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October 22, 2020

HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS

Vol. XLIX No. 56

The

House met at 1:30 p.m.

MR. SPEAKER (Reid):

Are the House Leaders

ready?

Government House Leader ready? Yes.

The

Opposition House Leader ready? Third Party House Leader ready?

Order,

please!

Before

we begin Routine Proceedings today, I would like to observe an old parliamentary

tradition.

I have

the pleasant task of formally welcoming the Member who was duly elected in the

by-election of October 6, 2020.

The

Member is Mr. Andrew Furey, representing the District of Humber - Gros Morne. I

have been advised by the House of Assembly that the Member has taken the Oath of

Allegiance to the Crown as required by the

Constitution Act, 1867 , and the Oath of Office as required by the

House of Assembly Accountability, Integrity and Administration Act

and has signed the Members' Roll.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Deputy Premier.

MS. COADY:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

It is my

privilege and honour to introduce Dr. Andrew Furey, Member of the House of

Assembly for Humber - Gros Morne. He's here to claim his seat.

MR. SPEAKER:

Congratulations.

Let the

Member take his seat.

PREMIER FUREY:

Thank you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

Statements by

Members

MR. SPEAKER:

Today, we will hear

statements by the hon. the Members for the Districts of Terra Nova, Placentia

West - Bellevue, Placentia - St. Mary's, Conception Bay South and Grand

Falls-Windsor - Buchans.

The hon.

the Member for Terra Nova.

MR. PARROTT:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr.

Speaker, farming on the Eastport Peninsula has a long history. In the 1930s, the

Eastport Peninsula Agricultural Exhibition began. After a short break, it was

established again in the '90s. They recently celebrated their 32nd anniversary.

Within

the COVID guidelines and creative planning, a 12-committee group was able to

host a successful event, all because of community effort and involvement. On the

10th of October, the event was started with one of the largest parades they'd

ever seen. Each year, a different tree is planted at the cenotaph. This year's

tree, a larch, was planted in recognition of first responders, front-line

workers and essential workers.

The

origin of Eastport and Sandringham can be traced back to their agricultural

roots and their farmers. Unfortunately, the physical display, which they

normally do, of produce and home gardens, could not take place this year, but

thanks to Tonya Lane there was a virtual presentation of all the local produce.

outdoor farmers market with 23 vendors was hosted by the recreation committee

and the kids soapbox derby was a huge success with over 20 participants and was

the highlight of the day. The effort to continue some of the annual events was

evident in the community spirit.

Please

join me in congratulating the Eastport Peninsula Agricultural Committee and the

local community involvement.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

Placentia West - Bellevue.

MR. DWYER:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Today, I

speak of an event I had the pleasure of taking

part in, the Burin Peninsula

Health Care Foundation 2020 annual radiothon. The organization was eager to host

this year's event, as it was held a little different than normal with the COVID

guidelines, with virtual presentations and scheduled in-person presentations. I

personally attended via telephone.

The

Burin Peninsula Health Care Foundation successfully raised $135,000 while in the

midst of an ongoing pandemic, making this radiothon a huge accomplishment.

If I

may, Mr. Speaker, the words of Vanessa Jackman, the executive director of the

Burin Peninsula Health Care Foundation: I am so humbled to have witnessed the

outpouring of generosity from both our residents on the Burin Peninsula and all

our volunteers who made this event happen. I echo those sentiments.

These

donations will assist our local health care initiatives on the Burin Peninsula

improving the health services we require.

I ask

all hon. Members to join me in congratulating all the volunteers, supporters

with donations and especially the foundation's board members for their efforts

this year. You are the many reasons for this awesome achievement.

Thank

you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

Placentia - St. Mary's.

MS. GAMBIN-WALSH:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

September 20, 1965, a young teacher by the name of Ms. Uriel Whalen was a

boarder in the Gaskiers, St. Mary's Bay, at the Critch residence. Angus Kielly

took every opportunity that year to visit his aunt's house.

October 17, 1970, Uriel and Angus were married. They had five children, two

daughters and three sons, and today have nine grandchildren, all boys. Angus

retired from working as a heavy equipment mechanic in 2002 and Uriel retired

from her teaching career in 2003.

Angus

and Uriel are very involved with the seniors' association, attending card games,

dances and fundraisers. They both attend church and have a strong faith.

Saturday past, I visited Mr. and Mrs. Kielly at their home in the Gaskiers.

Today,

as the Member of the House of Assembly for the District of Placentia - St.

Mary's, I would like to congratulate Mr. and Mrs. Kielly on the celebration of

their 50th wedding anniversary.

Thank

you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

Conception Bay South.

MR. PETTEN:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Last

Saturday evening, I, along with my colleague the MHA for Windsor Lake, had the

pleasure of attending Justin Fancy's livestream album release show at the

GlenDenning Golf Course in St. John's.

This was

a great evening highlighting lots of wonderful talent in our province. The show

was hosted, actually, by award-winning Canadian actor-comedian Shaun Majumder,

Dustin Parsons from Saltwater Noise, along with special guest Chris Ryan.

This

local boy from Conception Bay South is a country music artist preparing to hit

the national stage with the release of his debut album:

Sure Beats A Good Time .

Justin

is a local singer-songwriter who once was a contestant on

Canadian Idol . He keeps his songwriting real and enjoys writing

about his own experiences with songs that come from the heart.

October 20, Centre City Media covered a documentary of Newfoundland's own Justin

Fancy: It's Been A… Long Time Comin' .

This documentary featured his candid story and covers the release of his debut

album: Sure Beats A Good Time .

encourage everyone to visit Justin Fancy's Facebook page or visit his website

justinfancymusic.ca to follow his successful journey.

Mr.

Speaker, I ask all hon. Members to join me in congratulating and wishing Justin

Fancy continued success in his music career.

Thank

you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for Grand

Falls-Windsor - Buchans.

MR. TIBBS:

Thank you very much, Mr.

Speaker.

Mr.

Speaker, last Thursday Nathan Sullivan and his dad, Ron, were in the woods

cutting some birch for the winter. As Nathan started in with his chainsaw it

suddenly kicked back and sliced into his dad's leg. The pain was intense and the

bleeding was perfuse, but Nathan's 10 years of training with the Grand

Falls-Windsor Fire Department instinctively kicked in.

encouraged his dad to remain clam and slow his breathing. With no cell service,

he managed to get his dad on the quad and drove toward the highway until he had

cell service. He then called his dispatch and gave the location where they would

meet them on the highway.

For the

rest of the drive on the quad, Nathan got his dad to sing a song to let him know

that he's still with him. When Ron sang “Jingle Bells,” Nathan, who hates

Christmas songs too early, jokingly told him: If you keep that up, Skipper,

you're not going to make it.

Ron is

being discharged today with a new pair of chainsaw pants bought on Friday. He

wants me to remind everybody to stay safe. It is paramount when cutting wood in

the woods.

We wish

him all the best, Mr. Speaker.

Thank

you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

Statements by Ministers.

Statements by

Ministers

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Premier.

PREMIER FUREY:

Mr. Speaker, I was delighted

to announce today the members of the Premier's Economic Recovery Team.

In the

face of the ongoing global pandemic, the team will review the government's

expenditures, the province's fiscal capacity and how services are delivered.

Mr.

Speaker, they will also explore growth sectors, such as clean energy and

investments in technology. Their suggestions will help inform our government's

plan to ensure a financially stable province with a prosperous, bright future.

Led by

Dame Moya Greene, who is globally recognized for her change-management skills,

the team is made up of experienced leaders locally, nationally and

internationally. These exceptional individuals have generously offered their

time and expertise to help guide Newfoundland and Labrador towards a sustainable

future.

interim report to the provincial government will be provided by February 28,

2021, with a final report by April 30, 2021.

Newfoundland and Labrador has produced incredibly accomplished leaders in

business, community and social sectors. We will leverage their passion for

Newfoundland and Labrador and professional experiences to inform our

government's plan to address our province's serious fiscal and financial

situation.

I thank

the members of the team for their contribution and I'm looking forward to their

input on our plan.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Leader of the

Official Opposition.

MR. CROSBIE:

Mr. Speaker, I thank the

Premier for an advance copy of his statement.

Mr.

Speaker, with all due respect to the Premier and to the experienced members of

the team, the last thing this province needs now is another review. What the

province needs now is jobs. What the province needs now is action. We have the

McKinsey report. We've had the Mills's report.

Again, I

repeat, what we need now is jobs. There is an expression that says the secret to

getting ahead is getting started. I would suggest that the Premier get started,

creating jobs today instead of waiting for another report.

Thank

you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Leader of the

Third Party.

MS. COFFIN:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank

you to the Premier for his first Ministerial Statement. It's good to see from

the press release that PERT will address the $6.3 billion the Liberal government

has added to net debt over the last six years. I'm concerned there's no

representation of municipalities, vulnerable sector groups, food security

advocates or a role for elected MHAs on the task force.

I look

forward to seeing government finally heeding the warnings and recommendations

made by the Auditor General over the last 13 years and the million-dollar

McKinsey diversification report we received last year.

Thank

you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

Further statements by

ministers?

The hon.

the Minister of Justice and Public Safety.

MR. CROCKER:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

It is my

privilege to recognize in this hon. House the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary's

support dog, Stella.

I am

sure many of you have seen Stella, the Portuguese water dog around the community

since she was first introduced in July. While she is still in training, soon

Stella will begin working across various areas of the Justice system.

Stella

is learning skills to detect and support persons in need. She will work with

victims and survivors of violence and those struggling with mental illness,

provide reassurance to calm witnesses testifying during court procedures and to

help those who simply require some comfort during difficult times – including

her own fellow RNC officers.

Mr.

Speaker, I want to recognize Stella's handler, Constable Krista Fagan and her

trainer, retired RNC Staff Sergeant Mike Adams, for their work in preparing

Stella for this important role. You may have noticed through Stella's social

media account, that she has been visiting organizations and workplaces across

the province including Labrador and most recently Corner Brook. I had the

opportunity yesterday to meet Stella and she is a welcomed addition to the

Justice team.

Mr.

Speaker, I want to thank all those who made this program possible and I ask all

hon. Members to join me in welcoming Stella to the RNC and Justice family.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

Harbour Main.

MS. CONWAY OTTENHEIMER:

I thank the

minister for an advance copy of his statement.

Mr.

Speaker, while I recognize the benefits a support animal can provide to victims

of crime and survivors of violence, I wish to speak today about the safety of

our communities and the RNC within it.

Speeding

on our roads and highways is a problem, there are many illicit drugs in our

communities and violent crimes are far too common. Just yesterday, we heard

about the frightening incident on Spencer Street in St. John's. I believe that

our police force, under the minister's leadership, should be focused on the

prevention of crime and on making our province a safer place to live.

Mr.

Speaker, I've also heard far too many reports of police cars that need to be

replaced, police computer systems which no longer work and equipment which needs

to be upgraded. This is an area where the minister's attention should be

focused.

So while

I appreciate the value of Stella, I recommend to the minister that he give

priority to helping our diligent police force ensure the safety of themselves

and the general public at large.

Thank

you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

Labrador West.

MR. BROWN:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I

thank the minister for an advance copy of his statement.

We here

in the NDP caucus had the privilege of Stella and her wonderful handler paying

us a visit, but I also had the extra privilege of having them come visit my

District of Labrador West for training.

The

initiative by the RNC and its members is absolutely a great way forward in

community policing and I encourage the RNC and the government to take a more

in-depth look on how we can build on this kind of community policing.

