Newfoundland and Labrador Hansard — Members' Statements; Statements by Ministers — 3 December 2012 (47th General Assembly, 1st Session, Vol. XLVII No. 62)
2012-12-03
Newfoundland and Labrador — Debates (Hansard)
December 3, 2012 HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS
Vol. XLVII No. 62
The House met at 1:30 p.m.
MR. SPEAKER (Wiseman): Order, please!
Admit strangers.
Today, I am very pleased to welcome to the public galleries Kristy-Lynn
March. Kristy-Lynn is a young woman in the Easter Seals House music therapy
program. Kristy-Lynn is accompanied today by Mark Lane, the CEO of Easter Seals
Newfoundland and Labrador, and Eileen Bartlett, Easter Seals' Director of
Programming.
In addition to that, we have in our galleries seven visitors who are
accompanying them. They were a part of a team that designed the guitar stand
that enables Kristy-Lynn to play music. I want to welcome, as a part of the
group, Memorial University Engineering students: Chris Tubrett, Adam Scammell,
Anthony Parrell, Evan Rice, and Jon Bennett. They are joined by Leonard Lye,
Associate Dean, and James Yang, of Memorial University's Faculty of Engineering
and Applied Science.
Welcome to our House of Assembly.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
Statements by Members
MR. SPEAKER: Today we have members' statements from the Member for the
District of Terra Nova; the Member for the District of Port au Port; the Member
for the District of Grand Falls-Windsor Green Bay South; the Member for the
District of Humber West; the Member for the District of Kilbride; and the Member
for the District of Torngat Mountains.
The hon. the Member for the District of Terra Nova.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. S. COLLINS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
It is my pleasure to stand today and recognize a constituent, former
colleague, and friend. Paul Oram, former MHA who sat in this House from
2003-2009, has served his community in a far greater role than just as an
elected official.
Mr. Oram, along with his wife Karen, has built a group of successful
businesses in Newfoundland and Labrador; while congratulations on his business
success are certainly warranted, today I prefer to recognize his charitable
acts.
Always a strong supporter of his community, his most recent deed is perhaps
the most significant. I recently attended the Glovertown Volunteer Fire
Department's annual banquet and had the pleasure to officially present them with
the keys to their new pumper truck. With acquisition of the vehicle, the town
was responsible for 10 per cent of the cost; however, the Oram Group of
Companies graciously paid the municipality's share, which amounted to
approximately $23,000. Such charity is quite substantial to a small town and it
certainly speaks to the Orams' overwhelming commitment to their community.
I ask all hon. members to join with me in recognizing the commitment of Paul
and Karen Oram to their community and also acknowledge their success in building
a strong, thriving business in rural Newfoundland and Labrador.
Thank you.
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: Mr. Speaker, I rise today in this hon. House to congratulate
Jillian Forsey of Kippens for winning the Canadian Junior Women's Cross-Country
Running Crown in Vancouver, British Columbia just last week.
It takes great sacrifice and determination to excel in sport. Jillian has
clocked endless hours into her training and conditioning and she has an
impressive athletic record to show for it.
Mr. Speaker, a week before a first-place finish in the Canadian Junior
Women's National Cross-Country Running Crown, Jillian had competed in the
Ontario Championships and finished in first place in the Junior Women's Race.
Jillian continues to excel in her sport of athletics and, in particular,
cross-country running, and deserves our praise.
Jillian is a former member of Team Newfoundland and Labrador, representing
our Province at the 2009 Canada Summer Games in Prince Edward Island. I am proud
to say our government has supported Jillian through our Premier's Athletic
Awards Program, which supports athletes who compete at the national and
international level.
Mr. Speaker, I ask all hon. members to join with me in congratulating Jillian
Forsey for her dedication and commitment. I also want to wish Jillian future
success in her athletic endeavours.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Grand Falls-Windsor Green Bay
South.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. HUNTER: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in his hon. House today to congratulate a very important
volunteer and friend. Mae Ivany has worn many different volunteering hats in
past years. This year, the Exploits Valley YMCA has presented her with the YMCA
Peacemakers Medallion for her dedication to many years and smiles for the
Children's Wish Foundation.
Mae works at Sprucewood Academy and has twenty years with the Children's Wish
Foundation. Over that amount of time, one can only imagine the smiles she has
made for sick children of the Central region as well as their families.
I have known Mae for many years and it is a great privilege to ask my fellow
colleagues to join with me to applaud a lady who is a great volunteer.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The Member for Humber West.
MR. GRANTER: Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to stand in this
House to congratulate a face of CBC Television that has flanked the airwaves of
Newfoundland for the past thirty-four years.
Doug Greer retired this past month after covering stories through sound and
video for three decades. Doug's unique voice and broadcasting style made him a
suppertime favourite for the entire region, from St. Anthony in the North to
Burgeo in the South, from Roddickton-Bide Arm to Baie Verte, Stephenville to
Port au Port, and all points in between.
Over the years Doug has seen his share of media changes, especially in
technology and role responsibility. Always though, his stories were told and
shown with pinpoint accuracy and a style all his own.
Being on the other end of the camera and microphone from Doug, he always
interviewed with grace and respect a legacy he will leave behind at the CBC.
I ask all hon. members to join me in congratulating Doug Greer on his
retirement and for the countless contributions made and seen through the eyes of
the camera for the past thirty-four years. We wish him much happiness, health,
and good wishes for his retirement.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The Member for the District of Kilbride.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. DINN: Mr. Speaker, I stand in his hon. House today to recognize an
outstanding young constituent of mine from Kilbride, Anna O'Grady.
Anna is currently a full-time student at Memorial University, studying
physics and mathematics. She graduated in 2012 from Bishops College with honours
and was named the Valedictorian for Bishops College graduating class of 2012.
During the 2011-2012 school years, Anna won a number of prestigious awards.
She won a silver medal at the Canada Wide Science Fair; she won a Canadian
Association of Physicist National Science Award; she was named the best in the
Eastern Regional Science Fair in 2012; and she won a Memorial University
Entrance Scholarship as well as a Newfoundland and Labrador Electoral District
Scholarship.
Anna has been a piano student for twelve years and has completed two Royal
Conservatory of Music exams. She has volunteered at Corpus Christi Church since
Upon completion of her Bachelor of Science and Honours in Physics at
Memorial, Anna is hoping to do a Masters and Ph.D. potentially at the Perimeter
Institute of Theoretical Physics in Waterloo.
Anna is the daughter of Christine and Tom O'Grady and granddaughter of Stan
and Dorothy Murphy.
I ask all hon. members to join me in congratulating this very fine young
woman from Kilbride.
Thank you.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The Member for Torngat Mountains.
MR. EDMUNDS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I rise in this hon. House today to congratulate the girl's volleyball team
from John Christian Erhardt Memorial School of Makkovik on being crowned
provincial champions.
The Wolverines defeated Churchill Falls, Northwest River, Charlottetown, and
Hermitage to advance to beat the Churchill Falls team again in an amazing and
exciting final set of finals.
Mr. Speaker, once again Northern Labrador has proven that the size of the
community or the school is no barrier to athletic ability and sheer
determination. In fact, Mr. Speaker, the total number of students at J.C.E.M. is
sixty-four from Kindergarten to Level III.
Mr. Speaker, hats off to Jessica, Charlene, Amanda, Haley, Mandy, Katrina,
Charlie-Mae, and Kelli, along with coaches Trav and Julie, in adding yet another
provincial champion to the school. John Christian Erhardt Memorial School
Makkovik boasts more Triple A regional and provincial banners than any other
school in the Province.
Mr. Speaker, I ask all hon. members to join me in congratulating the
Wolverines volleyball team on being crowned provincial champions again.
Thank you.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: Statements by Ministers.
Statements by Ministers
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Natural Resources.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. KENNEDY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I rise in this hon. House today to celebrate the Government of Newfoundland
and Labrador's success on securing an agreement on the terms for a federal loan
guarantee for the Lower Churchill Hydroelectric Project with the Government of
Canada.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. KENNEDY: The loan guarantee represents a significant milestone in the
development of Muskrat Falls, and this agreement, Mr. Speaker, is a testament to
our Premier's outstanding leadership in getting us to this point.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. KENNEDY: Mr. Speaker, without the Premier's leadership to advocate on
behalf of the people of Newfoundland and Labrador and her vision on the Muskrat
Falls Project to achieve energy self-sufficiency for our Province, there would
be no loan guarantee.
Our Premier stood steadfast during these negotiations and her commitment to
ensure that the principles of the loan guarantee be done in the best interests
of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians never wavered.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. KENNEDY: Officials from Newfoundland and Labrador have been in
discussions working out the details of the agreement since August 2011 when the
Memorandum of Agreement was signed.
Mr. Speaker, negotiations on the loan guarantee were complex and detailed. We
needed to attain a guarantee that provided maximum value for the ratepayers and
ensured no interruption in project schedule. We accomplished this goal. Our
Premier's perseverance and persistence have paid off and we have successfully
achieved a loan guarantee that will provide projected savings of approximately
$1 billion to ratepayers in Newfoundland and Labrador.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. KENNEDY: The term sheet is a legal binding document that covers the
full amount of project debt based on Decision Gate 3 costs. The loan guarantee
will mean a $1 billion benefit from lower interest rates and savings will be
passed onto electricity ratepayers in the Province.
Muskrat Falls has been determined to be the best least-cost source of new
power for Island consumers and therefore the lowest rate available for
consumers. Dividends from the Muskrat Falls Project will supplement revenues to
the Provincial Treasury and benefit the people of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Mr. Speaker, Muskrat Falls will be a significant source of clean renewable
electricity generation for Newfoundland and Labrador.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. KENNEDY: The development will meet the Province's increasing energy
needs, ensure stable electricity rates for residents and businesses, support
industrial development in Labrador, and provide tremendous economic, employment
and social benefits for the people of our Province.
Muskrat Falls represents a pivotal opportunity for the Province to transform
itself from a non-renewable resource economy, to one that will secure a
sustainable economic base for Newfoundlanders and Labradorians for many years to
come.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
The Leader of the Official Opposition.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. BALL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I want to thank the minister for the advance copy of his statement.
To say that the leadership was demonstrated on this negotiation I think may
be a bit of a stretch when we saw the actual interview on Thursday. Indeed, the
Premier was really unaware of what was going to occur in Happy Valley-Goose Bay
on Friday.
Mr. Speaker, too, I want to point out here that at $6.3 billion this term
sheet, as we work toward the finalized and formalized loan guarantee, will not
cover the cost of this project. Anybody at all with experience will know that
this project will be substantially much more than $7.4 billion. The proper
process through of all this, of course, as we have seen in the last number of
weeks and a number of reports that have been tabled by this government, the
proper thing to do on Friday would have been to make that term sheet available
to us and the people of this Province.
Mr. Speaker, I will conclude by saying that we are a long ways, in my
opinion, from a formalized loan guarantee, as we know that Emera has until July,
2014 to opt into this. They are indeed, I believe, in the driver's seat right
now.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Third Party.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MS MICHAEL: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
I, too, thank the minister for an advance copy of his statement.
I do not know how the minister can expect me to congratulate government on a
project I have so many unanswered questions about. We have no idea what the
so-called agreement entails as it is still secret. In any case, it is a term
sheet, and we know there is a long way from term sheet to final agreement. It
was a year and a half when it was the Emera term sheet.
