March 13, 2001 HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY

PROCEEDINGS Vol. XLIV No. 1

The House met at 2:00 p.m.

MR. SPEAKER (Snow): Order, please!

SERGEANT-AT-ARMS: Mr. Speaker, their Lordships, the Justices of the

Supreme Court have arrived.

MR. SPEAKER: Admit their Lordships, the Justices of the Supreme Court.

SERGEANT-AT-ARMS: Mr. Speaker, His Honour the Lieutenant-Governor has

arrived.

MR. SPEAKER: Admit His Honour the Lieutenant-Governor.

SERGEANT-AT-ARMS: All rise.

Mr. Speaker leaves the Chair.

His Honour the Lieutenant-Governor takes the Chair.

SERGEANT-AT-ARMS: Ladies and gentlemen, it is the wish of His Honour the

Lieutenant-Governor that all present please be seated.

Thank you.

HIS HONOUR THE LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR (A.M. House, C.M., M.D., LL.D., FRCPC):

Mr. Speaker and Members of the House of Assembly:

Welcome to the Third Session of this, the Forty-Fourth General Assembly.

Work Plan of Action

My Government has a new First Minister and today, My Government is setting

out a clear work plan which will affirm public confidence as it completes the

mandate given in the General Election of 1999.

A Period of Change, Confidence and Challenge

The people of Newfoundland and Labrador are entering a period of change,

confidence and challenge. It is imperative that we all work together to ensure

that our hopes, dreams and aspirations are realized. Throughout this period, My

Government will maintain and build on the trust that the people of our Province

have placed in us.

We will keep that trust with a plan of action that delivers results.

Our plan is based on the input of our people, and recognizes and builds upon

the significant accomplishments that Newfoundlanders and Labradorians make to

their communities, their Province and their country.

Mr. Speaker and Members of the House of Assembly:

The United Nations has declared the year 2001 as the International Year of

the Volunteer. As we celebrate this year, it is appropriate that we acknowledge

the individual contributions that volunteers have made to our Province.

My Government is proud that Newfoundlanders and Labradorians are known

throughout our country as caring, vibrant and compassionate people. Their

efforts have truly made our Province a beacon on the shores of the North

Atlantic.

My government wishes to recognize the immense talent, inspiration and ability

of individuals, including volunteers, who make this Province a better place to

live.

The Order of Newfoundland and Labrador

My Government will introduce legislation to create the Order of Newfoundland

and Labrador. This Order will recognize individuals who have distinguished

themselves by exceptional achievement and sacrifice, unique skills and talents,

or by noteworthy contributions to their communities and Province.

I look forward to the Order being established over the next few months and to

serving as the Order's first Chancellor.

Mr. Speaker and Members of the House of Assembly:

CHANGE

My Government is committed to making changes that ensure greater confidence

in the institutions of government.

Greater Trust, Openness and Accountability

A key focus of My Government in this Session of the House of Assembly will be

to create a greater level of trust, openness and accountability.

To ensure this, details of My Government's plan of action and

accomplishments will be published and available to the people for their

scrutiny.

Review of the Freedom of Information Act

My Government has already embarked upon an agenda of openness through the

establishment of a review of the Freedom of Information Act. Once this review is

completed, My Government will move expeditiously to bring forward changes to the

current act.

Creation of the Office of the Ombudsman

My Government will introduce legislation during this Session to create the

Office of the Ombudsman. The Ombudsman will be established as an Officer of the

House of Assembly, and will have a mandate to hear public concerns regarding the

administration of programs and services.

Timely release of Reports and Studies

My Government is also committed to the timely release of reports and studies

prepared by or for government. The availability of such information will

contribute to a greater understanding of any actions that My Government my take

on behalf of the people of the Province.

Televised proceedings of the House

My Government believes that this Honourable House must remain visible and

relevant to the people. To this end, My Government will make provisions to have

the proceedings of the House of Assembly televised, commencing with the fall

sitting.

New Focus on Issues Facing Youth and Women

My Government will embark on a new and focused plan to involve more youth and

women in the operations and decisions of the government. It is time for real

initiatives and meaningful mechanisms to be put in place to realize this

objective.

Provincial Youth Advisory Committee

As part of our agenda of action, specific mechanisms will be put in place by

the new Department of Youth Services and Post Secondary Education to encourage

our youth to interact directly with My Government. We will listen and act upon

the opinions and views put forward by our youth through the creation of a

provincial youth advisory committee that will advise the new Department of Youth

Services and Post Secondary Education.

Child Advocate

My Government will also be establishing a Child Advocate to advance the

concerns and issues of our children. It is time that children had a real voice

in government. The Advocate will offer advice on children's programs and

services and will ensure that the interests of children are paramount in areas

where government services impact directly upon the lives of our children.

Setting New Goals and Priorities on Women's Issues

My Government has embarked upon an extensive consultation process under the

direction of the Minister Responsible for the Status of Women. This process will

assist My Government in setting new goals and priorities on women's issues.

Empowering Rural Communities

My Government will also direct greater attention to empowering our rural

communities. A key element will be the focus on investment and growth in all

regions of the Province, most particularly those rural areas which have not

fully benefitted from recent growth.

My Government will rely on the opinions and advice of our people throughout

the Province. There will be a sharper focus on regional development priorities

through a more proactive relationship with the Regional Economic Development

Boards.

As a real demonstration of our commitment to promoting local initiatives, My

Government will host a Rural Forum and Exposition in Gander, later this year.

Rural EXPO 2001 will showcase business accomplishments in all areas of the

Province and encourage further investment. The Exposition will also have a

particular emphasis on our Province's young leaders and entrepreneurs.

My Government reaffirms its commitment to ensuring the availability of

services throughout our Province. My Government will provide the tools for

communities and regions to control and shape their own futures.

CONFIDENCE

Mr. Speaker and Members of the House of Assembly:

The economy is stronger and more diversified than it was even a few short

years ago. This has led to a "can do" philosophy which is becoming the

norm. My Government will reflect this new confidence and attitude in its

actions.

My Government believes that confidence is built when more people are fully

aware of the plan of their government. My Government is committed to providing

more opportunities for our people to participate in the development and

implementation of this plan.

Agenda of Action and Results

My Government will be immediately and aggressively implementing a new agenda

of action. My Government has studied and consulted and it is now time for an

agenda of action and results.

Jobs and Growth Strategy

The hallmark of our agenda will be a determined effort to continue economic

momentum and ensure that all our people share in our Province's progress. The

strength of My Government's plan is based on the fact that it reflects the

views of the people, and has the support of the public. This foundation was laid

by My Government in 1999, with the release of a public consultation document on Jobs

and Growth , 23 public consultation meetings and 10 sectoral forums.

Within the next few days, and in conjunction with the budget process, My

Government will be articulating other specific Jobs and Growth priorities

for action.

New Structure of Government

Mr. Speaker and Members of the House of Assembly:

My Government has significantly restructured government departments to

reflect the priorities of the people and the needs of our Province. These

structural changes will be accompanied by sound policies which respond to

challenges and take advantage of opportunities.

Youth Services and Post-Secondary Education

A new Department of Youth Services and Post-Secondary Education has been

established with a mandate to assist the Province's youth in achieving their

full potential and accessing opportunities arising from the new economy.

Student Investment Corporation

My Government will focus on creating opportunities for students to obtain

meaningful employment that will facilitate their transition into the workplace

upon graduation and enable them to contribute financially to their

post-secondary education. A Student Investment Corporation will be established

to develop a coordinated youth employment strategy.

My Government believes that a reduction of student debt must be a provincial

and national priority. My Government has made a start. Timely completion of

post-secondary programs results in almost no provincial debt. The only debt owed

by a student is the Canada student loan portion. My Government will request that

the federal government develop a similar loan remission forgiveness program.

Reducing Student Debt

To further address student debt, revisions to the Student Aid Program will be

made. These revisions must take into account the specific challenges faced by

students who must leave their communities in order to pursue a post-secondary

education and who commonly have higher debt levels.

My Government has already frozen tuition for Memorial University for a

three-year period, ending in 2001-2002. We will further reduce the burden on our

students by reducing tuition at Memorial University, with the first reduction to

commence in September 2001.

My Government has made it abundantly clear to the federal government that

they must also ensure that post-secondary education becomes a spending priority.

Throughout the 1990s, in the face of severe fiscal challenges, the federal

government began to reduce financial transfers which could be used for

post-secondary education. The change to the Canada Health and Social Transfer in

1996 resulted in a further decline in funding. Now that financial forecasts have

improved, My Government continues to press the federal government to restore

funding to levels that existed in the early 1990s.

Environment

Mr. Speaker and Members of the House of Assembly:

A new Department of Environment has been established to ensure environmental

issues have a clear focus in, and remain a priority of My Government. The

Department's exclusive function will be to provide sound environmental

stewardship and regulation. As a priority, the new Department has been directed

to bring forward a strategic plan of action to ensure public confidence in our

water supplies.

My government is also committed to addressing the issues surrounding solid

waste management and the new Department has been mandated to develop a long-term

strategy in this area. We will be seeking the views of the people,

municipalities and other interested parties on how the Province should move

forward on this issue.

Labour

Mr. Speaker and Members of the House of Assembly:

My Government is also committed to renewing its relationship with labour,

business and community groups through the creation of a new Department of Labour

with exclusive responsibility for labour and occupational health and safety

matters.

