May

28, 2012 HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS

Vol. XLVII No. 38

The House met at 1:30 p.m.

MR. SPEAKER (Wiseman): Order, please!

Admit strangers.

Before we start today, I would say to members, you have probably recognized

that for the latter part of last week, and throughout the rest of this session,

we will be having the service of three Pages. Our fourth Page, Andrew Furneaux,

is not going to be with us for the next little while. I want you to have him in

your prayers. Best wishes as he recovers from an illness. I will pass on our

best wishes to him and do so on your behalf.

Statements by Members

MR. SPEAKER: Today we are going to have members' statements from: the

Member for the District of Mount Pearl South; the Member for the District of St.

John's North; the Member for the District of Bonavista South; the Member for the

District of Port de Grave; the Member for the District of Mount Pearl North; and

the Member for the District of Signal Hill Quidi Vidi.

The Member for the District of Mount Pearl South.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. LANE: Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to rise in this hon.

House to recognize the tremendous work of the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary in

the fight against drugs. The DARE program is a drug abuse prevention program

designed to equip students with knowledge about drug abuse, the consequences of

this abuse, and aims to equip these students with the skills to resist peer

pressure when it comes to experimenting with drugs. This ten-week program is

offered to all Grade 6 classes under the jurisdiction of the RNC and benefits

approximately 1,950 students each school year.

Mr. Speaker, DARE is a co-operative effort by the police, schools, parents

and community; all four working together to help our children make the right

choices concerning drugs.

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

the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary and all of their community partners in the

great work that they are doing in the protection of our greatest resource our

children.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. KIRBY: Mr. Speaker, I rise in the House today to offer

congratulations to an outstanding student at Prince of Wales Collegiate who has

won a prestigious national award from Junior Achievement Canada.

Level III student Judy Ou received the Peter Mansbridge Positive Change Award

at a Canadian Business Hall of Fame gala dinner in Toronto on May 8. This

scholarship is given annually to one Canadian student who best personifies the

values and attributes of a successful business or community leader.

Judy says she comes from a family of entrepreneurs. She has been part of

Junior Achievement's company program since 2009. This year, she was

Vice-President, Finance, part of JA Company called Swollip, producing

eco-friendly pillows.

Anyone who knows Judy will tell you this prestigious award is well deserved.

She is a student who enjoys challenge, expanding her horizons, and discovering

new interests. In addition to a challenging academic program and her work with

Junior Achievement, Judy volunteers with her school and the Janeway Children's

Hospital.

I have no doubt that Judy Ou will continue to be a shining light in this

Province, and I ask all hon. members to join me in congratulating her.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The Member for Bonavista South.

MR. LITTLE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, hon. colleagues, I would like to recognize and congratulate the

members of Tourism Elliston on winning Hospitality Newfoundland and Labrador's

Tourism Excellence award for Innovator of the Year. This volunteer group was

recognized for the unique and innovative vision they had and brought to life by

implementing the Roots, Rants and Roars Festival, hosted by Elliston in

September of 2011.

This one-of-a-kind event is the only culinary festival in the Province. It

attracted hundreds of people with a large percentage of the participants being

from outside the area. The festival was a three-day event that included the King

of the Cod Competition, which saw five recognized chefs from across the Island

compete. Next, there was a five-kilometre hike through the community, with stops

to sample traditional foods along the way, followed by the evening gala event.

Finally, there was a grand finale night, a house party at Nanny's Root Cellar

Kitchen, a chance to stomp the night away.

Mr. Speaker, members of the House, please join me in congratulating Tourism

Elliston's members: Myrtle Stagg, Betty Goodland, Colleen Duffett, Charlotte

Ritman, John Grant, Gary Oldford, Gina Little, and Marilyn Coles-Hayley; and

chef and consultant, Todd Perrin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The Member for Port de Grave.

MR. LITTLEJOHN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I rise today in this hon. House to recognize Atlantic Grocery Distributors,

who recently was honoured for the promotion of environmental products by the

Cascades Tissue Group. The award was presented in recognition of AGD's

contribution in lowering Cascades' environmental footprint and informing buyers

and users on the importance of sustainable development.

AGD started distributing Cascades Tissue Group's Away From Home products

nearly a decade ago. These products are sold to both commercial and industrial

customers made from 100 per cent recycled fibre, therefore avoiding the release

of 74,333 kilograms of carbon dioxide, the equivalent of 23 car emissions in

AGD is a supplier of choice for nearly 200 franchise stores as well as

independent grocers throughout the Province. The company also supplies and

operates three corporately owned full-service supermarkets and two restaurants

in Conception Bay North. The company is 100 per cent Newfoundland and Labrador

privately owned, with reported sales in excess of $100 million annually, and has

been in business for over sixty years, competing with all major retail

operations.

I ask all hon. members to join me in congratulating Atlantic Grocery

Distributors on their promotion of environmentally safe products.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KENT: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I rise in this hon. House today to congratulate Best Boy Entertainment

Productions and owner-operator Ed Martin Senior on recently celebrating their

grand opening in Mount Pearl. Best Boy Entertainment is a state-of-the-art

production facility located on Park Avenue in the heart of Mount Pearl. They are

already well established and produce several popular television shows.

Pet ER is in its second season and airs on The Pet Network in Canada. The

show is a docudrama about family pets in medical crisis. Also underway for The

Pet Network is season three of Mickey's Farm , a proven preschool success

that blends colourful animation, live action, and original music. Mickey

is a playful series that teaches children simple concepts in each episode.

Best Boy Entertainment has plans to expand into the feature film industry

with two features currently in development: Gamblers Never Die and A

Little Problem with Murder . There is no doubt in my mind that Mr. Martin and

his team have all of the skills for success, and will continue to do well in the

television production business.

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

Martin Senior and his team on the grand opening of Best Boy Entertainment

Productions, and wish them all the best as they pursue new projects for

development.

Thank you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS MICHAEL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I rise to congratulate a one-of-a-kind organization in my district. The

Crow's Nest is at once a private club and a museum. As of March 27, The Crow's

Nest is also officially a National Historic Site. It opened as the Seagoing

Officer's Club in 1942 and became famous around the North Atlantic as a place

for naval men to relax. Many of these men left mementos of themselves before

sailing out again. They wrote messages on the wall; eventually each ship got

four square feet, which its crew could decorate in any way they wanted. These

crests, drawings, and messages survive to this day. It is not a big space, Mr.

Speaker, but one can spend hours looking at all the artifacts, including the

famous operating periscope from a German submarine.

You do not have to be a naval officer anymore to go there, Mr. Speaker.

Membership in the Crow's Nest is open to all persons who are interested in

maintaining the Crow's Nest Club's character and purpose, and really, who would

not be?

I ask all hon. members to join me in congratulating the volunteer board of

directors and all the members of the Crow's Nest for receiving the designation

of National Historic Site.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: Statements by Ministers.

Statements by Ministers

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS BURKE: Mr. Speaker, I rise in the House today to inform hon. members

of how the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is demonstrating its ongoing

commitment to post-secondary education.

To date, the provincial government investment in post-secondary education has

grown from $228 million in 2003 to $528.4 million in 2012, an increase of 130.8

per cent. Through Budget 2012: People and Prosperity, this government continues

to make strategic investments to support post-secondary infrastructure,

including $40.8 million to Memorial University for the construction of new

residences, creating at least 200 residence beds at Grenfell Campus and 500

residence beds in St. John's. In 2012, tuition fees at Memorial and the College

of the North Atlantic are among the lowest in Canada, and since 2005, this

government has invested $183 million for a tuition freeze to keep it that way.

The purpose of these and other investments is simple: to give people access

to the best-possible education, an investment in their future and prosperity. On

Friday, we had the great pleasure of seeing how ongoing investments in

post-secondary education are enhancing students' educational experiences and

helping to create opportunities to support long-term economic growth. I was

joined by my provincial colleagues to take

part in the official opening of

Memorial University's Grenfell Campus Arts and Science building extension, which

was funded by an investment of $19.2 million from the Government of Newfoundland

and Labrador, and $7.9 million by the federal government through its Knowledge

Infrastructure Program.

Mr. Speaker, this facility is an impressive addition to the Grenfell Campus.

The building provides research, computer and meeting spaces, a state-of-the-art

telescope, laboratories and an auditorium. The extension will be used by a

variety of academic disciplines including chemistry, physics, earth science and

biology. The expansion also provides for faculty and staff offices, as well as

dedicated study areas for students.

Mr. Speaker, just as Sir Wilfred Grenfell encouraged others to believe in

themselves and strive for excellence, the Arts and Science Building extension

will help foster incredible research opportunities, and enrich the education

experience of students.

I ask all hon. members to join me in congratulating Memorial University on

this outstanding addition to the Grenfell Campus.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

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

I thank the minister for an advance copy of her statement.

Extending the Arts and Science Building at Grenfell is certainly a cause for

celebration. Our leader was there at this event and remarked that the Grenfell

Campus observatory now has the largest astronomical telescope in Atlantic

Canada, which is certainly exciting news.

Also worth noting in regard to the extension at Grenfell, is the late John

Ashton, former Principal of Grenfell. Dr. Ashton made significant progress in

fostering international partnerships, developing undergraduate programming,

building Grenfell's research agenda, and providing leadership and governance in

the pursuit of greater autonomy and a new governance structure for Memorial's

West Coast Campus. His wife, Sheila, also plays a key role in Memorial's

development, as a member of the Board of Regents.

I would be remiss, as we are talking about funding announcements, if we did

not recognize the $3.85 million in cuts to Memorial University this year as

well. As our only university, making cuts to this critical institution gives a

cause for concern. Corner Brook is promoting itself as a college community, and

these investments will enhance its image.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

MR. KIRBY: I too would like to thank the minister for an advance copy of

her statement.

Congratulations to Grenfell Campus for the successful expansion of the Arts

and Science Building. The increased teaching and research space and enhancements

in technology are progressive and necessary steps as the college continues to

evolve and to build capacity.

As the government moves forward with plans to improve the campus in the

future, I encourage it to consider improving some important services that

students need added to the college environment. For example, the need for child

care spaces and the shortage of family physicians in the area, issues that

Grenfell students have told me are of concerns to them, Mr. Speaker.

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. FRENCH: Mr. Speaker, enjoyment of our natural environment is an

important aspect of the cultural fabric of Newfoundland and Labrador. This is

evident in the vast number of outdoor enthusiasts who access our provincial

parks and ecological reserves every year.

