March 29,

2012 HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS Vol.

XLVII No. 16

The House met at 1:30 p.m.

MR. SPEAKER (Wiseman): Order, please!

Admit strangers.

The House is very pleased today to have a special guest in the Speaker's

gallery, and I will leave it to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General to

introduce the guests in a few moments. Welcome to our Assembly.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: Also, I am very pleased today to have in the public

galleries the Mayor of Belleoram joining us today, Mayor Steward May.

Welcome, Sir, to our galleries.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

Statements by Members

MR. SPEAKER: Today we will have member's statements for the hon. the

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

the District of Bay of Islands; the hon. the Member for the District of Port au

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

Member for the District of St. John's South; and the hon. the Member for the

District of Cape St. Francis.

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

MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I rise in the House today to congratulate the St. Mary's All Grade boy's

basketball team, this time, on recently winning the Single A High School

Provincial Basketball Championships and being named the most sportsmanlike team

in the tournament.

Mr. Speaker, the competition was held in King's Point this past weekend where

top high school teams from Single A school divisions competed for the

championship. The St. Mary's All Grade boys came out on top after defeating

Hampden Academy.

The winning players on the team from my district were Kevin Farrell, Cody

Ryan, Courtney Pye, Owen Randell, Travis Rumbolt, Morgan Snook, DJ Rumbolt, Mark

Russell, Tristan Yetman, Shane Ryan, and their coach, Todd Farrell.

However, Mr. Speaker, this team's greatest victory came from when they

temporarily made a student with pervasive needs from Valmont Academy a part of

their team and for a brief time made Justin Roberts feel like a champion when he

netted a basket. You probably have all seen this and heard about it in the media

in the last few days.

I ask members of this House to join me in congratulating the St. Mary's All

Grade boys, the boys from Hampden Academy on winning the silver medal, and the

Mary's Harbour team for the gold medal, and the most sportsmanlike players, and

to certainly thank Valmont Academy for their outstanding job as the host team

and a host community.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for the Bay of Islands.

MR. JOYCE: Mr. Speaker, I stand in this hon. House today to recognize a

fine group of young athletes from Sacred Heart Elementary School in Curling.

These fine young female basketball players have achieved a lot this year. The

Grade 6 Girls team won the RNC Tournament in Corner Brook, while the Grade 5

Girls team won the provincial West Coast Championship.

Mr. Speaker, despite their coach, but with the great assistance of the other

two coaches, Lisa and Matthew Young, these young players showed how hard work,

dedication, and commitment to each other are a winning combination.

The Grade 6 team included Michaela Allen, Samantha Applin, Rhianna Brake,

Laura Bruce, Angela Fisher, Halley Gardner, Alissa Hollett, Jayme Humber, Sarah

Leonard, Breanna McEacheran, Carley McGrath, McKenzie Neilson, Hannah Perrett,

Emily Porter, Julia Gardner, Sarah Noseworthy, and Faith Rose.

The Grade 5 team included Sara Noseworthy, Michaela Allen, Julia Gardner,

Faith Rose, Jenna King, Madison Hackett, Morgan Young, Holly MacKay, Anna-Joan

Compdon, Kristen Buckle, Arianna Sheppard, Emily Butt, Erin Way, Shelby Park,

and Hannah Bellows.

With all of these wins, these players showed true sportsmanship and are proud

ambassadors for Sacred Heart School. I am so proud of these young athletes and I

can confidently say that our future is in safe hands.

Go, Sabres, Go!

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Port au Port.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. CORNECT: Mr. Speaker, I stand to recognize Major Henry Gaudon, CD3

(Canadian Declaration 3 rd Clasp) for forty-eight years of military

service, twenty-eight of which were spent in the Canadian Armed Forces Regular

and twenty in the Canadian Forces Reserves, Cadet Instructor Cadre.

On March 17, the 3012 Lynx Army Cadet Corps carried out a Change of Command

Ceremony where Major Gaudon passed on command of this fine Army Cadet Corps to

Captain Travis Young as its new Commanding Officer.

Mr. Speaker, Major Gaudon was celebrated for his great dedication and passion

to the youth of the Port au Port Peninsula and for the investment he made in

their lives.

Major Gaudon was influential in building a 3012 Lynx Cadet Corps into the

largest Army Cadet Corps in Newfoundland and Labrador, with a twelve-piece

military marching band, Colour Party proudly displaying our Canadian,

provincial, Francophone, Mi'Kmaq, Army Cadet League, and the 3012 Lynx Cadet

Corps flags, an Honour Guard, Mr. Speaker, as well as a competitive air rifle

shooting team.

This impressive Corps has now been placed under the capable command of

Captain Young, who I am sure will continue this strong legacy.

Mr. Speaker, I ask all hon. Members to join with me in congratulating Major

Gaudon for his outstanding contribution.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for the District of St. John's North.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KIRBY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I rise to today to recognize a group of hard-working parents, teachers, and

students in my district.

The Safe Grad Committee at Prince of Wales Collegiate, like other such

committees throughout our Province, dedicates hours of time to high school

graduation ceremonies that graduates will remember forever.

Mr. Speaker, graduation from high school today is a significant milestone in

one's life, especially today when it is so important for students to consider

their opportunities for further education following high school.

People on committees like the one at Prince of Wales Collegiate devote an

extraordinary amount of time to planning a fun graduation. Of course, that means

they put a lot of time into fundraising as well. On the last Saturday of every

month, for example, the tireless volunteers at PWC gather at the school and

accept recyclables on behalf of the Safe Grad committee.

Mr. Speaker, I ask hon. members in the House or from the St. John's area to

contribute and support this worthy cause this Saturday, in particular, at the

school starting at 10:00 a.m. at the gym entrance.

I ask all hon. members to also join me, Mr. Speaker, in thanking the Prince

of Wales Safe Grad committee, and all of the Safe Grad committees in the

Province for their tireless commitment to organizing graduation activities.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Mount Pearl South.

MR. LANE: Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege to stand in this hon. House to

honour the memory of an extraordinary person from my district, the late Janet

Maher. Janet was not only a tremendous human being, but also a very gifted

athlete who excelled through her involvement with the Mount Pearl Special

Olympics.

She won numerous individual and team awards at the provincial and national

levels in the sports of floor hockey and bowling. Some of her achievements

include: 2008 National Female Athlete of the Year; Mount Pearl Female Athlete of

the Year; and, Mount Pearl Special Olympics Female Athlete of the Year, just to

name a few.

She was also awarded a 125 Anniversary Commemorative Medal by the Governor

General of Canada in recognition of her contribution to her co-athletes,

community and nation and was recently inducted into the Mount Pearl Sports Hall

of Fame.

Mr. Speaker, even though Janet has left us far too early, her spirit of

competitiveness and collaboration continues to inspire athletes in Mount Pearl

and elsewhere.

I would therefore ask all members of this hon. House to join me in

recognition of this outstanding Newfoundlander.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for the District of Cape St. Francis.

MR. K. PARSONS: Mr. Speaker, I rise in this hon. House today to recognize

a wonderful lady, Mrs. Mary Kinsella, who has raised her family in Logy Bay

where she enjoys telling stories of years gone by, and she does her best to keep

Newfoundland and Labrador traditions alive and going strong.

At the young age of ninety-two, Mrs. Kinsella lives in her own home and hosts

many family dinners and gatherings. She has a great community spirit.

Mrs. Kinsella prides herself on passing her traditions on to others. Her

willingness to share her rug hooking talents with the people in the town is

really appreciated. On Thursdays from 7:00 to 9:00 o'clock at the museum in the

Town of Logy Bay-Middle Cove-Outer Cove, she teaches rug hooking classes. Most

nights she has five or six ladies in her class, also some of her family members

enjoys in sharing her time with her.

Mr. Speaker, at present, Mrs. Kinsella and her group are creating a large rug

which will display the scenic view of our rugged coastline. It is people like

Mrs. Kinsella at the age of ninety-two, who shows us what great community spirit

is all about.

Mr. Speaker, I ask all hon. members in this House to join with me in thanking

Mrs. Mary Kinsella for her dedication in keeping our traditions alive and

sharing her talents with others.

Thank you very much.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: Statements by Ministers.

Statements by Ministers

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Justice and Attorney General.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. F. COLLINS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure today to stand in this House and

welcome two individuals who have been newly appointed to lead the Royal Canadian

Mount Police in our Province. I offer a very warm welcome to the new Commanding

Officer of the RCMP B Division, Newfoundland and Labrador, Chief Superintendent

Tracy Hardy.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. F. COLLINS: Chief Superintendent Hardy comes to this Province with a

wealth of experience and will take over command in the very near future.

Chief Superintendent Hardy has served extensively throughout Canada,

including rural and northern areas, which is a tremendous asset in leading the

RCMP in Newfoundland and Labrador. Chief Superintendent Hardy brings with her a

strong operational background, and a commitment to integrating policing with

community involvement. I am also proud to announce, Mr. Speaker, that she is the

first woman to lead the RCMP in our Province.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. F. COLLINS: Mr. Speaker, Chief Superintendent Hardy takes over from

Assistant Commissioner Bill Smith, who retired in January, and who has now

accepted a position in Nova Scotia. Over his tenure as Commanding Officer,

Assistant Commissioner Smith showed great dedication and leadership to the RCMP

in this Province. His love of this Province is also very evident in everything

he did, and I wish him all the best in his new role.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. F. COLLINS: Mr. Speaker, the RCMP has also appointed a new second in

command and Officer in Charge of Criminal Operations. Superintendent Andrew

Boland is originally from Newfoundland and Labrador, and also has an extensive

background in operational and administrative policing with the RCMP in various

areas of the country.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. F. COLLINS: We are pleased to have Superintendent Boland with us, and

I also want to thank him for the work he has done as Acting Commanding Officer

since Assistant Commissioner Smith's retirement.

As Minister of Justice, I was proud to announce on Tuesday that the

provincial government has signed a new twenty-year agreement for the continued

delivery of RCMP services in Newfoundland and Labrador.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. F. COLLINS: Mr. Speaker, the timing of this new agreement, along with

the appointments of Chief Superintendent Hardy and Superintendent Boland is

great news for the citizens of this Province and the continued delivery of

quality policing in Newfoundland and Labrador. The RCMP has enjoyed over sixty

years of policing in this Province and we look forward to many more.

Mr. Speaker, I ask all hon. members to join with me as I welcome and

congratulate Chief Superintendent Hardy and Superintendent Boland on their new

appointments to B Division and I am very much looking forward to working with

them in their new roles.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Burgeo La Poile.

MR. A. PARSONS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Congratulations to Chief Superintendent Hardy and Superintendent Boland for

their new positions, and a fond farewell to Assistant Commissioner Bill Smith,

who I never had the pleasure to meet but I have only heard great things about

the work he did for this Province. To Chief Superintendent Hardy, it is great to

see another female in a leadership position in this Province, but again, that is

something we have no short supply on here, especially in this House alone.

