Newfoundland and Labrador Hansard — Statements by Ministers — 24 May 2001 (44th General Assembly, 3rd Session, Vol. XLIV No. 31)
2001-05-24
Newfoundland and Labrador — Debates (Hansard)
May 24, 2001 HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY
PROCEEDINGS Vol. XLIV No. 31
The House met at 1:30 p.m.
MR. SPEAKER (Snow): Order, please!
Before we begin out routine proceedings, the Chair would like to welcome to
the Speaker's gallery today, the hon. David Coutts, Minister of Government
Services from the Province of Alberta, along with the Deputy Minister, Roger
Jackson, the Executive Director of Consumer Services, Rick Solkowski, and the
Executive Assistant to Minister Coutts, David Keto.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: As well, I want to welcome to the gallery thirty-four Grades
4, 5 and 6 students from St. Mark's School, in King's Cove, in the District
of Bonavista South. They are accompanied by teachers: Mrs. Alice Lewis, Mrs.
Kelly Marshall, and Mr. John Adams; a parent: Mrs. Patsy Harty; and bus driver:
Mr. Bill Ryan.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
Statements by Members
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Trinity North.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. ROSS WISEMAN: Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Town of
Clarenville as it celebrates fifty years as an incorporated community.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. ROSS WISEMAN: On June 6, 1951, the Town of Clarenville elected its
first council and it was chaired by a gentleman by the name of Mr. Ernest
Drover.
Since that time, Mr. Speaker, Clarenville has experienced many changes, they
have enjoyed tremendous growth, and it has become a leading community in our
Province.
Clarenville has benefitted from its strategic location and rapidly became
known as the "Hub of the East Coast." However, the real credit for the
success of Clarenville goes to the caliber of the people who live there.
The more than 100 volunteer councillors who have served on council since 1951
are to be commended for their vision, their strong leadership, and for making
potential opportunities become a reality.
Clarenville is a great place to live, a great place to raise a family and to
explore business opportunities, all because there is a strong network of
dedicated, hardworking volunteers who are committed to improving the quality of
life of our community.
To Mayor Fred Best, councillors and staff, and especially the citizens of
Clarenville, I want to congratulate them on their 50 th Anniversary!
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
The hon. member's time is up.
MR. ROSS WISEMAN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Conception Bay East & Bell
Island.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. WALSH: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I rise today to congratulate a hockey player whose roots are from Bell Island
and who is making a name for himself in the Western Hockey League.
Scottie Upshall, a seventeen-year-old right winger with the Kamloops Blazers
of the Western Hockey League, was born in Fort McMurray, Alberta. Appropriately,
we have guests from Alberta today. His parents, Scott and Mandy, hail from Bell
Island. His maternal grandmother, Marg Ash, and the Ash family, I consider to be
close personal friends. Marg of course, is still a resident of Bell Island.
I am pleased to announce, Mr. Speaker, that Scottie was named winner of the
Western Hockey League's rookie of the year award, the Jim Piggott Memorial
Trophy, on Tuesday.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. WALSH: Mr. Speaker, Scottie is the first player ever from the
Kamloops Blazers to win this prestigious award, and he had a great season this
year with forty-two goals and eighty-seven points in his rookie year. He is also
eligible for the 2002 NHL draft and is expected to be a top pick.
Mr. Speaker, I congratulate Scottie Upshall on this achievement, and I am
sure all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians will be looking forward to a bright
future from this up-and-coming hockey star, with Bell Island roots.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Bonavista South.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. FITZGERALD: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I would like to rise today to pay tribute to a long-time resident of
Bonavista South who passed away on Friday, a master shipbuilder for many years
at the Clarenville dry dock, and in later years of his life opened up carpenter
shipyards in Port Union, a gentleman by the name of Reuben Carpenter. Mr.
Carpenter traveled to the Labrador Coast down in Postville, I say to the Member
for Torngat Mountains, and built ships and designed ships on the Labrador Coast,
and built them on the ice down there.
He liked to tell the story about the call that he got, when he built a
launching of the boat in order to get Mr. Rompkey down there. Little did they
know that the boat was built on the ice and the ice had melted and the boat was
already launched. He got a great charge out of telling the story, then he had a
real problem with hauling it up again and allowing it to be launched so that Mr.
Rompkey could take
part in the launch.
Mr. Speaker, Mr. Carpenter was also a boat designer. He designed and helped
build boats that were known as the Splinter fleet which was built in Clarenville.
In his later years he lost his eyesight but always maintained a very keen
interest in not only provincial politics and the provincial economy but the
Canadian economy as well.
I, today, would like to offer my sympathy to the Carpenter family, namely his
wife Dulcie, who he has been married to for in excess of sixty years, and his
eight surviving children.
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
The hon. member's time is up.
MR. FITZGERALD: Thank you.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
Statements by Ministers
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Human Resources and Employment.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SMITH: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Earlier this year, it was my pleasure to announce that low income families
with children will be able to earn more money and still qualify for the
Newfoundland and Labrador Child Benefit.
As this session of the House draws to a conclusion, I wish to take the
opportunity to remind families in receipt of the NLCB that these changes will
take place effective July 1, 2001. The income thresholds that determine
eligibility for the Newfoundland and Labrador Child Benefit and the amounts
received will change. The adjustment is significant in the sense that it will
provide an increase for approximately 5,000 families currently in receipt of the
child benefit. It also reaffirms our commitment to addressing the issue of child
poverty in Newfoundland and Labrador.
The change means that more families will be eligible for the full benefit,
the income level at which the partial benefit ceases will be higher, and overall
more families will receive full or partial coverage. This adjustment also
ensures that families are supported in their efforts to obtain and maintain
employment. It means that families leaving social assistance will continue to
receive a child benefit, therefore easing the transition to work.
This is good news for families since this adjustment in the Newfoundland and
Labrador Child Benefit coincides with a benefit increase and a similar
adjustment to the income thresholds for the Canada Child Tax Benefit.
Newfoundland and Labrador is one of six provinces that has acted to create a
child benefit for low income families, including low income working families. In
doing so, this Province has been able to move income support for children
outside of the social assistance program. This means that the child benefit does
not cease when the family leaves social assistance.
Mr. Speaker, while much progress has been made since the introduction of the
National Child Benefit and the Newfoundland and Labrador Child Benefit, there is
still much more that can and should be done, if we are to reduce the depth of
child poverty in Canada. Provincial/Territorial Ministers Responsible for Social
Services recently met in Halifax, Nova Scotia to discuss the progress of the
National Child Benefit and possible future directions. The National Child
Benefit has been an excellent example of federal-provincial cooperation in
pursuit of a common objective, providing low income families with a stable
source of income support and reducing the barriers to work. Ministers are
currently engaged in preparing a status report on the National Child Benefit for
the upcoming Annual Premiers Conference.
This review is timely and I believe it provides an opportunity to consider
further options to enhance the National Child Benefit. As Minister Responsible
for Social Services in this Province, I will do my part to advocate for
increased federal investment in the Canada Child Tax Benefit. Currently, the
federal government has committed to growing the federal child benefit to $2,500
for a first child and $2,300 for a second and subsequent child by 2004. The
partnership between the federal and provincial governments has been critical to
the progress achieved thus far. We now need to set new targets for future
cooperation.
Mr Speaker, I believe we all share a common vision of a country free of child
poverty.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Opposition House Leader.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SULLIVAN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
We certainly endorse the aspects of this, in particular with the transition
there. I think it is positive to enable people not to be deprived when they go
out, and the opportunity to seek work. Also, a lot of people, I might add, in
this Province are barely surviving and without the national child tax and the
combination with the provincial one here, they would be going hungry. That is
not an understatement at all, I say to the minister.
I agree with what is indicated here. The only thing I disagree with is that
the news release they gave on March 22, 2001 was a little more in-depth and more
detailed and this only includes part of that announcement that he made over two
months ago when this House opened.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Labrador West.
MR. COLLINS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Poverty is certainly an issue that has to be dealt with in this Province and
throughout the country. When it comes to child poverty, it is particularly
disturbing when we hear in the news reports and see people in our communities
who are living in poverty. I recall, not too many years ago, there was a
unanimous resolution by the federal government to eliminate child poverty in
this country by the year 2000; but we are all very much aware, Mr. Speaker, that
did not happen. The problem still exists and it exists in numbers that are still
large and disturbing to the general population. Any move at all that will do
anything to help eliminate and reduce poverty to any degree is certainly welcome
and it is something that governments have to pay attention to and work on in
order to reduce it and live within the resolution that was passed in Ottawa to
eliminate poverty all together.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. K. AYLWARD: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to inform my hon. colleagues that last night at the
Attractions Canada Awards Gala in Halifax, our Cape St. Mary's Ecological
Reserve received the national award for best Natural Outdoor Site with an area
less than 100 square kilometres.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. K. AYLWARD: This is one of only seven national awards given by
Attractions Canada.
