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June 4,

HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS

Vol. XLVII No. 38

The House met at 2:00 p.m.

MR.

SPEAKER (Wiseman):

Order, please!

Admit strangers.

Statements by Members

MR.

SPEAKER:

Today we will have members' statements from the Member for the District of Bay

of Islands; the Member for the District of St. John's North; the Member for the

District of Burgeo La Poile; the Member for the District of Bonavista South;

the Member for the District of Exploits; and the Member for the District of

Signal Hill Quidi Vidi.

The hon. the Member for the District of St. John's

North.

MR.

KIRBY:

Mr.

Speaker, I stand today to recognize the dedicated volunteers who deliver the

Leary's Brook Junior High Breakfast Club.

In collaboration with the Kids Eat Smart Foundation of

Newfoundland and Labrador, the Breakfast Club is up and running early Tuesday

and Thursday mornings during the school year.

On an average day, the program provides breakfast to as many as 300

students. On the menu, you will find

a wide array of nutritious choices including freshly baked muffins, yogurt and

fruit smoothies, and egg and cheese breakfast wraps.

In addition to ensuring a healthy start to the day, the

breakfast program at Leary's Brook provides an opportunity for students to

socialize with friends, teachers, and school staff.

The breakfast program is the very essence of building a vibrant and

healthy school community.

For the past two years, I have pitched in a couple of

times each month to help, along with teachers and students.

However, the core group of volunteers is made up of program co-ordinator

Wayne Rogers, Janet Martin, Barbra Pratt, Frances Boland, school council chair

Derek Layman, Nyab Alaghehbandan, retired principal Byron Head, and Gerard White

who joined us this year.

I ask all members to join me in congratulating this

dedicated group of community-minded volunteers.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR.

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Member for the District of Burgeo La Poile.

MR.

A. PARSONS:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I rise today to recognize and congratulate residents

from my district who took

part in Shave for the Brave to raise money for Young

Adult Cancer Canada. This is a

foundation that specializes in helping cancer patients in their teens, twenties,

and thirties.

On April 9, Chris O'Brien and Craig Skeard of Port aux

Basques shaved their heads for this worthy event.

They have been doing this for the past three years, in conjunction with

the staff of the local Newfoundland Liquor Corporation and together they raised

approximately $1,300 this year.

On May 16, fourteen students from Grandy's River

Collegiate in Burnt Islands also participated in this fundraiser, along with

their principal Justin Blackler.

Twelve of the students were young men who shaved their heads completely; while

the other two young ladies had their hair cropped very short and donated what

they cut off to make wigs for chemotherapy patients.

The students were given a goal to raise $1,000, altogether they raised

$2,710.

Mr. Speaker, I ask all members of this House to join

with me in extending congratulations to the students of Grandy's River

Collegiate, Justin Blackler, Craig Skeard, and Chris O'Brien, who all bravely

participated in this event for such an important cause and raised much-needed

funds to continue the fight against cancer.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR.

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Member for the District of Bay of Islands.

MR.

JOYCE:

Mr.

Speaker, the greatest honour is being recognized by your peers.

I rise in this hon. House today to recognize Mr. Graham

Letto, who recently received a Federation of Canadian Municipalities Roll of

Honour Award. This award pays

tribute to an individual who has made outstanding contributions to the

Federation of Municipal Councils and to municipal government in Canada.

Graham served with the council in Labrador City for

over twenty years as mayor and councillor.

He has been a tireless leader in engaging stakeholders toward developing

transportation infrastructure, including Route 500, the Trans-Labrador Highway,

as well as Route 389 in Quebec. He

was instrumental in bringing 911 emergency services to Labrador West.

Graham served as a long-standing board member of the

Combined Councils of Labrador, and Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador.

He was an active member of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities

Board of Directors from 2002 to 2009, and he served on a number of committees

including the Rural and Northern and Remote Forums.

He was also an active participant in the Atlantic Mayors Congress.

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

congratulating Graham on receiving this award and for his tremendous

contribution to municipal governments in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR.

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Member for Bonavista South.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR.

LITTLE:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I rise today to recognize Rexford Lodge for the

countless hours of dedication he has given to the Municipality of Trinity Bay

North. He has contributed numerous

hours to committees and organizations over the years.

Rex has worked with Fishery Products International, and

as manager of the Irving Oil service station in Trinity Bay North.

He completed an auto mechanic and millwright program.

Rex has been a volunteer with various groups and organizations for over

thirty years.

He was president of the Port Union Lions Club for ten

years, and a member for thirty years.

He received the Lions International Melvin Jones Fellowship Award and

Lion of the Year Award.

Mr. Lodge was a member of the Canadian Rangers for

nineteen years and participated in several ground search and rescue exercises.

He has served on many regional fundraising committees.

Rex assisted to fundraise for a new bus and garage for senior citizens at

the Bonavista Peninsula Health Care Centre.

Rex is Chairperson of the Bonavista Peninsula Branch

Line Association Incorporated, a committee that is working to create a

multi-purpose recreational T'Railway for local residents and tourists.

Mr. Speaker, hon. colleagues, please join me in

honouring Rex Lodge for his dedication and contributions to his community and

Province.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR.

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Member for the District of Exploits.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR.

FORSEY:

Mr.

Speaker, the Frank and Flossie Antle Memorial Scholarship in the amount of $500

is an award that recognizes the graduate of the year and is the most prestigious

honour that is bestowed at Botwood Collegiate.

The nominees for 2014: Chantel Boone, Lily Earle,

Rachel Mills, Braidy Peckford, Kennedy Samson, and Keela Stuckless distinguished

themselves in various ways throughout their senior high school years.

The recipient for 2014, Ms Rachel Mills, has been a

consistently high achieving academic student who ranked in the top of her class,

earned a MUN entrance scholarship, and received the first place Merit

Scholarship in Grade 11 with a 95 per cent average.

Rachel has been involved in the district Math League

competitions, tutoring for tuition, and a member of the Botwood Seaport Skaters.

She participated in divisional, provincial, and Atlantic figure skating

competitions.

Mr. Speaker, I ask all member of this House to join me

in congratulating Rachel Mills on receiving this prestigious award.

Thank you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR.

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Member for the District of Signal Hill Quidi Vidi.

MICHAEL:

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

On May 27, Memorial University recognized a remarkable

record of public service and leadership, and awarded an honorary doctor of laws

degree to an extraordinary resident of Signal Hill Quidi Vidi, the City of St.

John's, and this Province: Suzanne Duff known, of course, as Shannie.

Shannie trained as a nurse in Montreal and earned a BA

from Memorial. She helped found

Avalon Cable, and was its president from 1975 to 1982; but, she is best known as

a community volunteer and social activist.

Her passion has shone brightly for decades.

Shannie's voice informed and enlightened debates on heritage

conservation, housing, the arts, and urban planning.

Shannie chose the route of elected politics to make her

voice heard. While her life in

politics included a stint in this very House, she spent much more time as a

municipal politician. She

successfully contested eight municipal elections, including being elected as

Mayor of St. John's in 1990 and as Deputy Mayor in 2009.

She is a member of the Order of Canada and an honorary

life member of the Newfoundland Historic Trust, among many other awards and

honours, and now she is a doctor.

I ask all members to join me in congratulating Dr.

Shannie Duff.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR.

SPEAKER:

Statements by

M inisters.

Statements by Ministers

MR.

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Minister of Natural Resources.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR.

DALLEY:

Mr.

Speaker, I rise in this hon. House today to celebrate the 150 th

anniversary of the Geological Survey of Newfoundland and Labrador.

The Geological Survey, a division of the Department of

Natural Resources, has made a mark on history by mapping the Province's diverse

geology, explaining its geological evolution, and interpreting the origin and

nature of its mineral resources.

Under the leadership of Alexander Murray, the

Geological Survey was inaugurated in 1864.

Murray and his assistant, James Howley, were truly remarkable pioneering

geologists and their impressive collection of work formed the basis for the

first geological map of this Province published in 1907.

After Howley's death in 1909, the Geological Survey was

temporarily disbanded, but was revived in 1926 under Herbert Baker.

In the early 1930s, led by geologist Alfred Snelgrove, the work of the

Geological Survey was incorporated within the government.

In the 1970s, increased funding for mineral development

activities resulted in the growth of a modern Geological Survey.

With a current research and support staff of fifty-five individuals, the

Geological Survey provides a sophisticated geoscience database that the Province

needs to drive resource industries for the next decade and beyond.

Work conducted by the Geological Survey has a long

record of encouraging resource exploration and discovery.

The Geological Survey delivers a variety of Web-based research tools,

provides a wealth of information on its Web site, including the recently updated

online Geoscience Atlas, conducts research in the field through programs such as

the annual geological mapping program, and also assists in land use planning and

hazards assessment.

Mr. Speaker, our government recognizes the importance

of furthering Newfoundland and Labrador's resource potential.

The team at the Geological Survey is to be commended for its tremendous

efforts to support our resource industries.

The provincial government significantly added to the

budget of the Geological Survey through a permanent increase of $1 million in

2007, and maintained funding of $5.4 million in 2014.

We will continue to support long-term responsible resource development

for the benefit of all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR.

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Leader of the Official Opposition.

MR.

BALL:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I want to thank the minister for the advance copy of

his statement today.

Certainly, when you think about technology, it has

advanced over the last 150 years, and geologists today have much more

sophisticated and advanced tools than did Alexander Murray back in 1864.

Of course, just in the recent debate in the last days in the House of

Assembly we can actually see that mining is such a valuable part of our economy

and it is very important to the Province.

The geoscientific data to stimulate and manage the mining industry is

critical to continue to advance that.

Mining last year was $3.7 billion in 2013.

We have new mines, of course, on the horizon.

It is a part of our economy that will continue to contribute as it has in

the past. It is very important that

prospectors and developers have the best possible database that is available to

them and have that at their fingertips, and this particular initiative will go a

long way in doing that.

So we encourage the Province to continue to invest.

It is important as we diversify the economy, especially in some of the

smaller and rural areas of the Province.

We have seen this in the past in other successful countries, like in

Norway, Australia, Sweden, and others have well-established geosciences

services for their clients.

We thank the staff for the great work they are doing

and we are encouraged to see this investment.

This resource is an important part to continue to grow the Province.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR.

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Leader of the Third Party.

MICHAEL:

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

I too thank the minister for the advance copy of his

statement.

I am delighted to join in congratulating the geological

survey on their 150th Anniversary.

The survey has provided vital work for generations in this Province.

Today's staff do outstanding work, providing a knowledge platform that

supports, among other things, a burgeoning mining industry very important

work.

It is also important that we understand our lands and

the resources they may contain. I

note that the two stalled land use plans have been stalled for a number of

years, but the minister responsible has assured us they are back on track.

I am really looking forward to when they reach the station, Mr. Speaker,

because when that process is completed, I am looking forward to government

having a much-needed provincial land use plan that we need desperately in this

Province.

Thank you very much.

MR.

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Minister of Justice.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR.

FRENCH:

Mr.

Speaker, I am pleased to rise today to advise this hon. House that the

provincial government has permanently appointed four new assistant

superintendents at provincial correctional facilities over the past several

months.

These are as follows: James Hickman at the Labrador

Correctional Centre in Happy Valley-Goose Bay; Blair Fradsham at the West Coast

Correctional Centre in Stephenville; Shelley Rae-Michelin at the Newfoundland

and Labrador Correctional Centre for Women in Clarenville; and Kelly Rowsell at

the Bishop's Falls Correctional Centre.

All four bring significant experience to the positions and retain the

greatest respect of their peers.