Taking the necessary steps with labour and industry to ensure a stable and

productive workforce for future offshore fabrication and major construction

projects is a priority of My Government. A comprehensive report on these issues

was recently received by My Government and is now under review. Building on this

review, My Government will examine the needs for amendments to the Labour

Relations Act for presentation in this Session of the House.

Industry, Trade and Rural Development

A new Department of Industry, Trade and Rural Development has been

established to bring together government's core business development functions

in one department. It has a mandate to address business needs throughout our

Province, with a particular focus on rural areas. The Department will play a

major role as a catalyst for the implementation of the comprehensive report on

the renewal strategy for jobs and growth.

Trade Team Newfoundland and Labrador

My Government will give greater attention to trade and export development as

a means of creating new jobs and diversifying our economy. Subject to federal

participation, this will be achieved through a new initiative, Trade Team

Newfoundland and Labrador, involving federal and provincial government

departments as well as industry associations, regional development boards,

municipalities and other key stakeholders.

Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs

Mr. Speaker and Members of the House of Assembly:

A new Department of Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs has been created to

reflect a strengthened commitment in dealing with issues of concern to Labrador

and Aboriginal peoples. A priority of the new department will be to ensure that

the people who live in Labrador share in the development of the area's wealth

of resources. It will also provide leadership in advancing major economic

development opportunities in Labrador.

This new department demonstrates My Government's resolve to address

Aboriginal issues. The department will be responsible for negotiating and

implementing comprehensive land claims and self-government agreements with the

Labrador Inuit Association and Innu Nation and it will act as the coordinating

agency for My Government in dealing with all matters of concern to Aboriginal

peoples.

My Government will continue to pursue federal approval for the registration

of the Innu Nation. Land claim negotiations with the Innu Nation were postponed

recently by the federal government in order to concentrate efforts on the

registration of the Innu Nation as status Indians under the Indian Act, and on

the solvent abuse problems in Sheshatshiu and Davis Inlet.

My Government has recently initiated a public consultation on the Labrador

Inuit Association land claims position. Upon conclusion of this consultation

process My Government will continue negotiations with the Labrador Inuit

Association and the federal government.

CHALLENGE

Mr. Speaker and Members of the House of Assembly:

There is renewed confidence in the Province. We have made good progress in

strengthening our Province. We should take pride in our accomplishments.

Challenges remain, and we still have critical choices to make. The right

choices will propel us forward. The wrong choices will stall or reverse the

gains that our people have already made.

Fuel Regulation

Legislation will be introduced in this sitting of the House of Assembly to

regulate the price of fuel. The regulatory regime provided for by this

legislation will assure the public that fuel prices are set in a rational and

fair manner.

Realizing our Economic Potential

Mr. Speaker and Members of the House of Assembly:

Economic indicators suggest that 2000 was our third consecutive year of

strong economic growth, with real GDP increasing by about 5 per cent. This

follows 6 per cent growth in both 1999 and 1998. The export sector accounted for

about two-thirds of growth last year, spurred by increased oil and iron ore

production. Record levels of newsprint production and non-resident tourism also

contributed. The value of manufacturing shipments exceeded $2 billion for the

first time ever. Most indicators of economic activity recorded solid gains for

last year. Taken together, the last three years show the best three-year

economic performance the Province has had in more than twenty-five years.

The outlook for 2001 and the following years is positive. Most private

forecasters expect the Province to record strong growth again this year.

Although some industries, such as the fishery, still face challenges, the

continuing diversification of our economy gives reason for continued optimism in

Newfoundland and Labrador.

My Government is committed to a growth agenda which develops a balanced

investment prospecting agenda that reflects and matches the needs and

opportunities of all regions of the Province. The EDGE program will be refocused

and enhanced to target investment opportunities that would not otherwise be

directed to our Province.

Small Scale Manufacturing Strategy

My Government has adopted a small scale manufacturing strategy that focuses

on helping firms adopt the best manufacturing practices, team based management

techniques, new production technologies, ISO certification, export marketing

expertise, and e-commerce methods. The new Department of Industry, Trade and

Rural Development will ensure that this strategy is a priority of My Government.

Renewed Information Technology Strategy

My Government will renew its Information Technology strategy to ensure

growth, as our IT industry continues to mature. Specific objectives will be

established in consultation with the private sector and other stakeholders that

will focus on priorities such as accelerating the use of IT in businesses in all

areas of the Province through e-commerce and addressing the human resource

development challenges throughout the IT industry.

Cultural Industries

Newfoundland and Labrador has a rich cultural heritage that defines us a

people and shapes our identity on the national and international stage. This

uniqueness and creativity also provides new opportunities in an economic

development context. My Government is preparing an overall development framework

for our cultural industries that will be released this year.

Rising business confidence, oil industry development, and public

infrastructure projects are spurring capital spending. Construction investment

last year was the fourth highest on record at almost $2.1 billion. Total capital

investment, including construction in investment, exceeded $3 billion for the

second straight year.

After posting strong growth in 1998 and 1999, employment remained stable in

2000, at one of the highest levels in a decade. Lower employment in goods

producing industries, such as the fisheries, offset job gains elsewhere.

Personal income, however, increased by 3.7 percent while tax cuts allowed

disposable income to grow at a faster rate of 4.9 percent.

Equalization

Mr. Speaker and Members of the House of Assembly:

My Government will continue to argue for an equalization formula that is

responsive to our growing economy and the needs of our people.

My Government will aggressively pursue the federal government to fulfill its

commitment to work with the Province on a fairer equalization formula. my

Government will continue to advocate for a long term and equitable revision to

the current equalization program that includes the removal of the present

payment ceiling and changes to the claw back rate. These changes are critical as

they would have a substantial impact on the level of funding this Province

Responsive Tax Regime

Mr. Speaker and Members of the House of Assembly:

One of My Government's challenges is to maximize the benefits of our strong

economy so that all regions and all residents share in the opportunities of this

growth. One of the ways My Government is meeting this objective is through a

responsive tax regime.

My Government has instituted tax initiatives to stimulate business growth.

Our corporate income tax regime is among the most competitive in the country. In

the last Session of the House of Assembly the payroll tax exemption threshold

for businesses in the Province was increased from $150,000 to $400,000. This

initiative alone exempted 1300 businesses from the payroll tax.

Another measure My Government has adopted in support of small business is the

venture capital tax credit program. The Direct Equity Tax Credit and the Labour-Sponsored

Venture Capital Tax Credit are designed to stimulate the growth of small

business and new jobs in expanding areas of the economy, with a particular focus

on the needs of rural Newfoundland and Labrador.

These tax measures and other initiatives such as the Seed Capital Equity

Program and the Business and Market Development Equity Program address the

challenges small business and entrepreneurs face as the pursue new ideas and

opportunities.

Managing our Natural Resources

Mr. Speaker and Members of the House of Assembly:

Our future prosperity is not only dependent on nickel, petroleum or

hydro-electricity. More than at any time in our history, our economy is diverse

and dynamic. Our future prosperity, however, will depend on what we secure from

our resource developments. We must encourage the skills and technology of

tomorrow, not of yesterday.

Hibernia has set records and exceeded expectations. Estimates of recoverable

reserves have increased from 666 million to 884 million barrels. The annual

production limit has been raised from 50 million barrels to 66 million barrels.

An agreement secured by My Government ensures that Newfoundland and Labrador

shares in the benefit of increased production. Terra Nova will achieve first oil

in 2001, adding 115,000 barrels of oil per day to our total petroleum

production. A development plan application for White Rose has been filed. If

regulatory approval is given, first oil is expected by 2004. Hebron/Ben Nevis

may follow shortly thereafter. Chevron is evaluating several development

options. If economic viability is confirmed, front-end engineering could begin

this year. Onshore, we have received an application for development at Port au

Port.

The momentum we enjoy today is a product of yesterday's hard work. To lay a

foundation for tomorrow, we must encourage further exploration and continue to

develop our human resources and infrastructure. My Government will do this work.

Natural Gas

My Government has worked with industry, the federal government and other

interested parties in studying the potential of our natural gas resources.

Shortly, My Government will be releasing, for public comment, a comprehensive

natural gas strategy. My Government will encourage early development, but not at

the expense of our long-term interests.

Voisey's Bay

My Government sees opportunity in the development of the resources at Voisey's

Bay. We have the confidence to move forward and will resume negotiations. We are

not afraid to reach a deal because no deal will be signed that cannot be clearly

explained and defended. My Government has one basic objective for the

negotiations. Any deal must provide maximum benefits for Newfoundland and

Labrador. This includes a processing facility which can serve as the foundation

of an industry which will extend beyond the life of the mine.

Mining and Minerals Tax Review

My Government will undertake a comprehensive review of our mining and

minerals tax. We will focus on changes that are necessary to encourage greater

exploration investment in our Province while ensuring that the Province receives

its fair share from the development of our mineral resources.

Lower Churchill Development

My Government remains patient with respect to the development of the Lower

Churchill River. Disappointment and delay will not pressure us into a quick

deal. New project concepts are being assessed. An announcement on the future

direction of negotiations with Quebec will be made after this work has been

completed.