I am glad to hear the issue of the policing contract with the RCMP has been

resolved and I have no doubt that we have officers of high quality leading the

provincial detachments. The RCMP has had a long and distinguished history of

policing in this Province. They took over the role from the former Newfoundland

Rangers who were a distinguished force in their own right. In my previous life

as a lawyer, I have always found the officers of the RCMP to be dedicated,

professional, competent and very knowledgeable. Beside their roles as police

officers, the RCMP are members of our community, who live, work and volunteer in

our communities.

I welcome them to our Province and our communities for the next twenty years

and certainly many more years after that.

Thank you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for St. John's Centre.

MS ROGERS: Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the minister for an advance

copy of his statement.

Our thanks to retiring Assistant Commander Bill Smith for his exemplary

commitment and service. Congratulations to Chief Superintendent Tracy Hardy. The

people of Newfoundland and Labrador welcome you with open arms, and with your

outstanding qualifications and experience we know that we are in good hands.

What a fantastic role model for young women looking to enter a career in law

enforcement.

Congratulations also to Superintendent Andrew Boland. Thank you; a job well

done.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Environment and Conservation.

MR. FRENCH: Mr. Speaker, hundreds of millions of people, businesses and

governments around the world unite each year to support the largest

environmental event in history, Earth Hour.

It is a time when people from every corner of the globe and from every walk

of life are asked to join together in solidarity for our earth and turn off

their lights for one hour. Earth Hour 2012 will take place this coming Saturday,

March 31, at 8:30 p.m. Mr. Speaker, I know the hockey game is on; it is only the

Leafs or the Canadiens, so it is not much to watch.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. FRENCH: Each of us has a responsibility for the sustainability of our

planet and every action, big or small, collectively helps to make a difference.

Mr. Speaker, last year, more than 5,200 cities and towns and 135 countries

worldwide switched off their lights for Earth Hour 2011, sending a powerful

message for action on climate change. Without a doubt, it has shown how great

things can be achieved when people come together for a common cause.

Mr. Speaker, the provincial government is committed to taking action on

climate change and energy efficiency. We realize that solutions are possible,

such as the development of clean, renewable energy and we know a little bit

about that here in the House along with individual actions such as being more

energy efficient. To guide the Province forward, we released Charting Our

Course: Climate Change Action Plan 2011 and Moving Forward: Energy

Efficiency Action Plan 2011 .

While Earth Hour has helped raised the profile of sustainability issues since

its inception in 2007, Mr. Speaker, we must all pledge to do more than switch

off our lights for one hour each year. Government, organizations, businesses,

and individuals must remain committed to taking action every day to reduce their

environmental impact through saving energy and reducing waste and emissions.

I encourage every household throughout Newfoundland and Labrador to join the

Earth Hour movement at 8:30 p.m. local time on March 31, and share in one hour

of darkness for the earth. Collectively, our actions really do make a positive

difference for our environment.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Torngat Mountains.

MR. EDMUNDS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Hour demonstrates the cumulative impact of people's actions in the fight against

climate change. Earth Hour is scheduled on the last Saturday of every March to

ensure most cities are in darkness as it is rolled out onto the earth, allowing

for more visual impact of people's participation.

Mr. Speaker, while not a climate change issue this initiative reminds me of

when all the homes in Labrador turned their lights out in honour of young Burton

Winters, but I digress.

To adjust climate change, we must go beyond the hour, turning off our

computers at the end of the day, shutting off our power bars and other devices.

Earth Hour demonstrates that every little bit counts. Earth Hour does show a

worldwide initiative, Mr. Speaker, to battle climate change on a global scale,

and I thank the minister for his statement.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The Member for St. John's East.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. MURPHY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Earth Hour is a significant event which shows the importance of energy

conservation, but with Muskrat Falls we are talking about energy consumption,

while possibly ruining the environment of a river and a lake at the same time.

Where is the environmental message in doing that?

We may need power but there are better ways to get it if we really look at

our options. We have the best steady wind power resource, huge natural gas

reserves, and huge potential for tidal energy. Mr. Speaker, if we put our minds

and energy into looking at options, perhaps we would not have to go that way.

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.

We understand that in 2007 a natural gas study was commissioned to EnerSea

Transport. We have seen a lot of studies in the House, but we have never seen

this one.

I ask the Premier: Was this study ever completed?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Natural Resources.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KENNEDY: Yes, Mr. Speaker, I am not aware of the study referred to by

the member opposite. Mr. Speaker, in our Energy Plan we refer to the importance

of natural gas. I do not think there is any disagreement that we have currently

11 trillion cubic feet of discovered natural gas almost between the Labrador

portion of the Province and the Grand Banks. Nor is there any dispute, Mr.

Speaker, that natural gas is a form of energy which we will certainly develop at

some point in time. It comes down to economics and timing, Mr. Speaker, and when

the time is right it will be done.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Official Opposition.

MR. BALL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I would like for the minister, if he would look into that because there was

an RFP that was done, so a follow-up would probably be in order. Last evening,

respected local engineering professor Dr. Stephen Bruneau demonstrated very

clearly that Grand Bank's natural gas is technically available and also

economically compelling as an option to meet our domestic energy needs. He also

stated the reason for excluding natural gas as an energy alternative by the

government appears to be invalid.

I ask the Premier: Are you now prepared to go to the Public Utilities Board

and allow them to fully analyze all options to meet our domestic energy needs

before we commit to a fifty-year financially risky agreement on Muskrat Falls?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Natural Resources.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KENNEDY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

We do not disagree with Dr. Bruneau on the physical availability, rate, and

quality of the gas; we all know we have gas offshore. There are two significant

issues, Mr. Speaker; one, under

section 80 of the accord act, when we give

production licences to the offshore oil companies, that gives them the decision

when to develop the oil and gas and how to go about that.

What we are told, Mr. Speaker, and the best way I can put it is the way that

one oil executive said to me: We are in the business of making money, don't you

think if we could do this now, if we could develop natural gas now, we would do

it. The first problem, Mr. Speaker; the second problem is the economics of the

situation.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Official Opposition.

MR. BALL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

One of the things the Province's Energy Plan in 2007 clearly states is that

the government will request that all companies submitting offshore development

applications will provide a detailed landing in the Province option for natural

gas.

So I ask the Premier: There have been developments, as you know, since 2007,

so where are those landing in the Province studies?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Natural Resources.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KENNEDY: Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Essentially what has happened with the production licence, after the

licences are good for twenty-five years, and essentially allows the oil

companies the licence to develop, to explore, and to determine how they are

going to spend their money.

So the first major block with Dr. Bruneau's theory is: How do we obtain the

gas? We cannot tell these oil companies what to do. We have asked them, we have

had discussions, I met with a number of the oil companies I met with

Unin Fenosa out of Spain. We

have explored natural gas, it has been explored, Mr. Speaker, but the second

major factor here is that the importation of natural gas from the Grand Banks is

not economically feasible.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Official Opposition.

MR. BALL: I will ask the minister one more time: Have we completed the

landing in the Province option for natural gas? Are those landings in the

Province completed is that development completed?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Natural Resources.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KENNEDY: Mr. Speaker, when the licences were granted they give the

companies the option as to how they are going to proceed. Essentially, there is

a negotiation process, there are benefits agreements, Mr. Speaker; we look at

with the oil companies, Mr. Speaker, we have looked at developing natural gas.

To put it at its simplest, Dr. Bruneau thinks that Henry Hub price is the price

that gas will be delivered to Holyrood from the Grand Banks. We are told it is

about $5 at the most, Mr. Speaker. What we are told by the oil companies, in

order for it to be economically feasible to develop natural gas, the world

prices would have to be at $10 to $12 per million BTU, and there is nothing to

indicate that in the next twenty years those prices are going that way.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Official Opposition.

MR. BALL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Well, your Energy Plan clearly states that government will request that those

development plans are done.

Did you even request to the companies to do the landing in the Province

option?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Natural Resources.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KENNEDY: Yes, Mr. Speaker, it is again, my understanding that when

there is a proposal put forward by the oil companies, we will then look at the

benefits agreements and develop benefits agreements.

What the oil companies are telling us, Mr. Speaker, is that it is not

economically feasible to develop the natural gas. We cannot order them to do it,

Mr. Speaker. It would require an amendment to the Atlantic Accord act and both

provincial and federal agreements.

Mr. Speaker, we have made agreements with these oil companies. We will honour

these agreements. Our natural resources are out there, Mr. Speaker. We all agree

that by the mid-twenties, Mr. Speaker, natural gas may be feasible.

The other side of it, Mr. Speaker, is it is important to recognize that the

small amount of natural gas needed in Holyrood would not justify a significant

capital expenditure.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The Leader of the Official Opposition.

MR. BALL: The C-NLOPB and Husky Energy have stated that natural gas is

available now and no longer needed for oil re-injection. On top of this, the

North Amethyst Field, of which we are part owner, does not have storage space

for this natural gas, and the C-NLOPB has stated the issue must be resolved

before any oil can be produced.

I ask the Premier: A new GPS has been proposed for this field that could have

natural gas capabilities, so why are you not capitalizing on this opportunity,

exploring the use of natural gas as an energy source?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

PREMIER DUNDERDALE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, when oil companies are given licences to explore and to develop,

in a significant discovery licence they are given the rights to develop what

they have found: oil and gas. They have the rights.

Members of the Opposition stand and brag all the time about the major oil

fields, the three major oil fields we have operating off our coast, and how all

of that happened under their governance, Mr. Speaker. They ought to know that

the companies have jurisdiction over what lies in their licence area, Mr.

Speaker.

In the Energy Plan, we are trying to encourage the development of natural

gas. We have not yet had any proposals.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Official Opposition.

MR. BALL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I just want to clarify that C-NLOPB are saying that this issue must be

resolved before oil can be produced.

So what are we going to do with this? This is our greatest opportunity. So

why are we not doing this?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

PREMIER DUNDERDALE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, let me refer back to the answer given by the minister in a

previous question. Oil companies are looking to monetize, to make money from

what they have discovered offshore, Mr. Speaker. When they find an opportunity

to do that, they will come to the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador with a

proposal. We have said to them in the Energy Plan: When you come with such a

proposal, you have to have given consideration to bringing that gas ashore.

Mr. Speaker, we have laid out a royalty regime, even in the Energy Plan, for

a pioneer project with very good conditions to encourage that kind of thinking

and that kind of development, Mr. Speaker. There is not enough value in it for

the oil companies to (inaudible).

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Opposition House Leader.

MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, we understand that government has now received a twenty-five to

thirty page report on air quality and mould on the Charlottetown school. We also

know that it outlines seven different types of mould that has been found that

extends everywhere from the basement to the attic in this particular school.