Attractions Canada is a program spearheaded by Montreal-based Attractions
Canada in partnership with the Canadian Tourism Commission, the Tourism Industry
Association of Canada, Canadian Heritage and others. The purpose of the program
is to highlight and promote the diversity of tourism and heritage activities,
events and attractions, and to encourage Canadians to be tourists in their own
country.
The Attractions Canada Awards Program has various categories for which the
public and tourism industry can nominate provincial attractions and events. In
total this year, there were ninety-eight winning attractions at the provincial
and territorial level. The Newfoundland and Labrador provincial recipients
include: The Colony of Avalon Archaeological Site, in the category of Developed
Outdoor Site with an operating budget less than $1 million; Newfoundland
Insectarium, for an Indoor Site with an operating budget less than $400,000;
Annual Brigus Blueberry Festival, won the Cultural Event with an operating
budget less than $350,000; Viking Trail Tourism Association-Vikings! 1000 Years,
which our government was very proud to sponsor, also won the Cultural Event
category in the operating budget of less than $350,000; TRI-FEST, a week long
event surrounding the International Triathlon Union Cup in Corner Brook this
past summer, which our government again supported last year, won for best
Sporting Event with an operating budget of more than $110,000; Norstead: A Real
Life Saga - took the award for New Attraction; and, again, the Cape St. Mary's
Ecological Reserve also received the provincial award for Natural Outdoor Site.
A national jury made up of five individuals representing tourism, media and
business circles were given the responsibility of selecting seven national
winners from the ninety-eight provincial and territorial recipients. It has been
a great opportunity to build Newfoundland and Labrador's profile and benchmark
our products against the best tourism and heritage attractions in Canada.
Mr. Speaker, I know I join with my colleagues in congratulating the seven
provincial winners from Newfoundland and Labrador and our management and staff
of the Cape St. Mary's Ecological Reserve for their prestigious national
award.
Tourism is a strong, vibrant and growing industry in this Province. I would
like to encourage all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians to make time this summer
to visit the parks, the natural areas and scenic attractions throughout our
Province and see the impressive and award-winning sites and sounds our beautiful
Province offers.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for St. Barbe.
MR. YOUNG: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
We, as the Opposition, are proud of the recognition the Province's scenic,
recreational and historic attractions have been given by Attractions Canada. The
winners of various categories come from all over the Province and represent a
wide variety of attractions. It lends more support to the argument that I have
been making that this Province's approach to tourism must be multi-facet and
must not be merely a singular team celebration where towns are cut loose by the
following year. It is time the Province got serious about providing a meaningful
investment in the infrastructure needed to support our tourism industry, and
that means road word that will allow people to access the Cape St. Mary's
Ecological Reserve and many other attractions in the Province. It means
supporting other forms of infrastructure that will allow towns to offer tourists
a first class experience in their respective areas.
Thank you.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Labrador West.
MR. COLLINS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I, too, would like to congratulate the recipients of the awards. As the
minister stated, tourism is a growing industry in this Province, but we are very
much lacking in the infrastructure for tourism in the things that people can do
and the places that they can - services provided to them along our highway
system and throughout the Province, much work has to be done in that area in
order to treat tourists better when they arrive in this Province.
I am proud to say that throughout the entire region of this Province, and the
Labrador portion of the Province, that tourism is a vibrant industry. It is
growing at amazing rates. We need to invest more into the infrastructure
programs that will give them more to do when they arrive in this Province and
provide better services to them as they travel throughout the regions.
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Human Resources and Employment.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SMITH: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The hon. members opposite were so obviously moved by my initial statement, I
can't resist the temptation to rise again.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SMITH: Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to tell hon. members that the
transition from the old Janeway Emergency in Pleasantville to the opening of the
new Emergency Department at the Janeway Children's Health and Rehabilitation
Centre at the Health Sciences Centre site has been a success.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SMITH: As of midnight, last night, the Emergency Department at the
Janeway in Pleasantville closed permanently. At the same time, the new emergency
opened up on Prince Philip Drive for children and their families.
As of today, all children's health and rehabilitation services formerly at
the old Janeway will be available at the new hospital. For the time being,
however, Community Health services and the Janeway Hostel remain open in
Pleasantville.
Mr. Speaker, the Health Care Corporation of St. John's has overseen the
move of all Janeway services for several weeks now. Although a great deal of
planning has gone into preparing and executing the moves, it is still a very
exciting time for all concerned.
The people of Newfoundland and Labrador now have a brand new, state of the
art facility, which will allow staff to continue the exemplary care carried out
for the last forty-five years at the old Janeway.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SMITH: The official opening of the new Janeway will occur in June.
However, I wanted to mark today's move by congratulating everyone involved and
wishing them all the best as they become familiar with their new surroundings.
I know that concern for the safety of patients and their families has been
uppermost in everybody's minds during the move. Now that testing of all mayor
systems is complete, families can rest assured that their new facility is ready
to meet the challenges that lie ahead. I hope the new facility offers a sense of
pride for all and a sense of hope for families and their children.
Mr. Speaker, children will be better served by a facility designed
specifically for them. The old Janeway had been a military hospital and was
first opened as a children's hospital in 1966.
While it has been a staple in our health system over the years, we look
forward now to a modern facility with all the bells and whistles of the 21 st
century. Children will have on-site access to sophisticated medical technology,
such as the MRI, and to one-of-a-kind medical expertise. Mothers and ill
newborns will be together in one setting, as compared to the former need to
transport sick newborns from the Grace to the Janeway. Acute care and
rehabilitation services for children will be fully integrated at the new
facility. This process was begun more than four years ago when the Children's
Rehabilitation Centre integrated with the current Janeway site. In addition,
staff of the Child Health and Women's Health Programs will be able to
strengthen research linkages with Memorial University at the new site.
I look forward to the official opening of the new facility when we can
showcase this new children's hospital for all residents of our Province.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Opposition House Leader.
MR. SULLIVAN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The former minister, and the former, former minister, sitting together there
in health, know full well where I am on this issue.
I said that I support consolidation if it is not going to be spent -
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SULLIVAN: I would like to thank them for the applause. It is a lot
more than they gave their own minister, I would say.
If it is not going to be spent on bricks and mortar, then it is going to be
put into services. The minister had the audacity to get up before and say: It is
on budget and on time. It was supposed to be in December of 1998 with a budget
of $70 million. They had to borrow $130 million, not counting tens of millions
of more dollars in addition, to purchase facilities, and other costs; double the
budget, over two years behind schedule, and furthermore, the facility cannot
accommodate many areas now that it should.
I spoke, just as recently as last week, with people who are cramped into the
basement of that facility, in many instances not enough room to be able to serve
the people there, the clients of the system. They have mismanaged it, they have
mishandled it. We have a beautiful looking building, and we have seen in the
news recently four mothers and babies cramped in one little room. They can't
get sleep, can't get the rest they need. It has not met the needs to serve
people properly within the system, and it is about time the government, when
they are spending close to $200 million in total, spend it right, listen to the
people who work there, take directions on what is needed in the normal working
space, and serve the interest of the people who are going to be using that
facility, not the bureaucrats and people sitting in government offices.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Labrador West.
MR. COLLINS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I guess if there is one thing that all members of this House will agree on,
and the people throughout the Province, it is that there is nothing but goods
words that can be said about the Janeway and the services that they have
provided -
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. COLLINS: - to young children throughout this Province over the years,
Mr. Speaker. I think it is important that, when we look at this centre, the
children's hospital, the other thing that we can all agree on is the need for
a new facility, when we look at the former Janeway.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. COLLINS: On the other side of the coin, as the former speaker
mentioned, Mr. Speaker, there should have been more consultation with the people
throughout the Province as that facility was being built, so that it can meet
the needs of the people who will be using it.
Mr. Speaker, I have seen the building from the outside. I haven't been on a
tour of it yet, but it does appear to be a remarkable facility that was much
needed in the Province.
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
The hon. member's time is up.
The hon. the Minister of Government Services and Lands.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. NOEL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to inform hon. members that the Government of
Newfoundland and Labrador will host a meeting of federal, provincial and
territorial Ministers Responsible for Consumer Affairs tomorrow, Friday, May 25.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. NOEL: To be co-chaired by our former Premier, Canada's Minister of
Industry, and myself.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. NOEL: Over the past several years -
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please! Order, please!