Forest Resources in Labrador

The full-scale development of the forest resources in Labrador offers

tremendous potential and benefits. My Government will actively pursue

development of a forest products industry in Labrador in consultation with local

communities and Aboriginal peoples. My Government's recently signed forestry

management agreement with the Innu Nation is an important part of the

development of a forest management plan that will advance to the development of

the Labrador forest industry.

Growth and Diversification Investment Initiative for Agrifoods

Our agrifoods industry has been growing steadily in both traditional and new

products over the past ten years. The value of primary agricultural production

combined with foods processing is close to $500 million. The agrifoods industry

in this Province has unlimited potential. Consumer demand is growing for high

value speciality crops such as organically grown food and nutraceutical/medicinal

products, some of which can be grown better in our Province than elsewhere. My

Government will support the implementation of industry driven action plans for

growth and diversification through a comprehensive Growth and Diversification

Investment Initiative for Agrifoods.

Fishery

Mr. Speaker and Members of the House of Assembly:

Great progress has been made in the recovery of the Province's fishery over

the past few years, with the value of exports at an all time high in 2000.

Fish landings in 2000 were on par with 1999. In 2000, landed values increased

to $585 million, up by $79 million or 16 per cent from 1999, due to higher

prices for crab and increased landings of shrimp.

The level of cooperation among the key stakeholders is also high. My

Government is committed to working with these groups and individuals to

carefully foster greater cooperation.

My Government will need to increase our efforts to ensure that federal

actions do not further jeopardize our historic access to our resource. My

Government is committed to a vigorous examination of the adjacency principle to

ensure our approach protects the viability of rural communities. We must ensure

a regional balance is achieved within our Province, while maintaining the

viability of the industry and continuing to address issues of over-capacity in

the processing sector. My Government will review its present fish processing

licensing policy to ensure that these objectives are being achieved. My

Government will also encourage the federal government to do the same with regard

to its overall harvesting licencing policy.

My Government will continue to work closely with industry to build on the

significant progress made in quality assurance throughout the industry, as

greater economic benefits can still be gained from the present fisheries if

quality continues to improve.

Aquaculture Development Strategy

A more strategic focus will be placed on investments in our aquaculture

industry. My Government has recently adopted a new Aquaculture Development

Strategy which has, as its key policy direction, a focus on commercialization of

four species - steelhead trout, Atlantic salmon, blue mussels and cod grow-out

enterprises.

Tourism

Tourism remains one of the fastest growing and exciting industries in the

Province. Since 1997, visitations to this Province have increased by 32 per

cent. In 2000, more than 415,000 people journeyed to this Province to enjoy our

culture and heritage, the beauty of our coastlines and our friendly people. This

increase is unprecedented and it is built on the achievement of entrepreneurs

and government working together to promote and develop Newfoundland and Labrador

as a premiere tourism destination.

Natural Areas System Plan

Recognizing that the natural beauty and pristine environment of Newfoundland

and Labrador are essential to our tourism industry, My Government will be

developing and releasing a Natural Areas System Plan for the Province. This plan

will help to preserve representative samples of our Province's ecosystem and

sensitive ecological sites.

We have made impressive strides in tourism in recent years. Awareness of the

Province and its unique products has grown through our Special Celebrations.

Celebrating Marconi

In 2001, My Government has planned a year of celebration to bring global

attention to Marconi's accomplishment and to Newfoundland and Labrador's

remarkable history and participation in communications. My Government will also

be hosting "Receiving the World: Celebrating Communications" an

international communications technology conference. This conference and

year-long celebrations will help us commemorate on December 12, 2001, the 100 th

Anniversary of the first transatlantic signal received by Marconi on Signal

Hill.

As a priority in the coming year, My Government will review our tourism

marketing strategy and develop a plan which allows the Province to build the

recent successes of special celebrations into an effective longer-term marketing

plan.

Health Care - Building a Strategic Plan

Mr. Speaker and Members of the House of Assembly:

My Government is working toward building sustainable regions which have

vibrant communities, and an important part of that strategy is having

individuals who are healthy and well-educated.

My Government is continuing its commitment to ensure the people of this

Province have access to services and programs enabling them to enjoy good health

and well-being. In achieving this goal, My Government will strengthen

partnerships with communities, have evidence-based decision-making, focus on the

determinants of health in a holistic way, and integrate regional planning,

delivery, and evaluation of programs and services.

My Government will ensure that these programs and services meet the needs of

the people by stabilizing the operating budgets of our health care boards. My

Government continues to regard improving the health of our people and the

quality of our health care services as a top priority. In recent years, My

Government has made significant financial investments in health care. Today,

forty-two cents of every program dollar spent in this Province is invested in

health care.

This year the Minister of Health and Community Services will play a lead role

nationally as the Provincial/Territorial Co-Chair of Ministers Responsible for

Health, to ensure that the federal government's commitment to health funding

through the Canada Health and Social Transfer are fully met.

Early this year, My Government will bring forward its plans for spending on

key elements of the federal/provincial agreement targeted at early childhood

development, medical equipment and primary health care. Each of these plans will

strengthen our approach to areas of strategic importance. For example, new

medical equipment, with other provincial budget commitments in this area, will

help reduce waiting lists for diagnostic services and reduce the length of stays

in hospitals.

My Government is committed to having qualified people in the right place at

the right time, so that our health care system can respond to the needs of our

people.

Community Based Health

My Government will give greater emphasis over time to community-based health

services and population health programs. This proactive approach to the delivery

of health care will help ease the financial burdens that are associated with the

institutional approach and give greater attention to the determinants of health

in our population. In the last sitting of the House of Assembly, My Government

tabled a report that addressed home support and home care issues. My Government

will give priority to addressing these issues, such as the inadequate level of

compensation that many of our home support and home care workers are paid.

Regional Health Forums

A major initiative of My Government in the coming year will be to build a

vision for health care and community services for the future. The Minister of

Health and Community Services will conduct a province-wide series of regional

health forums where community partners can help government shape this vision.

Future health care and community services must be based on shared values and

approaches, and we are committed to finding the right balance among service

Educating our Children

Mr. Speaker and Members of the House of Assembly:

My Government has made significant changes in the structure and delivery of

our education system. The restructured Department of Education is responsible

for the provision of affordable, high quality primary, elementary, and secondary

education to the children of the Province, including early childhood education.

By placing early childhood education with the Department of Education, special

attention can be focused on the conditions that contribute to high scholastic

achievement and ensure our children's best chances at entrance into advanced

studies, and the workforce.

The Report of the Ministerial Panel on Educational Delivery in the Classroom

has presented us with an opportunity to renew and improve our educational

system. My Government is proceeding to expeditiously implement the Ministerial

Panel's recommendations.

My Government will also be implementing a long-term strategy to give real

meaning to the Strategic Literacy Plan, "Words To Live By". An

interdepartmental committee will be established by My Government to contribute

to the implementation strategy and oversee its progress.

Distance education presents both a significant challenge and opportunity for

meeting the needs of students in geographically dispersed areas of the Province.

My Government is committed to the implementation of the new Centre for Distance

Learning and Innovation. This Centre will provide many of our students with the

tools they need to succeed.

Strategic Social Plan - A Proactive Approach

Mr. Speaker and Members of the House of Assembly:

My Government continues to move aggressively in implementing its Strategic

Social Plan, a proactive way to work with citizens to address social and

economic issues together.

My Government will build on the critically important linkages between social

and economic investments at the regional and community levels through improved

integration of programs and services. Regional steering committees to foster

long-term regional strategies and partnerships for social development are now in

place.

In this International Year of the Volunteer, My Government will place a

particular focus on strengthening our relationship with the volunteer sector

which has played a strong and crucial role in improving the lives of the people

Ambitious Work Plan - Our Hopes, Dreams and Aspirations are to be fulfilled

Mr. Speaker and Members of the House of Assembly:

My Government is committed to doing things differently. Today I have

presented an overview of our work plan. It is an ambitious plan of action - one

that will require a total commitment by all groups in our Province if our hopes,

dreams and aspirations are to be fulfilled.

This is a bold and ambitious agenda, and one which we will achieve. The

problems and difficulties we face as a people require leadership and fundamental

change. We must address our challenges, as the alternative is simply not

acceptable.

Mr. Speaker and Members of the House of Assembly:

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

be asked to grant supply to Her Majesty. I invoke God's blessing upon you as

you commence your labours in this Third Session of the Forty-Fourth General

Assembly. May Divine Providence guide you in your deliberations.

His Honour the Lieutenant-Governor and the Vice-Regal party leave the

Chamber.

Mr. Speaker returns to the Chair.

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

MR. LUSH: Mr. Speaker, I give notice and ask leave to introduce a bill

entitled, "An Act To Establish The Order Of Newfoundland And

Labrador." (Bill 1)

Motion, the hon. the Government House Leader to introduce a bill, "An

Act To Establish The Order Of Newfoundland And Labrador," (Bill 1)

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

MR. SPEAKER: His Honour the Lieutenant-Governor has been pleased to make

a Speech to the Members in this General Assembly. We shall take a few minutes to

distribute the Speech to members.

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Trinity North.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. ROSS WISEMAN: Mr. Speaker and hon. Members of this House, it is with

great pleasure that I rise and respond to the Speech from His Honour the

Lieutenant-Governor. It is also a privilege to be representing the District of

Trinity North, and it is also an honour to be a part of a government that is

putting forward a bold new plan of action as it carries out the mandate that it

was given by the people of Newfoundland and Labrador.