I ask the minister today if he can tell me if the structural reports on this

school have also been completed, and if so, is he prepared to share that with

the people in the community?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Education.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. JACKMAN: Mr. Speaker, the consultants have been in and have done

their work. I have not received a copy of it yet, but one of the things that I

have assured the community I have contacted and been in contact with them

through e-mails and everything is any information that we get will be shared

with the community. As I have said before, the facility that these students

return to will be a safe, healthy environment. Mr. Speaker, we are not going to

hide anything from the parents. We want what is best for these students and we

will work with the community to do that. I want to thank the community for their

co-operation and I look forward to continue working with them.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Opposition House Leader.

MS JONES: Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, these children are now in temporary accommodations that are less

than adequate and not really conducive to a proper learning environment.

I ask the minister this is a temporary solution, I am sure, but I would

like to ask him: What is the intermediate solution for those children come

September until the government is able to build a new school in this community?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Education.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. JACKMAN: Mr. Speaker, the member has gone out further than I am

willing to go at this particular point because we do not have all of the facts,

but I will say she must have read one of my e-mails or she was reading my mind

because in one of them I responded to, I said what we have to find, and I thank

the community for it, is finding that immediate solution right now so that we

can get students into a learning environment.

We will provide the intermediate solution, but, Mr. Speaker, one of the

things we have to realize this intermediate solution is not going to be

something that be snapped like that. We have to explore the options and we are

doing that, Mr. Speaker. We will provide it, and I ask again for the continued

co-operation of the community.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The Official Opposition House Leader.

MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Children in this school have suffered from a number of illnesses over the

past year or more. Some of it was relative to very strange skin irritation and

rashes, headaches and breathing problems, along with stomach aches, Mr. Speaker.

Dr. Rand, who was engaged by the Western School Board, also confirmed that those

elements are related to the mould that was found in this particular school.

Mr. Speaker, parents have been raising this issue with government and the

Western School Board for quite some time, and I would like to ask today: Why no

action was taken, and why they were not taken seriously and air quality testing

done prior to this school's ceiling collapsing?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Education.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. JACKMAN: Mr. Speaker, the school boards are elected. We have CEOs of

school boards and they make decisions based on the facts that they have. One of

the things, Mr. Speaker, that I cannot speak to are the medical conditions.

Parents, I am sure, have taken it upon themselves to check into these particular

situations.

One thing that I can assure the member opposite and I can assure the

community, that what we arrive at from here on in, this will be safe and

healthy, it will be a safe and healthy environment for these students to learn

in, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The Official Opposition House Leader.

MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The minister may want to consult with Dr. Rand out of Halifax who was

retained by the school board with regard to this issue. Mr. Speaker, air quality

testing should be mandatory in schools in this Province and the information

should be made public. We have asked the government to do this time and time

again over the last three or four years. Over that period of time we have seen

anywhere from fifteen to twenty schools or more in this Province where children

had to be displaced because of mould.

I ask the government again today: Are you now prepared to move forward to put

in place a mandatory air quality testing system for schools in this Province and

make the information public to the children and parents who use those schools?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Education.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. JACKMAN: Mr. Speaker, air quality testing is carried out regularly.

Any hint at all, if we are contacted, if school boards are contacted, air

quality testing is carried out. We are not going to jeopardize the health of any

of our students, Mr. Speaker, and I would contend that

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. JACKMAN: Mr. Speaker, we will continue on that route.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for St. Barbe.

MR. BENNETT: Mr. Speaker, government finally moved on addressing the

dilapidated and long abandoned fish plant in Englee. Now this government needs

to be proactive and turn its attention to the closed Port Union plant.

I ask the Minister of Service Newfoundland and Labrador: Will he take action

to ensure that Port Union is not left in an environmental mess as happened in

Englee?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Service Newfoundland and Labrador.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. DAVIS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Yes, Service NL has taken steps and work towards solving the issues in

Englee. I would like to point out, Mr. Speaker, that these buildings and these

properties are not the property of the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador

as is the case in Englee and other places as well, but we do work with

communities. We encourage communities to utilize the legislation and abilities

that they have available to them. As well, our inspectors will go these sites,

we will conduct inspections and we will try to move these files forward as well.

Thank you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for St. Barbe.

MR. BENNETT: Mr. Speaker, Marystown and surrounding communities suffered

a devastating blow last year when OCI abruptly closed the fish plant, throwing

240 people out of work. Since then, the company has indicated they intend to

sell the plant.

I ask the Premier: Will she provide an update on plans to sell the OCI plant

in Marystown and what involvement, if any, does her government have in this

sale?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Education.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. JACKMAN: Mr. Speaker, the member opposite spoke about business the

other day. I do not know if he knew what he was talking about then any more than

he does now. Mr. Speaker, OCI is a private business. They have indicated that

they are going to close the plant, what they do with the assets, Mr. Speaker, is

they will work their way through that. The thing that we have done, Mr.

Speaker, and I am glad the question is asked - I am replacing the other minister

today because he is away. I worked with that group down there to acquire a

number of weeks for them. I regret that it was rejected. Mr. Speaker, as we

speak, myself as the minister, and various ministers are working with the

workers there to find them temporary employment. Mr. Speaker, we have never left

people on their own and we will not in this case.

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for St. Barbe.

MR. BENNETT: Mr. Speaker, the plant workers at Marystown are still on the

protest line and not giving up like this government has.

The Premier promised on a campaign trail she would fight to keep the plant

open: Will she now do the right thing and meet with these displaced workers as

they have been requesting?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Education.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. JACKMAN: Mr. Speaker, I am getting calls and e-mails from workers who

now are looking to move on. As a matter of fact, Mr. Speaker, I have a couple of

people who we have worked with as a government and we have gotten them back into

a retraining system. People are taking it upon themselves to move ahead, Mr.

Speaker. The fact that these workers are still protesting there, that is beyond

what we have any control over, but I can assure him of one thing, and I said

that in my last response: We have never abandoned people in plants when they

have been out of work, and we will not abandon these people either.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Burgeo La Poile.

MR. A. PARSONS: Mr. Speaker, in February 2012, Literacy Newfoundland and

Labrador stated government's failure to release its literacy plan, despite

promises to do so in 2010 and 2011, means the plan is now outdated over three

years out from initial consultations.

I ask the minister, taking into consideration that this is International

Adult Learners' Week: Why have you let so much time lapse, and when will you

release this long-awaited and much-needed plan?

MR. SPEAKER: The Minister of Advanced Education and Skills.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS BURKE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Literacy, learning, and education is certainly a priority of this government,

Mr. Speaker, and we are doing what we can to ensure the people of this Province

have every opportunity to participate in the labour market and the challenges

that are ahead of them. We will look at the literacy plan, update it, and it

will be released in due time over the next fiscal year.

Mr. Speaker, in saying that, we have made so many advances in education,

particularly how it affects the adults of this Province. One thing we have done,

Mr. Speaker, is we have increased the seats at the College of the North Atlantic

by 46 per cent in the last couple of years. Mr. Speaker, the number of seats at

the College of the North Atlantic has gone from 939 seats to almost 1,400 seats

in just four years.

Other than that, Mr. Speaker, we have also had the ABE, the Adult Basic

Education, available across Newfoundland and Labrador through the college,

through the private colleges, and through community organizations.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Third Party.

MS MICHAEL: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, we have learned that there is a systemic problem with the

cardiac monitor systems today in the Health Sciences and St. Clare's. Mr.

Speaker, the problem with these cardiac monitors is not just confined to Health

Sciences and it is not the nurses' fault, but the minister keeps insisting there

is no problem.

So, Mr. Speaker, I ask: When is the minister going to acknowledge that there

is a systemic problem and get to the bottom of it?

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Natural Resources.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KENNEDY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I do not remember the minister or anyone else referring to the fact that it

was the nurses' fault. In fact, what I remember the minister saying the other

day is how highly we value our nurses and the crucial role they play in our

health care system.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KENNEDY: Also, Mr. Speaker, a systemic problem would indicate that

there is a pervasive problem that exists throughout not only this jurisdiction

but other jurisdictions. The minister referred to the fact, and I cannot

remember exactly, but 2,500 or 2,600 of these monitors are used throughout

Canada, Mr. Speaker, they are used throughout this Province; there are issues

here that the CEO of Eastern Health and the Department of Health are trying to

work their way through with the nurses. The fact is, Mr. Speaker, cardiologists

support these monitors.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Third Party.

MS MICHAEL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I point out to the minister, Mr. Speaker, first of all, the system has to do

with the Health Sciences and St. Clare's, not anywhere else. It is a systemic

problem there. Secondly, the person who named the nurses was the CEO of Eastern

Health.

So I am asking the minister: Will she demand an apology from the CEO of

Eastern Health for denigrating the professional concerns of nurses?

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Natural Resources.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KENNEDY: Mr. Speaker, I had the pleasure of dealing with Ms Kaminski,

the CEO and President of Eastern Health, for two years when I was Minister of

Health. She is totally professional, Mr. Speaker. She tackles issues, she deals

with issues, and she will deal with this issue here. So, again, I think that the

comments made by the member opposite are a reflection of simply trying to cause

problems, as opposed to dealing with an issue.

What we try to do as a government, Mr. Speaker, is identify issues when they

are brought to our attention and solve them. What the member opposite appears to

want to do is simply to call people names and try to cause problems.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Third Party.

MS MICHAEL: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, yesterday the nurses' association said that standards for

nursing practice require nurses to question conditions that interfere with their

ability to provide safe, competent nursing care. Mr. Speaker, nurses filed

hundreds of occurrence reports on the new cardiac monitors over the past year,

but they were dismissed by the CEO of Eastern Health as being resistant to

change.

So, Mr. Speaker, I ask the minister again: How can he be sure that nurses are

meeting standards of practice when their objections are not being taken

seriously?

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Natural Resources.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KENNEDY: Again, Mr. Speaker, I have to correct the member opposite,

the Leader of the Third Party; I am not aware of anyone saying that nurses'

concerns are not being taken seriously. The CEO has indicated that there are

issues that are being explored. The minister has indicated, Mr. Speaker, that

she takes this matter very seriously, that we as a government appreciate the

role that our nurses play, but like anything else, when you are running a $1.8

billion system when you have a massive infrastructure to manage and 13,000

employees it takes time to work it all through, Mr. Speaker.

The minister and CEO have all indicated that they are working their way

through solving this, but most importantly, Mr. Speaker, the cardiologists have

indicated that in their opinion, the equipment is safe. That is the key, the

patients.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Third Party.

MS MICHAEL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, the Harris Centre is a respected non-partisan university policy

center. Dr. Stephen Bruneau is a widely respected authority on the issue of

natural gas. Mr. Speaker, last night there was a very well-attended public forum

hosted by the centre and given by Dr. Bruneau on the option for natural gas as

an alternative power source for the island.

So, Mr. Speaker, I ask the Premier: Why would not one of her elected members

bother to turn out to be in attendance last night for this important

non-partisan and informative presentation?