The fact is the Prime Minister says the loan guarantee is dependent on Emera
sanctioning a Maritime Link. So, I am sorry, I cannot join the government in
self-congratulations, Mr. Speaker. I do hope, though, that what they are calling
a milestone will not become a millstone around the neck of the people of this
Province.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: Does the Member for St. John's South have leave?
AN HON. MEMBER: No.
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Advanced Education and Skills.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MS SHEA: Mr. Speaker, today is the United Nations International Day of
Persons with Disabilities an opportunity to foster understanding of disability
issues and respect for the rights of persons with disabilities.
The Strategy for the Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities provides a
framework to ensure Newfoundlanders and Labradorians can participate in
unprecedented economic, educational, employment, and social opportunities. Since
its launch, $6.5 million has been invested in initiatives that complement the
strategy. This includes $650,000 for the Accessible Vehicle Funding and the
Inclusion Grants. Other initiatives include the introduction of the Service
Animals Act; legislative amendments that help adults with intellectual
disabilities access Registered Disability Savings Plans, and increased parking
fines and stronger requirements for blue zone spaces to be clearly identified.
are universal themes that benefit all citizens. Perhaps more than ever, in 2012,
on this day it is important to recognize the ongoing work of those who support
our efforts, such as the women and men of the Provincial Advisory Council for
the Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities, and others.
Today, successful inclusion efforts are evident in every corner of
Newfoundland and Labrador. At Memorial University, engineering students recently
designed a guitar stand so a young woman with cerebral palsy, Kristy Lynn March,
can play music.
This evening, the Department of Advanced Education and Skills policy on
supported employment will be featured in a report on the implementation of the
United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The
department will be reviewing this program to ensure that it is as effective and
efficient as possible in assisting persons with disabilities find long-term
meaningful employment.
With our partnerships for persons with disabilities and through our
policies and initiatives the provincial government is working towards the
ultimate goal of full inclusion, a goal which we are called to reflect on today.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Burgeo La Poile.
MR. A. PARSONS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I thank the minister for the advance copy of her statement.
Today on the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, I was very
honoured to be invited to the Coalition of Persons with Disabilities, which had
a meeting, or a guest speaker, at their office here in St. John's. I, along with
members from both sides of this House, was very lucky to take in a speech by Mr.
Francis Smith, a post-doctoral fellow at the University of Calgary, who told us
his inspiring story of growing up with severe disabilities not only his
physical disability, but the challenges he faced growing up, bullying and
exclusion.
It is almost impossible to put in words, unless you were there, what
challenges this gentleman went through and how he has grown up to be such a
success. One of the things that he talked about is what we can do as
legislators: we need to increase education and awareness. Those are the
challenges that are out there; we can keep investing money, but we need to
increase education, especially in our schools.
I would note that we are making strides in the right direction, but there are
still steps we need to take. For instance, at the courthouse in Stephenville, I
was pleased to note that there was recently a parking spot that was designated
for people with access disabilities; however, we still have a courthouse that is
not wheelchair accessible. There are contradictions there that need to be faced.
I would also take this opportunity to thank the MUN School of Engineering for
being with us today, and Ms March. It is great to have them here with us on such
an important day.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for St. John's North.
MR. KIRBY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thanks to the Minister for an advance copy of her statement. I am happy to
join you in recognizing the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, and
I am happy to recognize the work of these engineering students and Kristy-Lynn
March for the great things they are doing.
This is a day to celebrate, to recognize the challenges faced by persons with
disabilities, and to celebrate the great work that they and their advocates do
in our communities. A number of us, as my colleague mentioned, heard from Dr.
Francis Smith this morning. He teaches us that people with disabilities are
accustomed to facing adversity and overcoming it. As we go forward I call on
government to redouble its efforts to ensure that our society is inclusive, is
accessible, and celebrates the unique contributions of every person across
Newfoundland and Labrador.
Thank you.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: Does the hon. the Member for St. John's South have leave?
AN HON. MEMBER: No.
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Finance and President of Treasury
Board.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. MARSHALL: Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to announce that residents of the
Province can now apply for this year's Home Heating Rebate.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. MARSHALL: This is certainly a well-known program. When you consider
that in addition, our government has removed the provincial portion of the HST
on home energy, and our investment last year saw almost $58 million put back in
the hands of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, these are significant savings for
people to use in other areas.
Application forms are available immediately on-line at the Department of
Finance's Web site and will also be available at regional offices of the
Department of Advanced Education and Skills, Service Newfoundland and Labrador
centres, and the Seniors Resource Centre here in St. John's. The forms will also
be available in local newspapers in the coming days.
Mr. Speaker, this government is cognizant of the fact that heating costs are
a major expense in household budgets right across the Province. We are also
aware that electricity rates have risen steadily since 2001, with the average
ratepayer on the Island seeing a 32 per cent increase due to the high cost of
burning oil to make electricity at the Holyrood thermal plant.
That is why Muskrat Falls is so important, Mr. Speaker. While there are
significant economic benefits associated with the project, its residents and
ratepayers will see the greatest positive impact. Muskrat Falls hydroelectricity
will provide Newfoundlanders and Labradorians with an affordable, stable and
environmentally-friendly source of electricity for generations to come a
source of electricity that other jurisdictions would love to be able to call
their own.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Official Opposition.
MR. BALL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I want to thank the minister for the advance copy of the statement. We are
pleased today to hear this announcement; the Home Heating Rebate is announced
and available for this year.
I can assure you, based on the number of calls that we get through our own
office and I guess I can speak for members on both sides that this is a very
popular program; some 66,000 home heating rebates were issued in 2010-2011.
There is a high demand for this.
What it speaks to are the difficulties that many low-income families are
having with their budgeting process. It is our position; we said this in the
last few days, that this is an announcement and a rebate that should be actually
a set date. We need not wait for a Ministerial Statement; we should pick a date
and this should be the date that this announcement is made on an annual basis.
It is a good program; it is a very popular program. I congratulate the
minister for bringing this forward today.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for St. John's East.
MR. MURPHY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I would also like to thank the minister for the advance copy of his
statement. Fifty-five thousand people signed a petition that was presented in
this House on March 28, 2001. It was a long time coming and it was pushed later
by Jack Harris as well as by our leader here at the NDP.
It is time to make this permanent instead of holding everyone over the
proverbial oil barrel every year. There is no sense in just making the
announcement on this particular program; why not just make it a permanent
fixture?
Mr. Speaker, one-third of residents needed to apply for this rebate in spite
of the victories contained within the Poverty Reduction Strategy. We have
209,000 homes in the Province and 68,000 applications for this. I think the 33
per cent number is very, very telling of the need, for people for the energy
need and the Energy Rebate.
On January 6, 2012 there was a release by Newfoundland and Labrador Housing
that talked about conservation and the victory in conservation, stating that it
resulted in almost a 35 per cent energy savings to residents in this Province.
Conservation, Mr. Speaker, is not even considered as an option right now when it
comes to Muskrat Falls. As regards to Muskrat Falls, we simply do not know yet
if we need the power.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
MR. MURPHY: The assessments are still out on that. We need to send it
back to the Public Utilities Board.
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
MR. MURPHY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
MR. SPEAKER: Does the Member for St. John's South have leave?
AN HON. MEMBER: No leave.
MR. SPEAKER: Oral Questions.
Oral Questions
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Official Opposition.
MR. BALL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
On Friday, the Premier and the Prime Minister were again together on the
stage, this time to announce they agreed to continue working towards a finalized
loan guarantee for Muskrat Falls. Basically, what they agreed to was to continue
to agree on things that we thought they already agreed to.
I ask the Minister of Natural Resources: The Premier has told the public that
she will not sanction Muskrat Falls without a finalized loan guarantee, are you
now going to break that promise and sanction based on a term sheet?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Natural Resources.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. KENNEDY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
This nineteen-page document, which was signed on Friday, is a binding, legal
document, Mr. Speaker. In fact, at the end of the document it states that it
shall constitute an irrevocable legal, valid and binding obligation of the
parties, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. KENNEDY: The document that was signed on Friday, Mr. Speaker, is the
federal loan guarantee.
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Official Opposition.
MR. BALL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Well, I can imagine on one of those pages of the ninety-eight pages that the
minister mentioned there is a piece there that says that if Emera does not opt
into this project prior to July, 2014 that the loan guarantee will not be
available.
If Emera has until 2014, why will you not send this to the PUB now for a
full, independent review?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Natural Resources.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. KENNEDY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
In earlier documents there had been discussion of Emera having until 2014 to
make a decision on sanction, but, Mr. Speaker, there is no requirement that
sanction for example, sanction of this document is not equated with regulatory
approval either in Newfoundland and Labrador or in Nova Scotia. Mr. Speaker, our
Province will be in a position to make a decision on sanction before Christmas.
I can tell the members opposite, Emera and Nalcor are working towards making a
sanction decision in the foreseeable future.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Official Opposition.
MR. BALL: They might be working on an agreement, but one thing we do
know, in Nova Scotia they are working on something else, too, and that is their
own PUB is actually reviewing this.
Recently, in a briefing with the Deputy Minister of Natural Resources, he
said that the Muskrat Falls loan guarantee would be broken into two parts
actually, he said two components one for Newfoundland and Labrador and one for
Emera of Nova Scotia; however, the term sheet signed on Friday combines both, so
that if there is no Maritime Link there is no loan guarantee.
I ask the minister: Why did the Premier cave and settle for something less,
allow Emera to be now in the driver's seat?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Natural Resources.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear
MR. KENNEDY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I can tell the member opposite, from my personal experience dealing with the
Premier over the last couple of weeks that she stood brave and tall in ensuring,
Mr. Speaker, that Newfoundland and Labrador's objectives were met.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. KENNEDY: In fact, Mr. Speaker, as late as 10:30 on Thursday night, it
was until the Premier spoke to the Prime Minister that the deal was finalized.
Mr. Speaker, I do not think the member opposite heard my earlier answer.
Sanction is not defined as regulatory approval. Both Emera and Nalcor are
looking at decision on sanction in the very near future, Mr. Speaker, and we
expect that from our position as a Province, and Nalcor's position, we will be
in a position to make a sanction decision before Christmas.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Official Opposition.
MR. BALL: I understand that sanction does not require regulatory
approval, but what we do know is the people of this Province would like to see
an independent and regulatory approval. In August, the Minister of Natural
Resources said if Emera does not opt into the deal by 2014 there is no guarantee
that Nalcor would step in and build the Maritime Link. This was the Minister of
Natural Resources. Since the Premier caved on separating the two guarantees this
could possibly kill the loan guarantee.
I ask the minister: How much of our taxpayers' money will government have
committed to before July, 2014? What is the cost up to July, 2014?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Natural Resources.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. KENNEDY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Section 3 of the federal loan guarantee agreement signed on Friday deals with
the issue of guaranteed debt. It deals with the issues, Mr. Speaker, of the
various components and recognizes that you have to have financing to construct
one phase, move to the next phase, and that is the way the agreement is
structured.
Mr. Speaker, what I said in relation to Emera, and I look at the
section of
the agreement, is that they had until July, 2014 to make a decision on sanction.
What I am saying here today is that, Mr. Speaker, we as a Province will be in a
position to make our decision before Christmas and that Emera and Nalcor are
making their decision on sanction in the very near future.
Mr. Speaker, I repeat again, that we will not proceed on this until it is
sanctioned by both sides.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Official Opposition.
MR. BALL: Mr. Speaker, my question was about: What will our Province be
committed to, the ratepayers and the taxpayers of this Province? We are going to
have a significant commitment maybe before July 2014. We have asked for this
information. We still do not have it.