The May 24 weekend traditionally signals the beginning of the camping season

in our Province, with the opening of seven of our larger provincial parks:

Barachois Pond, Butter Pot, Frenchman's Cove, J.T. Cheeseman, La Manche,

Lockston Path and Notre Dame Provincial Parks. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to

report we experienced an occupancy rate of approximately 90 per cent for the

holiday weekend this year. Sandbanks and Sir Richard Squires Memorial Parks also

opened on May 25, while Blow Me Down, Dildo Run, Pinware River and Pistolet Bay

are slated to open on June 1.

In 2007, our government increased its investment in provincial parks with a

$4 million Parks Renewal Strategy aimed at improving amenities within the parks

system. As a result, all parks in our Province now have comfort stations and

dumping stations. This year, electrical services are available at a number of

campsites in Lockston Path, La Manche, Frenchman's Cove, J.T. Cheeseman, Notre

Dame and Dildo Run.

Mr. Speaker, our government recognizes the contributions of our seniors to

our Province and the importance of their ability to access our natural heritage.

That is why Budget 2012-13 People and Prosperity allocated $3.7 million to

provide seniors aged sixty-five and over, a 35 per cent reduction on various

fees in our Province, including those for hunting, fishing, and camping. This

initiative complements the goals of the Provincial Healthy Aging Policy

Framework which aims to recognize older persons, and encourage health and

financial well-being.

Mr. Speaker, we also introduced a new campsite reservation system in 2007 to

increase efficiencies in book campsites in our provincial parks. This system

continues to increase in popularity each year, Mr. Speaker, with a 17 per cent

increase during the first week of the reservation system launch this year. In

2011, approximately 11,500 reservations were made via this system. We encourage

campers to continue to utilize this system by calling toll-free 1-877-214-CAMP

or 1-877-214-2267 or online at www.NLCamping.ca.

The pristine beauty of Newfoundland and Labrador is second to none, and I

encourage our camping public to get out and experience this beauty first-hand

again this season.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. EDMUNDS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I thank the Minister of Environment and Conservation for the advance notice

of his statement.

Mr. Speaker, Newfoundland and Labrador is the most beautiful place in the

world, and we encourage all people to get out and enjoy the beauty of our people

and our Province. Mr. Speaker, we are very concerned that the people will now be

limited in what attractions they are able to see and when they are able to do it

as a result of cuts from Parks Canada.

We believe that this will be most evident in the shoulder seasons as well as

the impact the cuts will have on the ecological research that happens at the

national parks in our Province. Mr. Speaker, the people of our Province have so

much to offer and we encourage the government to try and offset the cuts by

Parks Canada. We have a lot to offer as a Province and we need to support our

regions in the already short tourism season that we have.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. MURPHY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Mr. Speaker, I would be remiss if I did not recognize the value of getting

out to the parks to enjoy them, but I am also beginning to see some success with

parks so much that government needs to consider a new strategy and execute that

strategy by creating more park areas for the enjoyment and education of the

public.

No doubt, if their popularity is forecasting an increase in the coming years,

according to the minister's statement, then government should consider allowing

the creation of new park areas, be it through private businesses or government

initiatives, while keeping the environment first and foremost in mind.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: Oral questions.

Oral Questions

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

MR. BALL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, we have just learned that Eastern Health will hold a press

conference tomorrow and announce that there will be 552 positions cut to achieve

$43 million in savings.

I ask the Premier: Can you confirm these cuts and tell us what health care

services will be impacted?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Health and Community Services.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS SULLIVAN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, there will indeed be a press conference tomorrow and until that

time I will not release any details. That is for the press conference tomorrow,

Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. BALL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Well, on Thursday in the House of Assembly here, the minister basically made

reference to a conversation that she had with the Premier during the Budget

discussion and at that time, on Thursday, mentioned that because frontline

health care is so important, they would not be impacted.

I ask the Premier: What has changed between now and Thursday and where will

these millions of dollars in cuts in health care be?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Health and Community Services.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS SULLIVAN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, our resolve has not changed. There will not be any cuts in

programs and services. The announcement that you will hear tomorrow will lay out

some particular initiatives that Eastern Health wishes to embark upon, but we

have made our commitment firm to the people of Newfoundland and Labrador; there

will not be cuts in programs and services, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. BALL: Forty-three million dollars and 554 jobs are going to be

certainly felt by somebody, I am sure.

Can you please provide an outline if other health authorities have plans to

cut services and jobs? Will we see similar cuts in Western, Central, and

Labrador?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Health and Community Services.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS SULLIVAN: Mr. Speaker, what bothers me most about this is that there

is a bit of fear mongering that is happening now. What we have said is that we

will provide all of the details with regard to this tomorrow.

You are asking questions about information that Eastern Health is releasing

tomorrow, Mr. Speaker, and so therefore, we will respond to those questions in

as much detail as you want tomorrow. For now, I do not think we need to be

saying to the people of Newfoundland and Labrador that there is a reason to be

concerned or that there is a reason to be upset. I have said it here and I will

continue to say it: programs and services will remain.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. BALL: I will say we are not fear mongering; we are just trying to get

the information, indeed, where these cuts will be.

Mr. Speaker, the RCMP has stated that their internal review of the failed

Makkovik search concludes that policies and procedures were followed and there

is no need for changes. It is hard to believe, with so many things going back

and forth, and people just trying to figure out where the blame lies, for the

RCMP to say that there is no need for changes to policies and procedures.

I ask the Premier: Do you agree with the conclusions reached by the RCMP, and

if so, will you table the internal review?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

PREMIER DUNDERDALE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Maybe, Mr. Speaker, today we finally get to the heart of what has been going

on so sadly in this Province since the end of January. It is about blame, Mr.

Speaker. The Opposition has worked hard and used this tragedy as a political

football to try and lay that blame at the feet of government. It is extremely,

extremely sad.

Mr. Speaker, the questions that have been raised publicly have been about the

role of the federal government and JRCC in their response to the request for air

support. The federal government has provided answers to those questions. The

Government of Newfoundland and Labrador does not find those answers

satisfactory, Mr. Speaker, and have relayed that to the federal government.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. BALL: My question is indeed not about this is not a political

football at all. What we are trying to do is get to a public inquiry so this

never happens again in our Province.

What I asked about was the internal review from the RCMP. In the search and

rescue correspondence tabled by the Premier last week, the Minister Responsible

for Fire and Emergency Services repeatedly states that protocols need to be

revisited.

I ask the Premier: What protocols need to be changed?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

PREMIER DUNDERDALE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, it is an unfortunate fact of life that sometimes searches fail,

despite people's best efforts. Mr. Speaker, this is not precise science, but

people, based on their knowledge, their training, their experience and the

information that they have access to, make the best decisions they can in trying

to locate somebody when they are lost.

In terms of our protocols because we are a service that we provide to

searchers in a jurisdiction, Mr. Speaker, such as aircraft to do aerial searches

the protocols that we have found that fail us in this instance are in terms of

the federal government and their decision as to when to deploy their

infrastructure that is available to assist in a humanitarian way, because they

have no mandated role in ground search and rescue, Mr. Speaker.

We feel that they ought to do more.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The Leader of the Official Opposition.

MR. BALL: We really have not identified what the solution is so this

never happens again.

Mr. Speaker, the Premier tabled the correspondence with the federal

government, but what she did not do was our own internal investigation that

report. It has been four months now. We have seen the investigation by the

Canadian Forces; the RCMP investigation is now done.

I ask the Premier: Why was this left out last week and when can we expect to

see it?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

PREMIER DUNDERDALE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, the Opposition seems to be under the impression that everything

that gets done in government has to be written down. That is not necessarily the

way that things operate within government.

Mr. Speaker, the Department of Municipal Affairs, in co-operation with Fire

and Emergency Services, did a full review of their protocols after this

incident. They made several adjustments, Mr. Speaker, but found that in terms of

the support services that they provided for ground search and rescue, the

protocols worked well. Where we find that there is a deficiency is in terms of

callout for search and rescue in response from the federal government.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The Leader of the Official Opposition.

MR. BALL: I still believe it was the understanding of the people in this

House that that investigation would be tabled when it was done.

Mr. Speaker, the Province's federal minister stated last week that there was

a lot of tension with relations between the federal government and provincial

government, but he felt that would improve if Muskrat Falls proceeds.

I ask the Premier: Do you agree with the Minister Penashue?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

PREMIER DUNDERDALE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, relations of the federal government with the provincial

government should be good because that is their responsibility: to co-operate

and to work with us. We have tried very hard in the last year to build our

relationship to make sure that we are articulating clearly the needs and

aspirations of the people of this Province to the federal government, and

reminding them of their responsibility to respond. That can never be focused on

one issue and one issue alone.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The Leader of the Official Opposition.

MR. BALL: Well, I do not know how clearly you can articulate it, because

what we have seen in the last few weeks is certainly devastating to this

Province. Mr. Speaker, the language from the federal minister, Penashue,

suggests that the federal government is holding a lot of weight in the promise

of this loan guarantee of Muskrat Falls.

So, my question is for the Premier: Minister Penashue said what everyone is

thinking, that the feds are making deep cuts to our Province. We have said very

little. Is this indeed to protect the promised loan guarantee?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

PREMIER DUNDERDALE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, the federal government is making deep cuts right across the

country; it is not particular to Newfoundland and Labrador. They are feeling the

pain particularly in Ontario to a greater degree than we are here, Mr. Speaker.

So they should, because that is where the concentration of federal public

service is.

Now, Mr. Speaker, we are pushing as hard as we can. Unlike the Leader of the

Opposition, who went to Ottawa, had one ministerial meeting, and decided not to

show up for it. When one of them did get in, they did not ask that their leader

be involved in the meeting, even though he was sitting outside the door, Mr.

Speaker, and did not ask for an inquiry. When, in a scrum last week, pushed to

ask what he would do, he said he would talk more

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The Member for Torngat Mountains.

MR. EDMUNDS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Premier has insinuated on several occasions that because I was part of

the search in Makkovik that the Opposition has information being withheld.

Mr. Speaker, I was part of the search, and I will most likely be involved in

future searches. I have no information that I am withholding, and like the

Premier and the people of this Province, what I do have are questions.

I ask the Premier: What information are you suggesting that I am withholding

from this House and do you have evidence that any other information is being

withheld?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

PREMIER DUNDERDALE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I am absolutely delighted that the MHA for the Torngat has put

this on the table today because it is the members of his party who day after day

after day in this House rise asking for an inquiry.

