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November 14, 2013 HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS

Vol. XLVII No. 29

The House met at 1:30 p.m.

MR. SPEAKER (Wiseman): Order, please!

Admit strangers.

Earlier in the week there was a point of privilege raised. The Opposition

House Leader has raised a question of privilege by way of contempt with respect

to the Member for Conception Bay East Bell Island.

The member, as a result of findings of the Commissioner for Legislative

Standards and concurred in by this House, was reprimanded and asked to apologize

for his failure to file an accurate conflict of interest statement and for

breaching the Members of the House of Assembly Code of Conduct.

The member apologized in the House, but when answering questions from the

media outside the House, the Opposition House Leader says that the member's

comments indicate a less than unequivocal apology to the House.

The Opposition House Leader raised the issue as an affront to the integrity

of the House and therefore a contempt against the House and its members.

I just want to make a few comments about the principle of contempt. Contempt,

which is considered in the same way as a breach of privilege, is an affront to

the authority and dignity of the House, or an action which brings the House, its

members or a member into disrepute.

O'Brien and Bosc says, at page 82, "Thus the House also claims the right to

punish, as a contempt, any action which, though not a breach of privilegetends

to obstruct or impede the House in the performance of its functionsobstructs or

impedes a Member, or is an affront against the authority or dignity of the

House."

Again, with respect to contempt, Maingot, on Parliamentary Privilege in

Canada, Second Edition , at page 250, says, "There are actions that, while

not directly in a physical way obstructing the House of Commons or the Member,

nevertheless obstruct the House in the performance of its functions by

diminishing the respect due to it."

O'Brien and Bosc goes on to say, at page 87, (There is a) "reluctance to

invoke the House's authority to reprimand or admonish anyone found to have

trampled its dignity or authority and that of its Members", but rather, members

have often been chastised for "intemperate and irresponsible" behaviour.

The authorities, O'Brien and Bosc and Maingot, make it clear that an affront

to the integrity of the House, its members, or a member must be very apparent in

order for a contempt to be found.

As required by the House of Assembly Accountability, Integrity and

Administration Act, and as recommended by Chief Justice Derek Green's 2007

report, the Commissioner for Legislative standards, as an impartial

administrator, not the House itself, has investigated and made a recommendation

to the House as to the appropriate action. The House has concurred and an

apology requested has been made.

The point of privilege raises the question of whether the comments made

outside of the House, in this instance, are an attempt or an affront to the

dignity of the House, whether they impugn the integrity of or impede this House

or a member or members of this House.

I have reviewed the video clip of the media interview with the Member for

Conception Bay East Bell Island and find that his words were intemperate,

maybe even irresponsible. It is important that all members truly understand the

nature of their responsibility beyond this House and the need for following

their conflict of interest rules and Code of Conduct. There does not appear,

however, to be an affront to the integrity of the House. The House itself and

its members have not been impugned.

I find that there is no prima facie finding of contempt.

There is, however, a need, I believe, to provide some comments with respect

to the Code of Conduct. Before taking his seat in this House, a member swears or

affirms to abide by a Code of Conduct and by the Conflict of Interest Rules made

under the House of Assembly Act. It is incumbent upon all members to understand

and to comply with both. Members are held to a very high standard by this House

and must conduct themselves accordingly. This matter is not about a half-hearted

apology in or outside of the House. This is about a lack of understanding of the

conflict of interest requirements and the Code of Conduct as they apply to

members of this House.

Clearly, Chief Justice Green intended that MHAs understand the public trust

that they hold. Self-regulation of one's behaviour in accordance with the Code

of Conduct (and Conflict of Interest Guidelines) that one has to swear to should

be held paramount. It is incumbent upon members to acknowledge their duty to the

public in general and not just to this House in particular.

Chief Justice Derek Green's report in 2007, titled, Rebuilding Confidence:

Report of the Review Commission on Constituency Allowances and Related Matters ,

goes on to say, "I am satisfied that a code of conduct is an important element

in fostering public trust in our elected officials and in the institution in

which they operate.a code will reinforce the notion of accountability that

should permeate the organization and set an appropriate tone for the House."

It goes on to say, "The focus of a code is usually not on obvious illegal

behaviour since that is already the subject of normative rules of the land.

Instead, codes often focus on areas of activity that would generally be regarded

as unethical or inappropriate according to community expectations."

"In those jurisdictions that have adopted codes of conduct for elected

officials, it is generally accepted that standards of proper behaviour need to

be declared PUBLICLY."

A member is bound by the conflict of interest rules made under the House of

Assembly Act, but it is doubly bound to uphold those provisions and to conduct

himself or herself in a manner that withstands the closest public scrutiny,

protects the public interest, and is in the best interest of the public in

accordance with the Members' Code of Conduct. All members have taken a code to

do so.

The Code of Conduct is the standard to which we, as members of this House,

must hold ourselves. It is incumbent on each and every one of us to live up to

that standard and we uphold the standard of the oath that we take.

This concludes the issue with respect to the point of privilege.

Statements by Members

MR. SPEAKER: Today we have members' statements from the Member for the

District of Bellevue; the Member for the District of Fortune Bay Cape La Hune;

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

District of St. John's Centre; the Member for the District of Lake Melville; and

the Member for the District of Terra Nova.

Before I acknowledge the Member for the District of Bellevue, I want to

acknowledge a couple of special quests in the Speaker's gallery today. We have

joining us today from Maryland, the Secretary of State, Mr. John McDonough,

accompanied by Mr. Christopher Barlow.

Welcome to our House, gentlemen.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Bellevue.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. PEACH: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I rise in this hon. House today to recognize an annual fundraising event that

takes place in Arnold's Cove each year in September called the Fog Trot. It is a

ten-kilometre run or walk and its proceeds go to the Children's Wish Foundation.

This event was founded and started by two gentlemen, Howard Brown and Michael

Penney. The committee has now grown and there are many who volunteer their time

to help organize this event each year.

This year the Fog Trot had participants from Clarenville to St. John's and

the surrounding areas. There were sixty participants, and they raised $4,600

from this ten-kilometre walk or run event. They also held a Fog Trot musical

festival that same day from 3:00 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. and raised another $1,800,

for a total of $6,600.

I ask all members to join me in congratulating the Fog Trot Committee for

promoting healthy living and for the successful fundraising they had again this

year, and say thank you for caring and for volunteering your time.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for the District of Fortune Bay Cape

La Hune.

MS PERRY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I rise in this hon. House today to recognize the outstanding public speaking

abilities of youths in the Coast of Bays region who have participated in the

annual Lions Club Speak-Outs this year.

The first place winners for 2013 were Renee Langdon of Harbour Breton, and

Jordan Collier of St. Alban's. Jordan then went on to win the Regional Speak-Off

for the Lions Club. In addition, he took his stellar performance to Grand

Falls-Windsor, where he also won the Rotary Speak-Off too. Congratulations,

Jordan, a great job well done.

I would also like to thank the Lions Club, Rotary Club, teachers, parents,

and volunteers who assist the youth in any way for these important events, which

provide an excellent opportunity for young people to develop their oratory

talent and skills.

I ask all members of this hon. House to join me in delivering accolades to

these fine young students and future leaders.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for the District of Baie Verte

Springdale.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. POLLARD: It is with great pleasure that I rise in this hon. House

today to congratulate the community of Baie Verte for a very successful Come

Home Year celebrations.

For the week of August 5 to August 11, the whole community was inundated with

family and friends coming from near and far to participate in the fun-filled

festivities. Chairperson Cathy Alyward, along with co-ordinator Leonard Downey,

and their organizing committee are to be commended for spearheading such a

monumental task. Their hard work and commitment certainly ensured that the event

was a resounding success.

New friendships were forged; old acquaintances were rekindled; and lasting,

endearing memories were etched in the memories of so many people as each person

reveled in the captivating events. In fact, the whole community is to be praised

for embracing the Come Home Year celebrations. In addition, a big thank you to

all the volunteers who unselfishly gave of their time, talents, and energy, to

make it happen.

Please join me in recognizing the successful Come Home Year celebrations

organized by the community of Baie Verte.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MS ROGERS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I rise today to congratulate the Craft Council of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Last weekend, thousands of people had the great pleasure of attending the

Christmas Craft Fair at the St. John's Arts and Culture Centre.

This was the fortieth anniversary of the craft fair the fortieth!

In 1973, Donna Clouston, Isabella St. John, and Albert Rippurger organized

the first-ever craft fair at the Arts and Culture Centre. Over the years, the

fair has grown, and it is great.

A visit to the fair is a strong reminder to us of how vital the craft

industry is across our Province. In every community people are creating their

works of art with expertise and pride. The quality of the merchandise, the sheer

number of people who earn their living as artists, and the enthusiasm on the

part of the public for locally produced goods, is a reflection of how far the

Craft Council has moved the industry along since it began.

Donna Clouston has exhibited at every fair since the first one forty years

ago, and many of us have her calendar wall hangings to show for it.

Bravo to Donna and to all the artists, and bravo to the Craft Council of

Newfoundland and Labrador.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. RUSSELL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I rise today to recognize the recent heroism shown during a search and rescue

operation by the 444 Combat Support Squadron based out of 5 Wing Goose Bay.

On November 1, Mr. Speaker, a call came in from the Joint Rescue Coordination

Centre in the evening hours to the squadron regarding a swamped motorboat in

Lake Melville. They were tasked for the search and rescue mission and quickly

responded. The squadron utilized their night vision capabilities and

co-ordinated with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans officials offshore who

guided them in using lights.

In the middle of the night, Mr. Speaker, during the beginning of our cold

Labrador winter, two search and rescue technicians entered the icy waters of

Lake Melville and proceeded to hoist all five passengers of the boat to safety

and then transported them to hospital.

Had it not been for the brave members of the 444 squadron, this unfortunate

situation could have been a lot worse.

I ask all hon. members of this House to join me in recognizing the great work

of the 444 Combat Support Squadron who risk their lives for others' safety.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for the District of Terra Nova.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. S. COLLINS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

On October 13, the Town of Gambo lost a tremendous citizen. Lloyd Noseworthy,

born in Pouch Cove in 1941, would later marry the love of his life, Joan Curran,

and relocate to Gambo in 1959. Upon moving to Gambo he opened a business which

he would operate for thirty years. He also became an active member of the Lions

Club there.

Then, in 2005, Lloyd was elected Mayor of Gambo and would serve in that

capacity for four years.

While business and politics were big parts of his life, Lloyd's first love

was music. Lloyd was a regular face at festivals and fundraisers in town. Mr.

Speaker, aside from performing music he was also great at composing it. He would

write what would become the town's unofficial anthem, entitled Good Ole Gambo. A

wonderful song so catchy in fact, my young daughter sings the title every time

we drive by the Welcome to Gambo' sign.

Lloyd passed away peacefully with his family at this side after a courageous

battle with cancer. He will be missed by all those who were fortunate enough to

have known him.

I ask all members to join with me in recognizing my good friend, Lloyd

Noseworthy.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: Statements by Ministers.

