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November 18, 2014

HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS

Vol. XLVII No. 41

The

House met at 1:30 p.m.

MR. SPEAKER (Verge):

Order, please!

Admit strangers.

Statements by

Members

MR. SPEAKER:

Today we have members'

statements from the Member for the District of Virginia Waters, the Member

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

St. Barbe, the Member for the District of Bonavista North, the Member for

the District of Cartwright L'Anse-au-Clair, and the Member for the

District of Exploits.

The

hon. the Member for the District of Virginia Waters.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MS C. BENNETT:

Mr. Speaker, I rise

in this hon. House today to recognize the St. John's International Women's

Film Festival as they celebrate their twenty-five years of promoting women

filmmakers producing documentaries, short films, and feature works.

Established in 1989, it is one of the longest running women's film

festivals in the world. It

celebrates the many talented local, national, and international artists for

their writing, filmmaking, ingenuity, and creativity.

Today, the festival continues to celebrate the best work in the world of all

genres and formats, offering inspiring workshops with the world's best

filmmakers, and acknowledge and showcase women in this industry.

It has continued to raise the bar for networking, learning, and

growth of the industry right here in our Province.

We need only to look at the success of the internationally acclaimed

The Grand Seduction , produced by

filmmaker Barbara Doran, to see the potential, the impact, and the profound

legacy women in film can make.

Mr.

Speaker, I ask all hon. members to join me in congratulating the hundreds of

dedicated staff and volunteers of the St. John's International Women's Film

Festival on twenty-five years, and for many more as they continue to produce

screenings, workshops, and other inspiring events for all the artists.

Thank you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

the District of Baie Verte Springdale.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. POLLARD:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

is with great pride and pleasure that I rise in this hon. House today to

commend the achievements of three bright high school graduates in the

District of Baie Verte Springdale.

Kate

Oxford of Indian River High, Teri Ann Chislett of Copper Ridge Academy, and

Adriana Newbury of Valmont Academy were the proud recipients of Electoral

District Scholarships, valued at $1,000 each.

These scholarships are awarded to the three high school graduates in each

district who achieved the highest Department of Education scholarship score.

Their performance speaks very well of the school staff and community

who partnered to provide a caring, nurturing culture in which students are

able to excel.

Kate, Teri Ann, and Adriana are reflective of the many innovative, aspiring

students who walk the halls of our schools, to which we look for fresh,

innovative ideas and inventions.

ask all hon. members of this House to help me congratulate Kate, Teri Ann,

and Adriana for their notable achievements and to wish them much success in

the next phase of this lives.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

St. Barbe.

MR. J. BENNETT:

Thank you, Mr.

Speaker.

Mr.

Speaker, I rise in this hon. House today to congratulate Mrs. Ella Moores on

her 100 th birthday.

On September 4, 2014, Mrs. Moores celebrated with more than 100 family and

friends at her residence, Tableland Senior Citizens Complex, Woody Point.

People visited from near and far to take

part in this momentous

event.

was humbled to be in Mrs. Moore's presence and have the opportunity to

remind everyone of the history she has experienced.

Imagine living through two World Wars, the Great Depression, the

Korean War, Newfoundland and Labrador joining Confederation, and so many

more historic events.

was honoured to be invited to this very special occasion and share time and

a few laughs with Mrs. Moores, and her family and friends; and also to

celebrate her good health. I

also thank all the organizers of this special occasion, including the Towns

of Woody Point and Glenburnie-Birchy Head-Shoal Brook.

It was a wonderful celebration.

Mr.

Speaker, I ask all members of the House to join me in congratulating Ella

Moores on her 100 th birthday.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

Bonavista North.

MR. CROSS:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I am

privileged to rise today and salute a most notable deceased citizen of

Badger's Quay. Wherever I

travelled, I met new people and declared I grew up at Badger's Quay.

The immediate question came back: Do you know Art Wicks?

Arthur Wicks was born at Port Nelson, a community we have lost to

resettlement. A young Arthur was

an inquisitive sort who peddled his vocation in the lumber woods and on the

ocean. He was keenly observant

and became known for wishing to improve the conditions of workers and

fishers toiling to eke an existence from our waters.

He was a humble fisherman who did not mind speaking up for the

welfare of others.

The name Arthur Wicks became as famous as the

moderators he chatted with on the Open Lines and people respected what he

said, simply because Arthur Wicks said it.

Art also loved his family.

On a chilly day this past September, his family and friends laid him

to his final rest beside Eunice, his partner for seventy-one years.

Scores of people, many of great fame, travelled to share in the

celebration of his life.

I humbly ask that all of our Assembly today share in my

salute. Arthur Wicks endured,

but most notably enjoyed his ninety-four years.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

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

MS DEMPSTER:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in this hon. House today to

recognize three aspiring young individuals who were recent recipients of the

Electoral District Scholarships: Adam Dyson of Henry Gordon Academy,

Cartwright; Regan Burden of Bayside Academy, Port Hope Simpson; and DJ

Rumbolt of St. Mary's All Grade, Mary's Harbour.

Nelson Mandela once said, Education is the most

powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.

Adam, Regan, and DJ are seizing this

powerful weapon. They live in a

district with lots of challenges; from basic infrastructure to social

programs, yet they are overcoming those obstacles, building a solid

foundation for their future.

They are passionate, relentless, and dedicated in

achieving their goals. Not only

do they want to accomplish, but they want to be the best that they can be.

This has been portrayed and recognized through the Electoral District

Scholarships recently bestowed upon them.

I feel very confident in our future with youth like this at our helm.

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

wishing those three ambitious young individuals best wishes in their future

endeavours and remember the starting point of all achievement is desire.

Thank you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for the District of Exploits.

MR. FORSEY:

Mr. Speaker, the Dr. Hugh Twomey Health Care Centre and Dr. Jody Woolfrey

are a phenomenal match made in the Town of Botwood.

This is where Dr. Woolfrey began his career seventeen years ago and

recently he was named one of the Nation's Top Family Physicians.

The award recipients are nominated by their peers,

colleagues, and the College of Family Physicians of Canada's ten provincial

chapters: for outstanding patient care; for significant contributions to the

health and well-being of their local community; and commitment to family

medicine, teaching, and research.

Mr. Speaker, Dr. Woolfrey is the Senior Medical Officer

at the facility, where he is considered as the epitome of rural health.

The facility presently has five physicians on staff and approximately

150 employees.

Dr. Woolfrey resides in Botwood with his wife, Joanne,

and children, Amelia and Martha, and enjoys the outdoor recreation that

rural communities have to offer.

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

in congratulating Dr. Jody Woolfrey on this prestigious award.

Thank you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

Statements by Ministers.

Statements by Ministers

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MS SULLIVAN:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, from November 9-12 I had the great

privilege to lead the Canadian delegation at the UNESCO World Conference on

Education for Sustainable Development in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, where over

1,000 delegates from 140 countries participated.

Education for sustainable development provides

resources so students have the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and values to

shape a sustainable future. The

theme of the conference, Learning

Today for a Sustainable Future , was designed to celebrate the

achievements in sustainable development education over the past decade and

set the education agenda for the future.

Mr. Speaker, this was an incredible opportunity for me

personally, as Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development, and

for our government, to take

part in such informative discussions.

Education, specifically curriculum in the K-12 system, plays a vital

role in helping to achieve sustainable development and provides us with the

tools to teach our young people, the future world leaders, about

sustainability.

During the conference I had the opportunity to

represent the provinces and territories at a ministerial roundtable that

brought together over seventy ministers from around the world.

The conference also gave me a rare opportunity to meet directly with

ministers from Finland and Switzerland where we discussed their student

achievement success.

I also led a workshop discussion of approximately 100

people on education for sustainable development in the post-2015 era and how

to develop education policies that address the social, environmental, and

economic opportunities of the twenty-first century.

Mr. Speaker, as UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said,

There is no plan B and sustainable development is the only way to move

forward. Through teaching and

learning methods that incorporate sustainable development, Mr. Speaker,

students are motivated and empowered to change their behaviour and take

action.

This information, along with the many productive and

interesting discussions I had while at the conference, will be very helpful

as our new Department of Education and Early Childhood Development continues

to focus on the

complete continuum of learning.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

St. John's North.

MR. KIRBY:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I am

glad to see that the minister had an opportunity to participate in this

conference and to share ideas with other delegates from around the world, to

share our experience and to learn from others.

While the minister was away there were two reports on early childhood

education that were released in Canada, one showing us with the highest

charges for infant daycare St. John's being the second highest charges in

Canada and there being no data at all for toddler fees.

We have no idea, or at least they could not find out how much toddler

fees were in St. John's and in Newfoundland and Labrador.

It is highly problematic that we cannot even demonstrate what is

happening here in terms of toddler costs.

There is another report that showed us going in 2011 from last place in

Canada all the way up to second-last place in Canada when it comes to

overall provision of early childhood education in the country.

It is extremely problematic and incredible.

While Ban Ki-moon may have said that there is no plan B, I hope this

government does have a plan B.

There are a lot of working families out there and people trying to get into

the workforce who hope

MR. SPEAKER:

Order, please!

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Leader of

the Third Party.

MS MICHAEL:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

too, thank the minister for an advance copy of her statement.

I am glad to see that she had the opportunity to be at this

conference, which was an important conference.

It is important that our education policies provide sustainable

opportunities for students; there is no doubt about that.

One policy I ask the minister to give consideration to is a policy

that would give students the tools to master new technologies.

have fallen behind other provinces and countries in that we have very little

computer science instruction in the public school system.

If government is really serious about keeping youth in the Province,

it should invest more in computer science training starting with more

computer science courses in the schools.

hope, Minister, that your visit and your time in this conference is going to

mean more openness to the Department of Education with regard to computer

science.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Child, Youth and Family Services.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. S. COLLINS:

Thank you.

Mr.

Speaker, our government continues to revitalize the child protection system

in this Province through enhancing out-of-home care options for children and

youth. Fostering provides

temporary and sometimes longer-term care for children and youth who are

unable to live with their own families.

Foster parents are key members of a team dedicated to helping

children and youth through difficult situations by offering a supportive,

nurturing, and safe environment.

The

stability that a foster family can create for a child or youth in need is

absolutely vital, and the support provided can have a substantial and

lifelong positive impact.

Currently, there are 565 foster families located throughout Newfoundland and

Labrador dedicated to helping children and youth through complex situations

by providing safe and nurturing homes.

June of 2012, our government announced a new Continuum of Care strategy

which aims to enhance the care options for children and youth in need of

out-of-home placement. A key

component of the strategy includes the

Foster a Future awareness campaign which has achieved tremendous results

to date. In fact, a total of 174

new placements for children and youth in 111 new foster homes have been

realized as of August 2014.

Mr.

Speaker, last month, we hosted a panel discussion at The Rooms to draw

attention to fostering in the Province and highlight the critical need for

families, particularly in the St. John's region.