In accepting the role of assistant superintendent,

these individuals will be responsible for the overall administration and

operation of their respective facilities.

They will ensure the effective use of human resources, the safe and

secure custody of prisoners, the continual reassessment of offender risks and

needs, the delivery of programming to reduce risk of reoffending, and the

development of community partnerships to promote successful reintegration.

Mr. Speaker, with a combined ninety-four years of

experience working in the field of adult corrections, these four assistant

superintendents bring an in-depth understanding of the operational challenges

unique to each facility and its surrounding region.

These facilities have become an important part of the communities in

which they are located and I am confident that each new leader will continue to

ensure that established relationships with community stakeholders will be valued

and strengthened.

These assistant superintendents have all worked their

way through the ranks to these senior positions and they are positive role

models for employees and recruits.

Ms Rowsell and Ms Michelin are currently the highest ranking female correctional

officers in adult corrections and with these appointments, 40 per cent of

assistant superintendents are now women, demonstrating the important role that

women hold in Newfoundland and Labrador's corrections system.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the provincial government and

the residents of Newfoundland and Labrador, I welcome assistant superintendents

Fradsham, Hickman, Michelin, and Rowsell as they continue to work to maintain

safe and secure correctional institutions for officers, staff, inmates, and the

community.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR.

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Member for the District of St. Barbe.

MR.

J. BENNETT:

Mr.

Speaker, I thank the minister for providing an advance copy of his statement.

I join him in congratulating the four new assistant superintendents.

They are clearly skilled, committed, and the right people in the right

places. However, to perform a

demanding job for the people of our Province, they require the best tools,

contemporary training, modern user-friendly facilities, and clear objectives

with realistic timelines for their accomplishments.

Corrections staff are public employees, our employees.

We owe them a safe and agreeable workplace while they oversee people who

have committed serious crime that warrant them being sentenced to prison.

Hopefully the minister will move quickly to begin

construction of a new penitentiary, but not so quickly as to miss engaging in

extensive consultations with necessary stakeholders.

That means consulting corrections staff including the four assistant

superintendents, mental health, medical, and even dental professionals, lawyers,

community stakeholders such as the John Howard Society, and leaders of our

growing multicultural community.

Inmates are also citizens and all of them will be

rejoining us sooner or later. The

better job we do in addictions treatment, basic education and employment skills,

the greater the likelihood that inmates will be productive, law-abiding citizens

when they rejoin our communities.

I am encouraged with the calibre and commitment of the

four assistant superintendents and other correctional officers that I have met,

and I am certain that with proper government support they will greatly

contribute to the positive outcomes that we expect to see in corrections.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR.

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Member for St. John's Centre.

ROGERS:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I also thank the minister for the advance copy of his

statement. Congratulations to Jim

Hickman, Blair Fradsham, Shelly Rae-Michelin, and Kelly Rowsell.

I thank them for their years of dedicated service.

Corrections work is hard work and each of these people have seen many

changes over the span of their careers, and each now deals with some very real

challenges facing their respective institutions.

Incarceration of citizens is not to be warehousing but,

rather, rehabilitation and accountability so that they may rejoin our community.

Our legal obligations are to ensure the safety of inmates and correction

staff, while also offering programming that helps to reduce recidivism.

Without this, we are failing.

I encourage them to trust their experience and

expertise and advocate on behalf of their staff and inmates for the resources

and supports needed to ensure the system does not fail its obligations and its

goals.

Again, I thank them for their dedication, their

commitment, their passion and compassion, and bravo on their new appointments.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

MR.

SPEAKER:

Oral Questions.

Oral Questions

MR.

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Leader of the Official Opposition.

MR.

BALL:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Impact Benefits Agreement that was signed with Kami

Mine Limited says that prior to the construction phase the parties need to

conclude an agreement satisfactory to the Minister of Finance with respect to

the project revenue for the Province, so the revenue agreement will become part

of the IBA.

I ask the Premier: Why are we waiting until the

construction phase of the project to sign this agreement on revenue? Shouldn't

the Province already know that before signing the IBA last week?

MR.

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Minister of Natural Resources.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR.

DALLEY:

Mr.

Speaker, obviously, the IBA, there is quite a bit of detail.

It has been worked on for some time.

It is certainly one that we are proud of, with tremendous strides and

accomplishments for the people of Newfoundland and Labrador and, as we would all

agree, I think tremendous benefits, particularly for the people of the Labrador

region.

Built within that, Mr. Speaker, obviously there are

some moving targets, as the member opposite has referenced as well, particularly

around iron ore prices. That is one

key element of this, but, as well, in terms of production when it enters the

commercial stage. All of these

factors have to be included in how we reach those targets and numbers.

So, Mr. Speaker, I think that is an issue; but, without a doubt, there is

a firm commitment from the company and a firm expectation from the Province that

they will meet those obligations.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR.

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Leader of the Official Opposition.

MR.

BALL:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

It is really a little early to tell when you look at

the detail.

Another example is that the IBA that was signed on May

27 says that the company will provide government with a human resources plan by

May 31. The plan would include more

details on apprentices, funding opportunities, and accommodations for the

construction operations workforce.

We know that the government is not expecting this to be completed now or to

receive this plan before not May 31 but June 30 now.

I ask the Premier: Why wasn't the human resources plan

part of the IBA that was signed last week?

MR.

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Minister of Natural Resources.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR.

DALLEY:

Mr.

Speaker, I thank the member opposite for the question.

It is a fair question.

Obviously when we do a benefits agreement, there are multiple factors that go

into this around what we can achieve for benefits for the Province, whether it

is in apprenticeship, whether it is an educational training fund, whether it is

child care spaces. All of that is

important in terms of how we progress with these benefits agreements.

Built into this as well is an expectation that the

company will provide us with an HR plan.

Through the discussions with the company, and particularly the

unfortunate idling of the Scully Mine in Wabush, that became a factor both for

the company and obviously a keen interest for the government and all members

that we do all we can to support Wabush and that region.

The company asked for an extension to be able to work through to ensure

that we can benefit the Wabush area as well, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR.

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Leader of the Official Opposition.

MR.

BALL:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

It has been a few months since obviously we heard the

news with Wabush. We have been

looking forward to that, so I guess that agreement in June of this year now.

In the mid-1980s, thirty years ago, the price of iron ore was $11 a ton.

Thirty years later, it is averaging around $100 a ton.

I ask the Premier: Have you made provisions in this

agreement so that there will be potential for the people of Newfoundland and

Labrador to have increased benefits if we continue to see a rise in iron ore

pricing?

MR.

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Minister of Natural Resources.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR.

DALLEY:

Mr.

Speaker, I think everybody involved would recognize the mining industry would

acknowledge the cyclical nature of the industry, the ups and downs, the

commodity prices and so on. What we

have been able to establish here is a strong benefits agreement for the people

of Newfoundland and Labrador for the benefits, particularly in the Labrador

region as well.

Tied into that, Mr. Speaker, we have an aggressive tax

regime here, royalties that are dependent on the companies in terms of

production, sales and so on. We have

also agreed within this year a very significant tax program, Mr. Speaker, where

90 per cent of the corporate taxes will be paid right here in Newfoundland and

Labrador, and that is a significant increase in any other agreements that we

have had.

It is a strong plan, Mr. Speaker, and as well, as the

member alluded to, as the mine ramps up and we go to Phase 2 there will be even

more benefits for the people of the Province.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR.

SPEAKER:

Order, please!

The hon. the Leader of the Opposition.

MR.

BALL:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Well, the benefits that the minister talked about are

really benefits that a mining company would enter into an agreement with.

We have already heard the company is on record as saying there is a five

year return on investment for a thirty year mine.

That is a short period to get such a significant return.

I ask the minister, just to clarify: There is no

escalated provision here for the people of Newfoundland and Labrador to get

increased benefits along the way on the upside?

MR.

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Minister of Natural Resources.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR.

DALLEY:

Mr.

Speaker, our increased production and increased sales are tied to royalties and

tied to corporate income tax. That

is the increased benefits and the opportunities that will accrue to the

Province, Mr. Speaker.

As well, built into all of this, Mr. Speaker, the

benefit here is new opportunities.

Some 800 jobs are in construction, 400 jobs are in operation, with the

potential, if commodity prices change and there is more demand and prices

increase, we will see Phase 2 develop, Mr. Speaker.

As a result of that, there will be even more opportunities, particularly

for the Labrador region.

So, Mr. Speaker, built into this, as the project

becomes more and more successful there will be more and more benefits for the

people of Newfoundland and Labrador.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR.

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Leader of the Official Opposition.

MR.

BALL:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

What the minister is talking about is volume.

Once you take the volume out you cannot mine it the second time.

We know that. We have learned

lessons from the past of not putting Newfoundlanders and Labradorians in a

position to create more wealth for the people of Newfoundland and Labrador when

we have not put those escalator clauses in place.

I ask the minister again: Why did you exclude an

escalator clause in this agreement so that the people of Newfoundland and

Labrador would get increased financial benefit if indeed prices of iron ore

continue to go up?

MR.

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Minister of Natural Resources.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR.

DALLEY:

Mr.

Speaker, recognizing that there is a tremendous opportunity here again to

develop a new mine in Labrador. Mr.

Speaker, we have not seen a mine of this significance in over twenty years.

We enter into an agreement where we can advance the progress we have made

in other benefits agreements.

What we have been able to do in this agreement, the

benefits for apprentices in the Province, a significant accomplishment.

It is being applauded around the Province, Mr. Speaker.

That is significant; significant advancements for gender issues, and

particularly the opportunity for women in this project.

Built into that as well is a firm commitment around corporate tax, which

is extremely significant in that it is so much more than what we have seen in

other mining developments. Strong

royalty agreements, Mr. Speaker, it is certainly going to be a great project for

the Province.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR.

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Leader of the Official Opposition.

MR.

BALL:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

They are significant investments, and when a company

gets a five-year rate of return when you get your five year investment back

over a thirty-year period, that is a significant return as well.

All we are asking for is an escalator clause on the way up so that

everyone will share the benefit on the way up, if indeed we see over the next

thirty years a tenfold increase in the price of iron ore.

Why was that left out of this agreement?

MR.

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Minister of Natural Resources.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR.

DALLEY:

Mr.

Speaker, tied into this is the long-term benefits for the Province; a thirty

year mine, opportunity to build capacity and education.

The benefits are very broad, Mr. Speaker, but I guess fundamentally in

terms of an actual dollar resource to the Province, we are creating jobs.

We are providing families an opportunity to live in Labrador.

We are building capacity in the industry, but added to that, Mr. Speaker,

we have an aggressive royalty regime in this Province that will allow us to

benefit financially from the development of the mines as well.

Mr. Speaker, you talk about escalator and where this

may go; this may go the other way as well.

I think we need to be cognizant of that.

As the member alluded to, not only are prices $100 today, they have been

as low as $11. We have worked with

the companies to make sure we are

MR.

SPEAKER:

Order, please!

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR.

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Leader of the Official Opposition.

MR.

BALL:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

We understand about the floor, that is the entry level

of this agreement. We already know

that. I was at the press conference

and we understand that. So indeed

there is risk. We do not mind

sharing that risk but what we are missing in this particular agreement is the

opportunity to share the benefits on the way up like we have seen over the last

thirty years.

I say to the minister: Why was this left out?

Why is it different language today than we were hearing from this

government in 2003?

MR.

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Minister of Natural Resources.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR.

DALLEY:

is no different language, Mr. Speaker.

When this government took over the mess in 2003 we committed on principle

that we would do all we can to develop the resources for the benefit of

Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.