Statements by Ministers

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

PREMIER DUNDERDALE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, it is an exciting time to live and work in Newfoundland and

Labrador.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

PREMIER DUNDERDALE: The economy and business environment is thriving. We

are leading the country in economic growth and our government remains committed

to strengthening the business environment, developing innovated industries, and

diversifying the economy. There are great successes, Mr. Speaker, happening

right here in our Province, success stories that we need to share.

Today, I was so proud to launch a new multi-media campaign, Innovation

Lives Here , a campaign that highlights some of the exciting and unique work

being done by our entrepreneurs, industry and research institutions throughout

the Province.

Mr. Speaker, this energetic, story-focused media campaign will provide an

opportunity for our innovators and business leaders to tell their stories and

promote Newfoundland and Labrador as a destination of choice to live, work,

invest and create successful industries.

This exciting campaign begins today, Mr. Speaker. It will feature television

commercials and featurettes in Cineplex theatres in St. John's, Mount Pearl and

Corner Brook.

Mr. Speaker, just think of the many incredible stories emerging from all over

the Province that demonstrate creativity, tenacity, and that special spark we

have as Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.

Our young people need to hear about, and be inspired by, the amazing things

that are happening right here.

Through the Innovation Lives Here campaign, our government is

launching a movement to celebrate those successes and acknowledge those who are

excelling in innovation. We have an amazing story to tell, Mr. Speaker, and who

better to tell that story than those whose ingenuity and drive are writing it.

Mr. Speaker, innovation truly does live here.

Thank you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. JOYCE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I thank the Premier for the copy of her statement.

It must be a polling period. We see when a polling period starts the Premier

is out trying to make all of these good news announcements with all of the media

stunts in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Mr. Speaker, people on this side of the House also want to recognize

entrepreneurs. We have five running for the leadership right now of the Liberal

Party, five successful business people, so we do want to recognize all of the

leaders in the business community in the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador.

There is no doubt, Mr. Speaker, that there have been a lot of great stories

in Newfoundland and Labrador. There have been a lot of great initiatives in

Newfoundland and Labrador. I just find that when the Premier said our young

people need to hear about it, I would just let the Premier know that Wayne

Trask, our dear friend, junior achievement, years ago, so our young people of

today will be our entrepreneurs in the future. A lot of them who were back ten

to fifteen years ago are our leaders today.

We welcome all good news here in Newfoundland and Labrador. We welcome all

the inspiration that we can give the people we are going to inspire, but we

cannot forget Bill 61 where no new energy right now in Newfoundland and Labrador

can be looked at, can be done in Newfoundland and Labrador, no innovation into

energy all because of Muskrat Falls. That is one sector that has taken out.

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

MR. JOYCE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

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

I thank the Premier for the advance copy of this statement. I have no doubt

at all that this is going to be a good campaign. We know that we have expertise

and we have people who we hire through contracts to do that; we have seen it in

the tourism campaigns. I am sure it is going to be very good. I am sure visually

it is going to be good, and I am sure the stories are going to be good because I

know we have those stories.

I would also like to know: What is the government going to do with regard to

really putting incentives in place for new initiatives for smaller

entrepreneurs, and especially for not-for-profit and social enterprise

businesses?

This is something that the CSC, the Community Services Council, asked for

after they did a full study of economic development two years ago and asked,

prior to the 2011 election, for the government to look at and for all parties to

look at what incentives need to be put in place to help those social enterprises

because they are at the heart of our communities and there is not adequate money

going into them.

That is something I would like the government to do, besides putting on this

wonderful campaign.

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

I remind the member her time has expired.

MS MICHAEL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER: Does the hon. the Member for The Straits White Bay North

have leave?

AN HON. MEMBER: Leave.

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

MR. MITCHELMORE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I thank the Premier for an advance copy of her statement. This is very

exciting news and I congratulate the campaign because

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. MITCHELMORE: - business and innovation is key, a key pillar of our

economy. We have exciting stories to tell; they need to be told. We have other

great programs.

What I would like to say is that we need to keep investing in research and

development, especially in rural regions of our Province.

Thank you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Advanced Education and Skills.

MR. O'BRIEN: Mr. Speaker, I rise today in this hon. House to provide an

update on how the provincial government is helping adult learners in

Newfoundland and Labrador achieve better results.

We are doing this by meeting a growing demand for skilled labour both at

the College of the North Atlantic and through delivery of the provincial Adult

Basic Education program by private training institutions and community groups.

Earlier this year, we changed the delivery of the Adult Basic Education

program so that people have the tools they require to be successful, find jobs,

and establish careers. As we made this change, we also took steps to ensure that

the programs at the College of the North Atlantic became more responsive to a

growing demand for skilled labour.

Today, 884 people are enrolled in Adult Basic Education in the Province.

Across Newfoundland and Labrador, students are getting the literacy and numeracy

skills they need to participate in our modern economy.

Meanwhile, Mr. Speaker, the college is enjoying success in its efforts to

train women and men to meet a growing demand for skilled labour. In response to

a challenging waiting list in programs such as Mobile Crane Operator,

Paramedicine, Medical Laboratory Sciences, Heavy Equipment Operator, Welder, and

Sheet Metal Worker, the college increased capacity and mounted additional

offerings for these and other programs. These changes have resulted in a 20 per

cent reduction in the college's wait-lists and an 8.2 per cent increase in

student enrolment.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. O'BRIEN: Recognizing that education is a proven path to prosperity,

adult learning both post-secondary programming and Adult Basic Education is

one of the government's highest priorities.

Mr. Speaker, we are proud of the partnerships that we have built with the

College of the North Atlantic and the private training institutions and

community groups.

We offer congratulations to our adult learners for making the decision to

further their education and training, and we wish them every success in the

future.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for the District of Cartwright L'Anse

au Clair.

MS DEMPSTER: I would like to thank the minister for the advance copy of

his statement.

Mr. Speaker, this government committed to developing a Strategic Adult

Literacy Plan in 2007 and they spent $150,000 in consultations, and six years

later they admitted that the information they have is outdated because they left

it for so long.

For the minister to say that students are getting the literacy and numeracy

skills they need when this government has failed in regard to their commitment

to develop a strategy, I believe it is shameful. This government cut the college

out of the ABE delivery with no literacy strategy in place. Taking literacy out

from under the roof of our public college, I believe, is a tremendous disservice

and disconnect for meeting the demand for skilled labour.

With the lowest literacy rates in Canada, and education a predeterminant of

health, I might add, it is no wonder that we have some of the worst health

outcomes in the country. This government is failing to meet the demand for

skilled labour, despite a Skills Taskforce and a report

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

MS DEMPSTER: as well as a Try the Trades program.

We have thousands of apprentices stalled in their plans of training, unable

to secure work to gain experience. Government has failed to adequately support

the apprentices and the adult learners in general.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

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

I thank the minister for the advance copy of his statement, but I have to say

I am rather in shock that he had the gall to stand and say some of the things

that he said there today.

The minister knows that cutting the ABE program from the public college

system has negatively affected attendance and opportunities for people to enter

and succeed in this program and go on in trades training. We are still getting

calls in our office because of the cuts that were made to that program. The

College of the North Atlantic had over 1,000

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

MS MICHAEL: ABE students enrolled, and we know that not all of them

have been able to get programs where they are now. They are clearly falling

through the cracks.

Farming ABE out to private colleges has reduced access to ABE classes in

rural areas that used to exist in the public college system.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

MS MICHAEL: Mr. Speaker, students are in ABE because they had trouble

finishing school. A lot of them need extra supports, and we know the college

offered those extra supports. They do not get the extra supports, Mr. Speaker,

in the private college system, and the minister knows that.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

The member's time has expired.

Does the Member for St. John's North have leave?

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Leave.

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

MR. KIRBY: Thanks to the minister for an advance copy of his statement.

There is no doubt, Mr. Speaker, that there is a role to be played in

post-secondary education for private training institutions; however, Adult Basic

Education is a fundamental component of public community college programming, so

I would strongly recommend the decision that was made this year to remove that

programming be reversed.

I also suggest to the hon. minister that he should look at speeding up

funding, processing the funding for Adult Basic Education students, because that

tends to lag, even now.

Thank you.

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Finance and President of Treasury

Board.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. MARSHALL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I am sure that all members in this hon. House will be very pleased to hear

that there are 42,000 seniors in our Province who have recently received a

payment of up to $971 as a result of the Newfoundland and Labrador Seniors'

Benefit, which is a refundable tax credit for low-income seniors.

Mr. Speaker, our government is very pleased to have been able to

significantly increase the benefits under this program three times in recent

years. In 2003, the annual budget for the program was $7.5 million. This year

that has increased to $36.7 million, an increase of 389 per cent. In 2003, the

maximum payment provided under the program was $350 for single seniors. This

amount has increased by 177 per cent. The amount for senior couples in 2003 was

$700. This amount has now been increased by 39 per cent.

Mr. Speaker, the refundable tax credit is an amount paid to an individual,

even if they have no tax payable. They receive a cheque either by direct deposit

or in the mail. With the October 2013 payment, whether single or as a couple,

seniors with net income of up to $28,231 are eligible to receive the maximum

benefit. The amount of the benefit will be phased out as net income increases

between $28,231 and $36,559. In order to qualify for this benefit, the person

must be sixty-five years of age by December 31 of the taxation year. The benefit

is paid in October of each year and it is included in the same cheque as the

GST/HST credit. The amount of the credit is based on family net income from the

previous year.

Mr. Speaker, the government is very proud to continue our commitment to

assisting seniors once again by providing the Seniors' Benefit. As a result of

the benefit being indexed on an annual basis, this year's maximum payment to

seniors will be the highest ever at $971.

Payments for those who qualify for the Seniors' Benefit were automatically

issued in October either by cheque or direct deposit. If a resident has not

already received their payment for this year, they are encouraged to contact the

Canada Revenue Agency toll-free at 1-800-959-1953, or call the Department of

Finance.

Mr. Speaker, the Seniors' Benefit is just one of many initiatives that our

government is investing in to benefit seniors in our Province. The vision the

Premier has of a prosperous Newfoundland and Labrador is certainly demonstrated

in our commitment and investments in important social programs, strengthened

communities, and the health and well-being of our children, Newfoundland and

Labrador families and our seniors.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. BALL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I want to thank the minister for the advance copy of his statement. He did

start by saying that people will be pleased to hear it today, but most people

received this cheque, as he said, back in October. It is a good announcement;

$971 is something that most seniors in our Province who qualify will certainly

appreciate.

We all know, in our jobs as MHAs, we talk to seniors every day who find

themselves struggling. We have many widows who, we know as our constituents, are

living on less than $1,200 a month. These are the people who are finding it very

hard to make ends meet. This benefit will go a long way in helping them.

One thing, though, I will say, that could be done that really would not cost

anything at all is around medical transportation assistance. This is no money at

all. It would not cost the government any money at all. It is about timing, and

many people today are waiting weeks and weeks to get those cheques back when

they need that money to travel to and from medical appointments.