Mr. Speaker, Ed Martin at Nalcor is quoted as saying the additional money
will come from the $2 billion the Province currently has in cash reserves. Using
that money for Muskrat Falls means government will have to borrow for other
infrastructure plans things like the hospital in Corner Brook, or the
Placentia lift bridge, or even the Trans-Labrador Highway.
So I ask the minister: Who is deciding where the $2 billion is being spent?
Is it Nalcor, or is it the Premier?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Natural Resources.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. KENNEDY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, the federal loan agreement signed on Friday also deals with an
issue of an independent engineer being appointed to ensure that the federal
guarantee is looked after.
I want to repeat the comments that were made by the Prime Minister the other
day. He had been assured by Nova Scotia and Emera that they were committed to
the project, and he expected every party that is currently a party would
continue to be and as I sat next to the Premier of Nova Scotia, the NDP
Premier of Nova Scotia, on Friday, he said
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!
MR. KENNEDY: Am I going to be allowed to answer the question, Mr.
Speaker?
MR. SPEAKER: You have the floor.
MR. KENNEDY: Thank you very much.
MR. SPEAKER: You have three seconds left.
MR. KENNEDY: Mr. Speaker, if you are not going to the heckling on the
other side
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
The hon. the Leader of the Opposition.
MR. BALL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Well, there have been a lot of quotes to various sections within this term
sheet. So, it is important to note that government did not make this term sheet
publicly available on Friday.
So I ask the minister: Why has this been kept secret, why has this not been
released, and will you now publicly release the complete term sheet that was
signed on Friday?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Natural Resources.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. KENNEDY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, the federal loan guarantee outlines the various components of
the project. It has four major sections that deal with projects and
transactions. The second
section deals with transactions, the third
section says
the federal loan guarantee terms, and the fourth
section is the project debt,
Mr. Speaker.
guarantee, it deals with guaranteed debt, it deals with debt-to-equity ratios,
and it deals with the conditions precedent of the loan guarantee. The only
condition precedent, really, Mr. Speaker, is that there be sanction by both
Emera and Nalcor, who are the proponents in the loan guarantee.
Mr. Speaker, the federal loan guarantee document will be released tomorrow.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The Leader of the Official Opposition.
MR. BALL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister, for that, we are looking forward to that by the way.
Mr. Speaker, in April government projected a deficit this year of $258
million. The price for a barrel of oil, as we know, has been consistently lower
than $124 a barrel the budgeted amount. The minister has also said for every
dollar, we are going to see $25 million less for this Province.
So I ask the minister: When will you finally release the fall financial
update for this year?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Finance and President of Treasury
Board.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. MARSHALL: Next week, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The Member for Burgeo La Poile.
MR. A. PARSONS: Mr. Speaker, last week the Minister of Advanced Education
and Skills alluded to vacancies within staffing of the Poverty Reduction
Strategy.
I ask the minister: What percentage of the full complement is vacant? Do you
plan to fill these vacancies, or are they casualties of the 3 per cent cuts
instructed by the Premier?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Advanced Education and Skills.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MS SHEA: Mr. Speaker, I would like to clarify that the Poverty Reduction
Strategy is a cross-departmental strategy from various departments across the
government. On an annual basis, we spend approximately $150 million in poverty
reduction initiatives in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Mr. Speaker, these initiatives go through various departments, whether it is
the Department of Justice, Advanced Education and Skills, or Health and
Community Services. What I can say, Mr. Speaker, is that the programs that we
have identified that we deliver to alleviate or reduce poverty in Newfoundland
and Labrador have not been affected by any staff vacancies.
Thank you.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The Member for Burgeo La Poile.
MR. A. PARSONS: Mr. Speaker, on the government's own Web site there are
three people listed as working on the Poverty Reduction Strategy, which is
significantly less than those working on it prior to that.
I would ask the minister: Are you planning on filling these vacancies and
releasing the action plan as promised?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Advanced Education and Skills.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MS SHEA: Mr. Speaker, first of all I want to clarify, there are many
people in the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador and our various government
departments, boards, or agencies who are working towards the Poverty Reduction
Strategy who deliver the programs that the people benefit from day in, and day
out. Mr. Speaker, we will be providing an update of the Poverty Reduction
Strategy.
This government has set a goal that we want to, over a ten-year period, bring
this Province from the Province with the highest rate of poverty to the Province
with the lowest rate of poverty, Mr. Speaker. Our action and our work to date
including, as I said, $150 million in programs and services that we offer
annually certainly shows that this Province is serious about reducing poverty in
this Province.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The Member for Burgeo La Poile.
MR. A. PARSONS: Mr. Speaker, I ask the minister: You have said you are
going to release the action plan, when do you plan on releasing the strategy?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Advanced Education and Skills.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MS SHEA: Mr. Speaker, the strategy was released in 2006.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The Member for Burgeo La Poile.
MR. A. PARSONS: I would note that the minister knows exactly what I am
talking about and is evading the question that I asked, Mr. Speaker.
MHAs are entrusted by their constituents, Mr. Speaker, to inquire on behalf
of the workings of programs and policies. Since Bill 29, MHAs are diverted at
every turn to executive assistants.
I ask the Minister Responsible for Public Engagement: How are Opposition MHAs
expected to do their job when your government is running political interference?
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, the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act we
certainly take very seriously the balance between access to information and
protecting individual privacy. There is a process in place under ATIPP
legislation in terms of what the requirements are and the criteria of access to
information. We certainly support the disclosure of information to be
transparent. We believe in that. As well, Mr. Speaker, we believe in protecting
individual rights and individual privacy. That is the balance we strike through
the act. We intend to follow the act to make sure persons are protected.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Burgeo La Poile.
MR. A. PARSONS: Mr. Speaker, I would say we take it seriously too, which
is why we do not want to release our constituents' private information to EAs
who are not supposed to be connected to the process.
Mr. Speaker, we have determined from our work on behalf of constituents that
Opposition MHAs are not only being diverted to the minister's EA; in some cases,
they are being diverted to an EA designated for Opposition MHAs.
I ask the minister responsible: Can you outline for this House the procedure
for Opposition MHAs making inquiries on behalf of their constituents? Why would
we be diverted to an Opposition-specific EA?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Innovation, Business and Rural
Development.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. HUTCHINGS: Mr. Speaker, in a general sense, the political staff can
facilitate information, in terms of that flow of information from offices to
those in the public who require that information. Your job as a representative,
access the information in government to work with individuals you represent and
to provide that information.
If there are particulars the hon. member wanted to speak to me on, or there
is an issue of concern he has, as the Minister Responsible for Public Engagement
I will certainly engage with him. He can outline for me what the issues are and
we will deal with them.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Burgeo La Poile.
MR. A. PARSONS: Mr. Speaker, MHAs have obtained written consent from
constituents to inquire on their behalf, often on delicate matters. When we are
diverted to a political staffer we are forced to disclose private matters to yet
another person.
I ask the minister responsible: Wouldn't you consider this a privacy breach,
to run political interference and have delicate matters disclosed to someone who
is not directly involved in the process?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Innovation, Business and Rural
Development.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. HUTCHINGS: Mr. Speaker, anybody who is engaged in information in
government is under the protection of that information, and confidentiality, and
certainly holds that very dear in terms of to whom they can release it and what
they can discuss.
They are working in those positions; they are required to hold in confidence
the information they have. They work with government and other agencies,
departments, and agencies. Office staff who call engage with them to get the
information. At the bottom line, the issue is that is held in confidence by
those individuals.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Torngat Mountains.
MR. EDMUNDS: Mr. Speaker, the motor vessel Astron is experiencing
several weather-related delays on the North Coast of Labrador. There are still
two loads of freight to be delivered to Black Tickle and the North Coast from
Lewisporte. Much of this is the winter food supply.
I ask the minister: Now that it appears that freight will not be delivered
until just before Christmas, are you now prepared to put a second vessel on to
ensure freight and food is delivered before freeze-up?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Transportation and Works.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. DAVIS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
As the hon. member opposite is aware, a vessel providing services to the
North Coast of Labrador sustained a significant mechanical issue in September.
The Astron has been carrying freight to the North Coast of Labrador since
that time, Mr. Speaker, and it has been doing a very good job of delivering
freight. As well, it has been working very closely with the contractor who is
engaged in the business and in the last week has made several deliveries to
Black Tickle.
We have one more full-vessel load of freight in Lewisporte. At this point in
time, keeping an eye on weather conditions, we anticipate we are still going to
be able to deliver that next load of freight.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member of Torngat Mountains.
MR. EDMUNDS: Mr. Speaker, there are still two loads of freight in
Lewisporte and this is much more than a simple issue of commitment now. This is
about getting a winter food order to Northern Labrador. Temperatures have
dropped. Freeze-up has already begun.
I ask the minister: What are you prepared to do to get the freight sitting in
Lewisporte to the people of Black Tickle and the North Coast of Labrador?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Transportation and Works.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. DAVIS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Each year, the department sets a date; November 16 of this year was the date
set, where freight that was delivered to the dock in Lewisporte or to the dock
in Happy Valley-Goose Bay will be delivered to the North Coast. I can tell the
hon. member opposite, the House of Assembly, and the people of Labrador that the
dock in Happy Valley-Goose Bay has been cleared of all freight. All freight from
there is aboard the Astron and is being delivered to the North Coast.
The Astron has now actually reached Nain and is on the way back down
the Coast, dropping off. I think it has one more stop before it returns to
Lewisporte. We anticipate that the freight that is in Lewisporte there is more
than a full boat load there, but we are quite confident we are going to be able
to make at least one more trip of the Astron to ensure the freight is
delivered to the North Coast of Labrador.
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Opposition House Leader.
MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives has just released a report
indicating about 4,000 federal jobs will leave the Atlantic Canada region in the
next few years, with 500 of these jobs disappearing from the Province by 2015.
It looks like the rural areas will especially be hit.
Have there been any discussions with the federal government on the numbers
and locations of federal job cuts within Newfoundland and Labrador?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Finance and President of Treasury
Board.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. MARSHALL: Mr. Speaker, the Department of Finance has not had any of
those discussions, but I did hear a news report from Minister Clement today that
indicated that the Centre for Policy Alternatives had made errors in their
estimates and that the job cuts here in the Province would not be what they said
they would be.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The Leader of the Third Party.
MS MICHAEL: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
On Friday, the Premier signed a term sheet for a loan guarantee contingent on
a decision from Emera about the Maritime Link, which at best is months away, a
decision which is in no way guaranteed to be in our favour. With no finalized
loan guarantee in sight, government still insists on rushing their plans for the
Muskrat Falls Project.
Mr. Speaker, I ask the Minister of Natural Resources: Why won't this
government put on the brakes and send this project back to the Public Utilities
Board for a full regulatory review?
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Natural Resources.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. KENNEDY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
We have had numerous independent reviews conducted of all aspects of Muskrat
Falls, Mr. Speaker, but one very telling statement that was made by the Prime
Minister of Canada on Friday was that when they looked at the loan guarantee,
there was minimal risk to the taxpayer of Canada. He went on further to say, Mr.
Speaker, that there was zero risk. This is because, Mr. Speaker, the federal
government has engaged in a rigorous economic analysis. They have looked the
Decision Gate 3 numbers in detail; they have looked at the revenues projected.
