Province of Newfoundland FORTIETH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NEWFOUNDLAND Volume XL Third Session Number 66 VERBATIM REPORT (Hansard) Speaker: Honourable P.J. McNicholas Tuesday 8 March 1988 The House met at 3:00 p.m. MR. SPEAKER (McNicholas): Order, please! SERGEANT-AT-ARMS: Mr. Speaker, His Honour the Lieutenant-Governor has arrived. MR. SPEAKER: Admit His Honour the Lieutenant-Governor. SERGEANT-AT-ARMS: Ladies and Gentlemen, it is the wish of His Honour the Lieutenant-Governor that all present be seated. HON. JAMES A. McGRATh (Lieutenant-Governor): Mr.

Speaker and Members of the Honóurabie House of Assembly: The Third Session of the 40th General Assembly of this Honourable House. of Assembly is about to be prorogued. Before relieving you from your duties, I wish to convey to you my appreciation for the éareful and sympathetic attention given to the important matters brOught before you by my Ministers. Mr. Speaker and Members of the Honourable House of Assembly: Forty-one pieces of legislation were enacted during this Session of the Honourable . House of Assembly.

In particular, legiOlative initiatives were taken in the areas of post-secondary education, the fishery, and the administration of justice. In the Speech from ' the Throne delivered at the beginning of the Session, I indicated, my Government would introduce legislation tO provide for a re-organized post-secondary educational system' in the Province During this Session, The 1 , Provincial Institutes Act and The Community Colleges Act were enacted. The Provincial Institutes Act provides for the establishment and continuation, of three Institutes with a Province-wide mandate.

These Institutes are: The Newfoundland and Labrador Institute of Fisheries and Marine Technology, The Cabot Institute of Applied Arts and Technology., both of which are located in St. John's, and The Fisher Institute of Applied Arts and Technology located in Corner Brook. The Community Colleges Act provides for the establishment of five regional community colleges throughout the Province. They are: ' the Avalon, Eastern, Central, Western and Labrador Community Colleges.

My Government is convinced that local input into the decision making process will make the community college system more sensitive and responsive to local and regional needs. As well, it is my Government's view that the creation of these institutes and colleges will bring to our citizens improved access to a greater range of higher education and training opportunities. Honourable Members will recall that this new direction is very much in harmony with the recommendations of the Royal Commission on Employment and Unemployment. Mr.

Speaker and Members of the Honourable House of Assembly: Since 1983, when this Honourab].e House passed The . Fisheries Restructuring Act, my Government has been most encouraged with the progress made in restructuring the fishing industry. During this Session a Bill to return the business of Fishery Products L3642 March 8, 1988 vol XL No. 66 ' R3642 International to the private sector was passed. The success of this great fishing company should be an example to all who would doubt my Government's sincerity in encouraging resource based industries in this Province.

As a further indication of my Government's commitment to the fishing industry,

an Act respecting the encouragement and regulation of aquaculture was introduced and passed during this Session. Mr. Speaker and Members of the Honourable House of Assembly: In the area of the administration of justice, my Government introduced a number of amendments to The

Summary Proceedings Act. Among the reforms enacted were those that relate to the Provincial Court inquiry process. the law has been changed to provide that a Provincial Court judge must file the report and conclusions of an inquiry with the Minister of Justice not later than six months following the date the inquiry is ordered. The law also provides that interested parties, as determined by the Provincial Court judge, may attend an inquiry and examine, cross-examine and lead evidence.

Because of certain problems in the past, the law also clarifies the role , of the Provincial Court judge in making any findings of legal responsibility or recommending that charges be laid. It is my Government's view that these issues should more properly be determined in a trail forum. Mr. Speaker and Members of the Honourablé House of Assembly: The Canada-Newfoundland Atlantic Accord Ithplementation (Newfoundland) Act was amended during this Session to mirror certain changes to the Federal legislation.

Along with the Proclamations of, both the Federal and Provincial Acts on April 4, 1987, the enactment of these technical and housekeeping amendments finalized the process as envisaged by my Government and the Government of Canada when both Governments signed the Atlantic Accord on February 11th, 1985. My Government introduced an amendment to The School Attendance Act, 1918 to raise the compulsory school attendance age from 15 to 16 years.

An Act respecting the incorporation of an Occupational Therapists Board and empowering that Board to regulate the practice of occupational therapists in this Province was enacted. The Rehabilitation Act was amended to' change the appeal procidure to bring it in line with similar procedures under The Social Assistance Act, 1977. The Day Care and Homemaker Services Act, 1975 was amended by providing a less restrictive definition of day care and providing the Minister of Social Services with the ability to differentiate by regulation types of day care service operations in the Province.

The Occupational Health and Safety Act was amended to provide for the adoption of national uniform standards respecting a hazardous materials information system in the work place.

Among further refinements to The Financial Administration Act, 1973, enacted during this Session, was one that empowers the Minister of Finance or a departmental official delegated by the Minister to enter into contracts or agreements, for the L3643 , March 8, 1988 Vol XL No. 66 R3643 purchase or sale of foreign securities on a current or future delivery basis for the purpose of paying principal or interest on outstanding debt payable in foreign currency. Honourable Members will recall that this amendment was recommended by the Public Accounts Committee of this Honourable House.

The Department of Rural, Agricultural and Northern Development Act was also amended to allow the Rural Development Authority to operate a more efficient administration of the loans program under that Act especially in service sector enterprises. Mr. Speaker and Members of the Honourable House of Assembly: Among the other legislative measures enacted during this Session were:

An Act To Amend The Loan and Guarantee Act, 1957,

An Act To Amend The Local Authority Guarantee Act, 1957,

An Act To Amend The Emergency Act,

An Act to Amend The Newfoundland Veterinary Medical Act, 1971,

An Act To Amend The Conflict of Interest Act, 1973,

An Act to Amend The Newfoundland Standard Time Act,

An Act to Amend The Unimproved Lands (Redistribution) Act,

An Act To Amend The Municipalities Act,

An Act To Amend The Income Tax Act,

An Act To Amend The Government-Kruger Agreements Act, a new Department of Energy Act, and

An Act To Amend The Memorial University (Pensions) Act. Mr. Speaker and Members of the Honóurable House of Assembly: At the very beginning of this Session, my Government introduced an important Resolution respecting fishing resources in the 200 mile economic zone off the shores of our Province. This Resolution was unanimously adopted by this Honourable House. A Resolution respecting the establishment of a NATO Tactical Training Centre at Goose Bay Air Base was again unanimously adopted by this Honourable House.

During this Session, this Honourable House passed a Constitutional Resolution confirming the equality of the Pentecostal Assemblies in Newfoundland with the other recognized religious denominations in the denominational education system. I am delighted to report that Her Excellency the Governor General under the Great Seal of Canada in December of this past year authorized the Proclamation of this Constitutional Resolution confirming the amendment as part of the Constitution of Canada. Mr. Speaker and Members of the Honourable House of Assembly: I thank you for the large measure of supply you have granted.

I assure you that the appropriations that you have granted will be expended by my Ministers with care and efficiency. It is my pleasure that the Third Session of this 40th General Assembly now be prorogued and it is prorogued accordingly. MR. SPEAKER: Pursuant to His Honour's speech, the House stands prorogued. No. 66 R3644 L3644 March 8, 1988 Vol XL