We should also recognize the great job and contributions that seniors in the

Province have made over the years. They have laid the foundation for many of the

benefits that we appreciate and use today. Indeed, in many of our communities,

they are still the foundation of many of our volunteer associations. That was

obvious this week with the many November 11 ceremonies we seen throughout the

Province.

I thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I thank the minister for the statement today.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MS ROGERS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

step, but may I suggest a few other initiatives government can support to ease

the financial burden of seniors in this Province, as we have the highest

proportion of seniors in receipt of GIS in the entire country? How about lower

the co-pay for drugs for seniors? Raise the income ceiling for eligibility for

the 65Plus drug program. Create a dedicated seniors' rental assistant program,

as we know housing is a huge, crucial problem for many seniors Province-wide.

Create and administer a universal, publicly funded, and administered home care

and long-term care program based solely on need as in other provinces.

Mr. Speaker, we know the prosperity we are experiencing today is the result

of the hard work of the many seniors who live in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: Oral Questions.

Oral Questions

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

MR. JOYCE: Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Minister of Natural Resources said

that Muskrat Falls, and I quote from Hansard, will "lower the utility rates in

this Province." Of course, nothing could be further from the truth. The Premier

herself said that Muskrat Falls would increase power rates by at least 50 per

cent from what they are now.

I ask the Premier: Why is your minister saying that Muskrat Falls will reduce

rates when this is clearly not the case?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Natural Resources.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. DALLEY: Mr. Speaker, let me explain it to the member opposite. When

we started this process of Muskrat Falls, it was about finding the cheapest way

that we are going to be able to get power to the people of the Province in the

future. We know that if we continue to depend on oil and the volatility of oil

prices our rates are going to escalate possibly 4 per cent, 5 per cent, 6 per

cent, or 7 per cent a year.

Mr. Speaker, we need to bring that under control. We always talk about

seniors in this House, and it is important to all of us. We respect the position

they are in because we all know if we live long enough we are going to be there,

too.

Mr. Speaker, our efforts are to control those rates, to bring them down so

that the cost of the utility bill will be less into the future. That is exactly

what we are doing with Muskrat Falls, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. JOYCE: Once again, I ask the minister to read Hansard, your own

comments to the people: it will reduce the rates in this Province which is

just not true, Mr. Speaker, according to the Premier herself.

Mr. Speaker, the energy minister in Nova Scotia is concerned with the Muskrat

Falls Project and says he agrees with most of the critics of the deal. He

worries about the effect of Muskrat Falls on ratepayers in Nova Scotia.

I ask the Premier: Since you are charging people in our Province three times

as much as Nova Scotia, why are you not worried about ratepayers here and send

this project to the Public Utilities Board to ensure ratepayers are getting

their fair price?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

PREMIER DUNDERDALE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Nova Scotia has a new government, Mr. Speaker. They are familiarizing

themselves in great detail with the deal that has been signed between Nalcor and

Emera. While they were in Opposition, Mr. Speaker, we kept them in the loop. We

did regular information sessions with them, but they would not have had the same

degree and level of education around this project that the NDP government of the

day have, Mr. Speaker.

So, responsibly, the government is informing itself. It may have some

concerns. I am not a bit surprised at that, Mr. Speaker, but we are assured that

those concerns will be alleviated. This is a good deal for Newfoundland and

Labrador, Mr. Speaker. It is a good deal for Nova Scotia. It is not half as good

as the Leader of the Opposition thinks, Mr. Speaker, otherwise the energy

minister would be embracing it.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. JOYCE: Mr. Speaker, fifteen cents for Newfoundlanders and

Labradorians, fourteen cents you do not have to be a genius to realize we are

subsidizing Nova Scotia, Premier. You do not have to be a genius, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, the Roddickton pellet plant has never produced any commercial

pellets, despite $10 million in taxpayers' money that the Premier approved

without proper oversight. On top of this, the owner of the pellet plant was

given $1 million more in HST breaks which were over and above the original cost.

I ask the Premier: Why did you allow the owner of this company to keep the

extra $1 million in taxpayers' money on top of the $10 million already that your

government gave him?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Natural Resources.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. DALLEY: Mr. Speaker, there are two points I want to make, if I get

time, but the first one is very important. The member opposite continues to

allude to the fact that we are going to subsidize rates in Nova Scotia. Mr.

Speaker, nothing could be farther from the truth.

Mr. Speaker, we are going to sell power to Nova Scotia - or we can let it

flow down the river, which is obviously what they are proposing. Well, we are

going to sell it to make money; but, Mr. Speaker, we are going sell it at a

cost, a cost to Emera. They will sell the power to the ratepayers of Nova

Scotia. The cost that the ratepayers pay and the cost that we are going to sell

it to Emera are totally different. In terms of the cost to build it, the cost of

transmission, the cost of return for the company, all has to be built into the

rates in which the ratepayer of Nova Scotia will pay. There is (inaudible)

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

The hon. the Leader of the Official Opposition.

MR. JOYCE: I just want to let the minister know obviously, he does not

want to answer the $10 million of taxpayers' money that the Premier, who was the

minister, gave this company without producing one pellet, Mr. Speaker not one

pellet.

I will ask another question here. Obviously, they do not want to embarrass

the Premier who was the minister at the time.

Mr. Speaker, during Public Accounts hearings, government officials stated,

under oath, that they did not check or ensure that the invoices for the

additional $1 million in HST breaks were ever paid.

I ask the Premier, who was the minister at the time: How could you, when you

were minister, approve additional funds without any due diligence?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Natural Resources.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. DALLEY: Mr. Speaker, our government recognizes the economic

challenges on the Northern Peninsula. There is a fibre basket up there, Mr.

Speaker. They needed some support. Our government has shown in a number of areas

you can go to Fogo Island, you can go to the South Coast of the Province,

where our government stepped up to support economic activity in a region that

needed it.

Mr. Speaker, we did so supporting the sawmill operator on the Northern

Peninsula. Through that process, the economics changed, and we continue to work

with the sawmill operator on the Northern Peninsula to provide and assist and

support so that we can continue to try to enhance the opportunities for the

people of the Northern Peninsula.

Through the process and evaluation, obviously there were some things that we

wanted to improve, and that has been done, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. JOYCE: Mr. Speaker, I will ask a very straightforward question.

Premier, when you were minister, did you check to see if those million

dollars in invoices were paid before you gave out a million dollars of

taxpayers' money to this person? Did you check and see if invoices were paid,

and what happened? Yes or no.

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Natural Resources.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. DALLEY: Mr. Speaker, with all of our programs there is due diligence,

there is oversight, and we work closely with the public servants who help

administer and deliver these programs throughout the Province.

In this particular case, Mr. Speaker, it was the intent on our part to

support the economy on the Northern Peninsula. Through that process, as a result

of where we are today, we continue to work with the sawmill operator on the

Northern Peninsula. We still believe there is value in the fibre on the Northern

Peninsula.

We will continue, Mr. Speaker, with good oversight and continue to work with

our public sector to administer programs to help support economy in the rural

areas. I certainly expect the member opposite would support that initiative as

well.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. JOYCE: Giving away $1 million of taxpayers' money when officials,

under oath, said the minister did not check to see if those were paid is not due

diligence, Mr. Speaker.

There are major safety concerns on the roads in the Bay of Islands at

Coppermine Brook, McIvers, and John's Beach. Residents are still concerned,

despite reduced speeds and existing danger signs.

I ask the minister: Will you continue to monitor these roads and ensure the

safety of the travelling public until permanent repairs can be made?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Transportation and Works.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. MCGRATH: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, my department is very aware of the road conditions in Coppermine

Brook, McIvers, and John's Beach. We have been up we have monitored it. I had

a discussion with the member opposite last week on one of those areas.

We will continue to monitor those. We have an independent consultant who is

going to do an analysis on that. Before we can find a solution, we have to find

the cause. Once we find the cause, then we will work on a solution there.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. BALL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

In 2009, Nalcor said that without a water management agreement, Muskrat Falls

would have insufficient water for production requirements for many months each

year. That is why the PUB imposed a water management agreement in 2009.

I ask the minister: How important is that water management agreement for the

development of Muskrat Falls?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Natural Resources.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. DALLEY: Mr. Speaker, during the process it has been very extensive in

the efforts to get us to the end of Muskrat Falls and get us the least-cost

power to the people of the Province. There are a number of issues, many of them

very complicated, that we had to work through.

Obviously in order to get power out of Muskrat Falls, we had to have the

water. We had to be able to build up the reservoir. We had to have those water

rights in place, Mr. Speaker. We have had discussions, it is gone through the

PUB, and it has been approved.

We have the water management rights in place so that we can ensure that into

the future the water that flows on the Churchill River will indeed be able to

provide us with the least-cost power into the future.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. BALL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Maybe the minister can provide us, just for the sake of the House, what is

the update on the status of the court hearings right now with Quebec?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Natural Resources.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. DALLEY: Mr. Speaker, the current court issue that the member opposite

refers to is a challenge under the 1969 power contract, which the Liberal

government of the day had signed. That is due to be renewed, Mr. Speaker.

Although the contract had been determined back in 1969, it will be renewed in

What that means, basically, in that contract is that the flow of power to

Quebec will change. From 1969 to 2016, they could take it in peaks and valleys;

but, under the new contract, they must take it equally every month. They are

challenging that issue, Mr. Speaker, in terms of the flow of power from

Churchill Falls to Quebec.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. BALL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

It is interesting that minister says that the water management agreement is

important, because just last week a VP from Nalcor said at the UARB hearings in

Nova Scotia that the water management agreement has no material impact on

Muskrat Falls at all. He basically said it is not needed.

I ask the minister: Who is right? Is it Nalcor or is this government?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

PREMIER DUNDERDALE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, like most discussions around this piece, we are both right. Mr.

Speaker, there is a water management agreement in place. CF(L)CO was not able to

arrive at that place in terms of their internal discussions, so it was referred

to the PUB. There is a water management agreement in place with CF(L)Co and

Hydro-Quebec for the purposes of developing Muskrat Falls.

It is nothing short of incredible, Mr. Speaker, that we are at this stage in

the development and the Opposition does not understand that the court case in

Quebec is about continuous power under the 1969 hydro contract, Mr. Speaker, and

not about water management.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. BALL: I ask the Premier: If it was not important, why is it that in

the contract between Nalcor and Emera that provision was made? If it is not

important, why is it that Emera wanted to see that piece identified and

addressed in that contract?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

PREMIER DUNDERDALE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I remind the MHA for Humber Valley that that contract is in

place. It is in place. The agreement between CF(L)Co and Hydro-Quebec on water

management on the Churchill River for the development of Muskrat Falls is in

place. It was put there by the PUB. The PUB was able to put it there because of

the water management legislation that was introduced in this House in 2007 and

gave them the ability to do it, Mr. Speaker.

