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April 4, 2019

HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS

Vol. XLVIII No. 1

The

House met at 2 p.m.

SERGEANT-AT-ARMS:

All rise.

MR. SPEAKER (Trimper):

Order, please!

Please

be seated.

SERGEANT-AT-ARMS:

Mr. Speaker, the Justices of the Supreme Court have arrived.

MR. SPEAKER:

Admit the Justices of the Supreme Court.

SERGEANT-AT-ARMS:

Mr. Speaker, her Honour the

Lieutenant-Governor has arrived.

MR.

SPEAKER: Admit

her Honour the Lieutenant-Governor of Newfoundland and Labrador.

SERGEANT-AT-ARMS:

All rise.

(Mr.

Speaker leaves the Chair.)

(Her

Honour the Lieutenant-Governor takes the Chair.)

SERGEANT-AT-ARMS:

It is the wish of her Honour

the Lieutenant-Governor that all present be seated.

HER

HONOUR THE LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR (Judy May Foote, PC, ONL):

Mr. Speaker and Members of

the House of Assembly:

I am pleased to open the fourth session of the 48th

General Assembly of the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador.

In opening this session, we respectfully acknowledge

the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador as the ancestral homelands of many

diverse populations of Indigenous people who have contributed to 9,000 years of

history, including the Beothuk on the Island of Newfoundland. Today, this

province is home to diverse populations

of Indigenous and other people. We also acknowledge with respect the diverse

histories and cultures of the Mi'kmaq, Innu and Inuit.

Newfoundlanders and Labradorians are proud people, steadfast in their desire to

sustain our province and enjoy the benefits of living in a place we love. While

our province faces challenges at times, it is through determination, hard work,

and perseverance that we succeed and prosper. It is with this strength and focus

that we move forward. Our government embraces the spirit of all Newfoundlanders

and Labradorians in all that we do.

Our

commitment to our people and our province is unwavering. With a strong focus on

the future, our government will continue to solidify the social and economic

foundation of our province and foster confidence and opportunity for all.

When our

government was elected, it was clear that our province needed to build a

stronger and smarter economy, that we needed to improve education and health

care, that we needed to invest in our future, and that we needed to support safe

and sustainable communities. Everyday, through

The Way Forward , we see successes in these areas.

When our

government was elected, we faced a fiscal situation that was unprecedented in

our history. Our answer to these fiscal challenges continues to be balanced. We

were left with an unfathomable annual deficit of over $2.7 billion for a

population of just over half a million people. Today, we have significantly

reduced that number by $2 billion as we continue restoring fiscal balance.

Our

government has stabilized spending. While bringing government spending under

control, we have worked closely with industry to attract investment that will

advance projects in the mining and oil and gas sectors to continue driving

economic activity.

Our

government is using every opportunity to make our province a great place to

live, work and raise a family. Through partnership and dialogue, we are

strengthening the foundation of our province.

Our

government has a strong partnership with the federal government, and working

together, we will position this province to achieve its potential. It is fitting

that, on the seventieth anniversary of Confederation, celebrating our great

the federal government and announced a new approach that was built on

partnership and dialogue to ensure that Newfoundland and Labrador is the

principal beneficiary of the rich resources in our offshore.

The new

deliver $2.5 billion to our province, with the majority of the revenues to come

before 2030, when this province most needs it. With no restrictions on its use,

this revenue will be used wisely. It will reduce our provincial net debt, reduce

our interest payments, and help us stay the course for fiscal stability and

return to surplus.

Our

strengthened Atlantic Accord includes a dispute resolution mechanism that will

ensure Newfoundland and Labrador's rights are respected. This province will

continue to receive 100 per cent of its offshore resource revenues, and benefit

from their development just as if the resources were on land.

Looking

beyond the $2.5 billion revenue stream and the immense benefits that it will

bring to our province over the longer term, our government has also secured

conditions that will ensure and support the future growth of offshore

developments. The Way Forward for our

province includes joint management of Newfoundland and Labrador's offshore

development in areas such as land tenure, worker safety, regulatory efficiency

and regulator modernization. These combined measures will fuel a brighter future

for all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, for generations to come.

Empowering Women

Our

government recognizes and understands that issues affecting women are of great

importance. As part of The Way Forward ,

our government committed to supporting and advancing the economic and social

security of women and girls. Our government is taking an “all of government”

approach to issues impacting women and girls and we will ensure that our

response to these issues best meets the needs of women and girls across the

province.

Because

of this focus our government has, for the first time in the history of our

province, dedicated a ministerial portfolio with responsibility solely for the

Status of Women. This is representative of the expanded commitment across our

government to addressing matters affecting women and girls.

There

have been many other achievements over the past year, from legislative changes

to program initiatives, that were accomplished because of the solid commitment

of our government to strengthening supports for women, ending violence and

building both healthy relationships and healthy communities.

These

achievements have been possible because of our commitment to collaborative

working relationships between our government and stakeholders, including

community partners, labour, the private sector and academia. Our government will

continue this commitment in the coming year.

Ending

violence in all forms remains a critical focus. The second meeting of the full

Justice Minister's Committee on Violence against Women and Girls took place in

February, with over 60 stakeholders from across sectors providing input

regarding next steps in our collective work to end violence. In 2019, our

government will continue to build on the work of the committee.

The hon.

House of Assembly adopted legislation in its last session to introduce paid

family violence leave for workers and to expand the definition of family

violence in the Family Violence Protection

Act . Our government will be building on these efforts by bringing forward

new legislation, such as the Interpersonal Violence Disclosure Protocol – also

known in the United Kingdom as Clare's Law – aimed at increasing the safety of

women in intimate relationships. The Interpersonal Violence Disclosure Protocol

would allow police agencies, in some cases, to disclose information about a

person's criminal and other history to that person's partner. This protocol

would complement our government's efforts to help make Newfoundland and Labrador

a safer place for women and girls.

Our

government envisions a province free from all forms of violence. While we strive

for that ideal, we also know that there are survivors who require support. In

2018, our government, together with community partners and the Government of

Canada, launched a program to ensure that those who have experienced sexual

violence are well informed about the legal system and understand their rights.

This

legal support program for survivors of sexual violence has served over 50

clients in its first six months of operation. The program helps break down

barriers faced when encountering the justice system by providing up to four

hours of free legal advice. We will be engaging in consultations across the

province as we develop a new violence prevention strategy. This work will be

guided and supported by a diverse committee of community stakeholders and senior

staff from key government departments.

Advancing women in leadership is a key priority for our government. We need to

see more women at decision making tables – in government, business, industry and

community. We will undertake initiatives to build, strengthen and advance the

leadership of women in our province. We will also celebrate the successes of

women who are flourishing in leadership roles. One such woman is Emily Bland,

the “SEED-EO” of Project SucSeed, a local social enterprise that is helping

communities take control of their food supply and providing education and work

experience for at-risk youth. In 2018, Ms. Bland was recognized as one of the

country's top 30 under 30 in sustainability and won the Satchu Prize at The Next

36 Day Venture. Ms. Bland has a bright future and we congratulate her and wish

her continued success.

Working with Indigenous

Communities

Mr. Speaker and

Members of the House of Assembly:

Our government has made significant strides to build

relationships with Indigenous people in our province and to move us toward

reconciliation. Reconciliation is a journey and our commitment to that journey

is clear and strong.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada was

created as a part of the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement to

inform Canadians about Indian residential schools, and to guide a process of

reconciliation. Of the 94 Calls to Action outlined by the Commission in 2015,

approximately one-third are directed at provincial and territorial governments.

Although reconciliation will occur over generations, with systemic changes

necessary across all aspects of Canadian society, we all can and must take

concrete steps to achieve reconciliation. We have engaged with provincial

Indigenous governments and organizations about the recommendations involving our

government, and are responding in ways that will build a better future while

recognizing and addressing the challenges.

Reconciliation requires close partnership between our

government and Indigenous governments and organizations. We have started on this

path and will continue to partner with Indigenous people across the province to

inform and monitor appropriate and relevant efforts to advance reconciliation

now and into the future.

One way our government has moved to support Indigenous

people is through our recognition that Indigenous people are currently

underrepresented in the legal profession. To help improve this we have developed

a partnership with the University of Saskatchewan to support Indigenous people

in their pursuit of a legal education. To further build on this partnership our

government has allocated two articling positions with the Department of Justice

and Public Safety for those students upon graduation.

In the coming months, leaders of Indigenous governments and

organizations will be invited to engage in the third annual Indigenous Leaders

Roundtable with the Premier, to advance matters of mutual importance to

Indigenous communities. At the first Indigenous Leaders Roundtable in 2017, a

declaration was signed by Nunatsiavut Government, Innu Nation, NunatuKavut,

Miawpukek First Nation and Qalipu First Nation in support of the repatriation of

the remains of Beothuk individuals held by National Museums Scotland. In

January, National Museums Scotland approved the repatriation of the remains, and

governments and organizations to return the Beothuk remains to our province,

their home.

Celebrating Excellence

Mr. Speaker and

Members of the House of Assembly:

Newfoundland and Labrador athletes continue to excel while

competing on the national and international stages. These athletes have all

worked tirelessly to prepare

for these events. Their hard work and dedication serve as an example and their

achievements inspire us all.

More

than 200 athletes recently competed at the 2019 Canada Winter Games in Red Deer,

Alberta as members of Team Newfoundland and Labrador. Congratulations to Melanie

Taylor of Conception Bay South, who brought home a gold medal in Special

Olympics Level 2 figure skating and was named closing ceremonies flag bearer for

Team Newfoundland and Labrador. Congratulations also to Emma Mullett of St.

John's, on her bronze medal in judo.

Kaetlyn

Osmond of Marystown added World Champion to her lengthy list of accomplishments

when she won gold at the ladies singles event at the 2018 Figure Skating World

Championships. Peter Hynes from Placentia won bronze in mini javelin at the 2019

Special Olympics World Games in Abu Dhabi.

Liam

Hickey of St. John's was a key player in Canada's silver medal win in para

ice-hockey at the 2018 Paralympic Games. In December 2019, Liam and the rest of

Team Canada will be in Paradise competing at the Canadian Tire Para Hockey Cup

against some of the top teams in the world.

Shailynn

Snow of Clarke's Beach captured a gold medal at the Under 18 World Female Hockey

Championships as a member of Team Canada. This marks the second consecutive year

that a Newfoundland and Labrador athlete won a medal for Canada at this event,

with Maggie Connors of St. John's taking home a bronze medal last year.

Swimmers

Noah Cumby of St. John's and Katarina Roxon of Stephenville both enjoyed success

at the Pan-Pacific Championships this past year. Noah captured a bronze medal in

the 4 x 100 metre medley relay event while Katarina took home gold, silver and

bronze in three different events.

Our

province also hosted the Under 18 and Under 20 Male World Junior Ball Hockey

Championships in July in Mount Pearl. Team Canada, which included five

Newfoundland and Labrador athletes, won gold in the Under 18 championship. The

Under 20 Canadian team, which included four athletes from this province,

captured a silver medal. Jessica Davis from Conception Bay South competed for

Canada at the 2018 Female World Junior Ball Hockey Championship in the Czech

Republic and took home a silver medal.

Two

prominent members of the sporting community were inducted into the Newfoundland

and Labrador Volunteer Hall of Fame this past November. Margaret Tibbo is a

prominent and influential advocate of para sport in this province and has

supported hundreds of youth to become active and engaged in various para sports.