Thank

you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

Further statements by

ministers?

The hon.

the Minister of Immigration, Skills and Labour.

MR. BYRNE:

Thank you very much, Mr.

Speaker.

Mr.

Speaker, we can all be proud and assured that government, industry, labour and

safety organizations in this province work together to build a strong safety

culture.

Newfoundlanders and Labradorians understand the significant physical, emotional

and financial impacts of workplace injuries, illnesses and, tragically, even

deaths. These impacts can be far-reaching, affecting workers, their co-workers,

employers, families and whole communities.

That's

why, Mr. Speaker, WorkplaceNL holds firm to its mandate to promote safe and

healthy workplaces and to prevent workplace injuries. By working collaboratively

with its partners, WorkplaceNL has produced incredibly effective educational

materials and resources.

All of

us in this hon. House recognize their achievements in promoting workplace health

and safety and now, I am very proud to say, WorkplaceNL is gaining worldwide

recognition and accolades.

Two of

WorkplaceNL's creative initiatives have been named to the top 50 shortlist at

the prestigious International Media Festival for Prevention 2021, part of the

World Congress on Safety and Health at Work. These two initiatives were

shortlisted from nearly 290 entries from 40 countries, an incredible success.

Mr.

Speaker, the interactive online Young Worker Safety Course was developed in

collaboration with the Department of Education and Bluedrop Performance Learning

of St. John's and is available to high school students throughout Newfoundland

and Labrador. Since its launch in 2018, the self-directed course has inspired

more than 1,600 youth to acquire the knowledge and skills they need to take a

proactive approach to workplace health and safety practices.

WorkplaceNL also worked in partnership with all Atlantic Canadian workers'

compensation organizations to develop the workplace injuries hurt the most at

home. The campaign serves as an important reminder of workplace health and

safety by showing the painful reality of families dealing with the aftermath of

workplace injuries and deaths. It motivates everyone to make safety at work a

priority.

Mr.

Speaker, this international recognition is proof positive that WorkplaceNL and

its partners are doing excellent work in promoting a culture of safety in

workplaces throughout Newfoundland and Labrador.

I thank

you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

Topsail - Paradise.

MR. P. DINN:

I'd like to thank the

minister for an advance copy of his statement.

stated, Newfoundlanders and Labradorians certainly understand the significant

physical, emotional and financial impacts of workplace injuries, illnesses and

death. I truly congratulate WorkplaceNL on the production of some incredible

educational material: the online Young Worker Safety Course and the workplace

injuries hurt the most at home.

I would

be remiss if I didn't take this opportunity to applaud the tremendous work and

dedication of our first responders and all essential workers.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. P. DINN:

Their jobs at times, and some

more than others, involve great mental stress, which is often taken home at the

end of each day.

We have

made some strides but we need to continue to prevent, recognize and assist

workers who have been impacted by on-the-job mental stress and illness. Broken

bones and other bodily injuries are easy to diagnose and provide compensation,

but we still have a ways to go when it comes to job-related mental illness.

Again, I

congratulate WorkplaceNL. Let's continue to move forward to create safe work

environments.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for St.

John's Centre.

MR. J. DINN:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I, too,

thank the minister for a copy of his statement and join him in congratulating

WorkplaceNL for the recognition of its creative initiatives at the International

Media Festival for Prevention 2021. It's certainly a remarkable accomplishment;

however, the real measure of success is in the prevention of injuries.

According to the Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Labour, 14 Newfoundland

and Labrador workers are injured every day or get sick as a result of their jobs

and 26 workers die annually as a result of their jobs. The number has not

decreased.

We need

more effective prevention and enforcement measures that will protect workers and

decrease these alarming statistics. Worker safety must be paramount, especially

during COVID-19.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

Further statements by

ministers?

Oral

Questions.

Oral Questions

MR. SPEAKER:

The Leader of the Official

Opposition.

MR. CROSBIE:

Mr. Speaker, does the Premier

have a plan for jobs and prosperity or does he just plan to have a plan? People

are struggling and desperate for answers.

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Premier.

PREMIER FUREY:

Mr. Speaker, first of all,

I'd like to thank the Member opposite for my first question in this House of

Assembly.

Thank

you, Sir.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

PREMIER FUREY:

I think each and every one of

us sit in these seats in this Legislature because we are interested in jobs, not

for statistics but for the families and the sustainable future that it creates

for the province. We're all working collectively to develop strategies to create

jobs, not just for tomorrow but for the future.

While

the Member opposite may be interested in a quick slogan, we're interested in

strategies towards a sustainable future for Newfoundland and Labrador.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Leader of the

Official Opposition.

MR. CROSBIE:

Mr. Speaker –

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

Order, please!

The hon.

the Leader of the Official Opposition.

MR. CROSBIE:

Thank you.

Mr.

Speaker, the people that I talk to want answers, not platitudes. The Premier

says that big, bold ideas should inspire our relationship with Ottawa.

How many

big, bold ideas has Trudeau agreed to so far?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Premier.

PREMIER FUREY:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Right

now, in this time of disruption, I believe it is appropriate to consult with

expertise towards developing sustainable, big, bold ideas. In a weird way, we've

been afforded a different opportunity in this time of disruption to reimagine

who we want to be as Newfoundlanders and Labradorians and, indeed, our

contribution to Canada. That's why it's important to have that strong

relationship with the federal government.

To date,

we've already secured the $320 million towards oil and gas assistance. We've

actually worked with them towards securing the $26 million towards Safe Return

to School and, Mr. Speaker, that's just the first two months. I'm just getting

started.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

Order, please!

The hon.

the Leader of the Official Opposition.

MR. CROSBIE:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The

Premier says he's just getting started; getting started in a timorous and

cautious way is not a good omen.

In the

past two weeks, we've seen 700 jobs potentially vanish in one district in our

province alone.

How many

more jobs does the Premier expect to lose during the first 100 days of his

watch?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Premier.

PREMIER FUREY:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Jobs,

once again, are incredibly important to each and every one of us in this House

of Assembly. I have true compassion and empathy for those families and family

members who are struggling through tough times. That's why we're here. That's

why we're discussing topics that will advance their futures.

To say

that now is not the time to consult, I beg to differ, Sir. Now is the exact time

to consult so we can make the right decisions for the future of Newfoundland and

Labrador.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Leader of the

Official Opposition.

MR. CROSBIE:

I'm hearing more platitudes,

Mr. Speaker.

I've

committed to implementing community benefits agreements.

I'm

asking the Premier: Will he commit to the same, starting with the new mental

health facility and all future infrastructure projects, to ensure that 100 per

cent of jobs go to skilled Newfoundlanders and Labradorians?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Immigration, Skills and Labour.

MR. BYRNE:

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

This is,

indeed, an important question and an issue. I'm delighted to work directly with

Trades NL on positive strategies to ensure that, not only do we receive maximum

benefit for Newfoundlanders and Labradorians and our economy, but we also create

a regime which is respected and understood throughout the entire country. We

can, indeed, make a positive impact on our construction projects to ensure that

Newfoundlanders and Labradorians are well engaged.

With

that said, Mr. Speaker, in my own conversations with Mr. Darin King and members

of the trades councils, the unions, they do, indeed, reflect and appreciate the

fact that on the projects which have already been engaged in, significant

Newfoundland and Labrador employment. In fact, in Corner Brook alone, in my

hometown, 90 per cent are Newfoundlanders and Labradorians at our hospital.

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. Member's time has

expired.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Leader of the

Official Opposition.

MR. CROSBIE:

Well, Mr. Speaker, those

listening can draw their own conclusion. There was no commitment to what I asked

about, which is community and jobs.

In my

first meeting with the Premier in August, I told him that the All-Party pandemic

Committee was valuable to public health. Why did he dissolve it?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Premier.

PREMIER FUREY:

Mr. Speaker, the Committee

wasn't dissolved. I didn't dissolve the Committee, and the Member opposite knows

as much. In fact, it was the Member opposite who suggested that the Committee

was deteriorating in terms of its effectiveness.

I think

this Committee is an important Committee. We've reached the stage of almost

equilibrium with COVID-19 in our province right now. After any disaster, you go

through ebbs and flows of where there's engagement and expertise and advice

being provided. I think that Committee can be reinvigorated, if necessary, given

the dynamic situation of COVID-19, and I'm confident and happy to work with the

Members opposite towards such.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Opposition House

Leader.

MR. BRAZIL:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The

Premier stated there will be no fall election.

I ask

the Premier: Does he still stand by this promise?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Premier.

PREMIER FUREY:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

As I

have said publicly and will continue to state, I intend to follow the letter of

the law with respect to the legislation and election timing.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

PREMIER FUREY:

As the Members opposite know,

it was their government that brought in that legislation and I'm going to follow

that legislation to the letter of the law. I'm not going to use the law for

politics. I'm going to follow the law.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Opposition House

Leader.

MR. BRAZIL:

Mr. Speaker, this past summer

the Premier put out this statement: I fully support the private Member's

resolution that was debated in the House of Assembly this afternoon. “There is

no appetite in our province for an election this fall, as we continue to deal

with the COVID-19 crisis. I've always respected this and will not call a snap

election this fall.”

I ask

the Premier: Does he still stand by those words?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Deputy Premier.

MS. COADY:

Thank you very much, Mr.

Speaker.

Deputy Premier, I'm happy to answer this question.

The only

people talking about an election are the Members opposite and they are

constantly, constantly talking about an election. In fact, several of them

already have their cars wrapped.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MS. COADY:

We're following the letter of

the law, Mr. Speaker, a law that has been on the books of Newfoundland and

Labrador for decades, and I certainly do appreciate that the people of the

province understand that we must, as government, follow the law.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Opposition House

Leader.

MR. BRAZIL:

Mr. Speaker, that just

indicates to me that they're dragging along the people of Newfoundland and

Labrador while we are in the midst of a crisis.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. BRAZIL:

It's not acceptable.

Every

recent COVID case the province has seen has been travel related.

Will the

Premier implement point-of-entry testing at our borders to protect

Newfoundlanders and Labradorians?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Health and Community Services.

MR. HAGGIE:

Thank you very much, Mr.

Speaker.

The

issue of appropriate use of testing – and the newer technology is very much

active with the Health ministers – we take our guidance from the Public Health

Agency of Canada. The best screening test for COVID-19 is isolation. There is no

clear path from our scientific advisors to use point-of-entry testing in the way

that has been described with the technology we have at the moment. Should that

change, we will happily revisit our policies, Mr. Speaker.

Thank

you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Opposition House

Leader.

MR. BRAZIL:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

We've

known for the last seven months that the minister had no desire to do

point-of-entry testing.

Mr.

Speaker, with the rapid test kits that are now available, don't you think that

we should have, and the Premier should implement immediately, border testing so

that Newfoundlanders and Labradorians can travel back to Newfoundland and

Labrador in a safe manner?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Health and Community Services.

MR. HAGGIE:

Mr. Speaker, in the Committee

that the Opposition Members cease to attend, we discussed at great length the

use of the testing equipment that we currently have. The role of the new rapid

test kits is simply to produce a more speedy result of the existing version that

is currently done at the public health laboratories here and in other

jurisdictions. It does not predict who will have COVID in 10 days time.

Until we

have some science to guide us, we have managed to keep our numbers the envy of

Canada and the envy of the world. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

Conception Bay South.