The hon. the Minister of Government Services and Lands.
MR. NOEL: Over the past several years, Government Services and Lands has
placed increased emphasis on consumer protection and education and this
conference will contribute substantially to our efforts in this regard.
Mr. Speaker, we are dealing with a rapidly changing marketplace. Every day,
consumers face new ways of doing business, especially as a result of new
technologies. Our challenge as Ministers Responsible for Consumer Affairs is
significant. We must work together to improve consumer protection programs and
services, and strive to ensure that consumers have the information and skills
they need to protect themselves.
During our meetings we will discuss modernization and harmonization of
consumer legislation and policies, marketplace practices, e-commerce, and
consumer information and education programs.
I am happy to welcome ministers and officials from across the country to
discuss these important issues. I welcome them to our Province and look forward
to a successful conference.
I would like to thank Minister Coutts and his colleagues for joining us this
afternoon.
Thank you very much.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for St. John's South.
MR. T. OSBORNE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
MR. T. OSBORNE: Mr. Speaker, despite the insolence of our members across
the House, I would like to welcome our guests to our Province.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. T. OSBORNE: Obviously, the minister can stand tall today. The role of
consumer affairs, Mr. Speaker, is obviously a very important role in this
Province, and I hope that the conference tomorrow will help solve some of the
problems that are facing consumers in the Province, as well as throughout the
country.
Even more importantly, we have to focus on the business climate within this
Province and the difficulties that businesses and people have in dealing with
government. We have to try to cut through the bureaucratic red tape, the
bureaucratic maze that is created within the Province, and the climate that is
displayed throughout the Province in people dealing with government. That is
really where we have to focus.
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
The hon. member's time is up.
MR. T. OSBORNE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Oral Questions
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Opposition.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. E. BYRNE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I have to comment. If the House were open yet another week, with the
continuance of the number of Ministerial Statements we have seen today, to my
hon. colleague from the pulp and paper District of Windsor-Springdale, you would
have no worries about number seven shutting down.
Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Premier today. This being the last day
of this sitting of the Legislature for the spring, before we sit again in this
House, the fate of Friede Goldman Halter will likely be resolved and, with it,
the fate of the Marystown Shipyard and the fabrication facility at Cow Head, and
ultimately and most importantly, the economy of the Burin Peninsula.
In a filing with the U.S. Securities Commission, Frieda Goldman Halter said
they were negotiating with the Newfoundland government to waive the $10 million
in penalties for failing to maintain minimum employment levels at the shipyard.
I would like to ask the Premier, obviously, is that right? Is the Province
considering waiving that $10 million penalty? If so, on what terms? And what has
been the Province's official response to Friede Goldman Halter?
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Carbonear-Harbour Grace.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SWEENEY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Government is monitoring the overall situation with Friede Goldman on a daily
basis. As of today, while we are here in the House, the minister is in
Mississippi meeting with Friede Goldman.
Thank you.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: A supplementary, the hon. the Leader of the Opposition.
MR. E. BYRNE: I thank the private member for Harbour Grace. My questions
were for the Premier.
Yesterday, Friede Goldman, in a release, indicated -
AN HON. MEMBER: (Inaudible).
MR. E. BYRNE: It has nothing to do with fairness. Cabinet ministers
answer questions in this House. My question was for the Premier, not for a
backbencher, I say to the minister.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
I ask the hon. member now to get to his supplementary.
MR. E. BYRNE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
AN HON. MEMBER: A point of order (inaudible)
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
AN HON. MEMBER: (Inaudible).
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
There is no point of order.
I ask the hon. member to get to his question.
MR. E. BYRNE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Yesterday, Friede Goldman Halter liquidated its engineering products facility
in France for $33.5 million in order to get some operating capital for its core
operations in the United States. I would like to ask the Premier this: Based
upon the discussions that I know you have been personally involved with, based
upon the discussions with Friede Goldman Halter, is it possible that they may
liquidate the Marystown and Cow Head facilities to get more operating capital?
If they are telling you this, on behalf of the people of the Province, and in
particular the people of the Burin Peninsula who depend on this very important
industry, what is your response on behalf of government to them?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Carbonear-Harbour Grace.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SWEENEY: Mr. Speaker, Frieda Goldman has advised the government that
it has no intention of liquidating or removing any assets from Marystown.
MR. SPEAKER: A supplementary, the hon. the Leader of the Opposition.
MR. E. BYRNE: Mr. Speaker, it is very clear that yet once again, on
another important economic issue facing the Province, the Premier is frankly not
even interested enough to stand on his feet and answer the question.
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
The hon. member is on a supplementary. I ask him to get to his question.
MR. E. BYRNE: Let me ask him this question.
MR. MERCER: (Inaudible) shame.
MR. E. BYRNE: It is shameful, I say to the Member for Humber East. It is
very shameful that your leader will not stand and answer the question!
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
I will just remind hon. members that questions are directed to government and
it is the government that decides who answers the question. Parliamentary
Assistants in this Legislature, in the past, have responded on behalf of
members.
I ask the hon. member to get to his question.
MR. E. BYRNE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, my question again is for the Premier. Friede Goldman Halter
obviously is desperate for operating capital. I have their quarterly report
filed at the bankruptcy commission. For the first three months of this year, it
incurred operating losses of $344 million compared to $140 million in the year
2000. This company is in bad shape. It is in bankruptcy protection from its
creditors. It cannot secure lines of credit. It cannot get operating capital.
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
The hon. member now is on a supplementary. I ask him to get to his question.
MR. E. BYRNE: The only way, Mr. Speaker, it can get operating capital is
by selling off its assets to protect its core operations in the United States.
I would like to ask the Premier this question: What is government's plan?
What is your strategy to keep the shipyards in this Province going? After all,
it was your government that sold this shipyard for $1 and it has a value of
somewhere in the vicinity of between $50 million and $70 million. Mr. Speaker,
the question is again: What is your strategy?
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
MR. E. BYRNE: What is the Premier's strategy and this government's
strategy -
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
I ask the hon. member now to take his seat.
MR. E. BYRNE: - to keep this very important asset and the economy of the
Burin Peninsula alive, Mr. Speaker?
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
PREMIER GRIMES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I appreciate the line of questioning being orchestrated by the puppet master
for the puppet today.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!
PREMIER GRIMES: I expect, based on the last question, I am assuming, I
can understand from that, and the people of the Province would understand from
that, because we do have a situation where the Leader of the Progressive
Conservative Party has indicated that he plans to tell the people of the
Province absolutely nothing about what his positions are on any issues until
there is a general election in about two-and-a-half years time.
Do I understand, Mr. Speaker, from the last question, and should the people
of the Province understand from the last question, that the official position of
the Official Opposition in Newfoundland and Labrador is that they would still be
operating, as the government, a particular shipyard in Marystown, paying a
subsidy from the taxpayers in the range of $30 million to $40 million to $50
million each and every year? Is that what we should understand, that the
position of the Official Opposition is?
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
PREMIER GRIMES: Are that going to go to the Burin Peninsula and -
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
PREMIER GRIMES: - suggest to the people that if they were the government,
they would take back the Marystown Shipyard -
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
I ask the hon. the Premier now to conclude his answer.
PREMIER GRIMES: - and operate it, as the government? Is that what the
people of Newfoundland and Labrador should understand from that question?
MR. SPEAKER: A supplementary, the hon. the Leader of the Opposition.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. E. BYRNE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
What they should understand from the question is that it would not be this
side of the House or this party that would have given away a $100 million asset
without protecting it from the type of situation that it is in today!
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. E. BYRNE: What he should understand from this question is that it
would not be this side of the House, or any member on this side of the House,
that would sell out and sell off an asset like that, thus leaving the backsides
of an economy and the people of rural Newfoundland in jeopardy. That is what
this Premier should understand, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
The hon. member is on a supplementary. I ask him get to his question.
MR. E. BYRNE: Let me ask him this question, in view of the fact that he
did not answer the last one and very few in this entire sitting.
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!
MR. E. BYRNE: The yards at Marystown, Mr. Speaker, are a bonanza for
Friede Goldman. They received it for $1 without any protection put in place in
the agreement by this government. Let me ask him this: Do you have any
explanation for the people of the Province, that Friede Goldman Halter can now
sell the assets worth $50 million to $100 million, which they only got for $1?