Mr. Speaker, that message has not changed in 2014.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Oh,

oh!

MR.

SPEAKER:

Order, please!

MR.

DALLEY:

can go down through the list, Mr. Speaker, of accomplishments of this government

where we built on that principle.

The language has not changed.

The reality is, Mr. Speaker, we are developing

resources. We are getting benefits

for the people of the Province.

Everything we do, Mr. Speaker, we build on it.

We progress, whether it is for apprentices, whether it is for women,

whether it is for people in rural Newfoundland and Labrador.

We are making the commitments we need to make.

As the projects advance, as the projects improve, as prices improve, as

these companies do better, Mr. Speaker, Newfoundland and Labrador will do better

as well.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR.

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Member for Cartwright L'Anse au Clair.

DEMPSTER:

Mr.

Speaker, government finally released its poverty reduction progress report, two

and a half years late. They

illustrated their progress with Elizabeth, a woman on Income Support who found

employment in 2009. They speculated,

based on today's programs and services, she would be doing quite well, though

admitted they have not spoken to her in the past five years.

I ask the minister: How do you know where Elizabeth is

today, or how Elizabeth is doing?

Why are you not case managing and following up with people who transition from

Income Support?

MR.

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Minister of Advanced Education and Skills.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR.

O'BRIEN:

Mr.

Speaker, I certainly was very proud today to table our progress report in regard

to poverty reduction.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR.

O'BRIEN:

All

the national measures indicate that we are doing quite well in regard to

reducing poverty in this Province.

We used yes, absolutely people in the report in regard to how they have

benefited from the Poverty Reduction Strategy.

As well, Mr. Speaker, I want to impress on all the

people who were in that room most of them partners to our government in regard

to reducing poverty that it is important that we keep moving forward.

We have not addressed poverty totally in this Province, but I tell you

right now this is the foundation of this government and we will continue to work

towards that.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR.

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Member for the District of Cartwright L'Anse au Clair.

DEMPSTER:

Mr.

Speaker, we were shown charts and graphs and statistics about this government's

success in poverty reduction. Then

Heather spoke, a single mother on Income Support for ten years who said she

cannot get out of poverty.

I ask the minister: How can you claim that your Poverty

Reduction Strategy is a rousing success when your own success story today cannot

escape poverty?

MR.

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Minister of Advanced Education and Skills.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR.

O'BRIEN:

Mr.

Speaker, I am very reluctant to get into individual cases in this House, but

Heather was a success.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Oh,

oh!

MR.

SPEAKER:

Order, please!

MR.

O'BRIEN:

You listen up here now.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Oh,

oh!

MR.

SPEAKER:

Order, please!

MR.

O'BRIEN:

Heather was a success. As a matter

of fact

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Oh,

oh!

MR.

SPEAKER:

Order, please!

MR.

O'BRIEN:

she availed of our system and she came off Income Support.

She became a welder and she was quite successful.

As a matter of fact, she raised two kids and they have gone on to

post-secondary education. I was not

afraid to bring Heather to the mike today, because I wanted to impress on the

people in that room that there is more work to be done.

I say to the hon. member, she would not have the

fortitude, she would not have the foresight, and she would not have the guts to

do so, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR.

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Member for Cartwright L'Anse au Clair.

DEMPSTER:

Mr.

Speaker, it is their success story.

I hear, as the provincial critic, from people like Heather every single day.

Christmas Eve, people from Burin; a few days ago, people from on the West

Coast every day.

Not only is the progress report, Mr. Speaker,

two-and-a-half years late, the second action plan is now two years late.

This government committed to implementing a new plan in 2012 and we have

yet to see a thing.

I ask the minister, today is a good time to ask: When

will you release the second poverty reduction action plan?

MR.

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Minister of Advanced Education and Skills.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR.

O'BRIEN:

Mr.

Speaker, the Poverty Reduction Strategy was released in 2006.

Since then, we have made considerable progress in this Province in regard

to reducing poverty. As a matter of

fact, if you were to participate in the event today and ask the partners that

were there, they were so proud of that progress report today because they had

participated in it. They have shared

in that.

The Opposition likes to go into individual cases.

Yes, absolutely, you can find individual cases across this Province any

day, anywhere, Mr. Speaker. We have

made considerable progress. I

pointed out that there is more work to be done and this government is going to

do it.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR.

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Member for Torngat Mountains.

MR.

EDMUNDS:

Mr.

Speaker, food supplies are running out in Northern Labrador stores.

Given the ice conditions, shipping will not begin any time soon.

I ask the minister: Will he intervene in this impending

crisis and provide increased air freight service to the people of Nunatsiavut

and Natuashish?

MR.

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Minister of Transportation and Works.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR.

MCGRATH:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, there are two programs in place: one is

called the Nutrition North food program; the other is called the Air Foodlift

Subsidy, which is a provincial Air Foodlift Subsidy program that retailers can

avail of when they cannot get their freight to the North Coast by either

shipping or other means.

What both of those programs do the Nutrition North

Canada program offers 100 per cent rebate on freight charges.

Then anything that would not be covered through that, you can tap into

the Air Foodlift Subsidy and that will make the difference that your air freight

gets up the one thing we do not have control of, as government, is to make

sure that the retailer passes it on the consumer.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR.

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Member for Torngat Mountains.

MR.

EDMUNDS:

Mr.

Speaker, the price of food in Northern Labrador continues to soar, even with the

subsidies the minister just mentioned.

It is ironic that this government permits beer to be the same price in

Northern Labrador as it is in St. John's, yet milk is double the price when

compared to Happy Valley-Goose Bay.

I ask the minister: Will you investigate the Nutrition

North and Air Foodlift Subsidy that are designed to provide fair and affordable

prices to residents of the North Coast and to put an end to price gouging?

MR.

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Minister of Transportation and Works.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR.

MCGRATH:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I acknowledge to the member across the way that I had a

conversation with him yesterday and told him that I would certainly investigate

into both the Nutrition North Canada as well as the Air Foodlift subsidy.

I have to say that we have very little uptake on the

programs. We have no control over

private enterprise, so we do not control the price of beer in the North Coast;

nor do we control the price of milk or any other dairy product.

Once a private enterprise decides they are going to make their

investments to put the service in the North Coast, whether it is in St. John's

or on the North Coast, they have the control as to what they are going to charge

for it. That is private enterprise.

What we do provide is the subsidy to help with the

freight charges that go up there.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR.

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Member for The Straits White Bay North.

MR.

MITCHELMORE:

Mr.

Speaker, the Provincial Sustainable Forestry Management Strategy, which was

released in 2003, is another example of words waiting to be put into action.

The plan says there will be opportunities to develop the economy of rural

areas of the Province, and there will be public participation in forest

management planning; however, it is no surprise that the last consultation

happened over two years ago.

I ask the minister: When will he get serious with the

forest industry?

MR.

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Minister of Natural Resources.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR.

DALLEY:

Mr.

Speaker, I guess as Minister Responsible for Natural Resources in the Province,

but I think it is incumbent on all members that we have to be serious about the

opportunities that exist in Newfoundland and Labrador.

I can tell the member opposite I have been serious about forestry and

serious about my department ever since I have been there.

If he wants to challenge that, go right ahead, Mr. Speaker.

The reality is there are 5,500 people working in the

forest industry, Mr. Speaker, and we all know certainly anybody attached to

the forest industry would know there have been significant challenges in the

forest industry. We continue to work

with them to find some resolutions and there are some good things on the

horizon, Mr. Speaker, I believe, where we could create more opportunities.

As for the sustainability plan, we committed in 2014 to

provide a new plan and the draft is on my desk, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR.

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Member for The Straits

White Bay North.

MR.

MITCHELMORE:

look forward to seeing a copy of that, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, the failure of government to address fibre

resources in Central Newfoundland and the Great Northern Peninsula is a

frustration to many residents who would be benefiting from jobs in the forestry

sector.

I ask the minister: When is he going to address the

timber resources in Central Newfoundland and on the Great Northern Peninsula?

MR.

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Minister of Natural Resources.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR.

DALLEY:

Mr.

Speaker, I certainly acknowledge the challenges around that, and I will say what

is driving us is the concern for many families throughout Central Newfoundland

and Labrador and certainly on the Northern Peninsula who depend on this very

valuable resource. Mr. Speaker, as a

government and certainly I, as the minister, we are not about to give it away.

I cannot assure you of that.

Mr. Speaker, we are going to work with the industry to

find new ways to develop that fibre so that we can strengthen the existing

industry, so that we can ensure long-term sustainability for industry, for

people who want to make investments, for people who want to build harvesting

capacity and, mostly, for Newfoundlanders and Labradorians who want to work in

that industry. I hope to have some

resolution to that real soon.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR.

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Member for the District of St. Barbe.

MR.

J. BENNETT:

Mr.

Speaker, another violent incident at Her Majesty's Penitentiary the third in a

year highlights the need for a new prison for the safety and well-being of

staff and inmates alike. Modern

prisons often include a mental health wing and an infirmary for sick inmates,

and are planned to permit direct supervision of inmates.

I ask the minister: When can we expect to receive

proposals in response to the government's announced RFP for a new prison; and

will proposals include a modern design that can accommodate a mental health

wing, an infirmary, and direct supervision of inmates?

MR.

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Minister of Justice.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR.

FRENCH:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

First of all, let me say, yes, unfortunately we did

have an incident last night at HMP.

Before I get into the hon. member's question, I certainly want to acknowledge

the work of our correctional officers, in particular the emergency response team

who took it upon themselves last night it is certainly always a difficult

situation to be placed in as a correctional officer, but the professionalism

last night that saw no injuries to inmates or correctional officers is certainly

noteworthy.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR.

FRENCH:

also want to acknowledge the RNC as well who supported our correctional officers

last night.

Mr. Speaker, as the hon. member knows, there is an RFP

out for a new prison facility. It is

something that we took on ourselves and insisted be done, even though we did not

have the support of the federal government.

I just want to let the members know I am expecting a presentation in the

next couple of weeks, and I am looking forward to it at that time, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR.

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Member for the District of St. Barbe.

MR.

J. BENNETT:

Mr.

Speaker, the minister says they are taking on the prison; but, in fact, the

federal government pays us quite handsomely for federal prisoners that we

accommodate.

Mr. Speaker, a new prison is many years into the future

for us, so I ask the minister: Given that there has been three violent incidents

at Her Majesty's Penitentiary in the past year, what specifically is this

government doing to reduce violence at her Majesty's Penitentiary until a new

prison is built?

MR.

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Minister of Justice.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR.

FRENCH:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

To continue with my answer, yes, we are certainly

processing in the next couple of weeks, I hope to see a proposal.

I also plan on visiting some of the latest facilities in the country that

have been built, to get a good idea around the services that we can offer.

The hon. member opposite continues to refer sometimes

in this House to a report that was done in 2008, but I want to assure the hon.

member that the correctional facilities of today and the people who work in them

and the training that is provided and the services that are provided are a lot

different than in 2008.

Right now, Mr. Speaker, for example, we do offer

psychology services at our prison system.

We also have another system in place

whereas when people receive support

for mental illness in our prison system, they are followed up after and they go

on out into the world. They follow

up with other

MR.

SPEAKER:

Order, please!

The hon. the Leader of the Third Party.

MICHAEL:

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

In June 2012, the Minister Responsible for Labour

Relations told us the introduction of card-based certification reflects a more

democratic approach to certification.

Government arrived at this conclusion after four long years of

consultation with all stakeholders.

Two years later, they propose removing the same provision based on the same

reasoning.