MR. PETTEN:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Federal

Minister Seamus O'Regan has turned his back on our province, has slammed the

door and taken an equity investment in West White Rose.

Premier,

have you raised this issue directly with the prime minister?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Industry, Energy and Technology.

MR. A. PARSONS:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I'm

happy to take this important question.

Certainly, we've had conversations with the federal government regarding the

issues that we face in our offshore, as it is dual jurisdiction, we'll say.

We've talked to them regularly, as well as we've talked to the operators. The

same thing that we've been doing today.

We're

very happy to have $320 million that's going to go towards starting jobs back up

in this industry. I can tell you that the work is ongoing. There are proposals

being received. The task force is working around the clock. My goal now is to

work with them and support them in order to get these people back to work.

Thank

you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

Conception Bay South.

MR. PETTEN:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr.

Premier: Will you stand by the promise made to the people of the province that

they will pay no more than 13.5 cents for power rates?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Industry, Energy and Technology.

MR. A. PARSONS:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I can

tell you that in my limited time in this role, one of the biggest issues that

we've had to deal with is the impact of Muskrat Falls on this province and rate

mitigation, which is something that affects every one of our constituents. We'll

do everything we can to ensure that rate shock does not affect the people of

this province.

The one

thing I find disturbing is that they're asking about power rates when just

yesterday the Leader of the PCs said that Muskrat Falls was a sound project. So,

again, it leaves me wondering what is guiding them.

What I

can say is that we're doing our best to deal with what is Muskrat Falls.

Thank

you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

Conception Bay South.

MR. PETTEN:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I really

wish they'd live in the present and not the past, because they should – this

everyday thing. The public has listened to this for six years now –

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER:

Order, please!

MR. PETTEN:

– about Muskrat Falls. It's

time to get on with life, Mr. Speaker.

Given

the governments past secret business deals with their Liberal friends: Will the

Premier now disclose who owns 80521 Newfoundland & Labrador Limited in the

Canopy Growth deal?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Industry, Energy and Technology.

MR. A. PARSONS:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

certainly understand why the Members opposite don't like talking about Muskrat

Falls. I wouldn't want to be talking about it if I were them either, the ones

that drove this process through without any due consideration. The fact is that

it's not just the past, it is the present.

MR. K. PARSONS:

(Inaudible.)

MR. SPEAKER:

Order, please!

MR. A. PARSONS:

I say to the Member for Cape

St. Francis, you voted for this and sanctioned for this, so listen to my answer.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

Order, please!

MR. A. PARSONS:

Mr. Speaker, it is not a past

issue, it's a present issue. The deal is not even done. It is not even

constructed completely yet, but right now we are still dealing with the fallout.

This government will continue to commit to trying to right this project.

Thank

you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

Stephenville - Port au Port.

MR. WAKEHAM:

Mr. Speaker, our province is

not being treated fairly by their friends in Ottawa. We are hundreds of

millions, perhaps even billions a year short of getting our fair share in

transfer payments.

I ask

the Premier: Will he be tougher than his predecessor was with Ottawa and demand

that we are treated equal and get the same fiscal support that other provinces

are getting?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Deputy Premier.

MS. COADY:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I will

remind the Member opposite, it was actually during the former administration

where Newfoundland and Labrador no longer received equalization; in fact, they

didn't even show up for the discussions around the changes to the equalization

program. I can tell the Member opposite that every single week we are talking to

Ottawa about fiscal stabilization, every single week we're speaking to them

about equalization.

As the

Member opposite should know, if he does not know, the equalization formula is

not up for review for a couple of years, but I can tell you that we are

continuously and continuing to press for fiscal stabilization in this country.

Thank

you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

Stephenville - Port au Port.

MR. WAKEHAM:

Mr. Speaker, I'd remind the

current Minister of Finance that the former provincial minister of Finance said

those words, not me. In April of this year he said: “We're not asking for a

bailout. We're asking to be treated the same as other provinces.” He went on to

say: “We're not asking for any more. We're asking to be treated equal.”

Mr.

Speaker, the Premier has said that government needs to be rightsized and

attrition is not enough.

I ask

the Premier: Will there be layoffs in the public service?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Deputy Premier.

MS. COADY:

Thank you very much, Mr.

Speaker.

I will

say to the Member opposite that I would stand by what the former minister of

Finance said. We do ask to be treated equally in this country; we do ask to

receive what I consider the fair fiscal stabilization process, Mr. Speaker.

The

Member opposite keeps fear mongering around layoffs. We had a plan that was

pre-COVID that was moving towards a balanced budget. As the Member opposite

knows, we're in the midst of a global pandemic. We have a budget before this

House that does not contain any layoffs or any move towards that.

I ask

him to vote in favour of this current budget, Mr. Speaker, and help this

province get back on its feet from this global pandemic.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

Stephenville - Port au Port.

MR. WAKEHAM:

Mr. Speaker, I have to say

again these are not my words; these are the words of the Premier: Government

needs to be rightsized. Attrition is not enough. I'm not asking for layoffs but

I'd sure like to understand what his opinion on that is.

The

terms of reference which were released today for the Moya Greene task force says

it will review expenditures across government. Does her terms of reference

include layoffs for the public service?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Deputy Premier.

MS. COADY:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I'm

going to again – and I'll say it slowly so that everyone can hear and understand

what we've been saying about reimagining government. We have a very stellar

group of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians coming together to look at how we can

deliver public services differently, how we can improve the way we're offering

services in this province, how we can address the structural, long-standing – I

can hear the Members opposite chirping right now.

I know

it's a sensitive topic to them because in the heyday of oil and gas, Mr.

Speaker, when there were billions of dollars in excess revenue in this province,

they were still overspending.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

Stephenville - Port au Port.

MR. WAKEHAM:

Mr. Speaker, stall, stall,

stall.

Listen,

there's an old expression: The only people waiting for next year are people

whose teams have been eliminated from the playoffs.

I ask

the minister once again: Are there going to layoffs according to Moya Greene?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Deputy Premier.

MS. COADY:

Thank you very much, Mr.

Speaker.

I will

say again that we are looking at how we structurally improve this province. I

ask the Member opposite to join us, to join Newfoundlanders and Labradorians in

addressing the long-standing financial and fiscal challenges this province has

had.

I will

say to the Member opposite: I think that there's a rallying cry in this province

to do things better and that is what we are working on, especially since we are

just in the middle of a global pandemic that is addressing, that is challenging

some of our fiscal and economic realities in this province.

I ask

him, I ask all of his colleagues in this House of Assembly to join us in

improving Newfoundland and Labrador and coming out of this pandemic in a

stronger position.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for Grand

Falls-Windsor - Buchans.

MR. TIBBS:

Mr. Speaker, I certainly hope to God the public service doesn't see the layoffs

like the oil and gas has seen underneath this government.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. TIBBS:

Mr. Speaker, rotational workers are waiting almost two weeks for news of

relaxation of testing rules.

If the

Premier is still with us: When will these long-suffering heroes, many of whom

have been separated from their family, friends and their homes since this

pandemic began, get a decision on this?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Health and Community Services.

MR. HAGGIE:

Thank you very much, Mr.

Speaker.

The

situation with regard to rotational workers and their requirements has been

eased at least twice during COVID. They are in a fortunate position compared

with other workers returning to this province. I think that needs to be laid out

there upfront. The final analysis of the data is nearly ready and the issue of

whether or not those recommendations can be changed will be based solely on

that.

I would,

however, draw to everyone's attention that our cases over the last four weeks

have all been related to work-related travel. That is going to weigh into the

decision.

Thank

you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for Grand

Falls-Windsor - Buchans.

MR. TIBBS:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr.

Speaker, after 17 years in the oil industry people are waiting to hear these

answers.

The

Premier told the jobs rally, right here in front of Confederation Building, that

there is no future for us without a strong oil and gas industry. After a

lifetime in oil and gas, I agree.

behalf of all those who work in the offshore and spinoff jobs, I ask the

Premier: Does he think his friend Trudeau has done enough to ensure our oil and

gas industry will survive at this point?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Industry, Energy and Technology.

MR. A. PARSONS:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

certainly appreciate the Member's passion and the fact that he's spent a

lifetime in this industry. So surely he would know that the situation we face is

not just a Newfoundland and Labrador one, it's one that's global in nature

affecting every jurisdiction that is dealing in oil and gas.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Oh, oh!

MR. A. PARSONS:

Again, I'm trying to answer,

but they clearly don't want an answer.

What I

would say to the Member, though, is that during this process I've heard

solutions presented from the Member for Terra Nova, I've had other workers

present me with ideas that they want to have. What I would say to the Member

opposite, as someone who's worked in this industry, I would be more than happy

to hear what your solutions and suggestions are for the situation that we all

face.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for Cape

St. Francis.

MR. K. PARSONS:

Thank you very much, Mr.

Speaker.

The

Minister of Fisheries recently signed off –

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER:

Order, please!

The hon.

the Member for Cape St. Francis.

MR. K. PARSONS:

The Minister of Fisheries

recently signed off on a deal to see Quinlan Brothers purchased by Royal

Greenland.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER:

Order, please!

Order,

please!

MR. K. PARSONS:

This deal will make a foreign

company owned by a government in Greenland –

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Oh, oh!

MR. K. PARSONS:

Mr. Speaker, can I ask my

question?

MR. SPEAKER:

Order, please!

Order,

please!

I'd like

to hear the Member's question.

MR. K. PARSONS:

Thank you.

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for Cape

St. Francis.

MR. K. PARSONS:

The Minister of Fisheries

recently signed off on a deal to see Quinlan Brothers purchased by Royal

Greenland. This deal will make a foreign company owned by the Government of

Greenland the largest fish processor in this province. A foreign company will

control quotas, harvesting licence and land millions of pounds of shellfish and

other species around our province.

Premier,

please, Premier, answer this question: Do you support the level of foreign

investment in Newfoundland and Labrador fishery?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture.

MR. LOVELESS:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I'll

tell the hon. Member why I'm answering this question. It's because I have

confidence in the Premier and he has confidence in this minister.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. LOVELESS:

I'll tell the hon. Member in

terms of Royal Greenland, that transfer that happened, there was a process that

took place for five months by the fisheries licensing board and that Member over

there did not show any objections during that process, so you didn't do your

job, Mr. Speaker.

Thank

you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for Cape

St. Francis.

MR. K. PARSONS:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

This

deal is being considered a giveaway of our natural resources. Royal Greenland

received hundreds of millions of dollars in investments from the Government of

Greenland. This company is in direct competition with our province.

Premier:

Did you believe that Royal Greenland will make the best decisions of the

interests of the people of the province and the economy of Newfoundland given

the shareholders are the people of Greenland, and let the minister know that

over the last two years Royal Greenland has been reported to the bureau for

competition in Canada on failure to do fair business associates?

Did you

do your fair diligence on this report only two weeks into your portfolio? I

don't think so.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture.

MR. LOVELESS:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I think

we really need to put this where it should be. There was a due diligence

process, and that was a five-month process that was agreed upon back in 2005 by

the Dunne report, where it should be, for a fish processing licensing board.

Again, I

challenge the Member; you're here today presenting objectives to it. Why didn't

you object during the due diligence process which was a five-month process? You

didn't, I say to the hon. Member.

Thank

you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER:

Order, please!

The hon.

the Member for Cape St. Francis.

MR. K. PARSONS:

The previous minister took

four months; you took two weeks.

Mr.