What is your explanation to the people of the Burin Peninsula that your
government, which you were a minister of, which you are now Premier of -
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
MR. E. BYRNE: - has not filed any protection to protect the asset and has
not protected the economy of rural Newfoundland and Labrador on the Burin
Peninsula. Offer us some explanation to that Premier.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
PREMIER GRIMES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Now that we have the Leader of the Opposition appropriately excited and
exercised, maybe we can again find out: Is it now the position of the Leader of
the Opposition that they - for the public record, when this arrangement was made
some three years ago - suggested that it was the wrong thing to do, Mr. Speaker?
My recollection of the public debate in Newfoundland and Labrador when the
arrangement was made with Friede Goldman is that the Official Opposition, with
this leader, suggested it was the best deal and agreed, Mr. Speaker, that it was
the best arrangement in Newfoundland and Labrador at the time. So now because we
have a new leader of the party does that mean that the position has changed
because the one man show has told you to think differently on this issue, just
like you now think differently about issues like Main River and how you now
think differently about issues like FPI -
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
PREMIER GRIMES: - because you are told to think differently than you did
three years ago.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
A supplementary, the hon. the Leader of the Opposition.
MR. E. BYRNE: The position of this party has been consistent for the last
five years. It has been consistent on this issue. The Premier knows it, Mr.
Speaker, the government knows it. The fact of the matter is that it was this
Opposition that asked questions on: where is the contract? It was this
Opposition that forced that government and that crowd to table a contract for
all the public to see!
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
I ask the hon. member now to get to his question. He is on a supplementary
and he ought not to have any
preamble.
MR. E. BYRNE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
And it was this Opposition that forced that Premier to release the
information that nobody on that side would release.
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
I ask the hon. member to get to his question. He is on a supplementary and
there ought not to be a
preamble.
MR. E. BYRNE: Mr. Speaker, is the Premier aware - he should be - that the
Newfoundland Offshore Industries Association, commonly known as NOIA, is
extremely concerned. Is he aware of that, about what may happen at Marystown? Is
he aware that they are concerned because Friede Goldman (inaudible) has never
said anything publically that would show that those assets will not be stripped
out of Newfoundland? Is he aware that NOIA is also very concerned because this
government has offered no public assurance that those assets will not go? Can he
answer those questions and stand up to the concerns that people are putting out
there publicly and ultimately? Stand up for the people of rural Newfoundland,
which you have failed so miserably to do on this very important issue.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
PREMIER GRIMES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
It is good to see that the Leader of the Opposition is following instructions
carefully as given. You will note, Mr. Speaker, and I think the people of the
Province will note that he, like the new leader of the party, will not state
either what the position of the Progressive Conservative Party is with respect
to whether or not they would run the shipyard in Marystown or whether they would
like this government, Mr. Speaker.
MR. E. BYRNE: (Inaudible).
PREMIER GRIMES: So you would not run. Now, Mr. Speaker, we have an
answer.
MR. E. BYRNE: Point of order, Mr. Speaker.
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
No point of order.
I ask the hon. Premier now to get on with his answer.
PREMIER GRIMES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I would suggest, Mr. Speaker, that the Leader of the Opposition should be
careful because he has now gone against instructions and blurted out an actual
position. The position of the Official Opposition is that they, if they were the
government, I understand it, would not run the shipyard in Marystown. I hope
that is an accurate reflection of a position given.
Mr. Speaker, we did not wait for NOIA or any other group to express concern.
We had worked -
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
I ask the hon. Premier now to get on with his answer.
PREMIER GRIMES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
We have worked every single day on behalf and with the people in Marystown,
with the workers and the unions, which is why the Deputy Premier and the
Minister of Industry, Trade and Rural Development is in Pascagoula today meeting
with the Friede Goldman representatives because our only interest, Mr. Speaker,
is not to play politics with this issue but to actually provide the security and
the protection that the people of Marystown and the Burin Peninsula need and
deserve; and that is what we are about today, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Cape St. Francis.
MR. J. BYRNE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Today my questions are for the Minister of Mines and Energy.
Mr. Speaker, yesterday when questioned on hiring practices at the Terra Nova
project the minister asked for examples of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians
being discriminated against and/or treated unfairly, and that he would bring
redress to the issue.
I have a few examples. Why is it that a saturation diver from Newfoundland,
who worked on the project last year, who was trained in England at a cost of
$25,000 to the government, who has the same credentials as the British divers,
is not called back this year while workers from outside the country are working
in his place? Minister, what are you going to do about that?
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Mines and Energy.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. MATTHEWS: Mr. Speaker, as I said yesterday in the House, the projects
that we have had as a result of the Hibernia and the Terra Nova development -
and future projects, we hope - all of these projects are extremely important to
the people of the Province in terms of the economic benefits they bring. They
are important in terms -
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
The Chair has recognized the hon. the Minister of Mines and Energy.
MR. MATTHEWS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
They are important in the context of the training and employment
opportunities that they have brought to the people of this Province. We intend,
on this side of the House, as government, to ensure that the Atlantic Accord
requirements are respected and are met. We are committed to ensuring that, in as
far as we have jurisdiction, the CNOPB board does the right job and the best job
on behalf of the people of the Province.
To the specific question that the hon. member asked, and to the situation
that he has alluded to, I am looking forward - because I asked him yesterday to
give me examples, specific concrete examples of individuals who believe that
they have not been fairly treated in the context of the legislation that we
have. I am looking forward because I anticipate this will happen. I am looking
forward to meeting the hon. member outside of the House as soon as Question
Period is over so that he can provide me in greater detail and with more
specific information on the situation he has raised. I undertake to look into
it, and to the extent that there is something we can do about it, if in fact we
can do anything, we will do it. If, in fact, it is a circumstance that is
outside of our control or that the circumstance of a particular person's
employment is not exactly as he portrays, we will confirm that that is the
situation.
In any event, I look forward to meeting him outside of the House. I ask him
to bring the information to me. I challenge him to do that, and I will give him,
again, the undertaking of yesterday, that we will do every due diligence to
anything that he brings forward in the interest, and the greater interest, of
the people of the Province, whether it is one individual or many individuals.
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
I ask the hon. minister to conclude his answer.
MR. MATTHEWS: Our concern is singular and our concern is just as great,
on behalf of individuals, as it is the masses.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
The hon. the Member for Cape St. Francis.
MR. J. BYRNE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Another example - by the way, his office has been contacted by some of these
individuals, Mr. Speaker, as have opposition members on this side of the House.
He knows. The problem is you haven't been doing anything in the past!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
MR. J. BYRNE: Mr. Speaker, why is it that Newfoundland pipefitters are
being laid off when hours before they were laid off they were asked to work
overtime, and in the same week some fifteen workers, who appeared to be students
from outside this Province, were given orientation to do the commissioning work
which these local pipefitters could do? Minister, what are you going to do about
that example?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Mines and Energy.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. MATTHEWS: Mr. Speaker, if I heard the hon. member right, he said: the
minister knows and has been contacted about the situation.
AN HON. MEMBER: You are wrong.
MR. MATTHEWS: The hon. member said: the minister has been contacted and
he knows about the situation. I accept that he meant my office, and on that
basis I will not question him. But, I do want to say to him again, that if there
are circumstances and situations that I am not aware of, and that my officials
may or may not be aware of, not withstanding that, if there are specific
situations bring them forward and let me deal with them, or let the appropriate
department of government deal with them.
It is one thing, Mr. Speaker, to want to ask questions for purposes of
politics on the floor of the House, but the issue of employment for our people
and the people of this Province is too serious an issue, I say quite frankly, to
be playing politics with and to be trying to score political points on.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. MATTHEWS: I would hope that the greater interest of the people of the
Province, whether it is one or more individuals, would be the overriding concern
for the hon. member and that he will do the proper thing by coming and seeing
me, as soon as he gets the opportunity -
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
I ask the hon. minister now to conclude his answer.
MR. MATTHEWS: - so that we can deal with things substantively, rather
than on the floor of the House politically.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
A supplementary, the hon. the Member for Cape St. Francis.
MR. J. BYRNE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Yes, Mr. Minister, this is a very serious issue and that is why it is back
here today. Yesterday, you were the one who said in this very House that this
was not happening, and that is why I am using these examples here today.
Mr. Speaker, why is it that in Newfoundland, an assistant life support
technician who is qualified, trained in England, worked at the site before, is
not hired this year, while people from outside the Province are working at the
same job? What are you, as minister, going to do about the situation? When are
you going to insist that the C-NOPB strictly enforce the benefit requirements of
the -
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
The hon. the Member for Cape St. Francis. I ask him to get to his question.
MR. J. BYRNE: I will finish the question, Mr. Speaker.