I ask the Premier: Who has pushed government to take a

step back from a more democratic approach to how employees join a union?

MR.

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Minister of Service NL.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR.

CRUMMELL:

Mr.

Speaker, at the time when we brought in the amendments in 2012, we thought we

were bringing in fair and balanced legislation.

Shortly afterwards, we did hear from the people of the Province, we did

hear from employers, and we heard from workers as well.

When we looked into it we decided to have a review of

the decision that we made at that time.

We did a bit of research around that, Mr. Speaker.

We did actually quite an amount of research around that.

What we found in that research is overwhelmingly it shows that workers

want to have that secret ballot vote when they are making important decisions in

their workplace.

Mr. Speaker, that reflects democracy throughout every

western nation and within every emerging nation.

We have listened to what the workers had to say, and we listened to what

we think is best to do from the people we have been talking to.

MR.

SPEAKER:

Order, please!

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR.

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Leader of the Third Party.

MICHAEL:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

In the media the minister said he did not consult with

unions about changes to the Labour Relations Act as he already knew their

stance. He has acknowledged he met

with employers when clearly he already knew their stance as well.

I ask the Premier: What bias is at work that pushes

government to meet only with the employers?

MR.

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Premier.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

PREMIER MARSHALL:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, in issues like this, the government's role

is that of regulating. We are not

representing the employees, we are not representing the employer, we have to

represent the public interest and we have to ensure the public interest is

paramount here.

When we choose our representatives, Mr. Speaker, in

this country, whether it is in the House of Commons, whether it is in this

House, whether it is in a municipality, whether it is in a school board, people

expect to have in this country an election where people can vote in an election,

and a secret ballot where they can vote without coercion, where they can vote in

accordance with their conscience, and they can vote without reprisals.

Democracy this is the way we do things in this Province.

This is the way we have always done things in this Province, in a

democratic manner with a secret ballot and without fear of coercion and without

reprisal.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR.

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Leader of the Third Party.

MICHAEL:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

There is a lot of research showing that many employers

intimidate their employees when they are trying to unionize during the period

before the so-called secret ballot.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Oh,

oh!

MR.

SPEAKER:

Order, please!

MICHAEL:

ask the Premier: Why is government abolishing card-based certification which

actually protects employees from unfair practices?

MR.

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Minister of Service NL.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR.

CRUMMELL:

Mr.

Speaker, the Labour Relations Act protects workers from employers and unions in

terms of intimidation and coercion.

It goes both ways. The legislation

is in place for unfair labour practices.

Mr. Speaker, there is teeth to that legislation.

The Labour Relations Board can get involved.

They can issue orders to make sure that this kind of activity ceases and

desists. Mr. Speaker, there are

mechanisms in place within our legislation to deal with that both ways.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR.

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Member for St. John's Centre.

ROGERS:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

A number of seniors in my district live in apartment

buildings where heat is included in their rent.

Government policy dictates that they are not eligible for the Home

Heating Rebate. This makes no sense.

They pay for their heat like everyone else and most of them are on very

low incomes. This is not fair.

I ask the Minister of Finance: Will she fix this unfair

policy so people like the seniors in my district get the rebate that they are

entitled to?

MR.

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Minister of Advanced Education and Skills.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR.

O'BRIEN:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, there is no government in the past that

has supported seniors like this government.

We have brought in many programs across many departments, including my

own, Mr. Speaker, in Advanced Education and Skills, and Newfoundland and

Labrador Housing. One of those

programs is the heat rebate system, and we evaluate that each and every year as

we go forward. We try to make it as

fair as we possibly can but in some cases and we want to stretch it out to as

many seniors as we possibly can who require it.

When your heat is included in your rent and possibly

they are getting a rent supplement as well, Mr. Speaker.

Well, I would like to touch seniors who certainly cannot afford it and

find themselves in a worse place than other seniors in the Province.

Overall, this government has supported seniors like no other.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR.

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Member for St. John's Centre.

ROGERS:

Well, Mr. Speaker, I have a solution for the minister.

In some provinces with similar heating rebate programs, renters simply

require a letter from their landlord indicating the payment for heat is included

in the rent, making the renter eligible for the rebate.

I ask the minister: Will she change her unfair

eligibility policy so people who really need this rebate can get it?

MR.

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Minister of Advanced Education and Skills.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR.

O'BRIEN:

Mr.

Speaker, what the hon. member has not pointed out is that all the programs in

this Province, as compared to the provinces she has referenced, support seniors

here. They do not have the programs.

We are the envy of the country when it comes down to our programs in

Newfoundland and Labrador Housing, our programs across all government

departments, Mr. Speaker.

You cannot pick and choose.

You have to be truthful in regard to when you frame up your question and

give the right facts to the people of the Province.

She is not comparing apples to apples, Mr. Speaker, because this Province

surpasses all others when it comes to our investment in seniors.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR.

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Member for St. John's Centre for a quick question, please.

ROGERS:

Mr.

Speaker, I ask the minister: Does she have any idea how many people struggling

on low incomes are being unfairly denied their rightful rebate?

This is comparing heat to heat.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR.

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Minister of Advanced Education and Skills for a quick response.

MR.

O'BRIEN:

Mr.

Speaker, again, she is not comparing apples to apples because she already said

in her first question that the person's heat is included.

Certainly, we try to support our seniors' right across all government

departments and we will continue to do so, Mr. Speaker.

We will be looking at the heat rebate system going

forward, as we do in every budget process, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR.

SPEAKER:

The

time for Question Period has expired.

Presenting Reports by Standing and Select Committees.

Presenting Reports by Standing and Select Committees

MR.

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Member for the District of St. Barbe, and Chair of Public Accounts, I

think.

MR.

J. BENNETT:

Yes, Mr. Speaker, that is correct.

I rise today to table the second report of the Standing

Committee of Public Accounts of the forty-seventh General Assembly.

I would like to particularly note, even though I am tabling the report, I

would like to note the members of the Public Accounts Committee who have

contributed throughout the year.

My Vice-Chair is the Member for Cape St. Francis.

The current members are we have had some turnover but we are very

fortunate to have a very cohesive group the Member for Bonavista North, the

Member for St. John's East, the Member for St. John's South, the Member for

Bellevue, and the Member for Lake Melville.

Mr. Speaker, the absolute stellar person, who I must

admit does most of the work for Public Accounts by volume, for sure, and by

insight and experience is the Clerk of the House, who is also the Clerk of the

Public Accounts Committee, Ms Murphy.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR.

J. BENNETT:

Mr.

Speaker, she schedules all of the interviews with people.

She contacts all of the groups.

She does all of the correspondence and she certainly oversees the

production of the reports. So we are

absolutely indebted to her, as I am indebted to other committee members.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR.

SPEAKER:

Tabling of Documents.

Pursuant to

section 8 and

section 10 of the Public

Tender Act, I hereby table the report of the Public Tender Act exceptions for

the month of April 2014, as presented by the Chief Operating Officer of the

Government Purchasing Agency.

Further tabling of documents?

Notices of Motion.

Answers to Questions for which Notice has been Given.

Answers to Questions for which Notice has been Given

MR.

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Attorney General.

MR.

F. COLLINS:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, yesterday in Question Period, the Member

for St. Barbe asked me a couple of questions with respect to a class action case

by Inuit plaintiffs of the Coast of Labrador against the federal government on

allegations of abuse while attending residential schools on the Coast and in St.

Anthony from 1949 to 1979.

Mr. Speaker, in the question, he implied that this

Province had incurred a loss at the Court of Appeal and that the Province was

being sued or the action was against the Province by the plaintiffs.

Mr. Speaker, he went to ask about if I had been briefed by the lawyer

with respect to our possibilities or chances of winning that case; and given, in

his opinion, that the possibility of winning that case was slim, that we might

have to pay out considerable damages at the end and enter into a settlement

process with the plaintiffs.

Mr. Speaker, the question sort of threw me for a loop,

because while I had not been briefed on that file in recent weeks, I did

remember it from my previous tenure as Attorney General, and I knew that we were

not a party at that time to that action.

It was strictly an action against the federal government.

MR.

SPEAKER:

would ask the minister to quickly get to his final answer.

Please get to your final answer.

MR.

F. COLLINS:

The

final answer, Mr. Speaker, is that we are not a party to that action, never have

been. So the trial will go ahead

(inaudible)

MR.

SPEAKER:

Order, please!

Petitions.

Petitions

MR.

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Member for The Straits White Bay North.

MR.

MITCHELMORE:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

To the hon. House of Assembly of the Province of

Newfoundland and Labrador in Parliament assembled, the petition of the

undersigned residents of Newfoundland and Labrador humbly sheweth:

WHEREAS Labrador-Grenfell Health employs a nurse

practitioner at St. Anthony able to take appointments and operate a full scope

of practice for which nurse practitioners are licensed to operate; and

WHEREAS Western Health at Port Saunders and Norris

Point on the Great Northern Peninsula has similar nurse practitioner practices;

and

WHEREAS nurse practitioners have advanced education and

training beyond the registered nurse level and provide comprehensive care

ranging from health promotion and prevention to diagnostic and treatment,

including ordering diagnostic tests, prescribing pharmaceuticals, and performing

procedures with a legislated scope of practice; and

WHEREAS nurse practitioners are alleviating physician

shortages in rural areas across Canada and Newfoundland and Labrador by

operating clinical practices in collaboration with physicians and other health

professionals, leading to better access to services and shorter wait times; and

WHEREAS residents from Eddies Cove East to Reef's

Harbour deserve to have regular nurse practitioner clinics that are available to

other residents on the Great Northern Peninsula;

WHEREUPON the undersigned, your petitioners, humbly

pray and call upon the House of Assembly to urge government to ensure that a

nurse practitioner clinical practice be established at the Strait of Belle Isle

Health Centre to be fully integrated with the clinical practices of physicians.

As in duty bound, your petitioners will ever pray.

Mr. Speaker, I have presented this petition before.

This is something that residents of the Great Northern Peninsula see as

ways the Minister of Health and Community Services can save money and improve

health outcomes for people of the district.

As in the case with reintroducing and reinstating the echocardiogram

service which was announced today, which I am very pleased to see.

That has been a hard-fought battle for many residents of the area.

Maybe next time a health care announcement is done an

invitation would be extended to my office.

That is multiple times now that my office has been denied invitations,

the sheer courtesy of being invited for the hard work and dedication on behalf

of the people who I represent. It is

certainly not an oversight because this is something that has been raised with

the former minister and other staff, the CEO, and others.

I will be raising that and making that an issue.

This is another way where you have the full complement

of staff already on site. They need

to be better utilized so that we can get better outcomes and save our health

care dollars. Introducing a nurse

practitioner clinic regularly would do that for the people of the Strait of

Belle Isle Health Centre. I look

forward to the invitation when the new Strait of Belle Health Centre opens in

Flower's Cove very, very soon.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR.

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Member for Carbonear Harbour Grace.

MR.

SLADE:

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 the local service district of

Freshwater-Carbonear is expressing ongoing concerns with regard to the need to

make repairs to the beach breakwater which has been severely damaged by storm

waves, and this causes major concerns to the local service district of

Freshwater as it pertains to fire protection and safety; and

WHEREAS the lack of repairs by government constitutes a

fire and safety hazard to the community since the residents will be trapped if a

fire ever took place; and

WHEREAS the damaged breakwater-roadway is also creating

an environmental concern as the Atlantic Ocean has washed over the roadway and

out into a freshwater pond where fish in that pond are; and

WHEREAS this area serves as a capelin run each year

which attracts great many local residents and tourists to that site; and

WHEREAS the federal government refuses to assist with

this repair as they deem there is no associated fishing activity to justify

investment;

WHEREUPON the undersigned, your petitioners, humbly

pray and call upon the House of Assembly to urge government to respond to pleas

from the communities' residents to have this breakwater structure repaired so it

can once again properly protect the road infrastructure from being more severely

damaged and once done, to call upon the government to repair the road.