We are entering a period of change, confidence and challenge. It is difficult

not to get excited about the potential in the future of Newfoundland and

Labrador. The people of Trinity North are eagerly looking forward to being a

part of that great future, and sharing in and contributing to the continued

prosperity of this Province. It is important for all residents of Newfoundland

and Labrador to have confidence in the people that they elect to represent them

in the House of Assembly. It is important that government provide meaningful

opportunity for public input in developing the policies that shape our future.

It is important to ensure that the people of this Province have the opportunity

to define the social programs that they have and how they are going to be

delivered because that becomes a part of the fibre that holds the communities of

this Province together.

Mr. Speaker, it is important that all the hon. Members of this House be

accountable to the people who elected them. The agenda put forward by this

government outlines its commitment to an open and transparent government and is

fully accountable to the people of this Province. Government intends to make

public all reports and studies. An Office of the Ombudsman will be established.

The Freedom of Information Act will be reviewed and amended to ensure the

improved access to information. The House of Assembly will be televised. These

actions, I believe, will bring about greater confidence in the institutions of

government.

The Speech from the Throne highlights a very ambitious agenda and comments on

many important aspects of the Province's future. However, I would like to take

a few moments to focus on some of those things that are important to the

District of Trinity North. In this Province we have a very rich history and a

worldwide reputation of being a friendly and hospitable people. Our communities

have been enriched by networks of dedicated, hard-working volunteers who are

committed to improving the quality of life in the communities that they serve,

and I want to take this opportunity to thank the many volunteers of Trinity

North for the contribution they have made to the communities in which they live.

There will be many, I suspect, who will be worthy nominees for the Order of

Newfoundland and Labrador.

In this International Year of the Volunteer we celebrate the work of

volunteers. This past weekend I attended a charter night with the Lions Club in

Trinity. That club was celebrating over twenty-two years of service to the

communities that they serve. Not just to highlight one particular service

organization, but within Trinity North there are five Lions Clubs and this year,

in the International Year of the Volunteer, they are celebrating, collectively,

130 years of volunteer services to the communities that they serve. Mr. Speaker,

it is important to recognize that it is the people who make this Province the

great place that it is and a great place to live. We all benefit from its oil,

its fish, its forestry and its gas resources but it is the people themselves who

are the most valuable resource. It is that belief, in our people, that is

reflected in the new structure of this government.

The creation of a new Department of Youth Services and Post-Secondary

Education, as well as the new Department of Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs, are

but two examples of missions of this government to reflect and focus on our

people. We have heard many times a reference to our youth as being our future

but this time, with this plan, with this government, we have outlined today a

major commitment and a major investment in the future, by investing in our

youth. The establishment of the Provincial Youth Advisory Council will provide a

forum for the young people of Trinity North, and all parts of this Province, to

provide input into the decisions that are going to affect their futures. The

establishment of a Child Advocate will greatly enhance the quality of life for

our children. This position will have an impact on the future development of

policies and programs.

Mr. Speaker, and I am sure I speak for all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians

when I say it is great to see an initiative that will make post-secondary

education more affordable for our young people. The reduction of tuition fees at

Memorial University, and taking initiatives to reduce the debt load of students

graduating from post-secondary institutions, will indeed be welcomed relief for

those students.

As an MHA representing a rural district I want to say thank you to a

government for recognizing that students who have to leave their communities to

attend post-secondary institutions in another community incur a greater cost

than those who live in communities where those institutions are located. I am

proud to be part of a government that has taken action to deal with an issue

that has crippled many graduating students from our post-secondary institutions,

and that sometimes have been a major obstacle for some of our young people

pursuing post-secondary education.

For many years the Province has boasted of its pristine landscape and clean,

healthy environment. Generations of Newfoundlanders have assumed that we would

always have a safe, secure drinking water, and the residents of Trinity North

are no different. Many of the forty communities in my district are served by

community artesian wells, and I am extremely pleased by the priority of the

newly established Department of Environment to bring forward a strategic plan to

deal with the Province's water systems.

Mr. Speaker, as we reflect on this government's action plan it becomes

apparent that it is focused on its people and improving the quality of life of

those people, and creating a better and brighter future for the communities in

which they live. As we continue to reflect on this government's plan, as

outlined in the Speech from the Throne, we see continued emphasis on health care

and education.

The Speech from the Throne also made it abundantly clear that the health care

system remains our top priority. We will continue to invest in new technologies

and improve the quality of our health care services, while at the same time

foraging stronger partnerships with community levels, which are so necessary to

the future survival of our health care system. When we see that there are

forty-two cents of every program dollar spent on health care you have to

acknowledge that that reflects a major commitment, by this government, on what

has been identified by many people in this Province as its number one priority.

The people of Trinity North have had the good fortune to have improvements in

their health care system. This past year we have seen the introduction of a new

CAT Scan unit at the Dr. G.B. Cross Memorial Hospital. We are about to see the

introduction of kidney dialysis units in Clarenville. We have seen the expansion

of our home care programs in that area, but there is still one glaring gap in

service in health care in that area. The people of Trinity North have asked me

continuously to make representation in this House to ensure that the long-term

care needs of the residents of Trinity North and area are dealt with, and that

this government move forward in establishing a new long-term care facility in

that community. The communities of Trinity North, and indeed, all communities in

rural Newfoundland, are pleased to see that this government is acknowledging the

need to enhance educational opportunities throughout the very geographically

dispersed communities in the Province. This requires new and innovative

approaches, and we welcome the establishment of a centre for distance learning

and innovation.

Mr. Speaker, literacy is a key educational issue in this Province. Last week

I had an opportunity to see how at least two schools in my district have been

challenged by the government's new literacy program. I had an opportunity to

present two cheques to two schools, one in Random Island and one in Port Rexton,

for $2,500 for their participation in a literacy campaign undertaken by the

Department of Education. As I talked to these students last week about their

reading initiative in those two schools - and these are two small schools in

rural Newfoundland who are participating in an initiative and a campaign to

promote literacy. The principal of one of those schools said: The kids in this

school are turned on to reading. I think that speaks highly of and reflects the

kind of emphasis that this government has given to improving literacy in this

Province. That is one school's response to that challenge.

The District of Trinity North represents a very diverse rural economy. I

think it points to the potential that exists in many parts of rural Newfoundland

to have a blending of the new and old industries. The district has three fish

plants. It has a concentration of people who continue to have a career in the

fishery. In Old and New Bonaventure, areas of Trinity Bay, in the Southwest Arm

area and on Random Island, many people pursue a career in the fishery.

Successful fishplant operations exist in Hickman's Harbour, Clarenville and

Trouty. We have small scale manufacturing operations. They are manufacturing and

exporting fibreglass boats and industrial equipment, together with some

foundries; manufacturing and exporting precision parts to the U.S. We have

successful tourism initiatives, and most of us have experiences in visiting

Trinity. Trinity has become one of the most successful destination points for

tourism in this Province.

The Town of Clarenville, which this year by the way is celebrating its 50 th

Anniversary as an incorporated town, probably one of the oldest incorporated

towns in the Province, has developed into a service centre for the region.

Recently, through initiatives of discovery of regional economic development

boards, there have been a cluster of IT companies who are starting to set up in

the Clarenville area. The District of Trinity North is a neighbor to the

District of Bellevue and shares with that district the economic benefits of the

industrial developments of Bull Arm, Whiffen Head and the oil refinery at Come

by Chance. None of these strategies would be possible if government did not,

through its strategic economic and social plan, provide the network of

infrastructure programs to make that area a quality place in which to live and

which to do business.

I am pleased to see the reflection in the Speech from the Throne today that

government has continued to be committed to rural Newfoundland and Labrador. We

are acting on the messages heard during the Jobs and Growth consultation by

delivering the tools communities and regions need to control and shape their own

destinies.

Regional development is sharply in focus for this government. The new

Department of Industry, Trade and Rural Development will play a significant role

in assisting communities to seize and build on their opportunities. A

competitive tax regime, programs that simulate investment, and initiatives that

support rural economic developments, are all essential ingredients in building

on the promise of our future.

I think the Trinity North area is an example of how sound government policy

and government working together in partnership with community groups and the

private sector can create a successful, diversified economy within a particular

region of the Province.

I am proud to be part of a government and to represent a district that has

demonstrated that when communities work together and when government creates a

supportive economic and social environment, the end result can be a successful,

economically viable region.

Mr. Speaker, in conclusion, I would like to thank His Honour for his

attendance here today. I move that a Select Committee be appointed to draft an

Address in Reply to the gracious Speech from the Throne.

Thank you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Cartwright-L'Anse au Clair

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS JONES: Honourable Members of the House, it is indeed a privilege for

me to stand today to second the motion that has been put forward by my colleague

for Trinity North.

On behalf of the people of my district, Cartwright-L'Anse au Clair, I would

first of all like to congratulate our new Premier and his new Cabinet. This is a

time for continued renewal and change. This government will focus the priorities

of the people of the Province and will do so with experience and with knowledge

of our past. The new structure that this government has taken, and the action

plan that has been outlined today, indicates the renewed vigor and renewed

enthusiasm.

There are two clear themes that are emerging from this new government:

listening compassionately to the concerns of the people of this Province, and

tackling the problems with decisiveness. This new Premier and this new

government does not shy away from change nor challenge in society, but rather

addresses the issues and the important concerns that face our people head on.