The event was moderated by Allan Hawco from the

Republic of Doyle , and I certainly

want to thank Mr. Hawco again for his countless hours he has given of his

own time to this very worthwhile cause. The event also included a

representative from the Foster Families Association of Newfoundland and

Labrador, a foster parent, a former youth in care, and a departmental

representative.

Mr.

Speaker, it was important to bring these valuable perspectives together at

the panel discussion to bolster foster case awareness.

I am delighted to report that we had a wonderful response to this

event, and a number of inquiries and requests for applications followed.

But, we cannot reiterate the message often enough we are in need of

foster homes for children and youth who require safe and stable homes,

whether that be for a week, a month or longer.

If anyone is considering becoming a foster parent, please contact my

department or the Newfoundland and Labrador Foster Families Association.

Together, we can work toward ensuring that we have enough out-of-home

placements to help our young people benefit from the sense of well-being

they deserve.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

St. Barbe.

MR. J. BENNETT:

I thank the minister

for an advance copy of his statement.

Foster families play a critical role in providing a safe space for

children in challenging home environments by providing a bridge at a

critical time in these children's development.

Mr.

Speaker, foster children spend the entire age range from infancy to

adulthood and these relationships can last from a very short period to

decades with foster families not eligible to adopt children that they are

fostering and still receive the much-needed compensation that is required so

they are not economically disadvantaged by their good heartedness.

The government's Foster a Future campaign is a much-needed one as

foster families are a key to the effective delivery of Child, Youth and

Family Services.

that note, Mr. Speaker, members of this very House are highly regarded in

their communities and I would therefore encourage members as they go back to

their communities, especially at Christmas time, to pass the word and

attempt to encourage people to become foster families.

With

565 families currently fostering children in this Province, we could make a

significant difference ourselves by starting that conservation.

It could really help boost the number of foster families helping

vulnerable children and also helping form long-term family bonds.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

St. John's Centre.

MS ROGERS:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

thank the minister for an advance copy of his statement.

I thank everyone involved in the Foster a Future campaign including

the great staff, the generous foster families, and the amazing Allan Hawco.

Last

week I visited a foster mom who is doing phenomenal work providing a loving,

stable home. Stability is

absolutely key and fundamental to the development of a child and must be a

guiding principle in all work undertaken by CYFS, whether supporting the

biological family of a child or ensuring stability for all children placed

in group homes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Transportation and Works.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. BRAZIL:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Remembrance Day, I had the pleasure of attending a ceremony at the Royal

Canadian Legion on Bell Island, where I joined residents, families,

legionnaires and veterans to pay respect to men and women in service and to

recognize the 100 th anniversary of World War I.

The

values and traditions of legionnaires and veterans in the room are felt

across our Province and country.

As a way to help celebrate their contributions, the new ferry that will

service Bell Island has been named the

MV Legionnaire .

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. BRAZIL:

With every crossing it

makes across the Bell Island Tickle, the

MV Legionnaire will remind

passengers of the selfless sacrifices made by those who have served or are

currently serving their country, as well as the contribution of legionnaires

to their communities. The

ferry's name also reinforces the pillars outlined in

Honour 100, which was launched in 2013 and commemorates the

centennial anniversaries of the First World War through to 2018.

Mr.

Speaker, while celebrating the role of legionnaires, the new ferry also

honours the contributions of four notable Bell Islanders with dedications on

various parts of the vessel. The

Harry Hibbs Observation Deck , the

David Nisk Jackman Lounge , and the

Tom Fitzgeralds' Lounge Senior and

Big Tom , are named after individuals who reflect the diversity, culture,

and history of Bell Island.

Attendees of the ceremony were delighted with the name of the new ferry and

appreciated its salute to the role of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians in

global conflicts. They were also

pleased that well-known Bell Islanders were recognized as contributors to

Bell Island's history.

The

new ferry's arrival in February 2016 is much anticipated.

The Bell Island ferry route is the busiest in the Province,

transporting more people and vehicles annually than Marine Atlantic.

The new ferry will significantly improve the reliability and

sustainability of ferry service to this busy port.

Mr.

Speaker, in the coming weeks I look forward to being joined by my hon.

colleague, the Member for The Isles of Notre Dame, to name the new ferry to

service Fogo Island and Change Islands.

I also look forward to making an announcement regarding the new

ferries to service Labrador, and continuing our efforts to further

strengthen ferry service in our Province.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

St. John's South.

MR. OSBORNE:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

appreciate the advance copy from the minister of his statement.

We believe the naming of the ferry in honour of the men and women who

fought to protect our freedom is very fitting.

Given the fact that it is the 100 anniversary of World War I, the

name MV Legionnaire is very

appropriate.

I am

glad to see that the minister, in naming the vessel, made it non-political.

We are also pleased to see that the various parts of the vessel, the

naming in honour of notable Bell Islanders is also very fitting.

Mr.

Speaker, ferry services around our Province remain an important link for our

provincial transportation system and for the residents they serve.

We look forward to a time when all areas of our Province that need

that vital link can rely on a service that is not only reliable, but meets

the needs of the residents they serve.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

St. John's East.

MR. MURPHY:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

would also like to thank the minister for the advance copy of his statement.

In this particular case, congratulations on choosing a fine name for

a boat.

is no easy task to pick out a name for a boat.

Some might think it is as easy as what it is, but you have to have

something that brings a sense of ownership to people, in this particular

case, the people who are using the ferry and crossing the straits and gives

them also a sense of ownership.

When

it comes to the legionnaire himself or herself, we thank government for

naming it after the Legion in particular because of the sacrifices that

those people have made in the past.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

Oral Questions.

Oral Questions

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Leader of

the Official Opposition.

MR. BALL:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Government promised that Nalcor would publicly release quarterly financial

statements. This was supposed to

start September 30, or the third quarter.

Eight months ago the minister said this: we are going to have

quarterly reports from Nalcor, not annually but quarterly reports, for

financial updates.

ask the Premier: Since you now claim that you will hold Nalcor accountable,

why has Nalcor not released their third quarter report as was promised?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Natural Resources.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. DALLEY:

Mr. Speaker, the

reference that we now hold Nalcor accountable is a bit ridiculous.

Quite frankly, it is the peoples' company.

The company that is set up in this Province to help develop

resources, to help manage what is happening in this Province with

opportunities for revenue and to create very important revenue, Mr. Speaker,

for the people of the Province; and I will say, having tremendous success,

and that will be laid out in the coming weeks.

Mr.

Speaker, specific to accountability, particularly around financing and

issues around Muskrat Falls, there has been a whole suite of measures that

have been implemented. The

quarter report is one of them, and we expect it real soon, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Leader of

the Official Opposition.

MR. BALL:

I say to the Premier, I

thought it was your words yesterday when you said it was holding Nalcor

accountable, yet the minister today says that is not the case.

Maybe the Premier can clarify that.

know one thing; the Toronto Stock Exchange requires that third-quarter

reports be released by November 15.

That is for companies reporting whose quarters end at September 30.

Other utilities, like Fortis and Emera, have released their reports

but we still have nothing from Nalcor.

ask the Premier: Are you going to hold Nalcor accountable for the delayed

release of a financial report?

Soon and very soon is not good enough, when will we see the reports?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Natural Resources.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. DALLEY:

Mr. Speaker, I will

certainly check with Nalcor in terms of when it is ready, because obviously

they cannot see it until it is ready, number one.

Mr.

Speaker, when we talk about accountability, Nalcor and the issues they have

been driving over the past few days, it is important for the people of the

Province to understand that when we talk about accountability to Nalcor,

there is a very broad scope of accountability.

Whether it is talking about the safety of the work that they do,

whether it is talking about reliability, whether it is talking about cost

pressures, whether it is about managing their labour force, whether it is

about delivering on one of the biggest projects in Canada, whether it is

running a very complex hydro system, whether it is developing Bull Arm,

whether it is managing the offshore and developing those resources for the

benefit of the people of the Province, that is where the accountability lies

as well, Mr. Speaker. I will

say, we are working very closely with Nalcor and we will hold them

accountable.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Leader of

the Opposition.

MR. BALL:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

should talk to Fortis, or maybe talk to Emera, because they report to their

shareholders. Nalcor's

shareholders are the people in this Province.

ask the minister: Have you even asked Nalcor when those reports will be

available?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Natural Resources.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Order, please!

MR. DALLEY:

Mr. Speaker, the

accountability that has been built in around the finances of Nalcor, there

are internal audits, there are external audits, there are annual reports,

there are AGMs. Just recently, a

few months ago, a decision was made and directed to Nalcor that they would

provide quarterly reports, Mr. Speaker.

soon as that report is available, Mr. Speaker, it will be made public.

I will certainly check with Nalcor as to exactly what date we can

expect that report and gladly report it back to the House.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Leader of

the Official Opposition.

MR. BALL:

I will just ask the

minister: Can you confirm that these were your words?

We are going to have quarterly reports from Nalcor, not annual,

quarterly reports for financial updates.

Were these your words?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Natural Resources.

MR. DALLEY:

Mr. Speaker, I do not

recall, but I do not have a problem saying that it was absolutely my words

because we are going to have quarterly reports, just as I said we are.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

Order, please!

The

hon. the Leader of the Official Opposition.

MR. BALL:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro has asked the Public Utilities Board to

double their hydro's return on equity.

Basically, asking for more money from the ratepayers, the taxpayers

of Newfoundland and Labrador. In

other words, what they are asking for is a utility tax.

ask the Premier: Do you support Hydro's request to double their return on

equity?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Natural Resources.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. DALLEY:

Mr. Speaker, Newfoundland

and Labrador Hydro operates as any other utility do across the country, the

same process. They manage their

system, do their work, and asset management.

All of that stuff, Mr. Speaker, and built in around that, obviously,

is a return on their work of 8.8 per cent.

Yes,

we do support that, Mr. Speaker, because that is what has been laid out in

legislation. That is what has

been happening in other utilities around the country, particularly around

the competitive aspect of it, but bear in mind, Mr. Speaker, it is not

government that makes those kinds of decisions.

We facilitate a process, but, Mr. Speaker, Newfoundland and Labrador

Hydro has to make an application to the Public Utilities Board who will make

that final decision.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Leader of

the Official Opposition.

MR. BALL:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

understand the process, and at the least the minister today confirmed that

they do support the request from Newfoundland Hydro, which would be to

double the return on equity.

Mr.

Speaker, the CETA deal, or the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement,

this CETA deal was finalized in September, 2014.

As part of that agreement, there was a $400 million fisheries fund.

The fund was announced over a year ago by former Premier Dunderdale.

ask the Premier: What is the current status of this fund?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Premier.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

PREMIER DAVIS:

Thank you, Mr.

Speaker.

Yes,

last year the Province announced an agreement had been reached with the

federal government on CETA, and conditions of CETA.

I can tell the hon. member opposite, and I thank him for his

question, that discussions are continuing with the facilitation and delivery

of that agreement and the terms of that agreement.

