in the southern Gulf.
Similarly, Mr. Speaker, the Fisheries Resource Conservation Council, locally
known as FRCC, a well-respected group of advisors with a balance of scientific
and academic expertise, released its report, Towards Recovered and
Sustainable Groundfish Fisheries in Eastern Canada , which recommends that
efforts should start immediately on an experimental reduction of grey seals in
the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence.
It also recommends that scientific meetings be coordinated to discuss whether
the reduction of seals, including harp seals, would either enable or enhance the
recovery of groundfish stocks in other areas, such as the shelf off Labrador and
Eastern Newfoundland.
While the reports I referenced here, Mr. Speaker, have focused on grey seals
in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, fishermen for many years have expressed serious and
similar concerns about the impact of harp and hooded seals on the recovery of
the northern cod stock off the Southern Labrador and Eastern Newfoundland areas,
and the cod stock in the Northern Gulf of St. Lawrence.
In Newfoundland and Labrador we are struggling to deal with an ever
increasing harp seal population. To that end I have asked a senior scientist at
our Centre for Ecosystem Research, Mr. Speaker, to look at this whole issue of
cod and seal interaction. The Eastern Canada harp seal herd is now estimated to
be about 9 million animals.
Mr. Speaker, we have been advocating for some time that this population needs
to be reduced. We are aware that estimating the direct consumption of cod by
harp seals is very hard to quantify, but there is clearly direct mortality
associated with harp seal predation on cod, and certainly on key prey species
that cod rely upon, such as capelin.
It is the position of the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador that we
should pursue the management of fish stocks and seals within an ecosystem
context, and that we should uphold our responsibilities to the world's
biodiversity and the cultural and economic traditions of our societies insofar
as and as long as they do not impoverish nor imperil the world's biodiversity.
While science undoubtedly supports the fact that seals have a detrimental
impact on fish stock recovery, the biggest obstacle remains the continued
rhetoric and misinformation campaign being waged by anti-sealing groups
throughout the world. There is no question, Mr. Speaker, that seal products are,
in fact, in demand. The barrier is red tape created by those fuelling
misinformation and innuendo.
Mr. Speaker, our support for this industry speaks for itself. Our support,
for example, for the purchase of pelts this year amounted to a $3.6 million loan
for Carino Processing Limited in South Dildo. Almost 70,000 pelts to date have
already been harvested this year, an amount that practically doubles the entire
harvest for last year. This accomplishment sends a strong message to the
anti-sealing groups that they have not accomplished their goal. This will
provide hard evidence that the industry, Mr. Speaker, is still viable.
We look forward to later in the year when we will be in a position to access
whether the pelts
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
MR. KING: and the blubber were received positively into the world
markets.
We also continue to advocate with the federal government and work on
initiatives that give the industry much hope.
I anticipate meeting with the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans in June, Mr.
Speaker. At that time, we will discuss this particular file, we will receive an
update on progress for new market access, the Russian ban, and any potential for
products to flow through China. We also look forward, Mr. Speaker, to a positive
outcome with the EU challenge currently ongoing.
In the meantime, through Budget 2012: People and Prosperity Responsible
Investments for a Secure Future , we have once again allocated $100,000 for
sealing industry advocacy and development. This funding will support projects
and initiatives that will enhance the image of sealing and promote the product
domestically, nationally, and internationally.
Also, Mr. Speaker, in the very near future we will launch an initiative that
will provide deep insight on the history of the hunt and why it is important
that we protect it. Without giving away too much, Mr. Speaker, I will say that
the Minister of Environment and Conservation recently gave a pre-screening of
this project to an international audience in South Africa. I have to say it was
very highly and positively received.
Mr. Speaker, seals have been a part of our lives for hundreds of years.
During that time, the harvest has contributed hundreds of millions of dollars to
the provincial economy of Newfoundland and Labrador. Mr. Speaker, even in the
last few years the seal harvest has contributed $100 million in total to our
economy. Our government will continue to support this humane, sustainable, and
viable harvest of our ocean's resources like we do for many other species that
have provided economic benefit to our people in the past.
Unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, time does not permit a more detailed response. I
would greatly appreciate a future opportunity to discuss our product development
initiatives with industry, our product research with Memorial University, and
our technical analysis and support of the federal WTO challenge to the EU ban,
and the other ongoing legal actions. I would also, Mr. Speaker, encourage the
member to review the transcript of my presentation to the federal Senate
Committee hearing on the grey seal population in the Gulf, which I delivered on
March 29 of this year.
Thank you.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: Petitions.
Petitions
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for St. John's North.
MR. KIRBY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I rise to present a petition for anti-replacement worker legislation.
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 strikes and lockouts are rare and on average, 97 per cent of
collective agreements are negotiated without work disruption; and
WHEREAS anti-temporary replacement workers' laws have existed in Quebec since
1978 and British Columbia since 1993, and successive governments in those
provinces have never repealed those laws; and
WHEREAS anti-temporary replacement workers legislation has reduced the length
and divisiveness of labour disputes; and
WHEREAS the use of temporary replacement workers during a strike or lockout
is damaging to the social fabric of a community, the local economy, and the well
being of its residents, as evident by the recent use of temporary replacement
workers by Ocean Choice International and Vale in Voisey's Bay.
We the undersigned petition the House of Assembly to urge the government to
enact legislation banning the use of temporary replacement workers during a
strike or lockout.
And as in duty bound your petitioners will ever pray.
Mr. Speaker, this petition has petitioners from the communities of Epworth,
Fortune, Point May, and Marystown - quite a number from Point May in fact, Mr.
Speaker. I note that the petition sort of explains itself, the damage that is
done when workers are unnecessarily idle because employers, as in the case of
Ocean Choice International earlier this year, decided to lock them out and to
discontinue any productive collective bargaining. I know the government has said
on a number of occasions that it would look into enacting such legislation, and
I urge the government to hear these petitioners and to bring this legislation
forward as soon as possible.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Burgeo La Poile.