The late Don Johnson had a rich history in the sport of hockey in this province

and is considered a pioneer. Mr. Johnson served as President of Hockey

Newfoundland and Labrador and Hockey Canada during his volunteer service.

Our

government also recognizes the contribution of the Labrador Winter Games to our

province, which took place last month in Happy Valley-Goose Bay with other 300

athletes participating from communities throughout Labrador. Our government has

been a strong and committed supporter of the Labrador Winter Games since its

inception in 1983. The Friendship Games, as they are often referred to, is a

wonderful opportunity to celebrate the rich, diverse culture of Labrador while

promoting the benefits of competitive sport and healthy, active living.

I had

the pleasure of being in Labrador for the Labrador Winter Games and I was

excited as the first woman Lieutenant-Governor to be there for the inaugural

competition of the women in the Labrathon which, up until that point, was only

open to men. So, it was a wonderful experience and I can tell that the women who

competed, they could challenge the men for the competition any day. They were

wonderful.

The Big Land

Labrador

is rich in culture and history, forming an essential part of our province. Just

as large as Labrador's cultural footprint is its vast geography.

Our

government understands that in a land so vast, transportation is of critical

importance for economic development, for social connections and for accessing

goods and services needed for everyday life. In 2019 coastal Labrador will have

two new ferry services. The Qajaq W

had its initial run in January across the Strait of Belle Isle and we look

forward to launching our new North Coast ferry later this spring. Both services

are fully accessible with ice-strengthened bows and will reduce our carbon

footprint by half.

Work is

continuing along the Trans-Labrador Highway. Our government is proud to proceed

with a significant financial investment in partnership with the Government of

Canada that will see widening and hard-surfacing continue in 2019.

Our

government will continue to provide funding for safe access from isolated

communities in Labrador to the nearest service centre through the Labrador

Transportation Grooming Subsidy Program. Communities along the north and south

coasts of Labrador that do not have year-round access to road or marine service

are able to access goods and services through the winter trail system. This year

for the first time, there is a trail marking from Hopedale to Nain, providing

safe access to all communities on the north coast.

addition to work on the existing transportation network in Labrador, our

government is considering what the future of transportation could look like in

that region with the exploration of a fixed link between Labrador and the Island

of Newfoundland. An updated pre-feasibility report was released in April 2018,

reviewing both road and rail linkages. A fixed link could bring great benefits

to both the province and the country, socially and economically. While we

continue to consider this possibility and now know that it is technically

feasible, we recognize that such a project would be a long-term endeavour

requiring many partners.

Our

government remains committed to support community engagement and will continue

to play a lead role in the Labrador West Regional Task Force to work with

Labrador West region to seize potential opportunities as well as address any

potential impacts.

A Solid Foundation for New

Growth

Our

government is doing things smarter, diversifying the economy and placing an

emphasis on new industries while supporting a historic return to traditional

sectors as they reclaim their rightful roles in a sustainable, diverse and

long-term economy.

We are

fostering a renaissance in renewable resource industries – on land and on water.

We are transforming and driving innovation in the fish and aquaculture sector

through programs such as the Atlantic Fisheries Fund, with a shared focus on

meeting the growing global market demand for sustainably sourced, high-quality,

fish and seafood products.

Our

government will continue to build on its commitment to support aquaculture and

our commitment to double salmon and shellfish aquaculture production. In

September 2018, Grieg NL announced a $250 million aquaculture project in

Placentia Bay. The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador will provide

repayable support towards the development, totalling up to $30 million. The

project is expected to generate more than 800 new jobs once full production is

reached.

As a

result of these types of investments, Newfoundland and Labrador is poised to

become one of the largest aquaculture producers in the country.

The

aquaculture supply and service sector is creating real opportunities for both

new start-ups and established companies in Newfoundland and Labrador, creating

new employment and maximizing industry competitiveness.

At the

same time, our government is committed to conserve our iconic and treasured

wildlife resources through science-based management and collaborations with

resource users on initiatives like Year of the Salmon and caribou management

planning.

forestry, our newly launched Forestry Sector Work Plan is guiding us in

diversifying the forest industry, creating new business activities and

increasing job opportunities for residents.

In our

agriculture sector, our government is pushing development to new heights by

securing more land for future agri-businesses, and creating opportunities for

new entrants and current farmers through the Canadian Agriculture Partnership

and the Provincial Agrifoods Assistance Program.

Our

government is committed to doubling food self-sufficiency from 10 per cent to 20

per cent by 2022. To do this, we are supporting new and existing farmers, making

more land available for farming, and carrying out research to support

innovation, improve production and increase diversity. Since taking on this

ambitious challenge, we have supported 46 new farmers through

industry-development programming, which includes awarding two large-scale land

development pilots for agriculture production in the Towns of Reidville and

Cormack. Since the launch of our Agriculture Sector Work Plan, more than 278

acres of land – the equivalent of approximately 211 football fields – have been

prepared for fruit and vegetable production with the potential to produce 5

million pounds of food.

In 2018,

we launched a pilot project to produce vegetable transplants for commercial

farmers to give them a head start on the growing season and an opportunity to

try out different vegetable varieties. Commercial farmers received 255,000

vegetable transplants. Due to the overwhelming popularity of this program, in

2019 we will disperse seven times more vegetable transplants – over 1.5 million

– including turnip, onion, kohlrabi, Brussels sprout, kale, leek, broccoli and

cabbage to commercial farmers to help jump-start the 2019 growing season.

Our

achievements to date mark major progress toward our goals to increase food

self-sufficiency, create new business opportunities, and support the many

entrepreneurs working in agriculture. Working with our province's dedicated and

hard-working farmers, we look forward to growing our success.

Our

government will also expand our efforts to improve access to Crown lands.

Amendments to the Lands Act have

modernized the legislation and streamlined the process for acquiring titles to

Crown lands. Our government is continuing to enhance online services for Crown

lands.

Our

non-renewable natural resources continue to be key drivers for new jobs and

economic development and we are continuing to position our province as a

preferred destination for oil and gas and mining activity.

Over the

last two years, we have announced over $18 billion in investments in mining and

oil and gas projects in our province.

The

potential in our oil and gas industry is incredible. In less than 7 per cent of

our offshore, we have identified a combined resource potential of 49.2 billion

barrels of oil and 193.8 trillion cubic feet of gas. To put Newfoundland and

Labrador's resource potential in perspective, our total sedimentary basin is

approximately 900,000 square kilometres compared to 650,000 square kilometres

for Norway and 545,000 square kilometres for the United Kingdom.

We also

have over 650 leads and prospects identified to date, eight new entrants in the

past two years, and close to $4 billion in recent exploration work commitments.

The

momentum is obvious. Our plan to ensure Newfoundland and Labrador continues to

be a globally-preferred location for investment and attraction will ensure

lasting benefits. In fact, over the last two years the province has seen

unprecedented investment in our offshore and mining industry.

This

past November, the province received record bids for offshore exploration

totalling $1.38 billion, with a record single bid of $621 million from BHP

Billiton, a new entrant for Newfoundland and Labrador. This is proof that the

Advance 2030 plan developed between

our government and industry is attracting investment and growing activity in our

oil and gas industry.

Our

mining industry is also booming; with $3 billion in mineral shipments in 2018,

the mining industry directly employs some 4,800 people throughout Newfoundland

and Labrador. In the 2019 forecast, mineral shipments are expected to grow $4

billion with direct employment anticipated to be 5,100 and another 1,200

employed in the construction activities. A world of possibilities is at our

doorstep because our geology positions Newfoundland and Labrador to be a global

supplier of minerals. Our government has moved swiftly to promote our mining

industry and the many opportunities that exist.

We have

seen extraordinary new developments in mining. This includes the start of a new

fluorspar mine in St. Lawrence with over 255 full-time positions, Vale's

underground mine project with 1,700 jobs, the IOC Moss Pit which will be fully

integrated into current IOC operations, and expected to extend the overall life

of the mine, and the restart of the former Scully Mine with 280 direct positions

by Tacora Resources in Labrador West. In addition, Tata has completed

commissioning and is starting up its $700 million processing facility. As well,

the restart of the Beaverbrook antimony mine was announced in Glenwood with

approximately 100 jobs for the region.

With

Mining the Future 2030 , our plan for

growth in the Newfoundland and Labrador mining industry, our province is

positioned to be a top tier global jurisdiction for safe, environmentally

responsible exploration and mining growth and to maximize benefits and

opportunities by competitively producing quality products for global markets.

We also

recognize the significant opportunities renewable energy presents in terms of

economic development and environmental progress. With an abundance of developed

and underdeveloped renewable energy sources such as hydro and wind, Newfoundland

and Labrador has much more to offer.

To chart

this renewable future, we are committed to working with industry and

stakeholders to develop a renewable energy strategy that is focused on creating

employment opportunities and further positioning the province as an energy hub.

Congratulations to our own Mary Walsh, who was honoured at the Canadian Screen

Awards with the Earle Gray award for lifetime achievement in television acting.

Mary was among 10 other nominees from our province for the Canadian Screen

Awards, including writer and filmmaker Kenneth J. Harvey who was nominated in

the best documentary film feature category for

Immaculate Memories: The Uncluttered

Worlds of Christopher Pratt . The film has just received the award for best

Canadian work from RIFFA which is the largest festival films on art in the

world. We are blessed with amazing talented artists in our province, all of whom

do us proud with their creativity and the recognition they bring to our province

and people.

Looking

beyond traditional economic sectors, we recognize our artists who play a

critical role in presenting Newfoundland and Labrador on the world stage and we

continue to provide support for this vital sector through the Newfoundland and

Labrador Film Development Corporation, the Arts Council, the Heritage Foundation

and the Cultural Economic Development Program.

The World is at Our Doorstep

Newfoundland and Labrador is a destination of choice for people around the

world. Travellers are drawn to our people, our culture and our way of life. Our

government continues to grow and support the provincial tourism industry and its

over 20,000 jobs by enhancing market readiness, destination development and

marketing support in partnership with Hospitality Newfoundland and Labrador, the

Newfoundland and Labrador Tourism Board, regional Destination Management

Organizations and tourism operators. We will go further and renew our tourism

strategy – Beyond 2020 to position our tourism industry for even greater

success.

Opportunities Beyond

This past year has been a tumultuous period for

international trade around the world with a shift in United States trade policy.

Newfoundland and Labrador was not immune to the far-reaching US policies but has

weathered the storm. Our government fought the imposition of tariffs on

newsprint produced by Corner Brook Pulp and Paper, protecting 500 well-paying

jobs at the mill and securing the means to develop an innovative forestry sector

in Newfoundland and Labrador. Our government also achieved an exemption from

softwood lumber duties, and supported the signing of the Canada-United

States-Mexico Agreement.

Trade diversification helps to create a sustainable and

stable environment for business, opening up opportunities across multiple

sectors in untapped, non-traditional markets. Ratification of international free

trade agreements means greater opportunities for businesses in our province. As

a province, we enjoy the most diversified trade portfolio of all the Atlantic

Provinces, with just 53 per cent of Newfoundland and Labrador's merchandise

exports dependent on US markets – as opposed to 64 per cent for Nova Scotia, 77

per cent for Prince Edward Island and 91 per cent for New Brunswick. Our

government is committed to support even greater diversification for our

province's global trade presence.

This year, we will enhance our support for business

creation by providing early stage seed capital funding to help address the

challenges new technology-based firms have in obtaining first financing. A

combination of private sector capital, advice and expertise will ensure our

innovators and entrepreneurs are able to successfully move the idea stage into

development and production.