The work is still underway.

are still working with our partner ministers in the federal government as

well and we are continuing to work on the file, but we have not progressed

to where we would like to have it at this point in time, I can tell the hon.

member.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Leader of

the Official Opposition.

MR. BALL:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Well, the federal government noted that the fund was designed to help with

job displacement as a result of CETA, but the Province said that it would

support industry enhancements in our fishery.

So I

ask the Premier: Since it has been over a year since it was announced, have

there been any discussions with stakeholders, and has any of this money been

committed?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Premier.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

PREMIER DAVIS:

Thank you, Mr.

Speaker.

The

details of the administration of the fund are being discussed, but I would

like to point out and remind the member opposite that when this deal was

talked about last year and again, we stand by there were five pillars

involved with the deal.

Marketing, resource development, fishery science, infrastructure, and also

workplace displacement were the five pillars of this deal, and we stand by

those five pillars today, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Leader of

the Official Opposition.

MR. BALL:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Well, the federal government was to put $280 million into this fund and the

Province, of course, contributing $120 million; but there has been little

talk of this fund since it was announced, as I said, over a year ago now.

So I

ask the Premier: Are you confident that this money from the federal

government will be available?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Premier.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

PREMIER DAVIS:

Mr. Speaker, I can

tell you the five pillars are laid out, and the fund referenced by the

member was part of the deal. We

are working with ministers. My

ministers in my government have been in contact with ministers in the

federal government. We are

continuing to have those discussions.

I can tell you the fund is part of the deal, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

Bay of Islands.

MR. JOYCE:

Mr. Speaker, government

committed to putting radiation services in the new Western Memorial Regional

Hospital. Last April they

announced a $500,000 study to determine how best to deliver radiation

services for the Province. Among

other things, this would determine if there would be more than one or two

radiation units in the new hospital in Corner Brook.

The report was due in August.

ask the Premier: Why have you not publicly released this report?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Health and Community Services.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. KENT:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

are very pleased with the progress we are making in advancing plans for the

new hospital in Corner Brook, and as the member points out, there is a

provincial radiation review that is ongoing as well that certainly does

impact work that we are doing on the West Coast of the Province as well.

The

consultant has experienced some delays in completing the review, but we

expect that we will receive it in the next number of weeks.

It is not a delay that in any way impacts planning for the new Corner

Brook hospital. I look forward

to receiving that review in the next number of weeks.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

Bay of Islands.

MR. JOYCE:

The other part of that, I

ask the minister: Would you make that report public as soon as possible,

please?

Mr.

Speaker, yesterday an order from Executive Council was tabled here in the

House of Assembly. It was a

pre-commitment of $4.8 million for the 2015-2016 year for design on the new

hospital in Corner Brook. This

hospital was first announced in September 2007.

ask the minister: How much design work is actually left on the hospital?

Will this impact the start date of the construction of the new

hospital?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Health and Community Services.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. KENT:

First of all, Mr.

Speaker, I can assure members opposite and I can assure the public,

particularly the people who live in the Western part of the Province that

construction of the hospital campus is on track.

Construction will start in 2015 as previously committed and as

promised.

This

new hospital that will serve the West Coast of the Province will be a

state-of-the-art facility. It

will continue to offer the high level of services that presently exist, but

will also be offering new services as well.

The

design phase has started. The

final drafts of the functional programs have been received and they are

currently being reviewed by my department and others involved.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

Torngat Mountains.

MR. EDMUNDS:

Mr. Speaker, on November

6 the Premier and the Minister of Justice announced a new court complex for

St. John's. The Premier said,

we are listening to those who provide critical justice services and

further demonstrating our commitment to a strong justice system.

ask the Minister of Justice: Will you listen to those who provide justice

services in Labrador? How can

you justify that clients and lawyers are meeting in washrooms in makeshift

courtrooms?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Government

House Leader.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. KING:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

appreciate the question from the member opposite.

As I have said to the member many times before, we take the justice

issues in Labrador very seriously.

completely recognize that there are some very challenging and unique

circumstances in Labrador. That

is why over the last ten years we have made significant investments in

Labrador. It was only last week,

I forget whether it was Thursday or Friday, but the minister was in Labrador

and met with a multitude of stakeholders to hear their concerns and talk

about issues of importance to them.

Mr.

Speaker, we are committed. We

are committed as a government to move forward and to continue to invest in

Labrador. As we face challenges

as we have done in the past, we will address those challenges head on

working with the local stakeholders and the member opposite.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

Torngat Mountains.

MR. EDMUNDS:

Mr. Speaker, the

provincial court in Happy Valley-Goose Bay is the busiest one outside of St.

John's. The Province's Legal Aid

director says this is due to the number of charges regarding breeches of

conditions the court has had to deal with.

Minister Manning claims this is not true.

ask the minister: Have you spoken with your Director of Legal Aid to inform

him that he is wrong?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Government

House Leader.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. KING:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I am

quite confident that any information the minister would have shared would be

accurate and legitimate information, but I do invite the member opposite as

an hon. member to table information in the House that he has and we will

certainly validate the information he provides with the information that we

have been provided by those who work in the public service.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

Burgeo La Poile.

MR. A. PARSONS:

Thank you, Mr.

Speaker.

I do

have that Labradorian

article

where the minister contradicts her Director of Legal Aid.

I can table it.

At a

recent announcement of the new St. John's courthouse the Premier and

Minister Manning were asked about the Family Violence Intervention Court.

The media reported the Premier as saying government is studying the

issue.

ask the Premier: Can you provide us with the details of this study, who is

conducting it, when will it be concluded and will you make it public?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Premier.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

PREMIER DAVIS:

Thank you, Mr.

Speaker.

would like to reiterate what I said yesterday regarding the Family Violence

Intervention Court and that the services are valued and important to the

people of the Province, not only in the St. John's courts and service to

people from the greater St. John's area but also other areas of the Province

such as areas that the member opposite represents.

It is my belief that we need to make an effort to provide these

services as valuable as have been stated several times by members opposite

in other parts of the Province, not just only in St. John's but the people

throughout Newfoundland and Labrador.

have asked the department to have a look at the capabilities and

opportunities that exist to expand those services to other regions of the

Province. That work is underway

by the department.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

Burgeo La Poile.

MR. A. PARSONS:

Thank you, Mr.

Speaker.

did ask the Premier when will this study be done.

It is one thing to be studying it and it is another thing to see the

actual results of that.

That

being said, the Premier said yesterday he asked Minister Manning to review

the Family Violence Intervention Court.

The department actually already did an internal assessment in 2012,

less than one year before they axed the court.

We requested a copy but we were denied it under Bill 29.

ask Minister Manning: Now that you are a part of this supposedly open

government, will you table the completed assessment here in the House?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Premier.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

PREMIER DAVIS:

Thank you, Mr.

Speaker.

be clear to the member opposite, the assessment that I am asking the

Department of Justice and Public Safety to carry out is opportunities that

may be available and options that may be available to provide Family

Violence Intervention Court types of services to other parts of the Province

so that people who have family violence matters before the courts as

accused, as victims, as witnesses, can avail of these services in places

outside of the St. John's court.

That is the analysis that is underway in the department.

That is the work that I have asked them to do.

I look forward to receiving updates from them in the not-too-distant

future.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

Burgeo La Poile.

MR. A. PARSONS:

Thank you, Mr.

Speaker.

When

he was asked six months ago whether there was work being done to reinstate

the court, the minister at the time, Terry French, said, and I quote: No,

there is not. No, that is not a

plan. That is not going to

happen. That is a direct quote.

ask the Premier: You already have a review completed, which is it, are you

going to reinstate it or not?

Why are you stalling on this?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Premier.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

PREMIER DAVIS:

Thank you, Mr.

Speaker.

This

is a very serious matter that the member opposite brings up.

Just to be clear so he fully

understands. As Premier of the

Province, the review that I have asked the department to undertake is the

opportunity to provide these services to places outside of the greater St.

John's area. It is a different

approach, that I am aware of, then had been considered before by the

department and I am asking them to carry out that work.

know, for example, that there are video conferencing abilities in courts

throughout the Province when people appear on weekends and after hours and

those types of appearances.

Those types of technologies have evolved and developed throughout the

Province and we are wondering if those types of technologies could be

included as an example in the Family Violence Intervention Court.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

Burgeo La Poile.

MR. A. PARSONS:

Mr. Speaker, it is

time for the Premier to stop hiding behind the report.

We know he is talking about the rest of the Province.

We are asking about the court right here that was working that you

axed.

Will

you reinstate that court or not?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Premier.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

PREMIER DAVIS:

Thank you, Mr.

Speaker.

The

services provided by the court, as I have already said, we see value in

those services. Obviously, if I

did not see value in them I would not have asked the department to undertake

the review on how we can expand those services.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

PREMIER DAVIS:

The member opposite

asking the question represents a rural part of this Province, and I think it

is important for people in his own district, if at all possible, to receive

such services. That is that work

we are undertaking, to consider people in his district and others as well.

When we have done that, Mr. Speaker, when we have completed that we

will make our decision on the Family Violence Intervention Court.

reiterate, Mr. Speaker, I do see the value in the services.

How can we expand that to provide it to all the people?

There are people throughout Newfoundland and Labrador who are looking

for those services.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

St. John's South.

MR. OSBORNE:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

question is for the Minister Responsible for Housing.

Mr.

Speaker, the rental supplement offered through Newfoundland and Labrador

Housing is presently attached to the unit rather than to the individual.

This is causing undue hardships for individuals trying to avail of

housing units or trying to move to more suitable housing.

ask the minister: Given this will have no additional cost to government,

will you change the policy and allow the approval of a rental supplement to

go to the individual?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Seniors, Wellness and Social Development.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. JACKMAN:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr.

Speaker, since I have come into this portfolio I have met with my officials

who deal with seniors, and I have met with officials from Newfoundland and

Labrador Housing. There is one

thing I have to say, the genuineness in these people in trying to resolve

situations that face them, their work is commendable.

have made a public statement, Mr. Speaker, that I am willing to take a look

at the portability of these. I

have asked staff to look into that, to speak with other departments, to

speak with Newfoundland and Labrador Housing.

I will continue to look at that option, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

St. John's South.

MR. OSBORNE:

Mr. Speaker, I am glad to

hear that the minister is prepared to look at this.

I am

personally aware of situations where individuals have been offered units,

the unit offered. Yet, those

same individuals were able to find accessible and acceptable housing units,

but with no rent supplement.

ask the minister: Do you agree that in these situations it would make sense

to offer the supplement to the individual as opposed to the unit?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Seniors, Wellness and Social Development.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. JACKMAN:

Mr. Speaker, I would ask

the member, if he has particular cases he can certainly forward it to me.

In my meetings with officials, I have found that they will do their

utmost to accommodate the people looking for housing.