MR. A. PARSONS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I have a petition to the hon. House of Assembly for the Province of
Newfoundland and Labrador in Parliament assembled.
The petition of the undersigned residents humbly sheweth:
WHEREAS home care allows the elderly and people with disabilities to remain
within the comfort and security of their own homes, home care also allows for
people to be discharged from hospital earlier; and
WHEREAS many families find it very difficult to recruit and retain home care
workers for their loved ones; and
WHEREAS the PC Blue Book 2011 as well as the 2012 Speech from the Throne
committed that government would develop a new model of home care and give people
the option of receiving that care from family members; and
WHEREAS government has given no time commitment for when government plans to
implement paying family caregivers;
WHEREUPON the undersigned, your petitioners, humbly pray and call upon the
House of Assembly to implement a new home care model to cover family caregivers
in 2012-2013.
And in duty bound your petitioners will ever pray.
Mr. Speaker, this is an issue that has come up quite frequently, both before
the election, during the election, and after the election. It is probably the
number one topic that I have received e-mails and calls from since I was
elected. It affects people all over my district, in every community. It is a
promise that has been made but has not been kept, Mr. Speaker.
As we know, it is hard to recruit home care workers in rural areas and many
of these family members are actually already doing home care elsewhere. In this
case, we have people who have family that are left with no choice but to quit
their jobs to come home and take care of their family members. Again, that is
really a double whammy. We should be paying these people so they can take care
of their own family members. We do not have the people in a lot of these
communities to do it already.
We also have to deal with a shortage of homes and accommodations for seniors,
especially in rural districts. We have people waiting and we are not getting an
answer to this issue. People are relying on a promise that this issue is going
to be remedied. The answers received thus far have been, in certain cases,
contradictory and certainly not acceptable.
One can only hope that this is going to be forthcoming, and forthcoming very
soon, Mr. Speaker. Until then, I will continue to bring concerns of my people to
this House.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Bay of Islands.
MR. JOYCE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I present a petition here today concerning cellphone coverage.
WHEREAS the lack of cellular phone coverage in Lark Harbour, York Harbour,
and Frenchman's Cove is a major safety concern for residents, especially in
times of emergency; and
WHEREAS the lack of cellular phone coverage restricts and negatively impacts
local businesses in the area as compared to most other areas of the Province;
and
WHEREAS the tourism destinations in our area are without cellular phone
coverage, causing a safety concern and inconvenience for tourists who visit;
furthermore, the lack of cellular phone coverage can be a deterrent for people
in choosing our region as a tourist destination; and
WHEREAS the residents of Lark Harbour, York Harbour, and Frenchman's Cove
should have the same cellular coverage available as other areas of Newfoundland
and Labrador that in some cases have long had such service;
WHEREUPON the undersigned, your petitioners, humbly pray and call upon the
House of Assembly to urge government to support our request to obtain cellular
phone coverage.
As in duty bound, your petitioners will every pray.
Mr. Speaker, this is another petition I am presenting on behalf of the people
of the Bay of Islands concerning this issue. As we all know, I am after standing
in the House on numerous occasions to present it. From my understanding from the
minister, the minister is meeting with some federal counterparts and local
providers to see what can be done for all of Newfoundland and Labrador. This is
an important issue, not just for the Bay of Islands, but for all of Newfoundland
and Labrador for people without cellphone coverage.
Once again, I offer my services to the minister if he needs it, for the local
providers out on the West Coast. I already had meetings out in Lark Harbour for
the people of York Harbour and Lark Harbour, and in Cox's Cove for the people of
Cox's Cove and McIver's concerning this. They are very frustrated. They
understand that it is a cost issue, but we are asking that if there is some way
that the provincial government, in consultation with the federal government, and
maybe partnership with the federal government and local providers to find some
way to help spread the cost so that we can provide this service.
As I said on many occasions, Mr. Speaker, this is by no means a slight on the
government, because I understand the ability of the government when it is under
federal regulations, but I think it is incumbent upon the government and the
minister to start these negotiations and get all these parties together so that
we, as all members of the House of Assembly, can participate and offer our
support.
From all these petitions that we have presented, you have the support of a
lot of residents in Newfoundland and Labrador, Minister, so at any time, when
you start the meetings and start to get the three or four groups together, count
me in for the meetings; I am sure that I will be speaking on behalf of all the
residents that need cellphone coverage in the Bay of Islands.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for St. John's Centre.
MS ROGERS: 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 as a result of a recommendation in the Green Report about wrongdoing
in the House of Assembly, there is now legislation that protects anyone who
speaks up with evidence of financial abuse or other impropriety in the
legislative branch;
WHEREAS it is unfair for one group of civil servants to be protected by
whistle-blower legislation when another group is not;
WHEREAS Justice Green stated that the financial wrongdoing in the House of
Assembly might have been discovered sooner if whistle-blower legislation had
been in place;
WHEREAS the Cameron Inquiry into ER-PR testing found that problems with tests
would have come to light sooner, therefore lessening the impacts on patients, if
whistle-blower legislation had been in place;
WHEREAS the Task Force on Adverse Events recommended an amendment to the
Regional Health Authorities Act to provide legal protection for employees
reporting occurrences or adverse events;
WHEREAS whistle-blower legislation is in place elsewhere in Canada, and the
provincial government promised similar legislation in the 2007 election but has
not kept that promise;
We the undersigned petition the House of Assembly to urge government to enact
whistle-blower legislation to protect public sector employees and provincial
departments and agencies, including public corporations, regional health
authorities, and school boards.
As in duty bound, your petitioners will ever pray.
Mr. Speaker, since we have introduced this petition I have received many
calls from constituents and from our workers across the Province saying that
they want to see this legislation enacted, particularly when we look at our
future and our near future, when we look at the large resource development
projects that are being undertaken in our Province, and that will be undertaken
very shortly. It is about workplace health and safety, it is about environmental
issues, and it is about having a clearly articulated whistle-blower protection
legislation that workers can depend on. It is about the health and safety of our
prisoners at Her Majesty's Penitentiary and the health and safety of our workers
at Her Majesty's Penitentiary. It is about the telemetry issues at St. Clare's
Hospital and at the Health Sciences Centre, it is about our nurses, and it is
about search and rescue.