Our government is also working to support greater market

access for more of Newfoundland and Labrador's innovative and ambitious firms,

providing the tools companies need to compete and succeed in global markets and

maximizing opportunities for our province flowing from free trade agreements.

Last year, Newfoundland and Labrador exports contributed

approximately 50 per cent of our gross domestic product. We know that as the

value and volume of the province's trade and investment activity grows, so too

does the number of well-paying jobs created in our province, which in turn helps

to reinforce our economy and advance our overall quality of life.

Through the five-year, $20 million Atlantic Trade and

Investment Growth Agreement, our government is working with federal partners and

others to increase our exporter base, including the value of our exports to both traditional and

non-traditional markets. We are investing in industry-driven strategic trade

development plans to grow exports in select knowledge-based and value-added

resource industries in Atlantic Canada, including aerospace and defence,

agrifood, seafood, biosciences, clean technologies, information and

communications technologies, infrastructure, ocean technologies and extractive

industries.

In 2018,

new legislation was introduced for the Innovation and Business Investment

Corporation. Since then, research and development programming has been

integrated with the Business Investment Fund to enhance support for all clients

from pre-commercial activity to firm growth and expansion. A program suite will

be rolled out in 2019, with a focus on simplifying processes for clients to

allow seamless supports for research and innovation.

The

Paradigm Hyperloop project is just one example of how Newfoundlanders and

Labradorians are showcasing our potential to the world. This collaborative

effort includes students from Memorial University, College of the North

Atlantic, and Northeastern University in Boston who are aiming to prove the

viability of air-based levitation for high speed transportation. This team

finished in second place at the SpaceX Hyperloop Pod Speed Competition in 2017

and recently have been accepted at the upcoming competition in summer 2019 in

Hawthorne, California. Known as the fifth mode of transportation, the hyperloop

has the potential to revolutionize the transportation sector, and students from

this province are front and centre of this exciting new development. We

congratulate the team on their accomplishments thus far and we will cheer them

on as they compete in July 2019.

Growing Employment

Consistent with the vision set out in The

Way Forward , our government will continue to collaborate with industry

partners in vital sectors to create meaningful employment opportunities for

Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. We are supporting conditions throughout our

province that lead to the creation of business growth and employment. Our

Cabinet Committee on Jobs is collaborating with industry leaders and the

business community in high-growth sectors to implement priority actions. Through

our efforts we are already seeing success. February 2019 marked the eighth

consecutive month of employment gains, showing growth that we have not seen

since 2013.

We are

targeting both traditional sectors that have been the lifeblood of the province

for many years, as well as emerging sectors. We continue to promote new and

existing business activity and increase private sector jobs for residents of

Newfoundland and Labrador, including in the agriculture, aquaculture,

technology, oil and gas, mining and forestry sectors. Through our government's

focus on increased employment opportunities, we are seeing growth across many

sectors.

In every

corner of the province, community-based organizations are also contributing to

our economy. Community organizations seed economic activity, provide vital

services that make our communities livable, employ residents in all regions in

our province, and support local business by purchasing their goods and services,

and leasing their facilities. Our government will recognize and further support

the social and economic contributions of the community sector. The Community

Sector Council Newfoundland and Labrador has been an essential partner with our

government as we lead a new approach to elevate the important work of this

sector, which is central to the province's social and economic progress.

New

opportunities are emerging in the agriculture sector, bringing benefits such as

new jobs and improved food security for Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. In the

coming year, our government will continue to work with farmers, producers,

industry and stakeholders to develop the agriculture sector.

A new

partnership between Anaconda Mining and College of the North Atlantic aims to

reach hard-to-get gold deposits and lead mining innovation. Supported by Mitacs

– a non-profit national organization that builds partnerships between academia,

industry and government to help develop research-based innovation in Canada –

College of the North Atlantic students are helping the company devise a

cost-effective mining process to extract gold from Deer Cove, while leaving the

natural habitat largely intact.

Led by

the Council of Atlantic Premiers and based in this province, the Atlantic

Apprenticeship Harmonization Project is aligning policies, processes and

standards for apprenticeship in the four Atlantic provinces. This multi-phase

project includes the harmonization of 16 trades in an effort to address labour

market skills shortages. By working together, pooling resources, sharing best

practices, testing innovative approaches, and reducing duplication, we are

helping to keep apprentices in Atlantic Canada and increase their success in

attaining journeyperson certification.

addition to work in specific economic sectors, our government recognizes that

family-friendly policies are needed to ensure that our residents can balance

parenting with their daily work schedules. We have increased the operating

grants provided to participating licensed child care centres to improve access

to affordable child care for low- and middle-income families. In addition to

making child care more affordable, we have also increased capacity.

The

Department of Education and Early Childhood Development supports the creation of

affordable child care spaces through the Child Care Capacity initiative.

Developmental funding is available to non-profit organizations to conduct a

needs assessment of child care spaces in the proposed area and to construct or

renovate buildings to create affordable child care spaces. Since 2015, close to

900 new child care spaces have been created across the province, including more

than 150 spaces developed through this initiative in 2018-19.

Uptake

of an operating grant program and a Child Care Capacity initiative for regulated

Family Child Care over the coming year is anticipated to increase affordable

family child care spaces across the province – particularly in rural, remote and

other underserviced areas. These initiatives will help ensure that parents can

access child care in order to go to work to provide for their families.

Welcoming Newcomers

Our

government knows that immigration is critical to growth in Newfoundland and

Labrador. In 2017, over 5,200 residents were laid to rest in the province while

just over 4,000 newborn babies were welcomed into the world. In

The Way Forward , our government

committed to greeting approximately 1,700 immigrants annually to the province by

2022 and we are well on our way to achieving that goal. In 2018, over 1,500

newcomers to the province became permanent residents. Some of these new

residents have come here by way of the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program. This

program demonstrates how collaboration with the federal and other Atlantic

governments, along with employers, is allowing us to welcome immigrants to share

in, and contribute to, our economic growth.

Over the

past year, our government and partners made significant strides in supporting

newcomer attraction and retention. Initial results suggest a 25 per cent

increase in individual applications approved since 2017, supporting more

individuals and families in making this province their home than ever before. In

rural and remote areas, provincial-federal settlement program partnerships

ensured the provision of settlement services to newcomers.

In the

coming year, our government will emphasize our focus on supporting newcomer

retention, beginning with assisting migrant workers and international graduates

to become permanent residents, engaging employers in facilitating

workplace-based language training, introducing empowerment-focused employment

initiatives for former refugee women and promoting international

entrepreneurship. We will help newcomers in getting to know their new

communities, including learning about the cultures of and building connections

with Indigenous people, and exploring opportunities to live and work in

Newfoundland and Labrador. Welcoming communities promote the integration and

retention of newcomers to the province. Welcoming communities encourage

individuals and organizations to work together to provide services and supports

to help foster a sense of belonging among residents of diverse cultural and

other backgrounds. Such communities are also a means of creating a culture of

inclusion and respect for the diversity of all residents of our province.

Partnering for Success

Our

government is focused on building positive and meaningful partnerships that

ensure lasting benefits to the people

of our province. By working co-operatively with our neighbours, other provinces

real opportunities – opportunities that our province lacked in years before.

The

Memorandum of Understanding we signed with the Government of Quebec to partner

in developing the Labrador Trough and enhancing infrastructure demonstrates the

benefits of such an approach. Through this agreement, we are working

co-operatively with our neighbour to ensure mutually beneficial opportunities

that will stimulate the development of new mining and employment opportunities.

We are

also partners in the Atlantic Growth Strategy, which is focused on quickly

growing Atlantic Canada's economy.

With this broad focus there is significant opportunity for Newfoundland and

Labrador. The strategy will expand Atlantic Canada's energy future. Working

improve transmission networks and better integrate markets. Newfoundland and

Labrador is actively engaged with our Atlantic and federal partners and is well

positioned to take advantage of such opportunities.

Our

successful agreement to reduce

greenhouse gas emissions while reducing the impacts on the people of our

province. The Made-in-Newfoundland-and-Labrador approach is tailored to the

unique economic, social and fiscal realities of Newfoundland and Labrador, while

delivering meaningful greenhouse gas

reductions.

Leaving No Stone Unturned

We are

using our innovative spirit, resilience and partnerships to confront other

challenges in our province. We have secured a commitment from the Government of

Canada to work together expeditiously

to find solutions to manage electricity rates resulting from the Muskrat Falls

project. We will protect ratepayers

and taxpayers from the impact of the project.

Through

diligence and hard work our government is cleaning up the Muskrat Falls project.

We have taken decisive action this past year and have reached many

significant milestones. Our government looks forward to implementing our rate

management plan that will ensure

ratepayers of our province will not have to pay for the lack of oversight in the

early stages of this project. Our

commitment to the people of the province is to deliver a well-thought-out plan

that will support the bright future that Newfoundlanders and

Labradorians deserve.

The

Muskrat Falls inquiry, led by Justice Richard D. LeBlanc, completed phase one of

public hearings in December 2018 and launched the second phase in February. Our

government looks forward to receiving the final report at the end of the year.

September 2018, our government brought the Board of Commissioners of Public

Utilities (PUB) back into the Muskrat Falls project when we filed a reference

question to ask the PUB to examine options to mitigate the impact of the Muskrat

Falls project. The PUB's final report will be completed in January 2020. As

committed, the report will be made public and the information provided will be

used to inform the final approach to managing Muskrat Falls.

short, we have made excellent progress to get the Muskrat Falls project on track

for a strong finish and we are making great strides to managing the costs for

the benefit of the people of the province.

Better Public Safety and

Consumer Protection

Mr. Speaker and

Members of the House of Assembly:

Our

government continues to protect the health, safety and well-being of residents

and consumers.

We are

committed to implementing restorative justice initiatives to help repair the

harm caused by crime and to implementing alternative approaches within the

justice system.

A new

Drug Treatment Court opened in fall 2018 in the province. This court represents

a problem-solving, therapeutic approach that offers an alternative to

traditional criminal justice responses by addressing the underlying issues that

contribute to crime. The court offers hope to help reduce the often tragic

health, social and economic costs stemming from drug abuse and aims to help its

clients on their path towards rehabilitation and healing.

Alternative approaches within the justice system offer the potential to reduce

the burden on various parts of the system all the while improving outcomes. Our

government is advancing additional initiatives such as adult diversion, bail

supervision, electronic monitoring and a fines option pilot program. Outstanding

unpaid fines owed to the province result in a driver's licence suspension, in

turn creating a barrier to vulnerable populations trying to gain meaningful

employment. Our government will explore the creation of a fines option pilot

program, which would enable those in marginalized groups with outstanding fines

to settle their debt by performing community service work providing social

benefits to the community and to participants.

Building

on measures our government has already taken to enhance highway safety and

reduce accidents, we intend to introduce legislation in the spring on auto

insurance, using information in the report of the Board of Commissioners of

Public Utilities. Newfoundland and Labrador has the highest automobile insurance

rates in Atlantic Canada, and the PUB review focused on identifying

opportunities to lower rates that will benefit consumers and help bring

stability to the automobile insurance industry. Modernizing the automobile

insurance system to provide the best value, benefits and affordability for

consumers is the foremost consideration.

This

hon. House of Assembly passed amendments to the

Consumer Protection and Business Practices

us with an exemption from

section 347 of the

Criminal Code of Canada – the criminal

interest rate provision – as it relates to payday loan agreements. Regulations

came into force on April 1, 2019, and will help ensure that consumers who use

payday loan services are protected by being well informed of their rights and

obligations.