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

PREMIER DUNDERDALE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, when we undertake to do work on behalf of the people of the

Province, we make sure that our work is well informed. We use the resources

within government, within our Crown corporations if it is appropriate. Mr.

Speaker, if we need to go beyond that we seek out expertise here at home, in the

country and abroad.

Many, many times I have heard the Minister of Natural Resources talk about

our consultations with our energy advisors Wood MacKenzie, internationally

acclaimed as experts in this field. We went to New York, we met with PIRA; the

minister met with Ziff Energy. Mr. Speaker, we do not wait for public

presentations at the university to inform us about work we are planning on

behalf of the people of Newfoundland and Labrador.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

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

MR. MURPHY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

If the Premier and her associates met with all these groups, perhaps she can

table all these reports. Obviously, there has to be something on paper. Mr.

Speaker, last night Dr. Bruneau made a well-researched and compelling case for

the viability of the natural gas option for electrical generation as an

alternative to Muskrat Falls that could have saved consumers and taxpayers in

this Province big dollars in the long run. Mr. Speaker, the natural gas option

has been continuously ignored and dismissed by this government.

Mr. Speaker, why didn't government allow Nalcor to do a thorough review of

the potential for offshore natural gas as a source of electrical generation?

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Natural Resources.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KENNEDY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

As I have indicated, we do not disagree with Dr. Bruneau's assessment of the

amount of natural gas, the availability or the quality. We recognize we have

natural gas, our energy recognizes the importance of natural gas. What this

comes down to, Mr. Speaker, one, as a government, how do we order the oil

companies to whom we have given licences to use natural gas? The second

question, Mr. Speaker, it is not economically feasible.

We have a very small market here and the oil companies are telling us that we

are not going to build an infrastructure to bring a very small amount of natural

gas to power Holyrood when, Mr. Speaker, there is no market. I say to the member

for - the Opposition House Leader, even if we refurbished Holyrood, what does

that do for Labrador mining projects?

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for St. John's East.

MR. MURPHY: Mr. Speaker

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

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

MR. MURPHY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Minister of Natural Resources says that it is just not viable for the oil

companies to do it. Some people would argue that Muskrat Falls is not viable,

considering we are talking about spending $7.1 billion of the taxpayers' money

in this Province.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

MR. MURPHY: Mr. Speaker, government is relying on out of date information

from Navigant's use of a 2001 government study that predicted oil prices at $18

US a barrel out to the year 2025.

Excuse me, Mr. Speaker, I ask the Premier: Why won't government at least

examine new evidence on an option which has the potential, a very big potential,

to save Newfoundland and Labrador consumers and taxpayers billions of dollars?

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Natural Resources.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KENNEDY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I come back to two basic questions: Do we need the power? I did not hear Dr.

Bruneau say we do not need the power. Is the member opposite saying we do not

need the power?

Mr. Speaker, the second question is: What do we do? How do we get the power?

We have looked at natural gas, Mr. Speaker, but not everything requires

extensive reports. This is not, Mr. Speaker, the question of: Is it technically

feasible? The question of a 350 kilometre versus a 650 kilometre pipeline is

technical. This is economics, Mr. Speaker. You look at the numbers and you make

a determination.

Dr. Bruneau apparently quite interestingly said we should develop Muskrat

Falls and go out and export it to Ontario. So, Mr. Speaker, what we are hearing

here is simply another theory. We welcome these opinions, but it is like the

full-page ad in The Telegram yesterday, Mr. Speaker: We will consult our

own experts, not the experts who profess to be so.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for St. John's Centre.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS ROGERS: Mr. Speaker, there is a housing crisis in Happy Valley-Goose

Bay (inaudible) with large resource development, it is getting worse. There are

vacant housing units on the military base.

Since we do not have a minister dedicated to the overall needs of the housing

situation in the Province, Mr. Speaker, I ask the Premier: Will the government

take leadership and ask the federal government to make these housing units

available to help alleviate the housing crisis in Happy Valley-Goose Bay?

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Intergovernmental and Aboriginal

Affairs.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. McGRATH: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

We are very aware of the housing shortage in Happy Valley-Goose Bay

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

MR. McGRATH: and we have looked at what is happening there. We have

consulted with the DND and we have let them know if there is housing available

we are interested in talking to them about that. We have also made an investment

recently. It was just announced, might I add, $1.8 million for housing in Happy

Valley-Goose Bay

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. McGRATH: and also $770,000 for fourteen units of affordable

housing in Happy Valley-Goose Bay.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for St. John's North.

MR. KIRBY: Mr. Speaker, this government has said it will phase out the

student loan program and replace it with a needs-based grant. The government

needs to start this soon, Mr. Speaker, because if the transition does not happen

soon, the greater the burden will be to the public treasury down the road.

Can the Minister of Advanced Education and Skills assure us today, Mr.

Speaker, that government will not stall on this commitment and will begin to

phase in the new grant program for the upcoming academic year?

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: Unfortunately, the time for Question Period has expired.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

Presenting Reports by Standing and Select Committees.

Tabling of Documents.

Notices of Motion.

Notices of Motion

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Service Newfoundland and Labrador.

MR. DAVIS: Mr. Speaker, I give notice that I will ask leave to introduce

a bill entitled,

An Act To Amend The Registration of Deeds Act, 2009. (Bill 14)

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Natural Resources.

MR. KENNEDY: Mr. Speaker, I give notice that under Standing Order 11, I

shall move that this House not adjourn at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, April 2, 2012,

and I further give notice, Mr. Speaker, under Standing Order 11, that I shall

move that this House not adjourn at 10:00 p.m. on Monday, April 2, 2012.

MR. SPEAKER: Further Notices of Motion?

Answers to Questions for which Notice has been Given.

Petitions.

Petitions

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Bay of Islands.

MR. JOYCE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I rise again today on the family caregivers' petition, Mr. Speaker.

WHEREAS home care allows the elderly and people with disabilities to remain

within the comfort and security of their own homes; home care allows people to

be discharged from hospital earlier; and

WHEREAS many families find it very difficult to recruit and retain home care

workers for their loved ones; and

WHEREAS the PC Blue Book 2011 as well at the 2012 Speech from the Throne

committed that government would develop a new model of home care and give people

the option of receiving that care from family members; and

WHEREAS government has given no time commitment for when government plans to

implement paying family caregivers;

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

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

implement a new home care model to cover family caregivers in the 2012-2013

Budget.

Mr. Speaker, I stand on this petition also because it is a very important

issue not just for the Bay of Islands but for all of Newfoundland and Labrador.

I have calls from people from Humber West and Humber East, out in the Corner

Brook area.

It is a very important issue, Mr. Speaker, because this is an issue that in

a lot of rural areas, you cannot find anyone, if someone wants to come out from

the hospital to go to their home, you cannot find in many cases someone who will

come in and help take care of your loved one. This is something that was

committed to by the government in the Blue Book. This is something that we have

never seen any movement forward on this, Mr. Speaker. It is an issue that has

been brought up to me on many occasions. I receive many calls on a regular basis

on this issue.

Once again it is an issue, and we all know that we are all aging we have

some parents who are aging and that we are going to need some kind of home

care, Mr. Speaker. A lot of times when you get the home care, the elderly

people, they want to keep some dignity so they like to have somebody who they

are more comfortable with and they feel comfortable with, and this is where a

lot of family members the thing about it, on many occasions, Mr. Speaker, the

family members are giving up sometimes their own position in some company, their

own job, just to take care of their elderly. I know in a few cases where a few

have given up their job to take care of their brothers, their sisters who need

the home care.

This is an issue for all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. This is an issue

that was committed to; this is an issue that we need resolved as soon as

possible. Every time we push it out, we push it out if it is another year,

another two years down the road, Mr. Speaker, we are going to have more and more

of our seniors, and more and more of our disabled people are going to be put in

the confines and not be able to get the services, and put into some institution

when they can be at home getting some services that they receive at home.

Mr. Speaker, thank you very much for giving me the opportunity.

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for St. John's North.

MR. KIRBY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I rise today to present a petition on behalf of the residents of Newfoundland

and Labrador. This is a petition regarding the needed changes to the Department

of Education's school bus transportation policies.

WHEREAS school district restructuring has resulted in longer bus travel times

and more hazardous winter travel for rural students of all ages; and

WHEREAS due to recent school closures, children living within 1.6 kilometres

of school face increased barriers of congested streets and busy intersections in

the walk to school, and parents without cars are having more difficulty getting

children to different schools on foot; and

WHEREAS only those child care centres outside the 1.6 kilometre zone and

directly on bus routes are included in kindergarten noontime routes, causing

hardship for working parents; and

WHEREAS the 1.6 kilometre policy has been in place since 1975, and student

transportation policies have not been reviewed through public consultation since

1996; and

WHEREAS parents are expressing the need for more flexible policies for

student transportation and school restructuring to meet the current needs of

school children;

We, the undersigned, petition the House of Assembly to urge the government to

conduct a review of school bus transportation policies and school restructuring

to ensure safe and quality education for all school children in the Province.

As in duty bound, your petitioners will ever pray.

Mr. Speaker, I took this on after the last election because it is an

important issue in my district. One of the areas where people are most impacted

on this are the constituents who live in the Thorburn Road and Austin Street

area of my district.

It just so happens that tonight at 7:00 at Building 11 Wigmore Court, Wigmore

Manor, which is the seniors building there, I am holding an open house and those

who are affected on Thorburn Road and Austin Street, Wigmore Court, Moss Heather

Drive, all the streets around Grovedale, Seaborn Street, Bambrick, Meeker Place,

and MacLaren Place, I invite all those people to come out and discuss this

important issue and other issues that are important to them because I am

presenting this petition here on a weekly basis on their behalf, and I hope that

at some point the Minister of Education will see fit to hear the pleas of these

petitioners.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for St. Barbe.

MR. BENNETT: Mr. Speaker, the petition to the hon. House of Assembly for

the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador in Parliament assembled, the petition

of the undersigned residents humbly sheweth:

WHEREAS the current Animal Protection Act was enacted in 1978 and it is

woefully inadequate; and

WHEREAS it has been almost two years since the Animal Protection Act was

passed in the House of Assembly but has not yet been proclaimed; and

WHEREAS the inadequacy of the current Animal Protection Act is of grave and

immediate concern to the SPCA; and

WHEREAS the new Animal Protection Act would ensure more severe punishment and

ultimately reduce instances of these crimes;

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

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

immediately proclaim the new Animal Protection Act.

Mr. Speaker, I think that most people have a real concern for animals and a

real concern for animal welfare. This is a very simple petition, simply

requesting that the legislation be proclaimed. We have seen numerous instances

from time to time of animal cruelty. Clearly, legislating alone will not solve

the animal cruelty issue, there must be public education. There must absolutely

be effective enforcement of animal protection laws. In order to enforce animal

protection laws, we need those animal protection laws to be proclaimed.

Just recently, we saw the story of a large dog, a German shepherd that was

named Max. It was only half its weight. It had been starved and abused. With

nobody to turn to for support and protection, our animals depend upon us.

