May

22, 2012 HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS

Vol. XLVII No. 35

The House met at 1:30 p.m.

MR. SPEAKER (Wiseman): Order, please!

Admit strangers.

Today we are very pleased to welcome to our gallery fifty-one students; I

think they are Grade 8 students from St. Francis School in the District of

Carbonear-Harbour Grace. The students are accompanied by teachers Verena Young,

Natasha James, Cheryl Riggs, and Terry Slade.

Welcome to our Assembly.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

Statements by Members

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

Member for the District of Baie Verte Springdale; the Member for the District

of Signal Hill Quidi Vidi; the Member for the District of Lake Melville; the

Member for the District of Lewisporte; the Member for the District of Humber

Valley; and the Member for the District of St. Barbe.

The Member for Baie Verte Springdale.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. POLLARD: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Valmont Academy was the place to be on Saturday, April 28. I witnessed a

packed gym, charged with electricity, as the Valmont Academy Vikings stole the

show.

Valmont captured the Provincial SSNL 2A Female Ball Hockey Championships,

with a convincing 6-2 victory over the French Shore Academy Warriors from Port

Saunders. In the eight team tournament, the Vikings went undefeated, which is a

testament to the hard work, dedication, and skill of the team members.

In addition, huge accolades go to the whole school community parents,

teachers and students whose commitment to athletics and volunteerism is

unsurpassed as they played host to the provincial tournament.

Members of the championship team include: Natalie Burt, Robyn Rideout,

Elizabeth Austin, Kaitlyn Budgell, Britany Andrews, Kailey Gillingham, Megan

Burt, Jasmine Anstey, Kristin Budgell, Kelsie Moore, along with coaches Tanya

Warford and Adam Matthews.

With pride, I ask all hon. colleagues to join me in conveying congratulations

to the Valmont Academy Vikings for capturing gold.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

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

I rise today to congratulate a constituent of Signal Hill Quidi Vidi and

resident of the Outer Battery who was recently recognized for her contributions

to the Province's musical landscape.

Christina Smith won the Arts in Education award, for an artist who has made

an outstanding contribution to arts education in the Province, from the

Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council last month.

Christina Smith is an established musician, but it is her work as Artistic

Director of the Suzuki Talent Education Program of St. John's that earned

Christina this most recent honour. The STEP fiddlers are a group of eight to

seventeen year olds who learn traditional Newfoundland and Labrador fiddling,

using Suzuki methods. The young students are always a hit at local folk

festivals and other events and have done their share of touring. I heard a radio

interview just this morning about their upcoming visit to Ireland.

Christina's passion and teaching talent has inspired, literally, a generation

of musicians who might never have found their way to our traditional music

without her. It is always a joy to hear these youthful musicians and to see the

pleasure they take in the music.

Mr. Speaker, I ask all hon. members to join me in congratulating Christina

Smith.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The Member for the District of Lake Melville.

MR. RUSSELL: Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I rise today in

this hon. House to pay final tribute to my friend Alton Best, originally of Mud

Lake. It is with great sadness that the family announced his passing on Friday,

May 11, 2012 at the Labrador Health Centre at the age of seventy-seven years.

It was my honour to speak this past Thursday, May 17, at a service of

remembrance to celebrate his life, and I would like to thank the family for that

privilege. It was no surprise to see so many turn out for this celebration and

celebrate they did, Mr. Speaker, as they gave special tribute to Alton through a

live performance of The Flummies and a video tribute demonstrating his truly

amazing musicianship where we got to see that wonderful smile once more.

He will sadly be missed by his wife Ena; children: Maurice (Carol), Clarice

(Jim), Yvonne (Kirby); and grandchildren: Matthew, Nova, Jamie, and Emily.

I ask all hon. members of this House to join me in paying tribute to a

husband, a father, a grandfather, a friend, an Order of Newfoundland and

Labrador recipient, and a true son of Labrador, Mr. Alton Best.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The Member for the District of Lewisporte.

MR. VERGE: Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a well-known and a

much-loved lady in my district, Ms Kathleen Dwyer. Ms Dwyer was born in Tilting

on July 4, 1916, to Eliza and Patrick Burke. As a young woman, Kathleen met Leo

Dwyer, who promised her he would return from World War II and make her his wife.

This he did, Mr. Speaker, with a wedding reception that lasted three days.

During the early days, they ran a general store in Tilting and a passenger

boat service around Notre Dame Bay. In 1953, they moved to Lewisporte and were

instrumental in establishing the Roman Catholic Church there.

Her children tell me that their mother loved all of them and never judged or

interfered with their decisions. Kathleen and Leo raised nine children, had

nineteen grandchildren, and twenty-two great-grandchildren.

She loved life. She was always active, driving her car right up to the age of

ninety-three. She was positive and possessed a great sense of humour. Sadly, on

May 8, at the age of ninety-five, Kathleen passed away leaving a wide circle of

family and friends.

Members of the House, please join me in recognizing and celebrating the life

of Mrs. Kathleen Dwyer.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. BALL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in this hon. House today to congratulate the Royal

Canadian Sea Cadet Corps, Branch #73, on their sixtieth anniversary in Deer

Lake.

Recently, I had the opportunity to participate in their annual inspection

review. The talent and dedication of this amazing group of young people was

inspiring.

I would like to extend my congratulations to the award winners who were

recognized at the annual inspection, including Jessica Snow, Aaron Hiscock,

Adrian Simmons, Tyler Spracklin, and Courtney Young.

The late Albert Boulos, who was the mayor of Deer Lake and a World War II

vet, was the first commanding officer for the Deer Lake Corps. Mr. Boulos began

the Sea Cadets journey in Deer Lake and under the direction of the current C.O.,

Dorman White, and his team of amazing volunteers, the Deer Lake Corps continues

to stand strong and proud.

With the leadership and dedication of many volunteers, Deer Lake has seen

sixty years of active participation from our youth as they appear regularly at

community functions and key annual events.

Mr. Speaker, I congratulate the current and past leaders and members of the

Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Corps of Deer Lake on their sixtieth anniversary

celebrations and ask all members of this House to join me in the honour of this

special anniversary.

Thank you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. BENNETT: Mr. Speaker, I rise in this hon. House today to congratulate

Fred and Doris Pittman of Rocky Harbour on their sixtieth wedding anniversary. I

attended the celebration of this milestone this past Saturday night, May 19, at

the community hall in Rocky Harbour. The evening was a wonderful celebration and

well attended by family and friends from all over the Province and other parts

of Canada. Fred and Doris' seven children and numerous grandchildren and

great-grandchildren were in attendance.

Doris Pittman was born Doris Hillier and is originally from Lamaline on the

Burin Peninsula. Doris came to Rocky Harbour as a young school teacher, and it

was there that she met Fred Pittman. There they began their life together sixty

years ago.

The Pittmans are very active in their community. Both Fred and Doris are very

active in the Anglican Church and are also very active in many other community

endeavours. Both are avid outdoors people Fred being an outstanding salmon

fisherman whose zest for life and community participation are not only

obvious, but infectious to those around them.

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

congratulating Fred and Doris Pittman on their sixtieth anniversary and on being

such exemplary and active members of their community.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: Statements by Ministers.

Statements by Ministers

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS SULLIVAN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in this hon. House today to celebrate the ninetieth

anniversary of St. Clare's Mercy Hospital in St. John's.

On May 21, 1922, the Sisters of Mercy officially opened the hospital to care

for twenty-three patients. By 1939, the Sisters had overseen the construction of

a second building that accommodated 100 hospital beds. Services at the hospital

would eventually expand to include pediatrics and obstetrics, and two further

additions to the main building were required to increase capacity. The site

would be able to accommodate 300 patients in 1972. In 1979, St. Clare's opened

the first palliative care unit east of Montreal.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to acknowledge the contributions of the Sisters of

Mercy to the delivery of health care and health education in Newfoundland and

Labrador. The St. Clare's Mercy Hospital School of Nursing opened in 1939. In

1968, St. Clare's was recognized as a teaching hospital affiliated with Memorial

University of Newfoundland. Countless health care professionals have benefited

from the education and training they received at St. Clare's.

Mr. Speaker, our government continues to make significant investments in

infrastructure and medical equipment at St. Clare's.

Through an investment of $4.1 million the provincial government is moving

forward with renovations to the hospital's emergency department. This project

will help reduce wait times and increase access to vital services.

The provincial government has put great emphasis on updating and enhancing

diagnostic services throughout the Province. With the addition of a new MRI unit

we are increasing access, speeding up diagnostic testing, and improving the

delivery of our health care services. This new unit will result in 4,500 more

scans each year at Eastern Health and it brings the total number of MRIs located

throughout the Province to five.

St. Clare's continues to be an integral piece of our provincial health care

system. The hospital has a long history of providing quality care for the people

of Newfoundland and Labrador. Our government will continue to invest in this

facility to ensure that it will benefit residents into the future.

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 thank the minister for the advance copy of the statement.

When you look back to 1922, you can imagine the significant vision that must

have been had by the Sisters of Mercy as they officially opened the St. Clare's

Mercy Hospital, under the leadership then of Sister Mary Bernard Gladney, who

was a graduate nurse, and appointed the first superintendent.

The vision continued in 1941, when the first St. Clare's Nursing School had

five graduates. Of course, then it became a teaching hospital in 1968,

affiliated with Memorial University. So, you can see there is a rich history

around St. Clare's. The hospital continues to provide significant educational

opportunities, not only for nurses, but for many health care professionals,

including doctors and pharmacists.

In 1994, St. Clare's then became part of the bigger regional health boards

and continued to play a significant role in health care across the Province.

Certainly, we are proud today to stand and recognize the ninetieth anniversary

of this facility. Of course, we also have to recognize not only the fabulous

health care that thousands of people have had at St. Clare's, but the great work

that many staff over the years have done for the residents of the Province.

St. Clare's continues to play a vital role, and for that we are very

appreciative, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you very much.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

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

It really is a pleasure for me to stand with her and recognize the

contributions of the Sisters of Mercy to the health care system in this

Province. I personally knew so many of those who worked at St. Clare's and who

gave their lives tirelessly to care for patients under their care. I was

honoured, actually, in the 1970s to live in a community with Mother Bernard

who was just referred to by the Opposition House Leader and to hear the many

stories of the founding of the hospital and the years that she was the head of

that hospital.