Our

government has completed a review of the

Real Estate Trading Act and intends to bring forward legislation in the

spring. Changes will ensure that our legislation keeps up with the times,

providing a modern framework for oversight of the real estate industry and

enhancing public protection.

Building Critical

Infrastructure

Our

government is continuing to deliver on our commitments to enhance our provincial

transportation networks and provide vital infrastructure that connects

Newfoundlanders and Labradorians with crucial services for healthier and more

prosperous communities. Over the past two years, we have paved more than 1,400

lane kilometres through the Roads Plan. This year, we will be maintaining that

momentum.

Many key

projects are already under construction, with more beginning this year. Our

government is finding innovative ways to achieve needed infrastructure

improvements for our health care system. Partnering with the private sector to

design, build, finance and maintain new health care facilities, our government

is committed to increasing access to critical health care services while

maximizing value for taxpayers. We have undertaken projects throughout the

province.

A new

mental health and addictions facility will be constructed to replace the

Waterford Hospital. This new facility will be located as an extension to the

Health Sciences Centre in St. John's, bringing together mental health and

physical health services in one location. This new facility will have 102 beds

and will help us advance a key commitment in

Towards Recovery: The Mental Health and Addictions Action Plan for

Newfoundland and Labrador .

acute-care regional hospital will be constructed in Corner Brook. Our government

expects to announce this spring the successful proponent for the design, build,

finance and maintenance of the hospital, with construction anticipated to begin

in 2019.

The new

hospital in Corner Brook will be complemented by a long-term care home already

under construction in the region and expected to be operational in 2020.

This facility will include 145 beds and provide employment for 200 public

service employees. Our government's partnership with the private sector for the

construction and maintenance of this facility will provide savings estimated at

over $14 million to the residents of our province over the 30-year life of the

agreement.

Our government is using a similar approach for the

construction of two new 60 bed long-term care homes in Grand Falls-Windsor and

in Gander. We will announce the successful proponent for these homes this

spring, with construction slated to begin later this year.

This innovative procurement approach delivers on

commitments to provide better services and better outcomes for residents in a

fiscally responsible manner. We will continue to explore similar opportunities

to save money and improve access to services. These goals are not mutually

exclusive but they require innovation and determination. We have the elements

for success and we will continue to build upon new approaches as we build the

infrastructure upon which our residents depend.

Our government is establishing a six-bed mental health unit

in Happy Valley-Goose Bay. We are also undertaking a 20-bed expansion of the

protective care unit at the Dr. Hugh Twomey Health Centre in Botwood.

Specialized protective care units provide a safe and secure setting for

residents living with Alzheimer's disease, dementia and other similar disorders.

In addition to health infrastructure, our government has

been investing in education infrastructure, opening six new schools in our

province since 2016. These new schools represent a combined investment of more

than $139 million and will provide state-of-the-art facilities in which our

students can learn and grow.

Our commitment in The

Way Forward to leverage federal funding will result in significant

advantages to the province in the coming years. The coming year will mark the

first year that projects will be announced under the new federal/provincial

bilateral agreement through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program

(ICIP). The agreement ensures a combined federal, provincial and municipal

investment in excess of $1.3 billion over the next 10 years. This is the largest

long-term municipal infrastructure program in our province's history.

Our government continues to implement broadband projects

satisfying the more than $40 million investment committed by various partners in

the last round of broadband funding. We will continue to engage with the

help connect more homes to broadband Internet and expand existing fibre-op

networks.

Our

investments in health care, education and communications technology will help us

achieve our objective to improve the well-being of Newfoundlanders and

Labradorians.

Better Outcomes

It will

take our collective and sustained effort across all sectors of society pulling

in the same direction to improve well-being in this province.

While

improving our outcomes will take time, we have the potential to see significant

progress if we bring the leadership, values, commitment, infrastructure and

evidence to the task. In this vein, our government has adopted and continues to

invest in a Health-in-All-Policies approach to ensure all sectors are mindful of

the influence that their activities have on the health and well-being of our

province and its citizens.

Our

approach is based on the work of the World Health Organization and we are

learning from leading jurisdictions around the world that are employing this

same approach. As we forge ahead together with this approach we will enhance our

cultural strengths and shared experiences. Like others, our ultimate goal is to

achieve a healthy population living in healthy communities throughout our

province.

catalyze our collective vision, our government will invest in the social and

economic determinants of health that contribute to a healthy society: creating

more jobs and achieving higher incomes, increasing access to early childhood

education to improve early childhood experiences, ensuring our children and

youth thrive in our classrooms and achieve higher educational outcomes,

supporting university education and training programs, promoting industry

development that is value-added and inclusive, investing in better housing for

all, continuing the path to reconciliation with our Indigenous people,

supporting seniors to stay in their own homes, strengthening strong social

connections in all our communities and improving access to preventive and

supportive health and community services across our province.

Going

forward, for each of our government's decisions – whether for new legislation,

programming or spending – more and more of our focus will be on understanding

the full impacts and avoiding unintended consequences so that we make the right

decision for the health and well-being of our people and of our province. Our

future, and that of generations to follow, depend on it.

Our

government in enhancing services in our communities and making sure that

residents can access the range of supports they need to build and sustain

healthy, fulfilling lives.

Our

government continues to improve primary health care services to increase access

to the right care, from the right provider, in the right place. Building on the

success of primary health teams on the Burin and Connaigre Peninsulas and in

Bonavista, Gander, Botwood, Corner Brook, Sheshatshiu and downtown St. John's,

we will continue to support more primary health care teams across the province.

We have identified and are working to establish teams in Stephenville, Bell

Island, the Northeast Avalon and the Deer Lake/White Bay area. Since primary

health care transformation has begun, we have seen a reduction in costly

emergency department visits for non-urgent care.

We are

strengthening the Newfoundland and Labrador Centre for Health Information

(NLCHI) to drive innovation, efficiency and patient care by moving towards a

digitized health care system. NLCHI continues to make advancements in health and

eHealth. More and more physicians are signing on to our Electronic Medical

Record (EMR), and more than half of all residents in the province have seen

physicians who use the EMR.

Our

government will continue to focus on building our highly integrated Electronic

Health Record so that all patient health information is available to providers

in one place. We will also build on our success by continuing to expand our

TeleHealth and Remote Patient Monitoring services so people can access their

health care providers without having to leave their community.

Our

government recognizes that mental health and substance use touch the lives of

almost everyone in this province. We know that one in five individuals

throughout our province will have a diagnosable mental disorder each year. Over

our lifetimes, close to 50 per cent of us will experience some form of mental

illness.

In 2017,

our government released Towards Recovery:

The Mental Health and Addictions Action Plan for Newfoundland and Labrador .

Since then, there has been a significant reduction in the number of people

waiting for mental health and addictions counselling services through

initiatives such as Doorways, which is now available in 50 locations

province-wide, including at all correctional facilities.

We have

secured $28.8 million over five years for mental health and addictions services

province to sign a bilateral agreement under the new Emergency Treatment Fund

for opioid dependence treatment, which will further increase investment by more

than $4 million.

As we

continue to implement Towards Recovery ,

we are committed to ensuring that the voice of lived experience is heard in all

our work through the support of our Recovery Council. The Recovery Council,

which is composed solely of individuals with lived experience and affected

family members, advises the Minister of Health and Community Services on mental

health and addictions matters from a lived-experience perspective.

December 2018, this hon. House of Assembly amended the

Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Act to provide presumptive

coverage for work-related post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) for all workers

in the province covered by the act – or virtually all workers in the province,

effective July 1, 2019. Prior to that, in March 2018, WorkplaceNL introduced an

updated workers' compensation policy to broaden coverage for work-related

traumatic mental health issues.

Our

government has added prevention of harassment and worker-on-worker violence to

the occupational health and safety regulations, effective January 1, 2020. In

the lead up to these changes coming into effect, WorkplaceNL's health and safety

advisors are available to help workplaces understand these changes, and update

their occupational health and safety programs and conduct risk assessments

accordingly. WorkplaceNL also offers workshops and webinars on preventing

workplace violence and harassment, and provides learning resources and tools.

Our

government has made strides to provide residents with greater control over

various community supports they receive. The Departments of Children, Seniors

and Social Development, Health and Community Services and Advanced Education,

Skills and Labour, along with the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation,

have worked with regional health authorities and community partners to develop

an Individualized Funding Model based on the principles of equity and choice.

This model provides a single point of entry for individuals who access social

programs and services. We have worked closely with individuals with

disabilities, community-based organization and other community partners to

implement a demonstration model, the results of which are informing the ongoing

co-design.

Our

government introduced a streamlined financial assessment process and eliminated

liquid asset consideration for those requiring long-term care and community

support services.

We will

continue to support improvements in home and community care through continued

implementation of recommendations from the 2016 Provincial Home Support Program

Review, including the introduction of service level agreements with home care

agencies to improve service quality and accountability.

Our

and remove barriers faced by persons with disabilities. To this end, we have

been conducting a public engagement process in partnership with the Provincial

Advisory Council for the Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities and the

Coalition of Persons with Disabilities NL. The new legislation will be based on

similar legislation in other provinces, as well as the pending federal

legislation, the Accessible Canada Act .

This collaborative process will create a made-in-Newfoundland-and-Labrador piece

of legislation that moves us all towards a barrier-free province.

Our

government provided $200,000 to Memorial University for a new Aging Research

Centre. In 2018, together with Memorial University, our government launched this

new Aging Research Centre, which will focus on Newfoundland and Labrador-based

primary research, working with seniors throughout the province to support

healthy aging and age-friendly communities.

Supporting Newfoundlanders and Labradorians in Healthy Active Living remains a

priority. We continue to support and expand a variety of successful initiatives.

Over 100

staff have received training in 25 Family Resource Centres throughout

Newfoundland and Labrador related to our “Helping Women Live Smoke-Free”

initiative.

Our

government continues to support six regional wellness coalitions across the

province. These coalitions bring together individuals, community partners,

regional health authorities and schools to work on common health and wellness

areas in their regions. Coalitions provide networking and capacity building

opportunities, community workshops and events and education and training.

Work

with municipalities to implement policies and practices that support healthy

eating and breastfeeding is ongoing. In 2018, we supported the Baby-Friendly

Council of Newfoundland and Labrador in the development and implementation of a

community toolkit, designed to support municipalities in creating supportive

environments for breastfeeding families. We will continue to work with the

council on ways to promote and increase breastfeeding in our province.

In 2018,

our government supported an expansion and enhancement of a vegetable and fruit

campaign in regional health authorities, designed to raise awareness about the

importance of consuming vegetables and fruit and taking action to increase

access to fresh, frozen and canned vegetables and fruit across the province. We

will continue to work with partners on ways to promote and support healthy

eating.

Our

government is encouraged by work underway on a national pharmacare program. If

done correctly, such a program has the potential to improve access to medicine

that residents use to treat illness and restore their health, particularly in

newly-developed and expensive therapies for illnesses such as certain cancers.

We look forward to working further with our federal partners to determine

whether, and how, such a national program could benefit our residents, along

with all of Canada.

Investing in Our Future

In 2018,

our government launched an Education Action Plan to respond to the

Premier's Task Force on Improving

Educational Outcomes , 31 of the 82 recommendations in the Education Action

Plan have already been implemented and many more are underway.

Highlights include the hiring of 21 new reading specialists this year, which

will increase to 104 over the next two years. A new position, teaching and

learning assistant, supports teachers in primary and elementary schools.

