Newfoundland and Labrador Hansard — Members' Statements; Statements by Ministers — 20 March 2013 (47th General Assembly, 1st Session, Vol. XLVII No. 79)
2013-03-20
Newfoundland and Labrador — Debates (Hansard)
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March
20, 2013 HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS Vol.
XLVII No. 79
The House met at 2:00 p.m.
MR. SPEAKER (Verge): Order, please!
Admit strangers.
Statements by Members
MR. SPEAKER: Today we have members' statements from the Member for the
District of Mount Pearl South; the Member for the District of Kilbride; the
Member for the District of Torngat Mountains; the Member for the District of
Exploits; the Member for the District of Baie Verte Springdale; and the Member
for the District of Port au Port.
The hon. the Member for the District of Mount Pearl South.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. LANE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to rise in this hon. House to recognize the
Association for the Arts in Mount Pearl for their tremendous contribution to the
culture and diversity of the City of Mount Pearl and indeed to the Province as a
whole.
This group was formed on March 9, 2005 with twenty-four members. It has since
grown to a membership of over 500, representing a variety of artistic
disciplines.
Since its inception, this group has been actively involved in the community,
organizing such activities as the annual ARTFUSiON Festival, Frosty Film
Festival, a reading series by local authors, annual Arts in the Park summer
activities and performance series, weekly arts workshops for children, and
public workshops in such areas as writing, drawing, storytelling, juggling, and
dance. They have also offered professional development workshops for artists,
writers, and musicians as well as for members of the general public with
interest in various artistic disciplines.
Mr. Speaker, I would ask all members of this hon. House to join me in
commending the Association for the Arts in Mount Pearl for the great work they
are doing in promoting the arts and enhancing culture in my community.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for the District of Kilbride.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. DINN: Mr. Speaker, I stand today to commend Mr. Leonard Ruby, an
outstanding gentleman from my district.
At its recent AGM, the Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Agriculture
announced that Mr. Ruby will be placed in the Hall of Fame in October 2013 for a
lifetime of achievement in farming and as a community leader.
Leonard, who is now eighty-seven, started farming when he was a boy. He
partnered with his two brothers in dairy farming enterprises. He continued dairy
farming until 1987. Since then he has been growing vegetables to retail at local
supermarkets and at their Ruby Line roadside stand. Even last summer, he had a
fine crop of beets, carrots, and onions.
In the past Leonard has been part of many agricultural committees, including
the Dairymen's Association. He has exhibited and shown cattle and vegetables at
local exhibitions since 1937, winning many awards.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!
MR. DINN: I cannot hear myself now.
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
MR. DINN: He has served on many church and community groups.
Through the years Leonard has been supported by his wife, Lena, who can be
seen most summer and fall months selling at the roadside stand.
Mr. Speaker, I ask all hon. members to join me in congratulating one of the
finest men I have ever met on his induction.
Thank you.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for the District of Torngat Mountains.
MR. EDMUNDS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I rise in this hon. House today to congratulate Ms Andrea Flowers of Hopedale
on being awarded Woman of the Year in Nunatsiavut.
Ms Andrea Flowers, better known as Aunt Joy, was presented with this
prestigious award on March 13 of this year by Nunatsiavut President Sarah Leo.
Aunt Joy is a well-known and respected elder in Hopedale and very involved in
the community church as a chapel servant. Growing up in the community of
Hopedale as a young boy, I spent many hours at her home and enjoyed her stories
and her witty comedy.
Aunt Joy is best known for her fantastic ability in crafts and traditional
clothing. She has made countless pairs of sealskin boots and mitts. I am proud
to say, Mr. Speaker, that I have been fitted more than once with traditional
clothing made by Aunt Joy.
Mr. Speaker, I ask all hon. members to join me in congratulating Ms Andrea
Flowers, Aunt Joy, on being recognized as Inuit Woman of the Year.
Thank you.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for the District of Exploits.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. FORSEY: Mr. Speaker, on February 26 of this year, Superior Glove
Works of Point Leamington in the District of Exploits and its parent company in
Acton, Ontario, was recognized as one of Canada's Best Managed Companies. The
National Award is sponsored by Deloitte, CIBC, National Post, Queen's School of
Business, and MacKay CEO forums.
Mr. Speaker, Superior Glove Works is marking its twenty-fifth anniversary
this year. The company employs fifty-one workers at its Point Leamington factory
and manufactures 25,000 work and safety gloves a day. Branch Manager Frazer
Stuckless said the company's products are top-notch using modern automation,
however, he also said that manual labour is vital to the knitting of the safety
gloves using fiberglass materials which is spun and woven at the plant.
Mr. Speaker, I ask all members of this House to join me in congratulating
Frazer Stuckless and his company, Superior Glove Works, on being recognized as
one of Canada's Best Managed Companies.
Thank you.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for the District of Bay Verte
Springdale.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. POLLARD: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I count it a privilege to rise in this hon. House today to honour a very
special lady who graced this earth from July 10, 1923 until her passing on
February 27, 2013 at the age of eighty-nine.
Mary Rebecca Saunders, born to Robert and Jermina Oxford of Springdale, wife
of Arthur Saunders, was remembered in a service of celebration on Sunday, March
3, 2013 at her jam packed church.
This wonderful lady, along with her devoted husband, had fourteen children,
eighteen grandchildren and twenty-one great-grandchildren, all of whom she loved
dearly. Her children still live and work in Springdale today, which is very
unique.
She enjoyed knitting, completing puzzles, and spending quality time with
family and friends. A lifetime member of the Home League, Mary was the oldest
soldier of the Salvation Army, Springdale Corps and faithfully attended and
supported her church.
Mr. Speaker, I ask all hon. members to join me in saluting Mary Saunders, a
generous, loving, jovial lady who enriched all of our lives by leaving a legacy
of love.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for the District of Port au Port.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. CORNECT: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I rise today to recognize the Town of Cape St. George for their commendable
efforts in going green. Cape St. George is a small community on the Port au Port
Peninsula and now offers curbside collection of compost and recyclables.
Since implementing this initiative in the community this past fall, the Town
of Cape St. George is already enjoying the benefits. The goal is to reduce
landfill waste by more than 50 per cent. The town has already seen a reduction
of waste by approximately one ton per week.
Mr. Speaker, funds from the recyclables go towards supporting the two local
schools' breakfast programs. Compost is being used for the benefit of all the
residents.
Waste reduction is the central goal of the Provincial Solid Waste Management
Strategy. The residents of Cape St. George are a shining example of how we, as
Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, can play an active and vital role in reducing
waste.
Mr. Speaker, I ask all hon. members to join with me in applauding the Town of
Cape St. George and its residents in undertaking this green initiative.
Thank you.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: Statements by Ministers.
Statements by Ministers
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Transportation and Works, and
Minister Responsible for the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. DAVIS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I am honoured to rise today to provide an update on the impact
that investments by this government are having to reduce the waitlists for
housing assistance through the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation.
This government has made significant investments in social housing and home
repair programs for homeowners with low and moderate incomes. The benefits of
these investments are demonstrated through improvements in the condition of
social housing across the Province. Today, 70 per cent of social housing owned
and maintained by Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation is now
considered to be in top condition, up from 30 per cent in 2007.
Since 2009, tenants and applicants are seeing the benefits of our investments
first-hand. Investments in social housing, through the Provincial Social Housing
Plan have resulted in a 30 per cent reduction in the social housing waitlist.
Mr. Speaker, it used to be above 1,200, it is now down below 900. By increasing
investments through the Provincial Home Repair Program over the last six years,
the waitlist for assistance through that program has dropped by almost 75 per
cent, from 4,300 down to 1,300.
Mr. Speaker, this government remains committed to providing safe and
affordable housing options to those with low and moderate incomes. As a result,
those seeking housing assistance are now available more quickly, and are more
quickly able to receive the support they need.
As Minister Responsible for the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing
Corporation, I am encouraged by the improvements that we have achieved to date
and the positive impacts that these are having on Newfoundland and Labrador
Housing clients.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
The hon. the Member for Bay of Islands.
MR. JOYCE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I thank the minister for an advance copy of his press release. I say to the
minister, there is no doubt there are a lot of times that RRAP does help a lot
of people in Newfoundland and Labrador, but it is even to the point now where
people cannot even get an application. That is how much money, the lack of
money, should be put in there.
Mr. Speaker, I just want to remind the minister, if you think the housing is
doing so good and the wait-list, the reason we do not have a wait-list is people
are being taken off the list. It is not because people are finding housing or
finding Newfoundland and Labrador Housing. They are actually being taken off the
list.
Mr. Speaker, if any of them do not think there is a problem with Newfoundland
and Labrador Housing, come out to Corner Brook and I will show you the list we
have in our office, just our office alone. One of the problems you have is when
someone leaves a unit I know one unit that is up to six or seven months vacant
because they cannot get the work done to move in.
I ask the minister to look at that kind of stuff and to ensure that people do
get affordable housing across the Province.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
The Member for St. John's Centre.
MS ROGERS: I thank the minister for an advance copy of his statement.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Repairs and modifications to the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing
Corporation housing stock were long overdue. Municipalities, housing advocates,
and the general population are adamant that Newfoundland and Labrador is in the
middle of a housing crisis with no relief in sight.
Seniors downsizing, students, young working families with child care costs
and student loans, single people or first-time home buyers, workers in areas of
resource development there are thousands of low- to moderate-income families
who cannot afford decent housing and are spending way more than 30 per cent of
their income on shelter.
This government has promised a home ownership assistance program. Where is
it? This government has still not developed an overall housing strategy for the
Province
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
MS ROGERS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Service Newfoundland and Labrador.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. MCGRATH: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today in this hon. House to acknowledge
Tuesday, March 26 as Check Registration Day.
Check Registration Day is an important part of Fraud Prevention Month as it
promotes awareness and prevention of investment fraud. This day encourages
consumers to check for legitimate licences and/or registrations of any financial
advisors, real estate agents or brokers, insurance agents or brokers, mortgage
brokers, and securities providers. This is especially important before entering
into any investment agreement or business transaction.
Mr. Speaker, the Financial Services Regulation Division of Service NL works
to protect Newfoundlanders and Labradorians from fraud. The Service NL Web site,
www.servicenl.gov.nl.ca, features a list of currently licensed or registered
service providers. Consumers are encouraged to check a firm or individual's
legitimacy against this list. Service NL is a member of the Canadian Securities
Administrators and the registration of securities providers can be checked
through their Web site at www.aretheyregistered.com.
Mr. Speaker, Service NL encourages all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians to
take appropriate steps to protect themselves against fraud. Awareness is a
consumer's number one defence. Almost 30 per cent of Canadians believe that at
some point in their lives they have been faced with the threat of investment
fraud. This type of fraud typically involves significant sums of money and can
leave its victims devastated.