As a person who was born in the hospital, and as a former long time Sister of

Mercy, it does give me pleasure to see government still supporting and honouring

the work of this institution and its founders.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. DALLEY: Mr. Speaker, this past Friday I had the pleasure of touring

the Beothuk

Interpretation Centre in Boyd's Cove to celebrate the opening of our

Provincial Historic Sites.

From Commissariat House in St. John's to Point Amour Lighthouse in Labrador,

our Provincial Historic Sites have something for everyone to enjoy and discover.

For example, our demonstration series in July and August includes an opportunity

to dig up the past at Cupids Cove Plantation, learn about using birch bark at

the Beothuk

Interpretation Centre, and practice navigation skills at the Newman

Wine Vaults.

Our sites continue to tell significant stories of the historical development

of the Province not told elsewhere. Since 2003, the provincial government has

invested approximately $2.5 million for upgrades to Provincial Historic Sites.

We are proud of the success of our sites. Visitation in 2011 was up 8.6 per cent

from 2010 and up more than 16 per cent over the past two years.

Residents are already taking

part in events at Provincial Historic Sites this

season. While visiting the Beothuk

Interpretation Centre, I met with Grade 1

students from Greenwood Academy in Campbellton. They had participated in

interactive activities and learned about the history of the Beothuk.

The Beothuk

Interpretation Centre is known for its enthusiastic services and

programs. In 2010 the centre's staff received a Government of Newfoundland and

Labrador Public Service Award of Excellence. These awards are presented to

individuals and teams who, through exceptional work performance have

demonstrated excellence in public service. This is a wonderful acknowledgement

of the work of the team at the Beothuk

Interpretation Centre in Boyd's Cove and

the knowledge they provide their visitors.

I invite everyone to visit our sites throughout the Province and to explore

some of our incredible history.

Thank you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. JOYCE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

We, too, want to acknowledge the work of the staff at the Beothuk

Interpretation Centre in Boyd's Cove. As people know, there is no better

accomplishment than being recognized by your fellow peers who made the

recommendation for these staff members on their hard work and dedication that

they give and to the work they give to visitors at the site.

I welcome the minister and all government members here to go visit historic

sites in Newfoundland and Labrador. I remember visiting them when I was a young

fellow and I did not realize the significance of these historic sites in

Newfoundland and Labrador. It brings a lot of tourists to Newfoundland and

Labrador. It keeps a lot of people from Newfoundland and Labrador at home and I

encourage everybody to visit the sites.

As we all know, over the last little while there have been some federal cuts

made to some of the tourism sites around Newfoundland and Labrador. I know it is

not affecting our sites, so I encourage all the members here that we stick

together to try to encourage the federal government to let them know how

valuable tourism is to Newfoundland and Labrador and as a group how we are

sticking together to promote tourism in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Once again, congratulations to all the staff of all the historic sites in

Newfoundland and Labrador. Congratulations, Minister, for visiting the site and

officially opening it, and congratulations to the Boyd's Cove staff. Remember,

the more visits we make, the more money that is going to stay in Newfoundland

and Labrador, and the better off we are going to be.

Thank you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MS ROGERS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I thank the minister for an advance copy of his statement. Congratulations to

all the good work so many have done to make these sites the treasures that they

truly are. We know that government spends, every year, millions on our great

tourism campaign to get people here, and yet boasts a mere $2.5 million spread

over ten years to upgrade all historic sites Province-wide.

This is not investment, nor development, but is mere life support. Government

must have a more comprehensive and substantial plan and support for these very

important sites.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: Oral Questions.

Oral Questions

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

MR. BALL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

For months now we have been asking the Premier to put aside her

letter-writing campaign and actually take the initiative to organize

face-to-face meetings with the federal government. Apparently the Premier has

finally requested to meet with the federal officials in Ottawa at some point in

the future.

I ask the Premier: Can you provide the details of your meetings in Ottawa?

When will they occur, what will you be talking about, and when are they going to

happen?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

PREMIER DUNDERDALE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The rewriting of history goes on, Mr. Speaker. Never in the last few months

has the Leader of the Opposition or any of his colleagues asked me to organize

face-to-face meetings with the Prime Minister. I have done so on my own

initiative and recently made the request for a meeting with the Prime Minister,

Mr. Speaker.

I will be discussing my agenda with federal officials in his office before I

disclose it here, Mr. Speaker. One thing I can guarantee the Leader of the

Opposition is that when I get to a meeting with the Prime Minister, I will be in

the office.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. BALL: That is nice to hear. We will look forward to seeing how long

the meeting will last, for a start. Last week we learned of more cuts coming to

search and rescue services that are vital to Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.

The federal government will close the Marine Communications and Traffic

Services Centres in St. Anthony and St. John's. These centres are considered by

many to be the air traffic control of the marine world; they also monitor

coastal security and environmental issues.

I ask the Premier: What will the closing of these centres mean to the marine

safety in our Province? Will this be one of the topics of discussions in Ottawa?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KING: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The member opposite is indeed correct. We learned of this information on

Friday. As I have said a number of times in the media already, we were not

aware; I was not aware that these cuts were coming. I was not consulted as to

the extent of the changes that would be made. I am not in a position to share in

any great detail what this exactly means today, Mr. Speaker. I have requested,

as well as the Premier, a meeting with my federal counterpart. I understand that

he has confirmed we will have an opportunity to have a face-to-face meeting. I

have a letter drafted that will go out today raising some concerns on behalf of

the Province.

Mr. Speaker, it is a very serious issue. I am not going to try to say I have

the answer to that question today for the member, because I really do not.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. BALL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Premier stated last month that she would table her correspondence with

Defence Minister MacKay on the Burton Winters tragedy. So far we have yet to see

any results of that correspondence.

I ask the Premier: Why has this been delayed? How long do we have to wait

before we can expect to see this information?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

PREMIER DUNDERDALE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I have received correspondence from Minister MacKay. We are

currently reviewing the response to the last letter we wrote, and when that

review is complete I will table the correspondence, as I promised, here in the

House of Assembly.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. BALL: I will ask the Premier a quick question again.

Do you have a date when we could actually see that, when you expect to

complete your own review? Why is that taking so long?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

PREMIER DUNDERDALE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, it is extremely important in the face of the call for inquiries,

both federally and provincially, to understand the sequence of events that took

place in Labrador during the week of January 29. There were a number of

questions that were raised as to why resources owned and operated by the federal

government were not deployed, Mr. Speaker. It was critical that we get the

correct answers to those questions.

I can say quite clearly here, Mr. Speaker, that I am not satisfied with the

answers that I have received from Minister MacKay. The federal government does

not have a responsibility, a dedicated responsibility to respond to ground

search and rescue in this Province, but they have a humanitarian responsibility,

Mr. Speaker, and I do not believe they lived up.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. BALL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Well, as the Premier mentioned, these delays, it has been almost four months

now, and there is obviously some confusion around the responsibility for

different aspects of search and rescue. These are throughout our Province and

they seem to be becoming more and more ever-increasing.

Will search and rescue be part of your meetings in Ottawa and are you

prepared to discuss the need for a public inquiry with the Prime Minister?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

PREMIER DUNDERDALE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I will discuss what I think is important with the Prime

Minister. Unlike the Leader of the Opposition, and the Opposition House Leader,

when they had an opportunity to speak with Minister MacKay, the Minister of

Defence, the minister responsible, they did not take the opportunity to ask for

a public inquiry into the deployment of federal resources here on the ground,

and that is certainly where the question is, Mr. Speaker.

I have heard from Minister MacKay on these issues. I am not satisfied, Mr.

Speaker, that the federal government response was appropriate. I understand that

they had no dedicated role in it, Mr. Speaker, that it was up to them whether or

not they responded. Past practice says they do it on a humanitarian front, Mr.

Speaker. I am not satisfied with the answers I have received.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. BALL: I want to remind the Premier that we did ask about that. What

we did ask about was is the federal government prepared to provide the

information that the Premier said they needed the federal government's

co-operation with; and we did ask that.

AN HON. MEMBER: (Inaudible).

MR. BALL: Well, why don't you give us a review on it?

Mr. Speaker, we just learned that all funding for ACOA to our Regional

Economic Development Boards will be cut in the spring of 2013. These boards are

the main catalysts for economic development in rural parts of our Province.

Were you aware these federal cuts were coming, and what are your plans to

keep those boards operational?

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

Development.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. HUTCHINGS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, it was announced this morning, and my office was made aware of

it, that the federal government will no longer be supporting the REDBs. This is

a program that they have sponsored 75 per cent, we were in for 25 per cent,

approximately $1.2 million.

Mr. Speaker, this is a decision that the federal government has made through

ACOA across Atlantic Canada in providing this funding. They have made a public

policy decision, they will not continue with that. From our perspective as a

Province, we are heavily engaged in economic development. We have a suite of

programs for economic development; we continue to work with the volunteer groups

on the ground. We will proceed with economic development, Mr. Speaker, with or

without the federal government.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. BALL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

We have seen examples of good work that the Regional Economic Development

Boards do in everything from tourism to small business development and

manufacturing. They are good at the community-based economic development. In

contrast to what we have seen, we have seen very little from the Rural

Secretariat initiative.

I ask the Premier: Will you now consider using the funds allocated to the

Rural Secretariat to help keep community-based economic development boards

alive?

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

Development.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. HUTCHINGS: Mr. Speaker, first of all, there are two different

entities the hon. member speaks to. The Rural Secretariat is a citizen-based

dialogue, communication think-tank between people on the ground in rural

Newfoundland and Labrador to give information back to government, public policy

and direction in terms of policy we have in place, where we may need to go in

communities and regions across this Province. It is not a funding agency. That

is separate, Mr. Speaker.

We believe the Rural Secretariat is doing great work. I had the opportunity

last fall to renew 100 volunteer appointments, Mr. Speaker. These are volunteers

on the ground in Newfoundland and Labrador who are making a tremendous

contribution to the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, Mr. Speaker. We

support it and we will be there.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. BENNETT: Mr. Speaker, the 2003 Blue Book promises that a PC

government would form partnerships with industry to implement an international

procurement program to secure primary seafood products for local seafood

processing plants.

I ask the minister: How many of these partnerships have been formed, with

whom, and with what results?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KING: Mr. Speaker, we are forming numerous partnerships every single

day with the seafood industry. As a matter of fact, a group of us had a meeting

just this morning to talk about the future of the fishing industry in

Newfoundland and Labrador. Contrary sometimes to what the member opposite seems

to believe, we are not sitting idly by over here and not participating in a very

hands-on way in the fishing industry. We have invested significantly in

marketing. We have invested significantly in technology and new programs and new

supports, and we have invested significantly in the acquisition of resource.