Now, Mr. Speaker, they are not saying that the answers that the federal

government have provided are not satisfactory or satisfactory; they keep saying

that there are other things that we should be investigating. That means

something between the RCMP and the Canadian Rangers. I am saying that unless

they know something that they have not disclosed, Mr. Speaker, we do not see any

reason for an inquiry into the activities of the RCMP or the Canadian Rangers.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. EDMUNDS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Premier through her insinuations clearly admits that there is information

we need to obtain with regard to this terrible tragedy. Instead of getting it

through a public inquiry she would rather suggest I, as a member of a search

team, am withholding information.

Mr. Speaker, I ask the Premier: If you are suggesting that there is still

information being held, then why don't you call a public inquiry and get to the

bottom of it? I do not have the information, Mr. Speaker, and like the federal

government, I am willing to participate.

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

PREMIER DUNDERDALE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I am not insinuating at all that there is information being

withheld. That is the insinuation that is being made day by day by day by his

own caucus in this House, Mr. Speaker, that there is information that we do not

know about, that something happened on the ground.

Mr. Speaker, in the deployment of the provincial government's resources,

protocols were followed and aircraft were in the air within two-and-a-half

hours, three-and-a-half hours of the call. The first call came in at 8:19

o'clock, Mr. Speaker. By 10:45 o'clock, there was a helicopter in the air, our

helicopter. At 1:00 o'clock there was another helicopter in the air. At 2:30

o'clock they were told to stand down. Mr. Speaker, the next time aircraft were

called in the federal government was there with the Griffon, then joined by the

Aurora , and we joined the search in the morning.

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. A. PARSONS: Mr. Speaker, we understand that as of today the College

of the North Atlantic's daycare centre is closed due to air quality problems.

The closure of the site suggests a serious problem at the facility.

I ask the minister: Can you confirm that the daycare centre is indeed closed

and what has been forced to close the site?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS BURKE: Mr. Speaker, the daycare site at the College of the North

Atlantic has been temporarily closed. Work is being done to remedy the situation

and we expect that as soon as the work is done that the daycare centre will

continue. In the meantime, alternate space has been found and the daycare will

continue until they can move back into their original space.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. A. PARSONS: Mr. Speaker, parents from the centre are concerned that

air at the centre has been making their children sick. They have told us that

children from the daycare centre have been admitted to hospital with

life-threatening respiratory illnesses.

I ask the minister: When did you first become aware of the problem, and will

you now initiate testing for these children to determine whether or not issues

at the centre affected their health?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS BURKE: Mr. Speaker, I recently became aware of the information. It was

either on Friday or over the weekend. At that time, I was told the daycare

centre would be temporarily relocated into a space that was able to meet the

needs of the children. Mr. Speaker, we will make sure before we reopen the

centre that all necessary testing is done and that it is a safe environment for

the children.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Last week, the federal government took steps to make changes with regard to

the EI program, announcements of deep and profound changes in the program that

will impact 50,000 people in Newfoundland and Labrador, including over 7,000

people who receive fisheries benefits.

I ask the Premier today: What steps is she taking to bring these concerns

directly to the attention of the Prime Minister, or will this just be another

letter-writing campaign by one of her ministers?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS BURKE: Mr. Speaker, this government is concerned about the EI reforms

that were introduced last week by the federal government. The Premier has spoken

about this through the media over the weekend. I also had the opportunity to

speak about it, and I had a meeting over the telephone with Minister Finley.

Mr. Speaker, we are very concerned about the changes and about the effects it

may have on the economy of Newfoundland and Labrador and some of our seasonal

industries. We will continue to dialogue with the federal government to make

sure the concerns of this Province are brought forward. Mr. Speaker, we will

certainly advocate to ensure that the program meets the needs of the people of

Newfoundland and Labrador.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

This is really a rural Canadian resettlement program that will have deep and

extended results in Newfoundland and Labrador. Mr. Speaker, we need to have some

evidence and information on who will be affected, what regions, and what

industries.

I ask the Premier today: Will her government conduct a proper analysis of the

impacts of these EI changes as soon as possible, and will the government commit

to releasing that information in the public?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS BURKE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, let me be clear that the changes to the EI program are squarely

with the federal government, not changes being brought about by this government.

Mr. Speaker, we continually and always work with the people of Newfoundland

and Labrador to determine the needs of our communities, whether it is in skills

development or Income Support programs and, Mr. Speaker, we will continue to do

that. We will not do it specifically through a study based on these EI reforms,

but we need to make sure that we are responsive to the needs of people of

Newfoundland and Labrador. We have done that before; we will continue to do it,

Mr. Speaker, with or without these particular changes.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, we have also heard of other cuts that are occurring within the

Province, and one of them is the cuts to the DFO offices. I am hearing that one

of the fallouts will be the closure of six satellite offices in L'Anse-au-Loup,

Rigolet, Roddickton, Burgeo, Arnold's Cove, and Trepassey.

I am asking the Premier if she is aware of these cuts; and, if she is, has

she had any discussions with her federal counterparts on how they will affect

the industry in this Province?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KING: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I am aware, as I said in this House last week, of the proposed cuts. I do not

have a lot of specific information, but I am advised that there will be about

111 positions changing in the Province, not necessarily 111 individuals

affected. I am also told that the communications tenders in St. Anthony and St.

John's will be affected. I am not aware of the information that the member

opposite provided. That has not been given to us by DFO.

There are going to be some changes in the offshore surveillance, air

surveillance, and conservation and enforcement offices. There will be some

changes there, but I do not have all of the specific details. We are continuing

to advocate; the Premier has been very clear she is looking for a meeting and I

have a meeting scheduled with the federal minister myself to talk about this and

other things like the EI reform as it affects the fishery.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

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

The bottom is falling out of the economy of rural Newfoundland and Labrador.

Cuts to EI and ACOA, and cuts to federal jobs and programs will devastate an

already fragile rural economy.

I ask the Premier, Mr. Speaker: What message has she for the thousands of

people affected by these cuts?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

PREMIER DUNDERDALE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, the Leader of the Third Party's story changes every Question

Period. Last week she was telling us how we should backfill the funding for RED

Boards because it was driving the economy in rural parts of the Province and

doing a tremendous job for it. Now she stood in the House only four or five days

later, telling us the bottom is falling out of rural Newfoundland and Labrador.

Well, which is it?

You know, Mr. Speaker, we support our rural economies. Sometimes there is not

an answer for every community, but where there is an answer, we work with our

partners in community to find out what it is. I only point to Stephenville; I

point to the whole Hermitage Bay, Fortune Bay, Connaigre Peninsula area, Mr.

Speaker, Arnold's Cove, Grand Falls-Windsor. We work with our communities to

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

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

Rural Newfoundland and Labrador is facing continuous devastating economic

blows. Fish plants are closing, the forestry industry is stagnating, the

workforce is aging, and now economic safety nets that were there for workers are

disappearing. The people that the Premier is speaking about, Mr. Speaker, need

to see government has a solid plan to deal with these drastic changes to the

economy.

So, I am asking her, in their name: What is her real plan for rural

Newfoundland and Labrador?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS BURKE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

There is no denying the fact that the economy in Newfoundland and Labrador is

changing, Mr. Speaker. The development of the Department of Advanced Education

and Skills was created by this Premier primarily to be able to address the

changes in the economy.

Mr. Speaker, we understand that over the next ten years there will be 70,000

job openings in this Province, and as the Department of Advanced Education and

Skills, we want to ensure that the people of this Province who either have not

yet had the opportunity to get an education, or who need to change, or need to

commit and change their skills and take work in Newfoundland and Labrador that

we want this department to be there to be able to work with as many people as

possible to ensure that they have an opportunity for skills development.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

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

In the media this morning, the Premier said her government has not the

capacity to step in and help the people of this Province when the federal

government cuts programs and jobs; this from a Premier whose Budget, Mr.

Speaker, has $664 million in it for a yet-unapproved project.

So I ask the Premier: Does her government have a plan to assist the many

people in rural Newfoundland and Labrador who suddenly face a future with no

economic safety net?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS BURKE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, for the information of the Leader of the Third Party, this

government and the Provincial Government of Newfoundland and Labrador was not

created in order to pick up the slack from the federal government. We are not

here because the federal government drops any particular program that we need to

be there, but we will work with them in partnership, and we will work with the

people of Newfoundland and Labrador.

One of the key opportunities that we have in this Province right now is we

have an economy that is changing and there will be opportunities for the people

of this Province. Our challenge today, Mr. Speaker, is how do we best prepare

the people so that they can have the opportunities to participate in the labour

market?

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

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

In addition to radical and brutal new EI regulations, the federal government

has cut EI Appeal Board staff from 1,079 people across Canada to seventy-four.

Mr. Speaker, I ask the Premier: Has government a plan in place to fight for

people who have, in effect, lost their right to appeal federal decisions

regarding their EI?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

PREMIER DUNDERDALE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, anybody tuning in to the House of Assembly channel must think

they have the wrong station. Day after day after day in this House of Assembly,

Mr. Speaker, we are asked questions that are all within the purview of the

federal government who have responsibility here. To these people on the other

side, the Liberals and the NDP have representatives in Ottawa, Mr. Speaker.

Ottawa's representatives that they absolutely convinced the people of

Newfoundland and Labrador could protect their interests and look after their

interests, serve their interests better, Mr. Speaker, than Progressive

Conservatives could; yet, they direct their questions to us every day. Our

primary mandate is to fulfill our obligations to the people of Newfoundland and

Labrador and we do it every

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. KIRBY: Mr. Speaker, on Friday the Minister of Child, Youth and Family

Services announced a supplement increase

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

MR. KIRBY: for Level II early childhood educators working as operators

in child care centres. Level II ECEs who do not work as operators have been left

wondering why they were left out in this announcement.

Can the minister explain why she chose to discriminate against some of the

most skilled early childhood educators in Newfoundland and Labrador?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Child, Youth and Family Services.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS JOHNSON: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, what this government did in this Budget was introduce a 10-Year,

comprehensive, strategic Child Care Strategy. We have doubled our investment

into child care within a ten-year time frame going from $26 million per year to

$52 million per year, Mr. Speaker. One of the things that we were asked for

along the way was to address the issue of entry level, Mr. Speaker. We have

increased the standard for quality in child care centres by eliminating entry

level. That is what we announced on Friday. We are very committed to child care

in this Province, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. KIRBY: Mr. Speaker, the minister should ask herself what this

decision says to Level II early childhood educators who worked hard to achieve

Level II certification. Her treatment of these Level II ECEs is nothing short of

an insult at the beginning of Early Childhood Educator's Week.