As in duty bound your petitioners will ever pray.

Mr. Speaker, I am after bringing this issue up in the

House on several occasions now, up to this point in time to no resolve.

I would just like to say that I am also after writing a letter to the

minister with some pictures to show exactly what is after taking place there.

Mr. Speaker, it gives me great concern as the MHA for

Carbonear Harbour Grace to see that down there like that.

I am concerned, first and foremost, for the safety of the people in that

area if a fire should take place and somebody happens to get trapped in there.

That is probably the most important, but also I would like to emphasize

that the environment there at this particular time is getting some damage, too,

Mr. Speaker.

I look forward to hearing the minister's reply when he

has a look at it.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR.

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Member for St. John's South.

MR.

OSBORNE:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I have a petition again for Saint Luke's

cottages.

WHEREAS Saint Luke's cottages has been using the

continuum of care model since it opened.

It entails priority access to long-term care beds, as clearly stated in

the Saint Luke's handbook which is given to all tenants.

Further commitment was confirmed in 1995 under the Single Entry System

established by Eastern Health. This

allowed cottage tenants to join Saint Luke's if they were no longer able to

function independently regardless of their level of care; and

WHEREAS Eastern Health has arbitrarily changed this

practice in recent months; level 2 cottage tenants are now forced to leave and

live in personal care homes when the placement is needed.

This breaks the commitment to the continuum of care model; and

WHEREAS we became aware of this change in practice when

a ninety-three-year-old tenant who lived at Saint Luke's cottages for thirteen

years was forced to find their own living arrangements after returning from the

hospital. This incident has caused

other tenants to worry about their future.

Saint Luke's Homes is committed to the continuum of care model; however,

it is being abolished by the decisions made by Placement Services;

WHEREUPON the undersigned, your petitioners, humbly

pray and call upon the House of Assembly to urge government to request that

Eastern Health and the provincial government direct the staff of Placement

Services

MR.

SPEAKER:

Order, please!

This being Wednesday, according to our Standing Orders,

at 3:00 o'clock we have to go to the private member's resolution that is on the

Table.

Orders of the Day

Private Members' Day

MR.

SPEAKER:

call upon the Member for Lewisporte to introduce the motion that stands on the

Order Paper in his name.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR.

VERGE:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the Member for

Conception Bay East Bell Island, the following private member's resolution:

WHEREAS our Province is unique in Canada in having its

principal population base connected to its neighbours, not by land links, but by

marine services; and

WHEREAS the federal government is constitutionally

obligated under the Terms of Union to maintain the Gulf ferry service; and

WHEREAS following our Province's entry into

Confederation in 1949, the federal government enacted the Trans-Canada Highway

Act to spearhead the completion of the TCH to give all members of the federation

the benefit of a truly national highway to facilitate the flow of people and

goods freely and fairly throughout the federation; and

WHEREAS it is unacceptable to view the Gulf ferry

service as anything less than an essential and integral component of the

Trans-Canada Highway and the National Highway System; and

WHEREAS the cost-recovery and scheduling policies of

the federal Crown corporation Marine Atlantic have served to impede the flow of

people and to undermine the free trade of goods to and from our Province; and

WHEREAS the federal government should be sensitive to

the impacts of higher Marine Atlantic prices and fewer crossings on our

Province's tourism industry and on the costs of living and doing business in our

Province relative to the costs in other provinces;

THEREFORE

BE IT RESOLVED that this hon. House calls on

the federal government to direct and enable Marine Atlantic to reduce user

prices and to restore transit frequency on the Gulf ferry service.

Mr. Speaker, access to the rest of Canada for

Newfoundlanders and Labradorians is very important to all of us in this

Province. Marine Atlantic is a Crown

corporation that is mandated to provide a ferry service between Nova Scotia and

Newfoundland and Labrador. The

federal government is obligated to ensure that this service is reliable and also

available to meet the needs of residents and of businesses in our Province.

When Newfoundland and Labrador joined Canada, the Terms

of Union addressed the transportation

section in this Province.

Terms 31 and 32 spoke to the federal government's responsibility which

stated,

section 31 said, At the date of Union, or as soon thereafter as

practicable, Canada will take over the following services and will as from the

date of Union relieve the Province of Newfoundland of the public costs incurred

in respect of each service taken over, namely, (

a) the Newfoundland Railway,

including steamship and other marine services.

Section 32.(1) says, Canada will maintain in

accordance with the traffic offering a freight and passenger steamship service

between North Sydney and Port aux Basques, which, on completion of a motor

highway between Corner Brook and Port aux Basques, will include suitable

provision for the carriage of motor vehicles.

Therefore, Mr. Speaker, the federal government needs to

ensure that there is a quality level of service.

Over the past number of years, and again recently, we have heard of

Marine Atlantic increasing fees and also reducing summer schedules.

Mr. Speaker, I checked the current rates from Port aux

Basques to North Sydney, as if I were going to travel this coming Friday.

What I checked was just to see what would be the cost right now for a

family of four in a normal automobile to leave Port aux Basques, travel to North

Sydney, and to return. I saw the

following rates, Mr. Speaker.

For one automobile it is $93.55.

For a cabin it is $145.48.

There is a fuel charge per passenger of $20.85.

There is a fuel surcharge for a vehicle of $19.65.

There is a four passenger cost of $99.30.

There is a security fee of $7.

The total ticket price, Mr. Speaker, for a family of four to travel

one-way from Port aux Basques to North Sydney, as of this coming Friday, is

$385.83. Then to return, you are

going to double that. It is up close

to $800 right now for just a family of four.

Of course, if somebody is visiting the Province and they are towing a

trailer the cost is escalated. If

you are moving commercial traffic, the cost is escalated again.

It is far too expensive, Mr. Speaker, for us to travel

to the rest of the country. It is

far too expensive for people to visit, and it is far too expensive for

commercial traffic carrying goods into and out of this Province to conduct

business. It is because of the

unreasonable burden placed by Marine Atlantic.

By way of example, Mr. Speaker, I have business people

in my district who are in the mussel farming business.

It is a business with tremendous growth potential, as there is a heavy

demand in the marketplace. Nothing

can hurt a business more than not being able to supply the market with a secure

and a constant supply. Businesses

depend on it.

If a producer has markets, for example, in the US and

they have committed to supply these markets with live, quality product, if there

are delays on the Gulf ferry then that means the product is not getting to the

market on time. The buyer on the

other end who has probably made commitments to their customer's maybe

restaurants, for example, may have advertised they have certain product that is

available, in this case it could be the Newfoundland mussels, and if they are

not reaching the end point on time, then of course it is a detriment to the

business that is advertising, it is a detriment to Newfoundlanders and

Labradorians who are supplying this to the market.

Mr. Speaker, it is unacceptable for the people of

Newfoundland and Labrador to have to continue to put up with this inconvenience.

Marine Atlantic is a vital connection between the Island portion of this

Province and mainland Canada. While

the federal government have invested in upgrading their fleets with the charter

of Atlantic Vision and the

Leif Ericson , the quality of service

does not appear to have improved. We

have higher rates and we have fewer crossings.

Our government has heard the concerns from the

residents of the Province, from organizations and from businesses alike, and the

people of Newfoundland and Labrador are telling us that increased rates and

reduced summer schedules are going to hurt businesses.

It is also going hurt our tourism industry across the Province, but in

particular, Mr. Speaker, it is going to hurt rural Newfoundland and Labrador

potentially harder.

We have also heard from tourists, such as a gentleman

who wrote a recent letter to the editor in a mainland paper, which I read a

couple of days ago, Mr. Speaker, in doing some preparation to speak to this bill

today. There was a visitor to the

Island, to Newfoundland, and upon return to his home, he wrote a letter to the

editor in the paper. I will not go

through the full letter, Mr. Speaker, but one of the things that he said was

this, Our visit to the island was truly spectacular, great scenery, great

weather and the people we met were really terrific.

He went on to say, The only cloud was Marine Atlantic..

He shared his experience and the troubles that he encountered in dealing

with Marine Atlantic. This causes us

grave concern. We like for people to

visit, we like for people to have a good time, and, Mr. Speaker, we would like

for them to return.

Being an Island poses challenges; we know that.

It is the responsibility of the federal government to ensure that we have

a reliable and an affordable ferry service to and from this Province, a service

that will enhance and not diminish the appeal of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Mr. Speaker, our government believes in rural Newfoundland and Labrador

and in creating opportunities which will see our communities thrive.

The federal government needs to work with us to ensure

that this happens and that Marine Atlantic provides a service that is acceptable

to the people of Newfoundland and Labrador.

A rate increase of about 3 per cent for the 2014-2015 season in addition

to a 4 per cent increase that we saw last year, is not the way to ensure that

the flow of people and products on and off this Island move quickly, easily,

efficiently, and affordably. In

fact, Mr. Speaker, this will impede the flow of products.

It has the potential to raise the cost of living for people in

Newfoundland and in Labrador. The

people of this Province should not be expected to pay increased costs on their

products because the federal government has not lived up to its commitment.

Mr. Speaker, our government has created a booming

economy in this Province. We are one

of the leading provinces in Canada due to the contribution our Province and the

people make to our country. We

expect the federal government to work with us to ensure a united and a

prosperous country. This in our view

includes Newfoundland and Labrador.

The service provided by Marine Atlantic has a huge impact on our businesses and

on the tourism industry in Newfoundland and Labrador.

We also agree with Hospitality Newfoundland and

Labrador's position, that scheduled changes this late in the season do

negatively impact tourism businesses and tour operators.

We have made great strides in recent years to create opportunities, and

we want to see that continue. The

Island portion of the Province is limited in how it can import and also export

goods. There are two options, either

by flight or by vessel; 90 per cent of all produce is brought into this Province

via these methods, and Marine Atlantic also provides a link for companies from

other provinces doing business with Newfoundland and Labrador companies.

Mr. Speaker, it is an issue that has been with us for

quite some time. We have often heard

from constituents, we have heard from residents, we have heard from people

throughout the Province, we have heard from trucking companies, and we have

heard from people who are carrying goods and services that need to be here or

there in a timely manner. Goods and

services that are perishable in some cases when we are talking about seafood, in

particular the shell fish industry and moving products that need to get to the

destination while it still has life, while it is still a quality product.

We have heard from the people of the Province about

these issues for quite some time, for years; and I guess as long as we are

dependent on a ferry service, we will have issues.

We recognize that, but I want to assure the people of the Province that

as the provincial government it is our duty to hold the federal government up to

their commitment. That is our

commitment, Mr. Speaker. We want to

hold the federal government we want to hold their feet to the fire and we want

to make sure that they live up to their constitutional commitment to the people

of this Province.

Mr. Speaker, I look forward to hearing other speakers

throughout the afternoon speak to this very important motion.

It is a timely issue, and I will be back to close debate when everybody

else has concluded.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

The

hon. the Member for the District of Bay of Islands.

MR.

JOYCE:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I just stand here first of all, thanks for giving me

the opportunity to wait to present the private members' motion.

There was supposed to be someone in the gallery, so thank you for helping

to delay that, Mr. Speaker, and have the person present.

Mr. Speaker, the private member's motion here today

and I thank the Member for Lewisporte for bringing it forward because it

concerns all of us in the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador.

