March 2,

HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS

Vol. XLI No.

The House met at 2:00 p.m.

MR. SPEAKER (Lush): Order, please!

SERGEANT-AT-ARMS: Mr. Speaker, His Honour the

Lieutenant-Governor has arrived.

MR. SPEAKER: Admit His Honour the Lieutenant-Governor.

Mr. Speaker leaves the Chair.

His Honour the Lieutenant-Governor takes the Chair.

SERGEANT-AT-ARMS: Ladies and Gentlemen, it is the wish of

His Honour the Lieutenant-Governor that all present be seated.

HIS HONOUR, THE LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR (Frederick W. Russell,

C.M., LL.D.):

MR. SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE HONOURABLE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY:

The Fourth Session of the 41st General Assembly of this

Honourable House of Assembly is about to be prorogued, but before releasing you

from your duties, I wish to thank you for the careful and sympathetic attention

given to the important matters brought before you by My Ministers.

Sixty-seven pieces of legislation were enacted during this

Session of the Honourable House of Assembly. In particular, legislative

initiatives were taken in finance, employment and labour relations, municipal

affairs, health, environment and the administration of justice.

MR. SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE HONOURABLE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY:

As I stated in My Address opening this Session, one of our

most important social programs is the Workers' Compensation system. The

fundamental integrity of this system was threatened by a rapidly escalating

unfunded liability. My Ministers, after careful consideration and much study,

introduced various amendments to the Workers' Compensation Act which have

addressed these grave financial matters.

In an effort to clarify the law and to reduce the number of

days during the year when shops are permitted to close, My Ministers introduced

amendments to the Shops Closing Act. The Bill as enacted during this

Session also substantially increased the penalties for violation of that Act.

As part of the continuing commitment by My Ministers to

improve working standards in the Province, the Occupational Health and Safety

Act and the Labour Standards Act were also amended during this

Session.

MR. SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE HONOURABLE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY:

My Ministers are committed to preserving and promoting the

richness of the natural beauty and wilderness of Newfoundland and Labrador. In

order to ensure these qualities of life, My Ministers introduced legislation to

deal with the persistent and chronic problem of abandoned vehicles which scar

our countryside. The Waste Material Disposal Act was amended to increase

substantially the fines for offenses under that Act as well as empowering the

courts to order an offender to clean up and restore the environment. A further

amendment to the Act will make it a specific offence to discard abandoned motor

vehicles in the Province.

MR. SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE HONOURABLE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY:

In the areas of health and social services, a new Social

Workers Association Act was enacted as well as a new Health and Social

Agencies Act. My Ministers introduced amendments to the Department of

Health Act to empower the Minister of Health to create regional community

health boards to direct the delivery of health and continuing care services

throughout the Province. My Ministers also introduced an important amendment to

the Child Welfare Act which requires a person who has information that a

child may be suffering from desertion, abandonment, physical, sexual or

emotional ill-treatment or in the need of protection, to report that information

at once to the Director of Child Welfare, a social worker or a police officer.

MR. SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE HONOURABLE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY:

After considerable debate and public discussion before the

Committee on Privileges and Elections, My Ministers introduced a new Election

Act which will revise the law respecting the conduct of elections as well as

provide for a system of election financing. This Honourable House subsequently

appointed a new Chief Electoral Officer under the provisions of the new Act. It

is My Ministers' intention to proclaim into force the various parts and sections

of the Act within the next few months. In addition, the Electoral Boundaries

Act was amended to provide that the Electoral Boundaries Commission shall

determine the number of electoral districts, between 40 and 46, into which the

Province shall be divided for the purpose of the election of Members to this

Honourable House of Assembly.

MR. SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE HONOURABLE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY:

During this Session two major initiatives were introduced in

the area of the administration of justice. The first was the enactment of a Bill

which revised the law respecting the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary and

established a Public Complaints Commission to deal with police officers

misconduct against the general public. My Ministers have appointed Dr. Leslie

Harris, a distinguished Newfoundlander, to be the first Commissioner. The other

major initiative was the enactment of amendments to the

Summary Proceedings

Act. These amendments have expanded the ticketing system for violations of

provincial statutes to include offenses against the Liquor Control Act

and the Motorized Snow Vehicles and All-Terrain Vehicles Act.

MR. SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE HONOURABLE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY:

Ever mindful of the difficulties which our citizens must face

with increased taxation, during this Session, My Ministers carried out their

previously announced mandate by introducing legislation to abolish the school

tax authorities. These regressive taxing authorities have been replaced by a

more equitable means of taxation and revenue distribution to our school boards.

As announced in the 1992 Budget Speech, many fees established by various Acts

and regulations were abolished during this Session. Of importance to

municipalities and cities was the enactment of

an Act which provides for the

uniform taxation of utilities and cable television companies throughout the

Province.

MR. SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE HONOURABLE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY:

Among the other significant legislative measures enacted

during this Session were:

An Act To Amend The Public Utilities Act,

An Act To

Amend The Mineral Act,

An Act To Amend The Municipal Grants Act,

An Act To Amend

The Provincial Parks Act,

An Act To Amend The Residential Tenancies Act and

MR. SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE HONOURABLE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY:

I thank you for the large measure of supply you have granted.

I assure you that the appropriations that you have granted have been and will be

expended by My Ministers with care and efficiency.

It is my pleasure that the Fourth Session of this 41st

General Assembly now be prorogued and it is prorogued accordingly.

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

Pursuant to the speech of His Honour, this House stands

prorogued.