The water management agreement that is in place between Nalcor and CF(L)Co,

Mr. Speaker, does not have anything to do with the court case, which is the 1969

contract around continuous power.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. BENNETT: Mr. Speaker, there are current media reports of escaped farm

salmon now as far west as Burgeo. This is on the heels of escapees in the

Garnish River and a large escape in Hermitage Bay. One of the environmental

hazards of escaped farm salmon is interbreeding with wild salmon.

I ask the minister: Does he consider escaped farm salmon to be a risk to the

wild salmon on the South Coast?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. HUTCHINGS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, we have built an inventory of a great industry on the South

Coast, and certainly in terms of our security, our veterinarians, and the

facility we built in St. Alban's, we have good infrastructure in regard to

oversight.

To the member's question in regard to wild salmon as opposed to farm salmon,

we are always concerned in terms of the environment in which they exist. We

monitor it; we look for the best available information. Right now, there is

nothing scientifically that links any negative effects from farm salmon to

salmon in the wild, but we continue to oversee it. We think it is a great

industry; it continues to grow.

If the hon. member has some scientific information, I would like to see it,

but to date we have not seen any evidence of it, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. BENNETT: Mr. Speaker, the federal government is currently carrying

out consultations seeking input on whether wild salmon on the South Coast are

threatened by escaped farm salmon.

I ask the minister: Has he made representation to the federal government

regarding a threat posed to all wild salmon by escaped salmon?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. HUTCHINGS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, again, the pessimism and negativity; he refers to a threat. If

he has information or documentation on the threat, and scientific information,

certainly bring it forward. We are always in consultation, obviously, with the

Canadian Food Inspection Agency, the federal department of Environment, back and

forth in regard to issues that come up. We work collectively together to grow

the industry.

Right now, this year it is expected to be a $180 million industry. We

continue to say 50 per cent of the seafood in the world now is farmed. It is a

global industry. We are part of it. We are a player. We want to grow it. We have

the infrastructure in place to oversee it. We will continue to improve it. If

there is information that comes forward, we will use that in our buyer security

methods as we move forward. It is a great industry, and we believe in the South

Coast of Newfoundland and Labrador.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Torngat Mountains.

MR. EDMUNDS: Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Transportation and Works said

yesterday that the RFP for two new ferries for Labrador would be ready before

the end of this year. He also committed to 2016 as a date for the completion of

the new vessels.

I ask the minister: Will he release the details of the RFP, and what is the

timeline between the release of the RFP and a tender being awarded for the new

vessels?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Transportation and Works.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. MCGRATH: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, the RFP for the two ferries for the North Coast and the Straits

of Labrador is a very complex RFP. As a matter of fact, the RFP that is being

designed has never been done before in Canada, let alone in Newfoundland and

Labrador. The RFP that we are doing there is going to be for a long-term service

to the Straits and to the North Coast. So we are working on it. It is a very

complex piece.

As I said, I am hoping I do not use the word commit that it will be ready

by the end of 2013, and we will get that out. Then we will be providing and

hopefully meet our 2016 deadline.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Torngat Mountains.

MR. EDMUNDS: Mr. Speaker, yesterday in the House the minister ranted at

my colleague, the Member for Cartwright L'Anse au Clair, about separating

Newfoundland and Labrador.

I ask the minister: Being a representative from Labrador, do you believe that

Labrador is entitled to the same quality of ferry service as the rest of the

Province?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Transportation and Works.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. MCGRATH: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I am going to speak as the Minister of Labrador Affairs, and I

am very proud to be the Minister Responsible for Labrador Affairs.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. MCGRATH: I chose thirty-five years ago to move to Labrador and I have

been there ever since. It has given me a very good living, but I do not

distinguish a difference between the Island portion of the Province and

Labrador. We are one Province, and this government gives equality to all of the

Province. We will do our best for every one of our population.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. OSBORNE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Following last week's landslide in Daniel's Harbour, government officials

confirmed that more landslides are expected. Elsewhere in our Province, part of

the road in Duntara has been washed out since April. It is still not repaired

and it is still not safe. Based on a report that has been sitting on the

minister's desk for two and a half years, there are twenty-five areas considered

to be extremely sensitive to coastal erosion, like Daniel's Harbour, like

Duntara.

In the interest of public safety, I will ask the minister: Will you commit to

further geological work in these twenty-five extremely sensitive areas?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS SHEA: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, coastal erosion and the effects of that, and how we work with

our communities is extremely important. The Department of Environment is willing

to provide research and the toolkit to help communities assess their risk so

they can determine what work may be necessary.

Mr. Speaker, we do see this as a very serious issue, and this department is

committed to work with any communities that want to work with us to help them

develop plans.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. OSBORNE: Mr. Speaker, there are 250 areas considered to be highly

sensitive to coastal erosion. I asked the minister last week if she would

revisit government's policy on allowing future development to close to

coastlines. Now that she has had time to do her research, I will ask the

minister again.

In the name of public safety, will you now commit to updating coastal

development policy to better reflect our current realities with coastal erosion,

rising sea levels, and storm surges?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS SHEA: Mr. Speaker, all the issues in relation to the coastline erosion

or potential erosion is important to the Department of Environment, as I had

said. The report is available. There is a toolkit to help communities assess

their vulnerability and we are willing to work with the communities to help them

assess their risk. Mr. Speaker, that is all in an attempt so that we can work

with them to help them solve the problems or the issues that they may see.

Mr. Speaker, we have never walked away from this issue, and we are more than

willing to work with the communities that are affected.

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Burgeo La Poile.

MR. A. PARSONS: Mr. Speaker, today is World Diabetes Day. We have the

highest rates of diabetes and pre-diabetes in Canada. We also scored a D in a

recent national report on health care on obesity, fruit and vegetable

consumption, and physical activity; all lifestyle factors that contribute to

diabetes.

I ask the Minister of Health: Given our Province's poor performance on

lifestyle factors that lead to diabetes, why did you eliminate the Director of

Health Promotion and Wellness, as well as three health promotion consultants in

Budget 2013?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS SULLIVAN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I am glad the member opposite pointed out that today is World

Diabetes Day and I had the pleasure recently of signing a proclamation with the

Canadian Diabetes Association of Newfoundland and Labrador. We will have a news

release later on this afternoon as well.

Mr. Speaker, we continue to work on issues around diabetes throughout the

Province. In fact, we have twenty-four diabetic clinics that are operational in

the Province right now. We commit more than $19 million in terms of diabetes

medication; $2.1 million in terms of insulin pump therapy programs for persons

up to the age of twenty-five, Mr. Speaker. We also, in terms of dialysis, have

$225 million

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

The member has time for a quick question.

The hon. the Member for Burgeo La Poile.

MR. A. PARSONS: I ask the minister: Will you lift the age restriction and

fund insulin pumps for people of all ages with type 1 diabetes?

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

MS SULLIVAN: Mr. Speaker, just to continue on: $225 million invested in

our dialysis sites across the Province. When we started, we had seven sites

across this Province. We now have fourteen sites that are operational. We have

one other in Harbour Breton that we hope to get opened up very soon, Mr.

Speaker.

We continue to make steady progress in the treatment of diabetes.

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

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

In Happy Valley-Goose Bay and in Bonavista overworked registered nurses are

forced to shoulder the burden of extra work due to permanent and temporary

vacancies. Nurses are even working twenty-four hour shifts because of this

situation.

Mr. Speaker, I ask the Premier: Will this government act now to support

initiatives that address fatigue, heavy workload, and the increasing complexity

of care to ease the burden on nurses and keep them working?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS SULLIVAN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, within the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador, we now have

more nurses working than ever before in our history. In fact, 40 per cent of the

health professional workforce in Newfoundland and Labrador is comprised of

nurses.

We have 6,400 RNs working in our Province and we have 2,500 LPNs working in

our Province. We have 53 per cent more nurses per capita working in Newfoundland

and Labrador than the Canadian average, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MS MICHAEL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I would appreciate the minister to stand some day and tell us how many of the

positions are empty.

Mr. Speaker, reliance by government on the professionalism of registered

nurses to provide care, despite terrible working conditions, seems to be

government's short-sighted plan. This situation cannot continue without patient

care and the health of our nurses being affected.

Mr. Speaker, I ask the Minister of Health and Community Services: When will

she stop solving her problems on the backs of the nurses and develop a more

responsible, long-term staffing plan?

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS SULLIVAN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, that is exactly what we have done in terms of ensuring that we

have more nurses working than we have ever had before. We have nurses working

the full scope of practice which they never did before. LPNs in particular are

very proud in this Province these days to be working to their full scope of

practice.

We are very proud of the work that we are doing with our nurses within this

Province. We are hearing back from the people of Newfoundland and Labrador that

they too are very proud.

Mr. Speaker, if I just might continue on in terms of other work that we are

doing. If you look at the number of nurses who are graduating every year in

Newfoundland and Labrador and the percentage of those that we are hiring, we are

now 85 per cent plus in terms of the numbers of nurses (inaudible).

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MS MICHAEL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Nurses work in a constant crisis of understaffing. The minister is not

acknowledging that. The cost of nurse turnover is estimated to be 20 per cent to

30 per cent more than an RN's annual salary, plus overtime costs, which puts

added pressure on health authority budgets.

I ask the Minister of Health and Community Services: What long-term plan has

she for addressing government's failure to properly provide for appropriate

nursing levels in the health care system?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS SULLIVAN: Mr. Speaker, I can only tell her again, I suppose, that we

have more nurses per capita working in Newfoundland and Labrador than in the

country; 53 per cent more nurses per capita working in Newfoundland and Labrador

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS SULLIVAN: more than we have ever had in our entire history, Mr.

Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, there may be pockets every now and then where there are more

nurses who happen to call in sick on a particular day and so on. That happens in

any profession, Mr. Speaker, absolutely any profession that you can consider.

There are initiatives in place to mitigate that, Mr. Speaker. We constantly

monitor that; we constantly work on that.

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MS ROGERS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Government cut the budget for RCMP policing in the Province by $4.3 million,

negatively affecting rural communities. Due to these cuts, the Town of Victoria

is facing a policing crisis. Residents are complaining the RCMP are only able to

respond to serious crimes against persons. Meanwhile, ATVs are running amok;

there is an increase in vandalism, speeding, drug-related crimes and criminal

harassment.

Mr. Speaker, I ask the minister: What is he going to do about this public

safety issue?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Finance and President of Treasury

Board.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. MARSHALL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, as I said yesterday, policing is something that is important to

all of us in Newfoundland and Labrador, and we have to ensure that our policing

services, the RNC and the RCMP, are fully supported. I think we all agree with

that.

The Minister of Justice and our government have clearly indicated that we are

always willing to sit down with the RCMP and the RNC to look at their resource

needs and we will provide human resource and operational funding, if required.

We have done that in the past. This year the new joint combined RNCRCMP task

force in Central Newfoundland has started its operations, and this builds on

over $920 million in investments in policing over the last nine years and over

140 police officers. That support will continue.

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MS ROGERS: Mr. Speaker, in the Conception Bay North area many of the

towns are lucky if they see a patrol car even once a week.