What they are saying at the end of the day, they are convinced that this
project is not only a good deal for the people of Newfoundland and Labrador, the
people of Nova Scotia, and the people of Canada, but also, Mr. Speaker, one that
does not require any further analysis because they can reach that decision
themselves.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The Leader of the Third Party.
MS MICHAEL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
My question to the minister is: Is this project going to have a regulatory
review, and if it is going to have one, who is going to do it if not the PUB?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Natural Resources.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. KENNEDY: Mr. Speaker, we have had this project reviewed by Nalcor at
their Decision Gate 2 phase, then Navigant reviewed it but they were not
independent enough. Then, Mr. Speaker, we went to the PUB, nine months and $2
million, they could not help us. We then hired the group that they hired, Mr.
Speaker, MHI. We have had natural gas reports released; we have had wind reports
released.
We have looked at all aspects of this case, Mr. Speaker. We have now had the
federal government say that this is a good project, because we would not put the
taxpayer of Canada on the line, Mr. Speaker, if it was not a good deal. Finally,
Mr. Speaker, the fact that Quebec is upset must make it a good deal.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The Leader of the Third Party.
MS MICHAEL: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
MS MICHAEL: Obviously, Mr. Speaker, the minister does not understand
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
The Leader of the Third Party.
MS MICHAEL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Obviously, the minister does not understand what a regulatory review is.
Mr. Speaker, the original Maritime Link term sheet was thirty-eight pages.
The formal agreements when they were signed were more than 1,500 pages. The
devil, as they say, can be in the details. For example, the detail that Emera
has until 2014 to decide to proceed with the Maritime Link was not mentioned in
the term sheet that was in the final agreement.
I ask the Minister of Natural Resources: How can government sanction Muskrat
Falls without knowing the final details of the loan guarantee agreement?
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Natural Resources.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. KENNEDY: We do know the final details, Mr. Speaker, of the federal
loan guarantee. We know the amount of the guaranteed debt. We know the
debt-to-equity ratios that they are looking at, Mr. Speaker. The terms of the
federal loan guarantee are outlined, the amortization profile, the conditions
precedent, Mr. Speaker.
In relation to 2014, I would suggest that the member opposite read what is
actually written there. If there was no sanction they had until 2014 to make a
decision on sanction. What I am saying, Mr. Speaker, is that Emera and Nalcor
are currently in the process of determining how to expedite the sanction
process. What I can say from our perspective as a Province is that we will be in
a position to make our decision in the near future.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The Leader of the Third Party.
MS MICHAEL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I ask the minister: What bargaining power will this Province hold if Emera
tries to drive a hard bargain on its Maritime Link deal after government has
sanctioned Muskrat Falls and is well into construction? Emera holds the balls,
Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Natural Resources.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. KENNEDY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, the one thing that Mr. Martin, the President and CEO of Nalcor,
is very experienced at is negotiating complex deals. If the member opposite
thinks that Mr. Martin has not foreseen all of these issues on how to dot every
I and cross every T, she is underestimating that man and his team, Mr. Speaker.
What I can tell you, Mr. Speaker, is the federal loan guarantee is done. What
is the benefit to the people of this Province? A billion dollars, Mr. Speaker!
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The Leader of the Third Party.
MS MICHAEL: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
MS MICHAEL: I am really trying to understand government's approach. There
are no solid markets for 60 per cent of the power, no firm agreement for a
Maritime Link, thus no assurance yet of a loan guarantee, no regulatory review
of the project, looming budget shortfalls, yet government is going to plow ahead
with the Muskrat Falls Project.
Mr. Speaker, is this government determined to build Muskrat Falls at all
costs on the backs of the people of this Province?
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Natural Resources.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. KENNEDY: Yes, Mr. Speaker, I stood next to an NDP Premier of Nova
Scotia on Friday who talked about how this was a game changer and a nation
builder. So, we have an NDP Premier with vision.
Mr. Speaker, what we are dealing with here is a project that is in the best
interests of the people of this Province. One, we need the power; two, we have
to get it from somewhere. Muskrat Falls is the least-cost alternative.
In case the member opposite missed it, there is a paper on Labrador mining
that you might want to have a read of, if you talk about the need for power in
Labrador. At least the Opposition House Leader recognizes that need for power in
Labrador and is saying to us: Develop Muskrat Falls so that you can supply that
power to these mining companies.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The Member for St. John's North.
MR. KIRBY: Mr. Speaker, bullies exploit power imbalances and use physical
strength, embarrassing information, popularity, and other means to control or
harm others.
Students with disabilities are particularly vulnerable to bullying. They, too
often, have to contend with bullies who play on their fears, sensitivities, or
limitations. This bullying and harassment of students with disabilities takes
place at our schools and on the way home.
What does the Minister of Education plan to do to specifically specifically
address this troubling issue?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Education.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. JACKMAN: Mr. Speaker, my reports tell me that the consultations are
going extremely well around this particular issue. I think if we were to look at
even the statements that were made in this House today, to see where inclusion
has come over the past number of years is simply amazing. A lot of these
children with disabilities were often stigmatized and separated from their
fellow students. We have moved mountains, Mr. Speaker, in terms of addressing
inclusion.
In terms of bullying, Mr. Speaker, it is something that we cannot accept as a
society. We aim for the ideal that it will never happen. As we engage society
more and they become more learned about it, Mr. Speaker, we will see a reduction
in bullying.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The Member for St. John's North.
MR. KIRBY: Mr. Speaker, this government has had years to come up with
preventative measures to protect students with disabilities from bullying.
Instead, they have repeatedly chosen to ignore the advice of special education
and disability experts.
How can the Minister of Education stand up in this House and defend his
record, when he has so clearly failed to take action to protect the most
vulnerable students in our schools, Mr. Speaker?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Education.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. JACKMAN: Mr. Speaker, his tone tells me something a little different.
He may want to sit down and have a chat at some particular point.
Mr. Speaker, our investment in students with disability
AN HON. MEMBER: This is not a joke, Mr. Speaker.
MR. JACKMAN: Do you think I take this Mr. Speaker, I will speak to you.
Mr. Speaker, I can assure you one thing. In all of my dealings, in all of my
career, with my children, through fostering and everything else that I have
done, I have never, never taken this issue as a joke and I feel insulted
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. JACKMAN: Mr. Speaker, this is a very serious issue. Our investment in
special education and resources speaks specifically to how we address that, Mr.
Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
The Member for The Straits White Bay North.
MR. MITCHELMORE: Mr. Speaker, for years the government has said we need
330 megawatts of power to meet Island needs and to displace Holyrood, and
remaining power from Muskrat Falls would go to Nova Scotia and sold on the spot
market.
Roddickton has a pellet plant capable of producing 50,000 metric tons of
pellets, which can put 250,000-megawatt hours into the system.
I ask the Minister of Natural Resources: What has happened to this carbon
neutral power that can take the equivalent of thousands of homes off the grid,
and why was biomass ignored in your alternatives?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Natural Resources.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. KENNEDY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
We continue to work closely with the owner of Holson Forest Products in an
attempt to ensure the viability of that plant, Mr. Speaker.
It is interesting that when myself and the Minister of IBRD met last week
with the owner of Roddickton, Mr. Speaker, he was more interested in getting his
plant up and running. He was more interested in supplying jobs for the people of
the area. He was not talking to us about using biomass or anything else to fuel
his plant. He wants to produce pellets to make fuel, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The Member for The Straits White Bay North.
MR. MITCHELMORE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
That is exactly what I said: You need the biomass to create the fuel and you
need to be able to sell it.
Mr. Speaker, BC's Green Heat Initiative has demonstrated biomass-heating
success. The installation of a 400-kilowatt pellet boiler to heat Lillooet's
arena and swimming pool will result in $30,000 to $50,000 a year in annual
energy savings. The projects cost recovery is estimated at two-and-a-half to
three-and-a-half years.
Mr. Speaker, our municipalities will find it even more difficult to heat
their public facilities with Nalcor's proposed rate increases.
Will the Minister of Municipal Affairs permit towns to access the Immigrant
Investor Fund to finance such energy saving projects?
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Natural Resources.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. KENNEDY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, he starts out talking about biomass and then he moves into
funding for municipalities.
Mr. Speaker, I want to correct one point, because this same mistake I will
call it a mistake, Mr. Speaker was made the other day by a member of the Third
Party: St. John's East. What we are seeing is that rates are going up between
2011 and 2016 as a result of the price of oil. There is nothing we can do about
that. That is not Nalcor. If we do not develop Muskrat Falls then rates are
going up higher than they would with Muskrat Falls.
It is misleading for these members opposite to put that forward, Mr. Speaker,
as a justification for a position that rates are going to go up as a result of
Muskrat Falls, when rates are going up anyway, and higher, without Muskrat
Falls.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The time for Question Period has expired.
Presenting Reports by Standing and Select Committees.
Tabling of Documents.
Notices of Motion.
Notices of Motion
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Government House Leader.
MR. KING: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Notice having been given, I wish to inform the House
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
The hon. the Government House Leader.
MR. KING: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Notice having been given, I wish to inform the House that the private
member's motion standing in the name of the Premier will be called and debated
this Wednesday, December 5, 2012.
MR. SPEAKER: Further notices of motion.
The hon. the Government House Leader.
MR. KING: Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, I give notice that I will ask leave to move the following
resolution respecting the reappointment of the Citizens' Representative:
Be it resolved by the House of Assembly as follows:
WHEREAS subsection 3(1) of the Citizens' Representative Act provides that the
Citizens' Representative is to be appointed by the Lieutenant-Governor in
Council on a resolution of the House of Assembly; and
WHEREAS
section 5 of the act states that a commissioner may be reappointed;
and
WHEREAS the appointment of the current commissioner, Mr. Barry Fleming,
expires on December 5, 2012; and
WHEREAS it is proposed that Mr. Fleming be reappointed as the Commissioner
for a term of six years;
THEREFORE
BE IT RESOLVED that Mr. Barry Fleming will appointed as the
Citizens' Representative for a term of six years.
MR. SPEAKER: Answers to Questions for which Notice has been Given.
Petitions.
Petitions
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Bay of Islands.
MR. JOYCE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to present a petition on family caregivers.
To the hon. House of Assembly for the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador
in Parliament assembled, the petition of the undersigned residents humbly
sheweth:
WHEREAS home care allows the elderly and people with disabilities to remain
within the comfort and security of their own homes; home care also provides for
people to be discharged from hospital earlier; and
WHEREAS many families find it difficult to recruit and retain home care
workers for their loved ones; and
WHEREAS the PC Blue Book 2011 as well as the 2012 Speech from the Throne
committed that government would develop a new model of home care and give people
the option of receiving that care from their family members; and
WHEREAS government has given no time commitment for when government plans to
implement paying family caregivers;
WHEREUPON the undersigned, your petitioners, humbly pray and call upon the
House of Assembly to urge the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador to
implement a new home care model to cover family caregivers in 2012-2013 Budget.
As in duty bound, your petitioners will ever pray.
Mr. Speaker, I have presented many petitions in the last session on this
matter. This was a commitment that was made by the government in their Blue Book
in the 2011 election. With or without the knowledge of a lot of people, the
Premier came out and said that people will be able to take care of their loved
ones in their own homes.
Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Health in the last session said that there would
be a new program coming in very, very shortly. That is almost six or seven
months ago.
Mr. Speaker, I can assure you there are many, many people right now who are
struggling to try to take care of their loved ones in their home. On the day for
People with Disabilities, I urge this government I urge this government to
follow through on their commitment.