Speaker, the federal government recently provided $80,000 to the International

Fund for Animal Welfare to remove plastics from harbours in our province. The

IFAW has a history of spreading falsehoods, propaganda about our seal fishery,

attacking Newfoundlanders and Labradorians as barbarians.

Will the

Premier commit to defending Newfoundland and Labrador by calling upon the

federal cousins to ban anti-sealing groups from projects in Newfoundland and

Labrador?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture.

MR. LOVELESS:

I thank the hon. Member for

the question because it is a good question. I do agree with what he said about

IFAW. When I found out about it, I wrote to the federal minister asking her to

reverse that decision. I've been discussing that with the federal MPs as well,

and they've been displeased about it. We're working on it. My understanding now

is that someone locally in this province may be doing that work. Even though

IFAW is attached to it, we don't agree with that and we've made that very clear

to the federal minister.

Thank

you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Leader of the

Third Party.

MS. COFFIN:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I trust

the Premier is enjoying his first day on the job.

Mr.

Speaker, I ask the Premier: What will happen to the work of the task forces if

he was to call an election before their mandates are complete?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Premier.

PREMIER FUREY:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and

thank you for that question.

Again,

the only one talking about an election is on the opposite side of the House.

I would

like to see the task force continue, irrespective of an election call, because I

think they are apolitical in nature. I think that they are going to provide some

sound apolitical advice in terms of the fiscal situation, in terms of economic

development and in terms of a sustainable future for Newfoundland and Labrador.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Leader of the

Third Party.

MS. COFFIN:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I look

forward to the Premier upholding his commitment to not hold a fall election.

Mr.

Speaker, I ask the Premier: What is he planning on doing to address the

systematic problems in our economy and neighbourhoods as exemplified by the

ongoing violence in parts of downtown St. John's?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Premier.

PREMIER FUREY:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I saw

and was troubled by those images as well. I think that there's no one in this

House that wants to see people in vulnerable situations, in vulnerable

environments be subject to some of those pictures that were released online. It

was truly disheartening.

I think

that we can work with the local municipalities and local property owners to

ensure that we're doing our best as government to ensure that we're protecting

the most vulnerable in society, which is one of the reasons I'm here.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Leader of the

Third Party.

MS. COFFIN:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I look

forward to action there.

Mr.

Speaker, budgets are about choices. Last year, the Liberal government chose to

give $337,000 to Mr. Gordon McIntosh; meanwhile, this government was not able to

ensure the entire $210,000 allocated for mother and baby nutritional supplements

in this province for families making less than $26,000 per year.

I ask

the Premier: Where do his priorities lie? Consultants with Liberal ties or the

mouths of babies?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Industry, Energy and Technology.

MR. A. PARSONS:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I'm

happy to answer this question, and it's ironic that I answer a question about

babies when I'm sitting right next to the first one in this very House of

Assembly.

I don't

think there's any doubt as to our priorities because it's this budget that

committed to $25-a-day child care here in this province. It's funny; I've been

hearing from the Opposition about going to the past, the Member opposite is

speaking to last year's budget. What I want to know is as we move forward with

this year's budget, I look forward to seeing how the Member votes and whether

she'll support this government and our priorities.

Thank

you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Leader of the

Third Party.

MS. COFFIN:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

During

the Estimates process, I suggested that perhaps we could raise the threshold

beyond $26,000 for a household and afford individuals more than $60 per month

for a nutritional supplement for pregnant mothers.

Mr.

Speaker, the Premier has said that everything is on the table.

I ask

the Premier: Are the following cuts on the table: seniors' medication and dental

care; public services in rural Newfoundland and Labrador; mental health

services, especially for our most vulnerable; safe, affordable housing;

equitable employment benefits such as paid sick days; long-term care staffing in

rural Newfoundland; taxes to corporations; environmental protection agencies?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Deputy Premier.

MS. COADY:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I will

say this, that we have a budget before this House where none of those things are

in that budget. None of those cuts are in that budget, Mr. Speaker. I ask the

Member opposite to vote in favour of our budget because it's a very important

budget for the people of Newfoundland and Labrador. I'm concerned that she is

fear mongering and talking about things that are not contained in the budget.

We have

a reasonable, responsible plan. We have a reasonable, responsible budget. I

encourage everyone in this House to support it so that we can support the people

of Newfoundland and Labrador.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Leader of the

Third Party.

MS. COFFIN:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr.

Speaker, I ask the Premier: Will he legislate a living wage for the people of

this province?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Immigration, Skills and Labour for a quick answer.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER:

Order, please!

The hon.

the Minister of Immigration, Skills and Labour.

MR. BYRNE:

While I attempt to talk about a very serious issue, Mr. Speaker, which is the

ability for people in this province to be able to earn a living and to make a

wage that reflects their needs, I do reflect on the fact that we've had as a

labour standard a minimum wage which was arrived at through consultations.

Representatives from labour, representatives from the employer community, as

well as an independent chair, provided direction to this government, as was

required under legislation that was produced some years earlier, that we arrive

at a formula to provide recommendations for a minimum wage.

What I

would like to point out is that ongoing discussions occur each and every day

with groups that have a very, very strong interest and provide this government

with strong, strong input. I enjoy listening and working with those groups every

day.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The time for Question Period

has expired.

Before I

move to Presenting Reports, I just want to remind the Members that during

Question Period I want questions and answers to be directed through the Speaker.

That's part of keeping the temperature a little bit lower. I noticed several

times during Question Period today, Members on both sides of the House addressed

the Members across the Chamber. So I remind Members that they should direct

their comments to the Chair.

Presenting Reports by Standing and Select Committees.

Tabling

of Documents.

Tabling of

Documents

MR. SPEAKER:

I have two documents to

table.

accordance with

section 19, subsection (5), paragraph (

a) of the

House of Assembly Accountability,

Integrity and Administration Act , I hereby table the minutes of the House of

Assembly Management Commission meetings held on July 30, 2020; September 9,

2020; September 29, 2020.

Also,

pursuant to

section 9(1) of the

Transparency and Accountability Act , I am pleased to table the

2019-20 Annual Performance Report of the Office of the Citizens'

Representative.

Further

tabling of documents?

Notices

of Motion.

Notices of Motion

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Digital Government and Service NL.

MS. STOODLEY:

Mr. Speaker, I give notice

that I will ask leave to introduce a bill entitled,

An Act To Amend The

Condominium Act, 2009, Co-operatives Act And The Corporations Act, Bill 51.

MR. SPEAKER:

Further notices of motion?

The hon.

the Government House Leader.

MR. CROCKER:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I give

notice that I will ask leave to introduce a bill entitled,

An Act To Amend The

Other Post-Employment Benefits Eligibility Modification Act, Bill 49.

MR. SPEAKER:

Further notices of motion?

The hon.

the Government House Leader.

MR. CROCKER:

Thank you very much, Mr.

Speaker.

I give

notice that I will ask leave to introduce a bill entitled,

An Act To Amend The

Auditor General Act, Bill 50.

MR. SPEAKER:

Further notices of motion?

The hon.

the Government House Leader.

MR. CROCKER:

Mr. Speaker, I give notice

under

section 11(1) of the Standing Orders

that this House do not adjourn at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, the 26th of October.

MR. SPEAKER:

Further notices of motion?

The hon.

the Government House Leader.

MR. CROCKER:

Mr. Speaker, I give notice

under

section 11(1) of the Standing Orders

that this House do not adjourn at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, October 27.

MR. SPEAKER:

Further notices of motion?

Answers

to Questions for which Notice has been Given.

Petitions.

Petitions

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for Grand

Falls-Windsor - Buchans.

MR. TIBBS:

Thank you very much, Mr.

Speaker.

Mr.

Speaker, the residents of Grand Falls-Windsor and surrounding municipalities of

the Central region do not agree with the recent decision to redirect non-urgent

laboratory samples from the Central Newfoundland Regional Health Centre to the

James Paton Memorial Regional Health Centre, due to the potential negative

impacts of our facility, its employees and the patients of CNRHC.

Therefore, we petition the House of Assembly as follows: We, the undersigned,

call upon the House of Assembly to urge the Government of Newfoundland and

Labrador to keep the laboratory services in Grand Falls-Windsor, therefore

limiting the fallout that would occur if this decision were to move forward.

Mr.

Speaker, I've received over 4,000 names on petitions that went through the

Central district. I want to thank all those who put their names on the petition

as well as Councillor Holly Dwyer who has worked adamantly on this file as well.

The

people of my district and surrounding municipalities find the answers that have

come so far disingenuous. They have a problem with it. Whenever you move a

service or disrupt a service, it has to have some sort of implication or

changes.

I'm not

going to take long with this, Mr. Speaker, but I'll just say this, could the

minister table the report or any documentation or any evidence about changes to

lab services from Grand Falls-Windsor to the other district that would save

money or be better for the province? Any evidence whatsoever would be great. A

report that is out there somewhere, apparently; if he could table that, that

would be great because nobody is just going to come into my backyard and take

services and effect jobs and services as well. I look forward to the report.

Thank

you, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Health and Community Services.

MR. HAGGIE:

Thank you very much, Mr.

Speaker.

I think

it's important to lay out a couple of things. One is that lab services in the

Central Newfoundland Regional Health Centre will continue. There will be no

change to the level of service to patients or clinicians.

What

will happen, in the smaller communities, places such as Hugh Twomey and Baie

Verte and those kind of category B as we call them, emergency departments, is

they're actually going to get better lab services out of hours, with instant,

pretty well, bedside testing on a wider range of tests that are currently

available. They will also not notice any alteration in their level of service

except perhaps an improvement in the speed in which the results go back.

This is

the aim of lab reform, Mr. Speaker, it's about doing things wiser with the

dollars. It's about doing things better for the patients of Central

Newfoundland. I would encourage the Member to spread a little more accurate

information with his public postings.

Thank

you very much.

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

Harbour Main.

MS. CONWAY OTTENHEIMER:

Thank you, Mr.

Speaker.

WHEREAS

in the District of Harbour Main there are many seniors who are concerned that

there's no government-assisted dental plan for them.

Seniors

are struggling each month and barely covering their day-to-day living expenses.

In addition to these daily financial worries, there are a large number of

seniors who have to live with the pain and agony that goes with lack of dental

treatment. The increased stress and anxiety on these individuals and their

families, due to the lack of an affordable dental program, is discouraging and

it's unacceptable.

We, the

undersigned, call upon the House of Assembly to urge the Government of

Newfoundland and Labrador to immediately take the necessary action to implement

an affordable dental program for our seniors, our most vulnerable citizens, so

that they no longer need to endure the pain and suffering from the lack of

required dental work.

Mr.

Speaker, there are people in both urban and rural Newfoundland and Labrador who

are doing without publicly accessible and affordable dental care, specifically,

our seniors. For example, just in the last few weeks, I have been in touch and

contacted by seniors. One, for example, is a 70-year-old man. He requires to

have 10 extractions.

He's a

low-income senior. He's worked his entirely life and is now only living on less

than $20,000 each year. He's trying to pay bills; he's trying to buy groceries.

That's next to impossible without the added expense of dental work. His family

have been watching as their father has been going through this pain. He's been

almost continuously on antibiotics for the infection for years.

Another

senior requires 19 extractions. He told me that he's on a limited income of just

around $1,000 per month and he's managed to get the money together by getting a

loan of $2,750 and having the procedure completed.

Mr.