I will just remind the member opposite of the significant investment this

government made to assist the Arnold's Cove operation, Mr. Speaker, when we were

about to lose a quota. With 220 jobs on the line, this government went out and

made an investment to secure the primary quota for that plant.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. BENNETT: Mr. Speaker, the pattern is now clear, broken promises, no

vision, no goals, and neglect results in another plant closure. The minister

meekly admits defeat and puts together a ministerial team to pick up the pieces.

I ask the minister: Why does he not have a ministerial support team before

plants close to help them remain viable and promote this important industry?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KING: I do, Mr. Speaker, and maybe the Premier would help me, I am

not sure if it is sixteen or seventeen of us. They are all part of my network of

supports, called Cabinet and the Premier. We provide leadership every single

day. I do not operate in a vacuum, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KING: I do not sit in my office and write up answers on my own, Mr.

Speaker. I do not come in this House and spew out information without consulting

with industry and consulting with my colleagues. I can assure you, there is no

greater support team that anyone could have around them than this Premier and

members of this Cabinet and this caucus.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. BENNETT: Mr. Speaker, after a five-year wait, on Friday government

announced an enhancement to the fisheries loan board that were promised in the

2007 Blue Book.

I ask the minister: Will he extend this program to help processors access

capital to finance inventory to invest in modern equipment and to improve

efficiencies to make them more competitive over the long term?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KING: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

It was indeed a real pleasure for me to join my colleague, the Minister of

Innovation, Business and Rural Development, on Friday to make a very positive

announcement. One that I remind the member came about as a result of the

collaboration I mentioned a couple of minutes ago with industry, because it was

their recommendation that we do that.

Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to stand in this House and re-announce today

that we have a program called the fisheries technology innovation program,

FTNOP, that does exactly what the member opposite just asked me to do.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The Member for St. Barbe.

MR. BENNETT: Mr. Speaker, when questioned last week the Fisheries

Minister stated he had not received formal confirmation that the La Scie plant

was closing. Why is the minister the last to hear?

I ask the minister: Has he since been notified by the owners if they are

closing the plant, and what plans does this government have to save this plant

either with the current owner or a new operator?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KING: Mr. Speaker, I ask the member to be very serious about this

issue and rise again in his place if he is indicating to this House that the La

Scie plant has closed. No one in this government has been advised of that.

We have been advised that there are challenges with the resource,

particularly crab from that area, there is a declining resource. The only

information that I have been provided and I will tell you we have been engaged

with the member who represents that district every single day, every single

hour, to try to move forward.

Mr. Speaker, the time for joking in this House is over. If that member has

knowledge about a plant closure, he ought to stand in his place and say it;

otherwise, retract what he just said. We have been told there will be processing

of pelagics, but not of crab.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. BENNETT: Mr. Speaker, it is refreshing to hear they are going to

process pelagics kippers, I hope. Mr. Speaker, I also questioned the minister

about this government issuing a fish licence to owners of the La Scie plant when

they are reported to owe $436,000 to workers' comp.

I ask the minister: How much money do the Daley companies owe to the people

of this Province and what is government doing to collect it?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KING: Mr. Speaker, we have seen over the last three or four weeks,

significant change in the fishing industry occurring. Something that this

government, myself, and our Premier have been saying for a long time. It has to

occur if the industry is to succeed.

Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to answer as many questions as I need to help

people through this. I find it very, very disheartening to stand in this House

and hear the critic stand up and poke fun about the future of the fish plant in

La Scie, when you have people like the member for that district sitting behind

me here working hard day and night to secure a future for that plant and the

future for that community.

To hear that member over there stand up and make light of kippers and

processing kippers and casting it off as meaning nothing in this Province, I say

shame on you. While you are making fun, this government is working with the

community out there to make things work.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The Member for St. Barbe.

MR. BENNETT: Mr. Speaker, like the columnist wrote on the weekend: Often,

you will hurl invective to oppose a strong argument. The minister did not answer

how much money the Daley companies owe this Province. Either he knows, he does

not know, or he is willingly going along and letting this company owe money and

not telling the people.

What was the answer, Minister?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KING: What was the question? I heard diatribe; I did not hear a

question.

MR. SPEAKER: The Member for St. Barbe.

MR. BENNETT: I ask the minister: How much money do the Daley companies

owe to the people of this Province and what is government doing to collect it?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KING: Mr. Speaker, it is a cheap way to deflect from the flippant

question he put a few minutes ago about the people of La Scie. Let me restate

that this government will stand with every single community, including

communities affected by members opposite to us who are losing fish plants. We

will stand with the members, we will stand with the people, and we will stand

with the residents because this government has a heart, Mr. Speaker.

We recognize that for the industry to get better there is going to be some

challenging times. People need our assistance. We will not ever stand in this

House and make flippant comments and joking remarks at the expense of people in

rural Newfoundland and Labrador to gain political points. Cheap, I say.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The Member for Burgeo La Poile.

MR. A. PARSONS: Mr. Speaker, 90 per cent of the 140 generic injectable

drugs used daily in our hospitals is produced by Sandoz Canada and we now have a

shortage of these drugs. We have spoken to doctors in the regional health

authorities who tell us they are running out of these drugs and are even looking

at giving expired drugs to patients.

I ask the minister: Are you aware of this issue? What directives have been

given from your office about using expired medication?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS SULLIVAN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, in the Department of Health and Community Services we are

certainly aware of issues around procurement of some drugs from Sandoz. It is

something we have been monitoring for quite some time. At this point in time,

Mr. Speaker, I can inform this House and the people of Newfoundland and Labrador

that there have been no issues in terms of treatments of patients. While

sometimes the regional health authorities may have had to change from an

injectable form of the drug to an oral drug, there certainly has not been any

interruption in terms of health care to patients in Newfoundland and Labrador.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The Member for Burgeo La Poile.

MR. A. PARSONS: Mr. Speaker, the doctors are telling us they are trying

to conserve the stockpiles of medication, but the stocks are starting to run

low. As a result, they are not able to treat everyone with the preferred

standard of care. Doctors are worried about patients being left for extra time

without pain medication and other types of medication.

I ask the minister: What are your department's plans to deal with this

sole-sourced drug shortage?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS SULLIVAN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I am not sure what the hon. member's source is, but I would like to have a

discussion around that particular source of information. That is not the source

of information that we are receiving, I can tell you that. We are monitoring

every single day.

I will tell you, in answer to the question, in terms of what options we are

following, we are monitoring the stock levels right across the Province every

single day, morning and afternoon. We are looking at alternatives suppliers and

they have been contacted. We are looking some clinical alternatives, as I just

mentioned, the oral medications as opposed to the injectable medications. Mr.

Speaker, we are participating in a weekly federal-provincial-territorial

conversation to make sure that we can adequately access the drugs that we need

for the patients in Newfoundland and Labrador.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

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

Mr. Speaker, last week in the Innovation, Business and Rural Development

Estimates, my colleague from The Straits White Bay North asked, what were

government's plans to deal with any potential funding cuts to the Regional

Economic Development Boards, as ACOA was being cut. The department said they

would have to look at it when it happens.

Now it is official, Mr. Speaker, and I ask the Premier: What is this

government going to do about it?

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

Development.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. HUTCHINGS: Mr. Speaker, the federal government, through their budget

process, looked at a number of programs; when they step out a program, the

Province does not have capacity to step in and cover all of those programs. Mr.

Speaker, what we do provincially, in terms of economic development, we have our

suite of programs; we direct them where we think they are best utilized for the

taxpayers of Newfoundland and Labrador, whether it is diversification funds,

wherever it is to, whether it is innovation, whether it is Research and

Development Corporation, all of that collectively. We drive economic development

in the Province; we are continuing to work with our partners and we will

continue to do it, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MS MICHAEL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, we know the funding will not be terminated until next May, but

we do not want these boards that are at the heart of economic development in

this Province to start winding down and start pulling out of the important role

they play in their economic zones.

The RED boards need to know now if they will be able to survive past next

May, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

MS MICHAEL: I ask the government: Are they looking at taking over full

responsibility for these boards or is the answer I just got a no? I want it

clarified.

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

Development.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. HUTCHINGS: Mr. Speaker, we will be looking at going forward. We will

not be backfilling that 75 per cent by the federal government; no, we will not.

We will be looking at our investment of $1.2 million. Within my portfolio we

will be looking at how we can invest, redirect that funding to get it on the

ground to Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, to continue economic development and

complement what is already happening.

There are synergies out there certainly on the ground; whether it is

municipalities, whether it is the various groups on the ground, volunteer

groups, we continue to work with them. CBDCs, co-operatives are out there, we

work with those, municipalities, and all of those volunteer groups. We will

continue the work we are doing, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MS MICHAEL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, federal government cuts have hit this Province hard, we all

know. The closing of the Marine Rescue Sub-Centre, the cuts to federal

departments including the deep cuts to the Coast Guard and DFO, concerns about

the future of 5 Wing Goose Bay, and now the cuts to ACOA, to name a few, have

caused damage to this Province.

Mr. Speaker, I ask the Premier: What is her prioritized agenda for her

meeting with Stephen Harper?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

PREMIER DUNDERDALE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, we are feeling these cuts. A loss of a job hurts particularly

the person, first of all, whose job is gone and their family, but it hurts us

all as a Province, especially where the federal government is already

under-represented. We mind, Mr. Speaker, and in this case we are not the only

part of the country that is getting hit, although it feels like we are getting

hit harder. Without a doubt, these are issues that are going to be raised with

the Prime Minister.

We have to concentrate on what is important to the people of Newfoundland and

Labrador and what our responsibilities are as a provincial government. We are

hard-pressed to fulfill all the needs of the people of this Province, Mr.

Speaker, but that is our first priority and that is the one we are going to

focus on.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The Leader of the Third Party.

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

The issues with the federal government cover a wide gamut, as we all know,

and the list is getting longer.

I ask the Premier: Why don't we see all the ministers whose areas are being

affected standing up and giving leadership around the cuts that are affecting

their areas, Mr. Speaker?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

PREMIER DUNDERDALE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, that is what ministers do on a daily basis, I tell the Leader of

the Third Party. Because we do not go out and create a protest around every

communication which I might add, in my view, is more about political posturing

and taking advantage, Mr. Speaker, of a particular situation to foster your own

standing in the political opinions of the people of the Province as opposed to

trying to resolve issues.