There are a lot of people in their homes, Mr. Speaker I know a lot
personally and I am sure all of us know somebody personally who have relatives
and loved ones who have disabilities, who cannot find home caregivers, and who
are finding it a tough struggle financially to make ends meet. They do not want
to put their loved ones in some foster care or in some institution; they want to
keep them in their homes, Mr. Speaker. How can anyone in this House of Assembly
deny that person the right to keep the person they love at home where they can
take care of them?
Mr. Speaker, this was a commitment made by this government.
AN HON. MEMBER: (Inaudible).
MR. JOYCE: I hear the Minister of Health right now. Minister of Health,
you said in April or May that you were going to bring it forward very, very
soon. We are still waiting for that very, very soon.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Burgeo La Poile.
MR. A. PARSONS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
To the hon. House of Assembly in the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador in
Parliament assembled, the petition of the undersigned humbly sheweth:
WHEREAS residents of the Southwest Coast must travel the Trans-Canada Highway
between Channel-Port aux Basques and Corner Brook for work, medical,
educational, and social reasons; and
WHEREAS Marine Atlantic ferries dock in Channel-Port aux Basques at various
hours on a daily basis resulting in an extremely high volume of commercial and
residential travellers using this
section of the Trans-Canada Highway; and
WHEREAS the world-renowned Wreckhouse area is situated along this
section of
the TCH; and
WHEREAS the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador initiated a twenty-four
hour snow clearing pilot project in 2008 that excluded the
section of the
Trans-Canada Highway from Channel-Port aux Basques to Stephenville;
WHEREUPON the undersigned, your petitioners, humbly pray and call upon the
House of Assembly to urge the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador to include
the
section of the Trans-Canada Highway from Channel-Port aux Basques to
Stephenville in the twenty-four hour snow clearing project.
And as in duty bound your petitioners will ever pray.
Mr. Speaker, this is a new petition that I have circulated amongst my
constituents. In doing so, I could not believe the response that I received. I
had people e-mailing, calling and Facebooking me, asking: how could they get
access to this? The response was absolutely amazing.
There is a simple reason for that; this is a
section of the Trans-Canada
Highway that does have a fairly high volume of traffic. Now, it is not the same
as the roadways say, down in St. John's, but I would say there is a major
difference in the roadway here.
One part of that, is that we are the gateway to Newfoundland and Labrador
when you have the Marine Atlantic ferries coming across with high volumes of
commercial traffic and traffic coming all hours of the day and night. The ferry
crossings these days are not the same as they used to be where you could tell
when your
schedule would be 7:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m. Now you have ferries
landing at all hours of the day, 9:00 o'clock at night and 3:00 o'clock in the
morning. You have people going back and forth.
The second
part is that people in the Southwest Coast area, not just
Channel-Port aux Basques but Cape Ray, Isle aux Morts, Rose Blanche, Burnt
Island, Margaree and down in La Poile, we have to travel primarily to Corner
Brook for just about anything to get major services, especially in the health
care field. You cannot have a baby on the Southwest Coast of this Province; you
have to travel to Corner Brook. You are on the road at all hours of the night
and day.
This pilot project is a great thing. I have had conversations with the former
Minister of Transportation and Works, I am hoping to have the same conversation
with the new Minister of Transportation and Works. We had another incident just
last week where a tractor-trailer flipped and lucky that nobody was killed
there. We had normal vehicular traffic backed up there.
We need twenty-four hour snow clearing on that
section of the TCH, the volume
is high enough. The fact is the circumstances dictate that we should have access
to safe roadways twenty-four hours of the day given the circumstances, and given
that we are the gateway to the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Third Party.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MS MICHAEL: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
I am very pleased to stand this afternoon and present this petition on behalf
of the petitioners, and a petition that has been certified by the Clerk of the
House.
To the hon. House of Assembly of the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador in
Parliament assembled, the petition of the undersigned residents of Newfoundland
and Labrador humbly sheweth:
WHEREAS the Board of Commissioners of Public Utilities is the entity
responsible for the regulation of electric utilities in the Province of
Newfoundland and Labrador; and
WHEREAS the Muskrat Falls Project proposal is potentially the single-largest
expenditure the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador has considered; and
WHEREAS the PUB is an independent, quasi-judicial regulatory body capable of
providing an unbiased and apolitical decision on the Muskrat Falls proposal; and
WHEREAS government is breaking its own commitment to greater transparency and
accountability by not allowing the PUB to review the Muskrat Falls proposal;
WHEREUPON the undersigned, your petitioners, humbly pray and call upon the
House of Assembly to urge government to mandate the Board of Commissioners of
Public Utilities to review the Muskrat Falls Project proposal, along with any
and all alternatives available for meeting our energy needs.
And as in duty bound, your petitioners will ever pray.
Mr. Speaker, the petitioners on the petition today come from my own District
of Signal Hill Quidi, other districts here in the St. John's area, from Happy
Valley-Goose Bay, and from Northwest River. I am very pleased to present this
petition and their concerns to the House, Mr. Speaker.
In this Province, and it is obvious in the petition, we have a practice and
an expectation that utilities come under the Public Utilities Board. That
whether we are talking about a project itself, whether we are talking about the
change in rates, whether we are talking about the form of energy that the
utilities cover, we are used to, and the petitioners with whom I represent here
today are used to having our Public Utilities Board receive proposals and then
do an analysis based on the proposals that they have received.
The PUB gets expertise to help them as they make those decisions, but it is
the normal way of dealing with utilities in our Province. Therefore, the
petitioners for whom I speak this afternoon and whose petition I present, they
have an understandable expectation that something as large as the Muskrat Falls
Project, which is going to cost billions of dollars, and experts outside of the
government's experts indicate will be more than the $7.4 billion that the
government is talking about that a project of that size, a project which will
be paid for by the ratepayers something which seems to elude the government
and that is why these petitioners have such a right to bring forward this
petition they will be paying for it, all the petitioners, all the ratepayers
will be paying for it. I really urge the government, Mr. Speaker, to listen to
the voice of the people of the Province.
Thank you.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for St. John's North.
MR. KIRBY: 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 violent workplace incidents involving convenience store clerks and
gas station attendants are a serious health and safety issue; and
WHEREAS many public and private sector employees are being left in vulnerable
situations, especially in the opening and closing of their buildings and
establishments; and
WHEREAS all workers deserve protection from danger and harm; and
WHEREAS current government regulations are inadequate in providing even basic
protection for these vulnerable workers; and
WHEREAS it is the responsibility of employers to keep workers safe and the
responsibility of government to ensure employers adhere to regulations;
We, the undersigned, petition the House of Assembly to urge government to
immediately enact legislation and recommendations to protect workers in
hazardous workplaces, including late-night shifts in convenience stores and gas
stations. This legislation must direct employers to have a minimum of two
workers on-site after 10:00 p.m. and before 6:00 a.m. or have a secure barrier
between the worker and the customer in place between these hours.
As in duty bound your petitioners will ever pray.
Mr. Speaker, it is important to recognize the dangers that many workers face
on the job. Often so, workers work at night to provide us with the services and,
often, government programs that we all need and we all come to rely on. They
often do so because they do not have any other choice; they have no alternative
but to be in that job. In a lot of instances, these are younger workers, our
brothers and sisters and daughters and sons and grandchildren, who work in the
service industry.
It is incumbent on us as legislators to ensure that the conditions that they
work in are as safe as they can be and as safe as they ought to be. I encourage
all members to think about this and hear these petitioners.
Thank you.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: Orders of the Day.
Orders of the Day
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Government House Leader.
MR. KING: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the Minister of Health and Community
Services, for leave to introduce a bill entitled,
An Act To Regulate The
Practice Of Pharmacy, Bill 50, and I further move that the said bill be now read
a first time.
MR. SPEAKER: It is moved and seconded that the hon. Minister of Health
and Community Services shall have leave to introduce a bill,
An Act To Regulate
The Practice Of Pharmacy, Bill 50, and that the said bill be now read a first
time.
Is it the pleasure of the House that the minister shall have leave to
introduce Bill 50 and that the said bill be now read a first time?
All those in favour, aye'.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Aye.
MR. SPEAKER: All those against, nay'.
The motion is carried.
Motion, the hon. the Minister of Health and Community Services to introduce a
bill, "An Act To Regulate The Practice Of Pharmacy", carried. (Bill 50)
CLERK: A bill,
An Act To Regulate The Practice Of Pharmacy. (Bill 50)
MR. SPEAKER: This bill has now been read a first time.
When shall the bill be read a second time?
MR. KING: Tomorrow.
MR. SPEAKER: Tomorrow.
On motion, Bill 50 read a first time, ordered read a second time on tomorrow.
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Government House Leader.
MR. KING: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the Minister of Service NL, for leave to
introduce a bill entitled,
An Act To Amend The Pension Benefits Act, 1997, Bill
51, and the said bill be now read the first time.
MR. SPEAKER: It is moved and seconded that the hon. Minister of Service
NL shall have leave to introduce a bill,
An Act To Amend The Pension Benefits
Act, 1997, Bill 51, and that the said bill be now read a first time.
Is it the pleasure of the House that the minister shall have leave to
introduce Bill 51 and that the said bill now be read a first time?
All those in favour, aye'.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Aye.
MR. SPEAKER: All those against, nay'.
Motion carried.
Motion, the hon. the Minister of Service NL to introduce a bill, "An Act To
Amend The Pension Benefits Act, 1997", carried. (Bill 51)
CLERK: A bill,
An Act To Amend The Pension Benefits Act, 1997. (Bill 51)
MR. SPEAKER: This bill has now been read a first time.
When shall the bill be read a second time?
MR. KING: Tomorrow.
MR. SPEAKER: Tomorrow.
On motion, Bill 51 read a first time, ordered read a second time on tomorrow.
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Government House Leader.
MR. KING: Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the Minister of Finance and President of
Treasury Board, for leave to introduce a bill entitled,
An Act To Amend The
Teachers' Pensions Act, Bill 52, and I further move that the said bill be now
read a first time.
MR. SPEAKER: It is moved and seconded that the hon. Minister of Finance
and President of Treasury Board shall have leave to introduce a bill,
An Act To
Amend The Teachers' Pensions Act, Bill 52, and that the said bill be now read
the first time.
Is it the pleasure of the House that the minister shall have leave to
introduce Bill 52 and that the said bill now be read a first time?
All those in favour, aye'.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Aye.
MR. SPEAKER: All those against, nay'.
Motion carried.
Motion, the hon. the Minister of Finance and President of Treasury Board, to
introduce a bill, "An Act To Amend The Teachers' Pensions Act", carried. (Bill
52)
CLERK: A bill,
An Act To Amend The Teachers' Pensions Act. (Bill 52)
MR. SPEAKER: This bill has now been read a first time.
When shall the bill be read a second time?
MR. KING: Tomorrow.
MR. SPEAKER: Tomorrow.
On motion, Bill 52 read a first time, ordered read a second time on tomorrow.
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Government House Leader.
MR. KING: Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, I call from the Order Paper, Order 1, Address in Reply.
MR. SPEAKER: Order 1.