When are you going to insist that the C-NOPB strictly enforce the benefit
requirements of the Atlantic Accord for Newfoundland workers and Newfoundland
businesses?
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Mines and Energy.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. MATTHEWS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
The hon. the Minister of Mines and Energy.
MR. MATTHEWS: Mr. Speaker, I heard the hon. member suggesting that we
should lighten up. This is too important an issue, I would suggest, to be light
about. This is too important an issue to make light of.
MR. J. BYRNE: A point of order, Mr. Speaker.
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
On a point of order, the hon. the Member for Cape St. Francis.
MR. J. BYRNE: Mr. Speaker, I know I should not be on a point of order in
Question Period, but the minister is deliberately misquoting me here. I was
referring to the members on the other side of the House making jokes about our
position (inaudible).
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
There is no point of order.
The hon. the Minister of Mines and Energy.
MR. MATTHEWS: Mr. Speaker, to the hon. member's question - because it
is a rhetorical line of questioning and it is about the issue of whether or not
the benefits that should be accruing to the people of this Province on the basis
of employment opportunities and training opportunities are occurring - I say to
the hon. member that the C-NOPB, as per their mandate and as per the
jurisdiction that they have, are doing, as far as I know and in my judgement, an
appropriate level of enforcement and monitoring. If there are circumstances that
do not fit in the hon. member's mind within that scope of appropriateness,
then I would ask him again to come and see me and lay the information before me.
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
I ask the hon. minister now to conclude his answer.
MR. MATTHEWS: Mr. Speaker, he has never, ever in his life, taken the
opportunity to pick up the phone or come to my office on this particular issue.
In my previous portfolio, I would say that the hon.-
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
I ask the hon. minister now to conclude his answer quickly.
MR. MATTHEWS: Yes, Mr. Speaker.
I would say this to the hon. member: To his credit, in previous portfolios
that I have had in this government in health, in works and services, and
particularly in municipal affairs, this hon. member did not find it very
difficult in coming to see me (inaudible).
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
I ask the hon. minister now to take his seat.
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for The Straits & White Bay North.
MR. TAYLOR: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Yesterday, the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans in Ottawa announced the
northern shrimp management plan for 2001. As everyone knows by now, the Total
Allowable Catch for the northern shrimp will not change this year, despite
scientific advice that would allow a 20 per cent increase and despite the advice
of the industry for such an increase. Mr. Speaker, everyone suspects that the
decision was not made because of conservation reasons, but solely because of
political reasons and to avoid controversy in the Maritimes and Quebec as a
result of any increase.
Mr. Speaker, the FRCC, this morning, announced it recommendations on 2J+3KL
cod, a fishery of huge importance to the survival of our small boat fishermen.
On both of these important fisheries we find ourselves in a tragic situation
once again of praying to our Father, who art in heaven, to give us this day our
daily bread.
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
I ask the hon. member now to get to his question.
MR. TAYLOR: Yes, Mr. Speaker.
This is my question to the Minister of Fisheries: What does he plan to do
over the coming months to enable this Province, and the industry, to have more
input and influence on fishery policy decisions so that the right decisions can
be made for the right reasons and for the benefit of Newfoundlanders and
Labradorians?
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. REID: Mr. Speaker, I think this is too important an issue to the
people of Newfoundland and Labrador, rather than try and play cheap politics
with it here in the House of Assembly.
I have listened to the hon. member across the floor. Mr. Speaker, it has been
our position since 1989, it is our position today, and it will remain our
position, that the stocks adjacent to our shores should be for the benefit of
Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. REID: Mr. Speaker, that was our position, that is our position now,
and that will remain our position.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
MR. SPEAKER: A supplementary, the hon. the Member for The Straits &
White Bay North.
MR. TAYLOR: Mr. Speaker, that might be their position, but they are doing
a poor job of relating it to Ottawa.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. TAYLOR: Mr. Speaker, the problem is that there is no strategy for the
industry in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Will the minister commit to the people of the Province that he and his
department will develop a strategy for this industry, one that can be presented
to the people as a plan that deals with regional disparities, one that provides
vision and stability, and one that can be presented to the federal minister as
the Province's position on the allocations of and access to fish resources off
our coast?
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. REID: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
He talks about the adjacency principle. I stood in the House last week - the
hon. Member for Conception Bay South mentioned it last week. I asked the Member
for Ferryland if he agreed that all the fish caught on the Northern Peninsula
should stay on the Northern Peninsula. His answer to me was: I am not the
fisheries critic; I am the finance critic.
I asked the previous fisheries critic, from Bonavista South, if he agreed
with that principle. He said: I am no longer the fisheries critic. That is what
he said to me.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!
MR. REID: He talks about us not having any direction in where we are
going. Yes, Mr. Speaker, we do have direction. We know where we are headed in
this fishery. We have also made numerous representations to the federal minister
on what he should do with the shrimp resource.
I made at least five, six or seven of those, that we should have had the
increase in the northern shrimp allocation by the 20 per cent that the
scientists recommended yesterday. I have relayed that to Ottawa time and time
again.
Thank you.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Labrador West.
MR. COLLINS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
My question is for the Minister of Health and Community Services.
As the minister is aware, police lock-ups are now used to detain people under
the Mental Health Act, because of the absence of proper short-stay psychiatric
facilities.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
MR. COLLINS: A proposal was made by mental health advocates to renovate
the space at the Waterford Hospital, but no money was budgeted to address the
problem. This is happening in many areas of the Province, Mr. Speaker, including
Labrador, where people suffering a mental health crisis are, in some cases, left
for several days in police lock-ups until they can be transported to St. John's
for psychiatric assessment. I ask the minister how his government is planning to
deal with this very important issue?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Human Resources and Employment.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SMITH: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I thank the hon. member for that question, which certainly touches on a very
important issue, an issue that is important, as he has pointed out, to all the
people of this Province.
Indeed we, as a government - it is a issue that we are concerned about and it
is an issue that we are looking at closely. When we sit down as a government,
and as the officials of my department sit down and look at establishing the
priorities for our department, I think first and foremost what we have to
recognize - all of us in this hon. House, and I am sure the people of this
Province - is that this government has always made health care a number one
priority. The fact that this year we have committed $1.4 billion speaks to the
commitment that this government has to health care for the people of this
Province. Certainly, in the area of mental health, as the hon. member has
pointed to, we recognize there are still some needs there and we are working and
moving towards resolving those in the very near future.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: A supplementary, the hon. the Member for Labrador West.
MR. COLLINS: Mr. Speaker, hospital emergency rooms are not staffed in a
manner that will provide the supervision and security needed in situations where
an individual is detained under the Mental Health Act. Even the Royal
Newfoundland Constabulary Association opposes the use of lockups, saying people
waiting for an assessment need to be looked at by a regular psychiatric
physician or nurse. I ask the minister: How long would a wrong facility be used
to hold people waiting for treatment of mental illness, and when will this
government make this a priority?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Human Resources and Employment.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SMITH: Mr. Speaker, I apologize to the hon. member for my
thoroughness in the first answer, because obviously I answered his supplementary
in my initial response.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Bonavista South.
MR. FITZGERALD: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I will wrap my questions up into one. My question is for the Minister of
Intergovernmental Affairs. The Premier stood here yesterday and talked about the
wonderful job the minister did in getting the right line in the Laurentian
Sub-basin, so we came out a winner.
I would like to ask the minister what is involved, and if he has being
representing the views of the people of this Province on gun control
registration? Number one, I would like to ask the minister if he has held public
consultation? Number two, I would like to ask him what the feedback is? Number
three, I would like to ask him, if it is not the wish of the people in this
Province to have gun control registration then why should it be the wish of the
government of this Province?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Government House Leader.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. LUSH: Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for that very important
question, a very urgent question of public urgency, and to say to him that the
Department of Intergovernmental Affairs is making every effort that it can to
work in this area. This department is never found wanting in any area in which
it is supposed to be engaged. Never found wanting, Mr. Speaker!
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. LUSH: Busily, enthusiastically and eagerly working for the people of
Newfoundland and Labrador to try and improve their lot in life; and if that
involves gun control, we are there!
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
Question Period has ended.
MR. LUSH: On a point of order, Mr. Speaker.
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
On a point of order, the hon. the Government House Leader.
MR. LUSH: Mr. Speaker, I think this is an appropriate time to stand on
this point of order, this being the last day. We hope that members will get
geared up for the next session.