If consumers feel they are the victim of fraud, they may report their case to
the Financial Services Regulation Division of Service NL, the Royal Newfoundland
Constabulary or the RCMP.
Mr. Speaker, for Check Registration Day, I encourage all Newfoundlanders and
Labradorians to become more educated about fraud and to check the registration
of any firm or individual offering an investment opportunity before entering
into an agreement. In the fight against fraud, knowledge is power.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
The Member for Torngat Mountains.
MR. EDMUNDS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I thank the minister for an advance copy of his statement. Mr. Speaker,
March, as the minister stated, is Fraud Prevention Month. Each year, thousands
of Canadians are defrauded and there is no typical victim. Fraud targets
Canadians of all ages and of all walks of life.
Mr. Speaker, people who pull off these scams are often creative and well
organized, and they are getting better at it. In our lives, we are vulnerable to
these professional criminals, so it really is incumbent on each of us to be
aware and to recognize the tactics of these fraudsters.
Common forms of fraud include: prize lottery scams, work-at-home job
opportunity scams, anti-virus scams, and the list goes on and on, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, as the minister said, anything that the consumer can do to protect
themselves, such as checking registration of an individual or firm offering
investment opportunity, we should do this and make ourselves more proactive
against this type of criminal activity.
One thing, Mr. Speaker, that arises around the issue of fraud is that many
people are too embarrassed to report the theft. In order to stop this, we must
report, Mr. Speaker. According to stats, the Competition Bureau received an
average of 20,000 requests and complaints. Mr. Speaker, that is no small number.
Knowledge is indeed power, and we need to protect our friends and family and
to use our tools that we have to report these crimes.
Thank you.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for St. John's East.
MR. MURPHY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I would like to thank the minister as well for the advance copy of his
statement.
I would like to note a couple of things about this release. Again, it is good
for government to be coming forth and giving everybody advance notice and giving
them a little bit of education when it comes to fraud, particularly as is going
on today no more so than when you just look at the Internet, how prevalent
fraud has become, and how easy it is through e-mail and that sort of thing for
it to be pulled on somebody.
outreach that they doing here, because what they are talking about is the
setting up of access through the Internet, but not a lot of areas of the
Province have Internet availability. I would just like to bring that forward to
government here, to possibly have a contact number, a phone number to contact
with regard to that. As well as that, consider registering volunteer groups who
are going through fraud when it comes to their fundraising efforts.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: Oral Questions.
Oral Questions
MR. SPEAKER: The Leader of the Opposition.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. BALL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
In February, the Federal Environment Commissioner slammed the C-NLOPB for not
being prepared for an oil spill in the North Atlantic. In his last report,
Commissioner Scott Vaughan said the federal and provincial governments, through
the C-NLOPB, are not prepared for a spill off our shores.
I ask the minister: Oil spills can threaten our offshore environments, so why
have you not pressed the C-NLOPB and offshore operators to be better prepared?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Finance.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. KENNEDY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
As I said yesterday, safety is a primary concern of all of us when it comes
to the offshore, but a secondary and very significant concern is that of the
environment. We certainly take very seriously issues that can affect the
environment, and oil spills are something that can have an adverse effect, as we
have seen in the Gulf.
Mr. Speaker, what we are doing here is we are working with the C-NLOPB. As I
indicated last week, I met with the Chair and the vice-chair on a separate
matter dealing with estimates in relation to production. We will do the same in
relation to the protection against oil spills.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The Leader of the Official Opposition.
MR. BALL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Well, this week, in response to an oil spill off of BC, or concerns in BC,
the federal government announced improvements in oil tanker inspections and
regulations, yet the Premier and her federal cousins have done nothing in this
Province to increase liability caps on operators currently set at only $30
million.
When are we finally going to see an increase in oil spill liability caps in
this Province?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Finance.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. KENNEDY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
In dealing with the oil industry in this Province, we have to recognize the
tremendous wealth that is brought to our Province as a result of the investments
of these companies in offshore and what it produces for our Province.
Also, in relation to the Member for Humber Valley, we are seeing the
possibility of enormous oil resources on the West Coast of the Province. There
will have to be balancing there, Mr. Speaker, between the economic benefits and
the protection of the environment.
We look at all of that. It is certainly something that we will take into
account and I will pass on to my colleague for further discussion.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The Leader of the Official Opposition.
MR. BALL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
We realize we have seen in recent months, of course, the impact that an oil
spill can have. We have seen about $28 billion spent just in the Gulf of Mexico
because of the Deepwater Horizon. Liability caps are very important.
Mr. Speaker, the minister mentioned about the interest on the offshore of
Western Newfoundland and government still has no regulations in place for
hydraulic fracturing in our Province.
Aside from the environmental assessment for individual projects, any other
government oversight is still unknown.
I ask the minister: Why are you not following the example in New Brunswick
and establishing provincial regulations on hydraulic fracturing?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Environment and Conservation.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. HEDDERSON: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
To pick up where my colleague left off, obviously there is a balance between
the economic and the environment. Our environmental assessment is a very robust
assessment that covers all aspects of the activity that would be carried out
fracking included in any well that is drilled, especially this now being
drilled on land that would proceed out underneath the sea.
This assessment we will look at. Also, when we look at the assessment, the
officials who are dealing with that, I say to the hon. member opposite,
naturally will be looking to other jurisdictions to get what is the best
practices and to make sure that we are fully cognizant of what needs to be done
with regard to protecting the environment and insisting that any proponent
follow those guidelines.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The Leader of the Official Opposition.
MR. BALL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
What are missing are the regulations, and that is what we are referring to,
because if you want to protect the environment and truly attract investment into
the Province, there need to be secure regulations around hydraulic fracturing.
As I said, people in the industry need to know what is allowed and what is not
allowed, and what and when this will be forthcoming.
I ask the minister: With over twenty billion barrels of oil, potential oil
off Western Newfoundland, and thousands of jobs at play, why are you so
disengaged in this file?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Environment and Conservation.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. HEDDERSON: Nothing, Mr. Speaker, could be further from the truth. We
are very much involved with this file and this proposal that is coming forward
with regard to drilling activity on the West Coast. As a matter of fact, it will
cover two jurisdictions, as the member is quite aware.
The C-NLOPB will be looking at the offshore,
whereas the provincial
government, through its assessment, will be looking at onshore. As it proceeds
under our aquifer as the most important thing here with regard to that drilling
operation, will be protection of the groundwater. We are going to make sure
everything is done and the proponent realizes that before anything happens that
all aspects of that project have to be given to us.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Official Opposition.
MR. BALL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Well, it is no question we will keep pressing for the regulations for the
industry and for the people of the Province. It is something they are looking
for.
Mr. Speaker, most people are in agreement with a full-day kindergarten
program. Indeed, full-day kindergarten is offered in most other provinces and
territories, yet this government is content to leave our children behind by
denying them access to this great program.
I ask the Premier: How high a priority is the delivery of a full-day
kindergarten model in this year's budget?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Education.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. JACKMAN: Mr. Speaker, we have never said that we would not commit.
Our intervention, Mr. Speaker, has been $4.8 million in the 0-3, 0-6 age range.
Never question let's get the facts straight, Mr. Speaker. Our investment per
student capita in this Province, Mr. Speaker, has gone up 80 per cent since
2003. Let's get the facts right, Mr. Speaker, our education system is second to
none, quality education in this Province.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Official Opposition.
MR. BALL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
It appears I do not need to remind the minister to wash his hands today, as
they have done this with full-day kindergarten at the expense of our students.
I ask the minister: Will you now commit to a pilot program for full-day
kindergarten where classroom space exists, and will you also commit that any new
schools built in the Province will be designed to have space for this vital
program?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Education.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. JACKMAN: No, Mr. Speaker, I am not going to commit to that today.
Look at the facts in our school system, Mr. Speaker. We have gone from having
the highest dropout rate to the second lowest in the entire country, Mr.
Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. JACKMAN: Mr. Speaker, our students are performing at rates that were
not seen before. So our investment in education is paying off in dividends, Mr.
Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Bay of Islands.
MR. JOYCE: Mr. Speaker, today government announced funding for the Corner
Brook hospital.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. JOYCE: There is a saying, dj vu all over again.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
The hon. the Member for Bay of Islands.
MR. JOYCE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
There is a saying, dj vu all over again. In 2011, the Member for Humber
East stated construction will begin in 2012. Now we learn that the design work
may begin this year.
I ask the Premier: Why has this government continuously made false
commitments to the people of the West Coast, and how can we feel confident that
this commitment will be met?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Finance.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. KENNEDY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
What happened today in Corner Brook is a shining example of how our Premier
operates. When she says she is going to do something, she does it, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. KENNEDY: We made a commitment to the people of Corner Brook, but we
also have to make a commitment to the people of the Province to ensure we have
the best facility and one that is necessary for the area; $227 million announced
today for the Corner Brook hospital.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. KENNEDY: What member in this House would not want a $227 million
announcement in their district over the next three years, Mr. Speaker? What we
have is a situation where Stantec did a review. It looked at the best facility
for the area. The cost of the hospital is estimated to be between $500 million
and $600 million.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
The hon. the Member for Bay of Islands.
MR. JOYCE: (Inaudible) cheap out on the West Coast because we heard this
since 2007. This is the same Premier who made the commitment to the hospital in
the original size $1 billion. Now it is right sized, which is downsized,
Minister, and you know it.
Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Health said this morning that the Corner Brook
hospital will be the right facility at the right time. Rightsizing is, of
course, code for downsizing, and right time is no doubt code for the 2015
election when construction coincidentally may begin.
I ask the Premier: Why has your commitment downsizing the regional hospital
without any input from the frontline workers or the people on the West Coast?
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Finance.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. KENNEDY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
May I remind the member opposite of the opening of the Stephenville hospital
without doors, or doors without knobs on them in 2003 for an election, Mr.
Speaker?
Mr. Speaker, this hospital will be a 260-bed hospital that will have 100 beds
for long-term care. It will have the acute care facilities. It will have
in-patient mental health services and a hostel.
Stantec looked at the hospital, Mr. Speaker. They looked at what was needed
for the area. They looked at the master plan in terms of the function of program
required.
I am a bit disappointed in the member opposite; he has pressed so hard to
have a hospital built. We are going to spend $227 million in three years and he
is still not happy, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The Member for Bay of Islands.
MR. JOYCE: I apologize to the minister if the people in Corner Brook
cannot get health service because of false commitments. I am sorry if they
cannot get health care. Just to let you know, if what you just said is correct
there will be a decrease on the West Coast of acute care beds if what the
minister just said is correct. That is something the people of Corner Brook do
not know.
Mr. Speaker, the lack of safe drinking water is a risk for many
municipalities. There are over 250 boil water advisories affecting about 170
communities in our Province.