Speaker, these are just two examples. My colleagues in the Opposition here have

raised these issues in other petitions as well.

anticipate what the minister is going to say. He will say that while we have to

solve our fiscal problems – in fact, this is what he said in response to one of

my colleagues raising this petition – we have to spend within the limits of our

budget.

counter that by saying, if we look at, for example, the Ontario government, they

have implemented a new program which addresses low-income adults and seniors,

but studies, including one by the Ontario government, have shown that having no

public dental care has cost the government and the health care system millions

and millions of dollars in the long term.

Instead

of going for regular dental checkups and treatment, people end up in our

doctor's offices and our emergency rooms and even hospital admissions due to

severe dental oral health issues, pain and infections. We all know as well, and

the minister is surely well aware, of how serious dental oral health issues can

and do affect seniors' overall health – physically, emotionally and mentally.

Mr.

Speaker, maybe the government believes that they save money in the short term by

eliminating the adult basic dental program and the program that was implemented

by the Conservatives, by the PCs, but it will cost them much, much more in the

long term by having no public dental program or one that is failing so many of

our seniors.

Mr.

Speaker, I ask that the minister recognize that this policy is needed. We need a

more improved dental program; seniors require a dental program to maintain their

overall physical health and mental health.

Thank

you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Health and Community Services.

MR. HAGGIE:

Thank you very much, Mr.

Speaker.

I heard

the Member's impassioned plea and it's not received unsympathetically; however,

I think, again, some of the information presented there has been selective.

We do

have a dental plan, Mr. Speaker; we have a low-income support plan. Whilst not

the most lavish in Canada, it's nowhere near the bottom of the pile. Is there

room for improvement? Yes, Mr. Speaker, there doubtless is. We also have, for

those individuals for whom she is specifically advocating, a variety of

mechanisms to have their dental situation looked at by dentists and there's an

appeal committee, the dental management committee.

I would

encourage the Member, if she has specific cases, to supply the appropriate

details to the department if this has not otherwise been resolved, but I would

argue that some of her comments are selective and they've left out the fact we

do actually have a dental plan, Mr. Speaker.

Thank

you.

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Government House

Leader.

MR. CROCKER:

Orders of the Day, Mr.

Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER:

Orders of the Day.

Orders of the Day

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Government House

Leader.

MR. CROCKER:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I call

from the Order Paper, Motion 13, seconded by the Minister of Immigration, Skills

and Labour.

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Government House

Leader.

MR. CROCKER:

Yes, Mr. Speaker, just

quickly. This is just a housekeeping matter, actually, to make some corrections

to the Order Paper so that we're set to go for next week.

MR. SPEAKER:

Is the House ready for the

question?

All

those in favour, ‘aye.'

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Aye.

MR. SPEAKER:

All those against, ‘nay.'

Carried.

The hon.

the Government House Leader.

MR. CROCKER:

Thank you very much, Mr.

Speaker.

I call

from the Order Paper, Motion 1, the Budget Speech, seconded by the Deputy

Government House Leader.

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Leader of the

Official Opposition.

MR. CROSBIE:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Oh, oh!

MR. CROSBIE:

I'd ask the other side to

save their applause until the end.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Leader of the

Official Opposition.

MR. CROSBIE:

Each year, regardless of

which party holds government, a budget is prepared and tabled in this hon. House

of Assembly. It is the government of the day's spending blueprint and often

comes with policy statements to guide government's action for the fiscal year.

The annual budget brings with it a Budget Speech, the Estimates book, a report

on the provincial economy and other shorter documents such as highlights and

news releases. These all work together to paint a picture of the province's

financial and economic health.

Before I

get into the details of Budget 2020 ,

on the occasion of his first day in this House, I'd like to take a moment to

welcome the new Premier, the Member for Humber - Gros Morne, into the hon.

Chamber.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. CROSBIE:

Being a Member of the House

of Assembly comes with great honour but also great duty. As MHAs, we all must

put the interests of citizens first and seek to find balance between competing

priorities. Some Members of this House have represented their constituents for

many years, over multiple terms, and the secret of their success is to always

listen to the people of your district, seek to provide assistance to the people

of your district and, to the best of your ability, represent the interests of

your district. After all, it is the constituents who are our bosses.

leaders of provincial parties, the Premier, the Leader of the NDP, and I have

added responsibilities. Not only do we have districts to represent, but we are

also responsible to act in the best interest of the entire province. We must be

advocates for each and every person in the province, standing up for their jobs,

their well-being and their communities.

I should

not have to remind the Premier of his responsibilities. It is now his name on

the door to the Premier's Office. He is now accountable to the people of this

province, and it is his responsibility to ensure that the people of the province

have a better quality of life and are more prosperous in the future than they

are today.

This

will take action. Swift, decisive and informed decisions are needed. The people

of this province do not need more delays through the formation of drawn-out task

forces on urgent matters that require urgent action. So I urge the Premier to

change course and be a take-action Premier, not the task force Premier he is at

risk of becoming.

I also

remind the Premier that I will be here every day holding him to account and

advocating for every resident of the province. I will continue to speak up for

job creation; I will continue to speak up for workers in our offshore industry,

workers at Come By Chance, small business owners, parents, teachers, students,

health care workers, municipal leadership. No matter their profession, age,

gender or socio-economic status, I am here to stand up for Newfoundlanders and

Labradorians. I will not stop advocating for the people of this province. Not

today, not tomorrow, not ever.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. CROSBIE:

With that being said, I

welcome the Premier into this House and I look forward to engaging him in

rigorous debate.

Back to

the budget, Mr. Speaker. Before I talk about what is or is not contained in the

budget, I'd like to talk about the budget process, budget preparation and

post-budget activities.

budget day we were given a number of documents, as I previously mentioned. I

won't recap each document, but I will draw reference to the immense amount of

work that goes into creating a budget and the accompanying documentation. So

much work goes into a provincial budget that officials within the Department of

Finance have already started preparing next year's budget as we speak.

To the

Finance officials: Thank you. Thank you for cross-checking all the numbers,

thank you for your authorship of the budget Estimates and Economy book, and

thank you for your efforts in the budget process.

I'm not

going to credit them with the authorship of the title of the document. I assume

an outside consultant was paid for that one.

I'd also

like to thank the officials from all the departments who sat before us during

the Estimates Committee meetings. Yesterday morning in this House, we finished

the examination of Estimates, so I'd like to take this opportunity to thank

those officials who did their very best to give full, accurate and clear

answers. I know my colleagues in Opposition asked a lot of questions.

I'd also

like to thank the Table Officers, Broadcast staff, Committee Members and all

others who sat here meeting after meeting to make sure the Estimates process was

carried out.

Mr.

Speaker, I'd also like to send out a special thank you to the staff in our

political office. While we have debated the Estimates, they've worked tirelessly

behind the scenes to prepare us, guide us and take notes. I think all Members of

this House can agree that we couldn't do our jobs as MHAs without our staff.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. CROSBIE:

Mr. Speaker, I'd also like to

recognize my own caucus. They sit here with me every day, provide guidance and

stand up for the residents of their districts. I know each Member of my caucus

has spoken passionately to this budget – passionately – representing their

constituents and I could not be prouder of them. To my team: Thank you for

fighting for the jobs of your constituents, the businesses in your districts and

for services like busing, roads and health care.

My team,

the Progressive Conservative team, has spoken at length about this budget, but

it is my job today to bring a conclusion to our remarks, summarize them and put

on the record how we collectively feel about the Liberal government's fiscal and

economic plan.

The new

Premier said that this is a budget about emerging from an economic crisis

together, yet he did not explain how we would emerge from the economic crisis or

how we will do it together, when, according to the budget, 13,000 people are

being thrown out of their jobs this year. As I've said previously, and I'll say

it again, that 13,000 is the most important number in this budget. That's 13,000

job losses; 13,000 people who will struggle to buy Christmas presents; 13,000

families who have to make tough decisions; and 13,000 people who are ready to

work and grow our province.

These

13,000 people need this Liberal government to stand up, take decisive action and

focus on jobs. I'm focused on the workers who are waiting for their phone to

ring and waiting to get back to work. Premier, if you're listening, I urge you

to help them get back to work.

The

public knows that our fiscal situation is dire. I will not add to the pile of

gloomy statistics already so ably analyzed by my Finance critic colleague, the

Member for Stephenville - Port au Port, and by other Members of the PC caucus.

The public also knows that if job creation does not become a priority for the

Liberals, the statistics will only get worse.

When I

told the media on budget day that 13,000 job losses was the most important

number in the budget, as I've repeated here today, the province did not know

that in just a matter of weeks the job loss total would escalate, even beyond

the gloomy prediction contained in the budget. Since the budget was brought down

on September 30, there have been layoffs at Husky, Suncor's Terra Nova, Come By

Chance Refinery, Trans-Ocean, various airlines, numerous engineering firms and

small businesses.

Yesterday, we also heard about delays in the aquaculture industry. Jobs are

vanishing from our province and the Liberals are not taking action. Without jobs

our economy will continue to decline, tax revenue will decline and the fiscal

situation of the province will be even worse.

Our

provincial budget problem is not hard to explain. The province raises about $7

billion and spends about $9 billion. Obviously, we cannot sustain our province

indefinitely running deficits, but neither can we sustain our province

continually losing jobs.

If I

were premier, my immediate action would be to get more Newfoundlanders and

Labradorians working. Then, when employment and the economy rebound, I would

take decisive action to lower the province's deficit and secure a bright and

sustainable future for every resident of this province.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. CROSBIE:

Jobs are created through

investment largely by the private sector, but investment will not come unless

there is confidence and confidence must be grounded on something more than words

of hope. Investor confidence will only be grounded on sound leadership and

planning. In a time of economic crisis, it is imperative not just to tell people

what you dream about achieving, but to tell people exactly how you plan to get

from here to there. In a time of crisis, people look to their leaders for clear

direction, and that is what Budget 2020

is sadly lacking.

The

words in Budget 2020 are even more

important than the numbers. A budget should ground hope and inspiration on a

clear projection with measurable milestones of how people's lives will look in

Newfoundland and Labrador in the next three, five or 10 years, and in what ways

people's lives will be better. The Liberal government tells us that this is a

pandemic budget and therefore a status quo budget.

Throughout this pandemic, throughout this economic storm, instead of taking the

helm and guiding our province on a clearly charted course to calmer waters, the

government opposite has essentially run this province on autopilot and with

Budget 2020 , the province continues to

toss to and fro on stormy seas, on autopilot, without any clear sense of where

the province is heading. That lack of clarity is what really makes investors

nervous and we have seen one investor after another ratchet back their

operations, waiting to find out what this government intends to do.

The

Liberals have squandered an important opportunity to state in clear and

unequivocal terms what course of action they intend to take. Instead, they opted

to kick the can down the road. They have punted the decisions into the next

budget. They tell us that in the next budget we will get a peek around the

corner at their plans.

At this

point, it's not even clear that they have a plan, even a secret plan. All we've

been told is that there will be tough decisions, painful decisions in budget

2021. Tough decisions were the Premier's words, but we've also been told that

the tough decisions will be set out, not by the Premier, who just took his seat,

but someone else who will provide recommendations that will inform our path to a

sustainable and diversified vibrant economy for future generations to inherit.

Dame

Moya Greene has been appointed by the Premier to lead a task force on economic

growth. When she was appointed, the Premier said she was appointed with a

primary goal of presenting opportunities and ideas to the Premier as we look to

a better and brighter economic future.

Mr.