This government has commited to increased openness and accountability. It is

based on the underlining belief that people have the right to know how their

government is being operated. It is also based on confidence in the people of

this Province, the belief that if people have access to information and there is

free and open debate about public policy, then better decisions will be made. A

big part of this is the decision to televise the proceedings of the House of

Assembly. This will make the operation of government more accessible to the

people of this Province. It is a major step, and its impact should not be

minimized.

Mr. Speaker, I was very pleased to see the focus that has been placed on

children and youth in this Throne Speech. The commitment to establishing a Child

Advocate to advance the concerns and issues of children is something which I

feel very strongly about. I will be working very closely with the Minister of

Health and Community Services to see that this position is put in place in a

very timely and beneficial manner, to ensure that the rights and interests of

our children are protected.

There should be no doubt about this government's commitment to the youth

and the future of our Province. As was already indicated, the creation of the

Provincial Youth Advisory Committee which will advise the new Department of

Youth Services and Post-Secondary Education, the creation of a student

investment corporation to develop a coordinated youth employment strategy, and

addressing the problems of students debt and reducing tuition fees at Memorial

University, these are all investments in our youth and in our Province, allowing

our youth to have equal opportunities in society and equal input in government.

Mr. Speaker, I am also very pleased with the focus on Labrador in this Throne

Speech. The new Department of Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs will play a very

critical role in the development and delivery of public policy initiatives

designed to maximize the potential of Labrador. This renewed focus on Labrador

is a signal that this government recognizes the very critical role that the

region has played in the past and will continue to play in the future of our

Province.

We intend to pursue the development of major resource projects like the Lower

Churchill and Voisey's Bay, but not to the detriment of the region or the

Province. Resource development must be managed so that everyone benefits and all

regions, and all residents, share in the opportunities of developments.

I believe that this new focus on Labrador bodes well for the settlement of

land claims agreements with the Aboriginal groups. Land claims settlements are

essential if the benefits of economic and social development in the region are

to be shared fairly amongst all our residents.

Mr. Speaker, the fishery is an industry of great importance to the district

that I represent. I am also pleased to hear in the Speech from the Throne that

there is a commitment to very vigorously pursue the adjacency principle, to

ensure that our historic access to our fishery resource is not jeopardized. The

adjacency principle is an issue of great importance to everyone in this

Province. It is what allows our communities, from one coast to the other, to

create economic renewal.

Labrador's strong stand on adjacency has allowed us to bring our shrimp

resources onshore for processing. This year we will open the first ever shrimp

processing plant in Charlottetown, creating employment for approximately 120

fishers and fish plant workers.

We must work together to achieve a regional balance while maintaining the

viability of the fishing industry. I believe that we can do this. We can achieve

it by following the action plan that has been outlined today.

I represent a rural district of our Province, and I am very pleased that this

government is committed to ensuring the availability of services throughout the

Province. It is important that communities and regions be given the tools to

control and shape their own future. The area that I represent has experienced a

period of economic optimism. With the opening of the new highway, the road into

Mary's Harbour this year, and the continued construction of a highway through

Labrador, we are allowing our communities to be independent and to be innovative

in achieving economic diversity.

Again, the Speech from the Throne has demonstrated that this government is

prepared to lead by delivering straight answers and real solutions on issues

that concern the people of Newfoundland and Labrador. It is evident that now is

the time for proven leadership, someone who has served in more Cabinet positions

than any other Member of the House of Assembly and has never refused the tough

assignments.

This new Administration will develop realistic and achievable solutions. This

government will be known for its reform, for its innovation, and for its

implementation. We have many challenges and, as a government, we will continue

to meet those challenges head on.

Newfoundland and Labrador has a promising economic future, and we have to

make sure that all share in the Province's economic wealth. I am confident in

the future that we will continue to be a very diverse and progressive society,

and this Province and our new Administration will bring a new approach and a

renewed vigor to governing.

It gives me great pleasure today to second the motion that has been put

forward by my colleague, the Member for Trinity North.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. E. BYRNE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I thought the closing of the Christmas session would be my last speech as

Leader of the Opposition, but apparently it was not. I can only hope that in the

near future, and I think it will be -

AN HON. MEMBER: (Inaudible).

MR. E. BYRNE: No, it will not, I say to the minister. This will not be my

last

I want to say to the Premier, first of all, congratulations on assuming the

role of First Minister. I can assure you, on this side of the House, of our

continued desire to work in the best interests of the Province, and where we see

that government is doing that we will expedite those decisions that you make.

Before I move on, I would like to welcome also the guests in the gallery to

yet another Throne Speech. This is my ninth Throne Speech, since first being

elected, and each one brings with it, or tries to capture, a flavour of the

political environment of the time that it is given. This one certainly tries to

do that, and I will expound on that in a few moments. I want to assure you first

of all, this is not my speech today so I am not going to hold people up too

long.

My next task certainly is to congratulate two new members of the Assembly:

Mr. Trevor Taylor, the Member for The Straits & White Bay North, and Mr.

Wallace Young, the Member for St. Barbe. Congratulations, and welcome to the

House of Assembly.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. E. BYRNE: We have an interesting role in this House, and this

afternoon is not an opportunity for partisan shots. It never has been. It is an

opportunity to respond to government's stated objectives or goals, or possibly

their legislative agenda. The details always come after, in the Budget, and the

devil is always in the details, but we will see and we will hold government

accountable. Our role - we have a dual one. One is that we are the Official

Opposition for Newfoundland and Labrador. In that role, in every piece of

legislation, every Question Period, we stand up and ask ministers questions and

hold them accountable. Our role is to do exactly that, to hold government

accountable for their actions or lack of action. There is an old adage, and I

believe it to be true, that government is only as good as the Opposition that

sits in the House with them. We will strive to ensure that this government is as

good as it can be, by being and striving to be better than they will be, and

that is one of the roles that we have.

The second role that we have, which is equally and some people might say more

important, is the role to be an alternative government; an alternative

government to the people of Newfoundland and Labrador, so that at some point,

whether that is next month, next year, or two years from now, that we put

forward an aggressive agenda, a forward-looking agenda, that people may see in

us an alternative to the present Administration, and that is what makes this

House of Assembly work. That is what makes it ideal. That is what gets issues

debated, and that is what we will do as well. We will affirm today again that,

as a party and as the Official Opposition, we will continue to work to the best

of our ability to be that alternative.

I want to say, first and foremost, that this Throne Speech has some new

elements to it. There have been some changes since this Administration's

mandate in 1999. I just want to read for the record for a moment, because it is

important, that Newfoundlanders and Labradorians expect their government - and

this was under the theme that has been put forward today by government under

accountability, trust, openness, transparency. I want to read just for a moment,

if I may: Newfoundlanders and Labradorians expect their government to manage

their public affairs in a transparent manner. People demand to be consulted but,

more importantly, they expect to have their interests actually reflected in

public policy. People demand accountability, responsibility and openness,

principles that will guide the action of a PC government.

For the record, we said a PC government will release to the public, within

thirty days of receiving it, every government commissioned report by a panel,

review committee, task force, consultation process or commission, and will

indicate at that point what our course of action would be.

We went on to say a PC government will mandate that all Cabinet Ministers

must prepare and submit to the House of Assembly an annual departmental report.

We said a PC government would establish a new Freedom of Information Act to

reduce the cost of assessing information, to reduce the wait for information,

and to ensure ministers actually provide the information requested where that

information belongs in the public domain, and we will strike a committee of the

House of Assembly to solicit public input and make recommendations regarding the

content. A PC government will create a new privacy act that protects citizens

and consumers against the unwarranted collection and use of information on

citizens. A PC government will immediately reinstate the Office of the

Ombudsman, eliminated by the previous administration in 1989. A PC government

will restore the integrity of the Public Tendering Act, which the government has

recently weakened. A PC government will restore the integrity of the public

service commission as an independent body mandated to make impartial

recommendations on the hiring and promotion of the public service.

This document was released during the last election. I do not raise it to

say: me too, and you are taking that from us; because such childish behavior

does not belong here. I say it in this regard, as I mentioned just a few moments

ago, where this government moves in a direction that we have already established

as a party and we believe is in the best interest of the people of the Province,

we will immediately endorse it.

When you talk about the Freedom of Information Act, as you have talked about

in the Throne Speech, we look forward to the legislation. We look forward to

seeing the details of it because we all must acknowledge today that the act is

not necessarily the problem. The act today, as it exists right now in body, in

law, in regulation, allows for the timely release of all information requested.

What needs to change is the attitude on the release of information. If we can

strengthen that, and it provides government some solace - strengthen that so

information we seek can be provided to them, then we will do it.

We talked about the Office of the Ombudsman, and I look forward to the

legislation that reinstates that. One of the huge and most important questions

of that office will be: Who does that person report to? Does it report to this

Legislature? From what I read and from what the Premier and the Speech from the

Throne has said, it seems that it does. That is important, that it reports to

all of us, not a line department.

The introduction of a Child Advocate is extremely important. I believe that

all members and government have come to that conclusion. We came to it some time

ago. What is important about that office as well: Where will that office report

to? Will it report directly to the House of Assembly as the Auditory General

does? Where the Auditor General's report - there is no screening aspect to it.

It is what it is, and it is tabled in this House for all to see what it is. That

is very, very important.