I ask the minister: Why did she decide to treat one group of Level II early

childhood educators as second-class citizens?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Child, Youth and Family Services.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS JOHNSON: Mr. Speaker, what we did in this strategy is we deconstructed

the entire system as it was. We looked at issues of sufficiency, affordability

and quality and we are putting the system back together. Under that system, Mr.

Speaker, entry-level was an issue and attracting operators for a centre is an

issue. The reality is 55 per cent of the staff who work with our children do not

have the educational requirements, so we wanted to raise the floor before we

raised the ceiling. I also refer the member to our legislation. Our legislation

requires that the lead staff in a home be a Level I, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MS ROGERS: Mr. Speaker, recently the Minister of Justice said in the

media that they were monitoring other jurisdictions to see how whistle-blower

legislation works out before they make any decisions. Mr. Speaker, I think we

can all agree that five years of monitoring is long enough. This issue demands

leadership and waiting on other jurisdictions is not a satisfactory answer.

I ask the minister: Why won't this government take action to craft their own

piece of legislation and protect whistle-blowers? The people of Newfoundland and

Labrador are waiting.

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

I said in this House on a number of occasions, that whistle-blower

legislation is a very comprehensive, tedious, significant piece of legislation.

We have certainly done a lot of jurisdictional scanning and continue to do so.

Mr. Speaker, I want to point out, as I pointed out to the media, we have

whistle-blower protection in a number of pieces of legislation in this

government. I outlined those acts to the media, the Occupational Health and

Safety Act, the Environmental Protection Act. I cannot recall, Mr. Speaker, I

remember giving at least half-a-dozen to the media at the time. Plus the fact,

Mr. Speaker, in the Criminal Code of Canada there is provision that makes it a

criminal offence to penalize an employee for retaliation or intimidation in the

workplace.

Mr. Speaker, every bit of whistle-blower protection that our employers need

is there. When we find something better in the way of whistle-blower piece of

legislation then we will certainly look at it.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MS ROGERS: Mr. Speaker, another tedious and complex one coming your way.

The inclusion of gender identity in our Human Rights Act is yet another issue we

have been told will take time as the government monitors the work, yet again, of

other jurisdictions. Mr. Speaker, the Northwest Territories has gender identity

enshrined in their Human Rights Legislation, the Governments of Manitoba and

Ontario is taking the necessary steps for theirs.

Mr. Speaker, I ask the minister: What will it take for this government to

lead on this issue and do what is necessary to extend protections to one of the

most vulnerable groups in our society?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. F. COLLINS: Mr. Speaker, as we found in the consultations for the

Human Rights Act, the issue of gender identity is still evolving in this country

and needs a lot of analysis before we can bring in anything specific in our

piece of legislation. True, the Northwest Territories does have a provision that

identifies gender identity. They do not define gender identity; neither does the

Province of Manitoba.

Mr. Speaker, in the consultations, the Newfoundland and Labrador Human Rights

and gender identity working group pointed out to us how difficult it was to pin

down gender identity. For example, gender identity and gender expression are not

interchangeable. Transsexual and transgender are not interchangeable.

Mr. Speaker, we had eleven different

definitions of gender identity. We have

it all included under the prohibited grounds of sex. All of the complaints are

received under that ground.

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The Member for The Straits White Bay North.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. MITCHELMORE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, the Fisheries Technology and New Opportunities Program is meant

to modernize the fishery through new products and production methods; however,

the maximum funding under this program is just $100,000 per project. Mr.

Speaker, we are seeing successful fisheries innovations surging in other

Atlantic Provinces.

Mr. Speaker, I ask the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture: How can he hope

for similar success in growing the Province's $1 billion fishing industry with

such restrictions on funding?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KING: Mr. Speaker, the Fisheries Technology and New Opportunities

Program has been very successful, I say to the member opposite. Over the last

number of years we have made significant investments. Contrary to what the

member is suggesting, we have yet to have industry come to us and suggest that

they do not like the regulations.

Mr. Speaker, let us be clear, it is not only the $100,000 that you can avail

of through the fisheries program. We have things like the RDC from Innovation,

Business and Rural Development, Mr. Speaker, with close to $100 million in the

Budget this year. We have a number of programs like that we use to stimulate and

grow the industry. We use money from fisheries to leverage other money from

other government departments.

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The time for Question Period has expired.

Presenting Reports by Standing and Select Committees.

Tabling of Documents.

Notices of Motion.

Notices of Motion

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

MR. KENNEDY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I give notice, under Standing Order 11, that I shall move that this House not

adjourn at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 29, 2012.

Further, I give notice, under Standing Order 11, that I shall move that this

House not adjourn at 10:00 p.m., Tuesday, May 29, 2012.

MR. SPEAKER: Further notices of motion?

The Leader of the Opposition.

MR. BALL:

WHEREAS the labour force of Newfoundland and Labrador has

traditionally been one that is disproportionately based on seasonal employment

compared with other provinces, given the large rural population and broad

seasonal industries, including the fishery, tourism, forestry, roadwork,

construction, cultural industries, and agriculture. Many of these industries

depend upon seasonal labour for their continued existence and success; and

changes to the national Employment Insurance program; and

WHEREAS these changes will adversely affect more than 50,000 persons in

Newfoundland and Labrador who are in receipt of Employment Insurance each year,

including more than 7,000 recipients of fishery benefits; and

WHEREAS the changes, including the requirement for EI recipients who find a

job paying at least 80 per cent of pay in a similar occupation within six weeks

and the requirement that recipients be willing to work at a job that is within a

one hour commute from their home, are aimed at urban populations and ignores the

needs and realities of the rural economy; and

WHEREAS the changes made to the Employment Insurance appeals and review

processes denies the right for a speedy, meaningful, and comprehensive appeal;

and

WHEREAS the changes were conceived, announced, and will be implemented

without consultations with the population of Canada, without advanced warning to

governments of the provinces or territories, without a proper debate in the

Parliament of Canada on the principles or implementation, and without the

mandate to do so given that these changes were never proposed during the most

recent federal election;

THEREFORE

BE IT RESOLVED that this House of Assembly condemns the substance

and implementation of the changes to the Canadian Employment Insurance program;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this House calls upon government to immediately

conduct a detailed research program to examine the long-term effects of these

changes on individuals, communities, and to the Province as a whole, with goals

of gathering evidence to use in a campaign against these changes and also for

the use in determining what provincial government programs may be required to

mitigate the negative effects of these changes;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this House calls upon the Government of

Newfoundland and Labrador to join forces with the Maritime provinces in order to

better address the issue with one united, regional voice;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this House call upon the Government of

Newfoundland and Labrador to ensure that this issue be placed on the agenda for

discussion at the annual Council of the Federation meeting this summer, in order

to initiate a national debate on the role and value of the Employment Insurance

program.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

The Opposition House Leader.

MS JONES: Mr. Speaker, I would like to give notice that on Wednesday we

will debate one of the motions on the Order Paper already put forward by myself,

the Member for Cartwright L'Anse au Clair, asking government to do a public

inquiry, and we will be calling that for Private Members' Day on Wednesday.

MR. SPEAKER: Further notices of motion?

Answers to Questions for which Notice has been Given.

Answers to Questions for which Notice has been Given

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture.

MR. KING: Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, on March 21, the Member for St. Barbe tabled a question in the

House of Assembly requesting any correspondence, reports, or other

representation which the provincial government has made to the federal

government in the last two years in relation to policies on owner-operator and

fleet separation; I am more than pleased to provide information here today in

response to this request.

On March 15, 2012, I wrote the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, the hon.

Keith Ashfield, in respect to DFO's fisheries modernization consultations. I

have also met with Minister Ashfield in Boston at the seafood show and during a

visit to Ottawa earlier this year for Seal Day on the Hill.

On behalf of the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, I was pleased to

provide our initial views on Fisheries and Oceans Canada's discussion document

titled The Future of Canada's Commercial Fisheries at each opportunity I

have had. Ensuring the sustainability of fisheries resources adjacent to

Newfoundland and Labrador while maximizing long-term economic benefits for our

industry, for our people, and for our communities, is our Province's top

priority. We welcome the opportunity to provide input into a process that will

significantly impact our Province's fishing industry.

We look forward, Mr. Speaker, to working with Fisheries and Oceans Canada and

the Newfoundland and Labrador fishing industry on an inclusive and integrated

approach to modernizing Canada's fishing industry. The Government of

Newfoundland and Labrador agrees that a more modern approach to fisheries

management is required to address the industry's challenges and opportunities.

While we support the idea of a reformed fisheries management regime, our support

for the proposed approach will be contingent on securing the Government of

Canada's assurances on key issues of concern before we can fully endorse the

process.

Mr. Speaker, maintaining access to our historical shares of adjacent fishery

resource is of utmost importance to the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador

and the people we represent. Stable access to these resources is essential to

maintain the economic viability of our Province's fishing enterprises, our

processing operations, and the hundreds of rural communities that depend on the

fishing industry. The principles of adjacency and historical participation must

be given priority in all future resource allocation processes. Should DFO's

modernization approach compromise our access to historical shares of adjacent

stocks, we will not support moving forward with their initiative.

Mr. Speaker, while moving towards a long-term approach is a step forward for

the fishing industry, this process clearly requires a thorough review of all

policies and regulations that govern fisheries management in Canada. For

illustrative purposes, this includes important policies such as the combining

policy, access and allocations policies, the fleet separation policy, and the

owner-operator policy. To make this work, Mr. Speaker, will require more

collaboration between provincial-territorial governments, the federal

government, and the fishing industry stakeholders.

We therefore sought the commitment of DFO that it will employ a coordinated

and collaborative approach as the modernization process moves forward. On this

latter point, we also requested that the process take place over a reasonable

time period. Important matters such as this, Mr. Speaker, cannot be rushed. The

need for provincial representation is further illustrated by the fact that

Newfoundland and Labrador's processing sector is regulated by our government and

generates roughly half of the market value from our fishing industry.

Concerning the fleet separation policy and the owner-operator policy, the

position of the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador has not changed. We

continue to support these policies; however, it is appropriate that we discuss

these policies in a collaborative way to ensure they meet the needs of the

fishing industry in our Province.

It is also important to be clear on the

definitions associated with these

policies. For example, we should determine whether or not the owner-operator

policy does or should require the license holder to be present on the vessel

when it is engaged in fishing operations. DFO must also ensure that key industry

stakeholders are well represented in this process and have adequate opportunity

to provide their input.