We need the federal government. If we are going to leave Canada, then we

should just pack up our bags and go on, but I do not believe that that is the

view of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. It is not my view, Mr. Speaker, and

the federal government has responsibilities here. It is my (inaudible)

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The Leader of the Third Party.

MS MICHAEL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

The Leader of the Third Party.

MS MICHAEL: Mr. Speaker, we have seen this government change its tune on

a number of important issues. Now we see them trying to do the same regarding

their relationship with Stephen Harper. The people of this Province will not

forget the Premier campaigning on stage with Stephen Harper.

Mr. Speaker, I ask the Premier: Will she give us an indication of what she

needs to accomplish to declare her meeting with the Prime Minister a victory?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

PREMIER DUNDERDALE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I do not make any apologies to anyone about my relationship with

Stephen Harper. As I have said time and time again, while we are part of this

country, Mr. Speaker, the federal government has responsibilities to the people

of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Mr. Speaker, I can make myself a hero, I can join the Leader of the Third

Party and the Leader of the Opposition out on the steps of Confederation

Building or down on the seaside singing songs, holding hands and bashing the

Prime Minister. Mr. Speaker, do you know what that gets us? Less than we have

now, Mr. Speaker.

There is a price to be paid for that, Mr. Speaker. We need to be able to

articulate our needs, their responsibilities, Mr. Speaker. That is my job as

Premier of this Province, and it is a job I am going to continue to do.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. MURPHY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Come By Chance refinery recently reported a huge 30,000 barrel spill

within the confines of the berm area around one of its tanks.

What steps does the government take to ensure that any oil storage tanks in

the Province are regularly inspected for faults?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. DAVIS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

There was a failure of a storage tank at the North Atlantic Refining Limited

location in Come By Chance on Friday afternoon, tank 526 to be more specific. I

can tell you, Mr. Speaker, I am glad the hon. member has raised this matter this

afternoon because I think it is important for people to realize that North

Atlantic refinery took immediate action on a number of fronts. They immediately

began the business of

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

MR. DAVIS: reducing the amount of spillage that could possibly occur.

They found the services of local contractors who immediately began the work of

pumping off the leftover oil that was in the tank, as well as began diminishing

any impacts on the environment. As well, they contacted all the regulatory

authorities.

We have been monitoring this since Friday afternoon. We had someone on the

ground there on Friday afternoon from my department. We continue to work with

the company and monitor what is happening in Come By Chance.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. MURPHY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

We need to learn more about what is happening with other tanks around the

Province, it is not just Come By Chance.

Mr. Speaker, the Department of Environment and Conservation are mandated to

look after the safe disposal and remediation of sites containing any asbestos.

At the Janeway site, government is now faced with an additional cost to clean up

the site for any possible alternate use.

What measures were taken by his department to ensure the safe removal and

remediation of asbestos materials from the old Janeway site in the first place?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Environment and Conservation.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. FRENCH: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, it is unfortunate that we do have spills around this Province

from time to time. It is how governments react to it, I think, is what is

important. This government is very proactive when it comes to dealing with

spills in this Province.

Mr. Speaker, we just have to talk to the people of Buchans. We have invested

$9 million, Mr. Speaker, to clean up that property because there were human

health risks involved. When there are human health risks involved this is a

government that steps to the plate.

I will say again about the community of Hopedale, Mr. Speaker. There were a

number of environmental concerns there. This is a government who reacted by

investing $6.5 million; $2.05 million, Mr. Speaker, that will be spent this

fiscal year.

Thank you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. KIRBY: Mr. Speaker, last week the Minister of Education told this

House that Newfoundland and Labrador's student-teacher ratio is 11 to 1. That

came as a surprise to kindergarten teachers who struggle to provide education to

twenty students and more each day.

Can the minister explain why it appears so out of touch with the realities of

kindergarten teachers and our schools?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. JACKMAN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, the member did not listen really closely because when I said it

was 11.9 to 1, I included principals and guidance counsellors. The average class

size, Mr. Speaker, in this Province is 18 to 1. I invite the member to go across

this country and see if he can find something comparable. Our student-teacher

ratio is the best amongst the provinces in all of Canada, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. KIRBY: Mr. Speaker, Eric G. Lambert School in Churchill Falls will be

offering an all-day kindergarten program this coming September. The funding for

this all-day kindergarten program will be provided by Nalcor.

Can the Minister of Education explain why Nalcor seems to understand the

educational needs of our primary school students better than he does?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. JACKMAN: Mr. Speaker, the school in Churchill Falls has been

somewhat, we will call, as a private school. It is a school that was established

by the industry in that town at the particular time. We are doing research on

all types of projects in the Province. The fact that this particular school has

undertaken it, it is nothing unusual compared to what they have done in the

past, Mr. Speaker. It might be another part of the research process. If they are

entering into that, we will certainly consider what they garner from it, and if

it is to our advantage, Mr. Speaker, we will use it.

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for The Straits - White Bay North, time

for a very short question.

MR. MITCHELMORE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, according to the people of my district, government has had no

consultation regarding how deep and severe the latest round of government cuts

will be or what they will mean for my district.

Mr. Speaker, I ask the Premier: How can she meet with Stephen Harper when she

is clearly ill-prepared?

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

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

a quick response.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KING: Mr. Speaker, the question must have been written in a pup tent.

He did not identify the department, he did not identify the cuts, and he did not

identify the timing. I can assure the member opposite when this Premier goes to

Ottawa and when I meet and other Cabinet ministers meet, we will be fully

briefed on the cuts in Newfoundland and Labrador, and we will stand strong on

behalf of the people of this Province. I assure you of that.

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 Conception Bay East Bell Island.

MR. BRAZIL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Resource Committee has considered the matters to them referred and have

directed me to report that they have passed, without amendment, the Estimates of

the Departments of: Environment and Conservation; Fisheries and Aquaculture;

Tourism, Culture and Recreation; Natural Resources, Forestry and Agrifoods;

Advanced Education and Skills; and Innovation, Business and Rural Development.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER: The Member for Conception Bay East Bell Island, the Chair

of the Resource Committee, reports that the Committee has considered the matters

to them referred, and have directed him to report that they have approved

certain Estimates and recommend that the report be concurred in.

When shall the report be received?

Now?

AN HON. MEMBER: Today, sir.

MR. SPEAKER: Tabling of Documents.

Notices of Motion.

Notices of Motion

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Mount Pearl North.

MR. KENT: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I would like to begin by asking leave to introduce a private member's

resolution for tomorrow, in light of the fact that yesterday was a holiday, Mr.

Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER: Does the member have leave?

AN HON. MEMBER: By leave.

MR. SPEAKER: By leave.

MR. KENT: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I move, seconded by the Member for Exploits, the following private member's

resolution to be debated tomorrow:

WHEREAS the current government, in its 2007 Blueprint, committed to enhance

and support foster parents, and followed through in the 2009-2010 fiscal year

with increased rates to foster parents; and

WHEREAS government committed in its 2012 Speech from the Throne to

fundamental changes to our foster care system, providing greater support for

foster parents, in recognition of the vital role they play; and

WHEREAS government worked with the Foster Families Association, and undertook

a survey of every foster family, as well as a thorough review of the needs of

children and youth coming into care to develop a comprehensive strategy; and

WHEREAS government announced the implementation of a new long-term continuum

of care strategy with a budget of $4.1 million in 2012-2013 increasing to $14.3

million next year, to enhance the care options for children and youth in need of

out of home placement; and

WHEREAS the primary focus of these enhancements is a four-level care system

which is linked to the skill level required to support the needs of children and

youth, and has accompanying monetary increases for foster parents which

recognize their professionalism; and

WHEREAS the components of this strategy provide enhanced supports to foster

parents, including increases in funding, additional training and block funding

to streamline administrative processes, ensuring children and youth are the sole

focus; and

WHEREAS this comprehensive strategy also includes increasing financial

support to kinship homes, and eliminating the need for the current alternate

living arrangements by implementing a quality framework for staffed residential

facilities for children and youth who need this level of support; and

WHEREAS through these efforts the government is working to ensure children

and youth in need of out of home placement receive the best options available

and the highest quality of service from their social workers and foster parents;

THEREFORE

BE IT RESOLVED that this hon. House praise foster parents of

Newfoundland and Labrador, and commend the initiative the provincial government

is taking to provide greater supports for foster parents in this Province, in

recognition of the vital role they play in caring for the children and youth

most at risk.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

MR. KENNEDY: Yes, Mr. Speaker.

I give notice that the private member's motion just read is the motion that

will be debated tomorrow, Wednesday, May 23, 2012.

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, last week the hon. Member for St. Barbe rose to

ask me a number of questions around product in the Province. In particular, you

referenced sea urchins, and I committed at that time to provide him with some

information. I am pleased to do so now.

We have at this point in time a total of five buyers-processors licences

issued, Mr. Speaker. Two are issued to outside buyers. There are three licences

issued in the Province; one of which is active and two of which are currently

inactive. The licences, Mr. Speaker, are located mainly on the Northeast Coast

and St. Mary's Bay area, typically known as 2J6, 3K12, 3L30, 3PN1 and 3PS6.

Thank you.

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

Affairs.

MR. McGRATH: Yes, Mr. Speaker, on March 27, the Member for Cartwright

L'Anse au Clair asked a question asking me, the Minister of Intergovernmental

Affairs, to lay on the table any correspondence, analysis, or reports which

government has presented to the federal government in relation to the closure of

the sub-centre search and rescue services in St. John's. I would like to address

that, Mr. Speaker.

The federal government tabled its 2011 Budget on June 6, 2011. Included in

that Budget was an announcement that the Canadian Coast Guard Maritime Rescue

Sub-Centre in St. John's would close. Reaction to the planned cuts to search and

rescue capacity was immediate. The staff at the sub-centre voiced their concerns

and Newfoundlanders and Labradorians throughout the Province voiced their

concerns.

The Minister for Intergovernmental Affairs at the time, Mr. Speaker, was the

hon. Dave Denine. Minister Denine wrote to Minister Keith Ashfield, who was the

Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, on June 9, 2011. Minister Denine voiced his

deep concern regarding the announced cuts and the planned closure of the

Maritime Rescue Sub-Centre in St. John's at that time. He indicated that we find

this decision particularly troubling given the fact that this centre is

responsible for 2.5 million square kilometres of ocean and 28,956 kilometres of

coastline covering pleasure crafts, fishing, trans-Atlantic shipping, and oil

and gas exploration and development.