I have noticed, particularly in the last little while, many members breaching
the rules of Question Period. The rules that we have made, and that is what
makes it so important. Hon. members may not know, but one of the most serious
things that we can do is breach the rules of parliament. Why? Because we are the
people who made them. We are the people who make the rules of parliament. There
can be no more dishonour to a parliamentary institution then for its own members
to break the laws that we, ourselves, have imposed upon ourselves.
I just want to very quickly say, Mr. Speaker, one of the most important
principles in Question Period - and a lot of members might not know it - is
brevity, being brief, and not using
preambles. Some of the rules re Question
Period - this is very important -
AN HON. MEMBER: (Inaudible).
MR. LUSH: Maybe if the hon. member would listen, he might know more of
the rules.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
MR. LUSH: Mr. Speaker, some of the rules regarding Question Period have
fallen into dispute, particularly since we are having television. But, one of
the rules which never has fallen - which is as current as lunch an hour ago. I
quote for hon. members from Marleau and Montpetit, the 2000 edition. He is
drawing on a ruling made by Speaker Jerome. He says: "Mr. Speaker Jerome,
in his statement 11 years ago, put his view with regard to the first principle
of brevity so well that I would merely quote it: There can be no doubt that the
greatest enemy of the Question Period is the Member who offends this most
important principle. In putting the original question on any subject, a Member
may require an explanatory remark, but there is no reason for such a
preamble to
exceed one, carefully drawn sentence." In conclusion, Mr. Speaker, he says:
"It is my proposal to ask all Hon. Members to pay close attention to this
admonition and to bring them to order if they fail to do so. It bears repeating
that the long
preamble..." and I am reading this, Mr. Speaker, because -
AN HON. MEMBER: (Inaudible).
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
MR. LUSH: "It bears repeating..." -
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!
MR. LUSH: It is no wonder hon. members, Mr. Speaker, do not know the
rules because they do not want to listen to them. I am finishing this -
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
The hon. the Government House Leader.
MR. LUSH: Mr. Speaker, it says: "It bears repeating that the long
preamble or long question takes an unfair share of the time, and
invariably..." - very important - "...in provoking the same kind of
response, only compounds the difficulty."
In conclusion, Mr. Speaker, this long
preamble is spreading right throughout
the whole group over there. What they are doing is debating questions. There is
not one answer but they are sneaking in a debate. Question Period is not for
debate and if hon. members do not follow the rules of Question Period and other
rules, this House will fall into disrepute very quickly!
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Opposition House Leader.
MR. SULLIVAN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The minister made certain points that may have a degree of validity but I
want to say that he does not add any credence to it when he takes five minutes
out of six for the
preamble - to spend one minute getting to tell us what
brevity is. I think that is part of our problem here in the House.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
To the point of order, it is indeed a very important point that the hon.
member has raised. The Chair has, from time to time, reminded members and have
interrupted members that their questions have been lengthy, that
preambles for
supplementary questions ought not to be - there ought not to be any
preamble but
the Chair has allowed a sentence or two for members to get to their questions
and to explain their questions but, again, questions have been lengthy. That is
why the Chair interrupts and asks members to get to their question. Likewise, of
course, answers have been lengthy and the Chair has interrupted members when
they are responding. I think with the event of television, we ought to probably
get together at some point in time and look at some of the other things that we
may want to do with regard to Question Period and other activities in the House.
Again, it is a very important point that he has raised. I think we all should
reflect on it and consider it, and the Chair will be dealing with it further in
the fall before we return.
Petitions
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for St. Barbe.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. YOUNG: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I am presenting a petition signed by residents on the Great Northern
Peninsula.
To the hon. House of Assembly of Newfoundland and Labrador, in the
legislative session convened, the petition of the undersigned residents of the
Great Northern Peninsula;
WHEREAS many fish processing plants on the Great Northern Peninsula are not
able to access raw resources harvested in waters adjacent to this coast;
WHEREFORE your petitioners urge the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador:
(1) to put in place a true adjacency plan that will see processing plants on the
Northern Peninsula have priority access to the raw resources harvested in waters
respecting the principle of adjacency, as in duty bound your petitioners will
ever pray.
Mr. Speaker, I have presented a petition of behalf of the people of Black
Duck Cove before. In presenting this petition, I would like to make a couple of
other points that the people of Black Duck Cove feel very strongly about.
The Minister of Fisheries has said there is more shrimp being trucked to the
Northern Peninsula for processing than is being trucked off, yet residents who
are blocking the roads on the Northern Peninsula today have yet to stop one
truck load of shrimp which has not been landed on the Northern Peninsula.
Mr. Speaker, the people of the Northern Peninsula look at Labrador and
observe that there exists a plan for the resources adjacent to Labrador to be
managed for the benefit of the people of Labrador.
In all fairness, Mr. Speaker, the people of Black Duck Cove are asking this
government to put a plan in place for them also; a plan which will ensure that
the resources adjacent to the Northern Peninsula be used for the benefit of the
residents of the Northern Peninsula. The people of Black Duck Cove are asking
for a plan where they will not have to witness trucking out of unprocessed fish
on such a scale as has never before in this Province while fish plants on the
Northern Peninsula sit idle.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for St. John's South.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. T. OSBORNE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I have today another petition on behalf of the residents of Shea Heights who
wish to petition the Minister of Municipal Affairs regarding the need for
wheelchair accessible housing units in that neighborhood. I will read the pray
of the petition:
We, the residents of Shea Heights, wish to petition the hon. House of
Assembly to address the need for wheelchair accessible housing units in the Shea
Heights area. We are asking the government to consider the fact that people with
disabilities and their families need to be able to utilize the support of family
and friends within the community of Shea Heights. If persons are forced to live
in units outside the community it compromises the help and support families so
vitally need. We are asking that serious consideration be given to the
construction of wheelchair accessible units in the Shea Heights area so families
with physical disabilities may avail of essential support networks.
Mr. Speaker, I have presented a number of petitions over the past several
months on this very issue. I have spoken on this issue in the House on a number
of occasions. The importance of the issue is just as important today as it was
six months ago, when I presented the first petition on this particular issue.
The residents of the community of Shea Heights need to stay in that area where
they are close to family and friends, and people who they can rely on to help in
times of need. The people in the community of Shea Heights, the residents of
Shea Heights, who are confined to wheelchairs, are asking very simply that
government put a number of wheelchair accessible housing units within that
community so that the residents of that area, the residents of Shea Heights, can
remain in their community, the community in which they grew up, in which their
family and friends reside, in which they want to stay.
The very fact, Mr. Speaker, that the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing list
in the Shea Heights area is one of the areas that is perhaps in most demand
throughout the entire Province speaks to the fact that people wish to stay in
the community of Shea Heights. It is a community, Mr. Speaker, that is comprised
of approximately 1,800 people. It is one of the largest communities in the
Province, although it is a part of the City of St. John's. It is a very large
neighborhood and the people of that neighborhood, the residents of the community
wish to remain in the area of Shea Heights.
I am speaking on their behalf today, as I have on a number of occasions in
the past, to ask that the government give very serious consideration to allowing
the residents of Shea Heights to remain within their community where they have
family and friends, and where they can more easily access the help that they so
vitally need.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Orders of the Day
MR. SPEAKER: Before I recognize the hon. Government House Leader,
yesterday the Chair of Committees reported to the House that there were a number
of amendments to bills. We did not complete that process. We did not read the
amendments the first and second time, so with the indulgence of members I would
like to revert to the report of yesterday and have the first and second reading
of the amendments. That is the normal process but we did not complete it
yesterday.
AN HON. MEMBER: (Inaudible) so what are we supposed to do?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. member reported the amendments and we accepted the
report. Following that, we should have -
AN HON. MEMBER: Voted.
MR. SPEAKER: Yes, we should have voted on first and second reading of the
amendments.
AN HON. MEMBER: Of the amendments.
MR. SPEAKER: Yes, the amendments only, and we did not do that.
MR. SULLIVAN: So we will revert and do that now?
MR. SPEAKER: Yes, I am just asking to call the amendments now. I am
asking to call the amendments for the first -
AN HON. MEMBER: (Inaudible).
On motion, amendments to Bills 4, 7 and 10 read a first and second time,
bills ordered read a third time presently, by leave.
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Government House Leader.
MR. LUSH: Mr. Speaker, Orders 3 through 11, third reading of Bills 5, 6,
13, 15, 11, 1, 14, 12 and 16.