At the meeting to discuss DFO's modernization approach on January 12, 2012 in

St. John's, we felt, Mr. Speaker, that key industry sectors were not well

represented. Appropriate industry representation is essential to enhance

understanding of the modernization approach and co-operation among all parties

as policies and regulations are rolled out to reform fisheries management. While

securing our historical shares of adjacent fish stocks is paramount in

considering the federal government's modernization initiative, we also require

elaboration on several elements outlined in DFO's discussion paper.

Although some intentions put forth were quite clear, Mr. Speaker, such as the

establishment of multi-year cycles of scientific advice and evergreen Integrated

Fisheries Management Plans, many questions have not been addressed in this

discussion paper. It is unclear, for example, what specific strategies are

planned to move toward a market-based approach to fisheries management. Further

discussion on the specific policies and strategies, as well as proposed

timelines to achieve them, are required in order for the Province to fully

engage with the federal government in this process.

Mr. Speaker, we welcome a collaborative, integrated, and inclusive approach

to modernizing the fishing industry in Canada, one that respects our Province's

interests and provides for informed and balanced policy development. We look

forward to receiving a copy of the findings from the consultations with the

fishing industry, and we can then engage with the federal government and the

other provinces and territories on how we can collectively move forward with the

industry stakeholders to ensure that our fishing industry brings maximum

benefits to Canadians, and in particular, to us Newfoundlanders and

Labradorians.

Thank you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

Mr. Speaker, on April 3, the hon. Member for Burgeo La Poile placed a

question, Question 13 on the Order Paper, asking myself to lay on the Table of

the House the following information: (

a) the number of lockdowns at Her

Majesty's Penitentiary in the last six years, (

b) a list of any dangerous

weapons confiscated from inmates, (

c) a list of illegal substances confiscated

from inmates, and (

d) any notable incidents or altercations occurring either

among inmates or between inmates and guards.

Mr. Speaker, I could make a comment initially that we would have to hire

another workforce to get all this information together, if you want to go back

six years, but I am pleased to stand here today to address question 13 regarding

Her Majesty's Penitentiary. In answering these questions, Mr. Speaker, I have to

be ever mindful of the safety and security of inmates and staff, and in fact the

general public. As Minister of Justice and Attorney General, I have to be

careful that I do not say or disclose anything that might pose security or

safety risks to our inmates, to the staff or general public. For that reason,

Mr. Speaker, I will have to address each particular question with general

information. The important thing to remember, Mr. Speaker, is that unfortunately

you cannot underestimate the determination and ingenuity of some inmates. This

is something that all correctional facilities anywhere in the world have to deal

with.

Mr. Speaker, lockdowns at correctional facilities are necessary in order to

ensure the safety and security of inmates, safety and security as well of the

staff and of the general public. Lockdowns are only put in place when necessary

and may only result in a partial lockdown of certain areas of a correctional

centre such as a cell block or a living unit, or even a part of the same. We do

not always have to put in place a full lockdown and if it is not necessary then

we will not.

Mr. Speaker, we have statistics on the types of lockdowns that we have had,

everything from a small part of a unit to a full-scale lockdown. Because there

are so many variations of lockdowns, it would be misleading, Mr. Speaker, to

provide a statistic on the number. Lockdowns are usually the result, Mr.

Speaker, of weapon and contraband seizures, and also the result maybe of

incidents or altercations within the facility.

With respect to seizing weapons or contraband, again, Mr. Speaker, this is a

reality for corrections in Canada and many other countries as well. We do our

best to manage these concerns. You have to recognize that some of the items

seized, especially weapons, are rather inventive and creative on the part of

inmates. Most weapons seized are makeshift knives or shanks, but again, security

reasons prevent me from discussing how they are made or how they are obtained.

Basically, these comprise anecdotally about 99 per cent of seized weapons.

Now, I am not sure what the member meant by illegal substances. Contraband in

a prison environment will go beyond narcotics because items which are readily

available outside the institution and are considered legal are not necessarily

legal substances within the prison. For example, cigarettes, lighters, matches

are examples.

With respect to incidents and altercations, they are also a reality, Mr.

Speaker, in our correctional environments. Our correctional officers are well

trained to deal with these issues as they arise. Again, these could lead to

lockdowns and necessary investigations are carried out. These investigations

sometimes lead to charges which make their way to the court system. To speak to

any particular incident would be inappropriate for privacy, safety and security

reasons.

Mr. Speaker, our security, our policies, and our procedures are not static.

We are always reviewing them to determine how they can best work out. We review

them from the perspective of our own unique needs but also with a best practice

lens of what is happening in other jurisdictions.

Mr. Speaker, in 2009 we released the independent report on adult corrections

called Decades of Darkness. This report has now shaped how we move forward with

corrections in the last three years and has been a strong foundation. I will get

into more details of initiatives at a later date but I want to point out at this

time that as a result of that report we have added numerous correctional

officers, including eleven correctional officers for the HMP, one correctional

officer for the Labrador correctional centre, three Lieutenants for Newfoundland

and Labrador Correction Centre for Women. In 2010, six additional correctional

officers were added to ensure the safer environment within our correctional

facilities, as well as providing more stable work schedules for the officers.

Mr. Speaker, we recognize that the ways to improve living and working at

correctional facilities go beyond the bricks and mortar and the legislative

framework. Many times programs and services delivered, especially for the

betterment of communities, boost morale for both correctional officers and

inmates alike. By creating a better environment we can also lower the number of

incidents involving lockdowns, confiscation of weapons and contraband, and other

altercations.

Thinking outside the box, Mr. Speaker, and recognizing that inmates have much

to offer from within the correctional walls has helped us achieve many successes

that have helped inmates deal with their own issues. I want to just list a

couple, Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of those watching who would not realize, as

I mentioned, there is more to corrections than the bricks and mortar and

legislation. For example, at the Bishop's Falls Correctional Centre, the inmates

there produced and harvested 100 pound bags of potatoes. They were harvested to

go to the Grand Falls-Windsor Food Bank. Also, a canine therapy program which

started at Bishop's Falls Correctional Centre and the West Coast Correctional

Centre proved so successful that similar programs have since started in the

Labrador Correctional Centre and the Newfoundland and Labrador Correctional

Centre for Women. Inmates learned important life skills by training dogs,

donated through local SPCAs, so that the dogs can be adopted within the local

communities.

Inmates at the Newfoundland and Labrador Correctional Centre for Women worked

with correctional officers to raise approximately $1,000 for Canadian Cancer

Society's Relay for Life in Clarenville. Inmates took responsibility for making

banners, props, and signs for the fundraiser, which they call KISS Cancer

Goodbye; kiss is in capital letters: KISS. They were dressed in the designs,

facial paint, and whatnot of the KISS music group that appeared in Grand Falls

last year.

Inmates at the Newfoundland and Labrador Correctional Centre for Women rose

to the occasion again by making the visiting room more family friendly and

personal by painting cartoon murals. Inmates have a more comfortable space to

visit with their families.

Mr. Speaker, at the Labrador Correctional Centre, inmates and staff have been

working together on the Let's Build a House project. As a group, they have been

building a new house for a family who lost everything in a horrific fire, which

took the life of a young child. So far, $35,000 has been donated to help build a

house, with another $15,000 left to raise.

Consistently, Mr. Speaker, we hear these positive things about these

initiatives from both correctional staff and inmates. All their lockdowns,

altercations, and confiscations of weapons and contraband we hear about more

often, and the reality of prison environment; the initiatives we have provided

give inmates a sense of ownership and accomplishment that they are proud of.

This certainly helps us, Mr. Speaker, in providing a more stable environment in

adult corrections.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER (Kent): Petitions

Petitions

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

MR. A. PARSONS: Mr. Speaker, I have a petition; to the hon. House of

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

the petition of the undersigned residents humbly sheweth:

WHEREAS hundreds of residents of the South Coast of the Province of

Newfoundland and Labrador, including residents of the communities of Burgeo,

Ramea, Grey River, and Francois, use Route 480 on a regular basis for work,

medical, educational, and social reasons; and

WHEREAS there is no cellphone coverage on Route 480; and

WHEREAS residents and users of Route 480 require cellphone coverage to ensure

their safety and communication abilities; and

WHEREAS the Department of Innovation, Business and Rural Development recently

announced significant funding to improve broadband services in rural

Newfoundland and Labrador; and

WHEREAS the residents and users of Route 480 feel that the Department of

Innovation, Business and Rural Development should also invest in cellular phone

coverage for rural Newfoundland and Labrador;

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

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

the users of Route 480 in their request to obtain cellphone coverage along Route

As in duty bound, your petitioners will ever pray.

Mr. Speaker, I have had the opportunity to enter this petition again today,

as I have done on many previous occasions before. This one, actually, I entered

today because I had an opportunity to attend the Burgeo Firefighters' Ball on

Saturday night. While I was in town I talked to a number of firefighters and

residents of the community; they told me how this issue is one of the top issues

with that community, along with the state of the Burgeo road in general. In

fact, I heard of one occasion not that long ago where we had people driving

along the road and came upon an accident where an elderly couple had gone out

off the road and were actually in the water. In this case they had to perform a

rescue attempt, and the rescue attempt was hindered by the fact that they had to

drive seventy-five kilometres off the Burgeo highway in order for them to call

the normal first responders to this situation.

So, again, Mr. Speaker, we all know this is an important issue; we all know

the lack of cellphone coverage in many areas of this Province is proving

detrimental to not only the safety of our citizens, but to the business and

education of our citizens. I urge the minister to continue on in his efforts to

get this done, to meet with private providers, and to meet with the CRTC; again,

I would do anything in my power to assist in this process so that the people of

this Province have this necessary technology in 2012.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

MR. MURPHY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I rise to present a petition on behalf of the people of the Burin Peninsula,

and indeed, from all Newfoundland and Labrador. Cameras on the Burin Peninsula

Highway I will just read the prayer:

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

Parliament assembled, the petition of the undersigned residents of Newfoundland

and Labrador humbly sheweth:

WHEREAS the Burin Peninsula Highway is long and desolate, varying in

elevation, with highway conditions that are often difficult; and

WHEREAS this stretch of highway does not have adequate cellphone coverage to

allow for quick response times for people in distress who need help; and

WHEREAS the highway has innumerable hazards that have led to the death of

travellers in this area; and

WHEREAS no highway cameras are currently operating to let travellers know

about road conditions and warn of possible hazards;

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

install cameras on the Burin Peninsula Highway that will allow travellers to

check on road conditions in the area.

As in duty bound, your petitioners will ever pray.