The letter stressed that the planned closure of the centre and the associated

transfer of duties to Halifax will have the effect of removing local knowledge

and expertise from the marine search and rescue systems in this Province.

Minister Denine pointed out that it was our understanding that, on average, the

St. John's sub-centre responds to approximately 500 incidents a year that

involve 2,900 people, with 28 per cent of those classified as distress calls.

Given all of these facts, the letter continues, and I quote: "our government

finds the rationale for this action difficult to comprehend." Many thousands of

Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, Mr. Speaker, work in the harsh environment

here in our Province and we need the federal government's search and rescue

capacities maximized, not reduced.

On June 13, 2011 the Premier wrote to the Prime Minister on the same issue,

raising our serious concerns with the planned closure of the St. John's

sub-centre. We all know that the Premier spoke to the Prime Minister in June

directly on this as well. The Premier confirmed that there existed a serious

disagreement between the Premier and the Prime Minister about the closure of the

Maritime Rescue Sub-Centre. Our Premier offered to cost share the centre and the

Prime Minister said no. The Prime Minister said his decision, their decision

with the federal government was final.

All this said, the Premier assured the people of the Province that we as a

government would continue to aggressively pursue this issue at every opportunity

until the decision is changed, and we have done that so far, Mr. Speaker.

On July 1, 2011, Minister Denine was in Ottawa and had the opportunity to

raise the closure again of the Canadian Coast Guard Maritime Rescue Sub-Centre

in St. John's with the hon. Jason Kenney. Minister Denine met with the hon. Tim

Uppal on July 25, 2011 and took the opportunity to raise federal presence and

the Canadian Coast Guard Maritime Rescue Sub-Centre. I know that the previous

Minister of Fisheries communicated with the federal government on this issue. I

know that our current Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture has communicated

with the federal government on this issue.

On February 13, 2012, I, myself, wrote Minister Ashfield seeking

clarification on reports that the Canadian Coast Guard intended to reduce staff

on watch at the Marine Communications and Traffic Services Centre. I asked the

minister to provide further clarification with respect to their plans. I asked

for confirmation that the ability of these centres to respond to any safety

calls will be fully maintained if not enhanced. I reiterated the importance the

Government of Newfoundland and Labrador places on ensuring the highest standards

in our ocean industries given the fact that tens of thousands of people work off

the shores.

Mr. Speaker, search and rescue capacity in Newfoundland and Labrador is

critically important to our government. We continue to press the federal

government to work with us to improve SAR capacity for Newfoundland and

Labrador. We take every opportunity to make our case to the federal government

to improve the search and rescue capacity in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KING: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

On April 4, the Member for St. Barbe tabled a question in the House of

Assembly requesting information related to any examination of best practices of

other jurisdictions with a view to establishing a fishery loan board in

Newfoundland and Labrador. Mr. Speaker, I am more than pleased to stand today

and provide information on that topic.

The Departments of Fisheries and Aquaculture and Innovation, Business and

Rural Development completed a comparison of financial support programs in other

Atlantic Provinces for fish harvesting enterprises. Through this research, Mr.

Speaker, we have found that all Atlantic Provinces have some entity governed by

legislation, be it an agency, a board, or a department which is mandated to

provide financial assistance for the development of their fishing and

aquaculture industries. This is the same focus as that of a fisheries loan

board, Mr. Speaker. All of these entities have a history of providing fisheries

loans in their respective provinces.

Based on the information collected on loan guarantee programs, we have found

that Newfoundland and Labrador and New Brunswick are the only provinces to offer

such a program in Atlantic Canada. However, Mr. Speaker, after an announcement

on Friday, I believe Newfoundland and Labrador is now leading the way. On

Friday, the Minister of Innovation, Business and Rural Development and myself

had the opportunity to announce enhancements to the highly successful Fisheries

Loan Guarantee Program in Newfoundland and Labrador. These enhancements

delivered on our commitment to provide fish harvesters with options and

flexibility in pursuing their business activities. The bolstered program will

improve access to capital for fish harvesters who are seeking to combine their

licences and enterprises in order to improve the viability of their businesses.

These enhancements will invite positive outcomes and benefit fish harvesters as

well as the communities in which they live.

Mr. Speaker, key elements of the expanded Fisheries Loan Guarantee Program

include: flexible down payment features; eligibility of combined enterprises for

two or more quotas per vessel; eligibility of licence and quota acquisitions;

greater flexibility in choosing fixed or floating interest rates; added

flexibility and extended repayment terms; and refinancing of loans currently

held by financial institutions or processors.

The fishing industry has long been at the economic heart of many communities

and regions throughout Newfoundland and Labrador. Its prominence, Mr. Speaker,

to the provincial economy continues as it reached a billion dollars in

production last year. Enhancements to the Fisheries Loan Guarantee Program are

the next step in our government's plan to strengthen the fishery to ensure it

remains sustainable and provides long-term benefits to the people of all of

Newfoundland and Labrador.

Mr. Speaker, since the program's launch in 1980, the default rate has been

only approximately 1.1 per cent. When you consider that the provincial

government has guaranteed financial support totalling more than $182 million for

fish harvesters to purchase, construct, or upgrade vessels and acquire new

equipment, it is very evident that this classifies as a successful program. It

is anticipated that a further $100 million in loans will be issued, a huge

commitment from the Province which will facilitate consolidation and support

investments already made in research and development, marketing, and new

technology. This initiative, Mr. Speaker, also supports the owner-operator fleet

separation policies. Our government is demonstrating once again its full support

in this regard. We are not just talking about it.

Mr. Speaker, a transition is undoubtedly taking place in the fishing

industry, being driven by global markets and the need for enterprises to be more

competitive. We compete in a global competitive environment. In order for

Newfoundland and Labrador to compete with the seafood industry around the world,

we have to produce high-quality product and we have to be able to do it at a

price point that is competitive.

Mr. Speaker, the announcement made on Friday will enable harvesters to be

more competitive and allow them options and flexibility in pursuing their

business activities today and well into the future. The provincial government

cannot be hands-on in running the fishery, Mr. Speaker. We cannot be there on a

day-to-day basis telling companies and telling harvesters what they have to do.

We have to let the companies and let the fishermen run their businesses, Mr.

Speaker, and they have to be able to do that to survive. External factors such

as increasing global competition from lower-cost producers, rising fuel costs,

and unfavourable exchange rates mean that change is indeed inevitable. However,

in light of this reality, government and industry continue to work together on

many fronts, Mr. Speaker. We are working together to create an industry which is

more economically viable, internationally competitive, and ecologically

sustainable over the long term.

The Premier, and the entire Government of Newfoundland and Labrador,

recognize the crucial role of the fishing industry within the Province's

economic and social structure, Mr. Speaker, particularly in rural parts of our

Province. That is why we continue to support a full suite of programs and

services to the benefit of the fishing industry that are backed by both

commitment and resolve.

Mr. Speaker, efficiency and competitiveness must be given greater emphasis as

we move forward, and giving harvesters the ability to secure loan guarantees and

enhanced financing terms certainly delivers on that commitment, and there is

more to come.

Thank you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: Petitions.

Petitions

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

MR. JOYCE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I again stand today with a petition concerning cellphone coverage in Cox's

Cove and McIver's.

WHEREAS the lack of cellular phone coverage in Cox's Cove and McIver's 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 parts 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 Cox's Cove and McIver's should have the same

cellular phone 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 ever pray.

Mr. Speaker, once again I stand on behalf of the residents on the North Shore

of the Bay of Islands concerning cellphone coverage. I was encouraged by what

the minister had to say about him going to have meetings with the federal

government and local carriers so that we can try to get this moving for all of

Newfoundland and Labrador.

Mr. Speaker, once again I offer my services to the minister, if he needs

someone from the Opposition to sit in on the meetings to show that there is

support from all parties in Newfoundland and Labrador for this very important

issue. As mentioned in the petition, it is a deterrent for a lot of people

setting up business in a lot of rural parts of Newfoundland, especially down on

the North and South Shore, Mr. Speaker.

We heard the Minister of Tourism today talk about some of the good sites in

Newfoundland and Labrador that we all should visit. There are a lot of people in

Newfoundland and Labrador and from all across Canada who would love to come to a

lot of those sites, but because of lack of cellular coverage and for other

reasons, they are a bit deterred from coming because of a lack of coverage and

safety concerns.

A lot of them could set up business down that way, Mr. Speaker, but because

of the coverage in many areas, businesses cannot grow and cannot expand. It is

an issue for all of us for all aspects of society.

Once again I urge the minister to get the meetings convened as soon as

possible. If need be, I would love to be able to sit in on the meetings and help

persuade the people necessary so we could try to come up with a plan for

Newfoundland and Labrador which would also encourage people in the Bay of

Islands and (inaudible).

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The Member for The Straits White Bay North.

MR. MITCHELMORE: 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 in the District of The Straits White Bay North, despite a $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 the

slower dial-up service; and

WHEREAS broadband Internet enhances primary, secondary, post-secondary and

further educational opportunities;

We, the undersigned, petition

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

MR. MITCHELMORE: the House of Assembly to urge the government to

reinvest in the Rural Broadband Initiatives in Newfoundland and Labrador.

As in duty bound, our petitioners will ever pray.

Mr. Speaker, I have to say that the district has been quite a visionary in

accessing broadband Internet. It was in the mid-1990s when the Nordic Economic

Development Corporation one of the nineteen RED Boards that ACOA is slated to

cut funding, which the Province is not going to bridge that gap right now it

seems. They were the ones who received through Industry Canada and Smart

Labrador to ensure that over twenty communities in the district in the

mid-1990s received access to broadband Internet because they realized how

important it was for economic development, how it was to drive and foster strong

business communities, for educational purposes, to build on tourism. For so many

reasons, we need to.

This is something that I have been talking to the providers, been talking to

the federal government and working we need to find a better collaborative way

to ensure that we are meeting the gaps and we are truly developing a strategic

telecommunications sector that fills rural broadband Internet for all

communities, as well as cellular coverage and as well as tele-learning centres,

to bridge those gaps so we can truly diversify our economy in rural Newfoundland

and Labrador.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The Member for St. Barbe.