We know, Mr. Speaker, that many people want to speak out but they fear for
their jobs. They have no reason not to fear for their jobs if we do not have a
clearly articulated whistle-blower protection legislation. It is about workers'
rights; it is about honouring the commitment that this government made to the
people of Newfoundland and Labrador. It is about respecting the people of
Newfoundland and Labrador by honouring and fulfilling that commitment that was
so clearly made. Mr. Speaker, this is a progressive move, and to not do so at
this point in our history is indefensible in a modern democracy.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for The Straits White Bay North.
MR. MITCHELMORE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I present a petition today to reinvest in rural broadband initiatives.
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 in the District of The Straits White Bay North, despite the $4
million Rural Broadband Initiative announcement on December 22, 2011, only one
community, Ship Cove, is slated for broadband coverage; and
WHEREAS the communities of Pines Cove, Eddies Cove East, Bide Arm, North Boat
Harbour, L'Anse aux Meadows, Great Brehat, St. Carol's, Goose Cove, Grandois,
and St. Anthony Bight still remain without services; and
WHEREAS many small businesses within the district rely on Internet to conduct
business; and
WHEREAS broadband Internet permits a business to be more competitive than
slower, dial-up service; and
WHEREAS broadband Internet enhances primary, secondary, post-secondary, and
further educational opportunities;
We the undersigned petition the House of Assembly to urge the government to
reinvest in rural broadband initiatives in Newfoundland and Labrador.
As in duty bound your petitioners will ever pray.
Mr. Speaker, we have quite a ways to go to see full coverage of broadband
Internet in Newfoundland and Labrador. We are the worst Province in Canada when
it comes to broadband Internet coverage.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
MR. MITCHELMORE: Mr. Speaker, I have seen on the Great Northern Peninsula
as I worked in business previously, where I have tried to help people set up
business; since then, business has closed because they have not had access to
broadband Internet.
I can think of a business in Hawke's Bay that was selling clothing, a great
boutique, and wanted to get on using Facebook and using on-line selling in
stores to promote their sales, promotions, and put up new offerings to reach out
to a younger demographic and also the people who are using Facebook; the growing
market is females over fifty years old.
This is a great opportunity for business, but without broadband initiatives
and without greater enhancement to all parts of Newfoundland and Labrador we
have seen in St. Joseph's where a business is closing because they cannot get
access to webinars. We are limiting opportunity in Newfoundland and Labrador for
those who really want to live in rural Newfoundland and Labrador. Government
needs to step up on these initiatives and really put broadband so that it is
enhanced.
We have seen a pullback from the federal government because they did announce
that by 2015 they would have broadband and now it is up to 2019. We have many
gaps to go there, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: Orders of the Day.
Orders of the Day
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Government House Leader.
MR. KENNEDY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I call from the Order Paper, Order 1, that this House approve in general the
budgetary policy of the government.
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for St. John's East.
MR. MURPHY: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
It is a pleasure again to stand up on behalf of the people in Newfoundland
and Labrador and the people in my district and talk about the Budget and express
a little bit of dismay in some cases on issues that are contained within the
Budget, as well as talk about some of the positive initiatives that we have seen
in the Budget. Again, it is a great pleasure to do that.
Mr. Speaker, I will quantify the remarks by talking about some of the things
that have been missed with regard to a couple of constituents that I have in my
district. A couple of those constituents find themselves in a bit of a bind;
they were almost borderline in some of the things that we see in the Budget.
I will start off with the first two examples, I guess, talking about
Newfoundland and Labrador Housing and the need for greater subsidies and the
recognition that there has to be the setting up of a separate government entity
that we would like to call a housing division. While government can get up and
talk about the fact that Newfoundland and Labrador Housing is there, it is
really not the same thing because while they are dealing with housing issues, at
the same time as that we are also dealing with the whole matter of the whole
circle of putting and keeping a roof over somebody's head and making life more
affordable for those people at the same time so that they can live in comfort.
One of those people who I have is directly caught in that particular circle
where they are a senior, seventy-six years of age, drawing a pension, a
fixed-income, and they find themselves being squat out of a market where they
are actually needing a subsidy but are being told that all of the subsidies are
gone, that all of the money has already been accounted for and, hence, they are
having to be forced to look for a cheaper form of accommodation for themselves
and not being able to find it in the real estate market that we are finding in
St. John's. St. John's is a place of great wealth and it is doing very well, but
some of the people are not.
Mr. Speaker, we are disappointed to see that there is no more money in there
for subsidies and what has been granted, and we know that the problem is going
to be getting even greater than that one particular case. Like I said when you
are seventy-six years old and you have served yourself in the best means that
you can to the members of the public and you were a former government worker,
you would certainly hope that government would be there to help you when it is
needed, and the time right now for that need is very great.
The second thing that I would like to talk about for a constituent of mine
who happens to be caught in a very different predicament, but I guess not one
that would be endeared by other people in the Province. This one has to deal
with the provincial drug program and expresses the need why we should have seen
a stronger investment in a drug program that would encompass all seniors,
regardless of income, and have their needs met. This particular person is just
outside that borderline as well when it comes to the income cut off level that
the Newfoundland and Labrador drug program covers. This person is making the
household income that is between the man and wife approximately $31,500 in the
run of a year. The reason why they have
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
MR. MURPHY: that much income in the first place, they are out there in
the workforce and they are trying the man is; the wife is home sick with
varying degrees of illnesses. The private insurance program that they have,
their costs are approximately $400 to $450 in the run of a month. This woman is
severely ill, but God love her she is trying. The man of the household is trying
to keep the house going and that is the reason why he works so much. That is the
reason why there is a $31,500 income level there, but the whole problem now is
that he works so hard to try to get the money to pay for the drugs that the
family ended up over that borderline cut off of $30,000, so now they do not
qualify for the drug program.