I do

not see, Mr. Speaker, any individual who is going to attempt to put up an

obstacle to find residence for someone.

Ask him to forward it to me, I will discuss it with my officials, and

then we will see where we go from there.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

Virginia Waters.

MS C. BENNETT:

Mr. Speaker,

government based this year's Budget on $105 per barrel of oil.

The price began falling in July, and as of this morning oil was at

$78.65, a difference of over $26.

For every dollar the price falls, government loses about $26 million

in revenue. The lower Canadian

dollar provides a tiny buffer, but nothing that will mask the impact of the

sustained drop this year.

ask the minister: Given the significant and sustained drop in oil prices,

what is the exact impact to date on provincial revenues?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Finance.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. WISEMAN:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The

member is right; this year has been a very difficult year on our Budget.

The price of oil, as she has indicated, we budgeted $105, which was

consistent with the advice we got from many people who did not no one had

any ability to predict what has been happening since July month, in

particular . At this particular

juncture, we are monitoring it very closely.

want to make sure that we understand clearly the impact, because as she

said, the price of oil is dropping.

The exchange rates have dropped, which have provided a buffer for

that. We also need to look at

what impact this will have for the balance of the fiscal year.

We will be providing, as I have said to the media about two or three

weeks ago, in the first part of December some time we will provide an update

of where we are this year and be able to provide the people of Newfoundland

and Labrador a forecast of what next year might look like.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

Virginia Waters.

MS C. BENNETT:

Mr. Speaker, the

minister has stated publicly that he is following the price of oil daily.

Government forecasted a $538 million deficit for this year, on top of

two deficit years under their leadership.

Again, I ask the minister: What is the exact weighted-average impact as of

today, of the lower oil price, and what direction has been provided

regarding preparations for next year's Budget, which should be underway now?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Finance.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. WISEMAN:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The

member is right; the preparation for next year's Budget is already underway.

We have had discussions with all our departments, through the

ministers. I have had some

discussions with Cabinet, discussions with caucus.

The deputy ministers have had a discussion around what we need to

look at for next year.

look at next year's Budget, we need to clearly understand where the price of

oil will be next year, make a forecast of what that might look like,

understand what has happened in the global economy, so we will understand

what impacts that might have on exchange rates.

We want to be in a position, Mr. Speaker, to develop a budget for

next year that realistically reflects the reality of oil and gas prices

worldwide, realistically reflects the economy in Newfoundland and Labrador,

and to do what is in the best interests of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

Carbonear Harbour Grace.

MR. SLADE:

Mr. Speaker, the Atlantic

Pilotage Authority want to change tanker rules in Placentia Bay.

Already identified as one of the risky areas in Canada for an oil

spill, APA is proposing to move the pilot boarding station further into the

bay by thirteen nautical miles, which will significantly increase the risk

of a disastrous oil spill.

ask the minister: What is government's position on this serious issue, and

what have you done to stop these outrageous changes?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Fisheries.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. GRANTER:

Mr. Speaker, a

stakeholder meeting was held in Arnold's Cove on November 10, 2014.

We had representatives there from the department, and our department

and our government, Mr. Speaker, is not in favour with moving the pilotage

in the bay. In actual fact, Mr.

Speaker, we believe that the pilotage should stay where it is at.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Leader of

the Third Party.

MS MICHAEL:

Thank you very much, Mr.

Speaker.

The

Premier said yesterday that his summit on health care will help the

government to and I quote make better the health care services for the

people of the Province. He

also has said it is a cost-cutting measure.

the name of the constituents who came to my town hall on health, I ask the

Premier if his summit will deal with the lack of adequate community-based

supports for people with mental health needs, as called for in the Mental

Health Care and Treatment Act.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Premier.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

PREMIER DAVIS:

Thank you, Mr.

Speaker.

the hon. member opposite is quite aware that mental health and addictions is

a matter that is very important to me personally.

It is very important to me as Premier, and I can tell you and tell

the member opposite it is very important to our government as well.

It is important that we provide the best services possible to our

people of Newfoundland and Labrador for all medical needs, all spectrums and

range of medical needs, including mental health and addictions.

That would be very, very important to the consultations that we are

going to carry out.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Leader of

the Third Party.

MS MICHAEL:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

hope that the Premier is going to listen to the people because they are

saying the supports are not there and they are not.

I heard again today from a parent who was also at the town hall who

is desperate for help with her child who has autism spectrum disorder.

Will

his summit deal with the needs of children like this child who are waiting

years for treatment, Mr. Speaker?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Health and Community Services.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. KENT:

Mr. Speaker, we have made

great strides, particularly in the last number of years, in expanding

services and treatment that is available for children with autism in

Newfoundland and Labrador. The

summit will address issues like that.

The summit will address the issues that matter most to people in

Newfoundland and Labrador when it comes to our health care system.

want to look at the delivery of primary health care and how we can make more

services available and more accessible to people in Newfoundland and

Labrador. We want to look at

issues like mental health and addictions.

We want to look at chronic disease.

We want to look at all of those things.

It is not just about listening to what people have to say that is

really important but we also want to find solutions and that is exactly

what this process is about, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Leader of

the Third Party.

MS MICHAEL:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

have been this House for eight years and none of this that I am saying is

new. I have been listening to it

for eight years from the people in my district.

Will

this summit deal with the lack of a universally accessible home care program

under our health care system?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Health and Community Services.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. KENT:

Mr. Speaker, home care

and home support are major issues for many families and many seniors living

in Newfoundland and Labrador in particular.

This will undoubtedly be a topic that we will address through the

regional forums and through our summit on health care that will take place

early in the New Year as well.

would encourage residents to register for the forums.

They start next week, they run over the next few weeks, and there are

going to be additional forums taking place in other regions of the Province

as well that have yet to be announced.

People can participate online.

There is going to be an interactive dialogue app launched very soon where

people can have a say. They can

e-mail, they can call, and they can write.

We want to hear from everybody in Newfoundland and Labrador who is

concerned about health care.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

St. John's East.

MR. MURPHY:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Speaking of health matters, the government has announced the fracking review

panel and their terms of reference.

There is no mention at all of public health in the terms of

reference. Why not?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Natural Resources.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. DALLEY:

Mr. Speaker, the fracking

issue is obviously a very public issue.

Our government took a very responsible approach.

We could frack; we said no.

We can say no to fracking.

We did not feel that was responsible, particularly around the concern

for economic opportunities. The

responsible approach was to put an independent panel of very qualified

people to lay out a process, Mr. Speaker, for everyone to have an

opportunity to have input.

have been very clear from the beginning, the protection of health of the

people of the Province, the protection and safety and health and protection

of the environment has always been the number one principle for us in

developing our resources, Mr. Speaker.

That has not changed.

for the terms of reference, it is certainly implied, Mr. Speaker.

Health is obviously a top priority for everybody in this Province.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

St. John's East, for a quick question.

MR. MURPHY:

Mr. Speaker, why is there

no representative from the West Coast serving on the panel?

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Natural Resources.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. DALLEY:

Mr. Speaker, I guess we

could look at the make-up of the panel and the number of the panel.

When we put that out I certainly appreciate the support from the

Liberal Opposition in the make-up of the panel we did look at a number of

people who could serve on the panel.

Our interest was that it was independent.

We have people there who can bring a scientific view, who can do a

broad scope with the panel, Mr. Speaker, everything from public health, to

environment, to economics, to geology and engineering.

We have achieved that with this panel.

considering West Coast candidates, they did not exactly fit the priority

that we needed on the panel.

Rest assured, the people of the West Coast will have a fair opportunity to

be a part of this process.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

Order, please!

The

time for Question Period has expired.

Presenting Reports by Standing and Select Committees.

Tabling of Documents.

Tabling of

Documents

MR. SPEAKER:

Order, please!

accordance with

section 19.(5)(

a) of the House of Assembly Accountability,

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

Assembly Management Commission meetings held on April 14 and June 5, 2014.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER:

Order, please!

Also, pursuant to

section 8 and

section 10 of the Public Tender Act, I

hereby table reports of the Public Tender Act exceptions for the months of

May and June, 2014, as presented by the Chief Operating Officer of the

Government Purchasing Agency.

Notices of Motion.

Answers to Questions for which Notice has been Given.

Petitions.

Petitions

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

St. John's North.

MR. KIRBY:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Parliament assembled, the petition of the undersigned residents of

Newfoundland and Labrador humbly sheweth:

WHEREAS in 2006, the provincial government created a commission to review

the individualized student support plan pathways model and make

recommendations to improve the delivery of special education programming in

the Kindergarten to Grade 12 education system; and

WHEREAS in 2007 the ISSP and Pathways Commission delivered a final report to

government outlining seventy-five recommendations for creating a better

system for the delivery of special education programming; and

WHEREAS to date, many important recommendations of the ISSP and Pathways

Commission have not been acted upon, including those related to public

disclosure of assessment and wait-list information, guidelines for

comprehensive and ethical assessment practices, procedures to address the

needs of all at-risk students, creating an effective appeals process for

families, meeting the needs of exceptionally able or gifted learners,

expanding the role of student assistants into teacher-assistant roles,

introducing special education department heads in schools, and improving on

special education, teacher qualifications, and certification;

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

House of Assembly to urge government to fully implement the recommendations

of the ISSP and Pathways Commission in order to improve the delivery of

special education programming for all students, parents, teachers, and

schools.

in duty bound, your petitioners will ever pray.

Now,

Mr. Speaker, this is not the first time we have had an opportunity to hear

the shortcomings of the implementation of the ISSP and Pathways Commission

report. There are still a

significant number of recommendations that have not been acted upon, and not

just those that are listed in the petition.

There are, in fact, others.

One

of them is the public disclosure of assessment and wait-list information.

We do know that this government had its awakening sometime between

the passage of Bill 29 and earlier this year when they decided that openness

and transparency is now sort of basic instinct.

In the spirit of that, it makes perfect sense for them.

They

have already merged the school boards all into one mega board, which is

effectively run from the minister's office in the other building.

There is no problem to make a telephone call and suggest this would

be an important thing to do to make this information available, open and

public, and transparent online.

There was also a recommendation in here to ensure there is a more effective

appeals process for families. We

often see periodically that families and parents reluctantly go to the media

to complain about the system as it is.

MR. SPEAKER:

Order, please!

MR. KIRBY:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Leader of

the Third Party.

MS MICHAEL:

Thank you very much, Mr.

Speaker.

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

Parliament assembled, the petition of the undersigned residents humbly

sheweth:

WHEREAS computer science is the new literacy and is a vital skill for the

digital age; and

WHEREAS computer science is a growing field of employment and is one of the

highest paid academic majors; and

WHEREAS computer science education in Newfoundland and Labrador is not

keeping pace with computer science education in other provinces; and

WHEREAS the public education system has a duty to expose students to a wide

variety of subject areas and careers;

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

House of Assembly to urge government to consider adding mandatory computer

science subjects to the public education curriculum.

in duty bound, your petitioners will ever pray.