I ask the minister: Why isn't your government's drinking safe water strategy
reducing the number of boil order water advisories on THM levels?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Environment and Conservation.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. HEDDERSON: Mr. Speaker, when it comes to clean drinking water in this
Province of Newfoundland and Labrador, that has to be a top priority not only
for that side of the House but for this side of the House as well.
Back in 2001, under a former Administration there was a solid strategy that
was put in place as a result of the Walkerton crisis where seven people died and
over 2,000 got sick. That spurred a solid strategy
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
MR. HEDDERSON: that this Province has built upon since that time. We
stand by that strategy as being what is necessary right now in order to ensure
that everyone in this Province has the opportunity for clean drinking water.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The Member for Bay of Islands.
MR. JOYCE: I say to the minister, I know 160 communities that will
disagree with your strategy and feel it is not working. There are about 120
communities in our Province affected by high THM levels. Some have THM levels
that are double and triple the national standards.
I ask the minister: What is government's plan for communities whose THM
levels exceed the limits established by Environment Canada?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Environment and Conservation.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. HEDDERSON: First of all, Mr. Speaker, through Municipal Affairs we
try to provide the necessary financial resources. Since 2008, Mr. Speaker, we
have invested $50 million of provincial money which leveraged $114 million of
municipal and federal government money. We are looking at least seventy-two
water treatment projects in Newfoundland and Labrador. We have provided that.
In addition to that, from my Department of Environment and Conservation, we
have made sure that we have provided other resources, namely, workshops and so
on to make sure that we have certified people in these communities looking after
these systems.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The Member for Cartwright L'Anse au Clair.
MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Over 500 Aboriginal workers have been trained through the Labrador Aboriginal
Training Partnership to work at Muskrat Falls. Government committed that there
would be hiring practices giving preference to Aboriginals, meaning the Innu,
other Aboriginals, and Labradorians.
I ask the government today because I have met with the Innu, Inuit,
NunatuKavut, along with other Labradorians who have many concerns that they are
not getting hired why is the priority not being given to these workers when it
comes to jobs at Muskrat Falls?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Finance.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. KENNEDY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Guiding the development of the Lower Churchill Project is a benefits
agreement between Nalcor and the Province. Mr. Speaker, in terms of the hiring
there, the primary beneficiaries are to be the Aboriginal peoples, the people of
Labrador, and then the people of the Island.
Mr. Speaker, as of January 2013, there is 369 people working on Muskrat
Falls; 101 of these are residents of Labrador and fifty-four of them are from
Aboriginal groups.
What I have to indicate to the member opposite that a lot of hiring that is
currently going on, it is all on the Web site. It is being monitored, Mr.
Speaker. Nalcor's contractors and subcontractors are obligated to comply with
the benefits agreement. There will be a monthly announcement, Mr. Speaker. We
are monitoring closely to ensure that the benefits agreement is being complied
with.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The Member for Cartwright L'Anse au Clair.
MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
We understand that the hiring preferences have been negotiated and they are
part of the collective agreement with the Resource Development Trades Council,
and they stipulate that the Innu and other Aboriginals and Labradorians have the
priority for hiring. I have discussed this with a number of the companies that
have contracts on the site, and what I am being told is that they are not able
to hire many of these Aboriginals and Labradorians because they do not have
union membership
I ask the government if they are aware of this, and I ask them what is being
done to monitor this practice to ensure that more Labradorians and more
Aboriginal people get employment at this project.
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Finance.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. KENNEDY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I am aware that the unions are aware of the benefits agreement. For example,
Mr. Speaker, the RDC which I think represents sixteen unions that will be
working at different parts of Muskrat Falls, are certainly aware of it. Mr.
Speaker, as of June to December 31, 2012, there had been 185 Labrador residents
worked or working on Muskrat Falls.
Obviously, what the member opposite says is correct in terms of
qualifications and union memberships, but we have worked, Mr. Speaker, to ensure
that members of Aboriginal communities especially especially the Innu Nation
receive employment preference.
We are certainly aware of and working with the unions on that issue.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for St. Barbe.
He has time for one quick question.
MR. BENNETT: Mr. Speaker, I attended Municipalities Newfoundland and
Labrador Avalon Regional meeting on Friday where the IBRD Minister discussed
regional development. I thought it was ironic that the government that abandoned
rural economic development now want to get municipalities to do it.
I ask the minister: Does this mean that government plans to download rural
development to small municipal councils who are so strapped for cash they cannot
even chlorinate their drinking water?
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, Friday night we had a great discussion with Municipalities
Newfoundland and Labrador. Their leadership, who was very supportive and very
vocal in terms of initiatives we have taken in terms of working with them, in
terms of economic development certainly supportive of it. Forty members there
from the Avalon in terms of municipal councils, I spoke to them and they are
very excited in what we are doing. We are continuing to work with them, driving
economic development in rural Newfoundland and Labrador.
Certainly, what he got from the meeting is not what we got, or most of the
people in that room got. They are very excited about working with us. They are
going to continue to do it, the good work in economic development in rural
Newfoundland and Labrador, and we are certainly going to continue it.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Third Party.
MS MICHAEL: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
Parents, students, and staff of the Virginia Park Elementary School continue
to wait for word on when the construction of their new facility will begin, with
my support, Mr. Speaker. They will have heard in the news that the Minister of
Education has directed the Eastern School Board to cut $5.5 million from its
budget and that most of that will come from capital expenditures.
I ask the Minister of Education, Mr. Speaker, if he will commit today that
the money to construct the new Virginia Park school will be in this year's
Budget.
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Education.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. JACKMAN: Mr. Speaker, she is going to have to stay tuned as to what
is going to appear in the Budget. I would suggest that she leave her spin at
home and stick to the facts as she would know it.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
The hon. the Leader of the Third Party.
MS MICHAEL: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
The Premier's Muskrat Falls sanction party in December cost the people of
Newfoundland and Labrador over $16,000, $4,000 of which was the cost of
postponing the original time that she had scheduled.
I ask: When the Premier threw her $16,000 party for herself, did she already
know she was going to fire hundreds of people in a few months?
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
The hon. the Minister of Finance.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. KENNEDY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
We know where the NDP stand on Muskrat Falls. They do not support it,
despite, Mr. Speaker, the number of high-paying jobs that will be created for
union members in Muskrat Falls. So despite that, we had a situation where there
was a sanction event. The sanction event was to celebrate what will be and will
go down in history as one of the most significant events in Newfoundland and
Labrador history.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. KENNEDY: Muskrat Falls is about the future of this Province. It is
about providing for our children and grandchildren. It shows the vision we have,
and the lack of vision and the lack of plan that they have over there.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
The hon. the Leader of the Third Party.
MS MICHAEL: Mr. Speaker, I hope the Minister of Finance is ready to say
that $16,000 was worth the party when he is looking at people who have lost
their jobs from this government.
Mr. Speaker, government has hired Deloitte and is paying them $4 million to
find $15 million annually in savings across government. In the media this
weekend, for free, the Heavy Civil Association suggested another means of saving
money: issue public works tenders early. Tenders issued ahead of the
construction season will allow for better budgeting and planning for all in the
industry. This has happened in the past in this Province and it happens in other
jurisdictions.
Mr. Speaker, I ask the Minister of Finance if this government is prepared to
adopt this winning policy.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Transportation and Works.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. DAVIS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I can tell you that I have met with the Heavy Civil Association. We have had
some very good discussions and communication is very important to this
government. We have made significant investments in this Province since we took
over government and, I tell you, we make no apologies for the significant
investments we made. We will continue to work with industry stakeholders to
continue making those investments in the best interests of the people of the
Province.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
The hon. the Leader of the Third Party.
MS MICHAEL: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
So they are not going to look at this policy that is being recommended. Thank
you very much.
Mr. Speaker, the federal loan guarantee stipulates the federal government and
lenders appoint an independent engineer charged with reviewing the DG3 capital
cost estimates of Muskrat Falls. It further stipulates the Province foot the
bill for this company's work.
Mr. Speaker, I ask the Minister of Finance: Has this company been put in
place, and if so, what is its name?
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Finance.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. KENNEDY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The federal loan guarantee actually outlined the name of the company. I
cannot remember the name right now, but I certainly can find out for the member
opposite. I am pleased to say that the federal loan guarantee has continued to
be worked upon and finalized, Mr. Speaker, and that construction is going on
with Muskrat Falls. Lots of union members are making lots of money, despite the
lack of support from the NDP.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
The hon. the Leader of the Third Party.
MS MICHAEL: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
I just have to make one comment, Mr. Speaker
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
MS MICHAEL: if there is any spin going on in this building today, it is
the spin from the ministers on the other side of this House. Although Muskrat
Falls will be the biggest investment in the history of the Province and will
saddle huge debt on a generation yet to be born, government is very sparing with
project details. People are left to find out potential project troubles from
dedicated people doing investigative work on their own. The recent North Spur
concerns are a prime example.
Mr. Speaker, I ask the Premier: When will she end her government's obsession
with secrecy and offer monthly updates, good news and bad, to this House on the
progress of the Muskrat Falls Project?
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Finance.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. KENNEDY: Mr. Speaker, we have top-notch engineers working at Muskrat
Falls. Mr. Speaker, we have not only the Nalcor engineers but we have also
out-of-Province engineers who are working.
I find it insulting that the member opposite has to always cast aspersions on
these Newfoundlanders and Labradorians who are working at Muskrat Falls, Mr.
Speaker, the people of Nalcor who are doing what is best for this Province. It
is very unfortunate, but that appears to be the way she looks at things.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
The hon. the Member for The Straits White Bay North.
MR. MITCHELMORE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thirteen of twenty-one public water supplies in my district are currently on
boil advisories; two local service districts for more than fifteen years, and
two towns for over ten. Some have received funding in the past but the advisory
has not been lifted.
I ask the Minister of Municipal Affairs, if they have a plan to provide safe
and clean drinking water to public water supplies so that people are not forced
to boil water for decades?
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Municipal Affairs.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. O'BRIEN: Yes, Mr. Speaker.
Since 2008 we have invested $634 million approximately in regard to water and
waste water projects across this Province. As the Minister of Environment and
Conservation referenced, $50 million of that was in seventy-two water treatment
projects in the Province as well.
Also in 2008, we started a comprehensive overview of safe water issues in
Newfoundland and Labrador. Out of that came our portable water systems, which we
have thirteen units now in operation and we have probably about another eight or
so that are moving through the stages and getting to completion in the short
order, probably this spring.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for The Straits White Bay North.
MR. MITCHELMORE: Mr. Speaker, I certainly acknowledge investments made in
water, but basic problems are not going away.
Funds from the provincial government provided an unincorporated community of
Grandois an on ground waterline, but it freezes up when the weather gets cold.
This means that seniors are forced to collect water from ponds to wash dishes,
take baths, and flush toilets in a so-called have Province.