The hon. the Minister of Health and Community Services.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MS SULLIVAN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I really feel it a privilege today to stand and speak to Address
in Reply, because I feel that in this sitting of the House of Assembly we are at
such a historic time in Newfoundland and Labrador, a momentous time, and a
pivotal time in the course we are setting for Newfoundland and Labrador. I
consider it an absolute privilege to be able to stand in this House of Assembly
to be part of this Premier's government, and to be able to speak to some of the
very key issues that are before us. In particular, Mr. Speaker, I want to use my
time this afternoon to speak about Muskrat Falls.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MS SULLIVAN: Mr. Speaker, we are at a moment in the history of
Newfoundland and Labrador where we need to find new ways to power our Province's
energy future.
Mr. Speaker, I feel that we are ready. We are ready technically. We are ready
with economic confidence. We are ready to move this project forward, to move
Newfoundland and Labrador forward, Mr. Speaker, to make a way for generations
that will come after us that are better than what we found this Province in when
we first came here.
Mr. Speaker, what we are about to proceed to develop is a world-class hydro
resource on the Churchill River. I have had the pleasure of visiting Churchill
Falls, and I have had the pleasure as well of visiting the Hoover Dam on a
holiday that I took several years ago. What I was struck by when I actually went
to Churchill Falls is that it is a much bigger project than the Hoover Dam.
Sometimes we do not stop to realize that.
Mr. Speaker, when I was in Churchill Falls I also had opportunity to speak
with some of the employees at Churchill Falls, and to speak with some of the
Nalcor employees as well. They take calls on a regular basis from people at the
Hoover Dam asking them their technical expertise, asking them for their advice
on how to problem solve.
Mr. Speaker, we have experts right here in Newfoundland and Labrador. They
are the workers of Newfoundland and Labrador who keeps Churchill Falls powered
every day. We have experts at Nalcor Energy who are on call all the time around
the world to answer questions, to provide expertise. Mr. Speaker, I, for one,
and this government are very, very proud of the expertise.
Mr. Speaker, our Premier has passionately reiterated on many, many occasions
what Muskrat Falls will mean for Newfoundland and Labrador, most particularly
though not for us, but for our children, our grandchildren, the generations that
will come after us. We have this opportunity before us now. We have an
opportunity, Mr. Speaker, to move ourselves forward, to build on momentum that
was started at Churchill Falls and to move the Province in a direction that will
make a difference.
Our Premier has spoken to that; she has shown her tenacity on a number of
occasions, Mr. Speaker. Not the least of which was last Thursday night with the
Prime Minister of Canada, when she refused to back down, when she held strong
for this Province and for the people of this Province.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MS SULLIVAN: We need to continue that. We need to continue what the
Premier has started for us, Mr. Speaker. We cannot let this opportunity slip. We
have to create, for Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, a long-term, sustainable
Newfoundland and Labrador. This project, Mr. Speaker, will help us to do just
that.
Muskrat Falls has been shown time and time and time again to be the
lowest-cost option for our homes and businesses to be powered into the future. I
have heard the Minister of Natural Resources speak to it on a number of
occasions. It will mean an end to dependence on oil and unstable electricity
prices. It will mean clean, renewable power forever. How can we not sanction a
project like this, Mr. Speaker?
Mr. Speaker, we all know that there is risk involved when you venture out
into a project as large as this. Risk is not unknown to us here in Newfoundland
and Labrador. We eek out our livings
in some of the most harsh conditions in the world; we understand risk.
I want to talk specifically about one risk that was faced 100 years ago, a
century ago by the people in my own district, Mr. Speaker. In Grand
Falls-Windsor when the Northcliffes decided that they wanted to build a paper
mill in Grand Falls-Windsor the naysayers from all over Newfoundland, from all
over parts of Europe, said it cannot be done. You cannot develop something in
the interior of the Province which is not even opened up yet. You cannot get to
it, Mr. Speaker. We cannot transport it out of there, they would tell us.
The naysayers persisted. They told us that the river could never be
harnessed, Mr. Speaker. You could never develop power out there. It was
impossible to do. Read the history books. When I was working on the 2005
centennial celebrations, I was amazed by what I heard that the naysayers of
the day had said about that project and that it could not be done.
Mr. Speaker, we did open up the interior of the Province because of the
development of that mill, and we connected east and west of Newfoundland. Mr.
Speaker, we did harness that river and we are still producing power there today.
They told us that we would not have workers in Newfoundland and Labrador who
would know how to make newsprint. Mr. Speaker, we have the finest papermakers
anywhere in the world here in Newfoundland and Labrador, and we proved it time
and time again. We mitigated all of that risk, Mr. Speaker. For 100 years after
the naysayers said it could not be done, we produced paper in Central
Newfoundland.
Mr. Speaker, we know how to mitigate risk in this Province. We know that to
make money you have to invest. Mr. Speaker, we know that any major project comes
with risk, but we take special care to make sure that we mitigate all of that
risk.
Mr. Speaker, there were naysayers about the project in Bay D'Espoir. I have
heard my colleague, the Minister of Finance speak to that many, many times. They
threw up almost all of the same arguments, Minister, that we are hearing here
now, but what happened? People who were able to have vision, people who were
able to say this project can happen, moved in, took over and the project
happened. We have benefited ever since, Mr. Speaker. We can go to the Web sites
of any of these sites and we are able to see the progress that has been made.
Mr. Speaker, since the Muskrat Falls Project was first announced, what have
we done to try to mitigate that risk? Mr. Speaker, we have been relentless in
our pursuit of information to provide to us as decision makers, and to the
people of Newfoundland and Labrador who need and deserve to have that
information, we have provided as many facts and information as we possibly can
so that we understand the project firsthand.
Mr. Speaker, we have engaged energy leaders from around the world; not just
the energy leaders right here in Newfoundland and Labrador. We have them, Mr.
Speaker, Nalcor is an expert. The people who work at Nalcor and who have been
working on this project not for four or five years, Mr. Speaker, they have been
working on these projects for thirty to forty years. I have spoken with many
people over at Nalcor who have said to me: I have been working on this project
since I went to work there twenty-odd years ago. This is not new to us, Mr.
Speaker, but we have done that. We have engaged leaders' world round to gather
that critical information for us.
We have entered into a process that is called the Decision Gate process, Mr.
Speaker. That is a process that determines the viability of major capital
projects. It is used around the world. It is an industry based approach to
making decisions. It is accepted best practice, Mr. Speaker.
What is a Decision Gate, someone might ask? Decision Gate is, quite simply
put, a point in the process where you have gathered your information and you
stop, and you analyze it all and say: All right, what are the pros, what are the
cons? Have we looked at all the checks and balances here? Are we ready to move
forward to the next stage? Mr. Speaker, we have done that. We have done it time
and time again on this project.
At Decision Gate 2 in November, 2010, we took that stop and we said here it
is. Then we said, all right, let's move forward, let's do more work, let's do
more engineering. Because at Decision Gate 2 we only had 5 per cent of the
engineering done but it still looked like a good project. We weighed the risks,
Mr. Speaker, looked at the checks and balances, made a decision and moved
forward.
Mr. Speaker, that is such a credible and proven process that I really do not
need to defend the process here. Anybody involved in industry understands this
process, understands that it is an acceptable determination of level of
readiness when we are moving forward on a project.
Mr. Speaker, Decision Gate 3 for us is a very critical point. Now we are at
the point where we have to make a decision as to whether or not we sanction or
we do not. Well, Mr. Speaker, when we released our Decision Gate 3 numbers some
time ago, we also released the report from MHI and we released a plethora of
information. The Minister of Natural Resources day after day after day released
information, provided information, provided press conferences, brought forth
whatever information we could possibly locate on this project, and risk
mitigation of the project itself.
Manitoba Hydro, in particular, provided an independent assessment on the two
generation supply approaches that were before us. We asked MHI to review that
process, and we asked them to look at the work that had been completed since
Decision Gate 2, up to the point of Decision Gate 3, and to make a determination
as to what was the least-cost option on the updated costs that were provided.
Well, Mr. Speaker, MHI confirmed, unequivocally, that the engineering costs
and the project planning completed by Nalcor were accurate. They looked at some
of the risks that people had around the project, and they said, no, in actual
fact there is a $2.4 billion preference for this particular option. The scope of
the project has been refined, Mr. Speaker, early engineering site preparation,
extensive planning, detailed design and engineering, all this done, and we have
a much more accurate cost estimate than we ever had.
Mr. Speaker, in terms of this project, I feel that we are moving forward now
with more confidence and more determination as a result of all of the work that
has been done. We have provided a lower risk. We have mitigated the risks that
were out there. Those questions were good questions, Mr. Speaker. They needed to
have been asked.
The Premier of our Province said day over day: Ask your questions. We need to
hear these questions. We need to investigate. If there is one little thing out
there the Premier said to us time and time again that has not been looked
at, tell us, because we want to get this right. We do not want to make a mistake
here. The Premier was steadfast in that. On any number of occasions she told us
that.
Mr. Speaker, the DG3 capital cost for the project is now at $7.4 billion. We
know that the cost to Newfoundland and Labrador is $6.2 billion. The cost of the
Maritime Link is $1.2 billion.
Mr. Speaker, we are not alone in our confidence on this project. We are not
alone at all. We have Navigant, we have MHI, we have Ziff Energy, we have the
bond rating agencies, we have Wood Mackenzie, we have economists such as Dr.
Wade Locke, we have the federal government, we have the federal Liberals, we
have the federal NDP, we have the Government of Nova Scotia, we have the Board
of Trade, we have business leaders, and we have labour leaders.
The list goes on and on of people who have confidence in this project, Mr.
Speaker. The only non-confidence in this project exists on the other side of the
House. That is the only place, Mr. Speaker, we are hearing that non-confidence.
Everywhere else around the world we are hearing confidence.
Mr. Speaker, when I go to my federal-provincial-territorial meetings,
ministers are saying to me from all over this country: Wouldn't we love to be in
the position that Newfoundland and Labrador is in? Wouldn't we love to have that
energy warehouse available to us? I hear it wherever I go, Mr. Speaker. There is
such confidence in it.
Mr. Speaker, the federal government just showed its confidence in this
particular project on Friday past when they signed the loan guarantee in Happy
Valley-Goose Bay. Our Premier was the person who nailed down that agreement for
the Newfoundlanders and Labradorians who sat at home wanting to see that.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MS SULLIVAN: Mr. Speaker, her leadership and her advocacy for this
particular project has never wavered. From day one, our Premier has said: this
has to be done right. This has to be done for the future of Newfoundland and
Labrador. This has to be done for the children we see around us every day, Mr.
Speaker, because it is their futures that we are talking about.
I do not know about the other side of the House, but this side of the House
is not concerned about us just today, Mr. Speaker. We have a concern that will
take us into the next generation and the next generation, and further on.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MS SULLIVAN: Mr. Speaker, this Premier has vision. There is vision on
this side of the House. There is vision from our Premier and that is why she
said: no, I will not sign that agreement until we get what is best for
Newfoundland and Labrador.
It happened, Mr. Speaker. We have that loan guarantee, a loan guarantee that
for our children and our future grandchildren means $1 billion. That is not
something to be laughed at from the other side of the House; that is something
that history will show we will be darned proud of.
Mr. Speaker, I remind the people on the other side of the House someday that
they might want to stop and think about what history is going to say about them.
I wonder how history is going to report what they thought about this project.
Did they oppose because they thought they had to oppose because we are not
hearing much else, Mr. Speaker or did they really have any questions?
Mr. Speaker, I believe history is going to say: what a turning point for
Newfoundland and Labrador when Muskrat Falls was sanctioned, when this was
powered up, and when this particular project took root. I believe the history
books will show that this government understood risk, mitigated risk, saw a
project, saw an opportunity, and said: for our children and our children's
children, we are moving ahead on this project. I believe that is what the
history books will show.