Mr.

Speaker, I am very pleased to present this petition on behalf of those who

have signed it, who include students in our post-secondary system, MUN

engineering faculty members, and others in the community involved in

technology, trades, and training.

Many of these petitioners, not all, are part of an organization

called Code NL which is very concerned about the lack of computer science in

our schools. They have met with

government officials on this issue and will continue pushing to show the

importance of having computer science.

The

information technology sector as we all know, we all experience it every

day is growing. Computer

scientists are in high demand in our country, in the US, and around the

world. There is a US study that

predicts that by 2020 there will be 1 million more computer science jobs

than students.

should be training people locally.

We have two courses in our high schools that are not even connected

to one another. We have a

complete dearth of people who are learning about computer science in our

school system.

Ontario, for example, Mr. Speaker, there are ten interrelated computer

science and computer technology courses in Grades 10 to 12 offered in

connection with one another, preparing students to be able to look forward

to further education in university and to jobs in this growing technology

sector and this industry, which could offer so much to our young people in

this Province and help keep them here at home.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker, and I look forward to presenting this

petition when more come in.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

Cartwright L'Anse au Clair.

MS DEMPSTER:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Parliament assembled, the petition of the undersigned humbly sheweth:

WHEREAS the Province of Quebec has lower taxes on tobacco than the Province

of Newfoundland and Labrador; and

WHEREAS in Budget 2013 the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador

eliminated the tax rebate on tobacco for towns adjacent to the Quebec

Border; and

WHEREAS businesses in those towns have seen a significant drop in tobacco

sales because of cross border shopping, resulting also in a drop in sales of

other products; and

WHEREAS this situation has created a significant disadvantage for businesses

in Newfoundland and Labrador and has created a net loss of tax revenue to

the Province;

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

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

reinstate the tax rebate program on tobacco products for businesses in the

towns adjacent to the Quebec Border, in the Labrador Straits, and in

Labrador West.

in duty bound, your petitioners will every pray.

Mr.

Speaker, I think it is a total of about $250,000 in revenue lost to this

Province. Mr. Speaker, it is

having very serious implications in my district on the southern end, and

certainly in Labrador West.

Mr.

Speaker, there are two Lab West retailers, eleven jobs, that have already

closed. It is a very serious

issue. We should be doing all we

can to support small businesses.

This is not about the sale of tobacco, Mr. Speaker.

We have been very clear on where we stood.

We want to put the funds and revenue back into programs, like smoking

cessation. It is about

supporting small business that support things in the community, like minor

hockey and things like that.

Right now, Mr. Speaker, six out of every ten cigarette-buying persons in

Labrador West alone are now going to Fermont, Quebec to purchase that.

Mr. Speaker, if they are going for that, how much other taxable goods

and services are they purchasing while they are there?

That is not mentioning non-taxable items like groceries.

I say, Mr. Speaker, we are losing enough already to the neighbouring

Province of Quebec. We should be

doing all we can to support small businesses here.

Let's reinstate, immediately, the border region tax rebate so we can prevent

other small businesses from closing up.

Let's take the revenue from that, the quarter of a million a year

it is an annual net loss to the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador of a

quarter of a million dollars.

Mr. Speaker, just imagine all of the things we could do with that in this

Province to help put back into things like smoking cessation.

Thank you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

St. Georges Stephenville East.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. REID:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

is an honour to rise today to present a petition from residents of South

Branch-Coal Brook area related to the reduction of the highway speed limit

in that area.

Mr.

Speaker, the petition reads:

WHEREAS the speed limit is reduced along the Trans-Canada Highway in many

areas where residents live near the highway; and

WHEREAS the current speed limit presents a danger in the South Branch and

Coal Brook area; and

WHEREAS there is a significant danger specifically related to children

getting on and off the school bus in this area;

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

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

reduce the speed limit for the highway in the South Branch and Coal Brook

area.

Mr.

Speaker, a number of people have signed this petition pretty well every

resident in the South Branch-Coal Brook area and it is a significant

number of people to show their support for the change of the speed limit in

that area. Also, the danger is

evident in the area. There have

been a number of close calls in this area, where children are getting off

school buses and things like that.

So there is a danger there.

know the minister, as well, has received some correspondence from people in

the area related to this issue, and I look forward to him taking some action

on this in the House.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

St. John's Centre.

MS ROGERS:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Parliament assembled, the petition of the undersigned residents of

Newfoundland and Labrador humbly sheweth:

WHEREAS the Family Violence Intervention Court provided a comprehensive

approach to domestic violence in a court setting that fully understood and

dealt with the complex issues of domestic violence; and

WHEREAS domestic violence continues to be one of the most serious issues

facing our Province today, and the cost of the impact of domestic violence

is great both economically and in human suffering; and

WHEREAS the Family Violence Intervention Court was welcomed and endorsed by

all aspects of the Justice system including the police, the courts,

prosecutors, defense counsel, Child, Youth and Family Services, as well as

victims, offenders, community agencies and women's groups; and

WHEREAS the recidivism rate for offenders going through the court was 10 per

cent compared to 40 per cent for those who did not; and

WHEREAS the budget for the court was only 0.2 per cent of the entire budget

of the Department of Justice;

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

House of Assembly to urge government to reinstate the Family Violence

Intervention Court.

in duty bound, your petitioners will ever pray.

Mr.

Speaker, the petition in and of itself gives absolutely every single reason

why the court worked. It gives

every single reason why the court should never have been closed.

It gives every single reason why the court should be reinstated and

expanded.

Mr.

Speaker, today in the House during Question Period, felt like the Mad

Hatter's tea party. We hear the

Premier say we are going to study about expanding the court.

In fact, what they did is they closed the court, even though they

knew the court was doing well.

Then we had the former Minister of Justice yesterday saying it was a

budgetary decision.

know that keeping people out of jail is far cheaper than putting people in

jail. We do know that prevention

and reduction in recidivism is far cheaper than putting people in jail and

breaking up families, if that is what the families want.

It feels like the Mad Hatter's tea party, because the Premier is

saying we are going to study expanding it, without even opening it; closing

it.

Mr.

Speaker, there is no sense to any of that.

If the government is saying they are listening to the people of the

Province, it is time to simply reinstate the court and then expand it.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

Carbonear Harbour Grace.

MR. SLADE:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Parliament assembled, the petition of the undersigned residents humbly

sheweth:

WHEREAS the community of Bristol's Hope is expressing ongoing concerns

regarding the need for repairs to Beach Road which has been severely damaged

by storm waves and has caused major concerns to the community of Bristol's

Hope as it pertains to fire protection and safety; and

WHEREAS this lack of repair by government constitutes a fire and safety

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

took place; and

WHEREAS this damaged roadway is also creating environmental concerns as the

Atlantic Ocean has washed over the roadway and out into a freshwater pond

where the fish are in the pond; and

WHEREAS this area serves as a capelin run each year which attracts a great

many local residents and tourists to the site; and

WHEREAS the federal government refuses to assist with this repair as they

deem there is no associated fishing activity to justify investment;

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

House of Assembly to urge government to respond to pleas from the community

residents to have this roadway repaired to previous condition, and to urge

government to repair the road.

in duty bound, your petitioners will ever pray.

Mr.

Speaker, this is a petition I had here last fall.

Of course, it is something that keeps coming back.

Mr.

Speaker, my biggest concern in Bristol's Hope is it is a heavily wooded

area. If a fire ever did take

place down there those people could very possibly get trapped in.

The Department of Transportation, up until three to four years ago,

always maintained that area and kept that road open.

Mr.

Speaker, this needs to be dealt with.

It is very, very important to the residents down in that area.

They are worried about the situation down there.

somebody took a backhoe and went down in Bristol's Hope and started

infilling that pond on the other side of the road, the Department of

Environment would be out and have something to say about it.

Right now that is what is happening there: this pond on the other

side of that is infilling. I do

not understand why government would not take the initiative to go and repair

that road. They always did it.

For whatever reason they gave it up, I do not understand, Mr.

Speaker. Anyway, for whatever

reason they gave it up. They did

give it up.

Mr.

Speaker, not only that road there, but, I will say this to you, there is

another one identical to it down in the community of Freshwater.

All I am asking for is due diligence from the Department of

Transportation. Own up to their

responsibilities to the people in Bristol's Hope.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

Virginia Waters.

MS C. BENNETT:

Thank you, Mr.

Speaker.

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

Parliament assembled, the petition of the undersigned residents of

Newfoundland and Labrador humbly sheweth:

WHEREAS we call upon the Government of Newfoundland and

Labrador to make literacy a priority by supporting the development of a

robust provincial strategic literacy plan that addresses the learning and

literacy of individuals from the early years through the senior years; and

WHEREAS we recognize that literacy is intimately

connected to all other social issues; and

WHEREAS the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is

to invest in more funding in literacy programs so that all Newfoundlanders

and Labradorians can enjoy the benefits of participation in our society and

that no one is left behind;

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER:

Order, please!

MS C. BENNETT:

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

House of Assembly to urge government to make funding literacy programs a

priority in order to develop a provincial strategic literacy plan.

As in duty bound, your petitioners will ever pray.

Mr. Speaker, currently in Newfoundland and Labrador we

have one of the lowest literacy rates in the country.

One in every two adults in our Province does not meet the desired

proficiency level in either language or numeracy skills.

It has been proven that stronger literacy skills for our youth

increase the chances that they will complete high school and go to

post-secondary learning.

Increased skill levels for adults increase the

probability that they will have success in finding employment and will have

shorter periods of unemployment.

Elevated literacy skills also contribute to other sectors: civic engagement,

better health outcomes, and greater connection to family and community.

There are economic gains as well.

Increased skills in the workplace provide employers with a more

innovative, flexible, and robust workforce, enabling increased productivity

while providing employees with the opportunities for advancement.

In the absence of strong literacy programs, lower literacy could

impact adversely on youth, which may also impact on their ability to

complete and participate in the post-secondary education that is available

and then go on to succeed in the labour market.

Low literacy also impacts seniors and their quality of

life by increasing their dependency and posing health and safety risks.

People with low literacy levels are more likely to be the highest

health risk with an increased effect on senior citizens.

This relationship tends to occur for all age groups and both sexes.

Research clearly indicates that literacy is associated

with employability, the types of jobs occupied by workers, and earnings.

Those with higher proficiencies have a higher employment rate, higher

learning, and work in more knowledge-intensive industries.

Literacy has a large effect on earnings equivalent to about one-third

of the estimated wage return on education.

MR. SPEAKER:

Order, please!

The hon. the Member for St. John's East.