Mr. Speaker, I ask the Minister of Municipal Affairs: Will his department
take responsibility for insulating this water line so that seniors can have what
most of us take for granted a year-round water supply?
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Municipal Affairs.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. O'BRIEN: Mr. Speaker, each and every year since 2010 we have had
about a $700 million ask from municipalities in Newfoundland and Labrador
concerning various projects, mainly water, waste water, roads, whatever it may
be. We have invested heavily, $630-odd million since 2008 in those particular
projects. I would advise the particular community that you are referencing to
make an application under Municipal Capital Works, and surely we will have a
look at it and see exactly what we would do to alleviate the problem.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
The hon. the Member for St. John's East.
MR. MURPHY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Unfortunately, industrial development can be a threat to the safety and
integrity of our water supplies. Municipal watersheds are facing threats from
the start up of a fracking industry in the Province, as well as from mining
interests that want to drill in watershed areas.
Mr. Speaker, I ask the government: Why is government allowing mineral or oil
exploration within watershed areas?
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Environment and Conservation.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. HEDDERSON: Again, Mr. Speaker, to continue on where I left off with
another hon. member on the other side, is that we take very seriously any, any
intrusion on our environment. We also make sure that if anyone is going to
proceed with any project that they would have to follow strict guidelines, they
would have to present exactly what they are doing.
We make sure, from my officials and at least three other departments, that
this is going to be done correctly because we understand, as well as everybody
else, that water supplies have to be protected. We make sure everything is done
to provide the people of this Province with the satisfaction and comfort that it
has been carried out.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for St. John's East.
MR. MURPHY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, the findings from our water sampling program should ring alarm
bells within the Department of Health, particularly. Government has known about
the THM issue as early as 2001. There are many reports stating that THMs cause
an increased risk of bladder and colorectal cancers. People thirty-five and
older run close to twice the risk of getting such cancers where samples of water
containing seventy-five parts per billion exist. That is below the Health Canada
standard.
Knowing these statistics, can the minister tell this House of her concerns
for water safety?
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Environment and Conservation.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. HEDDERSON: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
It is about water safety, but more importantly, it is about our people of the
Province and making sure that they are being protected. Our first line of
defence with water is chlorine. I think I have already explained when that broke
down in Walkerton, that basically, we had seven people die and we had 2,000
people who were sick; not only that, but there were long-term effects. When we
look at our water supply, our first line of defence is to make sure that we are
doing the proper disinfection that makes sure that these outbreaks would not
occur.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
The Member for St. John's East, for a very quick question.
MR. MURPHY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Seventy-five parts per billion is an alarming statistic. What is government
going to do to address the high THM levels found around the Province?
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Environment and Conservation.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. HEDDERSON: Again, very quickly because I know there is a discussion
following where it will become clear it is all about risk management. We
understand about THMs and we work with the municipalities, making sure that they
have the certified individuals and making sure that they have options. We also
make sure that we put on our Web site all of the information that is required
for people to make the right choices when ingesting any water in this Province.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
The time for Oral Questions has expired.
Presenting Reports by Standing and Select Committees.
Tabling of Documents.
Notices of Motion.
Answers to Questions for which Notice has been Given.
Petitions.
Petitions
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Burgeo La Poile.
MR. A. PARSONS: 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 humbly sheweth:
WHEREAS Newfoundland and Labrador currently has the highest rate of
unemployment in Canada; and
WHEREAS the government of Newfoundland and Labrador anticipate a labour
shortage of 70,000 people by 2020; and
WHEREAS eliminating the career practitioner knowledge base is contrary to
attaching people to the labour market; and
WHEREAS employment assistance services, EAS agencies, are grassroots hubs in
communities, providing services like skills development, resume development,
interview skills, facilitating attachment to the labour market and the
community; and
WHEREAS EAS agencies help individuals with complex needs find and maintain
employment in communities throughout the Province; and
WHEREAS EAS agencies have been serving thousands of people for years,
building expertise and rapport; and
WHEREAS loading the workload of 226 employees onto 139 Advanced Education and
Skills employees would be an overwhelming expectation, increasing staff turnover
and thus decreasing rapport with clients; and
WHEREAS EAS funding comes from the EI fund, built by workers to help them
when and where they need it most; and
WHEREAS moving services away from people who lack the means to travel long
distances is not in line with the Labour Market Development Agreement's
principle of citizen-centered service;
WHEREUPON the undersigned, your petitioners, humbly pray and call upon the
House of Assembly to urge the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador to reverse
the decision to cut funding to EAS in the Province.
As in duty bound, your petitioners will ever pray.
This is another one of these petitions that I have entered, and it is amazing
the speed at which they are coming across my desk from all over this Province.
This one actually has signatures mostly from the St. John's area. Certainly,
these offices here in St. John's and the Metro region are having a tough time as
well, because they have an overflow of people who they are dealing with, trying
to steer them in the right direction and provide help to these people, to try to
attach them to the labour force.
I guess we are all going to get a bit of info tomorrow as we hear the federal
budget and see what changes are going to be made, especially when it comes to
this. I know there has been a lot of talk about how the feds are not happy with
how the Provinces have handled this.
I find it hard to disagree with them in some cases, given that we have been
receiving this money since 2009 or so; we have received hundreds of millions and
yet we have made the short-sighted decision to close these offices down and not
do what they are supposed to do, which is attach people to the labour market and
place this on the EAS offices which would do good work, but they do not have
the manpower to do the amount of work that they are going to be called upon to
do. It is simply not good enough.
I am sure I am going to be entering more of these, because they are coming
from all areas of the Province, including Stephenville and Corner Brook. I
appreciate the opportunity.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for St. John's East.
MR. MURPHY: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
To the hon. House of Assembly in the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador in
Parliament assembled, the petition of the undersigned residents of Newfoundland
and Labrador humbly sheweth:
WHEREAS the process of slickwater hydraulic fracturing or fracking injects
hazardous chemicals into rock formations to extract oil and is polluting
groundwater and air across North America; and
potential environmental impacts of shale oil and gas extraction in Canada,
including fracking; and
WHEREAS Quebec, Nova Scotia, and a number of US states have halted fracking,
and others are introducing regulations specific to fracking; and
WHEREAS it is incumbent upon the provincial government to ensure that our
natural environment is protected from harmful industrial processes;
WHEREUPON the undersigned, your petitioners, humbly pray and call upon the
House of Assembly to urge government to impose a moratorium on slickwater
fracking until it develops comprehensive regulations and ensures that each
proposed project undergoes a conclusive environmental assessment to determine
whether it is safe for the environment, the integrity of water supplies, and
human health.
As in duty bound, your petitioners will ever pray.
Mr. Speaker, this is one of probably many I am told are going to be coming
across my desk, and this one comes particularly from areas of the West Coast
that are probably going to be under the button of the fracking industry when it
begins over there. Indeed, it has already begun as early as 2002. This comes
from areas such as Piccadilly, Stephenville, Western Bay, Port au Port, Lourdes,
and it just goes on with the number of communities: Kippens and Stephenville.
The members of this House of Assembly have to be made aware that water is of
great concern to the people over on the West Coast, the Western Region of the
Province, not only in Labrador and the Island portion of the Province of
Newfoundland but all areas. This is a big concern when it comes to industrial
development. Fracking is going to do more damage than what it is for positive
economic benefits.
There is nobody who is antidevelopment when it comes to this. We are saying
and the people of Newfoundland and Labrador are saying to slow down. Let us take
a second look before we do any other damage to our environment. Let us look
after what is making us great, one of those things that happens to be the
integrity of water supplies. Everybody has a right to clean water, Mr. Speaker,
and we do not need to see water in this Province taken under threat.
I will leave it at that for now, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
The hon. the Member for St. Barbe.
MR. BENNETT: Mr. Speaker, a petition to the hon. House of Assembly of the
Province of Newfoundland and Labrador in Parliament assembled, the petition of
the undersigned humbly sheweth:
WHEREAS there has been an agreement between the Federation of Newfoundland
Nation Band; and
WHEREAS persons submitted applications, with required documents, for
registration in the Band up to the application deadline of November 30, 2012;
and
WHEREAS the reported number of applications received by the Qalipu Mi'kmaq
First Nation Band is in excess of 100,000; and
WHEREAS the reported number of applicants now registered as members is
approximately 22,000; and
WHEREAS the agreement between the Federation of Newfoundland Indians and the
scheduled to end on March 31, 2013; and
WHEREAS the Qalipu Mi'kmaq First Nation Band has requested, but has not
received, an extension to the agreement to process the remaining applications;
and
WHEREAS to date there is no decision on how to deal with the remaining
applications;
WHEREUPON the undersigned, your petitioners, humbly pray and call upon the
House of Assembly to urge the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador to work
provide a fair and equal review of all our applications.
As in duty bound, your petitioners will ever pray.
Mr. Speaker, these petitions keep coming. It is ironic that the last day when
they can have their application processed is March 31, 2013. The day that we
entered Canada was March 31, 1949. It is on the anniversary date of all of us
coming into Canada.
This is an application by people who are claiming native ancestry, 22,000 of
which have been processed and 100,000 applicants in total. There is always a
fear that people are going to be left behind. It would be very unfortunate. It
would cause discrimination without any particular valid reason simply because of
time, simply because the application process is under-resourced. It is
under-resourced by the federal government.
There is absolutely no cost to the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador to
proceed and to push and make representation to the federal government. The
petitioners certainly request and petition this House of Assembly to impress on
the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador to support them in this application.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
MR. SPEAKER: The Member for St. John's Centre.
MS ROGERS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
To the hon. House of Assembly of the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador in
Parliament assembled, the petition of the undersigned residents of Newfoundland
and Labrador humbly sheweth:
WHEREAS as a result of a recommendation in the Green report about wrongdoing
in the House of Assembly, there is now legislation that protects anyone who
speaks up with evidence of financial abuse or other impropriety in the
legislative branch; and
WHEREAS it is unfair for one group of civil servants to be protected by
whistle-blower legislation when another group is not; and
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; and
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; and
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.
Orders of the Day
Private Members' Day
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
It now being 3:00 p.m. and being Private Members' Day, I now call on the
Member for The Straits White Bay North to do his private member's motion.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. MITCHELMORE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I move the following private member's motion, seconded by the Member for St.