Speaker, the keywords there are “economic future.” When I heard that, I was

under the impression that Ms. Greene would be looking for ways to create jobs;

however, on budget day, the Finance Minister said Ms. Greene would be

reimagining government. Does reimagining government mean cutting programs and

services and, with it, cutting jobs? Reimagining government does not sound like

job creation.

In a

province losing people, the last thing we need is to be turfing people from

public service jobs at a time when the private sector is not healthy enough to

create the jobs to employ them. When the private sector economy is thriving,

people in the public service have opportunities to bring their skills to other

employers and continue to live and contribute to the economy right here in our

province where they're needed.

When our

private sector economy is decimated by one shutdown after another, as we're

seeing now, people displaced from the public sector would have few choices but

to join the thousands who have picked up and moved away. How does that

contribute to “a sustainable and diversified, vibrant economy for future

generations to inherit”?

people need to know – and they need to know now – what exactly Ms. Greene is

being tasked to do and whether this reimagining of government will be done in

tandem with concerted efforts to get our private sector economy thriving as it

once was.

I hope

the Premier will promise that the people of the province will see all the

recommendations of the Greene Economic Recovery team, as well as the budget 2021

choices the government makes in light of the Greene report, before the Premier

asks Her Honour to trigger the next general election. Because people have a

right to see the Moya Greene report, and know the Premier's budgetary decisions,

and have them scrutinized and debated in the House before they go to the polls.

Although

we have no idea what advice Ms. Greene will deliver, we know the government

already has the million-dollar McKinsey report in hand, and that report

identified golden opportunities for this province's economy to thrive on the

strengths we already have. We know we have the resources. We have strategic

advantages. We have skilled people ready to work. All the province is lacking

right now is the decisive leadership to turn those strengths into real

investment, real growth and real jobs.

Twenty

months after the February 2019 McKinsey report was delivered, all we are seeing

this government do is commission yet another process to study where the

opportunities are and suggest what might be done to seize them. It's not

reassuring to investors to see this Liberal government and their new Premier set

up task forces to replicate the work that others have already done to identify

opportunities we already ought to be seizing. Only a decisive plan of action

will give people a solid reason to believe we are on course for “a sustainable

and diversified, vibrant economy for future generations to inherit.”

Because

the Liberal government opposite has failed to put forward a decisive plan of

action, it is my obligation, as Leader of the PC Opposition, to offer my own

plan of action to give people confidence that Newfoundland and Labrador can

indeed build a sustainable, diversified, vibrant economy for future generations

to inherit.

Let me

tell this House and all the residents of Newfoundland and Labrador how I would

act and how I would ensure jobs were available for the residents of this

province. Jobs will be my first priority. This includes jobs in our offshore

industry, jobs at the Come By Chance Refinery and jobs created by small- and

medium-sized businesses.

Several

months ago, I released my action plan for the offshore industry. The Natural

Resources Minister recently asked the Official Opposition for just one example

of something we would recommend that could help Newfoundland and Labrador escape

the grip of the global downturn in the oil industry. While the government

opposite is offering excuses, I'm offering solutions.

One of

the solutions in my plan is to make a strong and persuasive and vocal case to

the federal government for incentives to drive exploration and petroleum

development. This is what Noia recommended many months ago, as they watched the

summer exploration season dwindle away. This is the approach Norway has taken to

secure a surprisingly large share of the limited exploration dollars that are

circulating now around the globe. Norway is a green energy leader, an

environmentally responsible jurisdiction that recognizes the need for balance to

protect jobs and growth, and they have taken a course of action that our

provincial government should have been able to persuade the Trudeau government

to follow, but failed to do so.

The

government opposite and the new Premier have meekly applauded the Trudeau

government's failure to act. This is not leadership on behalf of the province.

This is capitulation, at a time when leadership is what Newfoundland and

Labrador requires.

My plan

of action also includes working urgently with Suncor to ensure Newfoundlanders

and Labradorians are working on the maintenance and refit of the Terra Nova

FPSO. The Terra Nova FPSO will soon be on the way to Bull Arm where it will sit

idle. Tradespeople who are capable of doing much of the work are sitting at home

waiting for the call that never comes.

I would

demand that our tradespeople be the ones hired to do the work on the Terra Nova

FPSO. I would determine what Suncor requires to start this refit and then find a

way to make it happen, and I would work to ensure the FPSO gets back in service

as soon as possible, producing oil and sustaining jobs.

I would

not sit silently while the federal government is destroying our province's

offshore industry through deliberate action. I would certainly not sit by and

wait until the start of yet another year to make decisions on the offshore while

time and opportunity and jobs are slipping away.

My plan

of action for jobs and growth in our offshore also includes working with the

federal government to put in place a petroleum incentive program, or PIP, to

give cost-reduction incentives to companies based on the magnitude of their

exploration drilling programs.

My plan

of action includes making retroactive changes to allow the parcels of land

awarded in the November 2019 land sale to fall under the previously announced

changes regarding the allowable expenditure credit for drilling overhead costs

and the accelerated write-down of security deposits.”

My plan

of action: “ Review

the land sales tender process to ensure a comprehensive approach to

evaluation that includes economic as well as other benefits including but not

limited to, social, local supply chain, diversity, inclusion, and

environmental.”

My plan

of action includes “Advocating for the reinstatement of the

Atlantic Investment Tax Credit of 10-15% . This would encourage the

development of” the Bay du Nord Project and other offshore resources.

My plan

of action includes “Ensuring the future fiscal certainty for any projects …

started in the next 5 years which are tied back to a production facility.”

My plan

of action includes “Investing the provincial portion of the CNLOPB budget for

two fiscal years to make funds available

within the oil industry to support exploration or production jobs within the

province.”

My plan

of action includes “Lobbying the Federal Government to

permanently allow foreign tankers to operate within Canadian waters

with the purpose to transport Newfoundland and Labrador oil to other provinces

within Canada.”

My plan

of action includes “ Reviewing and

advocating for other liquidity measures , such as, immediate deductibility of

capital costs against taxable income in the year it is expensed which would

allow the industry to free up liquid cash flow which should be used to support

jobs within the province.”

These

are concrete, tangible action items that can deliver jobs, but only if there is

strong leadership at the helm to champion our case and not relent until results

are delivered.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. CROSBIE:

My plan of action also

includes securing an investor for the West White Rose project. Rather than

making excuses about the global oil downturn or the pandemic, I would be working

diligently with Husky Energy to identify ways to ensure the project's viability.

That includes making a stronger and louder case before the federal government to

offer a responsible equity investment and other incentives to get this project

up and running and 1,000 people back to work.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. CROSBIE:

Mr. Speaker, a federal equity

investment is what started this province's oil industry, when the Mulroney

government bought a stake in Hibernia. But that would not have happened without

the strong and relentless advocacy of my father, who resolved at all times to

put Newfoundland and Labrador's best interests first, no matter what his

opponents or even his colleagues said against it. That's leadership, and it's

been sorely lacking in both levels of government today.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. CROSBIE:

I would take inspiration from

individuals like former Prime Minister Mulroney who helped launch our offshore

when he agreed to support Hibernia, even when many said it should not be done.

The

remarks Mr. Mulroney delivered on October 1, set out a vision of what could be

accomplished when those in positions of leadership have the political will. He

set out a vision of a future of jobs and prosperity based, not on wishful

thinking, but on capitalizing on our known human and natural resources.

Mr.

Mulroney's vision is not one of task forces and delays; it is one of action and

prosperity. It is one of jobs, where people are working creating a vibrant and

rich future for all of us.

In this

spirit, I share the recent following words of Mr. Mulroney with the House.

“Overall, the offshore industry in Newfoundland can generate about $60 billion

in GDP by 2036 and I'm saying to you, can anybody in his right mind say no to an

industry that's going to do this for Newfoundland and Labrador? I say,

absolutely not ….”

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. CROSBIE:

Mr. Speaker, these are words

of Mr. Mulroney. He goes on to say: “… and if I were Prime Minister I'd know

what to do to ensure development.

“And let

me tell you what I would do. I speak from the perspective as … one of the

fathers of the Newfoundland [and Labrador] offshore industry, but also as

someone who in 2006 was voted by all of the environmental leaders in Canada as

the greenest Prime Minister in Canadian history. So I'm speaking about both

sides of this equation. Both of which are important and indeed vital.”

Mr.

there, an advanced energy project that strikes a balance between enormous

national and economic opportunity, and managing our global climate change

commitments . This is not contradictory. It's been done before.

“So,

it's been done before and I think and that I know in fact that Newfoundland

[and Labrador]'s oil per barrel emits significantly less GHGs than any other

crude and so I would look to incent investments that would bring on this

advantage and lower the carbon footprint further .

“Now, my

instructions to stay at the negotiating table of Newfoundland and Labrador and

our industry partners to find solutions to development like [West] White Rose

and others, much as we did with Hibernia. Walking away is at stake and not just

for Newfoundland and Labrador but for all the companies involved. And so in this

negotiation I would tell them as well, failure is not an option. I want a

deal with Newfoundland and Labrador and by God if I have to go down there and do

it myself, we're gonna get ” it done.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. CROSBIE:

Let me repeat that failure is

not an option. Mr. Mulroney said it and I also say it. If I were premier,

failure would not be an option. I would take action and champion the cause of

Newfoundlanders and Labradorians to get back to work.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. CROSBIE:

I want to take a moment, Mr.

Speaker, now to talk about Come By Chance. While we're all concerned about the

future of the Come By Chance Refinery, there are MHAs in my caucus who spend the

majority of their days taking calls from concerned workers.

The MHA

for Placentia West - Bellevue and the MHA for Terra Nova represent the two

districts which are impacted most by the devastating news of the refinery

closure. These two fine Members have asked questions in this House and they'll

continue to demand action. I join with them. We will continue to fight for the

workers of the Come By Chance Refinery and ensure that there are jobs at the

refinery for years to come.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. CROSBIE:

The Come By Chance Refinery

is important to the entire province. The refinery produces fuels such as propane

and jet fuel, which are used in the province. They are producing fuel that NL

Hydro turns into electricity, which we all use.

The

workers at the refinery live in Arnold's Cove, Clarenville and many other

communities in the surrounding area. These workers shop in the communities, eat

in the establishments in the area and support the local economy. If the refinery

closes permanently, the impacts will be felt throughout the province.

Mr.

Speaker, the Minister of Industry, Energy and Technology doesn't like to talk

about the what-ifs. He keeps saying the sale of the refinery is a commercial

transaction. In lack of details from the minister, let me outline how I would

have acted to secure the jobs at the refinery.

First, I

would have ensured I was monitoring the sale very closely. I would have seen

that there was trouble with the sale and would have checked with both parties to

see what I could have done, as premier, to help smooth a successful transition.

Secondly, I would have continued talks with other potential buyers. I would have

made sure that, if the original deal fell through, another company was ready to

step in and take over the transaction at a moment's notice. I would ensure that

jobs at the Come By Chance Refinery exist for years to come.

Mr.

Speaker, I said moments ago that employment at Come By Chance supports small-

and medium-sized businesses within the region. With that being said, I want to

take a few moments to talk about small- and medium-sized businesses within the

province.

While

Budget 2020 contains $25 million to

support small businesses within the province, this Liberal government is

delaying in getting the funding out the door. The money cannot create jobs while

it sits in the province's bank account. This money must be swiftly given out to

the business owners who can turn it into jobs for the people of the province.

The Liberals haven't even released which businesses are eligible to apply, what

the money can be used for or how much a business can obtain.

Mr.