MR. BENNETT: Mr. Speaker, to the hon. House of Assembly of the Province

of Newfoundland and Labrador in Parliament assembled, the petition of the

undersigned humbly sheweth:

WHEREAS with declining enrolment, distance education by Internet is now an

accepted way to deliver educational services to students living in small

communities; and

WHEREAS students have little to no say in where they or their families

reside; and

WHEREAS many families do not have the ability to relocate so that their

children can access educational opportunities in larger communities; and

WHEREAS many small businesses rely on the Internet to conduct business; and

WHEREAS high-speed Internet permits a business to be more competitive than

the slower dial-up service; and

WHEREAS no high-speed Internet exists in the community of Bird Cove; and

WHEREAS there are no plans to offer high-speed Internet to residents of these

communities;

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

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

with the private sector and offer high-speed Internet service to these

communities.

As in duty bound, your petitioners will ever pray.

Mr. Speaker, what is happening is that people are watching the House of

Assembly channel and I think that is a good thing; I think it is a good thing

for democracy and they are becoming aware that petitions are being presented

on various issues. This petition from this town maybe it is over and over and

over the member says; however, these are different people from different

communities who are all afraid of being left behind: high school students, town

mayors, people operating small businesses.

When the minister makes his speeches about what a great job the Province has

done in the last eight years, it sounds really impressive when you look at the

number of communities that have been connected; but when you actually go back

and do the math, you see that when this government took office, already 60 per

cent of the Province had been connected, 60 per cent of the people in the

Province, and now, over the last eight years, we have managed to get up to 85

per cent. So, with all of that money that the Province has spent, and even more

so with the contribution of private enterprise deliverers, we are still only up

to 85 per cent.

Mr. Speaker, over eight years to go from 60 per cent to 85 per cent and still

have 15 per cent of the people in the Province left without high-speed Internet

is just completely unacceptable. We hear news stories of businesses that move

and close. These are real people who have real lives; in this case, a student

has gone out and circulated a petition amongst his entire town because he

contacted me and wanted to know: well, why can't we have a petition too?

So, Mr. Speaker, this petition is from residents of Bird Cove who are

approximately two kilometres away from the next drop for high speed, and they

could easily have high speed.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

MS ROGERS: 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; and

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 in

provincial departments and agencies, including public corporations, regional

health authorities, and school boards.

As in duty bound your petitioners will ever pray.

Mr. Speaker, I find that I am getting more and more signed petitions coming

back to my attention. It seems that this initiative has taken on a life of its

own. We have other groups and labour organizations that too are starting to call

out once again for whistle-blower protection, and based not even solely on the

need for this, which has been demonstrated in jurisdictions all over the

country, but also based on the fact that this was a promise made by this

government in 2007.

I think that the people of the Province are fed up with seeing broken

promises and are once again calling on the government to fulfill its promise

that it made in 2007 to enact whistle-blower legislation. We know again from

other jurisdictions how important this can be. In our own experience as a

Province, particularly when we see what has happened in the search and rescue

area, we need whistle-blower protection not for a negative thing, Mr. Speaker,

but in order to make our society and our communities safer, not only for all

citizens but also for its workers. Our workers bring integrity and commitment to

their positions. This is an important piece of legislation.

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

I remind the member that her time has expired.

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

MR. SPEAKER: Further petitions?

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

MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I stand today to present a petition on behalf of people from different

regions of the Province:

WHEREAS the Premier has the authority under the Public Inquiries Act to

establish a public inquiry into the matters of public concern; and

WHEREAS there have been several tragedies in the Province of Newfoundland and

Labrador where search and rescue response has been called into question; and

WHEREAS the Burton Winters tragedy has increased the awareness of search and

rescue capacity in Newfoundland and Labrador; and

WHEREAS the Maritime Search and Rescue Sub-Centre in St. John's is closed;

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

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

establish a public inquiry into search and rescue in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Mr. Speaker, we have presented petitions similar to this in the House of

Assembly before. As more and more of them come in we will be presenting them

again until this issue has been resolved.

What the family has been asking for the family of Burton Winters along with

others throughout the Province and supported by many throughout the Province

is to have an inquiry done into the tragic death of Burton Winters. They have

been asking the federal government, they have been asking the provincial

government, and neither has been in compliance, Mr. Speaker, in honouring that

particular request. In fact, Mr. Speaker, they feel that both sides are trying

to hide something by not doing a full inquiry, and that is wrong. This family

deserves answers, as do the people of Newfoundland and Labrador. There is

absolutely nothing wrong with doing an inquiry or an investigation to find out

if our systems that we have in place are working and operating properly. It is

not about placing blame. It is really about finding the answers, finding the

gaps, and fixing the problem. There is nothing wrong with asking your government

to do that for you in a tragic incident like this. I would encourage the

government to do just that.

The Premier in Question Period today talked about the fact that we as an

Opposition had not directly requested the federal government to do an inquiry.

Well, Mr. Speaker, I was the person who sat in the room with the Minister of

National Defence, Peter MacKay, and I directly asked him if they would

co-operate in any inquiry that would be done into the tragic death of Burton

Winters and if they would be there to provide the information that would be

required by the provincial government to do this inquiry. They said yes, they

would.

Mr. Speaker, I thought that was very fair and co-operative on their part. I

thought the provincial government and the Premier would then move forward to do

this inquiry. Instead, Mr. Speaker, they have continued to do nothing only pay

lip service to this issue. They have continued to be inactive and they have

continued to not deliver the answers that the people of this Province are asking

for.

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

MR. MURPHY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I rise again to present a petition in the House of Assembly for cameras on

the Burin Peninsula Highway.

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 the Burin Peninsula Highway is long and desolate, varying in

elevation, with highway conditions that are often difficult; and

WHEREAS this stretch of highway does not have adequate cellphone coverage to

allow for quick response times for people in distress who need help; and

WHEREAS this highway has innumerable hazards that have led to the death of

travellers in this area; and

WHEREAS no highway cameras are currently operating to let travellers know

about road conditions and warn of possible hazards;

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

install cameras on the Burin Peninsula Highway that will allow travellers to

check on the conditions of the roads.

And in duty bound, your petitioners will ever pray.

It is signed by residents from all over the Province. I am looking at Lewin's

Cove, St. John's, and Mount Pearl. On this one people from the Goulds, Fogo

Island, Port aux Basques, going all the way to Norman's Cove and St. Mary's Bay.

All regions of the Province are covered on this one, Mr. Speaker.

I know we are making some headway in regard to getting the message out when

it comes to road hazard safety, but in some cases it is a bit hard sometimes to

get information on various roads in this Province. That is the purpose of this

particular petition at this particular time, is to have that notification sent

to motorist out there as regards to what the road conditions are like. One of

the best ways to do that in this particular day and age is over the computer,

and one of the ways to do it is with the use of cameras. Of course, the camera

is a great medium to show the actual (inaudible) of the road conditions.

Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure again to present this one. I know in

conversation with the minister responsible for highways, Transportation and

Works, that if the technology were there they would at least consider it. So we

are making progress on this particular petition.

Once again, Mr. Speaker, thank you very much for your time.

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

MR. KIRBY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I rise to present a petition regarding needed changes to the Department of

Education school bus transportation policies.

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 school district restructuring has resulted in longer bus travel times

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

WHEREAS due to recent school closures children living within 1.6 kilometres

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

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

children to different schools on foot; and

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

directly on bus routes are included in kindergarten noontime routes creating

hardship for working parents; and

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

student transportation policies have not been reviewed through public

consultation since 1996; and

WHEREAS parents are expressing the need for more flexible policies for

student transportation and school restructuring to meet the current needs of

school children.

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

conduct a review of school bus transportation policies and school structuring to

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

As in duty bound your petitioners will ever pray.

Mr. Speaker, I know that the 1.6 kilometre policy for the most

part impacts

urban areas of the Province, areas where the population is more condensed, and

sometimes it seems as though busing issues outside of safety issues are urban

issues, but these are truly rural issues as well. I get several envelopes in my

office every day mailed in from individuals in small or remote rural outport

communities around the Province. I encourage people to continue to send those

petitions and I will continue to present them here in the House of Assembly.

People oftentimes send along a note to me as well suggesting solutions, so

there are ideas out there in our communities for changes to school transpiration

policies. All we really need is a process whereby people can participate in the

consultation and have their views on this particular issue heard.

Mr. Speaker, again, I urge the government to hear the pleas of these

petitioners and call a review so that we can enact the necessary changes that

people want to see. 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: Just making sure they finish, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the hon. the Minister of Service

Newfoundland and Labrador, to ask leave to introduce a bill entitled,

An Act To

Amend The Highway Traffic Act, Bill 19, and I further move that the said bill be

now read the first time.

MR. SPEAKER: It is moved and seconded that the hon. the Minister of

Service Newfoundland and Labrador shall have leave to introduce a bill,

An Act

To Amend The Highway Traffic Act, Bill 19, and that the said bill be now read

the first time.

Is it the pleasure of the House that the minister shall have leave to

introduce Bill 19 and that the said bill now be read a first time?

All those in favour, aye'.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Aye.

MR. SPEAKER: All those against, nay'.

Motion carried.

Motion, the hon. the Minister of Service Newfoundland and Labrador to

introduce a bill, "An Act To Amend The Highway Traffic Act", carried. (Bill 19)

CLERK: A bill,

An Act To Amend The Highway Traffic Act. (Bill 19)

MR. SPEAKER: This bill has now been read the first time.

When shall the bill be read a second time?

MR. KENNEDY: Tomorrow, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER: Tomorrow.

On motion, Bill 19 read a first time, ordered read a second time on tomorrow.

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

MR. KENNEDY: Yes, Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the hon. the Minister

of Transportation and Works, to ask leave to introduce a bill entitled,

An Act

To Amend The Works, Services And Transportation Act, Bill 20, and I further

move, Mr. Speaker, that the said bill be now read the first time.

MR. SPEAKER: It is moved and seconded that the hon. the Minister of

Transportation and Works shall have leave to introduce a bill,

An Act To Amend

The Works, Services And Transportation Act, Bill 20, and that the said bill be

now read the first time.

Is it the pleasure of the House that the minister shall have leave to

introduce Bill 20 and that the said bill be now read a first time?

All those in favour, aye'.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Aye.

MR. SPEAKER: All those against, nay'.

Motion carried.

Motion, the hon. the Minister of Transportation and Works to introduce a

bill, "An Act To Amend The Works, Services And Transportation Act", carried.