John's East:
WHEREAS Newfoundland and Labrador has more than 160 communities affected by
Boil Water Advisories (BWAs); and
WHEREAS more than 150 communities are currently dealing with potentially
harmful levels of trihalomethanes (THMs), a possible human carcinogen; and
WHEREAS covering the cost of supplying basic services like safe drinking
water is challenging for most municipalities due to limited resources from
taxpayers and the provincial government; and
WHEREAS municipalities are forced to make unreasonable choices such as
turning off their chlorination systems because they do not have the revenue to
maintain trained staff to properly run their drinking water systems; and
WHEREAS reduced confidence in public drinking water can lead to people
choosing alternative water supplies like untreated ponds and roadside springs;
THEREFORE
BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Assembly urge government to
address the issue of safe drinking water in the Province by developing a new
Newfoundland and Labrador Safe Drinking Water Strategy that will include but not
be limited to:
A comprehensive, ongoing public education program in plain language to inform
the public about:
The risks of using roadside springs and ponds, and the need for regular
testing of private wells;
The distinctions between safety and aesthetics of drinking water, and how to
reduce the exposure to THMs;
Detailed information to accompany each BWA, including reasons for the
Advisory, safe uses of water and proper boiling procedures;
A review of capital and operating grants to enable communities to obtain the
trained staff and equipment to build, operate and maintain drinking water
facilities;
Research and development of water treatment systems appropriate to the
Newfoundland and Labrador environment.
Mr. Speaker, the United Nations has recognized the human right to water and
sanitation and acknowledged that clean drinking water and sanitation are
essential to the realization of all human rights. It is quite essential, Mr.
Speaker, that we as a Province in Canada are able to ensure that safe and clean
drinking water is a high priority, if not the top priority for the people of
Newfoundland and Labrador. I recognize the provincial government has been taking
strides to address water issues.
I want to say, Mr. Speaker, that I live in the unincorporated community of
Green Island Cove. There are no public water supplies, despite there being pipes
in the ground from before my time of a failed project offered by the provincial
government in years gone by. I guess back pre-1980s or early 1980s there were
failed plans as well.
Needless to say, all residents in Green Island Cove, like many other
communities, are responsible for their own private water supplies. In my case,
multiple wells had to be drilled, resulting in either too much salt, magnesium,
lead or other minerals, and high concentrates. At this point, in a private
household we have to spend dollars, and have spent them, on purification
systems, water softeners, and filtration systems.
Water and providing safe and clean drinking water is a very complex issue.
What we have had to do is purchase water like many other residents, whether they
are in incorporated or unincorporated communities, water from the local
co-operative in these sanitized water drinking stations, generally in 18.9
litres. Sadly, Mr. Speaker, this is really not the solution for providing safe
and clean drinking water to our communities and really providing long-term
health for our residents to make sure that that is protected.
The Minister of Health has said on numerous occasions that the state of our
health care spending is really unsustainable. We spend more per capita than
anywhere else in Newfoundland and Labrador, and we are seeing where programs in
the health care system are being cut. Clean and safe drinking water really needs
to come from the taps to our homes, and preventive care is one of those ways of
providing the basics to assist in that and help reduce the cost and the burden
on our health care system.
We need to really move from a voluntary testing program in these private
wells to looking at moving towards a more regular testing program so that we
know, because knowing is important. People have the right to know. The Province
should be obligated in making sure we have the best information available in
these situations as well, because it can lead to a better and healthier
population.
Drinking water is really essential to human health and well-being. In many
circumstances large urban public drinking water generally poses a non real
health risk to consumers. We have seen, though, in some cases, even in the
larger water supplies, that they have been compromised in the past. The City of
St. John's, in December 2009, experienced a malfunction at their treatment
plant, but a very short, temporary twenty-four-hour boil advisory was
instituted.
These disruptions, Mr. Speaker, can be quite inconvenient, but typically they
can be fixed very quickly in these large urban centres, like St. John's, Mount
Pearl, and Corner Brook, because these areas have the financial and technical
resources that are available to produce excellent and high-quality drinking
water for the people they serve.
Boil advisories, really, are intended to be emergency measures, as we see in
these larger areas, to protect consumers from imminent but really temporary
threats to drinking water safety. Long-term continuing advisories, regardless of
their underlying rationale, are a frank admission that these affected systems
are otherwise failing to assure safe drinking water.
We saw, Mr. Speaker, with elevated levels of THMs in Pouch Cove and Bonavista
that long-term exposure can really hinder and cause health risks over the long
term because they have such high elevated levels. We have to look at that the
Minster of Environment and Conservation has said it can take a lifetime of
exposure to THMs to make a significant difference to a person's health. Well, if
we really look at safe drinking water, it is defined by the guidelines of not
representing any significant health risk over the lifetime of consumption,
including different sensitivities that occur over the life stages. That is
significant.
Mr. Speaker, people are living in these rural communities that are having
these impacts for a lifetime. In my very own district, a total of thirteen of
the twenty-one public water supplies are on boil water advisory. Some
communities have two. As well, there are two local service districts that have
been on boil advisories since 1997. That is quite long term. That is in excess
of fifteen years. There are towns that are on a boil advisory for more than a
decade.
They are not alone, though, Mr. Speaker. Communities on the North Coast of
Labrador, in meetings with the Combined Councils of Labrador, expressed
concerns. We look at some of the solutions that are being provided, like potable
water distribution units to look at trying to help. We do need to look at
potential solutions that are there, and I hope to get to talk about that and
those who will participate in this debate.
As of March 2013, there are 233 boil water advisories affecting 168
communities. According to the latest drinking water safety annual report that
has been made public May 2011 there are 250 boil water advisories affecting
164 communities, affecting 40,000 people.
Only seventeen of those, Mr. Speaker, were due to unsafe water tests. The
other 198 were documented failures, caused by the inability to operate water
systems effectively; forty-two, no disinfection system; twenty-three, system
turned off; forty, system broken; seventeen, operational problems; and
seventy-three, chlorination not reaching the whole system. So, there are
distribution problems.
Mr. Speaker, we have to look at some of the systemic problems that are
chronic to many of the small rural municipalities and local service districts
and how can we address that. The regulation of drinking water is guided and
managed through a series of departments, so not one person has responsibility.
Highlighted in previous reports: Service Newfoundland and Labrador, Environment
and Conservation, Health and Community Services, Municipal Affairs, and managed
by municipalities and local service districts, and even those individuals who
are responsible for their own water supplies.
Mr. Speaker, it is evident that there is a disconnect sometimes, a
fragmented, almost a very much ad hoc manner that leaves us vulnerable to future
water failures, most likely in smaller systems; and we see where small
municipalities, typically less than 500 people, are the most vulnerable to the
boil water advisory.
These are concerns. These are evident concerns, Mr. Speaker. It is evident,
though and I am not saying this that there are some initiatives and progress
happening under the current Administration. We see that the Minister of
Municipal Affairs has talked, on several occasions, of the commitment to the
Province to improve water quality in its municipalities. He has talked several
times about a regional approach and regionalization, and I commend that to the
Minister of Municipal Affairs.
I have seen in my district approvals for new water systems, and they continue
to work through the process. I hope that, like many others, they will be removed
from boil water advisory.
We look at the plan that government has had with the Multi-Barrier Strategic
Action Plan in 2000 and Rural Drinking Water Safety Initiative of 2008. There
have been things where monitoring has been improved and watersheds have been
protected, but the system still has problems.
I firmly believe that we need a system that better promotes and rewards those
providing safe and clean drinking water. We need to ensure that smaller
municipalities are afforded the training, support and compensation that match
their responsibilities through their actions or their inactions for the health
of an entire community.
Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador had the following quote:
"Co-operatively tackling the problems in the system should be the main focus;
blaming the volunteers is not the answer." That is in response to a comment from
a former Minister of Environment and Conservation based on commentary in a
Budget's Estimates of 2011.
Mr. Speaker, the MHA for St. John's East and I held a meeting of
regionalization in The Straits involving the communities of Eddies Cove East to
Anchor Point. The Department of Municipal Affairs was invited to be part of this
process. A total of sixty people attended the meeting, reflecting a need to
advance public drinking water supplies to these unorganized communities and
organized communities. There were wells tested that showed results of E. coli,
others showing and sharing their experience of discolouration and rust, while
some had undrinkable water due to high salt content.
The area has only two municipalities and three Local Service Districts,
meaning eight communities are not receiving public water supplies. However, back
in the day there were incorporation papers for Sandy Cove and Savage Cove with a
promise of community water supply from a nearby pond. Sadly, that never
materialized.
Concurrently, though, provincial drinking water policies should encourage,
where conditions allow, effective means and consolidations of smaller systems
into larger, more viable operations. Maybe we need to consider regional water
authorities.
When I lived in England, it was quite clear they have consolidated their
smaller communities and are being served by regional water authorities.
Therefore, not every town needs a trained person to maintain water systems; they
can be shared. This is a step that requires further study, but could be part of
the solution to help deal with our vast geography and small rural communities. A
common-sense approach, good planning for the long term, and looking at advancing
a new clean drinking water strategy is where we need to go to improve, to ensure
that our residents are better looked after than they are today.
I will in my closing address some of the solutions and other suggestions. I
encourage the debate. I look forward to the dialogue, because this is an
important issue for all people of Newfoundland and Labrador, no matter where you
represent or which party you stand for.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Conception Bay East Bell Island.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. BRAZIL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I want to thank the Member for The Straits White Bay North and the Member
for St. John's East for putting forward this private member's bill, because it
gives me an opportunity to reflect on exactly what we are doing as an
Administration and how we are tackling some of the issues facing municipalities
and the people in this Province, particularly what our strategy is around
addressing these issues.
I want to make it very clear, Mr. Speaker: this Administration's primary
objective is about the safety of our citizens, particularly around safety in the
water that they consume. We do not compromise that by any stretch.
I just want to look at some of the things that have been noted here. I give
credit; the member has noted sometimes when he criticizes us, then he will jump
back and compliment us for the investments we have made and he will also talk
about things that we are doing well. Then, times he will talk about the fact
that we have a very vast Province here and it is hard to invest in every part of
it and it is hard to make sure that all the needs are met, but he does realize
that we have taken major steps forward to improve what we do in this Province
for the citizens, particularly around water safety.
I just want to go to part of his resolution here: "Therefore
be it resolved
that the House of Assembly urge the government to consider the following
measures as part of a Newfoundland and Labrador Safe Drinking Water Strategy".
Mr. Speaker, we have had a safe drinking water strategy in place for over a
decade here now. I give credit; it started with the Liberal Administration in
2001 as a result of Walkerton credit to our learned colleagues over there who
took the lead on that. They took the lead and started it, and as a result it
came to us, but taking the lead does not mean anything. There is a difference
between taking the lead and showing leadership. We showed leadership. We have
taken it and moved it to the next step. The next step is engaging the people,
engaging municipalities, engaging the federal government, and engaging the
authorities in the various parts of the Province, trying to look at developers,
how we make sure water safety is a primary objective, and how we work in ways of
training and these types of initiatives.
I just want to talk about some of the things outlined by the member's
presentation: "a comprehensive, ongoing public education program in plain
language to inform the public about". Plain language, Mr. Speaker, is how we
talk in this Administration, how we have engaged people, how we talk about our
transparency, and how we have made it easier for people to be able to consult
with us. That is our main objective, and even the media will give us credit for
how we do that and do it very effectively.