Therefore, Mr. Speaker, I present petition before this hon. House and ask

this House to urge government to proclaim the legislation that is so badly

needed.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Torngat Mountains.

MR. EDMUNDS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I submit the following petition:

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

Parliament assembled, the petition of the undersigned humbly sheweth:

WHEREAS there is no cell service in Nunatsiavut; and

WHEREAS many individuals travel in close proximity to their respective

communities and are subject to accidents and/or misdirection; and

WHEREAS cellphone coverage may well have prevented the death of young Burton

Winters;

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

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

with the appropriate agencies to provide cellphone coverage for the Labrador

North Coast.

As in duty bound, your petitioners will ever pray.

Mr. Speaker, this time of the year in Northern Labrador is a time when most

people take advantage of snowmobile travel, which is the only form of travel on

the land and sea ice. With the weather warming up, people are more inclined to

do their hunting and gathering during the longer daylight hours. Mr. Speaker, it

is also a time when our young people take advantage of the weather and venture

short distances from their communities.

Mr. Speaker, as we saw in the young Burton Winters tragedy, accidents do

happen. It is imperative in my opinion, Mr. Speaker, that cellphone service be

put into place. I again ask this hon. House to urge the government in setting up

cell service in Northern Labrador.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: Orders of the Day.

Orders of the Day

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Government House Leader.

MR. KENNEDY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Order 2, third reading of Bill 12.

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Government House Leader.

MR. KENNEDY: Yes, Mr. Speaker.

I move, seconded by the Minister of Advanced Education and Skills, that Bill

12,

An Act To Amend The Pharmaceutical Services Act, be now read a third time.

MR. SPEAKER: It is moved and seconded that the bill be now read a third

time.

Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion that Bill 12 be read a

third time?

All those in favour, aye'.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Aye.

MR. SPEAKER: All those against, nay'.

Carried.

CLERK: A bill,

An Act To Amend The Pharmaceutical Services Act. (Bill 12)

MR. SPEAKER: This bill is now read a third time and it is ordered that

the bill do pass and that its title be as on the Order Paper.

On motion, a bill, "An Act To Amend The Pharmaceutical Services Act", read a

third time, ordered passed and its title be as on the Order Paper. (Bill 12)

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Government House Leader.

MR. KENNEDY: Yes, Mr. Speaker.

Order 10, second reading of Bill 13,

An Act To Amend The Schools Act, 1997.

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Education.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. JACKMAN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I rise today to propose amendments and regulations pertaining to the Schools

Act, 1997. As I said, it is

an act which governs the operations of schools in

the Province

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

Is the minister moving the motion?

MR. O'BRIEN: You have to move it; seconded by, or I move

MR. JACKMAN: Oh.

I move, Mr. Speaker, seconded by the Minister of Municipal Affairs, that Bill

13,

An Act To Amend The Schools Act, 1997, be now read a second time.

MR. SPEAKER: It is moved and seconded that Bill 13, entitled,

An Act To

Amend The Schools Act, 1997, be now read a second time.

Motion, second reading of a bill, "An Act To Amend The Schools Act, 1997".

(Bill 13)

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Education.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. JACKMAN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, this act was enacted the same time that there were major changes

implemented in the K-12 school system. Everyone will remember that in 1996-1997,

Newfoundland and Labrador moved from a denominational educational system, to a

non-denominational education system. At that particular time, the number of

school boards was reduced from twenty-seven to ten, and a separate system

governed by the Francophone Board, established for the first French-language

students.

In 2004, there was a further consolidation that took place, and the number of

boards was reduced down to five. We have the Eastern Board, we have Nova

Central, the Western Board, Labrador Board, and as I said already, the

Francophone Board. Since 1997, a number of amendments have been made to the act.

They involve the addition of clauses related to conflict of interest for

trustees, and a clause prohibiting school boards from incurring debt unless the

annual fiscal budget has been approved by the minister. A

section of the act was

amended to require ministerial approval of employment contracts with executive

board staff, and there have been revisions made regarding debts, liabilities,

contracts and dispositions of property of dissolved school boards.

In 2004, an addition was made to the act referencing the Labrador Inuit Land

Claims Agreement Act. In 2007, a

section was added to limit and regulate the

disposition of school property held by a denominational authority to a person

other than the school board. Mr. Speaker, in addition to these changes, ongoing

advances in education policy and practice suggest there is a need to amend other

sections of the act to ensure legislation has appropriately kept pace with

developments in the school system.

Mr. Speaker, the changes that we are proposing could, I suppose, be referred

to as housekeeping measures. These changes will simply update and clarify

existing legislation accurately to reflect the current practice. For example,

Part 5 of the act relating to French first language schools has not been revised

since the creation of the Francophone School Board. The current act does not

require the approval of the minister for the appointment of a Director of

Education for the Francophone Board. It does, however, require ministerial

approval for the appointment of Director of Education at the other four boards

in this Province. Mr. Speaker, legislation regarding the appointment of a

director should be the same for all school boards in the Province. While I, as

minister, had in practice approved the hiring of the Francophone director, it is

not enshrined in legislation. The amendment would simply include in legislation

what is already accepted practice in our system.

Similarly, the legislation as it stands requires the Francophone Board to

hire a director on a five-year contract. Other boards can hire a director up to

five years. The Francophone Board wants the flexibility to issue contracts for a

shorter duration than five years. It is therefore important this amendment be

made now in order to give the Francophone Board this flexibility as it moves

forward.

Meanwhile, the current act specifies the minimum number of hours of schooling

for each grade level but does not prohibit a longer day. In 2002, any of us in

the system will remember, the school day for Grades 1 to 3 was increased to five

hours, and the act has not changed to reflect this. We will go and make that

amendment. We also feel the act should clarify the appropriate grade placement

of children who return to Newfoundland and Labrador from a province that admits

children to kindergarten at a younger age than is the case in this Province.

In this Province, children may be enrolled in kindergarten if they are five

years of age by December 31 of the school year. In another province, children

may enter kindergarten at a slightly earlier age. An amendment would prevent a

situation whereby a child who has already been enrolled in kindergarten in

another province and who is already attending, cannot continue kindergarten in

this Province were they to return. This is a situation that is certainly

confusing for the child, I would imagine, and serves no particular purpose that

we can see. That is a change we are looking to make.

There is also a

section of the act relating to liability for damage, and that

particular piece needs to be updated, Mr. Speaker. The act currently states,

"that student and his or her parents are individually and collectively liable

to the board in respect of the act of that student." Mr. Speaker, we have

students in our school system who are of age nineteen, and if a student is

nineteen years of age or older they are legally responsible for their own

action, independent of their parents. The legislative amendment being proposed

says that a student age nineteen or older is solely liable for damages caused by

that student.

Another change relates to the school register and a school register as

evidence. Those of us who started in the school system way back would probably

think of the register as the old red or green book that you kept track of daily

attendance in. As part of the act, the act reads, "A teacher shall keep a school

register in the manner the minister may require." That register must be kept as

evidence. While not defined in the act, a register is generally interpreted by

those in the school system to mean the traditional red registers, I have already

mentioned, that is used to keep attendance. In light of the prevalence of

electronic data gathering in storage in the school system, we are proposing to

remove the reference to a register. The act should state: A teacher shall keep

student attendance in a manner approved by the minister.

We know that school systems are using these systems now; they are automated

in some cases. With technology, as I have already indicated, it is time for us

to move in that direction.

Meanwhile, Mr. Speaker, the provincial government has, since 2006, provided

funds to school boards for consumables and other educational supplies and

services. Mr. Speaker, I am going to say here, that has been one of the proudest

moments for me in the House of Assembly as a former educator, when we brought in

this that school boards were provided with the funds to purchase these, it was

a wonderful day in this Province, there is no doubt about it.

This eliminated the need for schools to charge fees for such items as

consumable math and French workbooks, student agendas, and charges for

photocopying. Mr. Speaker, this has allowed all parents to have more dollars in

their pockets. We know there was a time when the start up of the school year was

a very stressful one for many parents as they had to come up with funds for

these fees, for these workbooks, photocopying, art supplies, and the works. We

as a government have implemented a system whereby that is no longer the case. As

I have said, it is a wonderful, wonderful initiative on the part of our

government, and I think all of the people across the Province recognize that.

While there is a policy restricting schools from charging school fees for

certain supplies and that policy is adhered to by all school districts, we are

proposing an amendment which would confirm the minister's authority to issue

policy directives with respect to school fees.

Mr. Speaker, if approval is granted for the amendments and regulations

outlined today, the Department of Education will be putting forward a request to

conduct a further review of the act at a later date. That review would involve

discussions with stakeholders including, but not limited to, school district

directors, other identified district personnel, Newfoundland and Labrador

Teachers' Association, and the Newfoundland and Labrador School Boards

Association. We start those discussions that is another step in this process.

With that, Mr. Speaker, I look forward to debate on changes to the Schools

Act, 1997.

Thank you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Burgeo La Poile.

MR. A. PARSONS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I am very happy to rise here today and discuss

An Act To Amend The Schools

Act, 1997, which I have had an opportunity to review. Again, I do have some more

specific questions as to the amendments that are being suggested and I look

forward to the Committee stage of this process, which I find very helpful

asking straightforward questions, getting straightforward answers.

I took the opportunity to listen to the minister's comments. Certainly I

respect what the minister says. There is no doubt about his background in this

field. In his previous life, this was his job, so I appreciate that.

Just looking at some of the explanatory notes, again, it is always nice; you

can look at the detailed specifics in the legislation, but it is nice to look at

the notes actually, I guess it is like the CliffsNotes to find out what is

actually intended here. A lot of them are maybe of a housekeeping nature. When

we talk about allowing children registered in Kindergarten in another

jurisdiction, who will be five years old, to be admitted to Kindergarten here,

that is obviously an issue that has come up in the past; now is an opportunity

to take the legislation and amend the legislation to make sure that situation

does not arise.

One issue that was somewhat surprising to me when I looked at it again, we

talk about the term liability, especially if you have a legal background. Anyone

anywhere these days understands the term liability. If you have an insurance

policy, you understand the term liability. So I was looking at the removal of

the statutory liability of parents of students who are nineteen years or older.

I can understand the basis for that. If you have a student who is nineteen

years, or older, then you can deal with that student directly, because they are

the age of majority in this Province; they have capacity, you would hope, and

you can deal with them directly.

However, it leaves that loophole where we have students who intentionally

damage things and have no liability per se. We have to go after their parents.

It does not matter where you are, everybody has seen some bad stuff go on at

educational facilities. You have seen kids breaking windows at schools.

Certainly the Member for Humber West knows that, someone else who has spent his

life in that field. My position on that is we need to take whatever steps

necessary to make sure these damages are reimbursed and make sure these people

are held accountable for their actions.

It is something to decide. Again, I am certainly not an academic. I did not

study education. I considered it for awhile, but I took the unfortunate route of

going to law school.