As you go through the motion, this is a motherhood issue for all of us in

Newfoundland and Labrador. This has

been around a long while, this fight with Marine Atlantic, Mr. Speaker.

One of the easiest things for us to do is beat up on Marine Atlantic, but

what we need to do is be proactive instead of reactive.

I know tourism is a big part of Marine Atlantic, and I

know the new Tourism Minister is going to get into this file, dig into this file

and do what he can, but what we need to do as parliamentarians is we need to

come up with some strategy to go after Ottawa.

It is not Marine Atlantic.

The people who make the decisions are in Ottawa.

This is not a knock on this government because when the

Liberals were in power, it was always a struggle with Marine Atlantic, for the

rates and for the fighting.

This is just a suggestion from me.

We just came up with an all-party committee on fishery to go to Ottawa.

What better way can we have if we all work together to go to Ottawa on

Marine Atlantic, Mr. Speaker? What

way can we serve the people of Newfoundland and Labrador any better than coming

together as a group to say let's develop a strategy, let's develop a plan that

we are going after Ottawa, after the politicians in Ottawa who make the

decisions, that we do it in one voice, we do it in unity, and we do it on behalf

of all the people of Newfoundland and Labrador?

That would be the biggest and the greatest service that we can do for the

people of Newfoundland and Labrador.

The easiest thing to do is for this side to get up and

pick on the government saying you are not doing enough.

The government comes back and says well, when you were in power we can

do that, but if we are going to look for solutions to benefit the people of

Newfoundland and Labrador, we need to be a unified group.

We need a unified voice.

Whatever you say, Mr. Speaker, when the Premier of the

Province whoever it may be the Leader of the Opposition or the Leader of the

Third Party comes together, it adds extra power to the people of Newfoundland

and Labrador.

I am very confident that the Minister of Tourism will

be speaking to his counterparts on a regular basis and raising this issue.

I am confident the Minister of Transportation and Works has been doing it

also, but we have to remember, Mr. Speaker, the ones who will make the decisions

are the politicians. They are the

ones that we, as a group, have to go after as a unified voice here in

Newfoundland and Labrador. When we

heard this year that there were two crossings a week cancelled, it took us all

for a shock; it took us all for a loop.

Last year, we had all the increases in Marine Atlantic; this year, we

have the two crossings per week.

I do not think there is any person in this Legislature

I know the Member for Lewisporte who presented this was more shocked to hear

that than any of us, that the services for Newfoundland and Labrador once again

is being decreased. Bringing private

members' motions in this House of Assembly is a great idea; but what we need to

do and as the presenter of the motion, the Member for Lewisporte, I think we

need to try to get all groups together here in this Legislature to go as a

unified voice.

I think it is great that you brought it forward.

It is a motherhood issue for all the people.

It is a motherhood issue for tourism.

It is very essential, and it is an integral part of Newfoundland and

Labrador, Marine Atlantic. As the

Member for Lewisporte mentioned, it is in our Constitution that we have a

reliable service to the mainland.

Affordable is another word that we need to ensure that the federal government is

well aware of.

I will just give you a few figures.

The new minister is aware of this, also, the Minister of Tourism.

The auto in 2012 was 106,200 visitors, and brought in an estimated $96.4

million. Auto in 2013 was 99,900

visitors, brought in $92.2 million a decrease of 5.9 per cent in visitors, a

decrease of $4.2 million, Mr. Speaker.

I heard the minister yesterday and this is true; the air travel has

gone up. Air travel has gone up by

about 2 per cent in the seven major airports.

So, Mr. Speaker, we know people want to come to

Newfoundland and Labrador. We know

it. I stood in this House and said

those tourism ads are dynamic they are dynamic.

They reach people; they make people want to come here to Newfoundland and

Labrador. Mr. Speaker, once we get

people here with the hospitality in Newfoundland and Labrador, with the people

we have, with the service industry which we have around tourism, they want to

come back. When they come back, they

are going to bring back a lot of their friends, a lot of their family on the

word of mouth. So, the ads are

excellent. With the increase in the

air travel, we know that tourism is a big spot for people on the mainland, Mr.

Speaker, around Canada and North America for this.

Mr. Speaker, in 2013, this is the fourth year in a row

we had declining non-resident visitors fourth year in a row.

There is a problem with Marine Atlantic.

That is the fourth year in a row that we had a decline.

Last year is the first time since 1986 that we hit below 100,000 visitors

coming across on Marine Atlantic below 100,000.

Then again, this is not a criticism of anybody in this House of Assembly.

It is definitely not, but I am just bringing out the facts and hopefully

I am trying to unify everybody here that we as Newfoundlanders and Labradorians,

we as people who are representing tourism stakeholders, we as people who are

representing businesses here in Newfoundland and Labrador, have to find a way to

work together to put an end to this, to get a better service, get a cheaper

service and get a reliable service.

That should be the intent of this whole resolution that

was brought forward. We could stand

up here, every one of us, there is not a member in this House who is not capable

enough to stand up here and pound the desk, pound their chest and say: Look how

bad Ottawa is. What are we going to

do about it? That is the key: What

are we going to do? That is what I

ask everybody to think about in this House of Assembly today.

Come 5:00 o'clock, Mr. Speaker, after we all vote and we have a unanimous

vote, yes we all agree and we all support the private member's resolution, what

is the next step? That is what I

ask. That is what I ask the Member

for Lewisporte. Take the leadership

role on this, get us all involved to help out with this, because it is such an

important issue, Mr. Speaker, for people in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Mr. Speaker, there is a decrease in Marine Atlantic

crossings: 130 crossings in 2013 from 2012.

Now, a lot of that was when the

Blue Puttees had the accident and there was some mechanical problems; but,

with that, it shows how we need to have a backup here.

During that time and I am sure it was not just Corner Brook, but I will

use Corner Brook for an example. If

you go in the grocery stores and you see how bare the shelves were, that traffic

could not get over with fresh fruit, vegetables, products, you would be amazed.

You would actually be amazed, Mr. Speaker, to see shelves empty

actually empty. You go into other

parts of the store and you could see parts of the shelves completely bare.

That just shows you how essential Marine Atlantic is to Newfoundlanders

and Labradorians.

In 2013, Mr. Speaker, there were ten fewer crossings

down in Argentia. Argentia is a

seasonal run. We all know that, but

it is still vital to our tourism industry in Newfoundland and Labrador.

People look to Argentia look for that trip to Argentia.

It is seasonal; it is mainly based with tourism and we all understand

that. I think we have to find some

way to if they are going to have these services to Argentia, we need enhanced

services. We need to find a way to

enhance the services to Argentia.

We cannot forget the number of businesses in Argentia

that built industry around tourism.

You cannot forget a number of taxpayers who are contributing to the

municipalities in that area and all around that area.

When they leave Argentia and that area, they come all across the Province

of Newfoundland and Labrador, Mr. Speaker.

In Argentia alone in 2013, 27 per cent in passenger

movement as a decrease; 25 per cent in passenger-vehicle crossings, Mr. Speaker.

Like I said some of it is because of damage; they had to take a boat off

from Argentia at the time. It shows

why we need backup. It shows why we

need other services in place to ensure that we are not held hostage by damage

and mechanical problems. It would

not happen anywhere else. Why should

it happen in Newfoundland and Labrador?

Mr. Speaker, we need this service to be reliable and we

need it to be affordable. Every year

we hear of the increase in the prices going across the Marine Atlantic.

On the West Coast, and I am sure there are some people I think the

Member for Lewisporte brought up about mussels.

I commend the member for that.

If he knew how much product at many times of the year are stuck at the

port at Marine Atlantic, cannot get across, I am talking for days and days and

days. When you are shipping live

mussels to the market, you have to have a reliable service.

You cannot have shipments waiting at the port four, five, and six days.

You lose your market, you lose a lot of product, and in the end you lose

a lot of jobs in Newfoundland and Labrador over that.

Mr. Speaker, once we get an increase in Marine

Atlantic, a commercial increase for trucking, who is going to pay for that

increase? It is going to be the

people of Newfoundland and Labrador. When

we hear an increased cost for commercial traffic, guess what?

You will know that your product will increase.

They have to pass on the cost of that.

It is going to be passed on to the consumers in Newfoundland and

Labrador. That is who is going to

end up paying for this.

Once again, I say to all hon. members here, Mr.

Speaker, Marine Atlantic I know the Member for Burgeo La Poile is so

passionate about Marine Atlantic and the services.

Marine Atlantic is essential to all of us in Newfoundland and Labrador.

We cannot grow a tourism industry to its potential without a reliable and

dependable service. We cannot be

shipping products to and fro without a reliable and essential service, Mr.

Speaker.

I say again, on many occasions I know of businesses

that have product left at the Marine Atlantic terminal in Port aux Basques for

days upon days upon days, because when we get a flood of tourists coming in, the

commercial part gets a bit behind because they only take so many.

They tried the reservation system.

It worked to some degree but then the truckers truckers are saying now,

yes, it is working pretty good. I

heard the trucking association say, well, it is a bit better.

Then, what did they do? They

dropped two crossings a week, Mr. Speaker.

Every time we try to take a step forward, we end up

moving backwards, Mr. Speaker. It is

very hard to diversify your economy if we are promoting tourism in this Province

and we cannot get people here at an affordable rate.

That every time they are coming over they are stuck at the terminal in

North Sydney for three, four or five days.

They have eight, ten, twelve days planned to come over, stuck three or

four days, unsure if they are going to get back once they come here.

It is a deterrent for people to travel to Newfoundland and Labrador.

Mr. Speaker, this is very essential to us all.

Once again, I say to all members in this House of Assembly, we need to

come together. We need to come

together as a group. We need to go

after the politicians in Ottawa.

Marine Atlantic is a Crown corporation.

We all know how Crown corporations work.

If the federal government comes down to them and says: You have to cut.

Who is going to lose on that?

Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all parliamentarians in this House

today, let's not forget this after this day is over at 5:00 o'clock when we all

vote for it. Let's come together.

Let's not fight on this.

Let's work together as Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.

I thank the Member for Lewisporte for bringing it in

because it is such a vital issue to all of us in tourism, in the trucking

industry, and for every Newfoundlander.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR.

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Member for the District of Port au Port.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR.

CORNECT:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

It is indeed a great privilege to stand in my place

this afternoon representing the District of Port au Port on the West Coast of

the Province, to speak to this private member's resolution on the importance of

the Marine Atlantic ferry.

We know that the Marine Atlantic ferry, Mr. Speaker, is

mandated to provide a ferry service between mainland Canada, notably Nova Scotia

and the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Mr. Speaker, I want to take a look at it from a trade

and commerce perspective this afternoon when we are talking about Marine

Atlantic. Marine Atlantic is vital

in order for the Province to export and import goods and services to the people

of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Mr. Speaker, it is incumbent upon the federal

government to ensure that our Province's population is connected to mainland

Canada and that our goods and services, as well as our tourists, can flow freely

and that pricing for this service is fair and equitable.

Mr. Speaker, the cost of living and doing business in

Newfoundland and Labrador will increase if the federal government does not

ensure that our link to the mainland is as effective as possible.

To illustrate this, Mr. Speaker, we must consider primarily local

industry as it relates to perishables.

Newfoundland and Labrador is self-sufficient in milk,

37 million litres per year, and also exports about 8 to 9 million litres of

industrial milk annually. Industrial

milk is used to process cheese in Nova Scotia.

So Marine Atlantic is very important.