Lastly, on the notion of accountability and openness, I applaud the

government for the introduction of televising the House of Assembly. It is time.

Every other jurisdiction in the country has moved on that and the people of

Newfoundland and Labrador deserve no less in terms of seeing what their members

actually do, what we debate, and how we hold each other accountable. This is the

forum to do it. I am not sure, Premier, if we are going to be able to live up to

CBC radio's billing of XQP, their own self promotion, but we will see.

On the social side of the agenda we have moved into an era where there is

recognition. Again, we will see in legislation because the goals that have been

outlined here with respect to post-secondary institutions are something that are

inarguable. They are self-evident, but the legislation will tell us. Will it

apply only to certain people? Will it apply equally across the board? Will all

young people, irregardless of where they live or where they might be from, have

equal access to a post-secondary education? That's the details, I suppose,

that will be tabled in this House through government's legislation.

With respect to government making a further commitment to ensuring that women

in politics and throughout bureaucracy play a greater role - again, it is a

notion that - who could argue with it? We can only applaud government. I will

say again, that as we move along the legislative agenda and we hear what

government has said - and will they, in fact, deliver? That will be our role. I

commit to that today, to performing that role to ensure that the commitments

that this government has made on the social side of the agenda will be lived up

to.

I am somewhat saddened though. I expected, on the social side of the agenda,

something else that I feel strongly about, I feel passionate about, that

government - and I urge them today to consider, in a very sincere way, a

recommendation that I will make. We live in a Province where the population is

aging. We live in a country where the population is aging, but never more severe

than in this Province. What is lacking, I think, in this Throne Speech is the

attention given to seniors. I would like to recommend, and say again for the

record, that seniors in this Province face special challenges, unlike any other

group. Many are faced with special expenses and are struggling to live on fixed

incomes. Many face abuse and neglect that often goes unnoticed. Many have

special health care needs, special diets. Seniors must, in my view, be reassured

that their government will be there to help them in their times of need. Our

population is aging. We recommended this in the past and I recommend it again,

that we give greater attention to seniors' issues, that we shine a spotlight

on the special concerns of seniors in this Province by establishing a

secretariat responsible for seniors' issues alone. Our seniors need, in my

view, an identifiable agency within government to research, to plan and

coordinate innovative programs and activities on their behalf.

Let me say on the resource side of the agenda put forward - and this is where

I am somewhat concerned. I would like to quote for you from the 1999 Throne

Speech immediately following the last general election. I have the actual copies

here, and I will refer then to what was said in this year's Throne Speech

because this is a new government, in a sense. It has a new mandate, it has a new

Premier.

In 1999, when the general election was called, then Premier - now former

Premier Brian Tobin - went to the polls and the people, and sought a mandate on

this question: Who do you wish to negotiate? He asked the people of this

Province: Who do you wish to finish the job on Lower Churchill negotiations and

Voisey's Bay? During the election there was some speculation about ore being

shipped out of the Province, speculation about the then Mines and Energy

minister, that the government policy would allow ore, probably, to be shipped

out of the Province. The then Premier, in the opening of a candidate's

headquarters in Gander, when asked the question directly, replied: It is our

policy - meaning government, this was in the middle of the general election - to

have all of the ore processed in the Province, but beyond that we are not

prepared to discuss any alternatives or options with Inco or with anybody else

until, first of all, Inco formally moves away from the position that they took

earlier this year - last year in fact - when they said that their position was

for a project that would see a mine/mill operation in Labrador and the ore

shipped out of the Province entirely.

In the 1999 Throne Speech - because this essentially is the hub of this

government's mandate. When you talk about having the legal right to form your

mandate or to opt it out, yes you do. I believe the moment that we start

stepping outside of what the mandate was sought for and what it was given, then

we have other questions that we must ask each other in this House and in this

Province. I will quote directly from the 1999 Throne Speech: "A loud and

clear message has been sent to INCO by the people of Newfoundland and Labrador:

there will be no mine at Voisey's Bay unless the ore is processed in this

province. That is the choice. It is INCO's to make. My Government's position

- the position of the people of Newfoundland and Labrador - will not

waver."

Mr. Speaker, we have done our homework on this issue, as we have done with

all others. I want to say clearly to the Premier, and to the government, that

you have every right to make a deal. You have every right to enter into

negotiations, but I will put you on notice today that if that deal falls outside

the parameters on which you, your former boss, the former Premier, and this

government have sought a mandate and received it, then Sir, in my view, you and

this government will have a choice to make. Either they can proceed in this

Assembly, which they have every legal right to do - if it falls outside those

parameters, even if they have no political right to proceed - or you can take

that negotiated deal, if you have one, that falls outside those parameters, and

take it to the people of the Province and ask them to comment on it.

Essentially, that is the hub of the position of your government. That is the one

that you lived with, as a former minister in a number of capacities. It is a

commitment made by this government to the people of Newfoundland and Labrador;

and in that regard, I can assure you here today, we will indeed hold you

accountable to that.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Signal Hill-Quidi Vidi.

MR. HARRIS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Let me first of all welcome our guests who are joining us here today.

AN HON. MEMBER: (Inaudible).

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

The hon. the Government House Leader.

MR. LUSH: I just want to ensure that the hon. member has leave of the

House because, if not -

AN HON. MEMBER: (Inaudible).

MR. LUSH: He has leave? Fine. Okay.

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Signal Hill- Quidi Vidi.

MR. HARRIS: I would like to welcome our guests here today, to join with

us in hearing the Speech from the Throne. I was reminded by the Leader of the

Opposition that it was his ninth speech. I think this is my twelfth opportunity

to listen to the Speech from the Throne, read by the Lieutenant-Governor in this

House. This is also my first opportunity publicly to congratulate the new

Premier on taking on the new role as Premier of this Province. Also, may I say

by way of compliment to him and his government, it is very good to see a strong

group of women both in the front benches of this House and in Cabinet, and in

fact in the senior levels of government.

Mention was made in the Throne Speech of the role of women in politics. It is

something that our party has been very interested in. We, in our own political

parties, have responsibilities to promote equality of women and put forth strong

women candidates, and find ways of promoting equality of representation in

bodies. I think we, as a Legislature, should also consider ways that can be

done. I know a number of years ago a motion was presented to this House to try

and see whether the electoral system could promote greater equality of women in

public life.

I want to compliment the speakers, the mover and seconder of the motion, who,

before this House, set up a committee to respond to the Speech from the Throne,

as is the tradition of the House to do that. Both members gave a very fine

speech in recognition of the importance of their own districts and how they have

a responsibility here to fight for them. The Leader of the Opposition talked

about the role of the Official Opposition in holding government to account and

in preparing for government. We, too, in the New Democratic Party, have a strong

role to pursue vigorously and vigilantly in this House the questions that need

to be asked, the positions that government has taken on issues of the day, and

put forth our alternatives, our solutions and our challenges to the problems of

the people of Newfoundland and Labrador.

There are some very positive aspects of what has been presented here today. I

want to especially note the appointment by government, the establishment of a

ministry for Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs, with a minister in charge of that

department. It is an important step. Not only is it an important step but also a

very significant and vital role to play in government and in this Province.

There are many issues, complex issues, related to Labrador affairs, and in

particular with our Aboriginal communities, problems to be solved, fairness to

be adjudicated, issues such as land claims, resource development, and a fair

role in all of that is a most important aspect of what we are going through in

this Province today.

The important areas of resource development, of course, have been touch upon.

I say to you, Premier, and to your government, that you can expect vigorous

debate in this House and from this quarter on issues of resource development in

the Province. We have already had some public words about the negotiations over

Voisey's Bay, and the consequences to this Province of a deal that might be

very advantageous to certain parties outside of this Province but not as

advantageous as it ought to be to the people of Newfoundland and Labrador, and

equalization is only part of it. Clearly, the issues of royalties, taxes,

resources and processing are at the top of the list as well.

On the issue of our offshore oil and gas development, the Speech from the

Throne mentioned that the Hibernia field has exceeded expectations. It has

certainly exceeded the expectations of the people who are the primarily

beneficiaries of the Hibernia field, but it has not met the expectations of the

people of Newfoundland and Labrador, particularly with respect to the kind of

royalties that we might receive.

We need to start on the road to redress some of the inequities that exist in

our resource development, and I welcome an opportunity to see the review of the

mining and mineral tax legislation and regime that has been initiated in the

Throne Speech and mentioned here.

I would like to see, and given that the Child Advocate and other social

issues that have been brought forward have been debated in this House for a

number of years since I have been here, it is worthy of recognizing that the

Child Advocate notion was the product of a select committee of this House

looking into the children's interests and came forth from that committee as a

unanimous recommendation to be brought forth, and I welcome its adoption by this

government.

I would like to urge the Premier and the government to also consider that all

of the members of this House, in addition to playing a role in representing

their individual constituents, have an important role to play in the shaping of

legislation and policy, and the review of such an important issue as the Mining

and Mineral Rights Tax Act should be something that should be reviewed by a

committee of this House as was proposed, in fact, back in December of 1995 when

certain revisions were brought in at that time. I would urge the government and

this Premier - I would agree that the Speech from the Throne is an ambitious

one, it is an ambitious plan, but I would urge this government, as part of its

changing face that it is trying to put on government, that it also see the role

of the Legislature and the individual members improving and being an important

part of that.