Mr. Speaker, if there is any one change that I would like to see in that drug
program, if government is going to keep it right around where it currently sits,
is the simple fact that if any family has to pay for drugs like that and we
are talking almost $5,000 a year that this family has to pay out for drugs on an
annual basis - if there is any one change that I would like to see, it is for a
case like this. If we are talking about a $31,500 income and the income is
$30,000, the government should take into account how much money this family has
spent in the past year in order to make these people qualify for drug coverage.
In other words, the $31,500 less the cost of the drugs that they spent, put it
down to about $20,000 or $25,000 or whatever the number works out to $25,500,
I think and allow that family to qualify for drugs.
It is fairly easy for government to address the needs of some people who are
being lost within the system. This is just one case. I would hope that I will be
writing the Health Minister on that to let her know my views as regards to that,
and to hopefully catch more people and allow them to be covered under the drug
program.
Those are two very unique cases in my district where the Budget actually
hinders families rather than helps. Now, I will say it, Minister: It is a good
program. We are not there yet. We would certainly like to see a universal drug
coverage program in this Province.
To the Minister Responsible for Housing I say that we would like to see a
government program by which, if there is going to be people who are going to be
left behind when it comes to keeping a roof over their heads, it is the
government's responsibility. It is also the responsibility of everybody in this
House, for the Opposition and for our party as well, to bring up the notion that
we have a responsibility to help families keep roofs over their heads so they
will have a place to be in comfort like everybody else.
Those are two things that are immediate, to my mind, when it comes to this
Budget. I ask government to keep in mind these particular things and why I do
not like these particular items in the Budget. Albeit, like I said, some of
these initiatives are very positive.
I will come back to Municipal Affairs, and some of the things that I did see
in the Municipal Affairs budget. We are a little bit of a hindrance. The one
thing I did notice, particularly against last year's Budget, when it came to the
replacement of our emergency vehicles and everything for the various
departments, the numbers for Fire and Emergency Services are about 10 per cent
of what they were last year. There is a very strong need for the replacement of
firefighting equipment out there amongst municipalities. We know that a lot of
these services are shared within regions, and we would certainly like to see
more money sunk into that department.
When it comes to Transportation and Works, again I will address it, that I do
know the minister in Estimates last night was kind enough to tell us that he
would be forwarding off the study of the fixed link between Newfoundland and
Labrador. At that same time, I would also like to say that when it comes to the
fixed link and I will express the need again how great it is and what it can
do, not only for the people of the Island portion of the Province, Newfoundland,
but as well as for the people of Labrador, that it would knock down the cost of
consumer goods coming in and out of the Province, exports from the Province,
down an awful lot and give us a competitive advantage in the North American
market. Not only would we be thinking that Halifax would be the North American
gateway to North America and to Canada and the United States, but we could
possibly be talking about St. John's and the immediate area, the Northeast
Avalon, for example, or any other part of the Island portion of the Province
becoming a competitive gateway and entranceway into the North American market.
I would ask government to revisit that and to make sure that these numbers
are updated, and probably to keep revisiting this issue. Not only for the
potential that is has, but also because the need is great as well for the people
in Labrador in bringing down consumer prices. Like I said, I do not know how
many people might have been disturbed when they saw it as much as I was, when we
saw that picture on the CBC Web site of the $7 local bread. I think that told us
volumes on what should be happening.
As regards to Environment and Conservation, we would like to see government
introduce a new ban on more chemicals, the addition of more chemicals into the
ban. We would have liked to have seen more money put into education into the
alternate use of pesticides, as well as more money into the enforcement program
that is there. That element, the education element was not delivered in this
Budget and it was very disappointing to see.
The other matter when it comes to Environment and Conservation, I think that
is rather important to talk about and was not readily seen in the Budget was
more money to go towards food security. I know this was a very great issue in
the news yesterday. We are talking about Newfoundland and Labrador of course,
about twenty years ago had - when it came to, for example, talking about
vegetables, Newfoundland and Labrador farmers had approximately 40 per cent of
the market here in Newfoundland and Labrador when it came to vegetables. Right
now it is down to about 10 per cent. So, the question has to be asked on the
part of government, can we do a little bit more to ensure the growing of food
and vegetables, subsidizing of farmers, and the helping out of farmers? We do
know that they have had some good initiatives with regard to what they have
done, for example, to various initiatives like the Food Security Network. We
would like to see a greater investment done in that regard to ensure food
security.
We also know, from Olivier De Schutter's visit to Canada yesterday and his
little press conference, we have 800,000 households in Canada that are in danger
here because they are not getting the right foods to eat. This is also a medical
issue, Mr. Speaker, and just another reason why we would like to see more money
put into it. When you are talking 800,000 homes and the possibility of a family
of four in each household, you could be talking about 2.4 million people in this
country and that is shameful to say, 2.4 million people in this country who
are not eating right or in danger somehow because they cannot get their hands on
food supplies, that sort of thing. We ask government to put more money into
initiatives that would ensure food security in this Province and ensure growth
of our farming sector.
With regard to the need for more money to address these food concerns, we
would certainly hope that in talking about food security, we would also hope
that some of these monies would benefit the people in Labrador and the
possibility of more food initiatives, for example, for the growing of food in
Labrador. We know that back years ago, there were some initiatives with regard
to growing food. We are talking about back in the early 1900s when the first
settlers were up there. We know about the Cartwrights, for example, and their
green housing installations.
We do know that there are some prime regions for the growing of vegetables in
Labrador, so there should be some more focus particularly as well on the farming
sector in Labrador. Contrary to popular belief, it is not cold up there all the
time. As a matter of fact, they have probably warmer summers than what we do
here on the Island portion of the Province.
As regards to the things that government should have done as well, I think
that there should have been more money towards, for example, an effort towards
the progression of the shipbuilding industry in this Province. We know that
there was some weakness in what had been happening with shipbuilding,
particularly when it came from government supporting the initiative on the Burin
Peninsula in support of the JSS contracts. We lost between $30 billion and $35
billion worth of shipbuilding.