They will show that the Premier who was at the helm of this had the vision,
had the tenacity, had the steadfastness to keep the project moving, Mr. Speaker.
She refused to back down from anybody and instead stood her ground, and we now
have what we need to move this project forward.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MS SULLIVAN: I have much more here than I could say and twenty minutes
goes far too fast. I would tell you, Mr. Speaker, that I have spoken many times
in this House of Assembly in the last five years. I have never spoken more
confidently, I have never been more comfortable, and I have never been more
convinced than with the message I am delivering today, and that is that Muskrat
Falls is the right project at the right time for the people of Newfoundland and
Labrador.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MS SULLIVAN: Mr. Speaker, governance is about decision making. Decision
making is about weighing all of the options, it is about looking at the pros and
the cons, and it is about making sure the checks and the balances are in place.
It is about doing all of the information gathering that can possibly be done and
then taking a stand, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, this Premier and this government know what stand to take. We
want to stand for a future for this Province. We want to make sure that our
children and grandchildren will always have a future here on this Island and in
Labrador, a place that we know and love, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I am confident because decades of study have been done. I am
confident because experts have looked at this project from top to bottom. I am
confident because I know that the Premier's analysis on this and the Premier's
view on this has always been one that is based on principled decision-making. On
a regular basis, our Premier says to us: Do not be advocates; be judges. Well,
Mr. Speaker, we have judged this project. We have looked at all of the evidence.
We are not simply advocating. We are judging based on evidence, sound evidence
that has been provided to us by so many different authorities worldwide.
Mr. Speaker, for all of those reasons I am confident in that project. I am
confident for my children, I am confident for generations to come, and I am
confident that when we lay pen to paper and make a decision on Muskrat Falls, as
this side of the House will, we will be setting a course for Newfoundlanders and
Labradorians that sets us apart, that makes us different and that provides for a
future that otherwise would not have happened.
Mr. Speaker, I know how I will vote. I know how this side of the House of
Assembly will vote. This is a good project for Newfoundland and Labrador. I am
so happy to support this project.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER (Littlejohn): The hon. the Minister of Transportation and
Works.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. DAVIS: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
I thank you for acknowledging me this afternoon and giving me an opportunity
to rise and have a few minutes in the Address in Reply.
I heard, last week, members opposite who were concerned about the fact that
members on this side of the House were referring to this debate and using their
time in this debate to discuss Muskrat Falls. I heard a comment from members
opposite who said: Well, we have already spoken in this debate and we cannot
speak again. What I would say to members opposite is that each one of us, as
members of the House, when we are entering into a debate such as this, it is our
decision in how we want to address the House. It is our decision how we utilize
our time.
If we decide to utilize our time to debate or to talk about a very important
matter, being Muskrat Falls, then that is the decision that each of us make. I
know when time passes, at different points in time, there may be things that are
the flavour of the day that someone wants to talk about, but I can tell you, Mr.
Speaker, for some time now I have been looking for the opportunity to have some
time to discuss Muskrat Falls and to point out some points that I see.
I can tell by the members opposite, the response that I am getting from there
now, that they are not pleased to hear that, but we do have an opportunity to
make those decisions. I was considering using some time to talk about
MS JONES: A point of order, Mr. Speaker.
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. Member for Cartwright L'Anse au Clair, on a point
of order.
MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I want to point out for the House because some of the information is
somewhat misleading when you are into Address in Reply, once members have
spoken once in Address in Reply they do not have the opportunity to speak again.
Many members in this House spoke in March, April, May, and June in Address in
Reply; therefore, they do not have the opportunity to speak today.
To say that Address in Reply is a debate on Muskrat Falls is false. It is not
that at all. In fact, it does not allow the opportunity for all members to stand
and speak. If we were debating a different bill, maybe a Finance bill, then all
members would have the opportunity to speak and choose what they speak on.
MR. SPEAKER: I thank the Member for Cartwright L'Anse au Clair.
The hon. the Deputy Government House Leader.
MR. HUTCHINGS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Just to clarify, Address in Reply is the ability for anybody to get up and
articulate on any issue they want to. We call it debate.
To the hon. member and her comments, here in the House the Government House
Leader did certainly make the offer that if there was an agreement, other
members will get an opportunity to speak if they wanted enter into a debate on
Muskrat. That was not accepted. The Government House Leader did offer that, and
I think it is important that we get that out there. It was asked.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: There is no point of order.
The hon. the Minister of Transportation and Works.
MR. DAVIS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
While the clock is ticking, I am going to utilize the time as best I can.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
MR. DAVIS: Mr. Speaker, I am going to focus my comments today in regard
to Muskrat Falls on the cost of Muskrat Falls. There are a couple of different
ways of looking at the cost of Muskrat Falls. What is important to the people of
Newfoundland and Labrador is to grasp an understanding of how the rates will be
affected and what will happen with rates under Muskrat Falls. That is what is
important to people and that is where I am going to focus my comments this
afternoon, Mr. Speaker.
I have heard the Minister of Natural Resources a number of times now here in
the House and publicly bring forward two points. The first one is: Do we need
the power? He asked the question: Do we need the power? I do not think there is
much opposition. I do not think there is any opposition now there was earlier
at this point in time that would argue we need the power. The second question
he would ask is: Do you believe that Muskrat Falls is the least-cost option for
Newfoundlanders?
Mr. Speaker, the hon. minister has released numerous amounts of information.
Members opposite have asked for more information. They released more information
at times. They provided more information than any other project in the history
of Newfoundland and Labrador and have made that quite available to the members
opposite, as well as the people of Newfoundland and Labrador. It is very
important to do that because it is the people we are here to serve. It is the
people of the Province we are here to serve. We are here to make decisions in
their best interests for today and also for the future.
We are not governing based on today alone, Mr. Speaker. We are looking at
decades and decades down the road when we are talking about Muskrat Falls. If
you look at a project, such as my colleague here in her comments earlier
referenced the Hoover Dam. Now, the Hoover Dam in United States was built
between 1931 and 1936; it is eighty years old. It is eighty years old and it
produces over 2,000 megawatts of power, Mr. Speaker, and it continues to
produce. Eighty years later it is still producing power for the people of the
United States.
Right here in the Province, we know the Upper Churchill Falls project was
started in 1967. It was producing power in the early 1970s, forty, forty-five
years ago, and continues to produce power today. How often do we hear, a
breaking story, there is a problem with the production of power at Churchill
Falls, or there is a problem with the production of power at the Hoover Dam?
Mr. Speaker, we do not, because it is a reliable source of energy. It is a
reliable source of power that will last for many years; so not just for us
today, but for the generations that will follow us. It will produce a reliable
energy. It will be a clean, green, dependable source of power for the people of
the Province, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I have also heard the Minister of Finance, and he has tried to
explain to people on how the finances and the investments in Muskrat Falls will
not have any impact on the net debt. I want to try and explain it this way,
because I have talked to the minister about this and I wanted to make sure that
I understood it correctly.
If I can use a comparison, Mr. Speaker, an example would be if someone were
to purchase a rental property. If you purchase a rental property say with two
units in it that you are going to rent out, and for argument's sake you
purchased a modest property at say a value of $100,000, and you finance that at
$100,000. What you have is a mortgage for $100,000 and you have an asset worth
$100,000. I know in many places in Newfoundland and Labrador it is going to cost
you much more than that to purchase a rental property, but for argument's sake
let's just use that as an example.
When you purchase an asset, which is the property, and you now have a
mortgage for that $100,000, what you do is you are going to set your rental rate
at a value that allows you to pay for the cost of providing that service of
rental accommodations. You are going to set the rate that is equivalent to your
cost. You are also going to factor in your cost for maintaining that property,
because you want that property to last you a long time. The right way to do that
is to ensure that you maintain it in good order so that it is going to give you
longevity in use and purpose, that you are able to rent that out.
What happens is as the people who are utilizing the service start to pay off
your debt, the debt that is equivalent to the value of the asset, your asset
begins to grow in value to you. As you pay off that mortgage you become the
owner of a very valuable asset, that if you maintain and you care for properly
will last you a long, long time and provide you revenue for many, many, many
years.
Hydroelectric projects have proven their longevity. That is what is going to
happen with Muskrat Falls. As we pay off the cost of Muskrat Falls,
Newfoundlanders and Labradorians for years to come and I can tell you, Mr.
Speaker, it is not about me, it is about our children and our grandchildren in
the generations to come who are going to benefit from this asset for years and
years and years.
As I mentioned, Hoover Dam, at one point in time I had a chance to see myself
and made a point to do so. It has been eighty years, and it continues to produce
power for the people in the US. Muskrat Falls will have the same type of
longevity.
The technology involved in hydroelectric development has not changed
significantly over the years. It is a proven, reliable method of producing
power. At the end of it, we will have a highly valuable, power producing
facility and asset for the people of the Province.
Mr. Speaker, in Newfoundland and Labrador the rates that utilities are able
to charge are regulated. We have regulation that regulates the rates that the
utilities are able to provide. We essentially have two utilities in the
Province. We have Newfoundland Hydro, which is Nalcor, and we have Newfoundland
Power, which is a private company.
Now, 90 per cent of the power that Newfoundland Power distributes they buy
from Newfoundland Hydro; 90 per cent of it. Newfoundland Power essentially has a
grid of services that they provide to the people of the Island. They are the
ones that actually take the power from Hydro and deliver it to the people in the
Province. Newfoundland Hydro is the significant power producer in the Province,
as we know.
Mr. Speaker, what takes place is that the rates are set so that both of these
utilities are able to receive a return on their investment, the same as a rental
property. They have to charge enough to cover the cost of operating a generation
plant; that covers the cost of their transmission services; it covers the cost
of their maintenance, and so on. There are really three fundamental costs that
are considered when rates are set for them. One, like I said, is maintenance
cost. With generation plants, there is a cost. There is maintenance involved in
keeping them updated and keeping them operating. They are very successful at
hydroelectric, at keeping those operating efficiently and effectively.
There is the transmission lines aspect of how you move power from place to
place throughout the Province. They are able to make a case under regulation and
say: We want a return for the cost of maintaining our transmission lines so that
we can continue to operate a safe, efficient and effective utility service. That
is what they need to do. They say we need so much money to charge back to the
ratepayers to pay for this, and here is what it is going to cost.
As well, Mr. Speaker, they have to consider unforeseen maintenance. We live
in a very harsh climate in Newfoundland and Labrador. We are susceptible to
thawing, freezing, comfortable warm summers, and very cold winters. The climate
changes from the West Coast to the East Coast to the Northern Peninsula to
Labrador. There are a variety of climates throughout our Province in which our
utilities must function and continue to provide their service. There are times
when there are emergencies that occur, quite often weather related, where the
utilities have to pay for maintenance and those costs. Under their rates, they
are able to return those costs to be able to continue to operate and function in
the black.
As well Mr. Speaker, the third feature of the rate setting in Newfoundland
and Labrador is oil. It is the price of oil and the cost to operate the Holyrood
thermal generation plant. Just this past year, actually, there was a process in
place where oil is calculated on a regular basis, an annual basis, and this year
it was in the range of a 7 per cent increase in rates based on oil, Mr. Speaker.
It is oil that we are now dependent upon in order to keep the lights on. Without
Holyrood, there is not enough power. As time goes on and the increase in demand
continues to exist, the more reliant we become on Holyrood to generate power for
Newfoundland.