Mr. Speaker, I ask the minister: What is he going to do to bring the policing

service up to an acceptable and safe level?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Finance and President of Treasury

Board.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. MARSHALL: Mr. Speaker, let me say clearly we have confidence in both

the RNC and the RCMP in this Province. We have confidence they know what they

are doing. We have confidence that they will deploy their resources to where

their greatest priorities are, and that will continue.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MS ROGERS: Mr. Speaker, town councils in the Conception Bay North area

are talking about the lack of police servicing in their areas. Their populations

are quickly growing.

What is this government going to do about the issue of lack of appropriate

policing services in these towns?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Finance and President of Treasury

Board.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. MARSHALL: Mr. Speaker, I would say that if any town has any concerns

about policing, they should sit down, contact their police force, sit down with

the RCMP, sit down with RNC if it is applicable, and have proper discussions.

The government will certainly be there to support that. We will ensure that we

have and will continue to have more resources in policing in this Province than

probably most places in the country.

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.

Answers to Questions for which Notice has been Given.

Petitions.

Petitions

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Burgeo La Poile.

MR. A. PARSONS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

To the hon. House of Assembly of the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador in

Parliament assembled, the petition of the undersigned 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 at Channel-Port aux Basques at various

hours on a daily basis resulting in extremely high volume of commercial and

residential travellers using this

section of the TCH; 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 TCH 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 TCH from Channel-Port aux Basques to Stephenville in the

twenty-four-hour snow clearing project.

As in duty bound, your petitioners will ever pray.

Now, Mr. Speaker, this is an issue that has been on my plate since the time I

got elected. I have had meetings with previous ministers, but they never showed

any inclination to want to work together or to actually get anything done. They

simply like to go on black-and-white numbers without reflecting some of the grey

areas that exist. In many cases, I have actually had conversations with

bureaucrats in the departments. They showed me numbers which later just did not

acknowledge the realities of what is going on here.

There is another thing, though. I look forward to meeting with the new

minister to talk about his issue. This is a great project and it is necessary.

We have an area where we have more rubber-tire traffic arriving in Port aux

Basques than anywhere else in the Province. We have the transport trucks and we

have people who are not familiar with the roads. They have to pass along by the

Wreckhouse. Everybody has to leave that area if they want to go to work, if they

want to get flights, if they want to go to hospital, they have to travel to

Corner Brook; however, the snow clearing only goes as far as Stephenville.

We are just asking to be treated the same. It is not just us, it is the

tourists, it is the business travellers and it is people from all over who are

using this section. We hope that it can be included in the project this year. At

some point, I look forward to dealing with the new minister on it in the future.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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 the lack of services and supports in the school system is a serious

obstacle to learning for children and youth with autism spectrum disorder; and

WHEREAS long wait-lists for pediatric assessments and diagnostic services are

preventing many children with autism spectrum disorder from receiving needed

early diagnosis; and

WHEREAS Intensive Applied Behavioural Analysis is currently not available for

children after Grade 3; and

WHEREAS Applied Behavioral Analysis has been shown to be effective for many

individuals beyond Grade 3; and

WHEREAS there are a lot of supports and services for children and youth with

autism spectrum disorder after they age out of Intensive Applied Behavioral

Analysis; and

WHEREAS it is unacceptable to expect parents in Newfoundland and Labrador to

pay thousands of dollars out of their own pockets to cover the costs of

privately delivered Applied Behavioural Analysis after Grade 3;

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

House of Assembly to urge government to extend eligibility for the Intensive

Applied Behavioural Analysis Program beyond Grade 3 in consultation with

parents, educators, advocates, health care providers, and experts in the autism

community.

As in duty bound, your petitioners will ever pray.

Mr. Speaker, I have been receiving copies of this petition with signatures on

it from communities across Newfoundland and Labrador since the petition drive

was started earlier, I guess in the late summer. Parents have consistently

expressed this concern about the availability of Applied Behavioural Analysis or

ABA into Grade 4 and beyond.

I know that we have made reasonable progress to date in providing this.

Really, it was only a few short years ago that this really did not exist at all.

I know government made a decision earlier this year to extend coverage for

Intensive Applied Behavioural Analysis to the end of Grade 3. We really need to

look at extending it to a point beyond that.

As the petition notes and as I have stated before, the research in this area

and there is certainly all kinds of research emerging all of the time

indicates that Applied Behavioural Analysis is actually effective for

individuals throughout their lifespan. It does not work for everybody all the

time for the same length of time, but certainly, by and large on the whole, the

research indicates that this is effective for individuals certainly beyond Grade

We are not talking about a huge proportion of our population, but it is

pretty significant. I think we really have to sit down, crunch the numbers while

the government is going through its pre-Budget consultation period, and see that

we can do this. I ask members to urge the government to go in that direction.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Cartwright L'Anse au Clair.

MS DEMPSTER: 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 humbly sheweth:

WHEREAS Cartwright is an existing port of call for the MV Northern

Ranger ; and

WHEREAS Cartwright is connected to the Trans-Labrador Highway, providing

access to truck freight destined for the North Coast of Labrador;

WHEREAS Cartwright would eliminate unnecessary travel and cost for freight

destined for Northern Labrador now being trucked to Happy Valley-Goose Bay; and

WHEREAS there has always been, and continues to be, commercial trade between

the South and North Coasts of Labrador;

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

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

designate Cartwright as a shipping port for freight destined to the North Coast

of Labrador, beginning with the 2014 shipping season.

As in duty bound, your petitioners will ever pray.

Mr. Speaker, I spoke to this yesterday. Because it has been probably the

biggest issue that my office has dealt with since June, since I became the

member, I do believe that I will be speaking to it for a number of times yet.

It is not acceptable when the minister comes back and says: No, we will not

do that now because you have a road. Mr. Speaker, our road is not complete. The

gravel road is in a very, very deplorable condition and can change from morning

to evening.

This is impacting several classes of people number one, small businesses.

Everybody who has ever been connected with someone with a small business knows

that their profit margin is very small; they have a high overhead cost. Time is

also money for them, Mr. Speaker.

We have small businesses that are driving an extra 600-700 kilometres on a

gravel road, bypass Cartwright, where the ferry is going in the same ferry is

going into Cartwright and docking. If I am taking freight and going to Black

Tickle, that is fine; but if I am going farther up the North Coast, I have to

drive on to Goose Bay. There is something wrong with that picture, Mr. Speaker.

Also, the people on the North Coast we are talking about World Diabetes Day

and the poor health in our Province. Everybody only has so much money, Mr.

Speaker. Here we are, people on the North Coast in my colleague's district,

paying an average of $700 extra on a snow machine just because of the extra cost

incurred from having the extra day of travel. Then a lot of times that results

in poor eating and things like that. It is very, very difficult for contractors

from the district to do business on the North Coast.

Mr. Speaker, all of this is for no other reason than a blatant disregard from

this government, a lack of will to provide a basic service to the people of

Labrador, where historically there has always been this trade between the South

and the North Coast. Mr. Speaker, I hope the government will revisit because we

are not asking for extra money here.

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

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

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

the undersigned humbly sheweth:

WHEREAS there is no cellphone service in the Town of Trout River, which is an

enclave community in Gros Morne National Park; and

WHEREAS visitors to Gros Morne National Park, more than 100,000 annually,

expect to communicate by cellphone when they visit the park; and

WHEREAS cellphone service has become an important aspect of everyday living

for residents; and

WHEREAS cellphone service is an essential safety tool for visitors and

residents; and

WHEREAS cellphone service is essential for business development;

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

House of Assembly to urge government to partner with the private sector to

extend cellphone coverage throughout Gros Morne National Park, and the enclave

community of Trout River.

As in duty bound, your petitioners will ever pray.

Mr. Speaker, this is a very vibrant town, particularly in the spring, summer,

and into the fall when the park is more active. It comes as a surprise to

visitors to our Province when they see all of the wonderful advertising done

much of the advertising is done by the Province, much more advertising and

communication is done by the federal government. Then people come to the Town of

Trout River and they cannot use their cellphones.

It is a significant handicap for local people. They feel they are really

being taken advantage of because if they leave the area they can use their

cellphone. Imagine if you were living in a place such as Trout River and you

could not get cellphone service; you would just drive up over the hill, out

through the gulch, and all of a sudden now you can use your cellphone in various

parts of the Province. This is an issue that government seems to be completely

ignoring. This is a part of the failure to serve rural parts of the Province. It

is part of this government's apparent plan to abandon rural Newfoundland and

Labrador. They did away with all of the RED boards. They fail to support the

fishery in a proper manner that small communities can survive. They fail to

provide various services. In this case, in the Town of Trout River, there is no

cellphone service.

Surely, the number of individuals living in the Town of Trout River, the

businesses, a variety of tourist businesses and the thousands and thousands of

people who visit Trout River every summer as part of their summer vacation

really expect cellphone service. The cost is not exorbitant. They are only

asking to be able to partner with the private sector in order to extend

cellphone service.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

MR. OSBORNE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I have a petition: To the hon. House of Assembly of the Province of

Newfoundland and Labrador in Parliament Assembly, the petition of the

undersigned residents of Newfoundland and Labrador humbly sheweth:

WHEREAS the Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods Act was introduced into the

House of Assembly of Newfoundland and Labrador, debated, approved by members of

the House of Assembly and received Royal Assent in June of 2007; and

WHEREAS this legislation has not been proclaimed into force; and

WHEREAS this legislation was intended to make our communities safer and we

believe if the government proclaimed this legislation into law, our communities

would indeed be safer.

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

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

proclaim into law the Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods Act.

As in duty bound your petitioners will ever pray.

Mr. Speaker, I am familiar with this legislation. It was debated in the House

of Assembly. It is good legislation. It was legislation that was the RNC and

the RCMP, and many community groups were consulted on this particular piece of

legislation, Mr. Speaker. I know of communities, we all know of communities in

all of our districts, I am sure, that there are properties where residents live

and those are considered to be problem properties.

One example I mentioned the last time I presented this petition, Mr. Speaker,

and I will mention it again because it was highly publicized. It was Tessier

Place, where the RNC knew of the property on Tessier Place, knew there was

questionable activity taking place at that property, knew there were issues

regarding drugs and prostitution and other things happening at that property

that were of great concern to the neighbours in that neighbourhood.

The RNC were not able to do anything with the property because without enough

evidence, Mr. Speaker, to successful lay charges which would make it to court

and see a conviction, the RNC are somewhat restricted in the results they can

provide.

If this legislation were brought into force, Mr. Speaker, that property would

have been able to be dealt with by inspectors of the Department of Justice. The

property would have been able to be shut down and the problem to residents

removed.

There was a death at that particular property, Mr. Speaker. The residents of

that neighbourhood felt very unsafe as a result of the activity taking place at

that property. That death possibly could have been avoided if the property was

shut down.

Mr. Speaker, this legislation, I believe, is good legislation and I ask

government, as do the people who signed this petition, to revisit the

legislation, proclaim it into law, and ensure that the neighbourhoods that need

this legislation to protect them receive it.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER: Does the Minister of Finance have leave to go back to

Tabling of Documents?