We are seeing a generation of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians having to go
away to the mainland to work now. We think that government should be addressing
this concern. We have several fine shipyards in this Province, the biggest of
which would be down in the Marystown area, and we be getting more done here; of
course, the example of that, just the other day: the agreement between Kiewit
and the provincial government here in building that third ferry boat. We are
particularly happy to see that initiative proceed now but what we need to see is
that boat on the water
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
MR. MURPHY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
At the same time, we have to see the initiative behind the construction of
new ferry boats proceed.
Mr. Speaker, from what I can see with regard to this Budget, it was really
disappointing; there was a lot of focus here on Nalcor, the money that was given
to Nalcor. I hear it all the time on the street, $664 million, and at the same
time we are talking about people that are hungry out there. We are talking about
people that are not getting that extra $50 for a home subsidy. We have to ask
ourselves about the ethics behind that. We know that government has a plan in
place to possibly generate revenue in the Province in the future through Muskrat
Falls. We are not there yet as a party; we believe that it has to be proven to
be economically sustainable, beneficial, and environmentally sound. We are just
not there yet, Mr. Speaker. As a party we are not prepared to support the
construction of it until we have all our questions answered, it is as simple as
that. We are looking forward to the debate on that.
I am going to throw out a couple of points now to the government side and
hopefully they will understand where we are coming from when it comes to talking
about the other options that are out there. Of course, we all know about the
wind energy potential here in the Province, the potential for municipalities,
for example, to generate their own revenue. If the moratorium that was placed on
electrical generation and having that put into the grid was lifted, the question
is: would we be asking ourselves, would we be asking municipalities, would we
hear the argument from municipalities that they need more money? If they had the
chance to put more electricity into the grid at the same time, it may very well
answer the Island portion question about the need for electricity. We would not
be asking about the future needs of the Province because that answer would
already have been given by the municipalities.
You have to ask that question and ask government why that moratorium has not
been lifted or, indeed, why a program of the generation of electricity would not
be shared amongst communities or regions, for example, so that not only would
they have a chance to generate revenue but they would be allowed to put
electricity in the grid and address Island needs.
The second thing I would like to say about natural gas, and I heard the
natural resources minister get up the other day and give his views on natural
gas, saying that we are not there yet; he talked about the shipping, the
liquefaction of natural gas, the compression of natural gas, so I am going to
ask the question straight out. When it comes to the next oil development that is
happening offshore, we have to ask the oil companies if there is going to be a
natural gas compression capability aboard that platform when it is built. So
that when the day comes for this natural gas to be landed in the Province, we
have to ask the question: Are they going to have the capability to pump it? We
need to put our shoulders to the grindstone to find out the answers from the oil
companies if these integral parts have been put into the design.
A second thing I would like to say about natural gas, it is pretty easy to
send it in by pipeline rather than have it shipped. Shipping is probably,
according to Bruneau, a little bit more unsound than what it is by pipeline.
Pipeline we are talking, according to Mr. Bruneau, 380 kilometres between the
present fields that are out on the Grand Banks to the Holyrood facility. That is
not saying that we would not decommission the Holyrood facility of course and
put in a whole new facility that is going to be more beneficial.
The other thing I would like to say about natural gas is that you have to do
it now. The reason why you have to do it now is because you have to be prepared
when the price is going to go up. I am going to challenge the Natural Resources
Minister on this particular fact. Natural gas prices are not going to stay down
for a really long time for one simple reason: fracking. Fracking is dangerous.
There is going to be so much environmental kickback from fracking that you are
going to see the price of natural gas gradually start to rise.
That is just a theory on my part, but I have questioned a couple of my
friends who are out there who I ask from time to time what their views on
natural gas are. Their diverging opinion is that you might have an awful lot of
gases out there that would be recovered in the form of fracking, but at the same
time as saying that the dangers of fracking to water supplies, for example, and
the environmental damage that it can cause is probably going to allow the price
of natural gas, stranded natural gas in big pools such as we see from the
various areas offshore here, you are going to see the price of that rise over a
certain time.
I still think that it is viable and we should be thinking about the three
things that we would get from natural gas, rather than the one thing that we get
from water. We may get a couple of cents a kilowatt hour when it comes to the
generation of electricity. If we generate electricity from natural gas, we get,
number one, an alternate form of heating, for example, for homes in the future
and we get a secondary industry in the sale of natural gas supplies, that sort
of thing. That is all by-product of it. The second thing that we are going to
get is the possibility of being able to export natural gas. If we liquefy it
onshore, we are going to be able to take the things like butane, that sort of
thing, put it in a separate plant and have an onshore petrochemical industry at
the same time when natural gas comes onshore.
The third we are going to have is a natural
MR. SPEAKER (Verge): Order, please!
I remind the member his time for speaking has expired.
MR. MURPHY: By leave to clue up?
MR. SPEAKER: Does the member have leave?
AN HON. MEMBER: By leave.
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for St. John's East, with leave.
MR. MURPHY: Thank you, Sir.
The third thing, the simple fact is we are going to have electricity being
able to be generated by natural gas. There is no reason to think that under
section 34 of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Act we cannot think imaginatively
when it comes to using natural gas. We can take natural gas in kind from the oil
companies now. That is my understanding after reading that part of the act. We
can generate electricity at the same time as that.
There is no reason to think that we cannot go from east to west when it comes
to the exporting of electricity. If that is the way it is going to be done,
generated onshore, develop your natural gas onshore at the same time, and make
it benefit Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. If you are going to export natural
gas, make it benefit the Provincial Treasury at the same time when oil is on the
decline.
Mr. Speaker, I am going to leave it at that. I thank you for the extra time
to do that. At the same time, while there are some good measures in this Budget,
I will be voting against it basically because there are going to be a lot of
people left out.
I will leave you with one more line, with one quote: If you want to grow
prosperity for a year, then grow grain. If you want to grow it for ten years,
you grow trees. If you want it to last 100 years, you grow people. Right now,
for the initiatives that this Budget missed, Mr. Speaker, I cannot see it
growing people.