Mr. Speaker, it was interesting to compare. I did some research on this as
well. Where are rates around the country? It is interesting to know that
historically and traditionally, Newfoundlanders and Labradorians are paying a
rate that is lower than the Canadian average. What was really interesting for me
to see is that there are three jurisdictions in the country that are quite
consistently below us. They are British Columbia, Manitoba, and Quebec. British
Columbia, Manitoba, and Quebec traditionally have the lowest power rates in the
country. Does anyone know why that is?
AN HON. MEMBER: What is the link?
MR. DAVIS: What is the link? Hydro they all produce power at hydro;
they hydro-produce power in BC, Manitoba, and Quebec, of course, which keeps
them the lowest rates. Quebec is the lowest at $120. How Quebec developed
hydroelectricity is probably a better matter for another day. Manitoba is $128,
very close, and BC, $150.
Now, Newfoundland and Labrador is up to $191, the next-lowest in the country
$191 and that is an average monthly cost. What makes that so much higher
than the rest is the cost of oil and the cost to operate the Holyrood plant.
That is where it is. That is the difference: the cost of oil.
Mr. Speaker, between 2001 and 2011 and we have heard the minister talk
about this before the rates for power in Newfoundland and Labrador increased
by 32 per cent. It came up today during Question Period. The rates for power
between 2001 and 2011 went up 32 per cent, or on average $45 per month. That is
a 2.8 per cent a year increase in the cost of power. A lot of that, again, has
to do with oil.
We also know, from the great work or the great people at Hydro, that between
2011 and 2016 there is going to be another 16 per cent increase. That has
nothing to do with Muskrat Falls, nothing at all to do with Muskrat Falls,
because under regulation and under the laws of the land, the cost of Muskrat
Falls is not going to be charged to taxpayers until we flip the switch and we
turn it on. So, from the projections from 2011 to 2016, there is another 16 per
cent.
Mr. Speaker, then we have to get into the time where Muskrat Falls would come
online, the 2016-2017 time period. What is really interesting is that without
Muskrat Falls, from 2016-2017 up to 2030, it is projected that the power costs
for island users will increase by 38 per cent 38 per cent over that time
period, without Muskrat Falls, or $82 per month.
That is what people want to know: what is the effect on my light bill? So, I
can tell the people that the analysis and the projections are that without
Muskrat Falls, your light bill is going to go up during that time period another
$82. That is after 2017.
With Muskrat Falls, Mr. Speaker, it is only going to go up 18 per cent. It is
only going to go up 18 per cent, which is approximately $38 per month. The
reason for that a big reason for that is we are getting off oil. Out at
Holyrood Holyrood currently produces between 15 and 25 per cent of the power
needs of the island 15 to 25 per cent. At peak times, it is using up 18,000
barrels of oil.
AN HON. MEMBER: That is a lot of oil.
MR. DAVIS: It is a lot of oil. It is a lot of oil.
The current costs in 2011, the fuel cost for Holyrood was $135 million,
just for the purchase of fuel. So that is fuel; once it is burnt, it is gone. It
is fuel we are buying from oil companies from around the world. Once it is
bought and paid for, the money is gone out of here; it is gone to pay for that
commodity in order to look after Holyrood.
It 2017, Mr. Speaker, Nalcor estimates that the cost of oil purchases for
Holyrood, without Muskrat Falls, will be up to, ready for this: $324 million a
year $324 million a year for the purchase of oil. Three years, that is about a
billion dollars. That is about a billion dollars over a three-year period, Mr.
Speaker.
Get this: if we get off of Holyrood in 2016-2017, that $324 million can be
used to pay off the asset that we just invested in, the Muskrat Falls asset.
Remember I talked about paying off your asset early when you pay off your house
earlier? When you pay off your asset, you are left with a very valuable, highly
valuable asset, being the ability to produce your own power, the ability to sell
your own power through Newfoundland and Labrador, and also through our agreement
with Emera. So, Mr. Speaker, once we get off oil, that is huge money, and
instead of giving the money to oil companies and sending it away outside of the
Province and outside of the country, it is invested right here in Newfoundland
and Labrador and kept here for the people of Newfoundland and Labrador.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. DAVIS: Mr. Speaker, the clock is running down. I am getting to the
end of my time, but I do want to tell the people of Newfoundland and Labrador
and remind them that if you go into the government Web site www.gov.nl.ca
you will find there Power in Our Hands and a block which brings you right into
Muskrat Falls, or you can go to www.powerinourhands.ca, because there is an
enormous amount of information there on this project, on Muskrat Falls. I
encourage anyone and I know I speak for members on this side of the House as
well if you want to have a look at it, we encourage you to do that.
One of the real nice features in there is a bill calculator. When you go in,
it is on the left-hand side of the page. You will see a line there that says
Information Centre. Underneath that is the bill calculator. I encourage people
to go in and have a look at it because if you plug in what you are paying on
average per month today, it will give you projections for the years to come.
It is very interesting. I know several people who have done it and have said
I did not realize that. Because what happens is after 2016-2017, if you look at
the cost with and without Muskrat, the cost to ratepayers, to individuals,
Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, what you see is you start to see a separation.
You start to see that the cost to continue to operate with Holyrood starts to
escalate like this; the cost of power to consumers with Muskrat Falls continues
to stay lower and that spread grows as the years go on. It shows that the longer
you are there, the more savings you are going to make. The bill calculator will
actually do an analysis on how much money you will save as an individual, as a
ratepayer with Muskrat Falls.
Mr. Speaker, in the minute or so that I have left, I want to talk a little
bit about last week and the loan guarantee that happened last Thursday. Knowing
now how this took place, I tell you I was pretty impressed. I was pretty
impressed with our Premier and how she pulled it off. Mr. Speaker, what happened
last week when the Premier was asked about Muskrat Falls and about Goose Bay and
the Prime Minister coming to Goose Bay, she made a comment that she never had
plans to go to Goose Bay. The reason for that was because from her perspective,
the deal was not done. The deal was not done at that point in time.
Our Premier, representing every Newfoundlander and Labradorian, had a number
of key objectives that she wanted to achieve before she was ready to sign a
deal. Until late Thursday night, when she had a conversation with the Prime
Minister herself and she said these are the key objectives we need to achieve
and she did achieve those and she brought that deal home. Before that time, Mr.
Speaker, the deal was not done. She held firm, she was persistent, she
preserved, and she said these are things that need to be in this agreement and
until they are, I am not signing the deal. Once she achieved that on Thursday
night, Mr. Speaker, let me tell you it was a
MR. SPEAKER: I remind the hon. member his time is up.
MR. DAVIS: monumental day and moment for the people of Newfoundland and
Labrador.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. DAVIS: Thank you for the opportunity to speak to this, this
afternoon. I can tell you, as my colleague has done, that I will definitely be
supporting Muskrat Falls, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Cape St. Francis.
MR. K. PARSONS: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
It is indeed a great privilege to be here today. I have been looking forward
to this day for a long while. It gives me the opportunity to get up and debate.
I know the Member for Burgeo La Poile last week was worrying about what was on
Twitter and how people were calling this debate. Yes, it is Address in Reply,
there is no doubt about it, but it is an opportunity for me to get up and tell
the constituents of Cape St. Francis my true feelings and what I want to express
and the reasons why I think that this is a great, great, great project.
Mr. Speaker, whether it is legislation, the Throne Speech, the Budget or
whatever, we are always debating, other than when you get up to do a member's
statement. Any time you get up in this House, you are debating. It is not the
special debate that we all wanted. I know I was looking forward to a special
debate, to be able to hear the Opposition get up themselves and be able to get
up. They did not want it. We offered everything we could, but still no debate.
Mr. Speaker, the Member for St. John's North again as the Minister of
Transportation just alluded to was up last week and he was saying about how
they did not have the opportunity because they could not get up on Address in
Reply. It did not take long, Mr. Speaker, when it was offered to him by the
House Leader to his leader it took her about five seconds to turn it down. I
am not sure who was quicker, either her or the Premier of Quebec, to turn down
the loan guarantee.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. K. PARSONS: I heard that the elevator was on the first floor and she
had to take the stairs she was running that far down to get to the thing. She
wanted to race the Premier of Quebec to turn down our loan guarantee.
Mr. Speaker, like I said, this is an opportunity to really get up and express
myself and what I feel about Muskrat Falls. I look at Muskrat Falls and there is
one main reason that I think that we have to do Muskrat Falls, and one of the
main reasons I am here: I look to the future. I always look to the children and
the grandchildren the grandchildren who I hope to have someday. I want to be
called Poppy Parsons, like Poppy Pollard, someday here in the House of Assembly.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. K. PARSONS: Mr. Speaker, the speaker before me, and all speakers, we
all look at this and I know the Minister of Natural Resources, day after day,
since we have been here in the House, every time you go to a news conference
there are two main questions: Do we need the power, and which is the least cost
to give us that power?
Mr. Speaker, we have to look at what is happening out in Holyrood. I saw a
newscast on a little while ago. A lady was on CBC; they were showing the dust
and the soot on the side of her house and on the side of her car. She took her
finger and she wiped it off. Mr. Speaker, that should not be happening today. We
should not have to live in a society where you have dust and whatever else, the
pollution that we are having.
I think it would be irresponsible for us to spend billions of dollars to
retrofit it, to put the brushers and reciprocators that they are talking about
in there. I do not think we should do it. I really do not think we should be
polluting like we are doing. Burning oil what are we doing? We are going to
keep polluting.
Mr. Speaker and like the previous speaker 18,000 barrels of oil a day
just to keep it going at peak production. That is unbelievable when you think
about it. That blows my mind, when I think about 18,000 barrels a day.
Mr. Speaker, that is not all; then there are the emissions that we are
putting in, the greenhouse gases that we are putting up every year. If we take
that out, if we eliminate it, it is like taking 300,000 cars off the road a
year. That is huge. That is unbelievable.
The previous speaker spoke about the percentage that it was going to go up,
our light bill, from 2016 to 2036, but I will give you another little gauge
he did not give you there. If we continue with Holyrood and do not do
Muskrat Falls we will burn $385 million a year in fuel at Holyrood. That is
huge. From 2017 to 2036, that is $7.7 billion, and absolutely nothing to show
for it, absolutely nothing, thrown away to the oil companies unbelievable.
Mr. Speaker, why don't we take that money and make an investment into our
future?
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. K. PARSONS: Make an investment into our children. That, to me, makes
sense, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, like I said, instead of sending that money over the Leader of
the Opposition was up the other day on his private member's motion, and he was
wondering what we were going to do with the dividends. Isn't that a great worry?
Isn't that a great concern? What are we going to do with the extra money?
The government of the day will decide. It is not our way to make a decision;
if there is money there and there is money turned over, maybe they will build
schools, maybe they will build a new hospital, maybe they will do this, maybe
they will do that. There is lots of stuff to do with money in Newfoundland and
Labrador but, Mr. Speaker, it would be great to have the opportunity to be able
to do it.
Like you said, Mr. Speaker, we know that we are going to need this power; all
the experts, everybody is after looking at it. Even the critics, the critics out
there that criticized this project, they all know the difference; they all know
that we are going to need the power. None of them are disputing that. All I have
to do, Mr. Speaker, is look in my own district, the District of Cape St.
Francis, and even look at my own family. I drive around my district now; the
homes are huge. They are big homes, and they need electricity.
There are houses today that are getting built. I go down and I am amazed that
the houses are so big. I say: how many people ar