The risk of using roadside springs and ponds well, Mr. Speaker, we have to
be honest and up front - we do not encourage people to do that. The safety risks
are too high. We tell people that is not in the best interests of the people who
are going to have to consume water.
What we do say, and we do offer a process here, if you want to come in and
have that spring or roadside ponds tested, we will do that free of charge.
Another one of the many services that this Administration offers free of charge
to our citizens, because we want to make sure their safety is our primary
objective. Now, we still do not encourage it, because as the flow of water and
rain and runoff and everything else changes, so does the potential risks that
are in that water supply, but we give people the opportunity there. We give them
that resource at their fingertips at no cost.
Mr. Speaker, that is another benefit that people have taken very high
advantage of. We are happy to be able to say, hopefully, we have saved people
from getting any health risks and now have a better understanding of what water
is safe for them to drink.
The need for regular testing of private wells; again, that is another one of
those free services we offer. People will come on in, and we will test it to
make sure it is as safe as possible for the individuals. We have perhaps the
most stringent regulations when it comes to drilling wells and dealing with the
companies that are tasked with that, to make sure that the best potential flow
of clean water is available for those citizens.
The distinction between safe and unsafe water and how to reduce exposure to
THMs; well, Mr. Speaker, as was mentioned by the member over there, there is a
reason why we have boil advisories, because again today we want to put minimal
risk to anybody who is using it. We have not had a boil order during this
Administration because we have taken every risk possible. We have invested in
our infrastructure, we have trained people, and we have partnered with the
municipalities, we have partnered with the contractors, we have partnered with
the general public to make sure they are aware of the risks that may be in the
water they consume.
So, we have been doing all this, and doing all that. It is a public
knowledge. We have a Web site, a water safety portal that anybody can go in at
is we are offering. What exactly are the risks out there, how it is being
assessed, who can take advantage of it, and any resources they may need that we
have at our disposal is at their disposal also.
We will partner with them. We will make sure those resources are out there to
identify any gaps in the potential safety issues around water that they may
have, including reasons for advisories, safe use of water, and proper boiling
procedures. We do that. We are the ones who put it out there. We put out flyers.
We put out brochures. We put out signs.
We go to municipalities and encourage them. We do training with the
Federation of Municipalities. We offer training for staff in municipalities. We
offer it for local areas. We work very closely, particularly the Department of
Environment, very closely with developers on making sure when they are drilling
for water that everything meets with the specifications and the regulations we
have as part of our operating policies.
A review of capital and operating grants to enable communities to obtain
trained staff and equipment to build, operate and maintain drinking water
facilities. Mr. Speaker, we have just been acknowledged there by the Member for
The Straits White Bay North. We have invested more than anybody. We have
invested $160 million between the three levels in the last five years to
guarantee safety is there for the people we serve.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. BRAZIL: Mr. Speaker, that is just the initial part of how our
strategy is working for the safety of people in this Province.
Again, as I mentioned earlier, the focus of the government on drinking water
safety in Newfoundland and Labrador is second to none. We work co-operatively
with municipalities throughout the Province to provide education, training, and
support in our efforts to deliver clean and safe drinking water to the residents
of Newfoundland and Labrador. It is our primary objective, and we have been very
successful at doing that.
Drinking water infrastructure is a major investment for the communities
throughout our Province. Operations and maintenance of these systems is often
difficult for smaller communities because of fiscal restraints. I know we are
criticized here because of the fiscal restraints that have been imposed at
certain times, but this Administration, through the Minister of Municipal
Affairs, has invested more money than any other Administration in the past.
Only recently, we have added to the operating grants of all municipalities
and we put no restrictions on how they use that money, Mr. Speaker. They have
the ability to take that and put it into what they may see as one of their
primary focus areas. I would hope in most cases water safety would be one of
those, to maintain the systems they have in place.
We are proud of the work that we do on a daily basis to work with our towns
and communities to protect, enhance, conserve, develop, control, and effectively
utilize the water resources of our Province. We have done that. We continue to
do that. We engage all the other line departments to make sure the resources are
available to our municipalities.
In 2012, there were 514 public water distribution systems in Newfoundland and
Labrador serving a population of 407,000 people. Of these systems, 70 per cent
are classified as very small, serving a population of 500 people or less. So you
understand the challenge we have in being able to maintain the system there,
upgrade a system, and put all the infrastructure in place, multiple challenges
that we have in this Province, Mr. Speaker. That is noted by a lot of the other
services we try to provide with people, be it education, health care, or road
infrastructure. Mr. Speaker, we make sure this is one of the important items
here because of the safety for the people in this Province.
Our Multi-Barrier Strategic Action Plan approaches includes: source
protection, adequate and affordable water treatment, water distribution system
operations and maintenance, drinking water quality monitoring and reporting,
operator education and training, and research and policy development. We want to
make sure the people who are at the front end in the municipalities have the
training to be able to go out and assess exactly what may be a risk to the
people who are in their areas.
The Department of Environment, assisted by the Departments of Municipal
Affairs, Health and Community Services, and Service NL, as well as various
federal departments, regional health boards, and municipalities, participated in
the implementation of this action plan. We have developed a partnership because
we see the benefits of having all the stakeholders engaged, knowing that we can
better use the resources that are available to benefit the people of this
Province. That is what we do, and we do it very effectively. In this case it has
been a benefit to the people we serve.
We are making substantial gains. I do not mind saying, Mr. Speaker, that on a
national basis, we are considered one of the leading provinces when it comes to
our commitment to safe drinking water for our residents. In fact and I want
the member there from the NDP to note this, because I guess he is very aware of
this organization Ecojustice, a national organization dedicated to defending
Canadians' rights to a healthy environment, gave our Province a B grading in
2011 for our efforts to help ensure safe, clean drinking water for the people of
our Province.
If you look at it, going back to 2001, we have been upgraded from a D level
to a B level. That is a testament to the investment we have had there. Are we
stopping at a B level? No; for this Administration, through our leadership here,
it is all about: how do we get to the best level of safe drinking water for the
people who we serve? Mr. Speaker, that is what we continue to do. That is what
the Minister of Environment and Conservation, the Minister of Municipal Affairs,
and all the other line ministers who are engaged in this process want to make
sure happens. It is why we invest; it is why Cabinet invests the money here to
make sure the services for the people are adequate and are safe.
This speaks to an incredible amount of work that has been done in this area
since we introduced our multi-barrier approach to drinking water safety in 2001.
We have increased that from a D level, Mr. Speaker, as I said, to a B grading
right now. The results of this report indicate that drinking water safety in
Newfoundland and Labrador has been on an improving trajectory. The improvement
is due to the hard work of all stakeholders working together.
We can only engage the municipalities, equip them, give them the proper
training, and try to engage other ways that they can leverage funds and services
to make sure that the clean drinking water is put in the proper manner so that
it can be availed of by all people in this Province. In our Province, more than
90 per cent of the people who use water are now receiving it from a protected
source, a testament, too, to what we have done.
We understand that there is not a one-size-fits-all solution to water in our
Province. It is why we continue to work with our municipalities to develop
approaches based on their individual needs. We sit down with these individuals
and determine: where is our best investment and where is it that they want us to
emphasize how we do things?
We have been criticized over the last period of time for not investing in
rural Newfoundland. I just want to tell you about the potable water dispensing
units that we have installed in the various communities. I just want to read out
a list of ones that are now in operation in various areas: St. Lawrence,
Buchans, Howley, Black Tickle, Burnt Island, Gaultois, and Ramea; under
construction or commissioned: Whiteway, Point May, Leading Tickles, Mary's
Harbour, Postville, Rigolet, Isle aux Morts, Lawn, Seal Cove, Makkovik, and Port
Saunders, just to name a few, and others in the works. People cannot say we are
not committed to rural Newfoundland and Labrador; that is an example there of
what we are trying to do and improve for the people in this Province.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. BRAZIL: Mr. Speaker, I just want to reiterate: what we have taken
here to lead since 2001 is to improve the infrastructure when it comes to water
safety. While the resolution has some merits and we applaud the member for that,
there is no doubt that we would support the components of that, because we have
been doing it; we have been living it. The rest of the world has been watching
how we do it. We have been getting people from the United States; universities
down there want to look at how we have been testing it. We are getting it from
Walkerton themselves, who have come to us and said: we want to be engaged in how
you guys have gotten to your regulatory process, how you have engaged the
training, and how you put the system in place so that the people would know what
is safe and what is unsafe. We have managed to do that very effectively.
Mr. Speaker, with that being said, while I support the resolution put
forward, I would like to propose an amendment. Mr. Speaker, it reads as follows:
the Member for Conception Bay East Bell Island, that the private member's
resolution now before the House of Assembly be amended by replacing the words,
"address the issues of safe drinking water in the Province by developing a new
Newfoundland and Labrador Safe Drinking Water Strategy that will include, but
not be limited to:", with the words, consider the follow measures as part of the
Newfoundland and Labrador Safe Drinking Water Strategy.
Seconded by the Member for Fortune Bay Cape la Hune.
I want to propose that as an amendment to the resolution.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for this opportunity, and I want to propose that to
the House.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
We have an amendment proposed by the Member for Conception Bay East Bell
Island. We will distribute that amendment to people and we will take a brief
recess to consider whether the amendment is in order.
Recess
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
We have considered the amendment put forward by the Member for Conception Bay
East Bell Island, and have considered the amendment to be in order.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The Member for Conception Bay East Bell Island.
MR. BRAZIL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
While I have a minute left, I just want to touch on a few other things to
show how we have been moving our strategy forward. During 2011, Mr. Speaker, we
also initiated a study into public drinking water systems supplied by
groundwater that is suspected to be under the direct influence of surface water.
That is another way we wanted to make sure we had all the information necessary
so that our strategy could include any other approaches that we needed to
address that issue.
These various initiatives are further proof of our ongoing commitment to
clean and safe drinking water in Newfoundland and Labrador. In addition to the
numerous studies, we also support the use of emerging tools and technology for
the monitoring of water quality. Near Real-Time Water Quality Monitoring
Programs can be used to indicate the presence of chemical contaminants and can
provide an early warning of potential threats to water supplies and human
health.
Our efforts have not gone unnoticed. Our water resources experts, as well as
the technology developed right here in Newfoundland and Labrador, has gained
attention on a worldwide stage. In fact, our expertise has been utilized in
Egypt, the Kingdom of Jordan, and Russia. Mr. Speaker, again, that is a
testament to the work being done by the professionals in this Province.
I want to thank everybody for listening to my words.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
The Member for St. Barbe.
MR. BENNETT: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, the issue of clean, safe drinking water, you cannot have a lot
of issues more critical and more important than clean, safe drinking water.