Mr. Speaker, this petition is from residents all over the island. St. John's,

Paradise, and Mount Pearl are on this one, along with the people, of course, of

varying communities down the Burin Peninsula: St. Bernard's, Jacques Fontaine,

and such; Little Bay East is another one.

Mr. Speaker, I cannot escape the relevance of the purpose of cameras today

and how much they are used and how much we have actually become dependent on

these cameras to actually see what the road conditions are going to be like in

the areas that we are going to be travelling on a day-today basis. This

particular petition by these people is no different when it comes to stressing

the need and the fact that we need cameras more and more in our everyday lives

to carry on commerce, and indeed, for the travelling and motoring public out

there.

So, Mr. Speaker, I want to thank you for your time with regard to expressing

the views of these people. Hopefully, we will come to some sort of an agreement

with government shortly on this one, and hopefully sooner rather than later.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

MR. KIRBY: Thank you.

I rise to present a petition on needed changes to the Department of

Education's school bus transportation policies.

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

Parliament assembled, the petition of the undersigned residents of Newfoundland

and Labrador humbly sheweth:

WHEREAS school district restructuring has resulted in longer bus travel times

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

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

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

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

children to different schools on foot; and

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

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

hardship for working parents; and

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

transportation policies have not been reviewed through public consultation since

1996; and

WHEREAS parents are expressing the need for more flexible policies for

student transportation and school restructuring to meet current needs of school

children;

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

conduct a review of school bus transportation policies and school restructuring

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

As in duty bound, your petitioners will ever pray.

We have petitioners from St. John's, Paradise, Mount Pearl, and St. Alban's.

Mr. Speaker, I know it is difficult right now when I am talking about hazardous

winter travel with all of the beautiful weather we have been having, although I

do not know if the forecast is anything we might have a bit of snow on the

ground. As the weather improves, it is easy to forget about the treacherous and

dangerous conditions under which some small school children have to walk to

school.

I have received thousands of signatures on this petition over the course of

this sitting of the Legislature. Members are probably becoming more familiar

with this petition as time goes on as a result of the volume of signatures that

I have been getting. I have been asking for a review and we are asking for

solutions to be considered, maybe a graduated system that will provide for

different busing regulations for children of different ages, or what have you.

We really need to have a review of these school bus transportation policies,

and we urge the government to do that sooner than later.

Thank you.

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

MR. BENNETT: Mr. Speaker, this is a petition to the hon. House of

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

the petition of the undersigned residents humbly sheweth:

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

within the comfort and security of their own homes, home care also allows people

to be discharged from hospital earlier; and

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

workers for their loved ones; and

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

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

the option of receiving that care from family members; and

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

to implement paying family caregivers;

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

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

implement a new home care model to cover family caregivers.

As in duty bound, your petitioners will ever pray.

Mr. Speaker, this is a recurring theme and it is because it is a recurring

problem with individuals who have to provide home care for loved ones. In fact,

just on Friday, I had another telephone call from an individual who is caring

for a family member who really, in this part of the Province, got the ball

rolling on this issue to inquire what is happening. We are hearing there is

supposed to be a home care proposal; but, my son, it looks almost as if he is

going to be forced to go into some sort of a care facility.

Mr. Speaker, people are better cared for at home and generally at much less

cost to the health care system. If not for any other reason, I would urge the

government to move forward on implementing this particular piece of legislation

as it would help a significant number of people and improve the quality of lives

of people who receive home care.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for The Straits White Bay North.

MR. MITCHELMORE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Parliament assembled, the petition of the undersigned residents of Newfoundland

and Labrador humbly sheweth:

WHEREAS the Regional Economic Development Boards diversify, grow, and

strengthen economies throughout the Province by providing training

opportunities, marketing advice, proposal writing, leveraging funds,

collaboration, and other means; and

WHEREAS the federal government's decision to cut funding to the Atlantic

Canada Opportunities Agency is resulting in the elimination of funding to the

RED Boards and their termination in May 2013; and

WHEREAS 75 per cent of the operational funding for the RED Boards, roughly

$3.6 million, is provided by ACOA with the additional 25 per cent from the

provincial government; and

WHEREAS the Department of Innovation, Business and Rural Development has $200

million in their suite of programming, some of which has poor uptake; and

WHEREAS just 1.5 per cent of the Business Attraction Fund of the Department

of Innovation, Business and Rural Development was used last year, $366,800 of a

$25 million Budget;

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

commit bridge funding in its 2013 Budget, which may come from the Business

Attraction Fund, to help preserve the RED Boards in Newfoundland and Labrador

who provide support to municipalities, communities, organizations and

businesses.

As in duty bound your petitioners will ever pray.

Mr. Speaker, I have to say the role of the RED Boards in the rural economy is

quite significant at a time when there is quite a crisis situation happening

throughout the rural areas of the Province. If I just look at the Nordic

Economic Development Corporation in the District of The Straits White Bay

North, in 2004 they were able to lever $3.2 million. That is 70 per cent of the

funding for thirty-six broadband communities to receive broadband Internet. The

other amount came from Bell Aliant, and just $85,000 came from the provincial

government.

Mr. Speaker, the Nordic Economic Development Corporation also levered $1

million from the economic stimulus fund under Canada's Economic Action Plan, and

$1 million from the provincial government to ensure that the forest industry was

not stagnated last year. The role of these boards put millions of dollars back

into local economies. I think it is time to look at, what are we doing to

attract business in the Province? If we are not putting the atmosphere and the

environment in place to attract business and putting in the basic infrastructure

then we certainly are not doing our job, Mr. Speaker. I ask the Minister of

Innovation, Business and Rural Development to look at allocating and bridging

funding because we do not want to see these talents, resource and staff lose.

They will quickly be eroded and look for other work, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you.

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

MS ROGERS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Parliament assembled. The petition of the undersigned residents of Newfoundland

and Labrador humbly sheweth:

WHEREAS as a result of a recommendation in the Green report about wrongdoing

in the House of Assembly there is now legislation that protects anyone who

speaks up with evidence of financial abuse or other impropriety in the

legislative branch; and

WHEREAS it is unfair for one group of civil servants to be protected by

whistle-blower legislation when another group is not; and

WHEREAS Justice Green stated that the financial wrongdoing in the House of

Assembly might have been discovered sooner if whistle-blower legislation had

been in place; and

WHEREAS the Cameron inquiry into ER-PR testing found that problems with tests

would have come to light sooner therefore lessening the impacts on patients if

whistle-blower legislation had been in place; and

WHEREAS the Task Force on Adverse Events recommended an amendment to the

Regional Health Authorities Act to provide legal protection for employees

reporting occurrences or adverse events; and

WHEREAS whistle-blower legislation is in place elsewhere in Canada and the

provincial government promised similar legislation in the 2007 election but has

not kept that promise;

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

enact whistle-blower legislation to protect public sector employees in

provincial departments and agencies, including public corporations, regional

health authorities and school boards.

As in duty bound your petitioners will ever pray.

Mr. Speaker, it has become clear in our Province's history and in the not so

distant past through the Justice Green report, through the Cameron Inquiry, that

had we had whistle-blower protection in place it would have far earlier mediated

the damages of wrongdoing, mediated and reduced the harms that were experienced

by many people of our Province. This became an issue in the 2007 election and

this government had promised time and again, through the Premier of the time,

through the Minister of Justice at the time that whistle-blower protection

legislation would be drafted and would be presented in the House.

Mr. Speaker, as the Minister of Justice today stated, I would like to

challenge him that this is not tedious and complex, but that it is doable. The

draft bill would establish a transparent system in which public servants can

report wrongdoing. Five years ago the government and the Premier pledged that

his government would implement whistle-blower laws in the first session of the

Legislature after the election. I have every confidence that with the right

leadership, the very capable staff in the Department of Justice will be able to

draft legislation that will serve the people of Newfoundland and Labrador and

protect our public interests.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER: Orders of the Day.

Orders of the Day

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

MR. KENNEDY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

to Standing Order 11 that this House do not adjourn at 5:30 p.m. today, Monday,

May 28, 2012, and I further move, seconded by the Minister of Advanced Education

and Skills, pursuant to Standing Order 11 that this House not adjourn at 10:00

p.m. today, Monday, May 28, 2012.

MR. SPEAKER: It has been moved and seconded, pursuant to Standing Order

11 that the House not adjourn at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, May 28, and further that

the House not adjourn at 10:00 p.m. on Monday, May 28.

All those in favour, aye'.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Aye.

MR. SPEAKER: Contra-minded, if any?

The motion is carried.

The hon. the Government House Leader.

MR. KENNEDY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

We are now in a position to call from the Order Paper, Order 3, Concurrence

Motions. Mr. Speaker, we will be speaking in the order that they are on the

paper, with the Government Services Committee, then Social Services Committee,

then Resource Committee.

We would be in a position now to commence with the Government Services

Committee; however, I do think that there is some issue as to the number of

speakers and who gets to speak. I do not know if you are in a position to deal

with this. I am just waiting for the Opposition House Leader to come in.

MR. SPEAKER: Thank you.

The motion is that the report of the Government Services Committee be

concurred in. Pursuant to our Standing Orders, we have three hours for each of

the Concurrence debates, and I will now call upon the first speaker on the

government side of the House.

The hon. the Member for Exploits.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. FORSEY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, last week I presented the report on behalf of the Estimates

Committee of Government Services. Before I get into some of the information and

some of the good things that we reviewed in the Estimates Committee regarding

the departments that we reviewed, first of all I would like to thank the

Committee, which I chaired, and thank the Committee members. It takes a lot of

time and a lot of commitment, Mr. Speaker. I would first like to thank the

members: the Member for Humber Valley, the Member for Kilbride, the Member for

Torngat Mountains, the Member for St. John's East, the Member for Mount Pearl

South, and the Member for Bellevue.

As part of the Government Services and what this means, Mr. Speaker, the

Government Services Committee, we reviewed different departments, the Estimates

of different departments; the departments that we reviewed were the Department

of Finance, the Department of Transportation and Works, Public Service

Commission, the Department of Service NL, and the Office of the Chief

Information Officer, Mr. Speaker.

Now, I must say that it is a big undertaking for our members and the

committee when meeting and reviewing the Estimates, but it is also important to

recognize the ministers of these departments, Mr. Speaker, because when they

come to these meetings, they are well-prepared to answer any type of question,

and they do it very co-operatively, all the ministers from Government Services:

the Minister of Finance, the Minister of Transportation and Works, and the

Minister of Service NL.