On motion, the following bills read a third time, ordered passed and their
titles be as on the Order Paper:
A bill, "An Act To Amend The Prepaid Funeral Services Act." (Bill
A bill, "An Act To Amend The Income Tax Act, 2000." (Bill 6)
A bill, "An Act To Amend The Liquor Corporation Act." (Bill 13)
A bill, "An Act To Amend The Aquaculture Act." (Bill 15)
A bill, "An Act To Amend The Chiropractors Act, The Dieticians Act, the
Pharmaceutical Association Act, 1994 And The Social Workers Association
Act." (Bill 11)
A bill, "An Act To Establish The Order Of Newfoundland And
Labrador." (Bill 1)
A bill, "An Act To Amend The Provincial Court Act, 1991." (Bill 14)
A bill, "An Act To Amend The Medical Act And The Medical Care Insurance
Act, 1999." (Bill 12)
A bill, "An Act To Amend The Workplace Health, Safety And Compensation
Act And The Occupational Health And Safety Act." (Bill 16)
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Government House Leader.
MR. LUSH: Mr. Speaker, Order 12, third reading of Bill 17.
MR. SPEAKER: Order 12, third reading of Bill 17,
An Act To Amend The
Financial Administration Act.
The hon. the Opposition House Leader.
MR. SULLIVAN: Mr. Speaker, I just have a brief comment on this one.
I said before that the reason this bill should not have ever been here, that
we should not have had the Health Care Corporation borrowing $130 million. It is
a capital expenditure, it is paid out of this Province, it is funded out of this
Province, and it should be on the books of this Province and not transferred out
to the books of the Health Care Corporation. Now, they have to come back to us
and look at dealing with the debt management of that debt now, when it should
not have been there in the first place.
That is a piece of legislation that should not have had to take place. It is
a waste of time having the events that made it necessary to take place.
Therefore, we should not have had the time here in the House to have to even
deal with this. It should have been done in the beginning as we do with other
expenditures of government. If we are out there building hospitals in other
parts of the Province and we are funding these, we funded these out of the
provincial government Treasury and so on. We carry on our books a lot of
expenditures in the past. Why are we now reverting to transferring the cost of
these on the Health Care Corporation?
It wasn't necessary. It does not complement a policy that government has
moved in the past. It is done so we can transfer out and look at $130 million
less debt showing up on the books of our Province. You certainly do not hide it
on bond rating agencies, because they look at contingent liabilities and all
other debts pertaining to your Province. I don't see any reason for doing it.
Why were there events that necessitated this here in the first place?
MR. SPEAKER (Mercer) : The hon. the Minister of Finance.
MS J.M. AYLWARD: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
As I have explained to the member opposite in a private conversation when the
bill was being introduced for the second reading, the reason we are doing this
is because the expertise for managing such a large amount of money rests with
the government's trustees, and for that reason it was thought to be in the
best interest of the Health Care Corporation. Also, it was a recommendation that
they made to us to ask for our assistance in managing the debt and the debt
management.
Mr. Speaker, that is why we did it. We don't have the ability to do that
without providing the legislative changes required through this House of
Assembly. That is why the proposed changes came forward, to allow us to manage
the $130 million debt that, admittedly, is on the books; however, we also know
that it is there for all to see, whether it be the Auditor General or through
any other reporting mechanism to the House.
MR. SULLIVAN: (Inaudible).
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
Before I recognize the member, could I ask the members to my left to keep it
down. There are those of us who are listening to the debate. If they wish to
have a chat amongst themselves, perhaps they should remove themselves outside
the Chamber.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Opposition House Leader.
MR. SULLIVAN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I just want to make sure on a point that the minister must have understand
what I said, because in previous readings of this bill, I made it quite clear
and I indicated that I am not opposed to the Province handling debt management.
That is where is should be handled in the first place. It should have never been
gone to the boards. Why should they be entrusted with that? If they did not have
the loan on their books, they would not have to do the debt management. I
support the bill, but the events that led to having to bring this bill in, in
the first place, should never have been.
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Government House Leader.
MR. LUSH: Mr. Speaker, Orders 12 through 20, third reading of Bills 17,
18, 19, 8, 20, 9, 4, 7 and 10.
On motion, the following bills read a third time, ordered passed and their
titles be as on the Order Paper:
A bill, "An Act To Amend The Financial Administration Act." (Bill
17)
A bill, "An Act To Amend The Labour Relations Act." (Bill 18)
A bill, "An Act To Amend The Shops' Closing Act." (Bill 19)
A bill, "An Act To Amend The Schools Act, l997." (Bill 8)
A bill, "An Act To Amend The Provincial Court Act, 1991 No. 2."
(Bill 20)
A bill, "An Act To Provide For The Recovery Of Tobacco Related Health
Care Costs." (Bill 9)
A bill, "An Act Respecting Petroleum Products." (Bill 4)
A bill, "An Act Respecting Municipal Elections." (Bill 7)
A bill, "An Act Respecting The Appointment Of A Citizens'
Representative For The Province Who Shall Have The Powers Traditionally
Conferred On An Ombudsman." (Bill 10)
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Government House Leader.
MR. LUSH: Mr. Speaker, I want to make sure that we have all of the
legislation done. Can somebody verify that we have everything done, Orders 1-20,
that we have not missed any.
MR. SULLIVAN: Yes, sir, I can verify that now.
MR. LUSH: Mr. Speaker, with that done I will ask hon. members if they
would agree to recess for half an hour or thereabouts, we will call members.
Will we ring the bells or will they come back at 3:30?
AN HON. MEMBER: Ring the bells.
MR. LUSH: We will ring the bells when His Honour is here.
MR. SPEAKER: This House is now in recess.
Recess
MR. SPEAKER (Snow): Order, please!
SERGEANT-AT-ARMS: His Honour the Lieutenant-Governor has arrived.
MR. SPEAKER: Admit His Honour the Lieutenant-Governor.
Mr. Speaker leaves the Chair.
His Honour the Lieutenant-Governor takes the Chair.
SERGEANT-AT-ARMS: It is the wish of His Honour the Lieutenant-Governor
that all present please be seated.
MR. SPEAKER: It is my agreeable duty on behalf of her Majesty's dutiful
and loyal subjects, Her faithful Commons in Newfoundland and Labrador, to
present to Your Honour a bill for the appropriation of Supply granted in the
present session.
CLERK: A bill, "An Act For Granting To Her Majesty Certain Sums Of
Money For Defraying Certain Expenses Of the Public Service For The Financial
Year Ending March 31, 2002 And For Other Purposes Relating To The Public
Service." (Bill 3)
HIS HONOUR THE LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR (A.M. House): In Her Majesty's name,
I thank Her Loyal Subjects, I accept their benevolence, and I assent to this
bill.
MR. SPEAKER: May it please Your Honour, the General Assembly of the
Province has at its present session passed certain bills, to which, in the name
and on behalf of the General Assembly I respectfully request Your Honour's
assent.
CLERK: A bill, "An Act To Amend The Prepaid Funeral Services
Act." (Bill 5)
A bill, "An Act To Amend The Income Tax Act, 2000." (Bill 6)
A bill, "An Act To Amend The Liquor Corporation Act." (Bill 13)
A bill, "An Act To Amend The Aquaculture Act." (Bill 15)
A bill, "An Act To Establish The Order Of Newfoundland And
Labrador." (Bill 1)
A bill, "An Act To Amend The Chiropractors Act, the Dieticians Act, The
Pharmaceutical Association Act, 1994 And The Social Workers Association
Act." (Bill 11)
A bill, "An Act To Amend The Provincial Court Act, 1991." (Bill 14)
A bill, "An Act To Amend The Medical Act And The Medical Care Insurance
Act, 1999." (Bill 12)
A bill, "An Act
An Act To Amend The Workplace Health, Safety And
Compensation Act And The Occupational Health And Safety Act." (Bill 16)
A bill, "An Act To Amend The Financial Administration Act." (Bill
17)
A bill, "An Act To Amend The Labour Relations Act." (Bill 18)
A bill, "An Act To Amend The Shops' Closing Act." (Bill 19)
A bill, "An Act To Amend The Schools Act, 1997." (Bill 8)
A bill, "An Act To Amend The Provincial Court Act, 1991 No. 2."
(Bill 20)
A bill, "An Act To Provide For The Recovery Of Tobacco Related Health
Care Costs." (Bill 9)
A bill, "An Act Respecting Petroleum Products." (Bill 4)
A bill, "An Act Respecting Municipal Elections." (Bill 7)
A bill, "An Act Respecting The Appointment Of A Citizens'
Representative For The Province Who Shall Have The Powers Traditionally
Conferred On An Ombudsman." (Bill 10)
HIS HONOUR THE LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR: In Her Majesty's name, I assent to
these bills.
His Honour the Lieutenant-Governor leaves the Chamber.