Fifty-four teaching and learning assistants have already been hired with a plan

to hire another 146 over the next two years.

Teacher-librarians and additional resources for school libraries are supporting

literacy development. There are 13.5 additional teacher-librarians this year,

increasing to 39 over the next two years.

Twelve additional

of a larger plan to support multicultural education.

A mathematics

bursary program has been implemented to support teachers wishing to enhance

their qualifications in mathematics, and mathematics and reading program

specialists are working in regions of the province to support teachers in

primary and elementary schools.

These are just some

of the measures already in place or in progress to guide the transformation of

our education system as we take decisive action to improve program delivery and

student outcomes.

In 2018-19, our

government invested $526.7 million in post-secondary education in Newfoundland

and Labrador. In 2018 we announced the Independent Review of the Public

Post-secondary Education System. This comprehensive review will explore how

Newfoundland and Labrador's public post-secondary education system compares to

other jurisdictions, and recommend options to achieve better outcomes in

post-secondary education in a more cost-efficient manner. The review is being

led by a Committee of Experts and will help ensure our institutions are

well-positioned to meet the needs of students well into the future, address

emerging labour market demands and continue to contribute to the province's

economic growth. The Committee of Experts will be expected to complete the

review in accordance with the Terms of Reference that was just recently

released, conduct comprehensive public consultations, provide regular progress

updates to our government and produce a final report in 2020.

In a 2018 Research

Infosource report ranking the top 50 research universities of Canada, Memorial

University ranked 20th with over $100 million in research income. Memorial's

research income experienced 23 per cent growth between 2016 and 2017, which was

the second fastest growth of the top 50 universities. Memorial University also

leads the country in corporate research income growth, increasing 160 per cent

since 2013.

To support the

continued growth of Memorial, our government is investing in the future of the

university. The core science facility currently under construction is key to

renewing the infrastructure that Memorial's students and faculty depend on. The

new facility will help Memorial recruit and retain students and faculty from

around the world providing a venue for them to perform cutting-edge research and

learning.

We are already attracting more students from outside the

province than ever before. International graduate student applications to

Memorial University have risen from 2,171 for fall 2014 to 3,963 for fall 2019,

an 83 per cent increase.

Memorial

is more than just a university – it is an important piece of the province's

community. The university is proud of the launch of the Visiting Aboriginal

Elders Pilot Project by the School of Social Work and the Aboriginal Resource

Office in support of the Call to Action on Education of the Truth and

Reconciliation Report. This report will see elders from Mi'kmaq, Innu and Inuit

communities of Newfoundland and Labrador visiting Memorial's St. John's campus

during the 2019 winter and fall terms. The presence of elders on Memorial's

campus enriches the cultural fabric of Memorial by introducing the university

community to invaluable Indigenous knowledge and traditions.

Newfoundland and Labrador's only public college is also adapting to ensure its

students receive relevant training to prepare them for the economic

opportunities emerging today and tomorrow. An example would be the College of

the North Atlantic's Agricultural Technician Program. This program will help the

province address gaps in skills and training in the agriculture sector and will

contribute to further sector growth.

Giving Our Children a Good

Start

Mr. Speaker and

Members of the House of Assembly:

Our

children are a precious gift and they deserve our special attention. In May

2018, this hon. House of Assembly adopted a new

Children, Youth and Families Act . This act focuses on

supporting youth, strengthening service delivery to Indigenous children,

youth and their families, preserving

the family unit and expanding stability for children and youth in foster care.

The new

act supports youth in need of protection by increasing the scope of the duty to

report to include youth aged 16 and

17 and removing restrictions so all youth can receive services up to

age 21.

The new

act also focuses on strengthening service delivery to Indigenous children, youth

and their families through increased

involvement of Indigenous governments and organizations in service

coordination, planning and decision making for their children, youth and

families, such as in the creation of

a Cultural Connection plan.

focuses on preserving the family unit through the provision of appropriate and

available supports to maintain

children with their families where it is safe to do so using tools such as the

Triple P Parenting Program and counselling. The act also expands and supports

permanency efforts for children and

youth in foster care by supporting relatives or another person significant

to the child to obtain permanent custody rather than remaining in foster

care.

The

Department of Children, Seniors and Social Development is developing new

policies, clinical practice procedures, and regulations to support proclamation

of the act, which is expected to occur this spring.

Onward

Against

a mountain of fiscal, economic and social challenges, our government has been

resilient, and has made progress that

can be measured. With The Way Forward ,

we have set out a plan focused on

taking control of our fiscal situation all the while building a better economy

and a healthy, prosperous society. We will continue onward and guide our

province toward a bright future.

Mr. Speaker and

Members of the House of Assembly:

Estimates of expenditure will be laid before you in due course and you will be

asked to grant supply to Her Majesty.

I invoke

God's blessing upon you as you continue and commence this new Session.

May

Divine Providence guide you in your deliberations.

SERGEANT-AT-ARMS:

All rise.

(Her

Honour the Lieutenant-Governor leaves the Assembly Chamber.)

(Mr.

Speaker returns to the Chair.)

(Disturbance in the gallery.)

MR. SPEAKER (Trimper):

Order, please!

I remind

all the Members and the viewers, please, to hold your opinions. Thank you.

Order,

please!

I'd ask

you to hold your opinions, please.

Could I

ask the security, please, to address the individual in the gallery?

Sir, I'd

ask you to respect this House, please.

Please

be seated.

Order,

please!

The hon.

the Government House Leader.

MR. A. PARSONS:

Mr. Speaker, I ask leave to

introduce a bill entitled,

An Act To Amend The Environmental Protection Act,

Bill 1.

MR. SPEAKER:

Is there leave for the hon.

the minister to introduce the said bill?

Leave is

granted.

The hon.

the Government House Leader.

MR. A. PARSONS:

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded

by the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Environment, that Bill 1,

An Act To

Amend The Environmental Protection Act, be now read a first time.

MR. SPEAKER:

Is it the pleasure of the

House to adopt the motion?

All

those in favour, 'aye.'

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Aye.

MR. SPEAKER:

All those against, 'nay.'

The

motion is carried.

CLERK (Murphy):

A bill,

An Act To Amend The Environmental Protection Act. (Bill 1)

MR. SPEAKER:

This bill has now been read a

first time.

When

shall the said bill be read a second time? Tomorrow?

MR. A. PARSONS:

Tomorrow.

MR. SPEAKER:

Tomorrow.

motion, Bill 1 read a first time, ordered read a second time on tomorrow.

MR. SPEAKER:

Her Honour the

Lieutenant-Governor has been pleased to make a Speech to the Members in this

General Assembly. We shall now take a few minutes to distribute the speech to

the Members.

(The

Pages distribute the speech to all Members.)

MR. SPEAKER:

Order, please!

The hon.

the Member for Harbour Main.

MS. PARSLEY:

On behalf of the District of

Harbour Main, I move the motion, seconded by the Member for Placentia West -

Bellevue.

Welcome,

everyone. To those in attendance and those at home, it is with sincere pleasure

that I rise in this hon. House today to represent the people of the historic

District of Harbour Main.

My first

priority is to thank the Lieutenant-Governor for delivering the Speech from the

Throne this afternoon. Her Honour is dedicated in the role of vice regal

representative of Her Majesty, and equally important is her Honour's and his

Honour's devoted service to the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Mr.

Speaker, the residents of the District of Harbour Main share the traits of

others in this province in their work ethic, love for home, fair and decent

approach to neighbours. They continue to insist on access to health care,

justice, public safety, education, telecommunications and economic

opportunities.

Forming

government in 2015, we were painfully made aware of the responsibilities ahead.

Four years later, we are proud of the strides we have taken and optimistic as to

what we can accomplish. Today's Speech from the Throne provides our vision for

the province, the people of Newfoundland and Labrador, and have seen effort and

results from our government's The Way

Forward .

For the

residents of Harbour Main, we acknowledge the benefits we already have. As an

MHA, a woman, a resident and a participant in mental health advancements, I

applaud my government. I subscribe to the plan, and I am a part of that plan.

Mr.

Speaker, let me just be one to congratulate our Premier, his staff and the

reliable, tireless civil servants who are part of the team that insisted we

reach a deal on the Atlantic Accord. We cannot overstate how important this is,

and I believe this government addressed it as vital. Thank you, Mr. Premier,

Cabinet, the Premier's staff and our civil servants for an injection of pure

positive into our future.

Mr.

Speaker, Newfoundlanders and Labradorians have sent a message to this

government, and government has responded in areas that need upgrading,

refinement, critical thinking and absolute results.

On a

personal note, the advancement in mental health approaches do not go unnoticed.

I have been exposed to it. I have learned so much in the shortcomings of dated

mental health initiatives.

I am

encouraged by the government's proactive direction on significant improvements

in a short time span with the elimination of mental health waiting lists in

targeted regions; especially, this means that this province recognizes that we

cannot, absolutely cannot, place a mental health issue, such as a potential of

suicide on a waiting list. This government moved to tackle the issue and has

received national recognition in its efforts. In incidents like this, there is

no time to wait. Waiting is not an option.

appreciate the redirection of resources so that issues are addressed without

extra cost to the province. It is possible to identify, formulate, implement and

evaluate this and be mindful of the cost associated with this new approach.

Thank you to the Minister of Health, his staff and his determined staff; of

course, nurses, psychologists, practitioners and those associated with this

change, as a critical component of The Way

Forward , better service and better outcome has been assured.

Mr.

Speaker, there are two topics that mean so much to so many, and this government

has been steadfast in addressing issues that, in particular, affect women.

First, however, I would like to acknowledge that Newfoundland and Labrador

stands proud as the only province in Canada that has a stand-alone ministry

responsible for a Women's Policy Office and the Status of Women in its Cabinet.

Our minister, the hon. Member for Burin - Grand Bank, oversees a portfolio that

this government found essential to good governance and better society.

This is

not mere rhetoric, pandering empty promises or afterthoughts, this is life, this

is necessity and this is right. I am very proud to acknowledge this good work.

In 2018,

our government brought forward

An Act to Amend the Family Violence Protection

Act that made changes and clarifications as to what exactly constitutes family

violence. The expansion of the definition of family violence in the act now

includes psychological, emotional or financial harm. This expanded act warranted

a change to include those who were overlooked when the definition of family

violence was considered. Society has recognized that issues such as these

require a broader spectrum, and our government has addressed it urgently. To say

that The Way Forward is a better

service, better outcomes have been assured.

Mr.

Speaker, it is my privilege to also speak today in my role as parliamentary

secretary for Service Newfoundland and Labrador under the direction of the

minister, the Member for Placentia - St. Mary's. Service NL is making steady

progress, providing better services for all residents and building on our

commitment made in The Way Forward .

The list of accomplishments are many.

Last

year, amendments were made to the Highway

Traffic Act that strengthened our impaired driver's legislation in

anticipation of the legislation of cannabis in Canada. In December, significant

changes to the Residential Tenancies Act

came into effect. People will now have the option of early termination from

rental agreements as a result of domestic violence. Once again, our government

is helping those in abusive situations to re-establish their lives.

Mr.

Speaker, I am sure we all consider ourselves as supporters of tourism.

Oftentimes we assume that our province is an easy sell in the promotion of

tourism and cultural assets; however, it requires work, dedication and

creativity in order to separate what we often compare as to our destinations.