One of the things we talked about earlier, just after the election, was the

AN HON. MEMBER: (Inaudible).

MR. A. PARSONS: They might be saying that. They might be happy that I

have taken this route. They might be.

One of the issues that I was sort of shocked at was when I learned about the

Eastern School District's policy on examinations and there were no repercussions

or recourse if they decided to I believe it was a no cheating policy. I look

to the member for St. John's, somebody else who had a life before this, or if I

want to be sarcastic and say a life currently in this field.

What I would say is that I believe that is my understanding and I have some

questions as to that policy. What I would say is that these are things that I

would appreciate an opportunity to sit down with the panels and the groups that

make these decisions and find out why they do make these decisions. That was one

that gathered a bit of air time. Again, I look back at the member for Bonavista,

someone else who spent his life in this field. Educators have always sometimes

gone on to sit here. I apologize if I am missing anybody else here but me,

personally sorry, the Member for Kilbride, another educator.

I had some difficulty understanding the logic behind that principle, though.

I think there were the common people out there who wondered why we were not

making people accountable for their actions and giving them that opportunity to

take the same test. They are not learning from their mistakes. Maybe I am wrong,

maybe there is some study out there that shows we should not do it that way. The

way when I was coming up was, look, you prepared and if you made a mistake, you

were accountable and you just had to deal with it. That was the learning curve

of growing up. You make mistakes; you learn from those mistakes and go on. If

you realize that there is no issue or no problem for making mistakes, then why

would you care? It takes away the accountability. I had some issue as to that, I

had some questions and I am hoping that is something that can be discussed.

Maybe all the educators after can grab me and say look, this is why it was done

and this is why we allowed this to happen.

I would move on to increase the minimum hours of instruction for students, we

are moving that up. To me that seems like a pretty standard thing or a pretty

normal thing to do, we have to increase the number of instructional hours. I

would notice one of them I believe if we go back down to Grades 1 to 3 and I

know that is another issue, the grade below that, kindergarten, something that

has been brought up before, the topic of all-day kindergarten. I know there have

been questions and issues tossed back and forth in this House as to whether it

works, whether it does not work. Certainly it has been done in other

jurisdictions, and I look forward to seeing both sides of that argument. I am

sure that issue at some point will come to the forefront again.

When we talk about hours of instruction, increasing those hours of

instruction, I do not believe that is going to do anything but increase the

betterment for our students. I do not think that is a bad thing; the more hours

of instruction, the better for these students. Now, I guess the trick is to make

sure that when we say something is an instructional hour, that there is actually

instruction going on. That is the big trick, and it is an everyday problem that

school administrators and educators have, which is to make sure that look, we

have this many hours, we have to make sure that the students are actually

learning during all these hours.

Again, I notice there are a number of changes to discuss the c onseil

scolaire. A gain, I am not very familiar with that

aspect. I know the minister referenced it, and I will certainly have more

questions in the Committee stage as to that section.

I go back to the school hours, though, and it is funny, I have done a little

tiny bit of looking around on this and I am hoping that at some point and

again, the minister can probably stand up and answer this. We look at different

jurisdictions, not just provinces but countries as a whole, around this world,

the number of school hours in a day for students varies pretty greatly,

depending on where you are. If you look at Japan, they begin school at 8:00 a.m.

and they end at 6:00 p.m. That is a long day. That just tells you the

difference, over in Asia they have a school day that long then we look at

Australia, they start at 8:00 a.m. and they end at 2:00 p.m. I believe that is

more along the lines of where we are in this country, and certainly in this

jurisdiction. I believe we are at around 8:15 a.m. and 2:15 p.m.

So, I look forward to hearing again, I always like to learn why it is that

we do things. That is part of what I would call an intelligent debate, is that

you ask a question and when you ask that question because you do not know the

answer, the answer comes back to you. Again, we have had some testy debates

here, certainly, over the last couple of days. Sometimes I feel that my

questions, when I put them there, are taken as if I am just asking for the sake

of asking but, really, I am asking to be informed and given the information that

is going to go into why we do things in this Province.

Now, I would note and this is a serious concern when we talk about the

school system in this Province, I look over to my neck of the woods, over on the

West Coast of this Province, and that was the AG's report as to the Western

School District. The AG's report revealed a lot of serious issues that I am

hoping are being taken seriously by the administrators of the school boards, and

ultimately by the minister and the department as the heads of education in this

Province. When I look at the specific AG report that just came out not that long

ago, and we look at some of the stuff that went on with HR in the Western School

District, there are a couple of things here. Eleven files were reviewed and none

had complete documentation on the competition process. We have to make sure if

people are being hired that they are being hired properly, going through the

proper process, and that everybody is treated fairly and equally.

We have cases where teaching positions were filled without job competitions.

That is a serious concern. I do not have the data in front of me for the Eastern

District. Maybe this is a province-wide issue. I have written to the Director of

the Western School District on these issues. I still have not had an answer to

that question. That was a serious issue that has not been addressed to me.

We talk about money. Money is the root of everything that we really talk

about here. We have to provide services; we have to pay for those services. Then

we talk about we need to get the bang for our buck. We need to make sure we are

getting the best for the money we put into things. There was an employee in the

Western School District who was overpaid over $97,000 in six years. That is a

significant amount of money. That is an accounting error. I am very interested

in knowing how that happened. How did we let this slip?

A discouraging thing from the AG report is that a number of these issues were

actually noted by the AG previously but were never addressed. So what I would

say to government is in the process to look for efficiencies in our operations,

we need to make sure that we see them and take action. So if we have a gap

between AG reports where there are issues not being addressed, we need to look

into that and say: Are we going to look at it and do something, or are we just

going to look at it and slip it under again?

We have overpayments here, different overpayments. We have, again, going

under the Public Tender Act. Now, I have not had an opportunity to review the

Public Tender Act exemptions or exceptions for the last year. It was a very big

document that was put on our desk yesterday very thick. That is something that

I will be reviewing carefully because there is a reason we put that piece of

legislation in place. If we are having a lot of exceptions to it, then that is

an issue.

Another thing and it is dear to my heart is the topic of cellphones.

Cellphones were mentioned in the AG's report as it relates to the Western School

District. We had cellphones that were bought but not being used. The cost of

them - we ate the cost, but we did not see any results - four cellphones at a

cost of over $1,200, not even used enough to warrant the purchase.

We had different executives having two cellphones being issued so that they

can do business calls while on vacation. We had employees who were not always

required to reimburse the cost of personal cellphone usage. That is something

that, as a new member, when we went to what I would call MHA-school, we all sat

down and we were told very clearly: You have rules that you must follow, and if

there is an issue, you need to fix that.

One of them, obviously, is we have a certain amount of money we can spend

doing our business day in, day out. I would say that the Western School District

as a public body needs to follow these same rules and needs to make sure that

they are not being treated any differently.

Another thing I noticed, and this was stated in the Green report, was we are

talking about liquor purchases by school boards in the hundreds of dollars. That

is something that was very clearly stated not allowed to be done, yet it is

happening there. We have to put everybody on the same page here; it is still

public money being spent. That is public money that could be spent better, as

far as I am concerned. It is not acceptable. We have hundreds of dollars for

gift certificates and donations for staff. That was stuff that was cut out.

Public employees are supposed to be exempt from that.

The AG report I keep going there are a lot of issues here, so I look

forward to a very meaningful conversation with the head of the Western School

District. He knows that I have called him on numerous occasions; I have written

him letters. I have had chats with other people there, but I have not had the

sufficient answers to these questions which are of a serious nature. It involves

saving public money that could be allotted to the public good and not wasted

here as seems to be the case.

Another issue, when we talk about the School Act, 1997, actually, just before

I came in the House today, I received an e-mail from the Western School District

on this school busing policy. Another issue that I believe is not just happening

in my district, school busing is an issue in a number of districts, everybody's

district. Not that long ago I had calls from parents. The policy, from what I

can gather I have to review it carefully; I just got it before we came in. The

policy, as I understand it, was actually drafted in the 1970s. In 1975 we had

this policy drafted and it has not been updated since. We are still living by

this policy that says, look, if you live within the 1.6, then you are not

covered; you cannot get a school bus. So, I have an issue with that, and upon

further review of this policy in full, I plan on making it an issue. I am sure I

am going to have support from a number of members in this House when we look at

it. Again, I have parents that live two houses away from other parents; their

kids are bused, but these kids are not, and we are talking about five-year-old

kids.

So what that means now, and this is not like the and I am not going to say

the old days, but back in 1975, the demography was different. We have a society

now where there are definitely more of two parents working in the house; both

parents are working. Unfortunately in our Province, now we have a lot of cases

where parents have to go away to work. So, these parents are gone to work and

they are having to take time off or make alternate arrangements to get these

kids especially the little kids get them to school. So, I think this is a

policy that needs to be reviewed.

An issue that I have dealt with in my district was the fact that we have had

schools closed down. Again, we are going through the process of regionalization,

so I have had schools closed down where I will take the community of Isle aux

Morts; their kids were able to, they went to school in that community. A lot of

kids on Route 470 have ended up being bused. So, the problem is now, back then

when they were going to school, they were in the community, they could get to

and from; now they are being transported all the way up to Port aux Basques, yet

there is only a bus to and a bus from school, which does not allow them to take

advantage of extracurricular activities, to take

part in school sports. The only

way that they can take

part in school sports is if they have a ride home after;

mom or dad better be around to give me a ride or else I cannot take

part in it,

I have to go home early. I have brought that up, but there has been nothing

done. It is a case of the response I got from the Western School District was:

sorry, it is what it is, too bad.

So, I have a problem with that. We need to make sure that, especially in this

era of regionalization and I know this is an issue that has obviously been on

the mind of the member opposite; there have been fears of his school closing,

Catalina, the possibility of that school closing. So, again, I have dealt with

that in my district. One of the things is that if you are closing schools for

regionalization, and these kids have to travel further distances, we need to

make sure that they can avail of all the same services, activities, clubs,

groups that kids that actually live in that community can take advantage of. We

cannot say, look, we are just going to bus you to and from. We need to make some

arrangement. The cost to do this, as far as I am concerned, is not extravagant,

not in the least. It is a cost that we need to do.

We all know the importance of extracurricular activities. We stand up most

days talking about members' statements about the good things that have been done

in extracurricular activities and sports groups, groups going away. If we are

not allowing every child a full opportunity to participate, then we are failing

them. We are failing them if we are not giving them that full opportunity.