I am very pleased to know that this government wants to move ahead as quickly

as possible with televising the debates of this House. It is something that I

have advocated and supported for many years. It is something that we have all, I

think, wanted to achieve, but I think it is also important, if we go forward

with this, that we ensure that we have full coverage of the House of Assembly so

that we can have gavel to gavel coverage available throughout the Province

wherever cable television is available, so that the Member for Lake Melville or

the Member for Labrador West or the Member for Burin-Placentia West can speak in

this House and be seen and heard directly by their constituents when they speak,

and not just have a feed from this House that the media may use from time to

time as they see fit.

I think it is very important that we establish, as a principle for this, that

it ought to be access to this House of Assembly by people throughout

Newfoundland and Labrador in their communities so that they may see what goes on

here and perhaps get a greater understanding of some of the problems that we

face in trying to make legislation and deal with the issues of the day. That is

not problems that we face as a Legislature; it is the problem that government

faces, the problems that we all face. I think that would be an important step

forward.

There will be lots of opportunities throughout the session to debate all of

the matters that were raised not only in the Throne Speech but also the ones

that were left out. The Throne Speech talks about the prosperity in this

Province but, of course, we need to be reminded that there are too many people

in this Province who are wondering when this prosperity will hit them; when they

will get to benefit from the prosperity that is hinted at in GDP rates that

sounds good when government pronouncements are made but makes no difference to

their lives.

I want to point out that the Throne Speech did not talk about some of the

major issues that we are dealing with in terms of child poverty, in terms of

inadequate programs for people who are disabled, in terms of a lack of

sufficient programs for people who are in need of hospital - in particular home

care - and those who work in that industry. It was mentioned in the Throne

Speech. What was not mentioned, of course, is that government itself has played

a very strong role in keeping the home care workers in, in fact, a disadvantaged

position. That is something that we would hope to raise and, when the measures

are brought forward, to vigorously analyze and advocate on behalf of those

working in the home care industry in this Province.

We did not hear about one problem that we are going to be facing very

shortly, and that is the important public sector negotiations that are ongoing

and may reach a crisis point in a couple of weeks if government does not respond

in a positive way to the crisis. We did not hear about the public sector

pensioners who today, once again, have been demonstrating and pointing out that

they have been left out of any increases since 1989.

There are many things that have to be raised in this House and that we all,

as members, have a responsibility from our own political points of view to bring

forward. Please be assured, Mr. Speaker, that we will continue to do that as

vigorously and with the strongest level of advocacy, within the rules of this

House, that we are able to do.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

PREMIER GRIMES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I must say, it is a great privilege and honor for me today to rise as the

Premier and the leader of this particular group in the government to make some

comments - some brief comments today, you will be pleased to know - because I

know members opposite and colleagues in my own caucus do understand that when I

say I will take a few minutes, they used to start setting their watches but now

they turn over the page on the calendar. I promise I will be brief today in a

few comments that I did want to pass along at the opening of this Session of the

Legislature.

I would like first and foremost to thank His Honour for being here today and

being most gracious in presenting the Speech from the Throne, and also, of

course, to our mover and seconder, the Member for Trinity North and the Member

for Cartwright - L'Anse au Clair in moving the motion that we strike a

committee to have an Address to this particular speech presented on our behalf

at some appropriate point in time in the future.

I note that there were some comments from my two colleagues, the Leader of

the Opposition and the Leader of the NDP. It sounds like it is going to be too

chummy in here for my liking, Mr. Speaker. I know they tried to raise a few

things that they thought were omitted, but I sense that they were agreeing with

just about everything they saw in this version of the Red Book.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

PREMIER GRIMES: That is a little better. I like the tone a little better

already, Mr. Speaker.

We do invite accountability, openness and so on, because that is really what

we are all about; that is what this particular House of Assembly is about; that

is what this Legislature is about. That is why we are here, to do the business

on behalf of the people of Newfoundland and Labrador in an open and transparent

fashion so that everybody, as they should, will judge us based on what we say we

are going to do, what we say we believe in, and then what we actually do and

what we actually deliver.

We would invite total inspection at all times. There was reference made today

to the Red Book of 1999. We invite everybody in Newfoundland and Labrador, not

only members in this Legislature, to challenge us on the platform statements

that we ran for as a team two short years ago, and supplemented by the plan that

we outlined today for the second half of that mandate. We would gladly open

ourselves to constant inspection by the people of Newfoundland and Labrador, an

assessment and an analysis on a regular basis, as to whether or not we are being

true to the commitments, to the platform that we ran on, and to the plan and the

mandate that is laid out here today in this particular Throne Speech. We invite

it, we would welcome it, because we plan to live to our words and to deliver,

and we expect that we are going to hold ourselves to that standard. We know the

opposition parties will hold us to that standard here in this Legislature, and

we invite everybody in Newfoundland and Labrador to hold us accountable for what

we say we will do as their government.

I would like to thank as well the Justices for being here today, and our

dignitaries representing other governments and the churches. I might make a note

today, too, that one of my own brothers, who is in another more noble calling, I

would suggest, even than politics - not that we are not noble - is here

representing the clergy as a leader in his own right with the Pentecostal

Assemblies of Newfoundland and Labrador. I do note that when the members of the

clergy come to these official functions, it is not just for show; it is because

they really do believe, as political leaders in Newfoundland and Labrador, that

we are elected, that we hold high office, and that they share with us - and they

pray for us, actually, every single one of them, that we will have the divine

providence and the good grace and the judgement given to us, that we would need

to make good decisions on behalf of the people of Newfoundland and Labrador.

I am delighted to see the whole group here today, and particularly my brother

as well. It is always a pleasure to have you back. As a matter of fact, one of

the issues we were talking about, and it was mentioned several times already,

was televising the Legislature. Now you notice today is one of the days that we

televise the Legislature. For those - because there are some in the galleries

today who are regular and frequent visitors to this place, I think they are

noticing today a slightly different level of behavior and decorum. Maybe it is

the television cameras, I do not know. Maybe it is our special guests.

One of the things we have to think about is not only televising the

Legislature but possibly inviting our special guests to come into every single

session, every single day. I am sure they would find other reasons to be busy

about the work that they are engaged in, rather than want to come here every

single day that the Legislature is open, but we do appreciate your presence here

today.

I have one other point, before I make my few brief comments. One of the

things - I do not think there is any time limit today. Sometimes we are

restricted to ten minutes, or twenty minutes, or so on. One of the things I have

tried to do, without success I must say, in this Legislature, is to extend my

speaking time by suggesting to the Speaker, who is in charge of all of us and

the whole operation, that I have not really started my speech yet, Mr. Speaker,

so could you restart the clock? I know it does not work. Hopefully, I will not

need to beg for mercy today.

Before the few comments I wanted to make, I would also like to take just a

minute to sincerely, on behalf of all of us, welcome our two new members to the

Legislature: the new Member for St. Barbe, and the new Member for The Straits

& White Bay North. We recognize this, and I think in this Legislature we

recognize it more so than anyone else: it is a very small, select group. There

are only forty-eight seats in this Legislature, and only forty-eight people in

Newfoundland and Labrador who can gain the right to come and sit in this

Legislature and speak on behalf of the people of the Province.

The other piece is this: For each one of us, and for each one of the two new

members, in your own riding there is only one person who gains the right to come

to this Legislature to speak for the people of St. Barbe and to speak for the

people of The Straits & White Bay North in this House of Assembly.

I think, when we remind ourselves of that, we should remind ourselves

constantly of what a great honor and privilege we have been given, each one of

the forty-eight of us, to come in here and to stand here and speak for our

constituents and then speak collectively for everybody in Newfoundland and

Labrador.

We do sincerely welcome you. We do know that we will have differences of

opinion but it seems like, again, from today, they will be very few and far

between this time around, because there seems to be almost unanimous approval

for this document already. I am delighted to see the indications of that at this

point in time.

Noted as well is the notice of motion today given by my good friend and

colleague, the Government House Leader, for Bill 1,

An Act To Establish The

Order of Newfoundland and Labrador. Again, I think nothing could be more fitting

and appropriate for this government as a symbol of something significant and

meaningful that we want to do in the International Year of the Volunteer,

because all of us recognize that Newfoundland and Labrador is the great place

that it is largely due to the contributions of volunteers in every single

community throughout the Island and in Labrador. We want to recognize that kind

of contribution. We look forward to debate on the bill, the introduction of The

Order of Newfoundland and Labrador, so that on an ongoing basis, year in and

year out, we will have a mechanism and a vehicle by which we can recognize

significant contributions to the Province by volunteers from all walks of life

in all parts of this wonderful Province that we live in.

Mr. Speaker, just a couple of things with respect to the comments from the

Leader of the Opposition and the Leader of the NDP. We, too, Mr. Leader of the

Opposition, thought that you might be speaking to us in that role the last time

at Christmas. Not that we are disappointed to have you back, but one thing for

sure, I think, if the leader of your party does not soon take some opportunity

to come into the Legislature, we might be hearing a lot more from you for a long

time into the future yet.