(Bill 20).

CLERK: A bill,

An Act To Amend The Works, Services And Transportation

Act. (Bill 20)

MR. SPEAKER: This bill has now been read the first time.

When shall the bill be read a second time?

MR. KENNEDY: Tomorrow, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER: Tomorrow.

On motion, Bill 20 read a first time, ordered read a second time on tomorrow.

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

MR. KENNEDY: Yes, Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the hon. the Minister

of Transportation and Works, to ask leave to introduce a bill entitled,

An Act

To Amend The Rail Service Act, 2009, Bill 21, and I further move that the said

bill be now read a first time.

MR. SPEAKER: It is moved and seconded that the hon. the Minister of

Transportation and Works shall have leave to introduce a bill,

An Act To Amend

The Rail Service Act, 2009, Bill 21, and that the said bill be now read a first

time.

Is it the pleasure of the House that this minister shall have leave to

introduce Bill 21 and that the said bill be now read a first time?

All those in favour, aye'.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Aye.

MR. SPEAKER: All those against, nay'.

Motion carried.

Motion, the hon. the Minister of Transportation and Works to introduce a

bill, "An Act To Amend The Rail Service Act, 2009", carried. (Bill 21)

CLERK: A bill,

An Act To Amend The Rail Service Act, 2009. (Bill 21)

MR. SPEAKER: This bill has now been read the first time.

When shall the bill be read a second time?

MR. KENNEDY: Tomorrow, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER: Tomorrow.

On motion, Bill 21 read a first time, ordered read a second time on tomorrow.

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

MR. KENNEDY: Yes, Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the Minister of

Fisheries and Aquaculture, to ask leave to introduce a bill entitled,

An Act To

Amend The Aquaculture Act, Bill 22, and I further move that the said bill be now

read the first time.

MR. SPEAKER: It is moved and seconded that the hon. the Minister of

Fisheries and Aquaculture shall have leave to introduce a bill,

An Act To Amend

The Aquaculture Act, Bill 22, and that the said bill be now read a first time.

Is it the pleasure of the House that the minister shall have leave to

introduce Bill 22, and that the said bill be now read a first time?

All those in favour, aye'.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Aye.

MR. SPEAKER: All those against, nay'.

Motion carried.

Motion, the hon. the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture to introduce a

bill, "An Act To Amend The Aquaculture Act", carried. (Bill 22)

CLERK: A bill,

An Act To Amend The Aquaculture Act. (Bill 22)

MR. SPEAKER: This bill has now been read a first time.

When shall the bill be read a second time?

MR. KENNEDY: Tomorrow, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER: Tomorrow.

On motion, Bill 22 read a first time, ordered read a second time on tomorrow.

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

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

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

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Child, Youth and Family Services.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS JOHNSON: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The clock says sixty-six minutes. I will take it, but I think it is supposed

to be six minutes and thirty seconds.

I would like to go back to where I was speaking on Thursday on the main

motion of this fantastic Budget. On Thursday, I thought I would take the

opportunity to talk about the women's employment plans and that sort of work

that we are doing in government, both in the Department of Advanced Education

and Skills, but certainly supported by the Women's Policy Office.

I have to say, Mr. Speaker, I talked about some of the opportunities and some

of the requirements that this government has put in place in terms of hiring

women when it comes to trades and technology and all of the resource development

that is going on in the Province. On the weekend, when being out at home in the

district for the weekend, I had several calls and several people come up to me

wanting to hear a little bit more about the programs that are available. In

fact, a young Grade 12 student who is graduating this year, she was quite

interested to learn a bit more. The opportunity is there to contact any of the

MHAs or the Department of AES or the Women's Policy Office and we would only be

too glad to help.

The fact that the Premier saw the vision many years ago to make this a

requirement in the environmental assessment plan is certainly paying off today.

Back in 2004 there were 3 per cent of women in the trades in this Province and

we are now up to 10 per cent, Mr. Speaker. So a significant progress, but there

is more progress that needs to be made. I remember many years ago the Premier of

the day saying to me, what this is about is allowing our daughters to have the

same opportunity as our sons. No truer words have been said, and I do not think

anybody would disagree in this House.

I thought I would clue up that piece on the women employment plans and just

speak for the last five minutes or so about the Budget in general. Budget 2012,

the $7.5 billion-or-so Budget, and what a great Budget it is. Of course

tremendous investments in this Budget in terms of health care, apprentices.

Certainly in my own department, child care, foster care, frontline staff, lots

of investments in terms of having a skilled workforce, and huge investments when

it comes to infrastructure and so on.

I thought I would highlight some of the key points, very important points in

the Budget, and it really stems back to 2003 when we first came into power. We

were very principally-based since 2003, and the principle being that we have to

be fiscally responsible and to live within our means and be prudent. When you

are spending taxpayers' dollars you want to spend it for the current generations

but it is also very critical to keep in mind future generations, Mr. Speaker.

That fiscal responsibility and that prudency is something we hold near and dear

to our hearts and to our heads when we make decisions when it comes to budget

time.

One very interesting fact is within a seven-year period, six of the seven

years this government has posted surpluses. Those surpluses added up to

approximately $5.5 billion, Mr. Speaker, a huge, huge significant investment and

something that all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians should be very proud of.

There are not too many provinces that can speak to and boast that they have had

six out of seven years of surpluses.

One really interesting note, Mr. Speaker, if you look back to the fifty-five

years prior to those seven years, out of those entire fifty-five years going

back to Confederation there has only been one other year where a surplus has

been posted, and it was a very small surplus at that. Mr. Speaker, that really

speaks to how this government gets it, why it is so important to be very

responsible with your dollars.

One other interesting key piece of information was we as a government have

not borrowed for operational purposes since 2004. Just imagine, what other

province can say that in the country? In fact, what other state, province, or

country can say that in the world in these trying times? Since 2004, we have not

had to borrow a single dollar for operational purposes.

I had a conversation with the Minister of Finance some time ago. He told me

how - I believe it was the President of the Pension Plan Investments Board for

all of Canada was here to have a discussion around pensions. In the discussion

they were having, this chairperson said: Well, you know how it is, Minister,

having to borrow and so on. The Minister of Finance stopped him and said: No, we

have not had to borrow since 2004 for operational purposes. He just stopped and

paused for a moment. He said: Wow, what a legacy you are leaving for your

children. Congratulations. There are not too many people who can say that; so a

very significant point in terms of speaking to how, as a government, we are

fiscally responsible in not having to borrow since 2004.

Coupled with that, Mr. Speaker, the Province now has an A+ credit rating, not

an easy task and not an easy thing to achieve. Certainly, from Standard & Poor's

rating services they saw it prudent to give us an A+ rating. Again, it speaks to

how we are responsible with every single dollar. While it is a $7.5 billion

Budget, we carefully look at every single dollar we spend on behalf of the

taxpayers of this Province.

Mr. Speaker, as of March 31 this year, our net debt is now at $7.8 billion,

down from $12 billion. That is over just a very short period of two terms. It is

the lowest net debt now that has been since 1999. We always had the ranking of

being the highest net debt per capita in the country. That is no longer true,

Mr. Speaker. In fact, there are two provinces now that have a higher net debt

per capita than us. Again, it is so important when it comes to being fiscally

responsible. When you cut back on the debt like we have to the tune of $5

billion that certainly frees up the debt expenses that you have. Since 2003, we

have reduced our debt expenses by 26 per cent. That is money that can go into

infrastructure , hospitals, schools, and so on.

Mr. Speaker, this year we are predicting an increase in weekly earnings and

disposable income. That then translates into more money that is spent into the

economy

MR. SPEAKER (Verge): Order, please!

I remind the minister her time for speaking has expired.

MS JOHNSON: Well, Mr. Speaker, if I could just have leave for thirty

seconds to clue up?

MR. SPEAKER: Does the member have leave?

SOME HON. MEMBERS: By leave.

MR. SPEAKER: The minister, with leave.

MS JOHNSON: How fast six minutes and thirty seconds goes by.

I would just like to say, Mr. Speaker, I fully support this Budget $7.5

billion approximately. It is Budget 2012 P eople and Prosperity

Responsible Investments for a Secure Future . I support it, I know our

government members support, and I can only hope that the Opposition and the

Third Party certainly supports it as well, because it is good for the people of

the Province.

Thank you so much.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

The hon. the Member for St. John's North.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KIRBY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I would like to pick up where I left off last week. I believe it was Monday

when I spoke on the Budget last. As I mentioned then, no debate about early

childhood education would be complete without a thorough and complete discussion

of the need for a full-day kindergarten program here in Newfoundland and

Labrador. There are six Canadian jurisdictions that have an all-day kindergarten

program right now, and many of those programs are really recent in terms of

their introduction.

Parents in this Province are asking government to follow the lead of these

other provinces, and I hear that all the time. I discussed this issue with the

Minister of Education in Estimates, and he seemed to be coming around on the

issue. Unfortunately, Nalcor appears to see this more of a burning issue for our

schools than the minister does. I say that because I understand that Eric G.

Lambert School in Churchill Falls will be offering an all-day kindergarten

program this coming September. That initiative was first proposed by the school

council at Eric G. Lambert, and Nalcor followed up with the necessary funds that

were needed for the addition of a half teaching unit to make the all-day program

a reality. Of course, all of the school's funding is provided by Nalcor, because

it is effectively a private school.

So, this development is encouraging, and it is encouraging not just for our

parents and children, but for our economy as well. We all know that there are

high economic returns on investments in all-day kindergarten; we know that the

payoff is significant. So, hopefully this government will catch up to Nalcor on

this issue at some point.

It is essential that we move in that direction soon. We know that all-day

kindergarten is strongly associated with earlier and easier transitions to Grade

1 for students not only students, but for teachers and for their parents as

well, Mr. Speaker. We know that all-day kindergarten can help us to create a

generation of learners who are self-motivated, learners who are more successful

in their lives, and learners who are more fulfilled and happier through their

learning experiences. We know that it helps children to develop better social

and emotional self-regulation. Children who have participated in all-day

kindergarten have shown, in the research, that they can better self-regulate

their behaviours. They are better able to focus on their work, on activities,

and they more easily follow instructions. They are more co-operative with

teachers, and they are more co-operative with other students, with other

children in their classes.