Children, nobody should be disadvantaged by where they live. They should get

that full opportunity. That is why we need to make sure that perhaps the dollars

wasted, referenced in the AG report, could be dollars that could go to providing

that busing service. That is an example of where wasted money could be used to

make sure that everybody is on the same playing field. That is an issue, the

minister is aware, the district is aware, certainly all the educators on the

other side, they have been listening, they are aware. It is probably stuff they

have dealt with, but what I would say now is that we are in a position, by being

elected members of this House, where we can make things happen. We can make sure

that policies change for the betterment of the people of the Province,

especially when we are dealing with an issue like this, the children of our

Province. That is the advantage we have here. That is the privilege we have been

given, to make sure that when we deal with legislation - I understand this

legislation is going to be reviewed again in a period that, hopefully, is not

too long down the road. Well, let's make sure that we deal with these issues.

I am about to clue up here and I am going to turn it back over to Mr.

Speaker, but I look forward to the opportunity in Committee with some specific

questions, especially when it comes to the issue of liability, especially when

it comes to the issue of school time. To put those questions forward in

Committee and make sure that every

section of this act is read out, is examined,

questions answered because that is what we do. If we do not do that for

legislation, we are going to end up in a very bad situation. I do not need to

reference the mistakes of the past. That is why we are here. We are all here

now, clean slate, to move forward and make sure that we take our time in this

House to make sure legislation is properly, completely reviewed, questions

asked, questions answered.

Again, Mr. Speaker, I thank you for this opportunity.

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for the District of Lewisporte.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. VERGE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

It is a pleasure for me to stand today and to speak for a few minutes on this

bill that brings in amendments pertaining to The Schools Act, 1997. It is really

the first opportunity I have had to stand and speak in the House of Assembly

since this election. It is indeed a privilege. I do not get the opportunity as

much now but I certainly value it when I do get it.

Mr. Speaker, our government is committed to ensuring current and effective

legislation. What this bill does is basically amend The Schools Act, 1997. It is

really modernizing legislation and bringing it in line with our current

practice.

There are a number of things that are happening with respect to this bill. I

am going to touch several of them. I know the minister read them all. I am just

going to touch on a few pertinent ones and then I want to broaden the discussion

to some of the things that are happening in education.

The first thing I want to touch on is the amendment with respect to admission

for kindergarten students. I am talking about a student in kindergarten who has

been enrolled in school in another jurisdiction, another province. Previously

there was no real provision if a student was enrolled, let's say in Alberta,

where the admission age for kindergarten is about three or four months past

ours, I think it is March 31 in Alberta,

whereas in Newfoundland and Labrador

you have to be age five by the end of December. A student could conceivably have

been admitted to school in Alberta, done five or six months, and then the family

may have moved back to Newfoundland and Labrador. Then the student could not be

brought into kindergarten because they were not of age. So it presented a

problem for schools and school boards. What this amendment is doing is basically

allowing that to happen now because it will be less confusing for the family.

It increases the minimum hours of instruction for students in Grades 1 to 3

from four to five hours. The Member for Burgeo - La Poile talked about that a

few minutes ago but not really realizing that what this piece of legislation is

doing in large measure is lining up the legislation with a lot of things that is

actually already happening. In fact, the minimum hours for primary students were

increased about ten years ago in 2002. This basically lines the legislation up

with the practice.

One of the other things it addresses is attendance. A lot of you might

remember either as students or as teachers, when you went to school teachers

kept attendance records in the old register, either the green or the red

register. I know when I did my student teaching, one of the things I was taught

was how to keep the register. We were told we had to make sure everything was

done correctly and it was a legal document. We kept records like that for years.

Of course, we are in an electronic age now; schools have modernized and I would

probably say virtually all of our schools now keep attendance records

electronically.

I know one of the programs that we used in a high school where I was

principal of several years back was a program called WinSchool. We did not just

keep attendance records actually twice a day. On a large measure, they are kept

every period. Then the teachers would do it in their classrooms and then they

would enter the attendance and it would come back into the server. Schools

actually had an attendance record of who was in class every period. At the end

of the month you could produce a document which satisfied the requirements for

the school board and the departments, and these records were then sent on. What

this piece of legislation again does is it allows or it recognizes that this is

an acceptable way to keep attendance; we no longer have to be restricted to the

old registers.

It also talks about school fees, and in actual fact the legislation gives the

minister the right to issue directives with respect to school fees. We know that

was done. In 2006, school fees were eliminated.

Those of us who were in schools at that time, particularly administrators,

the collecting of fees were such an administrative nightmare. You collected fees

for textbooks, for lockers, for insurance, for agendas, for art kits and for

photocopying, you collected fees for everything. Our government eliminated fees

in 2006, and it was a great day for school administrators, school personnel.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. VERGE: It was also a great day for parents and for children right

across this Province. We put more money back into the pockets of our parents.

Mr. Speaker, it seems to me that schools have progressed at a pace that is

faster and more progressive than the legislation provided in the Schools Act,

1997. That is a good thing, Mr. Speaker. There are many examples I tell you,

Members of the House of Assembly. Many examples of progressive and proactive

measures that have taken place in our schools since our government took office

in 2003. I want to talk about some of those.

I spent twenty-two years as an educator and fifteen of them as a school

principal, but I have been out of the school system now for five years. A lot of

things can happen in five years. Some of my friends, who I still have in there,

say to me if you were to come back today, you would see a lot of changes. I

actually talked with two school administrators and several teachers over the

last few days, knowing that this legislation was coming up. I went and I talked

to them and I said to them, I know what happened in education in the twenty-two

years I was there, but I have been out of it for a while, can you tell me some

things that have happened in the last five years? Here are some of the things

that these people told me

MR. GRANTER: (Inaudible).

MR. VERGE: You will get your chance, I say to the Member for Humber West.

You will get your chance to have your say.

One of the things that they talked about and they said was a great initiative

is in the area of differentiated instruction. One classroom teacher told me, he

said, this is a type of approach that recognizes that there are many types of

children in our schools, and these children learn in many different types of

ways. So, ensuring that our teachers have the resources needed to address the

whole continuum of needs that exist in today's classroom is of paramount

importance, and our government has delivered in spades, I say, Mr. Speaker. We

have delivered in the area of differentiated instruction, making sure that

teachers have in their hands the resources they need to meet the differential

needs that exist out in the world. Not only in terms of instruction, I say, Mr.

Speaker, but we have also recognized the need to differentiate in terms of how

we evaluate students, making sure that the learning that takes place is properly

diagnosed and properly evaluated so we can find out exactly what the students

need.

Another thing a teacher told me and this is a junior high teacher who said,

you know what I really appreciate, is the way the class size has been reduced,

especially in the K-9.

MR. DINN: I had forty-eight (inaudible).

MR. VERGE: I just heard the Member for Kilbride say that he had

forty-eight at one point in time. He is a little older than me. I do remember

when I began teaching I actually started in 1985 up on the Northern Peninsula.

I spent a couple of years there, but then I came down to Lewisporte. My first

year in Lewisporte I taught a Grade 9 class of math, and the same Grade 9 class,

science, which took up about 40 per cent of their instructional time. There were

forty-three students in that class, and you had to do things like science labs.

We have come a long way, Mr. Speaker. We have introduced a new needs-based

teacher allocation model with an annual investment of $32 million.

This is important to note to the members on the opposite side: Had we kept

the old formula that the Liberals had in place, we would have 705 fewer teachers

in the system today.

AN HON. MEMBER: How many?

MR. VERGE: Seven hundred and five people without a job teaching today if

we had kept the system that the Liberals had in place. We actually have the best

the best teacher-student ratio in all of Canada.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. VERGE: The best student-teacher ratio in all all of Canada.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. VERGE: Our current pupil investment has increased from $7,400 per

pupil to over $12,000 per pupil, a 70 per cent increase, Mr. Speaker. The

average class size in 2005 was 20.7 in K to 9 and it is now less than eighteen.

We have specialists in the system: numeracy support teachers, instructional

education officers, student support teachers, literacy, and numeracy. We have

teachers out there to meet all the different needs that our children present in

today's world.

This information that I am passing on today is coming from conversations I

have had with today's educators. One of the things that one teacher talked to me

about was her appreciation for the whole inclusive education approach that our

government has taken. We have moved away from assigning teachers based on

criteria. We remember those days, the Criteria C, D, E, F, and G students. We

recognize more now that some students, yes, have pervasive needs and a number of

exceptionalities. Where possible, students need to be educated in a peer-focused

environment.

The overarching principle that guides education in today's system is: What is

the best fit for this child? What are the special needs that this child

presents? How can we get the resources this child needs? How can we employ the

proper teaching and the material resources to best meet that child's

instructional needs? That is what we are doing as a government, Mr. Speaker.

That is where we are in the philosophy.

I talked to a couple of principals, actually, last weekend and I said: What

stands out in your mind that has been happening in the last while in education?

One person immediately said technology. He said: Since you left education, the

investment in technology would just blow you out of the water; we have never

seen the likes in our lives. No longer do we have to fundraise to buy computers.

No longer do we have to wait for businesses to be finished with their computers

then they go to the school. He said there are interactive white boards in

practically every classroom and location in the schools today.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. VERGE: One vice-principal told me, she said: You know, we have

eighteen classrooms in our school; every one of them has an interactive white

board. Furthermore, we have them in the library and the science labs.

Students learn in different ways, Mr. Speaker. The introduction of new and

advanced technology into the classrooms, it recognizes where students are in

their thinking, how it is that they can be motivated, how it is that they can be

engaged; the whole investment in technology meets them where they are and it

again assists and helps in meeting all of the different needs that we are

presented with out in the school system.

Another interesting thing that a principal told me last weekend, again, he

said because I said to the person, I am going to be talking on the education

act; what is something that stands out in your mind? He said: You know, one

thing I would like for you to make specific mention of last year in November,

the first time ever I saw, the Department of Education put up a professional

development opportunity in St. John's. They invited principals from all across

Newfoundland and Labrador to come in, paid for their entire expense, and there

was a tremendous professional development opportunity in which they were

presented with presenters like General Rick Hillier, Dr. Avis Glaze, Dr. James

Spillane, and Dr. Mark Weber. This principal said: The PD that I received at

that time was exceptionally helpful and I have never, ever seen it in my

twenty-eight years in education.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. VERGE: Mr. Speaker, Safe and Caring Schools Policy; I want to talk

about Safe and Caring Schools for a few minutes. The whole phenomena around safe

schools have been in the media a lot in the last year or so and it crops up

every now and then. It is something that is exceptionally important to our

government, important that all of our students be educated in a safe and a

caring environment.

I talked to another school administrator and I said where are you in terms of

Safe and Caring Schools and how do you feel about that these days? She said,

well we put an emphasis in our school on positive behaviours. She said, I have

to say the government, the department has provided a lot of resources to help us

train teachers in something like the positive behavioural support system. She

said in our school, we emphasize what we call the five Bs, they are: be safe, be

fair, be kind, be respectful, and be responsible. In this particular school they

give rewards for positive behaviours as opposed to focusing on punishment of

negative behaviours. That is one approach that one school has taken based on the

research, based on consultation with their staff, based on the PD that they have

been given and it is working. Is it cutting out all bullying that is taking

place in schools, or this particular school even? No, I am not up here today to

say that all bullying is being cut out in our schools because we know that not

to be the case.