Mr. Speaker returns to the Chair.
MR. SPEAKER (Snow): Order, please!
The hon. the Premier.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
PREMIER GRIMES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I just wanted to make a few brief comments in line with what the Government
House Leader was talking to us about earlier on a point of order. I will try not
to belabor the issue, but to take a minute to thank all hon. members for their
full participation and cooperation during this session, that we are very proud,
on this side of the House, to have participated in. With respect to passing a
Budget for the year, in which we were pleased to see no questions from the
Opposition with respect to the Budget, because they could not find anything to
criticize. They didn't want to praise it up so they decided not to mention it.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
PREMIER GRIMES: Mr. Speaker, interestingly enough, earlier today outside
the Legislature, in speaking to the media, they admitted themselves that they
did not even have any questions about it. They just asked: Can you do it next
year? Which is a wonderful endorsement by itself.
We are proud of the initiatives that were supported by all parties in terms
of passing the Budget: the K-12 initiatives with the teachers for another year,
with no reductions; the funding for the per-pupil grants, that there will
hopefully be less fundraising on behalf of students, very important initiatives;
the post-secondary issues to relieve student debt; the idea of having lower
tuitions at the University; the additional money in health care, $50 million for
the boards themselves, the institutional boards; additional increases for home
support workers is critically important; the raises that were supported here by
all members, long overdue and much deserved for our public servants.
Unfortunately, we had an interruption for a week.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
PREMIER GRIMES: Mr. Speaker, with all due attention given to that, I do
appreciate the examination that was given in the Committee stage and all the
work that was done in giving a full review, seriously, to the Budget. Then, on
top of that, the attention that all members paid to scrutinizing what would be,
under any normal set of circumstances, a legislative agenda that would probably
fill up a full fall session. To do that on top of a full Budget examination is
certainly very much appreciated by the government, and we do respect the full
scrutiny that was given by the Opposition.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
PREMIER GRIMES: Mr. Speaker, we are proud to have participated in this
particular session, as a government, with some of the bills that were named by
the Clerk and signed by His Honor today. We appreciate his attendance. I know
that the Member for Bonavista South is glad that he was here, as well, along
with all the rest of us.
Mr. Speaker, issues that are long overdue in Newfoundland and Labrador, like:
the Order of Newfoundland and Labrador; the Citizens' Representative, or the
Ombudsman, as people would commonly refer to it; the education accountability
piece, in line with what the Auditor General is recommending to the government;
changes, significant changes, to workers' compensation to ensure that the
system provides the protection it needs for injured workers; changes to the
Labour Relations Act, significant, to give us a better, stronger environment to
move forward with development here in Newfoundland and Labrador; the tobacco
recovery legislation, just to name a few. So, it was quite an active session.
It was a little surprise, just on one account, to see the Opposition vote
against the fuel price regulation, the petroleum pricing piece of legislation.
Because my recollection, having been the minister, was that when I was the
minister and saying no, my recollection, unless I missed it altogether, is that
they were up asking, why were we not doing something, and even presenting
petitions on behalf of people who wanted regulation, Mr. Speaker. Then, a couple
of years later, we find them voting against this particular piece.
Mr. Speaker, we do appreciate the full scrutiny and attention paid. It has
been a very useful and productive sitting and session of the Legislature. I want
to commend, just in case we do not see the Leader of the Opposition in that
particular seat in the fall, to thank him again for his tenacious questioning of
the government on behalf of the Opposition, particularly as the Opposition
Leader, because I understand his wish, which he stated over a year ago, was to
get out of that job and do something else. We will see whether or not that
happens between now and next fall.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Opposition.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. E. BYRNE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I want to join with the Premier -
MR. BARRETT: Do you have a CD for us today?
MR. E. BYRNE: No, but if you would like one, just put in your request,
Percy, and we will accommodate you some time in 2010.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I want to make a couple of comments on what the Premier said. We made a
commitment at the Throne Speech, publicly, that we would not be obstructionist
for the sake of being so, that we would not hold up legislation if we agreed
with it. It think the record bears out that we did not do that. The record also
bears out that where we felt strongly about certain pieces of legislation, we
worked to try to achieve some consensus, and I think we did. Those pieces that
we disagreed with, we stood in our places and disagreed with them.
On the issue with petroleum products, to remind the Premier - he said maybe
it is his recollection; I can assure him that it is - that our position has been
that if we want relief and lower gas prices, that regulation would not
accomplish that. That was our belief and it still is. That is why we voted
against the bill.
On a much lighter note, I want to say to the Premier: In 1993, when I first
came here, I was given the task of being his critic when he was the Minister of
Employment and Labour, and I have questioned him for eight years on a variety of
matters. A number of times we have asked for by-elections to be called, and he
has given us no answers on that. I am going to make a personal appeal to him, a
personal appeal to the Premier of the Province: Look, you once said that there
are only forty-eight of us here. For the love of God, I have been
eleven-and-a-half months trying to get out of this job. If, for no other reason,
will you call it for that reason alone, Premier?
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Government House Leader.
MR. LUSH: Mr. Speaker, before -
AN HON. MEMBER: Keep your hands in your pockets.
MR. LUSH: I have them in my own pocket, thank you.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. LUSH: And that is where they will remain.
Mr. Speaker, before introducing the motion, I just want to again thank hon.
members for their cooperation in what, in my view, was a very productive
session, both from the point of view of the Budget and the legislation.
I have one regret - just one. I have not made a lot of it, and I do not
intend to, but I have one regret, and that is that we did not meet the
parliamentary calendar. Most members will know that my yen is to carry out the
rules of the House because, as I indicated earlier, we make the rules. When we
make the rules there is an onus on us to carry them out.
Mr. Speaker, I did my very best to cooperate, to ensure that we met the
calendar but we were walking in unchartered waters. It was the first time that
we had done it. We did it in the fall but we did not have a Budget; I realize
that. We did it in the spring with a Budget and with a very heavy agenda. So, it
wasn't unreasonable to think that we might go a day or two over. I am just
advising hon. members opposite, in the future we ought to aim to abide by the
parliamentary calendar. I do not say tit-for-tat because it was done this time
now that we are going to do something the next time. That is not the way it
works. We will work as hard as we can to abide by the parliamentary calendar
because they are rules that we have made to govern our lives here in this House.
Mr. Speaker, having said that, I want to wish all hon. members a happy break.
I don't know what things will go on during that break but I am sure there will
be lots of work. I look forward to carrying out my activities over the next
little while, to do the work for the benefit of the Member for Bonavista South
that the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs is supposed to do; did not have
time to do in this session but will get them done during the summer.
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the staff for the great work that they have
done.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. LUSH: I thank the pages for their jobs.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. LUSH: I thank the Sergeant-at-Arms (inaudible).
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. LUSH: All the people in Hansard, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. LUSH: Also, of course, the news media up there.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. LUSH: Leaving as I thank them; and all the people who come to the
galleries to see us -
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. LUSH: - to witness, Mr. Speaker, the greatest event in the land.
With that, Mr. Speaker, I will concede the floor to my hon. colleague, for
the moment.
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Opposition House Leader.
MR. SULLIVAN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
On behalf of the Opposition we certainly echo thank yous that the House
Leader has done. I will not repeat all of these.
We, too, believe in conforming to a parliamentary calendar. In fact, as
indicated too, we felt we have done our
part in that, and the House Leader would
know that we were sure that two weeks before we would have all the bills so we
could have an opportunity to look at them. We had over twenty bills. Nineteen
went through and got royal assent here today; nineteen of those bills and supply
bills earlier, and Interim Supply. We have dealt with over twenty bills here in
this House in a short period of time, some of which we only had two and three
days notice before we discussed them.
I think we can conform to a parliamentary calendar, and it is imperative that
we have access to legislation. I know it is difficult for the House Leader to
get legislation from ministers on times. I know that may be difficult, but is
difficult for us to deal with legislation on two and three days notice. We need
to look at them. We need to research them. We need to look at whether it is
flawed, because too often we see legislation back here in this House in the
fall, in the following year to make amendments that we talked about in the very
first place. That would permit a smooth flow of legislation through this House
and it would facilitate in keeping with a parliamentary calender.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Government House Leader.
MR. LUSH: Mr. Speaker, it is moved that this House adjourn and stands
adjourned until the call of the Chair. The Speaker, or in his or her absence
from the Province, the Deputy Speaker may give notice and thereupon the House
shall meet at the time stated and dated by the notice of the proposed sitting.
It is moved, Mr. Speaker, that this House do now adjourn.
On motion, the House at its rising adjourned until the call of the Chair.