Thank you very much.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
The hon. the Minister of Innovation, Business and Rural Development.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. HUTCHINGS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
It is certainly a pleasure to rise today, Mr. Speaker, and speak to the main
motion of Budget 2012. It is certainly an honour, too, to stand in the House as
a representative for the people of the Ferryland district, who has given me the
opportunity to represent them here in the hon. House. It is a district that is
quite significant. It goes from Petty Harbour-Maddox Cove south to St. Shotts.
In the past number of years there have been investments by this government,
whether it is infrastructure , various health care,
post-secondary, in our seniors, or various aspects of community development. I
have seen it first and foremost in my region and worked with all of those
community groups, our volunteer groups, councils, and local service districts. A
portion of my district takes in the City of St. John's, so working with the
council and the City of St. John's on a whole range of issues.
Mr. Speaker, as you know, as many members would know, infrastructure is
extremely important in terms of roads, in terms of transportation. We have seen
a significant improvement in my district, there is more to do. We have invested
in areas towards Trepassey, right from areas like Ferryland to Fermeuse, the
upgrading of Route 10. We did some work last year on Witless Bay Line. That is a
connector highway from the Southern Shore to the Trans-Canada, a very important
infrastructure. Municipalities did a lot of work on roads in Ferryland, the Town
of Ferryland, in Bay Bulls itself, last year in Witless Bay. The project was
almost $3 million in terms of significant road infrastructure, which is so
important. There was some work in Petty Harbour, Maddox Cove as well, and
certainly significant.
Mr. Speaker, I wanted to speak to and acknowledge the volunteers, as I
mentioned earlier. Those people whether they are in a fire brigade. I have
worked closely with the fire brigades in my area. I recognize the great work
they do. Through the initiatives of this government, we delivered last year a
new fire truck to the Town of Ferryland to assist that fire brigade. Last year I
was with the hon. Minister of Municipal Affairs, we were in Trepassey and
announced at that time that funding had been approved for a new truck for the
Town of Trepassey. Hopefully, that will be delivered this year, another
extremely important piece of infrastructure.
For smaller communities, if it is St. Shotts, Portugal Cove South, we have
done enhancements in regard to water enhancements that are so important for
small communities. An initiative we brought in a number of years ago, I think it
was 2008, in regard to a new cost-shared ratio for municipalities with less than
3,000 people, a 90-10 ratio where the municipality would only pay 10 per cent.
We have seen that is so vital to rural Newfoundland and Labrador. I know
firsthand, in those small communities infrastructure was in such poor state,
that allowed these small communities to access infrastructure at a 10 per cent
rate to help rebuild their communities, put in things like I said, water,
upgrade water, roads, and help with some small infrastructure projects.
Portugal Cove South, a $15,000 grant to assist with upgrades to the community
centre there in Portugal Cove South, which is so important. Right down along
through my district, Mr. Speaker, it is so important. We looked at participating
in upgrades with the federal government, the Southern Shore Arena; the
twenty-fifth anniversary, a great celebration a little while back that I had the
pleasure of attending. After twenty-five years, significant upgrades were done,
close to half a million dollars, and now that facility is set and ready to go
for years to come.
Again, in that region, on the lower end of the shore, we partnered with the
federal government on a new Lifestyle Centre in Bay Bulls. A $4.3 million
facility that is up and operational now. For the whole region, in terms of
healthy living and what we can do, it is first-rate and a fabulous facility. The
provincial government was the majority partner in funding that. As well, we have
a forty-eight space daycare, state of the art, which is attached to that
facility.
I had the Minister of Child, Youth and Family Services up with me last year
to open that facility. She indicated at the time, through her efforts, has been
around the Province and recognizes that is a model and a state-of-the-art
facility, and we are delighted to have it. We recognize that we as a government,
and her as minister, recognize the need for early childhood development. We have
a strategy, we are moving it forward, and this reflects that. We appreciate it
in my district, the work we have done in that area and how we are moving
forward.
Mr. Speaker, I had an opportunity a little while back, I was in Petty Harbour
for the seventy-fifth anniversary of the New Hope Anglican Church, seventy-five
years. I mentioned that just as an example. We had a service there, after that
we went over to the community centre. There were a number of people around, but
just that whole community spirit, with the volunteers who have been there year
after year and the commitment they make. It is generational, Mr. Speaker,
families have been involved, whether it is church, community, a whole other
range of activities, those people are always there, and I want to recognize
those. That is just one example.
I had an opportunity some time back to attend the Irish Loop Development
Board volunteer awards. A great night in Bay Bulls Lifestyle Centre recognizing
those people who have made a life-long commitment to volunteerism, and how
important it is for our community and regions as we continue to grow and do the
things we need to do, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I just wanted to mention as well, a couple of events that I had
the opportunity to participate in. As you may have known, in April was the
commemoration of the Titanic sinking. In my district we had some work
done in Portugal Cove South. I was there for the opening of the wireless station
at Cape Race. Through IBRD we did approximately a $200,000 investment for the
wireless station, which was the first to receive the SOS signal from the
Titanic . As part of that commemoration, again, volunteers. The Portugal Cove
South-Cape Race Heritage Group had a year of planning. For pretty well over a
year we met and put together a first-class, national and international event
which had a week of activities which was so very successful. Certainly, hats off
to them.
At the opening, I was delighted to have the hon. Minister of Tourism up that
day and out to Cape Race. We had an opportunity to meet with the folks there and
celebrate the work that was done, recognizing the history there; a strong
history it is for Newfoundland and Labrador. As well, the Minister of
Environment and Conservation was up that day. Thankful to him, the two
ministers, for coming up with me, recognizing the contributions being made, and
recognizing the event.
Also, Mr. Speaker, on that day, on the way out to Cape Race is the Mistaken
Point Ecological Reserve, which, now, is fantastic; over 600 million-year-old
fossil sites, it is world-renowned. This year in our provincial commercials, as
anybody would notice, there is a little boy out around by the fossil bed. That
is from Mistaken Point Ecological Reserve.