There are a number of things in the Budget that I would like to talk about

today, Mr. Speaker, if time allows. Last week when I presented the report, we

presented the report without amendment. I will be concurring with the report as

well of the departments that we reviewed.

One of the departments that we did review, Mr. Speaker, was the Department of

Finance. As you are aware, the Department of Finance is a huge, huge department.

I recall back in 2006, actually my first Budget that I was involved in; that

particular Budget was $4.9 billion, I say, Mr. Speaker. This year we are looking

at expenditures of roughly $7.8 billion. That is a lot of money. That is a lot

of money for this Province; increases have been up every year. We know the

reasons for it, Mr. Speaker. We know that the oil revenues, royalties are great

and have been increasing. Roughly one-third of our revenues come from the oil

royalties. As a government, Mr. Speaker, we want to chart a course that is

sustainable. Under our Premier and our ministers, especially our Minister of

Finance, we are doing just that, Mr. Speaker.

We have invested a lot of money into infrastructure, badly-needed

infrastructure, I say, Mr. Speaker. Back in 2003, when this government came into

power, the aging infrastructure and services that were required was phenomenal.

We have been doing that, Mr. Speaker, for the past six years and doing it very

well. Like I said, it has to be good, wise fiscal management and it has to be

sustainable.

That is why we were able to do this with the investments in infrastructure

and the spending that we have done. We have been able to do it without actually

getting the lend of any money, I say, Mr. Speaker. We have been very fortunate;

we have been using our oil revenues and royalties to a very good benefit for the

people of the Province, I say, Mr. Speaker; not only the investments that we

have done in different programs and infrastructure, but also in the reduction of

our debt.

It is amazing when you sit down in a committee meeting, Mr. Speaker, and the

Minister of Finance is there, his staff is there with him, and our committee of

members are there, and resource people, and you are reviewing the Estimates of

the Department of Finance. To go through the expenditures and the revenues of

the Department of Finance, it is certainly eye opening, I say, Mr. Speaker.

To be able to do this spending and keep the debt down, to be able to pay on

the debt and right now to bring our debt down today to about $7 billion, Mr.

Speaker, is a great accomplishment by this government. As our Premier has often

said, she wants to continue vital services for the Province and for the people

of Newfoundland and Labrador. We want to do it in a sustainable way that we will

not be back into the predicament that we were back in 2003. I have said it in

the House in the many times I have spoken on the Budget this year, Mr. Speaker,

and I always ask the question: Do we want to go back to that? No, I do not think

we do, Mr. Speaker.

Last week, I did have a chance to speak on the Budget for awhile. I was

talking about the consultations that the Minister of Finance participated in and

actually led across the Province, Mr. Speaker. He has been doing it every year.

We are always asked that question: Is it worth it? Personally, Mr. Speaker, I

say it is. I believe that the minister believes it is. That is how we get some

of the incentives that we make as a government, the initiatives that we come up

with.

I have seen many programs brought in that have benefited the people of the

Province, Mr. Speaker, especially in tax reductions. I recall when the minister

was going around and I recall several people in the District of Exploits saying

to me: We would like to see the sales tax on insurance eliminated. Well, Mr.

Speaker, that is what we have done. We forget sometimes some of the things this

government has brought in or what somebody else has done, Mr. Speaker.

Basically, what I am saying is consultations work. When that initiative was

brought in, Mr. Speaker, there were a lot of people in the Province appreciated

that, certainly the people of the District of Exploits.

It was only this past year, Mr. Speaker, we eliminated the 8 per cent HST on

home heating. Mr. Speaker, 8 per cent is a lot of money. It does not make any

difference if you are burning oil, if you are burning wood, if you are using

electricity, but that 8 per cent savings is passed on to everyone in the

Province, Mr. Speaker. Everyone in the Province gets the benefit of that 8 per

cent reduction. In most cases, Mr. Speaker, this comes right off the bill that

you get every month either from Newfoundland Power or one of your oil companies.

Most of the bills, when you get them, the 8 per cent is taken off the bill there

automatically; however, if there is a case where it is not, you can apply to get

a refund. You can apply once a month, Mr. Speaker. You can save your bills and

you can apply twice a year or once a year. That is your choice, whatever you

want to do. It is a great saving for the people of the Province. Most of the

suppliers of heating, whether it is electricity or oil, it comes right off the

invoice.

Another initiative that was brought in back a few years ago actually, I

believe it was in 2006, for the Seniors' Benefit. Now, today, that particular

program is increased to $900 to the seniors. The Seniors' Benefit now is $900.

They get that every fall, Mr. Speaker, usually around October. No doubt, our

seniors need these breaks. These are incentives that this government has been

bringing in and hopefully and we know it is making it sustainable. We are,

right now, spending a lot of money that comes in from the oil revenues, but we

know that oil is a non-renewable resource, Mr. Speaker. We know that one of

these days the oil is going to be gone and when it is gone, that is it. That is

why you will see this government now pursuing Muskrat Falls, Mr. Speaker, and

investing in new energy, because we need to.

I have heard people say: We do not need it. Well, Mr. Speaker, probably right

now we do not need it, and I may never see the need for it but I figure I will.

It is for the people of Newfoundland and Labrador; we have to look at where we

are going to be ten years or twenty years down the road, Mr. Speaker. Once the

oil is gone, that is it. What are you going to do? You are going to need another

source of energy. You can do it and make it worthwhile for the Province, Mr.

Speaker. It can generate income, it is an economic generator, and it is going to

be good for the Province. We can supply the needs of Newfoundland and Labrador.

We can have the energy backup for industrial development in Labrador and we can

also sell a portion of it on the open market, Mr. Speaker. So we benefit.

I have had a number of people in my district, Mr. Speaker, who talked to me

about the Muskrat Falls deal for the past several months, since it has been on

the go actually. Mr. Speaker, just about everybody out there is saying we have

to do this. We have to do it, we have to do it. They support it. The majority of

the people of Newfoundland and Labrador realize that we need to do this, Mr.

Speaker, because we will need the energy. We will need it.

Mr. Speaker, in the Estimates of Government Services we also reviewed the

Service NL. I may get back to the Department of Finance again, but the

Department of Transportation and Works is part of this Committee as well, I say,

Mr. Speaker.

I would like to just touch on Service NL. The Minister of Service NL also

made a ministerial statement, Mr. Speaker, a short while ago here in the House.

His statement went on to say Budget 2012 People and Prosperity includes $3.7

million to provide seniors aged sixty-five and over with a 35 per cent reduction

on driver's licence, on vehicle registration fees, other licences and fees, such

as hunting, fishing, cutting wood, and camping, Mr. Speaker.

I had an opportunity to touch on this a little bit last week; however, I

never had the time to actually delve into it a little bit or to get more detail,

but it is part of the Provincial Healthy Aging Policy, Mr. Speaker, this

particular initiative. I did recall last year when I was part of a committee of

domestic woodcutting in Central Newfoundland, with my colleague from Grand

Falls-Windsor Green Bay South and my colleague from Lewisporte - my colleague

from Lewisporte actually chaired that particular committee - a number of things

were discussed with regard to policy on domestic woodcutting out in Central

Newfoundland. It was more so pertaining to the cutting districts of ten, eleven,

twelve and thirteen because there was a new five-year management plan that was

coming out on that, Mr. Speaker. One of the things they asked about was the cost

of fees.

I guess us living in rural Newfoundland, Mr. Speaker, getting out in the

woods, getting outdoors, out on the pond and stuff like that, that is what we

do. It is good, it gets you out there, and it keeps you active. Our seniors are

a big part of this, because a lot of seniors, Mr. Speaker, do still cut their

own firewood for their personal use. They also get out there fishing and

hunting. To get a 35 per cent reduction in fees, this was greatly appreciated by

the people of Newfoundland and Labrador, certainly in my district, and in the

Central Newfoundland region; 35 per cent. Right now, a driver's licence, if they

go online - I think with the online reduction, plus the 35 per cent, I think

their driver's licence now costs them around $81, Mr. Speaker, down from $140.

That is a huge saving, Mr. Speaker.

A lot of our incentives and initiatives that we have brought in as a

government have benefited everybody in the Province, every Newfoundlander and

Labradorian. We do place some emphasis on our aging population as well, and our

seniors, Mr. Speaker, because they are a big part of this Province. They made

this Province, Mr. Speaker. Any time we can bring in an incentive that is going

to help them, they appreciate it. It gives them a little bit more security,

financially. Also, it is healthy for them to be able to get out in the country

and be able to cut their own wood, Mr. Speaker, and do their hunting and fishing

as well. It was a great ministerial statement by the Minister of Service NL. I

will say to the minister that it was well received in the District of Exploits.

Mr. Speaker, also, in the Government Services Estimates was Transportation

and Works. Of course, Transportation and Works is actually a fairly huge

department. The Minister and his staff were there for the three hours or so that

we were in the meeting and a lot of questions were asked of our Minister of

Transportation. Basically, what we have been spending in the past five years in

infrastructure and programs is about a billion dollars a year, Mr. Speaker.

Now, Transportation and Works does not only encompass the operations of

highways and transportation and roads, but it also takes in the public

buildings, Mr. Speaker. All the public buildings across the Province come under

the Department of Transportation, so it is a big responsibility and a big

expenditure: all the schools, hospitals, the expansion to hospitals, the

ferries, all the road programs. That is another thing; our government has

already launched two ferries, Mr. Speaker, and now we are in the midst of

designing one for and I am sure the Minister of Tourism and the Member for The

Isles of Notre Dame is really pleased that the ferry is in the Budget this year

for his district, for New World Islands and Change Islands, I say, Mr. Speaker.

I have travelled many, many times to Fogo, many times. I know a lot of people

over there. I have a lot of friends over there and it is badly needed.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

MR. FORSEY: I travelled on the Beaumont, and I travelled on the

Winsor, and I know that they need this service, Mr. Speaker, because they

are isolated. Sometimes you run into some difficulty with regards to contracting

and tendering and so on, and sometimes there are delays, but the commitment has

been made by this government, Mr. Speaker; regardless of what happened in the

past, the commitment is there, and we are on the way within the next couple of

years to be able to launch a ferry that is going to be very beneficial to the

communities of, at least, Fogo Island and New World Island.

The roads program itself we all know what condition the roads were in when

this government came into power, Mr. Speaker, in 2003. I recall, myself; I can

recall driving along by Bellevue and that area many times, because I drove out

here on a quarterly basis in my previous career for meetings. I recall myself

and my wife, we would pass along by the district where the Member for Bellevue

is to now, and I will tell you, you had to drive around some of the bad roads

and stuff that was there. You had to watch where you were going.