AN HON. MEMBER: No leave.

MR. SPEAKER: Orders of the Day.

Orders of the Day

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

MS SHEA: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I move Motion 14, pursuant to Standing Order 11, that this House will not

adjourn 5:30 p.m. today, Thursday, November 14, 2013.

Further, Mr. Speaker, I move Motion 15, pursuant to Standing Order 11, that

this House not adjourn 10:00 p.m. today, Thursday, November 14, 2013.

MR. SPEAKER: It has been moved and seconded that this House do not

adjourn today, Thursday, November 14, at 5:30 p.m., and further moved that this

House do not adjourn on Thursday, November 14, at 10:00 p.m.

All those in favour of the motion, aye'.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Aye.

MR. SPEAKER: All those against, nay'.

Motion carried.

The hon. the Deputy Government House Leader.

MS SHEA: Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the hon. the Minister of Health

and Community Services, to ask leave to introduce a bill entitled,

An Act

Respecting Food Safety In Food Premises, Bill 22, and I further move that the

said bill be now read a first time.

MR. SPEAKER: Bill 22.

It is moved and seconded that the hon. the Minister of Health and Community

Services shall have leave to introduce a bill,

An Act Respecting Food Safety In

Food Premises, Bill 22, and that the said bill be now read a first time.

Is it the pleasure of the House that the minister shall have leave to

introduce Bill 22 and that the said bill be now read a first time?

All those in favour, aye'.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Aye.

MR. SPEAKER: All those against, nay'.

Motion carried.

Motion, the hon. the Minister of Health and Community Services to introduce a

bill, "An Act Respecting Food Safety In Food Premises", carried. (Bill 22)

CLERK: A bill,

An Act Respecting Food Safety In Food Premises. (Bill 22)

MR. SPEAKER: This bill has now been read a first time.

When shall the bill be read a second time?

MS SHEA: Tomorrow.

MR. SPEAKER: Tomorrow.

On motion, Bill 22 read a first time, ordered read a second time on tomorrow.

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

MS SHEA: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

From the Order Paper I will call Order 1, Committee of Supply.

With that, Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the Minister of Advanced

Education and Skills, that the House resolve itself into a Committee of Supply

to debate Bill 9.

MR. SPEAKER: It has been moved and seconded that this House resolve

itself into Committee of Supply and that I do now leave the Chair.

All those in favour, aye'.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Aye.

MR. SPEAKER: All those against, nay'.

Motion carried.

On motion, that the House resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole, Mr.

Speaker left the Chair.

Committee of the Whole

CHAIR (Littlejohn): We are debating the resolution, Bill 9,

An Act For

Granting To Her Majesty Certain Sums Of Money For Defraying Certain Additional

Expenses Of The Public Service For The Financial Year Ending March 31, 2104 And

For Other Purposes Relating To The Public Service No. 2.

Resolution

"That it is expedient to introduce a measure to provide for the granting to

Her Majesty for defraying certain additional expenses of the public service for

the financial year ending March 31, 2014, the sum of $147,200."

CHAIR: The hon. the Leader of the Official Opposition.

MR. JOYCE: Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I will just stand and have a few minutes

CHAIR: The hon. the Deputy Government House Leader.

MS SHEA: I just want to clarify what we are debating, it is Bill 9.

CHAIR: Bill 9.

MS SHEA: Okay, I thought you meant sums of money to the public service.

It was

CHAIR: No, no, Bill 9

MR. JOYCE: Which is a money bill.

CHAIR: which is a money bill.

MS SHEA: Right, in relation to the by-election.

CHAIR: Yes.

MS SHEA: Yes, okay.

Thank you.

CHAIR: The hon. the Leader of the Official Opposition.

MR. JOYCE: Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I thought I was going to get interrupted again like I usually do when I try

to stand and have a few words.

Mr. Chair, I am just going to have a few words to debate Bill 9, which is a

bill to pay for the by-election for Cartwright L'Anse au Clair, which we have

the great member here now for Cartwright L'Anse au Clair.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. JOYCE: A great Liberal member again. I must say, Mr. Chair, the

member herself is holding her own in this House of Assembly. She has very little

experience, but I can assure you she can stand toe-to-toe with any member in

this House to represent her District of Cartwright L'Anse au Clair.

When I was down campaigning with the member I had a lot of family and still

do have a lot of family in that area and it was great seeing them all and great

hearing the issues in Labrador. I can assure the people of Cartwright-L'Anse au

Clair that you may have lost one little tiger, she moved on to Ottawa; but I can

guarantee you, you have another one who stepped in her place who is ready to

take over the fight for the District of Cartwright L'Anse au Clair. I look

forward to dealing with the member and helping the member on a regular basis

here in this House.

Mr. Chair, as we all know this is a money bill and we are allowed to have a

few words. I spoke to the minister earlier on the roads in the Bay of Islands; I

just want to bring that up. I did have a meeting with the minister on the roads

and I thank the minister for that.

I just want to inform the residents of the Bay of Islands that the minister

has made the commitment that he will monitor those three or four major sections

in the Bay of Islands. There is a person on site who is monitoring it and if it

does get worse, they will try to do something to make it safer this year. I

thank the minister for that and I thank the minister for the co-operation

because there are some people concerned about it.

Minister, I can show you letters upon letters that I am after writing about

those three sites, because it is a safety concern. Thank you for that. I thank

the residents for saying to me that there is a concern, and I can assure you

that the department is well aware of it and it will be looked at and monitored.

Mr. Chair, I brought up today in this House the pellet plant in Roddickton

and, of course, everybody looks at me and says: What? You do not support

economic development in rural Newfoundland and Labrador? When you stand up and

ask a question, you get accused of not supporting something in rural

Newfoundland and Labrador, instead of looking at the issue and answering the

question.

I just want to go back on this pellet plant in Roddickton, Mr. Chair.

Absolutely, no one on this side of the House is against rural development. Now,

if we want to talk about rural development, let's talk about how many people

were cut from the boards in Newfoundland and Labrador here that promotes rural

development; let's just talk about how many people were cut no need any more,

the great engine for rural Newfoundland and Labrador, cut to the bones, gone,

see you later.

Mr. Chair, when you want to attack me about not supporting rural Newfoundland

and Labrador, I say: Look in the mirror; actions speak a lot louder than words

a lot louder than words, Mr. Chair.

I will just go back to the Roddickton plant and this was brought to my

attention some while ago about the Roddickton plant. I put a Freedom of

Information request in. I could not get any information, of course.

Lo and behold, the minister who administered this fund was the Premier. She

was the minister at the time. I just want to give you a little background here.

There was the Department of Natural Resources; within Natural Resources, there

was a fund developed for diversification. There was a fund developed in that

department for these types of projects.

Before I get into this project in Roddickton, guess what? That fund did such

a great job that it is cancelled. There is no such fund in that department right

now, absolutely none. What amazed me, when we were in Public Accounts here and

we asked questions on this pellet plant in Roddickton if you want to talk

about a big hoopla, the big announcements, the minister is up, all the lights

and cameras and all of that, the big announcement was saving rural Newfoundland

and Labrador.

In our discussions with the officials, under oath, Mr. Chair, about this

pellet plant I just want to give you an example, the question was asked: Did

you have any market agreements signed? The answer was: No, but we were

discussing it with some people. We are looking at some options. Were there any

markets signed? Were there any markets that once the pellets were made you would

be able to sell them? Absolutely, none.

The startling point about that and this is very important if people in

this Province ever want to know why me as a person in the Opposition who is

asking questions about Muskrat Falls here today, listen to this story: This

pellet plant no markets, absolutely none. The money went up, the proposal went

up to Cabinet for the second or the third time, it came back through the

minister, who happens to be the Premier today, came back and said let's confirm

the markets. By the time it came back from the Cabinet to the minister in a

Cabinet paper, back down to the fishers and said let's confirm the markets,

there was $9 million already spent spent and no markets.

Once we had that established that there were no markets, we said: Okay, the

big concern down there then was transportation. So, we asked: How were you going

to get these pellets to market? They said: We were looking at Stephenville. As

we know now, the port in Stephenville is privatized. What kind of agreement did

you have in Stephenville? Well, we did not. I think they were talking to them.

I said: How much would it cost to ship the pellets out of Stephenville? We do

not know. There was nothing signed; there is no agreement. I said: Well, how can

you give out $11 million, $12 million of taxpayers' money and you do not know

how you are going to get the product to market?

I said: Well, you looked at St. Anthony? Yes, we shipped a few out, but the

cost of the supply, the bags that we had to put it in, to put down in St.

Anthony, was too expensive. We said: Oh, how about the this is what was said;

it is in Hansard.

We said: There was a wharf in Roddickton; did anybody look at the wharf in

Roddickton? The answer was told in Hansard by one of the officials who was

involved with this project: No, we did not want trucks going to the wharf. Guess

what? The wharf was torn down then.

The question I have to ask: If the wharf was torn down, what was the wharf

for it was for fisheries if there were not already trucks going through the

town full of fish? It was a federal wharf. Then, what happened, they did not

even look at that wharf, the federal wharf; it is torn down.

So, here we are now, Mr. Chair, the minister, who happens to be the Premier,

telling us about Muskrat Falls, that everything is in place. We have the

markets, we know how to get it to market, and we have the cost of everything.

Look at the pellet plant a miniature Muskrat Falls. Money spent and no

markets. No way to get it to markets. Do not know how much it is going to cost.

No agreement signed. Anybody here who ever wants to know why we are asking

questions about Muskrat Falls, read Hansard on the Public Accounts about the

pellet plant in Roddickton.

Do I hope the pellet plant in Roddickton survives? Definitely. Do I hope that

it will thrive? Definitely. We have to be conscious of taxpayers' money. Anybody

on this side of the House or on the government side should say: Before we

commit, what are our chances?

We asked the officials: Did you give a commitment or some level? They said:

We informed the minister that it is high risk. I understand the high risk, but

in order to ensure and put some protection in there for taxpayers' money, you

must ensure there are markets, ensure there is transportation, and the travel

costs to get it to market. There was not even a storage facility in the market

plan. We have all these pellets produced and no place to store them. We have no

place to store them.

When we look at Muskrat Falls and you want to talk about the pellet plant, it

all in the same; this is why we need to do our due diligence. This is why as

Oppositions we are asking these types of questions.

I will be back.

Thank you again, Mr. Chair.

CHAIR: The hon. the Minister of Advanced Education and Skills.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. O'BRIEN: How are you doing, Mr. Chair?

Mr. Chair, it is great to be up in the House again today. I was listening

intently to the hon. member in regard to what he had to say in the House on this

important bill.

The one thing I have seen in my time as a minister in this government is the

investment that we have made in rural Newfoundland and Labrador. I will only

speak from my own department, or my past department, Municipal Affairs; 65 per

cent of all Municipal Capital Works money in my budget was invested in rural

Newfoundland and Labrador during that time.