Speaker, I feel for the business owners who are trying their hardest to resist

the economic downturn. They are trying their hardest to rehire staff, increase

their sales and grow our economy.

Ruwei

Liang, a business owner in my district, comes to mind as a story of resilience.

Ruwei Liang and his family opened their restaurant in the middle of a pandemic.

Now despite adversity, the family can't keep up with the business.

Ruwei

says his new business in Airport Heights has been getting hundreds of calls a

day for take-out orders. A small staff at KungFu restaurant keep food orders

filled at the new spot, the only restaurant in the neighbourhood.

Ruwei

has been working toward opening a Chinese restaurant in St. John's since 2018,

and it finally came together right as the COVID-19 pandemic started spreading

around the world – talk about adversity.

Liang

has a small staff, a cook and two waitresses, along with him and his wife, and

he has two restaurants just outside of Hong Kong. He came to Canada in 2013, and

after travelling through different provinces, settled on Newfoundland and

Labrador to continue his culinary dream.

Even

succeeding business owners like Liang need government support. If Liang can

create success without government support in the middle of a pandemic, imagine

what he can do with the kind of support the government ought to be providing to

drive small- and medium-sized business growth during these challenging times.

This is

Small Business Week. Instead of going into rapid response mode to create jobs,

the Liberal government is in do-nothing mode. They're not mobilizing their $25

million fund, and red tape remains a nuisance to small- and medium-sized

businesses. Red tape is a barrier to investment and job creation, and as the

Mills's report found, it is an item for urgent action which this government has

ignored.

A small

business owner should not have to talk to multiple people in multiple

departments to get a simple answer. Small business owners should be assisted and

helped by government, not bogged down by paperwork and process. A government I

lead will move swiftly to slice away the red tape that blocks business growth

and jobs.

In 2020,

all applications and forms should be able to be filled out online. We should be

reducing red tape and letting business focus on their customers and their

employees.

The need

to be competitive in our tax system is also urgent, and to say that we are

competitive with other Atlantic Canadian provinces is a recipe for mediocrity

and failure, because the whole region is lagging the rest of Canada in jobs and

growth. And under this government, investor confidence is in the basement.

Mr.

Speaker, we should not settle for being in the middle of the pack. We should not

stop until we have the best business environment for growth. No province needs

growth more than Newfoundland and Labrador does, so we must set our standards

higher. Failure is not an option.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. CROSBIE:

And while we are at it, we

will also strive to be the best in health outcomes, education outcomes,

immigration, population growth, jobs growth and quality of life. We will reach

these goals, not just by talking about them but by putting into effect decisive

plans of action that chart our course from where we are to where we aspire to

be.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Oh, oh!

MR. CROSBIE:

There's a lot of chatter

going on.

MR. SPEAKER:

Order, please!

MR. CROSBIE:

A government I lead will be a

government that demands progress and delivers results. Newfoundland and Labrador

is a special place. We have a unique culture, natural ecology and a great

potential. Even the government opposite acknowledges the potential, but that's

not enough. What we need is a government that will seize the opportunities of

this province that will give people jobs and our economy a boost. It's what we

need, but it's not what we're seeing.

Premier

Ball's letter of March 20, 2020, to the Right Honourable Justin Trudeau

summarizes the story of this province's missed opportunities and sad decline

under the Liberals. I call this the run-out-of-time letter. I quote: “While all

provinces are having challenges, our particular situation is driven by our lack

of fiscal capacity before the crisis and is now compounded by the collapse of

oil prices and the COVID-19 pandemic.”

When we

ran out of time, the Bank of Canada extended us a credit card and we've been

living on it ever since. I won't dwell on the gory details of the financial mess

we're in because the public already know we're bankrupt unless backed up by

federal credit, actual or implied. This is the sorry result of five years of

directionless Liberal rule.

The

former premier wrote “… our lack of fiscal capacity before the crisis ….”

The Liberals have been in government for five years. Five years before

COVID-19 and the economic downturn. That's five years they had to put our

province on a better path. Five years of Liberal failure has not resulted in a

better province.

Now, we

have a new Premier who loves marine metaphors, but what has changed? Is he

standing today to defend a budget that takes the helm in the blinding storm

while spindrifts swirl and tempests roar? Or a budget that leaves the ship of

state aimlessly adrift without a bearing on a safe harbour? The answer is clear

from the budget.

For

Liberals the time for action is always later. The constant Liberal mantra is:

Why do today what you can put off until next year? Kick the can down the road.

Never make a decision. Delay, delay, delay until finally, undeniably, out there

for the world to see, the Premier finally tells the prime minister our province

has run out of time.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. CROSBIE:

We did not need to run out of

time. The bond-rating agencies, former Auditor General and political watchers

have all warned about the province's revenue problem. We did not need to run out

of time, but run out of time the Liberals did.

Mr.

Speaker, I will not dwell on the past because nothing can be done to change it

now. I will continue to look forward to the future because I do believe our

province can have a bright one. The main value of looking back is to ensure we

don't make the same mistakes moving forward. This province's future will be no

brighter than its past, unless it learns from the mistakes that brought us here

and changes course. The principal mistake that has cost Newfoundland and

Labrador new investment, new revenue streams and new jobs is the failure to be

decisive in seizing the opportunities before us.

The

former premier said our province has run out of time, but it is the do-nothing

Liberal government which has run out of time with the electorate. Voters have

the habit of asking the ballot box question: Am I better off than I was when the

government came in? In the case of today's Liberal government, the question is:

Am I better off than I was five years ago?

A look

at a few economic indicators gives insight into how voters may answer this

question come election time. These are from the Economy document. I won't read

into the record all the numbers, they're easily referred to, but they involve

GDP at market prices, retail sales, employment and labour force numbers, and

there would be plenty of others. But to summarize, all these measures of

economic well-being, including employment, are worse than they were when the

Liberals came into power and worse than they were projected to be by the budget

in 2015 – worse.

The

Liberal government's own budget numbers tell us all how the voters are likely to

answer the question they're asking. Yes, they will say, I am indeed worse off

than I was five years ago.

One of

the concerns of residents of this province is: What will happen to their

electrical rates? Despite a Liberal promise that rate mitigation would be in

place by January of this year, there's still no clear plan on how the province

will ensure electricity ratepayers and taxpayers do not bear the burden of

soaring rates when Muskrat Falls hydroelectric power begins coming online in

Without

any explanation, the current Premier trashed the Ball government's rate

mitigation negotiation with the federal Liberals and started all over again,

citing friction with Nalcor. What went wrong with the previous Liberal plan?

What are the prospects for the next generation of negotiations? How are they

different from the previous generation? No one outside the Premier's circle

knows, except that prospects for mitigation are suddenly linked to the so-called

Atlantic Loop or should it be called the Quebec loop?

Anyone

who looks at the proposal thoughtfully will realize the Liberal government is

being played by Quebec. The Atlantic Loop is a Trojan horse for Quebec to gain

market dominance in the Maritimes. The Atlantic Loop is a federally financed

scheme to build transmission lines into the Maritimes, so Quebec can sell their

excess hydro power to the Maritimes. This excess Quebec power will replace

coal-fire generation, a worthy goal, but it will be Quebec selling this green

power, not us. It will not be green power from Muskrat Falls and it will not be

any future green power from Gull Island. It won't be our excess power that gets

sold. That leaves Gull Island once again a stranded asset.

The

federal government didn't pay for our Muskrat transmission assets, but it will

pay for transmission assets used by Quebec. Think about that and think about

whose interests the federal government favours.

The

Atlantic Loop is a federal Liberal plan for Quebec to extend their dominance of

electricity markets into Atlantic Canada. By jumping on the Atlantic Loop

bandwagon, this province's Liberal government is jumping into a bed made by

Quebec and the pro-Quebec Trudeau Liberals. It's not an Atlantic Loop they will

be getting; it's a Quebec loop that subordinates Atlantic Canada to Quebec's

dominance and control.

Is that

really in the best interest of Newfoundland and Labrador? Is it really something

the government opposite ought to be cheerleading? Or is this one of those times

when putting province before party means standing up and fighting for

Newfoundland and Labrador's interests?

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. CROSBIE:

Dark as these days may be,

we, as PCs, are called to action by our heritage as the party which delivered

the Atlantic Accord and Hibernia. Those achievements were opposed, heckled,

criticized at the time; but they founded an industry, which has generated

tremendous wealth and jobs and will generate yet greater and transformative

wealth and jobs if leaders of will and vision meet the challenge of history and

step in with the dramatic level of support invoked by Brian Mulroney.

We have

only to find a willing partner in Ottawa to step up in a dramatic way to work

together with a PC government of this province to deliver the joint

federal-provincial jobs and recovery plan and the vision which will create

confidence in a prosperous future.

We need

a willing partner and a fair deal in Ottawa to unlock our offshore wealth and

jobs. That partner is not the Liberal Trudeau government. We have a need for a

fair deal from Ottawa on other issues the Liberals have failed to resolve for

five years.

We have

all heard about systemic racism and, sadly, that challenge is all too real.

Well, our province also suffers from systemic discrimination within

Confederation. It takes a champion to challenge a system.

Prime

Minister Trudeau and Minister O'Regan have done nothing to help create jobs in

this province. The federal major transfer tables published in the federal

Finance Minister's Fiscal Update of December 2019, show us – in a word – getting

the short end of the stick. Major transfers include the Canada Health Transfer,

Canada Social Transfer and Equalization. We get no equalization.

We will

receive $773 million in 2020-21; Nova Scotia, $3.6 billion; New Brunswick, $3.4

billion; Quebec, $26.1 billion; Nunavut, $1.8 billion; and even Alberta will get

$6.6 billion through major transfers. We get less than a billion. That's all of

these major transfers.

Shortchanging by major transfers is not an equalization problem; it's an

Atlantic Accord problem. In addition to abandoning the principal beneficiary

negotiation with Ottawa last year, the Liberal government of this province will

have to introduce amendments to the Atlantic Accord Act, which dilute joint

management rights by being required to implement Bill C-69. I don't know how

this picture of subservience to Ottawa will change without the government of

this province making it a national unity issue.

The

Minister of Health for this Liberal government has speculated that we're only a

territory and not really a province. I don't accept this defeatist attitude and

I will fight for a fair deal for Newfoundland and Labrador. I will not give up

on this province. Not today. Not tomorrow. Not ever.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. CROSBIE:

Success in winning over

opinion in Ottawa and in the rest of the country comes from championing a loud

and persistent case.

We have

had a catastrophic population decline, precipitated by the federal fishery

failure 26 years ago. That fishery failure was the result of a long-term

mismanagement by the federal government. I will not let the actions or inactions

of the federal government cause any more economic hardship for Newfoundlanders

and Labradorians.

Mr.

Speaker, I wish to switch gears and talk about something else that was missing

from the budget: community benefits agreements. It's also something that was

missing from the answers which I sought from the Premier during Question Period

today.

Our

party has been advocating for the implementation of a Newfoundland and Labrador

community benefits strategy for all future public infrastructure projects. We

believe that when public funds are used, or public buildings are constructed, it

should be local Newfoundlanders and Labradorians who are employed on the project

sites. It's unacceptable that workers from other provinces come in to our

province and carry out jobs which could be filled by local residents, especially

when these local residents are ready, willing and able to work.

Community benefits agreements would put Newfoundland and Labrador workers first.

They would also give subcontractors from this province a boost and give

consideration to the employment of apprentices and underrepresented groups.