Newfoundland and Labrador's chicken quota is about 18.5

million kilograms per year. We are

very close to self-sufficiency but we still have to import about 2 million

kilograms per year. Currently, the

only chicken that is sold in Newfoundland and Labrador that cannot be produced

here is the rotisserie prepared chicken that is sold in the delis in

supermarkets. It has to be produced

using air chilling technology which is not part of the processing line at

Country Ribbon. So, Mr. Speaker,

Marine Atlantic services is vital.

Newfoundland and Labrador has a 365,000 bird quota for

egg production. This makes us

self-sufficient in eggs and allows us to export about half to Nova Scotia for

industrial processing. So, Mr.

Speaker, the Marine Atlantic ferry is essential.

In vegetables, we are currently about 10 per cent

self-sufficient. The rest has to be

imported from other provinces and countries.

Mr. Speaker, Marine Atlantic is needed.

In fruit, we are currently less than 1 per cent

self-sufficient. The rest has to be

imported from other provinces and countries.

With Newfoundland and Labrador's climate, we will never be able to

produce many of these commodities.

Mr. Speaker, a Marine Atlantic reliable

schedule is required.

In beef, Mr. Speaker, we are currently about 2 per cent

self-sufficient. The rest has to be

imported from other provinces.

Marine Atlantic is wanted.

In sheep, we are currently 10 per cent self-sufficient.

The rest has to be imported from other provinces.

Mr. Speaker, Marine Atlantic is mandatory.

Mr. Speaker, we are taking many steps to increase the

amount of land we have in production and to develop these commodities further.

In the short term, we are heavily dependent on marine transport to feed

our people. We are also heavily

dependent on marine transportation to market our excess supply-managed

commodities outside the Province. It

is key to ensuring that these commodities are fresh when they arrive for

processing.

Mr. Speaker, we believe that the federal government has

failed to live up to its commitment of ensuring the smooth transition of

products to Newfoundland and Labrador due to their lack of action to stabilize

rates, improve service offerings, and offer the best service possible through

Marine Atlantic. This not only hurts

Newfoundland and Labrador's economy, but it also inhibits regional, national,

and international partnerships as it reduces the number of suppliers and

businesses which want to work with Newfoundland and Labrador companies.

In the midst of a booming economy, Mr. Speaker, where

megaprojects and construction are contributing to Newfoundland and Labrador

being one of the leading provinces in Canada, there needs to be assurances that

the products and services being delivered by Marine Atlantic will be on time and

on

schedule at a fair rate. The

Marine Atlantic ferry service is not just a regional transportation issue, but a

national economic issue.

Marine Atlantic is key to the economic growth of

Newfoundland and Labrador as well as Canadian businesses, as it provides a vital

connection between the Island portion of Newfoundland and Labrador and the rest

of Canada. Marine Atlantic is a

vital link, as 90 per cent of all produce is imported into our Province.

Marine Atlantic is also a link for companies from other provinces which

are doing business in Newfoundland and Labrador, and delivers one-half of goods

into our market.

Mr. Speaker, while the Terms of Union, Term 32.1 state,

Canada will maintain in accordance with the traffic offering a freight and

passenger steamship service between North Sydney and Port aux Basques, which, on

completion of a motor highway between Corner Brook and Port aux Basques, will

include suitable provision for the carriage of motor vehicles.'

Mr. Speaker, Marine Atlantic's mission is to provide a safe,

environmentally responsible, and quality ferry service between the Island of

Newfoundland and the Province of Nova Scotia in a reliable, courteous and

cost-effective manner'. That is

their mission, Mr. Speaker.

As the board of trade pointed out in recent years, this

mission should include as a means of supporting economic success in all

provinces.' Mr. Speaker, as a

government, we too feel very strongly and passionately about this.

Not only do increased rates and a reduced

schedule

impact our local businesses, but it also raises the cost of living for the

people of our Province. The capacity

has to be adequate for our businesses and Marine Atlantic needs to be able to

accommodate demand for the movement of goods.

Our businesses in Newfoundland and Labrador are affected by pricing,

reliability, scheduling and service level, or lack thereof, when trying to

import or export products.

Mr. Speaker, the people of Newfoundland and Labrador

and the entrepreneurs in Newfoundland and Labrador deserve better.

Just recently, an

article out of New Brunswick noted that Atlantic

Canada's truckers will pay more for ferry service to Newfoundland and Labrador

as of April 1. Marine Atlantic

Incorporated has hiked its rates by 3 per cent for the 2014-2015 season.

The Crown corporation's fees have increased 11 per cent since 2012, two

short years ago.

Mr. Speaker, time and time again we have met and

written letters to the federal government on this issue.

It is important that the federal government recognize that we are serious

and we want to reach a solution which benefits the residents of this Province

and the businesses throughout the country of Canada.

Mr. Speaker, summarizing, in a sense, our Province is

unique in Canada in that our principal population base is connected to the rest

of the country through a marine service.

The federal government in constitutionally obligated under the Terms of

Union to maintain the Gulf ferry service.

Mr. Speaker, the Gulf ferry service is a vital link and

integral component of the Trans-Canada Highway and the national highway system.

Increased rates and reduced scheduled will impede the flow of people and

will undermine the free trade of goods to and from our Province.

To the people of Newfoundland and Labrador, as a

government we will continue to advocate on behalf of the people of Newfoundland

and Labrador. In fact, Mr. Speaker,

when we heard of the recent ferry increase and scheduling changes, our

provincial government immediately wrote the federal Minister of Transport, Lisa

Raitt, expressing our dissatisfaction with recent changes to Marine Atlantic,

our ferry system.

Mr. Speaker, as a government, we will continue to

advocate to enhance the services on Marine Atlantic.

We hope that the members on the opposite side will join with us in

raising this issue with their federal counterparts as well.

Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to support the

private member's resolution as put forth by my colleague, the Member for

Lewisporte. I will read for the

record:

WHEREAS our Province is unique in Canada in having its

principal population base connected to its neighbours, not by land links, but by

marine services; and

WHEREAS the federal government is constitutionally

obligated under the Terms of Union to maintain the Gulf ferry service; and

WHEREAS following our Province's entry into

Confederation in 1949, the federal government enacted the Trans-Canada Highway

Act to spearhead the completion of the Trans-Canada Highway to give all members

of the federation the benefit of a truly national highway to facilitate the flow

of people and goods freely and fairly throughout the federation; and

WHEREAS it is unacceptable to view the Gulf ferry

service as anything less than an essential and integral component of the

Trans-Canada Highway and the National Highway System; and

WHEREAS the cost-recovery and scheduling policies of

the federal Crown corporation, Marine Atlantic have served to impede the flow of

people and to undermine the free trade of goods to and from our Province; and

WHEREAS the federal government should be sensitive to

the impacts of higher Marine Atlantic prices and fewer crossing in our

Province's tourism industry and on the cost of living and doing business in our

Province relative to the cost in other Provinces;

THEREFORE

BE IT RESOLVED that this hon. House calls on

the federal government to direct and enable Marine Atlantic to reduce user

prices and restore transit frequency on the Gulf ferry service.

Mr. Speaker, thank you very much.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR.

SPEAKER (Littlejohn):

The hon. the Member for Burgeo La Poile.

MR.

A. PARSONS:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I am very happy to be able to stand here today and

speak to this very important private members' resolution on the Marine Atlantic

Gulf ferry service. Let me first

say, right off the top so there is no confusion, I will be whole-heartedly

supporting this resolution today, and I do not think there is anybody who would

doubt otherwise. I want to get that

out there first; I think that is important.

My problem here today is I only have fifteen minutes to

speak. That is really the problem.

I have so many things to say to this very important issue that it is hard

to get them all in, and sometimes I get a little jumbled because I was very

happy to see the government put this resolution in Monday, and it is something,

again, I have dealt with all my life, like everybody in my area.

Over the last few days, to put some of these thoughts on paper and to

look at some of the solutions, some of the issues, so I am going to try my best

to get them out there.

I do not think there is any need for me to reread the

resolution, the members have put that out there, but I do think it is important

to look at the resolution clause.

What is this government asking? This

government is asking the federal government to direct and enable Marine Atlantic

to reduce user prices and restore transit frequency on the Gulf ferry service;

one part difficult, one part easy.

It is hard for the government to direct Marine Atlantic

to do the reduction in cost unless they enable them, and you can only enable

them by providing them the funding they need.

I have listened to the members opposite and I have appreciated their

comments. I listened to my colleague

as he spoke. This is not a blame

game, but it is something I think we have to look at the issues and what needs

to be done here.

The first thing I am going to do and I do not think

there is any need to reiterate Term 32, the member opposite referred to it, but

I did do some interesting reading on The Terms of Union: An Analysis Of Their

Current Relevance. This is over ten

years old. The member stated the

purpose of it here. Sometimes we use

that phrase constitutional right, a constitutional service, and it is, but the

problem is that it is vague.

What we have: Canada will maintain in accordance a

steamship service between North Sydney and Port aux Basques, which, upon the

completion of the highway will include suitable provision for the carriage of

motor vehicles. That is all it says.

We have a constitutional steamship service, a ferry service between Port

aux Basques and North Sydney.

It says nothing about the number of crossings.

It says nothing about the cost.

It says nothing about the frequency.

This is where they are getting us.

The fact is these Terms of Union, in many ways the relevance has

diminished over time.

One thing the author of this report noted was: Except

for the fact that the Terms of Union provide that there be a ferry service, the

unfettered. That is out there.

Besides the obligation to maintain the ferry service, there is a

qualification that the level of service is to be based on demand.

There is arguably an obligation, therefore, that the service must address

demand for its use.

Basically, we are constitutionally obligated we are

supposed to be provided a service based on demand.

My argument is that the federal government's actions have reduced the

demand for our service. If they do

not put enough money in, Marine Atlantic has to raise the rates.

If they raise the rates there is less traffic.

If there is less traffic, there are fewer crossings needed, and therefore

we are in a downward spiral. This is

the federal government's responsibility.

They are the ones that should be doing something.

There is no doubt about it.

Some people might say it is easy to beat up on the

federal government and we like to do it.

Do you know what? I do not

care. I am going to; this is an

obligation they have to us. It is a

right. Here they are, they control

the purse strings, but they are not providing the funding that is necessary to

have the necessary service. No doubt

about it, they provide a subsidy, the rest has to be provided on revenue.

The costs continue to go up.

The cost of inflation, labour goes up, fuel goes up, but the funding stays the

same.

I am going to stop at that point because everybody

knows my feelings on the federal government and what they have been doing for

this. Do you know what?

I am not the first politician to stand up in this House, nor will I be

the last, to talk about how the federal government is not doing what they should

be doing when it comes to this.

Technically they are under the Terms of Union, but I think I have explained how

that works and how they are getting around that.

One problem I do have, though, in the next level we

have to deal with the provincial government.

This is something that has been here for previous Administrations, PC,

Liberal, or whatever. I am sure if I

go back it is no different than reading a newspaper from thirty years ago.

Sometimes you look back and see these issues there and you read them and

you are like, my God, it is the same issue we have today.

I am not here to beat up on this current provincial

government because that is not the purpose.

What I am hoping to do today, and I think people can see my passion for

this because this is personal for me, this is my community, this is my area, and

this is my family. My grandfather

was a skipper on these boats. Most

of my family has worked there. A lot

of my friends work there, and right now because of what is going on, I have

friends, neighbours, constituents who are not going to get work and may have to

leave this Province. That to me is

unacceptable. When we talk about a

boom time we have to look at the reality that is going on right now, and it

upsets me.