MR. MURPHY:

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

To the hon. House of Assembly of the Province of

Newfoundland and Labrador in Parliament assembled, the petition of the

undersigned residents of Newfoundland and Labrador humbly sheweth:

WHEREAS Tordon 101 contains the chemicals 2, 4-D and

Picloram; and

WHEREAS the chemical Picloram is a known cancer-causing

carcinogen; and

WHEREAS the provincial government has banned the

cosmetic use of the pesticide 2, 4-D; and

WHEREAS safer alternatives are available to the

provincial government for brush clearance such as manual labour, alternative

competitive seeding methods, and/or mechanical removal of brush; and

WHEREAS the provincial government is responsible for

ensuring the safety and well-being of its citizens;

WHEREUPON the undersigned, your petitioners, humbly

pray and call upon the House of Assembly to urge government to cease the use

of chemicals covered under its own cosmetic pesticide ban and begin using

safer methods of brush clearance that will not place its citizens in harm's

way.

As in duty bound, your petitioners will ever pray.

Mr. Speaker, I was approached by several people who

wanted to undertake this petition in other areas of the Province, and I put

out the call last week to start getting some of these petitions back so I

could start presenting them in the House of Assembly on behalf of the people

of the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador.

This is one that comes from the areas of St. John's and surrounding

area.

Mr. Speaker, this is something I have been standing up

and talking about in the House before.

Not only are we dealing with chemicals that are being used that are

subject to the government ban, but now we are starting to rely a little bit

too much on chemical methods and people in this Province have a right to a

clean environment. They have a

right to enjoy that environment without having their environment poisoned

all the time by having toxic chemicals dumped in them.

It does not matter whether they are being used for

roadside brush clearing; it does not matter if they are being used on the

Nalcor right-of-way. Either way,

we are talking about well over 12,000 kilometres potentially in this

Province where we are seeing roadside chemicals being used, or chemicals

being used for one form or another to knock down brush.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER:

Order, please!

MR. MURPHY:

Mr. Speaker, we can create employment and be a little bit greener in things

by having a manual clearing done and at the same time being able to look

after our highways and everything.

I implore government again to pay attention to the ban

that they have on these chemicals and cease and desist on the use of these

chemicals. Help keep our own

environment clean. There are

better ways we can do it, and start looking after the people's health in

this Province.

Thank you very much.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for Bay of Islands.

MR. JOYCE:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, to be recognized in this hon. House.

Mr. Speaker, I am going to present a petition today on

behalf of the people of Western Newfoundland and Labrador concerning the new

Western hospital.

WHEREAS we wish to raise concern regarding the recent

delay of the construction of the new hospital in Corner Brook, Newfoundland

and Labrador;

WHEREUPON the undersigned, your petitioners, humbly

pray and call upon the House of Assembly to urge the government to commit to

the planning and construction of a new hospital in Corner Brook as

previously committed to and in a timely manner as originally announced

without further delay or changes.

Mr. Speaker, I am doing this on behalf of all of the

residents. It is a big issue out

in Western Newfoundland. I asked

questions in the House of Assembly today and I was astonished by the answers

actually astonished. The first

answer was about the radiation.

We have been told there would be a report in August.

Now we are told no, it is not done.

Now, Mr. Speaker and I know the people are going to

be asking if the report is not done, yet the minister here today said the

functional plan is complete, how can you have a functional plan when you do

not know if you are going to have one unit or two units?

It is very big issue.

Yet the minister stands up today and says that the

functional plan is completed because they committed funds that are going to

be spent in the 2015-2016 Budget for the design.

The minister stood up today in this House and said it is completed.

So why are we pre-committing funds for 2015-2016 if it is already

done? Why?

How can you say there is going to be one unit or two units if you do

not have the functional plan done?

Mr. Speaker, I urge the government to come out and

inform the people of Western Newfoundland and Labrador of the plans for the

new hospital because you cannot pre-commit funds to complete the design

phase of the hospital, and the minister standing here today and saying it is

not.

The minister said today and I have to correct him

because I am sure it is just a slight error.

The minister said the construction of the new hospital will start in

2015. I am sure he meant the

start of the long-term care facility, the 130 beds, will start in 2015;

because 2016 is the estimated time, as the Premier said, the former minister

said, as the former Premier said, 2016 is the earliest date for the new

hospital. So I will give time

for the minister, sometime at a later date, to clarify that because I do not

want a false impression put out there, Mr. Speaker.

I thank you again for the opportunity.

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Government House Leader.

MR. KING:

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the Minister of Health and Community

Services, we move to Orders of the Day.

MR. SPEAKER:

The motion is that we move to Orders of the Day.

All those in favour, aye'.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Aye.

MR. SPEAKER:

All those against, nay'.

Carried.

Orders of the Day

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Government House Leader.

MR. KING:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I call from the Order Paper, Order 3, first reading of

a bill, Bill 26 .

move, seconded by the Minister of Health and Community Services, that Bill

26,

An Act To Amend The Revenue Administration Act No. 3, be now read a

first time.

MR. SPEAKER:

It is moved and seconded

that the hon. the Minister of Health and Community Services should have

leave to introduce a bill entitled,

An Act To Amend The Revenue

Administration Act No. 3, Bill 26, and that the said bill be now read a

first time.

it the pleasure of the House that the minister shall have leave to introduce

Bill 26, and that the said bill be now read a first time?

All

those in favour, aye'.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Aye.

MR. SPEAKER:

All those against, nay'.

Carried.

Motion, the hon. Minister of Health and Community Services to introduce a

bill,

An Act To Amend The Revenue Administration Act No. 3, carried.

(Bill 26)

CLERK:

A bill,

An Act To Amend

The Revenue Administration Act No. 3.

(Bill 26)

MR. SPEAKER:

This bill has now been

read a first time.

When

shall the bill be read a second time?

MR. KING:

Tomorrow.

MR. SPEAKER:

Tomorrow.

motion, Bill 26 read a first time, ordered read a second time on tomorrow.

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Government

House Leader.

MR. KING:

Thank you once again, Mr.

Speaker.

move, seconded by the Minister of Service NL, for leave to introduce a bill,

An Act Respecting Chartered Professional Accountants And Public Accountants,

Bill 27, and that the said bill be now read a first time.

MR. SPEAKER:

It is moved and seconded

that the hon. the minister shall have leave to introduce a bill entitled, An

Act Respecting Chartered Professional Accountants And Public Accountants,

Bill 27, and that the said bill be now read a first time.

All

those in favour, aye'.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Aye.

MR. SPEAKER:

All those against, nay'.

Carried.

Motion, the Minister of Service NL to introduce a bill,

An Act Respecting

Chartered Professional Accountants And Public Accountants, carried.

(Bill 27)

CLERK:

A bill,

An Act Respecting

Chartered Professional Accountants And Public Accountants.

(Bill 27)

MR. SPEAKER:

This bill has now been

read a first time.

When

shall the bill be read a second time?

MR. KING:

Tomorrow.

MR. SPEAKER:

Tomorrow.

motion, Bill 27 read a first time, ordered read a second time on tomorrow.

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Government

House Leader.

MR. KING:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Once

again, I move, seconded by the Minister of Service NL, for leave to

introduce a bill,

An Act To Amend The Highway Traffic Act, Bill 29, and that

the said bill be now read a first time.

MR. SPEAKER:

It is moved and seconded

that the hon. the minister shall have leave to introduce a bill entitled, An

Act To Amend The Highway Traffic Act, Bill 29, and that the said bill be now

read a first time.

All

those in favour, aye'.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Aye.

MR. SPEAKER:

All those against, nay'.

Carried.

Motion, the Minister of Service NL to introduce a bill,

An Act To Amend The

Highway Traffic Act, carried.

(Bill 29)

CLERK:

A bill,

An Act To Amend

The Highway Traffic Act. (Bill

29)

MR. SPEAKER:

This bill has now been

read a first time.

When

shall the bill be read a second time?

MR. KING:

Tomorrow.

MR. SPEAKER:

Tomorrow.

motion, Bill 29 read a first time, ordered read a second time on tomorrow.

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Government

House Leader.

MR. KING:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

this time I would like to call from the Order Paper, Address in Reply.

MR. SPEAKER:

Address in Reply.

The

hon. the Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development.

MS SULLIVAN:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The

first thing I would like to do, Mr. Speaker, as I get one of the first

opportunities to stand on my feet I was here yesterday is to

congratulate you on your new position.

It is certainly a pleasure for all of us to see you there occupying

that Chair. You did it in a

deputy role, and did an extraordinarily good job.

I think I speak for everyone here when I say congratulations, we are

happy to see you there in the Chair.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The minister has leave to

continue.

MS SULLIVAN:

Thank you.

would also like to welcome the MHA for St. George's Stephenville East as

well. He is just new to the

House of Assembly. I believe

this is his first sitting as well, so welcome.

understand we will have opportunity to welcome other MHAs in the coming

days. I understand one of those

will be welcomed into the House this week.

So, formally, we will be able to do that at that point in time as

well.

Today, Mr. Speaker, as always, it is a pleasure to have the opportunity to

have a chance to speak to the Address in Reply to the Speech from the Throne

that was given quite some time ago, and to be able to talk about where we

are, how things are progressing as a result of that particular Speech from

the Throne and so on. Since that

time, I now have a new portfolio as well.

It is the position of Education and Early Childhood Development.

want to tell you how thrilled I am to be in that position.

Education of course is a background that I have, having taught for

thirty years in this Province, and having enjoyed every single minute of

those thirty years working with the young people of this Province.

I am

particularly happy that what we have done now is we have included in this

department early childhood education and early childhood development, Mr.

Speaker. That is so significant.

I commend the Premier for having had the vision and the foresight to

see the importance of doing this.

is referred to across the country.

It is a growing trend across the country.

It is referred to as early childhood service integration, meaning

essentially that we are taking all aspects of childhood development,

childhood learning, and so on, and integrating them into one department so

we have that continuum of services to our children.

Mr. Speaker, I am really happy to have the opportunity to lead that

integration into the Department of Education and see the positive results

that I think will come from the synergies of both departments having come

together from that perspective.

all understand that the goal of this is better service delivery for children

and families, but I would not want it misunderstood to have been that in the

past none of that was happening.

It was certainly happening.

There was great co-operation and collaboration between the two departments

of Child, Youth and Family Services and the Department of Education.

Now having everyone actually physically under the one roof, which was

just accomplished over the last couple of weeks, it certainly makes it

easier for us to do our work and to see that we can provide the best for our

young people that we possibly can.

have had examples of this integration, of course, for quite some time in

Newfoundland and Labrador through child care being co-located, for example,

in family resource centres. That

is an example of integration of services within the Province.

We see integrations as well when we know that schools provide space

quite often for some of the play groups that occur within the Province and

so on. There have been many

efforts and many successful occasions when we have seen some of this

integration come into play.

Now

as we formally look to ensure that we are going to see some really good

integration happening, I am especially happy to be able to lead that.

I think we are going to be able to provide an array of services from

birth, and at supporting child development and early childhood development,

and supporting and engaging families as well, which is so important, Mr.

Speaker, as we work through that transition of what it is we are going to

do.