Is it

the Premier's responsibility to ensure that jobs are available to the people of

the province? If so, I urge the Premier to take the community benefits

agreements policy and ensure that Newfoundlanders and Labradorians are given

jobs first.

Mr.

Speaker, residents of this province have been commuting for work for decades.

Ontario and Alberta have been good to our workers, but due to the global

economic decline, jobs outside of the province are no longer as numerous as they

once were. To make things even more difficult, rotational workers have an

increased risk of contracting COVID-19 and the worries of bringing it home to

their loved ones.

I've

heard from many rotational workers who have emailed me, written me or called my

office. While they appreciate the reduced isolation requirement as paired with

the COVID testing announced some six weeks ago, they are still forced to miss

out on key family moments. I will continue to fight for rotational workers, and

I'm glad that the current Premier and chief medical officer of Health responded

to my calls for point-of-entry testing for rotational workers.

The

Finance Minister has said that this is a COVID budget. That may be true, but

COVID should not be used as an excuse to justify job losses. COVID cannot be

used as an excuse for inaction.

During

the very first days of the public health pandemic, in response to my suggestion,

the former premier formed an all-party Committee. This Committee was essential

in sharing information between MHAs and implementing key public health measures.

The all-party Committee ensured that quick decisions were made and the health of

the population protected. Its demise does not look good on the current

administration. It looks like a step back from collaboration, a step back from

transparency and a step back from putting the best interests of Newfoundlanders

and Labradorians ahead of all others.

While I

am on the topic of COVID-19, I do want to express a moment of gratitude to our

chief medical officer of Health and her team, our health care workers, our

front-line workers and all those who continue to deliver key services to the

people of the province. Thank you for supporting the residents of our province.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. CROSBIE:

Mr. Speaker, in conclusion,

Budget 2020 does not give me

assurances that the people of the province will be better off because of the

decisions contained in it. When I read the budget, I saw job losses, task forces

and a government which does not take swift and decisive action.

Mr.

Speaker, I cannot change the words of the budget; I cannot change the inaction

of the Liberal government, but as I remarked earlier, I will always champion the

residents of the province. I will continue to question the government on the

lack of a jobs plan; I will push for jobs in our offshore arena; I will stand by

the people who work at Come By Chance; I will listen to the concerns of small

business owners; but, most of all, I will stand up for future jobs and

prosperity for each and every Newfoundlander and Labradorian.

Thank

you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

Order, please!

The hon.

the Premier.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

PREMIER FUREY:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

friends, this feels like the end of one journey but a beginning of , and I want

to thank the people of Humber - Gros Morne for giving me the great honour of

representing them in this House of Assembly.

Decades

ago, I spent a couple of weeks on the road with my father and uncle as they

campaigned themselves on the West Coast of our beautiful Island. Newfoundland

and Labrador was a different place back then. In a way, it was impossible to

conceive the province would become what it has – pre-oil boom, pre-moratorium.

Indeed, we have come a long way, yet we still have a long ways to go.

We need

more diversity here in the Legislature and beyond, to take a gender-plus lens

when it comes to decision-making, along with a healthy Indigenous lens. The

province needs more progress on truth and reconciliation. Indigenous voices are

being heard. I personally appreciate the frank conversations that I have had

with multiple leaders. It's important to our government to work closely with

Indigenous partners and I pledge to continue to do so.

Decades

ago on that West Coast, I was introduced to a part of the province that looked

more like a painting than the real world through my young eyes in the back seat

of a Ford station wagon. I remember feeling a sense of awe and looking out at

the ocean crashing against the shore with the background of the green mountains

off in the distance on the other side, and thinking about just how special this

place is – a feeling that, frankly, has never wavered. I met people there that

would give me the warmest hug, as they knew my dad from when he taught long ago

in Stephenville.

I was

also introduced to the ideas and ideals of what it meant, what it still means,

to commit yourself to being part of public service, the responsibility of it and

never forgetting who you represent and why. I listened to the ideas of how

health and education must always be supported and fostered and that no matter

what we may hear from detractors at home and abroad that this place, our home,

is worth fighting for.

I've

carried that West Coast journey with me and it's always smouldered deep inside,

no matter if I was in an operating room in Baltimore or in a tent doubling as an

emergency room in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. It's a call, frankly, that we all have

answered and a feeling we all have felt, no matter our backgrounds or our

political stripe. We are all here for this province, its undefeatable people,

its undeniable future. That journey of decades ago has ended here today, but

another one, my friends, has just begun.

President Lincoln contended that a person's true character can be revealed by

giving them power. That applies to all of us here today, not just me. The

Province of Newfoundland and Labrador want to know what we will do,

collectively, not just the Premier, not just the Liberal Party, not the PCs, the

NDP or the Newfoundland Alliance.

The

people want to know, collectively, how each and every one of us working together

will help deliver this place from the crisis that we are now in, because the

pandemic and the virus don't care about who leads us. Oil prices are indifferent

to political parties and their policies. Poverty, the health of our seniors:

those are not Liberal issues; those are Newfoundland and Labrador issues. These

are our issues, everyone in this room here today, everyone occupying a position

in public service and every person outside the House of Assembly; every person

that we represent on this very floor. We are responsible, my friends, to find

those answers.

It's a

lot on all of our shoulders. The pandemic is no longer at arm's length. As we

have seen elsewhere in Canada, it doesn't take much for the spread to rebound as

thoughts of further lockdown continue to loom for many across our country.

Back in

February, no one really understood the damage COVID-19 would cause to the

economy, as well as to the population. We made, collectively, you all made, the

tough calls and today we record the lowest number of cases in the country. Yes,

it has come at a tremendous cost, but we have made the right choice with the

welfare of the people of this province in mind. Talks of a second wave, as well

as COVID-19 fatigue, present new challenges for each and every one of us, but we

are better prepared today to face whatever comes next. If we continue to listen

to the advice of Dr. Fitzgerald and Minister Haggie, we will all, collectively,

make it through.

We've

been successful, so far, in working with the federal government in supporting

our oil industry and the thousands of workers here in the province living with

the uncertainty we all feel. In my short time in office, our government has

secured $320 million from Ottawa to support oil and gas workers in this

province.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

PREMIER FUREY:

And $26 million to support

the Safe Return to School for students and teachers, alike, across our province.

We've enlisted an experienced team representing industry and workers to make

sound recommendations to government on how to best maximize that money. You can

see it in Budget 2020: Today. Tomorrow.

Together .

Our

government is deeply committed to supporting families through these global

health and economic crises. We managed to keep the deficit to $1.8 billion,

that's less than the forecasted $2.1 billion. We've allocated close to $100

million to future pressures associated with COVID-19; $2.1 million is going to

advance efforts to attract and retain immigrants to help stabilize our

population. Small businesses and community organizations can avail of the

$30-million Small Business Assistance Program. Our budget includes more than $20

million for tourism, arts and culture. They are the very fabric of this province

and help build vibrant communities, particularly in our rural communities.

Budget 2020

also features exciting investments in the technology sector, which affects and

is an investment in all other sectors. It contributes more than $1.6 billion to

the provincial economy while employing more than 4,000 people and it is set to

add 2,000 more jobs in short order.

Speaking

of jobs, I must highlight the fishery here. Newfoundland and Labrador was

founded on the fishery and to this day it continues to be a major renewable

industry in our province. More than $9 million is being invested in its

development for the future of the fishery in this budget.

We are

also, of course, implementing $25 a day child care, which will help unlock

untold economic benefits. More money will go to support women's and

anti-violence organizations and to provide stable housing and services to those

who need them most.

The

budget has roughly $80 million for health care infrastructure funding. Among

other budget highlights I'm proud of, there are investments and initiatives to

develop the province's booming mining and continuing to contribute to a future,

a sustainable strong, responsible future in oil and gas.

Our

government is focused on helping people as well with opportunities to live

healthy and active lifestyles, even as we all, collectively, as families, try to

navigate the nuances of COVID-19.

Like

many of you, I wish I could snap my fingers and make it all better and raise the

price of oil on a global stage, but no on can. If we're all being honest, we all

know that. But the most worthy of things is worth the hardest fight, that's why,

collectively, every one of you and every one of us, collectively, can not stop

that fight.

As a

government, we're not going to stop fighting for change, for a prosperous future

for Newfoundland and Labrador. I just don't want to waste time fighting each

other instead. We have to be less partisan with each other. We have to put the

province first. We are facing challenges today that no other government in this

Legislature or the ones before have ever faced. This is not a generational

challenge; this is a historic challenge.

To the

Members opposite: I don't want to squander the opportunity to work together and

to answer those who think that we, as Newfoundland and Labrador, are finished,

that the credits are actually rolling on this movie, because nothing could be

further from the truth. For those who believe that, they don't know our people,

our history. We carve our own new roads, we write the best comeback stories, but

I still hold true to that statement I made that we must try to put our

differences aside and approach these challenges, collectively.

I will

continue to invite the best minds to come to the table as we work through these

tough challenges. Ideas are a hot commodity and, thankfully, we come from a

place with a surplus. Right now, we need the doers. We need the ones determined

to answer why the most inventive and effective version of how.

One

other battle that we all face here today is one that can inflict more damage

than any pandemic and can have far greater reach. It's against the battle of

pessimism and negativity. It is indeed one of the toughest battles we face.

I had a

reporter, just last week, ask me why I would want this job because the place is

is full of cynics, you've all heard them, self-proclaimed experts, all with more

attitude than answers.

friends, collectively this Legislature, we cannot allow this pessimistic

infection to spread, and that means it must stop here. There's no doubt that

we've heard enough political rhetoric in the last six months to last six life

times but I think we all need to hold each other to a higher, more responsible

Newfoundland and Labrador standard; to encourage respectful, insightful debate

and to have the courage to stand up for ideas that are what's best for the

province and to passionately challenge those that are not. Not for party turf,

Facebook hits, or personal gains because we don't have the wiggle room right now

for an unwise choice. Not now, not against what we face.

I know

some of you over there and some outside are thinking that I'm naïve, that it

won't happen. That we will wait for the grand moment when it can be said that I

couldn't even live up to this standard. Well, the challenge is yours. If that is

the case, I won't just live with it but I will learn from it. No one is perfect,

but at the very least in this room, in the proud place that it surrounds, we

should expect only the very best of ourselves and each other.

From

that old Ford station wagon travelling through the towns and bays along the West

Coast, I know now that the journey that brought me here today is only a midpoint

in a race, a base camp of a climb. I know exactly how hard it will be. I know

that what we will ask of ourselves, in this Legislature, will pale in comparison

to what we will ask of the province. But between doubt and boldness, I choose to

be bold every single time and I hope you all do, too.

Thank

you very much.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Finance.

MS. COADY:

Thank you very much, Mr.

Speaker.

I thank

my colleague for that very inspiring speech, because he asked us all to rise and

to rise above political partisanship and rise to face the people of the

province, and I think that's exactly what we are trying to achieve in this

budget, Mr. Speaker.

First of

all, allow me to thank the many, many, many people from the Department of

Finance who spent many hours, many days, many nights working very, very hard. I

want to thank them for their dedication and for their efforts, for their ongoing

work on behalf of the people of Newfoundland and Labrador.

I also

want to recognize the officials in every department that came here day after day

and allowed scrutiny on every line of the budget – every single line of the

budget, Mr. Speaker. I thank my colleagues in this House for their efforts of

taking the time to do that scrutiny. I think it's very important. It is part of

the requir