Both of the ministers and I were up to Cape Race for the opening of the
wireless station, did that morning go early and actually went out to Mistaken
Point. It was the first time both ministers were there. I encourage everybody
this year to make a trip to Cape Race Portugal Cove South, Mistaken Point. We
are working to get UNESCO World Heritage site designation for that. Through
various departments, we have invested over $800,000 now.
There is an
interpretation site in Portugal Cove South where you stop through
the Parks Division. It is tour by registration, so you need to register actually
to get that tour; I encourage everybody to do it. It is a big part of economic
development in the area. We believe it continues to grow. Last year, I think we
had about 6,000 people through. That continues to grow and looking forward to
that, Mr. Speaker, for the region. As I spoke earlier, in terms of those people
who are involved with the community, the volunteer work they are doing is
fantastic; we need them as we move forward.
Mr. Speaker, I wanted to take a few minutes too in regard to the Budget to
talk about it is related to my department, IBRD. I am responsible for the
Research & Development Corporation. We talk about, and our government has
consistently talked about diversification and sustainability. How you do that is
diversify the economy. You build on your traditional industries, which we have
done and which we will continue to do, but you look outwards; you say: what else
do we have that we can expand on, we can invest in, and we can move forward?
Research and development is a key component of that. What that brings with
it, it brings with it academia, it brings with it business and industry, and it
brings a knowledge-based industry and drives with the post-secondary, drives an
opportunity for our young people. That opportunity can be in research and can be
in development. It can be in commercialization through the entrepreneurial
stage, where they take that idea, it is incubated, and it is moved a long to
market, which we see.
In IBRD we work with the Genesis Centre at Memorial with regard to bringing
those ideas to life so they can be patented, brought forward, and
commercialized; then it is a new industry, it is a new market. We have people
involved with that today here in the Province, doing quite well. We continue to
support it and we will continue to support it in years to come.
Yesterday, specific to that, I was able to get a ministerial statement
talking to the whole issue of life sciences and how important it is as we move
forward and diversify our economy and diversify as a people, looking at research
in such areas as bio-fuels, agri-foods, pharmaceuticals, bio-pesticides, and a
whole range of other areas in the agriculture sector. What we are seeing down on
the Connaigre Peninsula now in regard to the closure of Harbour Breton years
ago, and what would happen, and how would things go; through the agriculture
sector, through us participating with the private sector, we have seen a new
growth, we have seen a new region. That is what we believe in this Province in
terms of diversification. When the opportunity exists, we need to be there to
work with all the partners to maximize the opportunities. That is what we see in
life sciences; as I said, research and development is so important.
Just an example of that, I had an opportunity, I spoke yesterday with regard
to being at Memorial University; we invested $750,000 in genetic research and
Dr. Terry-Lynn Young, the tremendous work she has done in terms of identifying a
gene that is tied to sudden cardiac syndrome, which basically was identified by
Dr. Young and her team here. Due to our unique gene pool, the research that was
isolated and identified by her and her team and is recognized nationally and
internationally for what that means. We are supporting that because we believe
through that comes diversity, and that is through research and development and
the things we need to do.
That investment, Mr. Speaker, as well, we are putting a $17 million
contribution into the $28 million Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Human
Genetics which is now being built, which is still expanding that genre, if you
will, to make sure that we are on the leading edge and we are out there, because
other jurisdictions are there too. What that means, too, if we are leaders in
research and development, we are getting some of the brightest and best students
from here. We want to retain them. We are also getting students from around the
world, certainly around Canada and internationally.
I had an opportunity through another program that we sponsored through the
Research & Development Corporation to be at Memorial. We give particular funding
to Ph.D. and master's students who are in research and development. I was there
to represent the RDC. We had about twelve recipients for the year. I spoke to a
young man there who is actually from Pakistan. I asked him: How did you come to
study at Memorial? He had done an undergrad degree in Pakistan. He said he had
done some research, identified Memorial, saw from the perspective of the
information he gathered and what were doing here in Newfoundland and Labrador in
terms of Memorial and research and development, and thought this was the type of
research he wanted to do. So, now he is here.
That is innovation, too, Mr. Speaker, because it is the exchange of ideas. We
cannot be closed shop in terms of the exchange of ideas and how they get
translated. We bring people in, we go elsewhere to study, and through all of
that we have innovation. We continue the knowledge base and the growth, which is
so important, Mr. Speaker.
We continue to invest this year in the RDC. We have approximately $24 million
in the Budget for various programs. That is industry related to the oil and gas
sector, ocean technology, fishing industry, mining industry, life sciences, and
right across the board, Mr. Speaker. We know and we made the commitment that it
is so important to our economy and to our people that we need to be part of this
overall industry. We are there and we are working towards it. To date, there is
about $50 million that has been invested since 2009 in the various projects.
There is a suite of programs under the Research & Development Corporation that
continue to drive it. We are going to be there as we play the role.
I will just give a few examples, Mr. Speaker. In terms of high-quality
people, which is so important, we have the Ocean Industries Student Research
Awards, a program introduced since 2010. We have forty-two students who have
received this award for a total of $1.9 million. They focus on local, national,
international graduates as I talked about the gentleman from Pakistan as
well as undergraduate students pursuing higher education in industry-relevant
research at Memorial University and the College of the North Atlantic. From
there, we hope to retain those people. We are seeing they are retained here,
based on the various industries we have here and based on the growth we are
seeing here in the Province. That will continue to drive our economy, but also
ensure we have leading-edge research and academia in the Province. Some will be
from here and some will be from other parts. We are certainly seeing that and we
are quite pleased with the efforts to date.
As well we have the Industrial R&D Fellowships Program partnered with Natural
Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada to fund Industrial R&D
Fellowships in Newfoundland and Labrador. There have been three fellowships
granted. RDC commits up to $30,000 per year, per graduate, for a maximum of two
years. Once again, we are promoting research, supporting it, and continuing to
evolve where we need to be.