Maybe health, maybe fire protection, maybe police protection, maybe sanitation,
but clean drinking water must be one of the most critical issues that a
government can deal with and one of the most important issues, and we are not
making the grade in this Province.
Mr. Speaker, I wanted to try to determine exactly how many boil orders are in
existence in the Province, because the number keeps changing. I could not quite
fathom why it would be up one day and down the next day. In fact, that is
accurate.
Through the efforts of one of our researchers, the number that I have that
was produced by the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador up to 7:00 last
evening was 229. I thought it would be useful to see which towns have boil
orders, which towns do not have boil orders. Then because the government is so
fond of blaming the government before and saying: Well, when we took over, there
was nothing for us to work with, the Province was almost bankrupt, and
everything was in terrible shape. Look at the great job we have done.
I thought that maybe I should look and try to determine where these boil
orders are, how old these boil orders are, and how long the boil orders have
been around. So I started to review and if any members want it, I am more than
happy to table this document when I finish, although it simply is the
government's boil water advisory.
I thought I should go through the list of boil orders and some of them have
been outstanding for a long, long time, an unbelievable length of time. Some of
the reasons are sort of astounding, I guess. If you look at one on the first
page of this list of twenty-nine, it says: chlorination system turned off by
operator due to lack of funds to operate. You look at the length of time, it
says: June 1, 1995. You look at it and say: Well, where is that? It is in Baine
Harbour.
So, you have to wonder: Do they have a minister? Do they have a member? How
can a place like Baine Harbour have a boil order in place, according to the
government numbers, for the last eighteen years because they do not have enough
money to pay for operating a chlorination system?
If you look at others, if you look and see Churchill Falls why would
Churchill Falls have a boil order? Churchill Falls is a company town. Churchill
Falls has two boil orders. One from October 14, 2008 and another from June 8,
2010, and it is still in effect. A town that contributes so much in revenue to
this Province, yet it has two boil orders one has been outstanding for four
years and another one for nearly three years.
Continuing to look at them, if you look at one in Lawn speaking to the
amendment and also speaking to the motion, I see that the people from Lawn get
their water from a place called Brazil Pond. Brazil Pond has total coliforms
detected and confirmed in repeated samples. So, Brazil Pond in Lawn that serves
705 people has had a boil order since last August, and they cannot seem to get
the water safe to drink.
Then I look at other towns and I see Piccadilly-Abrahams Cove: 414 people and
364 people. They have had a boil order since September 28, 2010; system turned
off by operator due to lack of funds to operate.
Mr. Speaker, this seems to go to a very deep matter, a deep issue of
mismanagement of the Province's resources. How could we possibly have these
towns, in such good times, with boil orders for such basic reasons as they
cannot afford to run it? They have a system and they just cannot afford to
chlorine it? That makes absolutely no sense. To me, it is a complete indictment
of how this Province has performed or has not performed under this government
for the last nine years.
So I thought, let's see how many of these problems they inherited. Let's see
how many of these problems they let happen. Let's see if it was necessary that
we should have over 200 boil orders. I think not. I think we should have at
worst only a handful of boil orders, and that should maybe be due to repairs
which you see in some of these.
In going over the entire list, I thought: well, let's take them at their word
that there was no money in 2003. Give them a pass for 2003. Let's also give them
a pass in 2004 saying they really did not have things in order. If the taxpayers
expected nothing in water and sewer from 2004, well, let's go another year and
let them have 2005 where they put nothing into water and sewer. Let's start in
2006, because we all know that the gravy train got well underway in 2006. There
have been barrels of money in this Province since 2006.
How many new boil orders do we have? How many boil orders in this Province
started in 2006 and forward and still exist? Mr. Speaker, 113 boil orders in
this Province while this government has been absolutely flush with cash. Not the
first year they took over, not the second year they took over, but starting in
the third year they took over we have 113 boil orders in eighty-five months.
That is an average of 1.3 new boil orders a month since this government has had
more money than they could count. I think that is absolutely disgraceful. It is
completely shameful that our water should be in this system.
Let's say instead that this government had been a little bit more proactive.
Let's say they did not allow any more boil orders. They were attentive enough
that they were minding the shop and they were looking after the Province.
Instead of making political announcements, grandiose schemes, big plans and
doing things like announcing hospitals time and time again, making offshore
announcements and getting into contentious fights with the federal government,
let's say they actually looked after the Province.
Let's say they looked after the people who elected them with the money that
came in non-renewable resources from this Province. If we had no new boil orders
after 2006 because the government had gotten things together, then we would have
had 116 boil orders outstanding. If the government then paid serious attention
to boil orders many of these boil orders appear to be simply in place because
there are mechanical problems, there are chlorination problems, or there are
problems that are relatively minor and systems are already in place.
This government is so bent on making big announcements, announcing
infrastructure and waving a flag about what a great job they are doing, when in
fact they are not. We have, as of 7:00 o'clock last night, 229 boil orders, 116
of which they inherited and 113 which they created. That is completely
unacceptable. I do not see why the people of this Province should accept this
type of a result. If you look at simply no chlorine in the water, the
disinfection system turned off due to maintenance or mechanical problems. This
report is literally riddled with these types of problems.
The minister in Question Period responded to what happened in Walkerton. I am
familiar with Walkerton. Walkerton was a situation where seven people died
because of water with E.coli in it. The E.coli in the Walkerton water came
because of farming activity. In the wintertime, with hog farms they distribute
all of the manure over the land. When the spring thaw came, it came into the
water system. It was not being adequately checked by a couple of brothers named
Koebel, who simply got themselves into trouble. They were not paying attention.
They were not looking after the water.
Water is such a precious resource. It is such a high responsibility that it
is absolutely critical to take care of water supplies. This government cannot
possibly say they are taking care of water supplies when they have had 113 new
boil orders that are still in existence, that are still in place today, that
came not on their watch there was more than that on their watch, but this is
giving them the benefit of the doubt of the last few months of 2003, all of
2004, all of 2005, starting in 2006. That is how many new boil orders there are.
What they have done with the money they say they have invested in water and
sewer simply escapes me. By way of example, this is completely unnecessary. Many
of these small communities, with a minimal amount of attention from the
provincial government, the water supply could be much better.
I live in a region with a handful of small communities. They run from
Daniel's Harbour, Portland Creek, Bellburns, Parsons Pond, Cow Head and St.
Paul's. They employ one water technician. The guy checks on everybody's water on
a regular basis. He has won very distinctive awards. He is someone who really
should be recognized.
When I look through this list, I see only one of those communities on a boil
order. That boil order is five days old. That boil order in those six
communities is only from five days ago, from March 15, and that is because it is
down for repairs. That is the way it could be and that is the way it should be,
but government needs to pay much more attention to the quality of our drinking
water, because we do have good water in this Province by and large.
Where we have more issues with water, if the water is being properly
chlorinated, is with THMs. As an engineer explained to me on one occasion, the
THMs come because of the residue that you find in water; when you chlorinate the
water in order to kill bacteria that is harmful, you are left with quite a bit
of residue. In some cases it may be unavoidable; if you chlorinate, you will
have THMs, unless you go in to pipe water from much further away.
Many of these communities have water systems that could be much better; they
would not need so much chlorine and they would not have THMs. We know in this
Province the health risks that we have in a whole range of diseases, and we
wonder: why is the rate of stomach cancer so high in this Province? Why is the
rate of bowel cancer so high in this Province? Why is the rate of all types of
cancers of people's internal organs so high? Is it possible that it is because
of our water supply? Is it possible because of the THMs? Is it possible, not
necessarily because of diet, not necessarily because of other lifestyle choices,
but if our water is as good as everybody else's and we see no evidence that it
is not and our water is not improving. Our water has not improved under this
government; in fact, we have 113 boil orders that have been in existence since
2006, at a rate of 1.3 new boil orders per month for the last eighty-five
months. That is completely unacceptable.
Mr. Speaker, while I would have no problem supporting the resolution, I
certainly could not support the amendment. I think that the amendment is done
just to effectively gut the resolution to try to put the government in good
light when in fact, they have failing grades in clean water, clean and safe
water in this Province, and they deserve those failing grades by their own
statistics collected by employees of the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
MR. SPEAKER (Littlejohn): The hon. the Member for Bonavista South.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. LITTLE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Honourable colleagues, I certainly appreciate having the opportunity to speak
to the amendment to this motion; a very important amendment to the motion, I
would say.
Clean and safe drinking water is a top priority for this government and a key
area for which we provide support to our municipalities across the Province of
Newfoundland and Labrador. This government in particular, the Department of
Municipal Affairs and Environment and Conservation work closely together with
our municipalities across Newfoundland and Labrador on a variety of initiatives
to provide clean and safe drinking water.
Earlier, the Minister of Municipal Affairs mentioned: since 2008, $630
million to municipalities, mostly related to water improvements in the
communities in Newfoundland and Labrador. That is certainly a substantial amount
of funding coming from that particular department and going out to
municipalities all over this particular Province.
In fact, since 2008 this government has committed over $50 million for
seventy-two water treatment projects in Newfoundland and Labrador.
AN HON. MEMBER: How many?
MR. LITTLE: Seventy-two water treatment plants.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. LITTLE: A total of $50 million since 2008, and that number is
significant as well, Mr. Speaker. When you include investments by municipalities
and the federal government, over $114 million has been committed to these
projects in total $114 million, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. LITTLE: What a substantial investment.
Projects related to drinking water are given top priority under our Capital
Works programs and we work closely with communities to determine the best
approach to the provision of clean water in their communities, Mr. Speaker.
Towns such as Gander and Clarenville, in conjunction with the Department of
Municipal Affairs and this provincial government, have implemented the optimal
solution for safe drinking water by investing in water treatment facilities.
Those ventures are quite costly, and me, coming from a community council in the
Town of Bonavista, I do know how important clean drinking water is.
I have been on council for fourteen years in the Town of Bonavista. In some
instances, communities, based on population and size, cannot afford some of
those treatment facility plants. Under regional programs there is the
possibility that communities can regionalize, co-operate with Municipal Affairs,
and through different community leadership groups look at the possibility of
including water treatment facilities in the future. This government is certainly
open-minded to that, and we will definitely work with other municipalities
throughout the Province of Newfoundland Labrador.
Like I said, unfortunately not every community can afford this option because
of lower population numbers and they may therefore look at other options in
relation to water treatment plants. Currently, the community council of the Town
of Bonavista, also in conjunction with Municipal Affairs, is undertaking a
three-phase water main system. It is going to take possibly three years to
complete this new water system from water reservoir in the Town of Bonavista.
The Town of Bonavista has received a total of $1 million from Municipal
Affairs in relation to phase I. That is substantial for the community and the
Town of Bonavista. Also, through Municipal Affairs and Municipal Operating
Grants and so forth, the Town of Bonavista is in the process of refurbishing
what we call the water tank locally the water tower which is a water
reservoir. The total cost of that project is actually over $500,000. That
commitment was made recently, and that project will be ongoing as well in the
municipality of the Town of Bonavista. I am certainly having a number of
discussions with delegates from the municipal council in the Town of Bonavista
in relation to this particular issue.