I really respect what the minister said in Question Period a couple of weeks

ago when he was asked a question around the whole Safe and Caring Schools piece.

The minister said: we will never fully get rid of bullying behaviour until

society accepts responsibility for it. Yes, some of this stuff takes place in

schools but you know it takes place in playgrounds; it takes place in community

recreational centres. I really support what the minister said that day, as a

society we need to accept responsibility for that and we need to never give

positive attention to people who are disrespectful of others and bullying and

harassing people.

The Safe and Caring Schools program is part of the provincial government's

six-year $9.2 million commitment to combating violence in Newfoundland and

Labrador through the Violence Prevention Initiative. It recognizes that each

child should be respected and valued for who they are, regardless of their

physical or their intellectual capabilities, regardless of their gender,

regardless of their race, regardless of their religion, regardless of their

sexual orientation or any other individual characteristic. Every individual

deserves to be respected, and I think that is something we all have to own, we

all have to promote, and we all have to support our schools in their efforts to

do the same.

Mr. Speaker, my time is running short, but Martin Luther King once said,

"Intelligence plus character that is the goal of true education." Intelligence

plus character and I support that, Mr. Speaker, because while we teach

students the academics, the three Rs, we also strive to teach respect, fairness,

kindness, integrity. These intangibles build character. True character shows

mutual respect, and when we have mutual respect for each other, there is no

space left for bullying and harassment. Mr. Speaker, this government believes

education is the key to future economic growth and development. We value

education. We have a tremendous vision for the future of Newfoundland and

Labrador, that is why we continue to invest in our children and that is why we

value education.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER (Kent): The hon. the Member for St. John's North.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KIRBY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

It is an honour and a privilege to stand here as the New Democratic Party

education critic and to say a few words about Bill 13, Act To Amend The Schools

Act, 1997.

Bill 13 talks about the registration of kindergarten students who come to

Newfoundland and Labrador from other jurisdictions. We know, Mr. Speaker, that

in most jurisdictions across Canada these days, school systems have all-day

kindergarten programs. They have full-day kindergarten programs. Ideally, today

we would be legislating that, too, in Newfoundland and Labrador. In Bill 13 we

would be legislating a full-day kindergarten program. That is what we really

should be doing.

I hear the members opposite saying oftentimes: How can we afford to do that?

How can we afford to have all-day kindergarten programs? I ask the members

opposite to think of it in a different way. Ask yourself: How can we not afford

to implement this change? In the end, the return on investment I heard a

member opposite today talk about economics in all-day kindergarten, in

full-day kindergarten, is so significant that the question should be: How can we

not afford to do it, Mr. Speaker?

We know that the returns are significantly high. We know that full-day

kindergarten is associated with higher rates of literacy in the population. We

know that leads to better reading skills at higher levels of the education

system. We know that full-day kindergarten is associated with better numeracy

skills. Of course, in a lot of cases better literacy skills lead to better

numeracy skills, especially if students are doing problems that involve reading.

We know that full-day kindergarten is also associated with smoother

transitions to Grade 1. We also know that full-day kindergarten is associated

with higher rates of participation in post-secondary education programs, in

skilled trades programs, in college programs, and in university programs. Of

course, Mr. Speaker, we know that leads to higher levels of participation in the

labour market. Individuals with higher levels of educational attainment

participate at higher levels in the labour market. They experience fewer periods

of unemployment. That really leads to higher taxation. There is more contributed

by individuals through their participation in the economy to government coffers.

So it is an investment that really provides a higher level of return that can

then be reinvested into other parts of the education system, the health system,

or what have you.

We all know this, Mr. Speaker. So we should be asking how we can not afford

to have all-day kindergarten. We should be looking at the means to make this

investment. That should be in Bill 13. That is what is missing from the Schools

Act, 1997 right now. I would say that is what is missing from our primary

education system.

Now, I say this because we know, Mr. Speaker, that children who participate

in all-day kindergarten programs are more self-motivated. We want to build a

generation of learners who are more self-motivated and learners who are more

successful, learners who are healthier, learners who are happier. That is the

outcome of all-day kindergarten Mr. Speaker.

We know that it helps children develop better social self-regulation. I heard

somebody say what is that, I will tell you now in a second. It helps children to

better regulate their own behaviour, to focus their attention, Mr. Speaker, to

follow instructions when they are given, to co-operate with teachers when

teachers give instruction.

There are a number of former school principals on the other side of the

Legislature. I see them nodding their heads in agreement with me. Yes, they know

that this leads to higher levels of co-operation with teachers when those

children are given instruction. Those children remember the things that they

have to do. That is the sort of social self-regulation that all-day kindergarten

programs help to build. That is what is missing in the education system right

now, that is what is missing in the primary education system, Mr. Speaker, and

that is what is missing in the Schools Act, 1997, and in this bill, Bill 13.

We know that all-day kindergarten programs as well help children to develop

the skills they need to be able to control their aggression, to know how to

better co-operate with other children in schools, to be aware of the feelings of

other children in their classes, to know when not to use their outside voice and

to use their inside voice.

AN HON. MEMBER: (Inaudible).

MR. KIRBY: The member opposite is using his outside voice, now he should

try using his inside voice instead. That is what I am talking about. Now he is

using his inside voice, that is better, that is a big improvement.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KIRBY: That is what we are talking about. That is what is missing

from Bill 13: improved emotional self-regulation that comes with all-day

kindergarten programs and that is what is missing. Other provinces have

figured that out, that is why a lot of the young children who come here from

other jurisdictions have participated in full-day kindergarten programs. They

know that because they have done the research. That research comes from

classroom observations, when researchers go into classrooms and they observe

what is going on in the classroom, from focus groups with children, with

students, with their parents, and with teachers and administrators. I know there

are a number of former school administrators on the other side of the House.

They are nodding their heads in agreement; they know what I am talking about.

They have probably participated. Yes, some of them have participated in this

very sort of research in the past.

MR. KENNEDY: A point of order, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

The hon. the Government House Leader, on a point of order.

MR. KENNEDY: (Inaudible) refer to what the members opposite are doing. It

is not correct what he is saying there. He should refrain from pointing out what

is taking place.

MR. SPEAKER: There is no point of order.

The Chair recognizes the hon. the Member for St. John's North.

MR. KIRBY: Maybe they were not shaking their

MR. KENNEDY: A point of order, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Government House Leader rising again on a point

of order.

MR. KENNEDY: He is misrepresenting himself to the people of this Province

and to the members in this Chamber by pointing out and saying that something is

happening that is not happening.

MR. SPEAKER: There is no point of order.

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

MR. KIRBY: I will continue, Mr. Speaker. Thank you very much.

Members opposite would also know from parent surveys, from report cards, and

from standardized achievement tests. Those are the sorts of programs and

research that have proven that full-day kindergarten programs have the necessary

impact that we need to improve the primary education system for our children.

That is what the research shows. It shows that children who participate in

all-day kindergarten programs get a solid foundation for their future learning.

They get a better start in school.

Of course, we know that it can help students to build better reading skills,

to build better writing skills, to build better skills in mathematics, to have

improved socialization, and these sorts of things that help them make the

transition from kindergarten to Grade 1.

It can help make the school experience more enjoyable for children. We see

that in the research as well. When they are enjoying their school day more, they

are more naturally inclined to learn. They want to be part of the school

experience. They want to be there in the kindergarten classroom and participate

in the learning experience. They want to be in school. They have more time with

their classmates and with other children in the class. They have more time with

their teachers, more time to socialize with other children through play, and

more time to learn, ultimately. Of course, they develop academic skills and

other skills. These skills are needed for participation in school, for success

in school, but also for success in their lives.

Instead of moving from one setting to another because with the half-day

kindergarten system we have now, we have a lot of children who go from home, to

child care, to school, and to home; alternatively, they will go from home, to

school, to child care, and to home. With the all-day kindergarten system, we do

not have that. They are in the kindergarten classroom all day and it is more

seamless; there are fewer interruptions in terms of setting. They stay there

longer as opposed to moving from different programs and different locations and

so on and it is more seamless and it is a better learning environment.

That is missing from Bill 13. That is missing from the Schools Act right now

and it is missing from our primary education system. Other provinces have

recognized that. Most jurisdictions in Canada right now, as I said, have

all-day, full-day kindergarten programs, because they have done the research,

they recognize the research, and they have gone ahead and done what they realize

needs to be done. We should realize that too.

We should realize also that today's parents need and they want all-day

kindergarten programs, because parents are not living lives of years past. There

are more single-parent families, more families where there is one parent who is

working, and then more families where there are dual-parent earners, so you have

two parents who are out in the workforce contributing, and they want an all-day

kindergarten program for their children.

The research shows that teachers want all-day kindergarten as well, Mr.

Speaker. That is what they want, because teachers recognize the many academic

benefits that exist with all-day kindergarten programs, the positive academic

and social benefits that come, especially for students from lower-income

backgrounds. Students that come from lower-income backgrounds have been shown to

benefit significantly from all-day kindergarten programs. It has also been shown

that this is particularly effective with students who come from educationally

disadvantaged backgrounds, where the level of parental educational attainment is

low; those children have benefited significantly from all-day kindergarten

programs students from lower-income backgrounds and where there is low

parental educational attainment. Great gains can be made for those particular

students in-all day kindergarten programs and we see it in the results.

Students who are in all-day kindergarten programs, they have higher test

scores. We see that. Whether that is standardized tests or other tests, we see

that they have there was one study, Mr. Speaker, where students who were in

all-day kindergarten programs had a higher score than those who were in half-day

kindergarten programs. On every single item that was tested in a standardized

test, every single item on the test, they achieved higher on those items than

students who were in the half-day program. There is no question the benefits of

this are clear.

There was another study that showed that these students who are in the

all-day kindergarten programs, they had better attendance. They attended school

at a higher level. They were in school more frequently than their peers who were

in half-day programs. They have higher reading comprehension scores in later

grades. So when they leave kindergarten, they go on to Grade 1, Grade 2 and

proceed through the education system, they are achieving higher in reading

comprehension. Literacy is essential. It is a precursor skill to the acquisition

of other skills. We know that it is so essential. Math scores are higher for

these students as well. Research has shown very clearly that mathematics,

literacy and general learning skills - skills that help you learn other skills -

are also higher. We should be looking at the benefits of this and that is what

is missing from this bill, Bill 13. That is what is missing from the Schools

Act, right now.

We know there are important social and behavioural implications of all-day

kindergarten. Full-day kindergarten students show more positive classroom

behaviour. They are better behaved in the classroom, basically. They behave

themselves in the classroom to a greater extent than students who had

participated in a half-day program. They show more originality in their work.

They are more original in the work that they produce than students who

participated in half-day programs. They learn more independently. They can sit

there and do their work more independently than students who participated in the

half-day programs. They get more involved in classroom activities and they get

along with their peers better. They are more co-operative,