Where did all the fire trucks go to? but in rural Newfoundland and

Labrador. Did we invest in companies in rural Newfoundland and Labrador?

Absolutely! Are they high risk? Absolutely, Mr. Chair, and that is the reason

they come to government in the first place.

That will not deter us from investing in rural Newfoundland and Labrador and

believing in rural Newfoundland and Labrador, I say to the hon. member. I

wonder, actually, if they believe in rural Newfoundland and Labrador. That is

the question I would have to ask.

I was also listening intently as the hon. member brought up his colleague in

the House, his new colleague in the House. I welcome her to the House and I

congratulate her in regard to her election. I was up and took

part in that

by-election process as well, as did the hon. member did, too. As a matter of

fact, I think we had coffee one morning on the campaign trail in the same little

place.

The one thing I would say to the hon. member, if I was going to give her some

advice, I would tell her to try to be factual when she is talking about her

district, Mr. Chair. Just the other day she was up in the House, and I will read

from Hansard, Mr. Chair.

"Mr. Chair, every day last week in the House I did hear people stand on the

other side and talk about the growth that is happening in the Province, talk

about the small numbers of people on Income Support, talk about the benefits;

but the reality of where I travel on weekends and where I live and where I make

my home in Cartwright L'Anse au Clair, the reality is very, very different."

Well, if she had asked me, as the Minister of Advanced Education and Skills

and having the data that I have at my disposal, I would have told her that only

2.2 per cent of the population of that particular district requires Income

Support. There are a little over 4,000 people live in that district. Only 2.2

per cent, less than 100 people, require Income Support.

I would be proud of that, Mr. Chair. I would absolutely be proud of that.

That is telling me that people are working in rural Newfoundland and Labrador,

working in Cartwright L'Anse au Clair.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. O'BRIEN: Get your facts right before you get up on your feet and give

a false impression to the rest of the Province that it is doom and gloom in your

district, when it is absolutely not, I say to the hon. member.

As well, if I could just throw out another few facts: Since 2003, Employment

Assistance Programs, over $47,000 spent in the district; employment development

programs, over $452,000 spent in the district.

We will talk about the EAS closure in her district, which she talks about

fairly often. The thing she does not say is that there are three people working

in Mary's Harbour in her district. As a matter of fact, one of them is a

development specialist for that area. We recognize the uniqueness of the

district and the uniqueness of Labrador. We have another one in Goose Bay. I

think there are over twenty-three people working in the office in Happy

Valley-Goose Bay, I say to the hon. member.

That is the way we invest. We invest in Labrador, we believe in Labrador. We

believe in Labrador as a place and a part of this Province, and sometimes I

would like to think the Province as a whole. That is exactly the way we do it,

Mr. Chair. What we do is recognize some uniqueness between the geographic areas

of the Province, including the South Coast of Newfoundland and Labrador; under

the LMDA program, Mr. Chair, over $1.6 million into that district.

These are big numbers. As a matter of fact, overall since 2003, there was $16

million spent in that district by this government for various programs, in youth

development, in youth and student services, the ABE program, CNA, and all that

kind of good stuff. Over $16 million was spent.

The only piece I am trying to impress on the hon. member is that when you

stand in the House, absolutely I encourage you to do so; you are one of

forty-eight. I try to get in my place each and every time that I can under the

restraints of having forty-seven other people trying to stand up and speak and

talk about their districts, and talk about their departments when it comes to

ministers. I encourage her, absolutely. The other thing I would impress on her

is try to be factual before you get on your feet. Do your work.

The other piece I want to talk about and I do not have Hansard. I was

listening intently to the Leader of the Third Party. It was only yesterday I

believe it was, if I remember right and we can check Hansard but she talked

about immigration. She talked about, and what I got out of it, she is actually

against immigrants coming into our Province. That is what she talked about in

the Third Party. That is exactly what she talked about.

MS SHEA: That is her stand.

MR. O'BRIEN: Yes, absolutely, that is her stand.

She talked about people were complaining about immigrants coming into our

Province. She talked about people coming in to work on Muskrat Falls, and people

in this Province are talking about it, that they do not want them.

Well, I am proud to have 10,000 immigrants in this Province at this

particular time in our history, Mr. Chair. Ten thousand of them, and I am proud

of every single one of them. As a matter of fact, we are doing everything

possible to attract other immigrants into our Province.

As a matter of fact, there was a business person on Open Line yesterday

morning he is not a good supporter of ours, Mr. Chair, but I respect what he

said. He said the future of Newfoundland and Labrador is in our immigrants, and

I believe that. I believe that because we have some great people in this

Province who came from other countries, other cultures. Newfoundland and

Labrador has welcomed them, taken them into our communities, and we are hoping

to absolutely grow that community.

Now, as well, in regard to us as a government, we create the opportunities,

absolutely, and we created a number of them over the last number of years. The

first priority is to employ Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. Today, there are

more Newfoundlanders and Labradorians working than ever in our history of the

Province, Mr. Chair.

We will do anything at all to make it possible. We encourage skilled workers

from other countries to relocate, yes we do, but we also encourage our own

population base to educate, to get into the skilled labour force, to take the

courses necessary, get through their apprenticeship programs, become

journeypersons and avail of the opportunities. Absolutely, we do, Mr. Chair. We

will continue to do that.

The other piece I want to touch on as well, Mr. Chair, is the affordable

housing piece and what we are doing through Newfoundland and Labrador Housing.

Through the investment in the affordable housing program, a part of Newfoundland

and Labrador Housing, we built over 547 new affordable housing units, which are

targeted specifically for seniors with low incomes, Mr. Chair. We have created

partnerships with the private sector to accomplish this.

Also, we have 2,650 of our clients were assisted through the Provincial Home

Repair Program. Guess who they are? They are mostly all senior citizens of low

income. The program has certainly helped them to renovate and repair, and make

their living accommodations more comfortable, absolutely.

Then we have the Province-wide Rent Supplement Program, Mr. Chair, which

provides a total of 1,732 affordable private sector rental units to households

with low incomes, too. Then we have another program called Social Housing

Portfolio, which we have 5,556 units, I believe, in the Province and 34 per cent

of that houses seniors in our Province.

Then we have the Residential Energy Efficiency Program and 83 per cent of

that category is also seniors. What I want to impress on people is that we have

not forgotten our seniors. We invest in our seniors and we will continue to do

so.

I will say to the hon. Member for St. John's Centre that you have to deal in

reality. You go to any jurisdiction in Canada, any jurisdiction in North

America, or any jurisdiction in the free world, you will have challenges.

Absolutely, you will, but the aim of the game is to meet those challenges. As

soon as you actually meet a challenge and you cure a problem, another challenge

appears. Then you keep working towards that goal, always.

I will advise the hon. member, do not go out through the door like you have

been doing over the last two or three years and promising everything to

everybody and anything they want because you will not be able to give it. That

is not reality. It is all under the budgets, Mr. Chair.

We as a government will continue to invest and continue to grow the economy

in this Province, Mr. Chair.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

CHAIR: The hon. the Leader of the Official Opposition.

MR. JOYCE: Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I take this time again to stand and have a few words. I hear the minister,

and I do not want to go to and fro, but a lot of issues are facing Corner Brook.

I will just go through one: the hospital. I know I am after bringing this up.

People who know me know that I am going to continue until I see what the people

of Western Newfoundland and Corner Brook deserve.

I heard the Premier just the other day when I brought up the issue about PET

scanners. I made the statement that there were twelve in Quebec. There was going

on to be twelve PET scanners in Quebec. You hear the Minister of Health saying

there are only thirty across Canada. That may be true, with twelve in Quebec.

The Premier was saying to me: Well, look at the size of the population; look at

the difference.

Mr. Chair, the Quebec government, when they were looking at Quebec for PET

scanners, they did it on geography, not population. There are areas in Quebec

with a population of 45,000 people with a PET scanner. There are places in

Quebec, Mr. Chair, with a population of 65,000 people with a PET scanner.

So when the Premier of this Province looks at me and says: Look at the

population, because of Quebec. Do what Quebec did and look at geography because

if you look at the catch basin for Western Newfoundland, Mr. Chair, we are

looking at probably about 145,000 or 150,000 and Labrador also would be included

in that.

If you want to look at the hospital in Corner Brook because the PET scanner

is the way of the future and if this facility is going to be built in Corner

Brook, if it is going to be built for all of the people of Western Newfoundland,

if it is going to be built for residents of Labrador, we have to plan for the

future. We cannot let it be like the long-term care facility that was built

which was scaled down 100 beds, now we have to build another 100 beds because

they scaled it down. There was no future planning for it, Mr. Chair.

That is my concern. From my understanding, the wing that was supposed to be

open will be open sometime next month, I think. Next month, that last wing in

the long-term care facility will finally be open.

AN HON. MEMBER: Next week.

MR. JOYCE: Next week that wing will be open. Four years later, we have an

open wing of the long-term care facility not being used, yet we hear the

Minister of Health on a regular basis there are forty or fifty long-term care

patients in acute care beds, but we had a wing that was supposed to be opened

four or five years ago, was not opened, was not used. That is the kind of

planning I am talking about, Mr. Chair.

These are the types of issues that are facing the seniors. I heard the

minister previously talking about the seniors. Radiation: Why can't there be a

radiation unit at the hospital in Corner Brook? Why can't there be? I would love

to be able to sit down I spoke to some doctors in Corner Brook who deal with

it. They cannot see why there cannot be a radiation unit in Corner Brook. They

cannot see why there cannot be a PET scanner unit.

I know the Minister of Health always said to me: Well, bring me the experts.

Do you want to know an expert, if you think there should be a PET scanner in

Corner Brook? Dr. Bob Cook, Corner Brook; there is an expert. Right now, one of

the only people in this Province who can read a PET scanner, can read the

reports, is Dr. Bob Cook from Corner Brook, yet we are not putting one in Corner

Brook.

It just boggles my mind that if we are going to look sixty, seventy years

into the future for this new hospital, why cannot we do it? These are the types

of questions that the people of Corner Brook are asking me. I am sure they are

asking the Member for Humber Valley also, asking the question. This is why we

cannot get the answers. All we hear is money, population, oh, we cannot do it.

We cannot do it. We have no reasons why we cannot do it.

The easiest thing in the world is to say we cannot do it. There is one thing

that I have to say is that if there is a legitimate reason, tell us what the

legitimate reason is. That is all I want to know. Tell us the legitimate reason.

Just because we are saying oh, there is no contact we are looking in the

future; we are looking down the road.

This is the kind of thing that we need instead of coming back two, three,

four years after the hospital is built in 2021, 2022, after it is built coming

back and saying oh, we have to do renovations to put in for the PET scanner.

That is the kind of thing that we need; we need to be proactive on this. We all

know the way of the future is the PET scanner.

If you look at any research whatsoever, the way of the future is a PET

scanner. Now, I do not know what other documentation you can get, what the

government needs. I can supply any documentation they need to show the way of

the future.