Much

research is available to us that will highlight the benefits of such service

integration of having the two departments working together.

Children's development, first of all, will be strengthened, I

believe, as a result of having that kind of a focus from one department.

We will have a flexible continuum of opportunities, programs, and

services. It is important to

note that we will be working on strengthening the programs and services we

have now but also on using our resources within the department to ensure we

find new services, new programming, and so on.

will be looking as well to promote that continuity of child and family

programming and enhancing the community building, because the old adage

about it takes a village to raise a child is certainly true.

If we look at the partnerships that exist out in the community, I

think we are able to find many opportunities as well to improve the early

childhood development of our children.

Again, it is a wonderful opportunity.

It is a great privilege to have this opportunity as we continue to do

the work that we have been doing already on a program called Learning from

the Start, where we see some really good examples of focusing on service

delivery.

any of you have been watching television lately, or listening to the radio,

or looking at some of the print ads, you know that some of the work we are

doing and some of the campaigns we have put in place around early childhood

programming talk about the power of play . If you

have seen any of those ads on television, I think they really capture our

attention. They say to everybody

that the power of play is one of the most powerful tools we have in

educating our children these days.

Even this morning I had opportunity, along with the MHA

for Harbour Main, to go to one of our local schools here, St. John Bosco,

where we actually were talking about bullying.

In the course of talking about bullying with the children, they too

talked about play and how they learn from play.

When we go to our preschools and our daycare centres and so on, then

we see some really good opportunities.

MR. LANE:

(Inaudible).

MS SULLIVAN:

I am not sure what the member opposite is saying.

I would certainly be happy to answer any questions he might have for

me. If you want me to sit and

ask the question, I would be happy to answer.

MR. LANE:

How come you did not invite us to St. John Bosco?

MS SULLIVAN:

There was a press release put out that invited everybody to come to St. John

Bosco, so he was certainly welcome to come.

Any time that I go out to any of the schools, anybody here who would

like to come along is welcome to come.

There will always be a press release that will make sure everybody is

given fair opportunity to know about those occasions.

Everybody is welcome, so consider yourselves always invited.

I just want to continue on, though, about what we are

doing around early childhood learning.

The MHA for St. John's North made some reference this afternoon to a

couple of studies that were done around early childhood and the release of

them last week. He was

particularly critical of Newfoundland and Labrador and where we were in

terms of those particular studies.

He left out a couple of things, though.

AN HON. MEMBER:

(Inaudible).

MS SULLIVAN:

Yes, he is always critical; you are right about that.

That is from the member on his side of the House.

What he left out was the progress that we are making.

That was clearly identified in the report as well.

The report itself identified that Newfoundland and Labrador, in this

report called early learning I cannot remember the name of the report; I

will have to get the name of it after.

It talked about the fact that Newfoundland and Labrador has made

great progress in just a very short period of time.

In 2011, we received a score on the indicators that

were provided and sometimes we question the indicators and whether or not

they are the best indicators of progress.

We had a score of 1.5 out of fifteen.

This year our score improved to six, Mr. Speaker, which tied us with

Saskatchewan and with Nova Scotia, with the highest score only being ten out

of fifteen. When you put it in

context, it does not sound as bad as what it is that they made it out to be.

Essentially the report said Newfoundland and Labrador

has made significant gains in early childhood learning and even though some

of the indicators we were not able to score on, they should indicate to us,

however, that we have made great progress.

They did not give us the points for it; but full-day Kindergarten,

for example, is an indicator of progress.

We did not get any points on that because it is not yet implemented.

Mr. Speaker, everybody in this Province knows we have announced that

we are moving forward on full-day Kindergarten and that we have already

started the process to see that in September 2016 full-day Kindergarten will

be implemented here in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Mr. Speaker, I think we need to make sure the people of

the Province gain some confidence from the fact that we have been listening

and that we have made really good strides in improving early childhood

development and in improving early learning in this Province.

One of the other things we should note here is that the

third party endorsement for what we have done here has been pretty

impressive. Kathy LeGrow, for

example, from the Jimmy Pratt Foundation has certainly endorsed what we are

doing here. In fact, as the

foundation Chair, she credits the provincial government with listening to

concerns and responding by way of announcing full-day Kindergarten and

increasing the number of child care spaces.

This again, from an interview on VOCM Radio, she says

the Province had a long way to go based on the 2011 report, but significant

progress has been made. She says

removing early childhood learning from the Department of CYFS shows a

changing focus on children.

Further to that, the author of the report early years that is the name of

the report, the early years study Dr. Akbari says, Newfoundland's

decision to integrate full-day kindergarten programming has helped push the

province from being last in investing in early childhood education to being

noticed as one of the movers towards improving the system.

Mr. Speaker, those are people who evaluate what we are

doing here. Those are people who

have come forward with suggestions to us in the past and who are now saying

good for you. You have listened

and you have made significant progress.

While the Member for St. John's North might simply

point out the placing on the particular report, he forgot to mention all of

the progress that was made. He

forgot to mention the fact that the authors of the report have noticed us as

one of the movers in the country, that the authors have said we have made

significant gains within this area.

Somehow he forgot to put those pieces in there.

I just thought I would take an opportunity this

afternoon to make sure the people of the Province understand we have, in

fact, focused a great deal on early childhood learning, we focused a great

deal on early childhood education itself, and certainly in terms of our work

around providing other sorts of care for our younger set around the

development of the early child care strategy the ten-year strategy work

that we have done there, the $45 million that we have invested there, we are

receiving accolades; however, it is not showing up on the indicators just

yet. It will, however, Mr.

Speaker; I have no doubt.

Having said that, I want to talk about the K-12 system

as well and some of the work that is happening and continues to happen

there. There were many

statements made in the Speech from the Throne that referenced the work that

would be ongoing this year. I am

able to say that work has been progressing, and progressing very nicely as

well.

We still continue to make unprecedented investments in

our K-12 system; $872 million worth this year, Mr. Speaker, in terms of

investments in the K-12 system.

For those who are statistical in nature and like to understand where we have

come from, that is a 48 per cent increase over where we were in 2003 48

per cent increase.

Our per-pupil investment in our K-12 system has

increased by 75 per cent, Mr. Speaker.

Again, it is something that I think the people of the Province need

to know and need to be proud of.

In fact, our per-pupil investment in this Province is the best in Atlantic

Canada and among the best in the country.

So we are certainly paying attention to the young people of this

Province. We understand how

important our young people are, and we want to continue to invest.

We have done some work that we have talked about here

in this House, and I have heard previous ministers reference it, around

eliminating school fees and around providing free textbooks to the students

in the Province; $56 million dollars to eliminate the school fees and $21

million, since 2007, to provide free textbooks.

Now, Mr. Speaker, I started out today saying that I had

been a teacher in this Province for thirty years.

I want to tell you about my experience about children coming to

school and the heartbreak I would see in their faces when they did not have

the little envelope to pass in to pay for their school fees, the

embarrassment they felt, the sense of being underprivileged they felt

because they did not have the money to pass over to us when we were

collecting school fees. As hard

as we tried to make it as unobtrusive as we could, we understood how

children felt at those times .

When they could not afford to buy their textbooks, Mr. Speaker, and

when they would come in with a note from social services and how they would

try to slip us those notes in every possible way that they could to avoid

the embarrassment, well, we responded to all of that and we removed all of

that.

ensured that everyone in Newfoundland and Labrador, Mr. Speaker, has access

to education. That embarrassment

no longer exists for our students, and for many of the parents who came to

see us as well, or who would phone us at night and say: Can I come by and

bring that note to you this evening so my child does not have to come to

school tomorrow?

Mr.

Speaker, we removed all that.

That has made such a difference.

It is something I think we all in this Province need to be proud of because

it really does make a difference.

One

of the other things and it is highlighted in our graduation results, Mr.

Speaker. Our results this year

were the highest they have ever been in terms of a graduation success rate:

92.5. I am searching here for

the exact statistic. I think it

was 92.5 per cent of our students in this Province graduated this year from

high school.

Mr.

Speaker, I do not believe that is happenstance.

I believe that is a direct result of the investments we are making.

I believe that is a direct result of the quality of the teaching we

have going on in this Province.

I believe that it is a direct result of things such as capping class sizes.

have done that from K-9. We have

reduced the average class size from 20.7, where it used to be in 2004, to

18.1. In fact, our pupil ratio

in this Province at 12 to 1 is the best anywhere in the country.

It is absolutely the best anywhere in this country.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MS SULLIVAN:

Mr. Speaker, when we talk

about replying to the Speech from the Throne, when we would have heard in

the Speech from the Throne that we will continue to invest in the young

people of this Province, those are indicators that we have followed through

on investing in the young people of this Province.

What bright young people we have.

heard two or three people stand in the House today two, I think, I recall

for sure who talked about the electoral scholarships that were received in

their district. There are three

students from their districts.

Everybody in this House can stand and do that and talk about their three

students.

could talk about our students who go on to post-secondary and the successes

we hear about day over day over day in this Province.

It is really phenomenal results that are happening.

It is because we have invested in new curriculum.

It is because we have invested in new technology.

I heard some talk about that in the House here today.

I hope to get a chance to address that at another time.

It is because we have also invested in our skilled trades area $13

million since 2005, Mr. Speaker, to invest in skilled trades.

Mr.

Speaker one of the other pieces I really quite enjoy has to do with our

investment in Cultural Connections.

I had occasion to go down to Beachy Cove Elementary a week or ten

days ago I guess now, or maybe a little longer, and met with the students

down there. We talked about the

importance of understanding our roots here in this Province as well.

We talked about making those cultural connections through music and

through theatre and through arts and all kinds of other ways the children

were able to tell me about. Mr.

Speaker, those investments are so important to us as well.

you look at our arts community here in Newfoundland and Labrador, we have

one of the strongest arts communities in the country.

Again, not happenstance, Mr. Speaker, but some good roots for sure.

There is no doubt, our musical roots in this Province run deep, but

they have also been cultivated very well through our school system; $20.9

million, in fact, since 2005 in the Cultural Connections area.

Early Childhood Development I am running out of time, but I just want to

make reference to the fact that we committed, through the child care

strategy, to increasing the number of regulated child care spaces in the

Province, and we have done that by 70 per cent.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MS SULLIVAN:

By 70 per cent, we have

increased the number of child care spaces here in Newfoundland and Labrador.

We have invested $42.5 million for child care.

We are going to see better quality child care spaces.

We are going to see larger numbers of child care spaces, and we are

going to see more affordable child care as a result of that 10-year

strategy, Mr. Speaker.

Unfortunately, I am out of time.

I certainly hope I get a chance to stand again because there is so much more

I want to talk about in terms of a response to the Speech from the Throne.

AN HON. MEMBER:

Leave.

MS SULLIVAN:

I am hearing leave.

I do not know if they are joking or

not because I am certainly willing to go on for another forty, fifty

minutes. You know I would.