I look at the provincial government, I know this is not

in their purview, this is a federal responsibility, but as I stated the other

day, there are many things that are a federal responsibility that we advocate

for. The primary one that we all

hear about is the fishery. What did

we just do? We just sent an

all-party committee to Ottawa to lobby.

Do you know what? We might

not get anything out of it, we may not, but this government, the Official

Opposition, the NDP, joined forces to go to Ottawa to fight and that is

sometimes what you need. Sometimes

you have to make them aware of the issue.

My problem here right now is I asked the Premier the

other day to send a delegation and he said no.

He said I am going to have a meeting with the Prime Minister at some

point. Then we further pressed and

said what are you going to talk about?

He said shrimp allocation, ice compensation, and on a commission for

missing and murdered Aboriginal women and children.

As I have said before, three important issues.

I am not taking away from that, but Marine Atlantic was not mentioned;

silence.

Right now, how does this federal government interpret

silence? They interpret it as not

being an issue and this is my problem.

This government, over the last ten years there have been a number of

press releases out on Marine Atlantic but the vast majority have been

reactionary to a rate increase, and they are all along the same lines.

We are very concerned. We do

not like this.

We are going to monitor the situation and we are going

to do something about it, but that is the problem, we do not see what is going

on in between. I have no doubt the

letters have been written but we need to work together here.

We need to work together to make sure this constitutionally provided

service is doing all that it should.

Right now, there is no doubt there is a reduction in traffic, and that is

commercial and personal.

Commercial traffic, and we hear about the booming

economy but if you actually talk to people in the construction association, if

you talk to people retailing several goods, that right now it is a soft time.

It is a soft time and that is why commercial traffic is down.

No doubt there is some competition, but I am willing to bet here today

their numbers are not what they thought they would be either.

There is not as much coming in.

The previous member mentioned goods.

Do you know what? He is

exactly right. We are not

self-sufficient in many areas. In

fact, there are certain producers who will not ship their goods over here

because by the time they get over here the quality of the good is so poor that

it diminishes their brand, and I will give you one example.

Strawberry producers will not ship them here in many cases because by the

time they get here they are spoiled and all that is doing is reducing the value

of the brand.

I am saying to the provincial government here today, I

applaud you for the motion. It is a

great thing but let's work together.

This is just a private member's resolution here today.

I do not know if Ottawa is even going to see it but we can work together

and send a delegation. Will we

succeed? Maybe not, but I can

guarantee you we will not succeed if we do not try, and we have to try.

There are going to be tens and tens of jobs lost this summer, people not

working because of the reduction in service, and that is unacceptable.

I am going to move on to the Crown corporation itself,

Marine Atlantic. Again, I am not

here to beat up on Marine Atlantic.

God knows, they take enough abuse from a number of different people, a number of

different groups. I treat Marine

Atlantic sometimes like family. I

can say what I want about them but I get sensitive when other people talk about

them.

I mentioned this the other day.

I heard one former Minister of Transportation say the best thing we

should do is move the service, which is about the most foolish and ridiculous

thing I have ever heard. It is not

based on fact. It is not based on

reality, and he has no clue about the economics of actually doing that.

He has no clue. Now that does

not reflect on the current members.

It does not reflect on the current minister.

I am sure that is not department policy.

That is just a person giving a column that does not know what he is

talking about. He has no clue.

I go back to Marine Atlantic.

Can they do better? You had

better believe they can. My feeling

about Marine Atlantic is this: but for this Island, this Province I say Island

because it is the Island of Newfoundland; Marine Atlantic is not servicing

Labrador, but it is a Newfoundland and Labrador service but for this Island,

the service is not there. If we were

not here, there would be no need for the service; however, did you know Nova

Scotia has more employees in North Sydney than Port aux Basques has?

Did you know that? Did you

know that Nova Scotia has roughly almost 100 more employees than Port aux

Basques has? That is absolutely,

patently ridiculous, unfair, and unnecessary.

I will say this now, and I will say it again, and I

will stand by it until I die; there should be enough over there in North Sydney

to tie the boat on, and that is it.

There should be enough over there to tie the boat on.

This is not a Nova Scotia service, this is a Newfoundland and Labrador

service and I will stand by that.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR.

A. PARSONS:

there is an MLA over there, or if there is an MP, or if there is a Senator, or

if there is a councilman, I will tell them that, too, as I have done before.

I actually told the president of the company in the past, you should have

enough over there to tie the boat on.

You should not have more jobs in North Sydney than there are in Port aux

Basques.

I can just say that from the passionate side, but there

is a logical, economic side to it, too.

The job is not getting done any cheaper over there.

You could do the job as efficiently in Port aux Basques as you could in

North Sydney. Actually I think you

could do it cheaper because of the cost of housing those workers.

I think you could do it cheaper.

I have put that point across and I think this is something we should

lobby for as well. It is a

Newfoundland service; it is not a Nova Scotia service.

At the same time and I have made this concern known

to Marine Atlantic the employees in North Sydney actually are going down.

The employees in Port aux Basques are going down.

The amount of management in St. John's is going up.

At a time when you are cutting the rank and file worker the worker

actually tying the boat on you are increasing the size of management.

I have told the president this.

I do not see how you can do it.

How does that make the service more efficient?

Would you be interested to know when they started out in St. John's

because it used to be in Moncton there were less than eight workers in St.

John's. Two years ago, they went up

to sixteen. Last year they went up

to twenty. This year they are up to

twenty-four.

Would you know that for twenty-four workers in St.

John's they are paying out just about $2.3 million in salary.

For 292 workers in Port aux Basques, they are paying out $13.4 million in

salary. Twenty-four workers hauling

in $2.3 million, 292 pulling in $13 million, can anybody see what is going on

here? That is absolutely ridiculous;

there is no need of it.

If they can show to me how it is going to increase the

efficiency, well I say go for it, but do you know what?

The tourism numbers keep coming down. The

biggest reason the tourism numbers keep going down is because the cost keeps

going up. Why is the cost going up?

Again, two-fold: we need to find more efficiencies within Marine

Atlantic, and we need to get the federal government to get on board to get the

actual funding that we need.

What I am going to say to the Province right now is

that the funding agreement ends on March 31, 2015.

The funding agreement is done.

It is a five-year agreement.

They are in negotiations right now.

I am calling on the government; let's send a delegation to Ottawa in September

of this year. It is no different

than your budgetary process, all of the departments are getting together and

they are working on this.

Let's send a delegation.

That is the time to do it.

This is the time. The next funding

agreement is going to be five years.

It is time for us to go up now and press our case.

If not, we are going to see a decline in tourism.

We are going to see a decline in goods and services.

We are going to see a decline in jobs for Newfoundlanders and

Labradorians and it is unacceptable.

I say to you, it might not work, but there is no harm in trying.

There is absolutely no harm in trying.

I only have twenty seconds left here today and that is

not enough time. I have a lot more

to say and I will continue saying it.

I say to the government, I support you, but I hope you heed some of what

I am saying here. I hope we can work

together to work on behalf of all the people, especially those out here now who

are going to lose their job because this federal government is not doing what

they should. The Province has a

role. Step up, speak up and I can

guarantee you one thing, I will be on your side if you do it.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR.

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Minister of Municipal and Intergovernmental Affairs.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR.

KENT:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I want to rise today to speak in support of this

private member's resolution. I hear

a distinct buzzing. It is not being

caused by my phone, I assure you. It

is not plugged in, so hopefully that will go away, Mr. Speaker.

We cannot solve the mystery so I shall continue.

I assure you I am not breaking any rules in terms of our technology and

communications here in the House.

HON. MEMBER:

(Inaudible).

MR.

KENT:

No,

it is not that.

HON. MEMBER:

Your mike?

MR.

KENT:

is a loose mike, perhaps. I will ask

my hon. colleague to hold my microphone for the next fifteen minutes.

I am rising today to speak in support of this motion,

also as the Minister currently Responsible for Intergovernmental Affairs.

This is an issue that definitely affects and relates to our relationship

with the federal government as other speakers have highlighted today, so I want

to provide a bit of historical context.

Now my microphone has gone off.

SULLIVAN:

you want mine? Do you want to stand

here? Here, my light is on.

MR.

SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of Municipal and

Intergovernmental Affairs can just slide down one because the minister's light

is there.

MR.

KENT:

Gladly.

MR.

SPEAKER:

There you go.

MR.

KENT:

Well, that is a first for me, Mr. Speaker.

HON. MEMBER:

is called teamwork.

HON. MEMBER:

quick shuffle.

MR.

KENT:

quick shuffle in the middle of debate.

That is the fastest shuffle ever.

Somebody should probably call upstairs and alert them.

Let me provide some context.

I want to talk about federal support for Marine Atlantic and the service.

I want to talk about funding.

I want to talk about the responsibility that the federal government has.

Let me provide a bit of history first.

Historically, CN Marine, a division of CN Rail, operated a marine ferry

line which serviced the Island portion of the Province.

This service was assumed by the Canadian National Railway in 1949 from

the Newfoundland Railway when Newfoundland entered into Confederation.

There are two routes that have been offered over the years, as people

know, the Port aux Basques route and the Argentia route.

Marine Atlantic today is a parent Crown corporation.

It was created through

an act of Parliament in 1986 and replaced the

Canadian national marine in providing a year-round constitutionally mandated

ferry service between North Sydney, Nova Scotia, and Port aux Basques,

Newfoundland and Labrador.

The Newfoundland Terms of Union addressed the

transportation sector in a manner which is unique to the Province.

Let me just quote Term 32 which clearly states the federal government's

obligation to provide a Gulf ferry service.

It says, Canada will maintain in accordance with the traffic offering a

freight and passenger steamship service between North Sydney and Port aux

Basques, which, on completion of a motor highway between Corner Brook and Port

aux Basques, will include suitable provision for the carriage of motor

vehicles.

That is pretty clear.

The constitutional requirement contained in the Terms of Union that the

federal government provide this service in accordance with the traffic offering

means a standard which provides an appropriate level of quality of service

in-line with the growing and changing transportation needs of the Province.

We have continued to place pressure on the federal

government to provide this service.

The federal government has also placed pressure on Marine Atlantic.

They have pressured Marine Atlantic to maintain the 60 per cent to 65 per

cent cost recovery. With rising

fuel, maintenance, human resource and other costs, Marine Atlantic has been

forced to continually increase fares for all users.

That is not really in-line with a federally mandated service.

It does not provide an appropriate level and quality of service, and it

hinders the ability of users to choose Marine Atlantic.

It is simple economics that increases in price

generally result in decreases in consumption, and decreases in price generally

result in increases in consumption.

Is the decline in traffic offering because people do not want to use the ferry,

or because fare increases are discouraging travellers?

I really believe that fare increases are discouraging

travellers. When you compare the

cost of using the ferry service to the cost of airline travel, for instance,

some would argue that there is not a whole lot of difference these days.

It has become a very expensive service.

That poses a challenge for visitors; it poses a challenge for

Newfoundlanders and Labradorians as well.

It is the federal government, not Marine Atlantic, who

is responsible for ensuring that the constitutional obligation stated in Term 32

is fulfilled, and it is the federal government that is liable for any breach of

the obligation. The federal

government's obligation under the Terms of Union is an enduring one.

The federal government needs to fulfill this obligation.

It needs to provide the ferry service, either directly or by providing

its service provider, Marine Atlantic, with the resources it needs to provide

the service.

In the 1990s, we saw extensive budget cuts by the

federal government and a drastic downsizing of Marine Atlantic's operations.

Much of the change came following the opening of the Confederation Bridge

in 1997; it replaced Marine Atlantic's most heavily used ferry s