We have

so much display in the District of Harbour Main, often what Newfoundlanders and

Labradorians already know of and what these outside the province have learned. I

look forward to summertime events like Cupers Cove Soiree, the Brigus Blueberry

Festival. The Holyrood SquidFest has grown to match the residential and

commercial developments ongoing in Holyrood. New businesses and tourism match up

well in Clarke's Beach with the Newfoundland Distillery Company.

represent a great district who can only commend the Department of Tourism,

Culture, Industry and Innovation for its forward thinking with its advancing the

Newfoundland and Labrador agenda. I am confident that the minister accepts that

this is a huge responsibility to showcase the province on an international

scale. I know the visitors to our province are international, regional and those

on a staycation. Thank you for your good work and mindful attention to the

District of Harbour Main and all other districts.

conclusion, I am excited to be a part of a government who is focused on

continued good decisions that incorporate all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.

I am proud that we stand first in the areas, and that in 2019 deserve special,

long overdue attention.

This

government's approach is honest and appreciative of the confidence that

Newfoundlanders and Labradorians have placed in it. We continue to work towards

a better future because that is what we were elected to do now and always.

Thank

you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

Thank you.

The hon.

the Member for Placentia West - Bellevue.

MR. BROWNE:

I'm doing the work of the

Page, Mr. Speaker. Happy to help. I know there are only four of them and they do

a great job.

Mr.

Speaker, and I certainly want to thank my colleague, the Member for Harbour

Main.

behalf of the good people of Placentia West - Bellevue, I second the motion

moved by the Member for Harbour Main to appoint a Select Committee to draft an

Address in Reply to this year's Speech from the Throne.

further thank her Honour, the Lieutenant-Governor, for her presence and her

words to this Chamber here today. I also wish to recognize and thank his Honour

for being here today as well. Together, they provide admirable service to the

people of our fair province.

Monsieur le

president, je remercie la lieutenante-gouverneure de son discours (inaudible),

aussi remercie son honneur de sa presence, aussi.

The

Speech from the Throne is not an archaic ritual, nor is it a tradition we simply

must observe, but rather an opportunity for the government to render focus on

its agenda, to put a spotlight on the work undertaken to date, the work which is

in progress and, indeed, on the work still yet to do.

Mr.

Speaker, I was pleased to hear her Honour discuss the important steps this

government has taken to promote gender equity and the status of women. I think

these words, as part of her Honour's first Throne Speech, are particularly

fitting. As a tireless and tenacious leader and advocate for women and girls and

role model for many, her Honour has a legacy of public service and trail-blazing

of her own. Not only as the first female federal Cabinet minister from this

province, but now as its first female Lieutenant-Governor. As Members well know,

I had the great privilege to work closely with her during her time as a Member

of Parliament alongside my good friend and colleague, the Minister Responsible

for the Status of Women.

The

Premier's decision to make a stand-alone department for the status of women puts

a greater focus on issues relating to violence against women, gender-based

analysis and women in leadership. Along with congratulating my colleague from

Burin - Grand Bank, I also congratulate Ms. Linda Ross, the newly named deputy

minister for the Status of Women, who had previously served as the president and

CEO of the Provincial Advisory Council on the Status of Women. I also

congratulate her successor, Ms. Paula Sheppard, a native of my district, having

grown up in Come by Chance.

It is

very important for women to be empowered but, equally as important, that men

support and advance these issues in collaboration with women. I'm proud of our

government's commitment to these issues, proud of our Premier, of our minister

and, indeed, of our Lieutenant-Governor.

Mr.

Speaker, I was also pleased to hear her Honour speak of our government's

commitment to addressing mental health and addictions. We have often heard it

said that cancer touches every family, and this is true; but so to, Mr. Speaker,

does mental health. And sadly, it is only in recent times we are beginning to

arrive at this realization as we become more aware, more focused and, rightly,

more seized with this important issue.

family, Mr. Speaker, is not immune. My uncle lost his battle to his inner demons

almost 15 years ago, and so many of us in this House and across this province

have similar stories to tell. Suicide is not something new for those of us who

come from the Burin Peninsula. My uncle was not the only person to lose his

battle. Far too many sons and daughters and moms and dads and brothers and

sisters could not find the resolve to carry on.

We knew

that something must be done, and I am proud the Burin Peninsula became the first

region that the provincial government and the Mental Health Commission of Canada

partnered for the Roots of Hope initiative. The innovative and caring team of

Eastern Health employees developed a new approach supported by government to

adjust the model of treatment from an appointments-based system to a walk-in

clinic.

On the

day I was elected in 2015, wait times on the Burin Peninsula to access mental

health counselling were steep. Mr. Speaker, I am extremely proud to say that the

wait-time number on the Burin Peninsula has decreased from 180 to zero.

Improvements in wait times for mental health services are not just happening on

the Island. We are seeing improvements in Labrador as well. Wait-lists in Happy

Valley-Goose Bay were eliminated as well in August of last year; gone is the

lengthily wait-list system replaced by counselling offered on walk-in basis. Our

people deserve immediate treatment and they are getting it.

Advocates and health professionals agree that this approach is working. This is

real change and I'm very proud of the team on the Burin Peninsula who have

recently received a national award. They'll be accepting that in Toronto in

June. It's their work that has trail-blazed this across the province.

Further,

Mr. Speaker, we have brought forward the

Prescription Monitoring Act , the

Secure Withdrawal Management Act and continue to implement the

Towards Recovery plan.

I am

prouder even still, Mr. Speaker, that this government has begun the process of

replacing the Victorian era Waterford institution with a 94-bed adult,

state-of-the-art mental health hospital, which will not bear the name Waterford,

Mr. Speaker.

It is

wrong for anyone to suffer in silence. It is wrong to be stigmatized for

something outside of your control. We are breaking down these barriers, we are

listening and we are making changes for the better.

Mr.

Speaker, another area her Honour expanded on today relates to jobs. I am happy

to say jobs are being created to generate stability and opportunity here at home

in Newfoundland and Labrador. Look no further than in my District of Placentia

West – Bellevue, to which I often refer to it as the industrial heartland of the

Island of Newfoundland. I'm excluding Labrador, I say to my colleagues.

We see

the Come by Chance refinery expanding; the future of Bull Arm is bright;

Seadrill's West Aquarius continues to undergo retrofitting there. Vale's

decision to proceed with the unground mine at Voisey's Bay in Labrador will

extend the life of the Long Harbour Nickel Processing Plant, creating 4,800

construction jobs at peak in 2020 and sustain 1,700 operational jobs both at

Voisey's Bay and Long Harbour.

Icewater

Seafoods, the province's leading groundfish processor based in Arnold's Cove, is

undergoing a $3.1 million transformation made possible by the Atlantic Fisheries

Fund. As her Honour also mentioned, the Greig aquaculture project in partnership

with Ocean Choice International is ramping up construction to build the world's

largest salmon hatchery based out of Marystown producing some 800 jobs.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. BROWNE:

Major supply companies have

already come in to set up shop in Marystown to support this industry. Ome such

example, Mr. Speaker, is Aqua Sol which will install 17 kilometres of piping

into the hatchery in Marystown. There are pipes everywhere in Marystown, Mr.

Speaker, and it's great to see. We're very proud that Ocean Choice will pursue

processing in St. Lawrence nearby to Marystown, creating even more jobs.

Kiewit

Offshore Services is constructing the living quarters for the Husky Project. The

former Marystown Shipyard will soon be reactivated by Marbase Marystown Inc.,

creating jobs and activity for years to come, Mr. Speaker, and I'm very proud of

that development as well.

Other

successful manufacturing businesses in the area such as Smith Snacks in Norman's

Cove-Long Cove and Dynamic Air Shelters based out of Grand Bank continue to

flourish.

Just

south of Marystown in the District of Burin - Grand Bank, the Canada the Canada

Fluorspar mine has been reopened in St. Lawrence: 3,000 person-years of

employment in the first 12 years of operation and an additional 525 spin-off

jobs are anticipated.

Mr.

Speaker, this is just my district and my region alone. It doesn't touch of much

of the approximately $49 billion of combined economic activity relating to job

creation as a result of The Way Forward .

Through

infrastructure investments, we are creating 5,300 person-years of employment

annually. The West White Rose extension being constructed at Argentina, with its

living quarters being constructed at Marystown, has created 5,000 person-years

of employment. Equinor's Bay du Nord Project will generate approximately 11,000

person-years of employment.

Further,

Mr. Speaker, the technology sector is blossoming: PAL Aerospace, 150

person-years of employment over five years; Bluedrop, up 50 new jobs; S&P Data,

up to 500 jobs; Quorum, up to 24 new jobs. Mr. Speaker, you get the picture.

This is progress; jobs are being created here in Newfoundland and Labrador. This

doesn't even touch on the amazing work happening in the arts, cultural and

tourism sectors.

Just

this year, the provincial tourism ad featured many communities on the Burin

Peninsula such as the iconic and picturesque Parkers Cove. The video is

approaching nearly 700,000 views in the first few months on our tourism YouTube

channel.

And, of

course, Mr. Speaker, the fishery remains successful, as it should be, because

it's the reason why so many of us settle here, the essence of so many

communities and the backbone of our rural economy.

Mr.

Speaker, as I've just noted, we have seen major, major, major progress. That is

not to say we do not face challenge. That is not to say there is not work still

left to do.

Despite

the challenging fiscal circumstances this government inherited we have increased

the Seniors' Benefit to better assist seniors to live comfortably at home. We've

created the Newfoundland and Labrador Income Supplement to assist low income

families, seniors and persons with disabilities. We've brought forward measures

to support first responders, presumptive cancer coverage for firefighters,

presumptive PTSD coverage for the workplace and a tax credit for search and

rescue volunteers.

We have

maintained strong support of our fishery, standing up to Ottawa and standing up

when required on issues of importance to our harvesting and processing sectors.

While there has been much progress, there indeed have been challenges but

Newfoundlanders and Labradorians are not immune from challenge, Mr. Speaker. We

have suffered through tragedy. We have overcome adversity but we have always

persevered. We have never lacked the courage to stand up for our freedom or

pursue a living for our families. If the courage of members of the Royal

Newfoundland Regiment at the Battle of Beaumont-Hamel didn't prove this, future

significant historical events certainly would.

Events

which would alter our psyche, change our outlook and cause us to never lose our

vigilance. Events like the 1914 sealing disaster, the 1982

Ocean Ranger disaster or more recently the Cougar 491 crash, these

events are but three of the significant tragedies which have befell our people

and our province. And while these events stretch over a period of more than a

century, the common thread of each features ordinary, hard-working

Newfoundlanders and Labradorians seeking a living for their families on the sea.

Each event has proven that even while we are sea people, our oceans are not

playgrounds of frivolous pursuit. They have helped countless families earn a

keep, but have also caused heartache and pain to many.

It is

these types of events which we do not forget, that the families of those

affected never forget. They are etched into our minds and into our beings as

Newfoundlanders and Labradorians and strike at the core of our foundation and

strengthen our resilience as a people, and it is these foundations upon which

our resilience rests. It's who we are as Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. We

will never back down. We will never give in and we will never stop fighting for

a brighter future.

When I

hear the negative and divisive rhetoric some choose to employ, I shake my head,

Mr. Speaker. I am 25 years of age, Mr. Speaker, and I am just as passionate

today for the future of our province as I was on the day that I took my Oath of

Office here in this very Chamber. I know many young Newfoundlanders and

Labradorians share this view and share this vision.