The radiation unit for Corner Brook I would just love for anybody to sit

down with me; the specialists and the ones I have spoken to cannot see why there

cannot be a radiation unit in Corner Brook so the people from Western

Newfoundland and Labrador do not have to go to St. John's, to travel.

I heard the minister just then. I am sure the minister is concerned about the

seniors, there is no doubt; but a lot of the people who use these types of

facilities are seniors. Now from Corner Brook, Port aux Basques, Stephenville,

down to Burgeo, Ramea they have to find a way to St. John's.

We have the aging population, Mr. Chair, so we need to try to supply the

services for the people who are most vulnerable, who will need these services.

They are seniors. That is why we need to put the services closer. When you have

a catch basin of 145,000, 140,000 in Western Newfoundland and Labrador, it

deserves a PET scanner. It deserves a radiation unit. It definitely deserves it,

Mr. Chair. I will get it in later about some of the misgivings of the hospital,

but here I am again pleading with the government to look at these services for

Western Newfoundland before it is too late.

We have another couple of years, by the government's own admission, to go

ahead before we get the planning done of it, before we get the engineering and

start. Before it is too late, this is what I would ask the government. Sit down

and explain why we cannot have forget this, we did not have any calls about

it; forget this oh we cannot have it because of population. That is all just

thrown out the window. That has no bearing. Explain why it cannot be put in

Corner Brook. Explain to the people why there cannot be a radiation unit.

I can get on, and there is no doubt I can speak about the hospital and talk

about how long it has been going on, Mr. Chair. I have notes here, notes upon

notes about all the information that was said and re-said and information that

was given out, another minister contradicting the other minister, I could do

that. I am pleading with the government here today to do an evaluation.

Just do not stand up and say because we are in Opposition myself and the

Member for Humber Valley, the Member for St. Barbe, the Member for Torngat

because we are Opposition we are bad people and that everything we ask, or

everything we request is not right. Give it a second light, give it a second

look. That is all I ask. I can assure you, and I can assure you when I speak to

the specialists in Corner Brook, they are asking the same questions as I am. It

can be done.

MS SULLIVAN: (Inaudible).

MR. JOYCE: I hear the minister over there saying they never asked me.

Minister, the last time you had a meeting out in Corner Brook you had the

municipal police so people could not get into your meeting. So do not go saying

you did not ask me, because they cannot get in. Mr. Chair, they cannot get in.

Phone Dr. Bob Cook and ask him. Do you want a specialist, Mr. Chair, who says

yes, we should have one? Yes we can do it, yes the need is there.

Mr. Chair, with that I will sit down and have my time

MS SULLIVAN: A point of order.

CHAIR: On a point of order, the hon. the Minister of Health and Community

Services.

MS SULLIVAN: Mr. Chair, the meeting that was held in Corner Brook was

held specifically for municipal governments. It was open to anybody within

municipal governments who wanted to come. I have also been in the hospital and I

have spoken with many of the medical professionals in the hospital.

CHAIR: There is no point of order.

MS SULLIVAN: Thank you, Mr. Chair.

CHAIR: The hon. the Leader of the Opposition.

MR. JOYCE: I know the minister, when it hurts she has a habit of doing

that. I will be back. You will not keep me quiet, I say to the minister.

CHAIR: The hon. the Minister of Finance and Attorney General.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. MARSHALL: Mr. Chair, thank you very much for giving me this

opportunity to take

part in this debate on Supplementary Supply.

It is interesting, when I left and went back to Corner Brook last week we

were debating Bill 8 on Supplementary Supply and we are back here today now, it

is also Supplementary Supply but it is a different bill. This particular bill is

to come up with money to pay for the by-election that took place in Cartwright

L'Anse au Clair.

What happened is that when the funds were needed for the by-election, this of

House of Assembly was not sitting and therefore the government had to get what

is called a special warrant. The Minister of Justice at the time made the

correct application to Cabinet and to sub-committees of Cabinet to seek the

funding. The funding, of course, was granted. We had the by-election and the

Member for Cartwright L'Anse au Clair was elected.

Of course, now the House of Commons is back in session, and even though it is

not required under the Financial Administration Act, what we have done,

following the principle that public money should not be spent by the executive

of government unless they are ultimately approved by the people's representative

in the House of Assembly. We are now here today with Supplementary Supply Bill 8

seeking the ratification of what the executive of government has done, what the

Crown has done in terms of the expenditure of public money. So I am delighted to

have an opportunity to stand in this debate and say a few words.

Mr. Chair, the first thing I want to say, I want to mention the Remembrance

Day ceremony that I attended back in Corner Brook on Monday; on Monday,

Remembrance Day. I have been attending these ceremonies for a long time, and

that is because my father was a D-Day veteran. My father, as a young officer

cadet, landed on the beaches of Normandy as a member of the New Brunswick North

Shore Regiment.

He was not supposed to be there. He was an officer cadet. He was supposed to

have been sent back to London for officer training, but he went with the

Regiment. He was told to go to a holding unit in London. He said, no, I would

rather go with the Regiment. He went and landed on D-Day. He was with the

Regiment in Europe.

Then his orders caught up with him. He was flown back to London and he went

to Officer Training school, but the best part of the story was that he attended

a wedding in London. He met a young woman there who was working at the Canadian

Military Headquarters, and the two of them came back. They stopped off in Cape

Breton, where I understand a very handsome son was born. Then they had the good

sense to move on to the City of Corner Brook where they had a wonderful life.

My father joined the Royal Newfoundland Regiment. He later became the CO in

Corner Brook and later became the Commanding Officer of the Royal Newfoundland

Regiment for Newfoundland and Labrador.

Obviously, as a child, I would go to these Remembrance Day ceremonies with

him over and over again. As a matter of fact, I thought the ceremony could not

take place without him. I watched how the number of people who went to those

events seemed to get smaller and smaller and smaller. Now we see the resurgence,

and it was just wonderful to see.

The Leader of the Opposition was there representing the Opposition. Our

there representing the government. The Member for Humber West was there as well.

It was just such a wonderful event. When you hear that poem In Flanders

Fields read every year, it still makes you well up.

AN HON. MEMBER: (Inaudible) as well.

MR. MARSHALL: Yes, I said the Leader of the Opposition was there as well.

I said that.

It was certainly a great day, seeing those kids there and watching them

paying attention and learning about the horrors of war. I wonder what they are

thinking when they hear that famous poem?

"We are the dead. Short days ago we lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow."

It was just wonderful. It is great to be back here now to see what they

fought for, to see this democracy that we can speak to in this House and have

debates with members opposite. I love to debate with the member about Corner

Brook because both of us want to see, and I know everyone in this House wants to

see Corner Brook and the West Coast grow and prosper. I think the only

difference is in terms of timing.

There are lots of things we want to have, and that applies to everyone right

across the Island and Labrador. You work on them one at a time. I think of

schools, for example. When I first entered public life, the Herdman Collegiate

was the big issue. That is the school everybody wanted and it finally was done.

That became the one high school in Corner Brook.

The next step is to find a junior high school. It goes through the process

and the decision was made that they would redevelop Regina High School into the

new junior high school. Now that work is continuing. There has been some great

I just drove up there last weekend and saw the work that is being done there,

the extension to the building, the paving that is done in the area next to the

church.

We also have a list for more things we need done. We know money was put in

the Budget last year to do the planning for G.C. Rowe. When G.C. Rowe is

developed, when the new junior high school opens up, the students from

Presentation and G.C. Rowe will move into Regina, which is the new junior high

school. Then Rowe will be available to be the new K-6 school for the eastern

section of the city, and there will be more money to invest in J.J. Curling.

Then there is a need for a new school; C.C. Loughlin needs to be replaced as

a new school. So when you say you want a PET scanner and we want radiation, yes,

we do. I support the call for that, but we have to do things in order. We have

to do things one at a time. So we have the high school, we have the junior

school, and next we will work on the K-12. We will do it one at a time.

The other thing is the Grenfell College. Grenfell College is there. We have

an Arts and Administration Building, $27 million that has been looked for, for a

long period of time. Then we have a residence; there is a great need for a

residence. Now there is a residence there, 200 units and $22 million.

The next thing will be the opening of the new environmental labs. In the Arts

and Administration Building, there were labs for undergraduate, and we are going

to for the first time have research labs at Grenfell College. These things take

time. You do not get them all at once. You work on them one at a time.

For Grenfell College, what do we want next? Well, there is a call for a

nursing building, for a place for the nurses. It will probably be bigger than

that. It will probably be more of a science, not just nurses, but a nurses

building is the next thing on the list.

Roadwork: I am not going to go into the roadwork. There is lots of roadwork

that is taking place in the Corner Brook area. We have all seen that.

The port: Look at the work down at the port that needs to be done. The Corner

Brook Port Corporation always has ideas. Jackie Chow and the Board of Directors

there always have ideas. They are looking for funds to infill the port. They are

looking for money to fix up the Lafarge building. These are also objectives that

will help with the economic development in the City of Corner Brook.

Now, in terms of the long-term care facility, we have a new long-term

facility. We have four protective care units as well, but our population is

aging very quickly. Our population, unfortunately, is declining and it is aging.

As a result of that, the next stage is a new hospital, but in the design or in

the planning for the new hospital, they said: You need more long-term care beds.

So the first thing that is going to happen with the new campus in Corner

Brook, it is not going to be one building. You are going to start off with a

long-term care building and I think a logistics building. They will be the first

two built. Then the next thing will be the acute care centre and the hostel.

There are going to be four buildings, but there is lots more room up there. It

is a big site. I know the Leader of the Opposition has seen it, but there is a

big site.

Then the next project, someone could come to government and say: Well, it is

a radiation unit, or it is a PET scanner; it might be a brain centre. God knows

what it is. We obviously want what is needed and what is required for the future

development of the demographics in Western Newfoundland. So that could be the

next project.

Right now we are focused on getting the additional long-term care unit built,

the new long-term care unit up at the hospital. We will continue with all these

projects; we will work at them. If Dr. Cook and other doctors feel that is their

priority I know in dealing with the hospital, they have a lot of priorities.

The problem is you have to take them and you have to say what are your major

priorities and you have to focus on those first.

We will get to them all over time. We will do them one at a time, and we will

do them properly.

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

MR. MURPHY: Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I take pleasure as well in getting up and talking to this piece of

legislation, Bill 9, dealing with the financing of the Cartwright L'Anse au

Clair by-election. I have to say I had the opportunity to go up and work on that

by-election as well. I think that pretty much we have seen all Members of the

House of Assembly up there at one time or another, at least a few anyway.

It was a great experience to meet the people of the district, travel to and

fro in the district, and talking to people on their issues. Some of the issues

that people have in Cartwright L'Anse au Clair are pretty much the same

sometimes as the people on the Island part of the Province. We deal with the

ferry and the transportation issues. We all deal with roads. Some people, of

course, were asking me about the price of fuel up there. We still deal with

those issues on the part of those people every day.

Mr. Chair, at the same time I would like to wish the member all the best in

her venture up there in the next couple of years as she represents her people up

there. They are a strong people. She has some big issues up there.

The biggest one that I fe