We can only encourage, through you and to him, that he would want to join the

club of forty-eight and look for an opportunity to come into this Legislature to

take a rightful and meaningful role in the Legislature as well as being the

Leader of the Progressive Conservative Party; because we do appreciate your

efforts as the Leader of the Opposition, and I do thank you again for outlining

the reasonable and responsible approach that you plan to take, because you have

demonstrated that. I say that for everyone here to recognize and to know, you

have demonstrated that in your time as the Leader of the Opposition, as has your

colleague to your right, that you have taken the challenges, you have agreed

with the government when it has been something that has been good for

Newfoundland and Labrador, and you have resisted and opposed and pointed out

flaws where you thought flaws existed in actions and initiatives being proposed

by the government. We do recognize and appreciate that.

You talked about some ideas that we seem to maybe have borrowed from another

party. Let me tell you this: that is the real advantage of being a Liberal. That

is the real beauty of the Liberal Party.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

PREMIER GRIMES: That is what it is all about, Mr. Speaker. We do not feel

and we have never, ever, felt constrained by any particular point of view. We

have always been a party that has been open to any good idea, any good

suggestion, any good initiative, no matter where it might first ever come from.

The origin of a good idea, a good thought, a good concept, a good program, a

good service for Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, is not what is important. It

is a government just like this one, a Liberal government, that will take the

idea, the notion, the concept, whatever it is, wherever its origin, and say: Let's

debate that. Let's determine whether or not that is for the betterment of the

people of Newfoundland and Labrador; and, if it is, guess what? Let's do it.

Let's make it happen.

Mr. Speaker, we are delighted to be moving forward with these initiatives and

we are delighted that they have actually shown up in other documents other than

Liberal red books and Liberal platforms, because they have also shown up - I

guess you fellas have an orange book, do you?

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

AN HON. MEMBER: Yellow.

PREMIER GRIMES: It has shown up in the orange or yellow books, too, Mr.

Speaker.

Not to take it lightly, but the ideas happen to be good ideas that have

broad-based support in Newfoundland and Labrador, and we are just absolutely

delighted to be a government that is in power, in government, in control at the

time when we can do something about it and can take the initiatives, because

they are good ones, and proceed with them and make them happen on behalf of

everybody in the Province.

I do concur that there are two or three matters that have been raised with

respect to our seniors, with respect to some poverty issues, with others that

are not specifically mentioned in this Throne Speech. It is fairly comprehensive

and wide-ranging as it is, and we do expect to deal with other issues than those

that have been articulated in the written print today, and we know that we will

be challenged to do so by the members of the Legislature as we go through this

session.

Let me make these few brief comments, then, of my own, because those were

from someone else, the ones I made before. We have talked about change,

confidence and challenge in this particular Throne Speech. I have spoken

publicly on a couple of occasions about the new structure of government that has

been articulated in this Throne Speech. We will speak about it in this

Legislature again. We will speak about it publicly as people explore what it

really means to the young people of Newfoundland and Labrador to have a new

Department of Youth Services and Post-Secondary Education. Is it more than just

structure, organization, a department, words? Is it something meaningful for

young people? We know that time will tell that it is something meaningful for

the young people of Newfoundland and Labrador, and we look forward to showing

that and demonstrating that over the next months and years.

The separation of the Department of Labour: The Leader of the NDP brought out

today the whole notion that we are going to be challenged by a particular labour

issue in the next three or four weeks. The whole notion that we will pay

specific and deliberate attention to the labour relations issues, the labour

climate in Newfoundland and Labrador, is more than just a symbol, more than just

a signal. It is real that we do have to dedicate resources, time, energy,

effort, through a department, through a ministry, through a minister who will

take the time to make sure that we are exploring anything and everything with

respect to labour relations in the Province so that we are on a better standing

and footing than we may been in some years in the past.

The same thing with respect to environmental issues, and dedicated attention

to those issues that impact upon every economic development opportunity in

Newfoundland and Labrador, but also on many social development issues that also

have environment impacts of one description or another. We will see what the

benefit is of having a dedicated, stand-alone department.

We are looking forward to the work to be done by the Deputy Premier in his

Department of Industry, Trade and Rural Development, as we marshal all the

possible forces and sources of help and input from the government in terms of

those people who have a good idea for a business development enterprise in all

regions of Newfoundland and Labrador, because we do accept the challenge. We do

accept the challenge that prosperity in a region or two has to be spread and

shared on a broader basis throughout the Island and into Labrador, and we look

froward to trying to meet that particular challenge.

Mr. Speaker, all of us recognize, and it has been said many times, that there

are issues that are specific to Labrador but have an impact not only on Labrador

and Labradorians but on everybody in Newfoundland and Labrador, and the focus of

a new Department of Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs would be to make sure that

we pay the necessary attention to all of those particular issues.

We have talked about the whole notion of openness and accountability. We have

seen some of it already. Even in the last few days we have had reports and

studies that have been commissioned for the government that, unlike times in the

past, as soon as they have gotten to a minister's desk, and in some cases even

before they have gotten to a minister's desk, they have been released to the

public of Newfoundland and Labrador so that everybody can study the issue

together. I still absolutely remain firmly convinced, as do the members on this

side of the Legislature, that even the opposition, even in the darkest days when

they do not want to agree with the government because it is just not what they

want to do - that does not happen very often, I understand - even when you just

don't want to agree for the sake of not agreeing, if you have the same

studies, the same reports, the same information, the same options, the same

recommendations that we are confronted with as the government, nine times out of

ten, if not more often, you would come to the same conclusion that we do,

because all of us are very much alike. We are Newfoundlanders and Labradorians

from all walks of life, from all parts of the Province, and we learn from what

people recommend to us and suggest to us. We get the best advice we can, and we

try to do what is in the best interest of the people of the Province. We will

continue to do that.

We have had examples with the home support study report. It was in hands of

everybody in Newfoundland and Labrador. We will see in the Budget, in a week or

ten days or so, whether or not the Minister of Finance can spell out for us

which parts of that we might be able to implement on an early and timely basis.

We have had recommendations with respect to the Workplace Health Safety &

Compensation Commission, very important recommendations, that the Minister of

Labour has in her hands, but it is also in the hands of everybody in

Newfoundland and Labrador, so that they can see them as we work towards and

before we make any final decisions that might require the work, effort, and

attention of this Legislature. Those kinds of things happen regularly.

We just signed a new contract with a 130 megawatt recall of power from the

Upper Churchill. It is in the hands of everybody and anybody in Newfoundland and

Labrador who wants to examine the details of it, because we are convinced it is

a good deal, and we are convinced that anyone else that would study it and

examine it would also conclude that it is a good deal for Newfoundland and

Labrador. We are proud to make those kinds of documents and that type of

information available to everybody as we live to the whole notion of openness

and accountability rather than just talk about openness and accountability.

Other issues have been mentioned here today. We look forward to the debate on

the proper reinstatement of the Ombudsman, or Review Commissioner. We look to a

debate on the proper establishment of a Child Advocate office for Newfoundland

and Labrador, and we look forward to the input and the suggestions and the ideas

from members opposite because we do not claim to be the possessors of all

knowledge, all good ideas, and all the information. We will gladly accept input

because, more than anything else, not only do we want to do those things, we

want to do them in the best fashion to serve the interest of Newfoundlanders and

Labradorians, not to serve the interest of the elected government; because an

Ombudsman isn't for the government, a Child Advocate isn't for the

government. These officers, these offices, these institutions, are for the

people of Newfoundland and Labrador, and we are charged with the responsibility,

all of us, to make sure that we institute them properly and appropriately if we

are going to do so.

There will be a number of challenges ahead of us, Mr. Speaker, and we look

forward to being challenged in this Legislature at every opportunity as we make

decisions on behalf of the people of Newfoundland and Labrador, and we will

gladly hold ourselves up to the light of day, every day, to defend what we do,

to explain where we are and why we are there, and to do that for the full period

of time; because our intention with that kind of approach is to very proudly go

forward in a couple of years' time and knock on the doors of the people of

Newfoundland and Labrador, saying: We said we would do some things. Judge us on

our record.

We intend to provide good government for the people of Newfoundland and

Labrador. This Throne Speech today, along with and as a supplement and a

complement to the platform of 1999, will be our commitment to what we plan to

deliver before we go back to the people, looking again to have their trust and

confidence so we can continue to provide government for them in a manner they

want, need, respect and deserve in Newfoundland and Labrador.

We do look forward to the debate in the days ahead. We do again thank His

Honour for delivering the Speech from the Throne today, we do thank the mover

and the seconder, and I am grateful for the participation of the Leader of the

Opposition, the Member for Signal Hill-Quidi Vidi, and we look forward to a very

productive session in this Legislature.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: It is moved and seconded that an Address of Thanks be

presented to His Honour the Lieutenant-Governor in reply to the gracious Speech

from the Throne with which he has been pleased to open the present session of

the House of Assembly.

The members of the Select Committee will be: the Member for Trinity North,

the Member for Cartwright-L'Anse au Clair, and the Member for St. Barbe.

All those in favour of the motion, aye'.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Aye!

MR. SPEAKER: Against?

I declare the motion carried.

Notices of Motion

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

MR. LUSH: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Seeing that there are no Notices of Motion, I will give the motion that is

generally given at this particular time after a Throne Speech, and that is that

the House not open the next day. The reason for that is to give hon. members

sufficient time to study, evaluate, analyze and synthesize this rather

progressive, forward-looking Liberal document.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. LUSH: Having said that, Mr. Speaker, I will make the appropriate

motion. I do move that this House adjourn until Thursday at 1:30 p.m.

On motion, the House at its rising adjourned until tomorrow, Thursday, at

1:30 p.m.