Just

this morning, I visited the Chapel Arm heritage fair where students in grade

four to six showcased their heroes, from the likes of Allan Hawco to Kaetlyn

Osmond to a lemonade stand honouring the life and work of Nevaeh Devine. These

young minds see and want a future for our province. It is our youth we must

continue fighting for.

We must

all pull on the same oar, because a high tide floats all boats. Those who choose

to prey on the politics of fear and division have no place in public discourse.

Let us disagree with one another, let us engage in policy debates and

disagreements, but ultimately the people of this province expect and demand that

we rise above partisan interest to make the best decisions and produce the best

outcomes for those we all jointly represent.

Mr.

Speaker, I feel a sense of pride each time I rise in my place to address this

Chamber. As I reflect on these past four years, I feel strongly a sense of

gratitude to those who gave me the opportunity to be their voice and

representative in this hon. House, the good people of Placentia West - Bellevue.

I would

be remiss if I did not reflect on the 70th anniversary of Confederation. Joey

Smallwood saw the promise joining Canada had for our small country at the time.

He had a vision, while perhaps imperfect in implementation, it was pure in

motive. He took many families from poverty to a fighting chance, from uneducated

to educated. He was a true nation-builder.

This

week, the Premier concluded successful negotiations on the Atlantic Accord. This

province now has a guaranteed revenue stream of $2.5 billion, no financial risk

and commitments with respect to joint management of the offshore, as well as

rate mitigation to deal with the disastrous Muskrat Falls project. The renewed

Atlantic Accord is the right thing at the right time for Newfoundland and

Labrador.

Mr.

Speaker, you may recall the oft-quoted line of: Those who do not learn from

their past are condemned to repeat it. Mr. Speaker, I can guarantee you, this

government has learned from past decisions of past governments. We have seen the

damage inflicted upon our people with risky plays in the natural resource

sector. We have witnessed the depletion of our Treasury by chasing false

promises. We have seen the mistakes that have been made with hard-won cash

settlements of the past. We are at a crucial point of our history. The world

today is a turbulent place, as uncertain as we've ever seen it in so many years.

Our province needs stability, our Treasury needs reliability and our people

deserve accountability.

That is

why we have chosen stability over risk in a renewed Atlantic Accord. In these

uncertain times, we have chosen a prudent approach that will protect all

Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. Further, thanks to this review, the net debt

for every resident has been reduced by $5,000. Our government, led by our

Premier, has a proven track record of fiscal restraint and sound financial

management.

I have

had the opportunity to watch this Premier up close in negotiations of many sorts

over these last four years, and I can tell you unequivocally he is the person

for this job. He's studious, thorough, well-versed and sharp as a tack, and this

is why we got it, but we got it right, Mr. Speaker.

Mr.

Speaker, I again thank the Lieutenant-Governor for her Speech from the Throne

today, and I second the motion by the Member for Harbour Main to strike a Select

Committee to formulate an Address in Reply to her Honour.

conclusion, I reflect on the tremendous progress the Premier and our government

have made in fostering partnership and productivity. Potential has evolved to

progress. Results have been realized. Mr. Speaker, this is not, as some may call

it, razzle-dazzle. It is called good governance, it is called getting the job

done and delivering for Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.

Mr.

Speaker, amongst all of this, I'm very proud to say the flags are still flying

high in this province.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. BROWNE:

We will continue on

The Way Forward , and for this Premier and this government I am truly

and genuinely convinced the best still is yet to come.

Thank

you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Leader of the

Official Opposition.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. CROSBIE:

It's a great country, Mr.

Speaker.

I would

like to thank and acknowledge her Honour, the Lieutenant-Governor; the mover and

the seconder; the Third Party House Leader and the Premier; and all Members for

stepping forward to serve in this House. Guests in the galleries, leaders in

business, labour, academia, justice, faith, culture, public service, the

community sector, municipal governance, seniors, students and youth and the

people watching at home.

We've

heard this government's fourth Speech from the Throne. We've been told an

election is imminent. So the government's Throne Speech is not an agenda they

will have time to implement before the election, and there are many indications

in the Throne Speech that the government knows this.

Their

time to get things done is now finished. This is their election message. So, in

that same spirit, I will briefly lay out my own message, speak about some of my

own priorities and do my duty to question the record and performance of the

government whose term is drawing to a close.

I'm one

of the people who are viewers watching these proceedings and those here in the

gallery. I'm a former business owner, a husband, a father of three daughters;

someone who has made a career and raised a family and had community involvements

over a period of decades. I know what we all want for this place.

We love

to adopt the expression used by her Honour: we all share a vision of a

Newfoundland and Labrador which is prosperous, independent and sustainable.

Prosperous; a province with a growing economy, a compassionate society with a

reasonable tax burden and well-paying jobs and hope for getting ahead.

Independent; a province that looks for a hand up from Ottawa but never for a

handout.

Sustainable; a province that has control of its financial destiny and leads in

the reinvestment of non-renewable energy wealth into the creation of the

renewable energy wealth of the future.

The path

to this better future, requires leadership, honest leadership that has the

courage to create a better future 10 years, 20 years into the future. We are a

people whose regiment proudly bears the motto: Better than the Best.

entered politics because I did not see political leadership calling us to be our

best, or even to be better. I saw fake leadership with no courage, calling us to

be our worst. I saw the Liberal Way

Forward leading us to a cliff edge of poverty, dependency and insolvency.

And as a proud Newfoundlander and Labradorian, I could not sit in the comfort of

my own home and watch folly unfold. I believe many of you watching at home feel

the same way, and you need a voice, the voice of honest leadership.

Honest

leadership requires courage; the courage to know when to sit down and listen,

and the courage to know when to stand up and speak. I sat down and listened, and

I stood up and spoke last summer. I told the Premier he should make a reference

to the Public Utilities Board on Muskrat Falls rate mitigation.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER:

Order, please!

MR. CROSBIE:

As a former Public Utilities Board lawyer, I know about the uses of the Public

Utilities Board. After several months of characteristic indecision, the Premier

made the reference. I sat down and listened, and then I stood up and spoke last

month and delivered the Crosbie Hydro Energy Action Plan.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Oh, oh!

MR. CROSBIE:

Mr. Speaker, the document was

tabled, so I gather I'm allowed to use the term.

action plan is an exercise in honest leadership. My plan is based on the best

information currently available at this time through the Public Utilities Board

process. I disclose how I arrive at the amount required to achieve complete

mitigation of the impact of Muskrat on rates when it comes into service in 2021,

where the cost savings and revenue can be found, and I cite my sources.

The

Public Utilities Board process is at a preliminary stage. When better

information becomes available, I will adjust the plan. In the meantime, the

public has reassurance that under my government electrical power rates will not

increase when Muskrat Falls comes into service and all of us have an affordable

future.

From the

school of fake leadership, the public has only the reassurance that the

government will make known its rate mitigation plan, eventually, as an election

goodie. This week, the much-heralded Liberal fake Atlantic Accord review deal

was announced. This is a fake Atlantic Accord deal because it has no

relationship whatsoever with the Atlantic Accord.

challenge the media to stop repeating Liberal propaganda terms and find another

term, like Liberal re-election plan. In the meantime, I will simply call it the

fake Accord deal.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER:

Order, please!

MR. CROSBIE:

The real Atlantic Accord is the most important piece of legislation this

province has seen since the terms of union. It enshrines hard-won rights over

the offshore resources we brought into Confederation.

The

Danny Williams 2005 Atlantic Accord financial agreement enforced our rights on

the offshore.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER:

Order, please!

MR. CROSBIE:

This Liberal government's

fake Accord deal is a handout not a hand up, and the only acknowledgement of the

Atlantic Accord is an agreement to talk about weakening joint management.

The

Liberal fake Accord deal is election time chicken feed and slight of hand – to

quote the words of former PC Premier Brian Peckford, the father of the real

thing, the original 1985 Atlantic Accord –

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER:

Order, please!

MR. CROSBIE:

– which Canada and the

province enshrined in mirror legislation.

According to his February 2018 letter to the prime minister, the Premier set out

to review and come to agreement on two major issues. The first was equalization,

and the fiscal and fairness our province suffers within Confederation. The

second was the imposition by Ottawa of Bill C-69, the

Impact Assessment Act , and the threat

it represents the future jobs and prosperity from the development of our

offshore resources.

This

premier achieved nothing, zero, zilch, on either of these critical objectives;

instead, he accepted what former Premier Peckford calls chicken feed and sleight

of hand and locked us into a 38-year deal with no review clause –

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER:

Order, please!

MR. CROSBIE:

– worse than the Upper

Churchill fiasco.

The 1985

Peckford-Mulroney Atlantic Accord has produced $22 billion through courageous,

honest leadership; money sealed and delivered to the province.

The 2005

Premier Williams Atlantic Accord fiscal arrangement achieved $3 billion through

courageous, honest leadership; sealed and delivered.

The 2019

Liberal fake Atlantic Accord delivered chickenfeed and slight of hand with

postdated cheques yet to go in the mail.

The

Trudeau federal government is not our friend. Trudeau and O'Regan are attacking

our right to control the pace of development through Bill C-69, the

Impact Assessment Act , and invading –

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER:

Order, please!

MR. CROSBIE:

– the powers –

MR. SPEAKER:

Order, please!

Please

proceed.

MR. CROSBIE:

– Bill C-69 and invading the powers of the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador

Offshore Petroleum Board. Bill C-69 is the no-more-offshore bill. I am not the

only opinion leader who is gravely concerned, Mr. Speaker, about the no more

offshore bill. Here is what Noia CEO Bob Cadigan said on CBC Radio only

yesterday: The problem we have is Ottawa is infiltrated with folks from

organizations like the World Wildlife Fund, lead by Trudeau mentor Gerald Butts,

and our own Seamus O'Regan was a director. It's a grave concern. So with that

potentially anti-industry kind of view, you know it's a bit scary that Seamus

O'Regan is our representative in the federal cabinet, to be frank.

Bob

Cadigan went on to say that at a time when we've identified enough barrels of

oil to potentially change the face of this province dramatically for future

generations, and it's those future generations we should be concerned about,

federal government action like Bill C-69 binds our hands before we even try to

start. That's why we need, Mr. Cadigan went on, to get these resources developed

in order to anchor our economy, create jobs and provide the certainty and

security for the people of this province to develop potentially hundreds of

billions in royalties.

defend our rights, we must be aggressive. The Atlantic Accord legislation has a

section which declares that it takes precedence over other federal legislation.

It is time to enforce our legal rights. If Canadians continue to peer behind the

mask of brand Trudeau and put him out of office, aggressive measures may not be

needed. In the meantime –

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER:

Order, please!

MR. CROSBIE:

– a premier who accepts the

mission of defending this province's vital interest will have a strategy which

includes making a reference to the Newfoundland and Labrador Court of Appeal to

seek an opinion on the legality of the no more offshore Bill C-69.

People

should have confidence that their political leadership will defend the vital

interests of the province, but of those to whom political power is given, much

should be expected. The role of honest leadership is to create the conditions in

which job creators, like those watching and in the galleries, can do the work of

transforming our future into one of prosperity, independence and sustainability.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER:

Order, please!

MR. CROSBIE:

A future of lower taxes, less

regulations, jobs and hope – that is my vision and the vision of the PC

Opposition for the future.

God

guard Newfoundland and Labrador.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

Order, please!

Also

speaking in support of the motion, the hon. Member for St. John's East - Quidi

Vidi.

MS. MICHAEL:

Thank you very much, Mr.

Speaker.