As part of the work this government undertakes, the Department of Environment
and Conservation works closely with municipalities to monitor source and tap
water quality on a regular basis. The information collected is used to ensure,
in this Province, we are in compliance with the guidelines for Canadian drinking
water quality. If we do see quality issues, then steps are taken to determine
the best path forward.
This is very important, Mr. Speaker. Part of this monitoring and testing of
water which is conducted by Service Newfoundland and Labrador and the
Department of Health and Community Services environmental health officials
assist with sample taking in communities across this Province and will work with
those communities to ensure that chlorination and other levels are where they
should be, Mr. Speaker. That is very important as well.
When issues arise, these environmental health officials will put a boil water
advisory in place until such time as several subsequent clean samples of water
are obtained. This is very important. These are guidelines that are followed
throughout the Province and throughout the country as well.
While many of our larger municipalities have pipe services, there are a
number of excellent technologies out there in the market which can be considered
for water treatment. This government fully endorses these technologies, Mr.
Speaker, and has indeed begun an effort to put some of them in place. In 2008,
the provincial government commenced a process to develop a comprehensive
overview of water quality issues.
One result of this work was potable water dispensing units were identified as
a way to provide high-quality drinking water to small communities in the
Province of Newfoundland and Labrador, and in particular the rural parts of
Newfoundland and Labrador. Potable water dispensing units are small-scale water
treatment systems, which pump and treat water from the municipal supply, store
the treated water, and allow residents to manually collect the water from a
small shelter.
Prior to 2011, seven communities in Newfoundland and Labrador have operated
these units. In addition, in August 2011, the department announced additional
potable water dispensing units for communities across the Province and since
2011 have commissioned another six units.
Drinking water units are operational in six communities in rural Newfoundland
and Labrador right now. Construction is ongoing at five other communities in
rural Newfoundland and Labrador right now, Mr. Speaker. Other communities in the
rural parts of Newfoundland and Labrador are in the early stages of
implementation. They are in communities also in rural Newfoundland and Labrador.
Clean drinking water is very important to us all. As a councillor, I
certainly thought it was a top priority in my municipality in the District of
Bonavista South. This government of the day takes this issue very seriously.
Boil water advisories are preventative measures for protecting public health
from water-borne microbiological contamination that may or are known to be
present in drinking water.
Boil water advisories in this Province are, for the most part, issued as a
precautionary measure to ensure consumers safety. That is very important.
Generally, these relate to the lack of chlorine and not poor water quality.
There have been no water-borne disease outbreaks reported in this Province.
The highest percentage of boil water advisories exist due to the water supply
not having a disinfectant system or no free chlorine, residue detected in the
water distribution system. Long-term boil water advisories, greater than five
years in duration, tend to exist for the same reasons, Mr. Speaker.
About 205, or 92.76 per cent of the current boil water advisories are for
non-microbiological reasons such as: no disinfectant systems, forty-three;
systems turned off, twenty-one; systems broken, thirty-seven; operational
problems, twenty-six; residual chlorine problems, seventy-seven, and other
reasons one. Only sixteen, or 7.24 per cent, of the total boil water advisories
are due to microbiological reasons.
This government of the day is very transparent in relation to what
information we put out there to the general public. There is nothing hidden. We
are working with two departments, one in our own provincial government, to make
sure we provide the best possible drinking water that an individual can consume.
We have a record that is a stellar record, in relation to what is happening in
other provinces, in Newfoundland and Labrador, Mr. Speaker.
Newfoundland and Labrador is not the only provincial government in the
country to undertake monitoring of public drinking water systems on behalf of
the communities. The provincial government is working co-operatively with
municipalities throughout this Province on a regular basis, Mr. Speaker, to
provide education, training and support.
I know for a fact, in the municipality of Bonavista we do have technicians on
staff who actually attend educational training, support programs, in relation to
travelling to the Town of Gander on an annual basis where there is a conference
put off by Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador and in conjunction with
Municipal Affairs officials, and so forth. There is no doubt that this
government is working co-operatively with municipalities in Newfoundland and
Labrador, and we continue to do that, Mr. Speaker.
Drinking water infrastructure is a major investment for communities
throughout this Province. Proper operation and maintenance of these systems are
often difficult for many smaller communities because of fiscal realities. This
government is certainly highlighting the issues, working with all communities in
rural Newfoundland and Labrador. It is good to see community leaders, along with
government officials, are working in a co-operative manner to highlight the
importance and continued importance of water quality in Newfoundland and
Labrador.
The Department of Environment and Conservation, along with the Department of
Municipal Affairs, offer annual, I say annual clean and safe drinking water
workshops. The workshops provide municipal drinking water operators with the
opportunity to come together, people throughout the Province, to increase their
knowledge of drinking water safety. We are proactive. There is no doubt that
this government is proactive and takes this issue very seriously.
I would also like to say the conference that occurs in Gander, there are no
registration fees. That is almost unheard of. I would say probably this is the
only Province in the country or in the world
AN HON. MEMBER: With three hundred delegates.
MR. LITTLE: Three hundred-plus delegates every year, the interest is
there
AN HON. MEMBER: Subsidized by Municipal Affairs.
MR. LITTLE: Subsidized by Municipal Affairs as well, and the highest pass
rate in the country, Mr. Speaker. There is some positive resource information
coming out from this educational training. There is a certificate program as
well that is very beneficial.
The people who I talked to in the District of Bonavista South certainly take
this issue seriously. They will continue to definitely take into consideration
the importance of training like this. This type of education style is very
important, and is going to help out all communities in the Province of
Newfoundland and Labrador.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for St. John's East.
MR. MURPHY: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
It is a pleasure to get up and talk about something as universal as water.
Sometimes we can reach a pretty easy agreement on where we are going with water.
In some cases we can have a lot of debate, but in the end I think everybody is
in agreement here that no doubt, it is a necessity of life.
I have to make note as well that March 22 is probably an important day for
people who work hard in the environment and who worry about our water. It is
World Water Day on March 22, and 2013 is the International Year of Water
Co-operation, as declared by the United Nations. That is probably part of the
reason why we wanted to talk about water today; it is that we have two
prestigious dates in Newfoundland and Labrador to celebrate: to celebrate,
number one, good water; and, number two, in the spirit of that, to be able to
sit and stand in our places and talk about the importance of water, what we are
doing for it, and what we are doing for people about the safety and security of
water supply. March 22: Happy Water Day, on that particular note.
Mr. Speaker, when I started my research for this particular end of the
debate, one of the things I found upon that research, in talking about the
United Nations Convention and the right to clean water and sanitation which
was, I think, first talked about in the United Nations in 2010; there was some
discussion as to whether Canada would sign or not onto that agreement.
It is disturbing to know that the federal government of this country still
has not signed on; they still fail to sign the UN declaration with regard to the
right to clean water and sanitation.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
MR. MURPHY: Mr. Speaker, that is almost unbelievable, that we have a
federal government that can ignore water such as they have. It makes you wonder
about their priorities as regards to where they are going to be going in this
particular budget when it comes to infrastructure, Mr. Speaker. We hope that if
they are going to be coming out with an infrastructure budget, Newfoundland and
Labrador is going to be able to capture some of that, capture some of that
funding that they are talking about in this budget this particular time around,
and that our own provincial government is going to be able to redirect some of
those funds directly into water and water management in this Province and
deflect some of that water back in municipalities, so that we can finally get
the job done as regards to making advances in cleaning up our water systems in
the Province.
On that particular note, you have to ask if you believe that Newfoundlanders
and Labradorians have the right to clean drinking water and sanitation, too. It
is not only a UN declaration. What we need to hear at the same time is that the
Province is going to make their own declaration, if you will, that they are
going to proceed forthwith and get some of these problems with our water systems
cleaned up. I certainly think that government could do more and I think that is
part of the reason we came out with our resolution today for discussion amongst
all members.
I want to talk a little bit about the whole problem of THMs in water. It is
not only THMs that we are studying on the part of the provincial government in
the Environment Department and Municipal Affairs. It also has to do with HAAs,
or haloacetic acids, that are also in water. In some cases, Mr. Speaker,
haloacetic acids are more dangerous than THMs, and we still have a problem with
haloacetic acids in our water supply, too. We cannot lose focus on haloacetics
at the same time as we are talking about THMs.
I wanted to come out and talk about some of the numbers in the latest study
from Environment. This one, of course, was published on August 17, 2012,
available on the department's Web site. Some of the towns where they had
elevated levels were a little bit disconcerting. For example, Avondale has a
level of 217.25 parts per billion THMs. I wanted to bring up these towns for
another particular reason that I will get to in just a second.
We go to Centreville-Wareham-Trinity, for example, where their levels are
upwards of 261 parts per billion. We can go to the Town of Burlington; the
numbers there are ranging 501.75 parts per billion of THMs in the water supply.
We can go to the Town of Brighton: 313 parts per billion. Some of these
communities have been around in existence for a long time and probably have
aging infrastructure and are probably having problems with having to get their
infrastructure updated.
Go to the Town of Cottlesville, for example: 247 parts per billion in their
water supply. The list is endless. It goes on. There are a couple of Labrador
examples I had marked off here. You go into Mary's Harbour: 171 parts per
billion. You go to Pouch Cove of course, it is the media example I think they
used a couple of weeks ago: 339.25 parts per billion. Port Hope Simpson in
Labrador: 308 parts per billion.
We go on; Sunnyside, for example, Trinity: 321. St. George's, which was an
interesting one to me, showed 409 parts per billion; that was in their Dribble
Brook, which is the backup supply to the Town of St. George's out there on the
Port au Port Peninsula. Why did I use that example of 409 parts per billion,
which readily stood out to me? It is because this is one area of the Province
that is probably under the threat of an advent in technology, and that would be
fracking. Now, Dribble Brook is not far away from where two wells were drilled
already, and fracked; it is probably a couple of hundred metres away, to my
guessing, when I was looking at the map for the project.
Again, we are talking about the threat to municipal water supplies with the
potential, Mr. Speaker, of doing damage to somebody's right to clean water. We
have to ask ourselves: if we do not have proper regulations in place when it
comes to fracking and when it comes to the dumping of wastewater after the
process is done they are talking about injecting it deep into the ground; they
are saying that it is not a problem.
Some people believe out there that it is not a problem because the water is
going to be deep down, it is going to be well under the aquifer, and nothing is
going to happen. Well, Mr. Speaker, nothing could be further from the truth, to
quote somebody else's line from years ago, because what happens is that some of
these things migrate. We already know about the migration of oil from deep
underground up around the Pars