Another program, IgniteR&D, is an academic-led program to attract highly
qualified academic researchers that build new research and development capacity.
Again, we are improving our capacity. Under this program, we have seen an
investment of $1.7 million to Memorial University of Newfoundland to support
fourteen related health projects, and over $240,000 to the College of the North
Atlantic to support an additional two projects.
We are working with our post-secondary institutions, which are certainly
world renown. I had an opportunity at Memorial with some of the work being done
with the engineering faculty again this year. We provided some assistance in
terms of expansion there which is very much needed, a very hot commodity in
terms of the engineering field, engineers, so we are certainly recognizing that
and supporting it. It also goes to the innovation component up again, Mr.
Speaker. I talked earlier about the incubation of ideas and moving them along to
business continuum. It is so important to get those ideas because evolves into
new industries and new opportunities for us overall.
Other areas that are important to us, certainly to the Research & Development
Corporation, the Centre for Fisheries Ecosystems Research in support of
fisheries research. RDC committed $1.5 million over five years for the Marine
Institute Centre for Fisheries Ecosystems Research. We certainly recognize, as I
said before when I started, it is traditional industries but it is also new
industries, new research, that we can identify in the life sciences or others
that certainly diversify our economy and diversify our capacity. It is very
important.
Another one I had an opportunity to participate in was the Research Chairs.
The Research & Development Corporation contributed $1 million over five years to
create the Statoil Associate Chair in reservoir engineering at Memorial
University. Mr. Speaker, that was looking at how we access oil from seabed in
terms of a reservoir, how you fully maximize the extraction of that, as well $1
million from Statoil and from the RDC, but that is a perfect example of the
partnership between academia, the industry, and the Government of Newfoundland
and Labrador applying R&D to something that is quite relevant to us now, but on
a go-forward basis too, to maximize applied science for an increase in the
amount of oil that we can extract, which returns revenues back to us. It
certainly helps the industry, but as well improves on our knowledge and
expertise so we can sell that around the world from our people that have
developed that expertise and knowledge.
So, Mr. Speaker, I am certainly pleased my time is winding up here
certainly quite impressed with the Research and Development Corporation and what
they are doing, the leading role they are playing in diversifying our economy,
both through our traditional industries and those other industries. Again, this
year we will have close to $24 million and continue to move that along.
With that, Mr. Speaker, I conclude my remarks, but finally to say this Budget
is visionary in terms of where it is going, it is continuing the commitment this
government made to the people of Newfoundland and Labrador, and it is certainly
a great Budget again this year.
Thank you very much.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
The hon. the Member for Torngat Mountains.
MR. EDMUNDS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
It is again good to have the opportunity to speak to this Budget. As I
pointed out earlier, Mr. Speaker, there are many good points about this Budget
that have been brought forward, no doubt, by the members opposite. As well,
there are flaws in this Budget that have been identified and put forward by this
side of the House. Mr. Speaker, I think that this ensures a healthy debate.
Mr. Speaker, Labrador is roughly three times the size of Newfoundland.
Although we are vast, we do have a lot of common issues. First of all, I would
like to address some of the comments made by the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs,
probably, no doubt, in response to some of my comments. Mr. Speaker, whether the
minister believes it or not, there is not a district in this Province that is
totally content with this Budget, and it includes Torngat Mountains. I must
point out that I am happy with the recognition of my district in this Budget.
Again, with the level of need in every district in this House, including the
district of my hon. Member for Exploits, budgets come up short. Having said
that, Mr. Speaker, I say this with the full realization that no Budget, I think,
ever has or ever will address and erase the problems that we have in our
Province.
Mr. Speaker, I have to point out that the issues that I brought forward are
real. I bring them across as a voice. These are not issues that I have
fabricated, Mr. Speaker; these issues I have identified impact the very core of
our livelihood. There are primary issues that deal with impacts on our lives. It
deals with staying above the poverty line and, I think, more importantly,
raising to the level of the poverty line from below the level of the poverty
line. That is the reason I bring these concerns forward.
Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and myself are new to this
political forum. I will give the hon. member the benefit of the doubt. No doubt
I have heard the minister pride himself on his accomplishments. I accept that we
are new and that the concerns are being brought forward from my district. On
that note, I will continue to bring forward the concerns from the Aboriginal
community. In terms of the minister's ability to address these issues, Mr.
Speaker, I will give the minister the benefit of the doubt, because we are new.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to make some comments in response to the Member for
Lake Melville. As I said, Labrador is vast, but issues are very, very common. In
the member's last address to the Budget, I heard him speak in support of the
Muskrat Falls deal and how it will benefit the people of Labrador and the
endless opportunities. Mr. Speaker, I think it was just last spring, and it made
me think about it, that the member addressed a joint panel review committee on
Muskrat Falls, where the comments there were totally opposite of the comments
that he made in his Budget address. It confuses me. It confuses me because they
are in such direct contrast. As a representative of the people, Mr. Speaker, I
would like to assure the Member for Lake Melville that the questions he asked at
the Joint Review Panel will be asked in any debate. Lake Melville and Lab West
are certainly not in my district but sometimes you feel compelled to do so
because of the hundreds of messages and hundreds of phone calls that have come
forward. That is just some comments on another side in Labrador.
I would like to take a few minutes, Mr. Speaker, to talk about
transportation. It was confirmed during Estimates that the motor vessel
Astron , which was in place before the Dutch Runner , will be used to
deliver freight to the North Coast of Labrador, and as well to some communities
on the South Coast of Labrador. Mr. Speaker, I would like to point out that
prior to the 2011 shipping season, the minister did undertake a plan to upgrade
and make major improvements - and I do mean major improvements, Mr. Speaker - to
improve the system and that government did in fact accept was inadequate. The
level of service, Mr. Speaker, was not enough to accommodate the increasing
volume of freight due to the increased activity.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to assume that this was done in conjunction with
the transportation committee and government
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!
MR.