It's an

honour this afternoon to stand on behalf of the NDP and to present our reaction

to the Speech from the Throne. First of all, I would like to thank the

Lieutenant-Governor for coming here today and presenting the speech to us.

The

first thing I want to do is to ask a question, and that is: How do the people

who heard this speech today or who will hear it after today, people who are

living in poverty, people who are working minimum wage, people who are having a

difficult time making ends meet to even feed their families healthy food, how

would they see the Speech from the Throne today? That's my question.

The

Lieutenant-Governor, as we all know, presents the speech that is government's

position. And so I want to not look at this from the eyes of government, which

government does, of course, and which their two representatives did very well,

in terms of speaking on behalf of government, and I want to present my words

from the eyes of people who are having a hard time making ends meet in this

province. I want to do it from the perspective of municipal councillors who are

so frustrated because they cannot deliver the services that they need to deliver

to their communities, build the infrastructure that's needed for safe

communities.

I want

to do it through the eyes of volunteers who are out there in our communities.

Government, in the speech, does talk about the wonderful work in communities.

Yes, there are volunteers out there working day in and day out to try to help

other people make it. And it's through those eyes that I want to see this.

Government, as I expected, although they didn't do it in a big way, initially,

they did right upfront talk about the Atlantic Accord. It's very, very

interesting, because they're presenting the Atlantic Accord as if it will be the

answer to all of our fiscal woes. And in the document it says – this is on page

2 or page 3 –

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER:

Order, please!

MS. MICHAEL:

– it will “help us

stay the course for fiscal stability and return to surplus.”

Well, I'm going to beg to differ on that. What's missing in

this document is a real economic plan. I'm shocked that at this point

in time, with the state of things the way they are in our province, that this

government does not have an economic plan.

If they

think that telling people that overnight – because the Premier did say that in

the media; everything was going to be better for the people of Newfoundland and

Labrador overnight because of the Atlantic Accord. Guess what? Each of you

people, your $5,000 debt is not going to be there. Well, first of all, do they

really think people are stupid enough to think that they are not going to have a

$5,000 debt? What a ridiculous thing to be saying to the people of this

province. You have a $5,000 debt and now you don't have it. Guess what? These

people have debt. These people have personal debt because they cannot make ends

meet.

The

personal debt in this province is extremely high, so the debt of Muskrat Falls,

that's not the debt they're feeling. They'll be feeling it when their

electricity rates go up, though, in 2021 and this government had the gall to

come in here today with a speech that does not even present a plan to deal with

the mitigation of the electrical rates.

Being

bold enough to say oh, the federal minister of Finance will be here tomorrow and

we'll start – we'll start. This is where they should have started. It should

have been here today. There should have been a plan before they had the gall of

going to the people of this province and asking them to be re-elected without

even a plan. They're the ones telling people the rates are going to double and

now they're coming forward with a Speech from the Throne, leading into a budget,

which will be the last thing they'll do before a general election and daring to

say come on, vote for us. We haven't got a plan yet, but vote us.

I'm

sorry. That is not acceptable.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER:

Order, please!

MS. MICHAEL:

The language in this Speech

from the Throne is bogus; the language around the Atlantic Accord is bogus. It's

meaningless for the people who are living in real life, who are living –

MR. SPEAKER:

Excuse me for a minute.

I know

we're going to get into something here, but I remind all Members that each

caucus is going to have a chance to speak and be heard, and I want to continue

with that. Please respect this Member.

Please

proceed.

MS. MICHAEL:

Thank you very much, Mr.

Speaker.

I do

appreciate that. Unfortunately, government, through this Speech from the Throne,

is trying to make themselves look good as they head into the election, while

downloading a financial burden on future generations. They say they have a plan

for financial sustainability, but they don't, and the Accord is not a plan.

So, why

are they saying what they're saying? Well, yes, they did get $2.5 billion as a

fixed amount of money through the negotiations with the federal government, but

that $2.5 billion, that's going to show up right away on this year's books as a

reduction in our net debt of $14.7 billion, which is going to be good for

borrowing more money and that's what this is about. It puts them on a standing

where they're going to be able to borrow more money.

They

don't have, in this Speech from the Throne, a revenue plan. The only revenue

plan – the revenue stream is the $2.5 billion over 38 years. The $150 million in

cash every year – approximately – for the first 11 years is not going to help

much with annual deficits. This year it's projected at $500 million, which

Muskrat Falls is going to add to. That amount of money each year is a drop in

the bucket to the expenses that we have, we all know that, yet they are using

smoke and mirrors to get people to think everything is fine.

So what

is the benefit to people of taking debt off government's books and downloading

costs onto future generations? Because that's what's going to happen. The only

benefit is to the government, because they're looking good right now and they're

making it sound good in order to get re-elected, but the reality is, down the

road, things are not going to get better. If they are, they certainly haven't

got a plan for it in this Speech.

So when

I look at the promise of the mitigation plans and the fact that Minister Morneau

will be here tomorrow, I just see it as political posturing on the part of this

government for the sake of the election. There's no other answer that I have. Or

will the federal finance minister come in tomorrow and all of a sudden announce,

you know, a huge amount of money, something to help us deal with the $720

million that we're going to need to run Muskrat Falls? I doubt it – I doubt it

very much, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER:

Order, please!

MS. MICHAEL:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

government's plans are about getting re-elected, not about making people's lives

better. Nothing in this talks about changing the minimum wage, which is too low

and which must advance much more quickly than this government is doing. We

cannot just have the incremental movement of minimum wage. We need minimum wage

brought up to the basic – I mean, we've been saying $15 an hour for a long time

now. We're soon going to have to look at inflation and even change that $15 an

hour. We need that to happen, like, in the next year or two. By 2021, it's not

going to happen. Nothing about it – nothing in this.

Really,

if we're going to use gender-based analysis – which they didn't talk about this

year, by the way, in the Speech from the Throne. If we're going to use

gender-based analysis, women are the highest percentage of those on minimum

wage. And a lot of those women are women who are single parents. So if you

really want to help the status of women, if you really want to help women in

this province, which they made a cursory glance to in the Speech from the

Throne, then let's move women out of poverty. Let's move everybody out of

poverty.

Nothing

on pay equity legislation – something that they promised. And they're coming

into now the end of their term, begging for re-election, and they've done

nothing about it. Well, I hope the women in this province are going to have an

answer for them on that one.

With

regard to justice issues, I will say there've been some good steps taken. There

have been. The three –

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

Order, please!

MS. MICHAEL:

The three domestic violence

courts are to be created; however, the one for Labrador is not there yet. So one

good step, a step backwards.

Four

hours of legal assistance for victims of violence is a first good step, but

victims need funds to use on many needs including legal, counselling, and child

care and so on. Other provinces provide this. The drug court is a good first

step, but will we see the community programs to support it? That's essential.

It was

interesting to see the focus on our successful athletes, and I too follow those

athletes and am proud of them. But those athletes – let's look at Kaetlyn

Osmond, because it's public. Why did her parents move to Alberta to get jobs in

Northern Alberta? In order to pay for their daughter going on in –

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER:

Order, please!

MS. MICHAEL:

– the profession that she'd

chosen.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER:

Order, please!

MS. MICHAEL:

So what this government

should be looking at is the under-investment in organized amateur sports in this

province. The sports that our children have in their school system, and the fact

that children who do not have –

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Oh, oh!

MS. MICHAEL:

Mr. Speaker, I'm really

having a hard time.

MR. SPEAKER:

Yes.

Order,

please!

MS. MICHAEL:

Thank you very much.

Children

whose parents do not have adequate money can't have their children in the hockey

team, for example, in the community or in the school, or can't have their

children doing road trips.

I know

of a family where the child is a really good athletic child doing – oh, what's

the word I want for it? The jumping and the –

AN HON. MEMBER:

Gymnastics.

MS. MICHAEL:

Gymnastics. Really good

gymnast, but could not afford the road trips that they'd have to take

part in if

he stayed on the team, and he was one of the stars on the team, but because of

the cost of road trips he couldn't do it. So don't tell me, don't take credit

for our star athletes that they mention in the Speech from the Throne when

they're not putting money into the programs for our children in school and

children in our community.

We've

seen some increase in child care investment, that's true, both for parents and

for child care centres. Providing money for programming and inclusion is a

positive thing. Providing subsidies to more families has been valuable, but many

families either have no access to child care in their community or cannot afford

it and don't qualify for a subsidy.

Child

care lifts women out of poverty, it boosts the economy and increases tax revenue

to government. Why this government can't understand that, as they did in Quebec

– and that's what I would've loved to see today: a real plan for child care, not

band-aids. Why they don't see this as an economically good thing to have a

public child care system, I'll never understand.

Many

incremental actions have been taken in sectors such as agriculture and

technology industries, but I don't see a comprehensive, detailed plan for

economic diversification. As I said earlier, the only revenue they seem to be

concentrating on is the revenue stream, as they've put it, from the Atlantic

Accord. There's no mention of the economic importance of cultural and heritage

industries and no new investment.

Government is now finally talking about the need to support green energy, but

there is no mention of the conundrum that exists in our province right now of

investing in green energy versus increasing local consumption of Muskrat Falls

energy. That's the reality, because if we really start using green energy, wind

power, for example, if we start using that, fewer people are getting energy from

Muskrat Falls, that increases the cost of Muskrat Falls. So we have a conundrum

and they're not addressing the conundrum. It's a serious one.

We still

have the highest unemployment rate in the country and need a comprehensive plan

to create employment with permanent jobs, not jobs that are seasonal or jobs

that are related to construction, which are not permanent.

We are

still losing too many immigrants to other provinces. When the Speech from the

Throne talks about 1,500 new permanent residents –

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER:

Order!

MS. MICHAEL:

– that's not new immigrants

this year. Some of those permanent residents – and they didn't give us the

number – are people who have been here for a while and this year became

permanent residents. So that 1,500 is not new immigrants this year. They made it

sound that way.

And

government, too, is jumping at the new P3 opportunities, but there's no

guarantee they'll –

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MS. MICHAEL:

– they get an easy ride,

initially, but there's no guarantee what will happen down the road with the

unionized jobs that now exist. Will they continue? There is proof, Mr. Speaker,

in research that's done that in many, many of the cases where you start off with

P3s, they turn into being totally dominated by the private sectors and unionized

jobs disappear.

We have

not addressed the environmental impact of mining, and this government does not

do that. They didn't do it in the Speech and it's a major issue. I'm not saying

that we shouldn't have mining, but we have to have more care with regard to what

the environmental impact is, especially when we are endangering sensitive areas

that are important to tourism and important to the protection of our land.

What's

going on, for example, with the Eagleridge gold mine is totally unacceptable. If

that's what their idea of developing mines is, that's not what ours is. We have

to have a plan that really looks at how the environmental needs and the economic

needs go together.

Then

there are the Indigenous issues. Yes, the round tables are an important step,

there's no doubt, and collaboration to improve child-protection systems in

Labrador is proving extremely valuable, so there are good things happening, but

we should seek core funding for friendship centres and a network of these

centres around the province. We need more support for maintenance and revival of

languages.

Labrador, when we come to Muskrat Falls, is still sitting wondering what's

happening with regard to the methylmercury issue. We do not have adequate

support for Indigenous legal students – just two internships. Well, the needs up

there are much greater than two internships. I want a much more progressive

program around Indigenous legal students.

Another

good point – I am pointing out good things, but then the weakness.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MS. MICHAEL:

It is good news that more

primary health care teams will be established in our community health centres,

and those that are there are proving to be very successful. But, again, I