There is so much to say.

We are so proud of the students in Newfoundland and Labrador.

MR. SPEAKER (Littlejohn):

I remind the

hon. minister her time is up.

MS SULLIVAN:

Thank you very much, Mr.

Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

Mount Pearl South.

MR. LANE:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

certainly is a pleasure for me to stand and speak on Address in Reply.

As I indicated yesterday, it is great to be back in the House of

Assembly to represent the good folks of Mount Pearl South and the Province

as a whole.

Mr.

Speaker, I had a few topics I wanted to speak to related to my critic area

and also some other issues I have been digging into for some constituents.

Before I do, though, I just cannot help but respond very briefly to

the Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development.

is amazing how you can spin a good yarn.

We have a report that came out, as my colleague from St. John's North

indicated, on early learning and care.

Basically, we went from worst in the country to second last in the

country. Somehow the minister is

trying to turn that into a good news story and talking about how much

improvement we have made.

you are at the very bottom, if you are last in the country, you really have

nowhere to go but up anyway. I

would not be surprised that we would be seeing improvement.

God help us if we are not seeing improvement, given the fact we were

actually last in the country. If

it was not so serious it would actually be amusing.

Mr.

Speaker, she also talked about it is interesting, delving into the past

the student fees in school, and fees for books and so on.

I do not think anybody is going to argue and certainly I am not

going to argue, and I am sure none of my colleagues, nobody in this House is

going to argue that getting rid of the student fees is a good thing.

I think it was a great thing.

I think having free textbooks is a good thing.

No one is going to argue that.

are talking about things that were done ten years ago.

While it is good to, I suppose, sometimes celebrate the past, I think

really we need to be focusing on what we are doing right now, and what the

issues are right now. Not just

where we are right now, but where we are going to be in the future.

Particularly given the financial state of this Province, I think we

should be looking at some of the current issues as opposed to dwelling on

some of the things that were done maybe ten years ago.

With

that said, I have a couple of issues which I do want to raise.

Mr. Speaker, the first issue, and this is an issue which came my way

as a result of I was contacted by some residents in the Avalon region,

residents of St. John's area, residents of Mount Pearl, constituents of mine

in the District of Mount Pearl South, as it related to their cottages they

had up in Ocean Pond.

Mr.

Speaker, I met with them. I

heard their concerns. I went up

there a couple of times and basically viewed the area to try to get a handle

on what their concerns were.

The

concern they had, basically, was that for the last, I am going to say thirty

years, and I stand to be corrected one way or the other, but I will say

approximately thirty years there have been people up there there are some

people who live in Ocean Pond, a few, not a lot, and a lot of people who

have cottages in Ocean Pond, and for the last thirty years there has been a

land freeze on all the Crown land up there.

Individuals have been unable to expand their property.

If someone came in and said I have an old cabin I want to expand it

and make it bigger, I have more money now, whatever the case might be no,

you cannot do that.

The reason given by the Division of Crown Lands and

Environment was environmental saturation.

We also had situations where somebody may have had a cottage and

there was a piece of land next to them, Crown land, and they might have

said: Look, there is a piece of Crown land here, my son or my daughter or

whatever, they would like to put a cottage here next to mine.

So they would go to Crown Lands and they would be told no, no

development, we have a land freeze here; environmental saturation being the

reason why they could not do that.

Now, many years later, and we fast-forward into, say, a

couple of years ago, and all of a sudden you have a road, a full-fledged

road connecting up to the existing cabin road which, by the way, the

residents are responsible for, responsible for maintaining it themselves.

The government used to at one time, but then it was considered, I

think, a Class 4 road. The

government stopped maintaining it and snow clearing it, so they were

responsible.

All of a sudden they see a full-fledged road with

culverts, wider road, better road than what is actually there, connect up to

their road. There was never any

notification given to the people, the existing cottage owners.

There are over 300 of them. There

was no notification. They were

not asked for permission, and had no opportunity to have any say whatsoever.

They come to discover that there is a 110-lot cottage

development being approved to go in there, into an area which at one point

there was a parcel of land there, I believe, that was under some sort of

dispute as to whether it was privately owned or it was actually leased to

somebody many, many years ago for a mill operation.

Now, all of a sudden, there is some sort of a settlement made between

Crown Lands and this individual.

Anyway, the land changes hands, all of a sudden there is a development going

there and the land is sold and now they are going to put in a development.

All this happens with no notification of the persons

there, no normal processes in place to make the public aware so they could

have their concerns, if they have them, dealt with and they have many

concerns. Mr. Speaker, they made

many attempts to contact Crown Lands.

They have made many attempts to contact the various ministers who

were there and they could not get any response.

I have made attempts to get answers.

I have not been able to get any response.

People have been calling for a public meeting.

They cannot get a public meeting.

This full-fledged road is gone right through existing

frozen Crown land to get to this new development, but for some reason that

land is not frozen. I contacted

Crown Lands and asked: How can this development be?

If nobody else can build cabins, how come they can?

They said: It is private land.

I said: Well, give me the information as to how this became private

land and so on. I could get no

information from the minister's office.

I had to do an access to information.

They took the full sixty days and no response.

I finally get a response saying we are going to take another thirty

days. Another thirty days comes

and goes, still no response. I

had to go to the Privacy Commissioner and put in a complaint.

Now they are given another thirty days.

We are going to be four months trying to get a bit of information as

to how this could occur.

People want to know: How did this land change hands?

What part of this land was under dispute?

Was there any Crown land thrown into the deal?

Who is the proponent? Who

claimed to own the land? Who

bought the land? Who were the

legal people involved in this whole transaction?

Who are all these people?

There are a lot of questions and a lot of rumours,

which I am not going to talk about, but there is certainly a lot of

speculation. People want

answers. We have been unable to

get any answers, Mr. Speaker. I

think that is a real concern.

Mr. Speaker, I wrote the now Minister of Fisheries and

asked to meet with him and I wanted him to hold a public meeting.

I never even got a response from the Minister of Fisheries.

He was the Minister of Environment and Conservation at the time no

response. I let some time go by

and I wrote him again. There was

still no response.

It is interesting, all this is so-called approved, we

have a full-fledged road built through frozen Crown land, and all this is

done before there was even an environmental assessment.

There is an environmental assessment process which should take place

before anyone does any developments.

The road is built. There

is a full road built before the assessment is even completed.

What are people to think?

How could that possibly happen?

I have contacted Crown Lands since and asked: How could

the road be done? You are saying

the development is private. I

want the information on how that happened and I cannot seem to get it.

The road is going through Crown land; how could that be?

I have been told the roads are different.

Now, how roads can be different is beyond me.

I have no idea how they can be different.

I cannot seem to find out, but I am not letting the issue go.

The residents up there, the cottage owners, are not letting it going

until we get answers.

That is certainly a big concern people have up in Ocean

Pond as to how all of this could have transpired; how come there was no

public process; how a road can be put through frozen Crown land when no one

else could develop any Crown land; how the land got transferred; who is

involved in this; how it could be connected to their existing road which

they are responsible for and now you have heavy equipment going up tearing

up their road. There is no

compensation, no communication, nothing how could all of this happen?

People up in Ocean Pond want those answers.

I have done everything I can to try to get those answers and I will

continue, including raising it here in this House of Assembly.

Now it is interesting, as I said, I actually wrote the

then Minister of Environment twice and got no response.

The environmental assessment took place after the fact, after the

road was built. They were

supposed to make a decision.

Well, lo and behold, after I wrote my letter to the then Minister of

Environment, now Minister of Fisheries, a news release comes out and says a

decision was supposed to be made this week but the minister is going to take

an additional week or ten days, whatever it was, and he will make his

decision a week later. That date

came and went and no decision was made.

We were continuing to try to get answers.

Interestingly enough and this is really interesting

the then Minister of Environment, now the Minister of Fisheries, gave that

project the environmental green light, I think it was, on a Monday

afternoon. I stand to be

corrected on the day of the week, but for argument's sake on a Monday

afternoon, and Tuesday morning he was sworn in as a new Cabinet minister and

changed departments. Now, that

was interesting timing. He was

supposed to make a decision, a date was given, the date went by, no action

for over two weeks, and he finally gives the green light the afternoon

before he switched departments.

That certainly makes people very suspicious as to what is going on as well.

Now since that time, I have written the new Minister of

Environment and Conservation and, I guess, true to form, just basically

being consistent with his counterpart, he has refused to respond to me also.

So that is three letters, two different ministers, ATIPP requests,

and there is still no information from this

government as to how this could happen.

I do not know why they would not, because this is not about me.

This is not about just my constituents.

I have constituents up there, but guess what?

There are constituents there from St. John's, for some of the

members. There are people there

from the Southern Shore; I have spoken to them.

There are people there from the Bay Roberts area a lot of them from

the Bay Roberts area. There are

even people from Grand Falls. I spoke

to a gentleman from Grand Falls-Windsor.

He lives in Grand Falls-Windsor and has his cottage down there.

They are from all over.

These are not just my constituents.

These are everybody's constituents who have had this thrown upon

them, with no answers, no explanations, and nobody wants to give them any

information. I think that is

absolutely shameful, absolutely shameful that we could have this going on in

this day and age. You talk about

openness, transparency, and accountability.

There is an opportunity.

There is an opportunity to prove you are open and transparent.

It is not happening, and it is absolutely shameful.

Mr.

Speaker, speaking of writing letters and getting no responses, I have also

taken the opportunity in my role as Opposition member responsible for

Service NL, I have written the Minister of Service NL now twice.

Twice I have written, requesting a meeting to deal with concerns

around workplace health and safety, concerns around workers comp to speak

about issues around the Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Review

Division, the Marystown Shipyard Family Alliance, who I went out and met

with in Marystown to hear their concerns.

I wish the minister would do the same, but I did two requests for

meetings, and no response from that minister either.

even tried to ask the minister some questions in the House of Assembly

yesterday, and the Premier had to answer those.

He does not want to talk.

I do not know why. I do not know

what the problem is. I do not

know why they would not want to talk about these important issues, for the

life of me.

the minister is chirping back there now, he had lots of opportunity to

answer questions and he has not done it.

I hope he gets up on his feet and explains what is going on in his

department, because there are people who have serious concerns that are not

being addressed. We talk about

concerns not being addressed in that particular department.

We are talking about issues, for example, around the Workplace

Health, Safety and Compensation Review Division.

Now

we all know the story about the new unelected Minister of Justice, Ms

Manning, and her nineteen cases which never got done; a sixty-day time limit

and none done within that sixty-day time limit.

I think there was one draft report on one case in six months, five or

six months, something like that I believe; but, I cannot blame it on

Minister Manning. She is only

one commissioner. We have 150

outstanding cases at the Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Review

Division. The only response I

received so far, at least from the Premier, was that we are improving

things. We had a lot more

backlog cases last year than we have this year.

is almost like the Minister of Education when she was talking about a

report, as I said earlier,