If the government really wants responsible investments for a secure future,

the first place to start is by giving our students, our children a stronger

start in school. The research shows that children who participate in all-day

kindergarten get a more solid foundation and they get a stronger start. They get

a strong foundation for their future learning. We know that all-day kindergarten

helps students to improve their reading skills, and we know it helps them to

improve their mathematic skills and their writing skills. It clearly provides a

strong foundation for future learning.

These skills, along with other improved socialization skills, help make

transitions more smooth for students who are going to Grade 1. It makes things

more smooth and it makes it easier for their parents and for their teachers. It

helps to create a school environment where children are more naturally inclined

to learn in their early grades. They are more likely to want to be part of the

school experience. It helps them a lot because they do not have to be moving

from one setting to another all day, from home to school, to daycare, to home;

or, from home to daycare, to school, and then home again.

All-day kindergarten gives them and their parents a more seamless day.

Children have an opportunity to stay in one learning setting longer than is the

case right now, instead of moving between different programs and different

locations. That is one of the reasons why parents prefer all-day kindergarten.

Of course, today we have more single parents in the workforce who are doing

all of that shepherding around of small children. We also have more and more

two-income families in the workforce where both parents are working and it

causes them quite a bit of work to have to shuffle children from daycare to

school, et cetera.

There were fewer problems with transportation then, with all-day

kindergarten, with full-day kindergarten, and that is another benefit that

parents tell us about all of the time. That is another reason why they prefer to

have an all-day program for their kindergarten-age children.

As I have said, there are many academic benefits to an all-day program versus

the part-day program. These academic and social benefits are especially apparent

for children from lower incomes, for children who come from economically or

socially disadvantaged families. We have seen in the research that students from

more challenging backgrounds can make greater gains in all-day kindergarten

programs. Children who go to all-day kindergarten programs have higher test

results in the various tests they would take. They also tend to have better

attendance in school, which is really important. They tend to have higher

reading scores when they go to later grades, and they often have much higher

mathematic scores in later and higher grades.

We should be looking at the benefits of this. Parents certainly know the

benefits. Parents of children in all-day kindergarten programs are more

satisfied, they report a higher level of satisfaction with full-day programs

versus the half-day program, and they say that the all-day program better

prepares children for Grade I because they have seen it happen. They say that

all-day kindergarten has a more relaxed atmosphere and it is less rushed. Of

course it is less rushed because there is less toing and froing and having to go

from school to child care and the other way around. Parents say that all-day

kindergarten gives their children, gives students, a better opportunity to

explore their own interests and provides children with more time for a variety

of creative activities.

If you look at teacher attitudes towards all-day kindergarten, we see from

the research that most teachers prefer all-day kindergarten too. They say that,

in part, because it provides them an opportunity to give more individual

attention to students. The teachers in all-day kindergarten programs are better

able to get to know their students because they have more time with them, they

can focus more attention on them, and they have a better opportunity to get to

know the families of their students as well; be that brothers or sisters in

other grades, or moms and dads. Because of that, teachers report that they feel

that they are better able to meet the needs of children in the all-day program

versus the partial-day program. We have seen from research that teachers agree

that all-day kindergarten is more effective for preparing children for Grade 1

and for later grades as well in school. That is what the research shows, Mr.

Speaker.

If government is looking for a responsible investment to secure the future of

this Province, I suggest government look no further than this because I think we

should be investing in our children and bringing in the all-day program as Eric

G. Lambert School in Churchill Falls has seen fit to do with the kind support of

Nalcor, no less. I know the minister and members of the government have

expressed some concerns about the nature of a curriculum in an all-day

kindergarten program, what that would look like. Members have suggested that

they are worried. They are worried about what students would do in the all-day

program versus the partial-day program, how teachers would structure the

programs, and how they would interact with the children during the full day. I

know the Minister of Education mentioned something a few weeks ago in response

to a question of mine about lining them up two by two. Well, educators in this

area do not recommend lining them up two by two, and I would never recommend

that as a suitable course of action as well. Educators do say and experts in

this area do say that all-day kindergarten provides more opportunities for

children to engage in small group activities. It offers more opportunities for

students to participate or to engage in child initiated activities, activities

in the classroom of their own that come from their own imaginations. That is an

essential part of early childhood education.

The research shows that children who have all-day kindergarten spend less

time in teacher-directed activities. So, less of the time is spent responding to

teacher-directed activities and more in their own self-directed activities.

There is less time spent in large group activities and they have more time for

active, play-based learning. That is another essential component of any good

early childhood education program. We know that all-day kindergarten programs

include more, small group activities. They include more individualized

instruction. That is likely because all-day kindergarten teachers are less

rushed and they have more time for instruction. As I have suggested, maybe they

feel less pressure, less rushed. They have more time to focus on literacy

activities. There is more time for one-on-one instruction. There is more time

for child initiated activity, more time for play-based learning which is so

essential, and more time for self-directed activities.

Another area where I feel the Budget falls short is basically in respect to

the way that our schools are funded in Newfoundland and Labrador right now.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

MR. KIRBY: The current teacher allocation model was introduced after a

review in 2008. It was an improvement on the formula that was there before, but

really it falls short of providing for the needs of students and schools. That

is partially because the teacher allocation formula was designed by only

fulfilling partial recommendations from the review that was done. As government

is aware, it falls far short of providing adequate support for students with

special needs and for the whole policy of inclusion.

We are seeing huge inequities, inequalities, and disparities in the quality

and the quantity of educational programs and services that are being provided to

students with special needs in our schools. Parents of students with special

education needs are experiencing great difficulties as a result. I speak to them

all the time. More and more we are seeing students with special education needs

falling behind their cohorts in key areas of performance, areas like

mathematics, in reading, and in writing. Some parents have become so frustrated

that they have actually gone outside of the school system for help. Some parents

I have spoken to have been forced to pay thousands of dollars out of their own

pockets for private education services for their children who have special

education needs. For example, I have talked to parents who have spent thousands

of dollars on private tutors essentially to bring their children who have a

special need up to grade level so they can be on par with their cohorts, with

other students in their class and at least have an opportunity to keep up. That

sort of thing is happening more and more regularly.

Our new inclusive education model needs a new approach when it comes to

allocating funds through the system, especially teachers. We really need a

system today that provides more front-line, specialized educational supports. We

need additional positions in the system, such as special education assistance,

autism support workers, intensive behavioural intervention therapists,

specialized workers who can be in the classroom to support students with special

needs. Rather than just putting all of these students in the classroom under a

system, more or less the teacher and teacher assistant model that existed prior

to the advent of our inclusive education policies. That is what parents want to

see and that is what teachers want to see, more resources in the classroom for

children with special needs.

There are other problems with the teacher allocation model as well. Teachers

point out that the model right now does not account for the realities of small

rural schools, for example. I had an interesting conversation with someone about

that this weekend. The minister pointed out last week that the student-teacher

ratio I believe he corrected me today is 11.9 students to one teacher.

Well, consider this case, which actually does exist in the Province right

now, where we have a school that has sixteen students in the entire school,

sixteen students in kindergarten to Grade 12, and there are three teachers to

teach them. One of those teachers is the principal. It is looking like that

school is going to lose one of those positions. There are going to be two

teachers with sixteen students in kindergarten to Grade 12. The student to

teacher ratio right there is 8 to 1, but that ratio only tells part of the

story. It really fails to tell the whole story, because if you have three

teachers or two teachers who are trying to teach students in thirteen grades,

then there is a lot of hardship being borne by teachers, and likely by students.

I think this year we are becoming aware that because of the current funding

model, a number of our smaller rural schools will lose teachers, though we do

not know which ones yet, and that will be a significant blow to those rural

schools, and a significant blow to the rural communities that they serve at

present.

There are many other problems that I could note. The current model fails to

account for the needs of schools that offer French immersion and intensive core

French programs; as a result, that is putting a significant amount of strain on

French language teachers and is putting significant strain on students because

they have to deal with significantly large classes.

The model also fails to adequately address the needs of senior high school

students and teachers in senior high school right now in some classes; in more

courses that senior high school students would be more likely to take, like

courses like physics

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

MR. KIRBY: we would have much smaller classes with students getting

much more attention. We have more and more high school students who are falling

through the cracks, and that is especially the case for students who are in

so-called Level IV classes who have a graduation rate that is 20 per cent less

than rest of students in the school, so they are falling between the cracks.

I could go on; we have had promises from this government around an

alternative school in the St. John's area, under the bailiwick of the Eastern

School District. We have seen no movement on that at all. I believe it has been

twenty years now that parents have been looking for that.

So, those are just some of the reasons why I think this Budget is

overwhelming, and those are some of the reasons why I cannot vote in favour of

its passage.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

The hon. the Minister of Education.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. JACKMAN: Mr. Speaker, I am truly pleased to get up and speak after

the member.

Mr. Speaker, I do not know, I was in education for a lot of my life, and I

will say, terminology can tell you a lot. We are talking about three- and

four-year-old cohorts. Mr. Speaker, in all of my life they have been young

children, very sensitive, very delicate. In my twenty-six years in school I

never once referred to those students in my class or someone who is three- to

four-years-old as a cohort.

Now, Mr. Speaker, I do not say that in the context of he is wrong; I say in

the context of understanding learning. I would ask anybody in this room to sit

down and just reflect on a little two-year-old child, because the research will

show you, and I suppose naturally it just falls into place, the minute a child

is born it is ready to learn. The minute it is born it is ready to learn. Mr.

Speaker, all research will tell you that, I believe, the brain triples in size

in the first three years. As a result, that brain absorbs more in the first

three years than some people absorb in their first forty, Mr. Speaker. I am

convinced of it.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. JACKMAN: Mr. Speaker, the initiative that we have undertaken and I

am sure it is going on Twitter right now, and I would almost range to bet it is

being recorded as well.

Mr. Speaker, any of us who have been around a two-year-old, just watch a

two-year-old, from this day, and a week's time, that child will say to you I

will say to one of our grandchildren: Where is Grace? Outside on the step. You

have to wonder, a week ago, that was not even there, so where did it come from?

The reason I am saying that, Mr. Speaker, is that children of this age pick up

so much so fast, it is very important that we invest there. This is the reason

we have. It is not all about dollar figures; this is the reason we have put $4.8

million into a program that is going to give to parents books and other items

that talk about the aesthetics. If the member does not know what it means, I

will sit down and explain it to him; it is about the experience that takes

place.

He referenced in his speech that I talked about lining them up two by two.

Mr. Speaker, I make that in reference to there are people out in the general

public who are convinced that the way to teach their child is with a cue card.