Today, I say, Mr. Speaker, you do not have to do that in most places. We are

not there, but we are getting there. There are still some needs; we know there

are needs, but we have come a long way; the same thing as the tender that was

awarded last week for Labrador, Mr. Speaker,

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

MR. FORSEY: for the Trans-Labrador Highway, and that will be finished

this year with an investment from this government of $65 million.

I see my time is winding down. I was pleased to be a part of the Estimates

Committee and more so to actually chair the Committee. I found it really

interesting and, Mr. Speaker, I will be of course supporting and concurring with

these Estimates.

Thank you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. EDMUNDS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

It is good to hear the member opposite talk about the roads, Mr. Speaker. I

was glad to hear of investments all over this Province and investments in

Labrador regarding the road between Lab City and Goose Bay. It is good to see,

but it still leaves a lot to be desired with respect to different areas around

this Province.

The Bay d'Espoir Highway, Mr. Speaker, has been deemed the worst road in the

Province. There is an old saying that if you build it they will come. We have a

road that runs up from Southern Labrador to Goose Bay. The road is in place and

has been there for a number of years. That road is well travelled, but it does

have its faults. I think there is a major safety issue here with respect to the

road from Blanc-Sablon that leads all the way up to Goose Bay, Mr. Speaker.

There is a tremendous potential for tourism with respect to the Southern

Labrador Highway. It would be an investment to put work into this road and reap

the benefits of tourism in our Province, especially in Southern Labrador, Mr.

Speaker, where there is another fish plant that has been closed in Black Tickle.

It allows for other avenues of investment and it allows for other avenues of

return on that investment.

Two areas that I think would benefit Labrador and would benefit this Province

as a whole, Mr. Speaker , is diversification, which is what this government has

no choice but to look for now because of all the cutbacks from the federal

government and how it affects the people in Newfoundland and Labrador. Once this

loop is done, Mr. Speaker, hopefully in the near future we can see a road going

from Goose Bay and North West River up to the Torngat Mountains, which would be

another avenue of investment.

The road would probably be industry driven, Mr. Speaker, but I am sure that

it would certainly open up a new venture for tourism in this Province. The end

of the road, Mr. Speaker, could be a major staging area for tourism into

Northern Labrador, into the Torngat Mountains, and in the southern part of the

North Coast of Labrador as well.

Some years ago Destination Labrador did come out with a report, and I think

it was one of the first times that this report included Northern Labrador, Mr.

Speaker. It also highlighted the fact that Northern Labrador is one of the few

places where you do not have to build your resource. This is even in comparison,

Mr. Speaker, to Western Labrador and Central Labrador especially.

When you look at the request for improvements to highways and to roads, Mr.

Speaker, there is a silver lining there on that investment. I say again that it

is an investment into other opportunities that could bring a return to this

government, and the Province would benefit, I am sure, substantially. The

biggest challenge that we have, especially in Northern Lab, is infrastructure. I

have brought this to the attention of this government on several occasions.

Infrastructure means relieving an area of a problem, and it also means a return

on that investment, Mr. Speaker.

Another area that certainly could use improvements and I speak to this on a

safety level. We have had airstrips up and down Labrador's coast, I think, since

1981. I can remember the days of travelling on single-engine Otter aircraft, Mr.

Speaker, without requirements for seatbelts and sitting on mailbags. So, it was

good to see this work undertaken and to have airstrips gravel airstrips,

although they may be. This time of the year, Mr. Speaker, other than the normal

aircraft, which would be a Twin Otter, other aircraft are unable to land due to

the condition of the airstrips.

Mr. Speaker, I have travelled many, many times out of the Coast of Labrador,

and there are some times that you certainly get white knuckles on your hands

from holding on in fear of what you never know could happen. This is making

reference to the shortness of the airstrips and the fact that they are not

paved. If there were paved runways, as there is in Saglek, which was put there

just after World War II it is probably the best airstrip we have in Northern

Labrador this could invite the use of more modern, faster, more fuel

efficient, and larger passenger carrying capacity aircraft. Certainly, that

would address the issue of the wait-lists and the availability of aircraft.

In my time spent on airplanes, Mr. Speaker, I tend to talk to the pilots a

lot; I know most of them. The one thing that they continue to mention, with

respect to the state of the airstrips we have now, is the need for an instrument

landing system. In many cases, low ceiling and reduced visibility compromise the

effectiveness of these aircraft. Having said this, Mr. Speaker, I think it is

the sheer training and the sheer experience of the pilots on these Twin Otters

that fly up and down the coast, Mr. Speaker, is probably the only reason why we

do not have many more accidents than what we have had.

Mr. Speaker, an instrument landing system has been put in place in Voisey's

Bay probably due to the fact that they do have larger aircraft such as the

Dash 8 going in there. Mr. Speaker, I am sure, for safety reasons, that an

instrument landing system should probably be put in place in every community in

Labrador where there are gravel airstrips. Because, once you get into commercial

service and air scheduling, I think the safety of the passengers and I am one

of them, Mr. Speaker, very often. I would like to have that comfort level when

you are making an approach under borderline conditions. When an aircraft pilot

identifies the need for this, Mr. Speaker, I think it should be taken seriously.

It would make these pilots it would make their job much, much easier. I am

sure it would again be a benefit to the Province to have a safer service and an

ability to increase that service, Mr. Speaker, that is very well lacking. We

still go through periods where we have days, days, and days without an aircraft,

when that could be remedied.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to talk a bit about our freight system, summer

shipping season, and our ferries. It is a well-known fact that our ferries are

getting older. It is good to see in this Budget provisions made to correct this

problem by engaging builders, and hopefully, in our Province, producing new

ferries, ferries that have a larger capacity, ferries that are obviously more

up-to-date and less breakdowns.

When you go through the expenses, Mr. Speaker, where there has not been time

to put out tenders, I have gone through them and I have seen many, many, many,

many purchases for some of these older vessels. I am sure that if you add up the

number of parts that have been ordered for these vessels, that price would be

substantial; more than likely it would cover the cost of a new ferry. These

orders are for boats that need to be ongoing; they cannot afford the breakdowns.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to talk about the service to Northern Labrador. Two

years ago, this government deemed that the Astron , the freighter that was

in place, was not adequate to supply the needs of the people in Northern

Labrador and in Black Tickle as well. They put out tenders and we ended up with

the Dutch Runner . I do not hold this against this government, Mr.

Speaker; it was an error and everybody thought that this new vessel, given its

size, would take care of the needs. It did not work out, Mr. Speaker, and we are

all fortunate that this vessel is no longer in service. It leaves us with the

same problem we had last year and the year before, and that is an inadequate

vessel for the amount and the volume of freight that it has to move.

I think, Mr. Speaker, we were lucky last year in terms of freight movement

with the moratorium in place on mining in Labrador, because it certainly cut

down on the amount of freight that would be transported, especially by

exploration companies and by exploration support companies that would have sent

up freight to cut down on their transportation costs, Mr. Speaker. Some of these

companies were small fly-by-night companies. I certainly hope that the new

policy put forward by the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs will address this

portion of the needs with the people in Northern Labrador when it comes to

exploration and the concerns brought forward by the membership in Northern

Labrador. I certainly look forward to seeing how this works.

I will just go back to airstrips again, Mr. Speaker. It has been identified

by this government and by the federal government, by the Minister Responsible

for Labrador, that the airstrip in Nain is not in an ideal location. It is just

as well to say that the airstrip in Nain is downtown. It is in a highly

populated area. I have witnessed three airplane accidents on this runway alone.

I think maybe there have been eleven to date. Mr. Speaker, this is going to get

worse. This chance for accidents is going to increase as the volume of air

traffic increases. I have seen planes land there just short of the runway and

crash. I have seen airplanes that have taken off from the airstrip in Nain and

crashed in the harbour, Mr. Speaker. I have seen an airplane come in there and

hit the snow bank on one end of the airstrip, lost his landing gear, and had to

make a belly landing.

As I said, this airstrip is right downtown. It is in the community. It runs

adjacent along the shoreline. I guess the other area of concern, Mr. Speaker, it

is under a large mountain and what it does is give terrible crosswinds. I have

gone in on final approach, Mr. Speaker, where you are looking out the side

window of the airplane at the runway as the pilot is trying to make corrections

for the wind. It is not a comfortable feeling when it looks like you are making

a sideways landing on a runway. Again, the skill of the pilots is why we do not

have more accidents than we do. I have to commend the pilots with Provincial

Airlines and with Air Labrador for the skill and the experience that they - I

think, Mr. Speaker, they have to learn in a very short time. I think it is only

through their ability to manoeuvre an aircraft under so many of these conditions

so often that they are as good as they are.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to talk about the impacts that we are going to feel

with the changes in the Employment Insurance programs put forward by the federal

government. I think it is hard enough now in our Province with the I call it

the turning in the economy, Mr. Speaker, that we are not ready for. We have a

major number of fish plants closed in the last two months. All of this affects

the ability for the people in our Province to access EI benefits, and these new

regulations will only make it harder. What I do not want to see, Mr. Speaker,

and I do not think anybody in this House would like to see more people being

dependent on what assistance is offered by social services when they have a

chance to ensure their own earnings and benefit from it during periods of no

work.

Mr. Speaker, this government has time and time again come forward and

expressed the fact that they deem there is no need for an inquiry into search

and rescue in our Province, but, Mr. Speaker, every time we turn our heads there

is another closure. We have seen the closure of the marine rescue sub-centre in

St. John's.

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

I remind the hon. member that we are currently debating the Concurrence

report of the Government Services Committee which deals with the Department of

Finance, the Department of Transportation and Works, Public Service Commission,

the Department of Service Newfoundland and Labrador, and the Office of the Chief

Information Officer. I ask the member to restrict his comments and relate them

to one of the appropriate departments.

MR. EDMUNDS: I ask, Mr. Speaker, would it fall under the Department of

Finance?

MR. SPEAKER: I remind the hon. member that his comments need to relate

somehow to one of those departments.

MR. EDMUNDS: Okay, Mr. Speaker. Thank you for your correction.

When we look at the need for improvements in foster care in our Province, Mr.

Speaker and there are needs for foster care, and I know the department is

undertaking a new program. I would like to see where the expenses are going

here, Mr. Speaker.

I would like to talk about the number of reports that have come out in our

Province, Mr. Speaker, and across the north with respect to the foster care of

Aboriginals.

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

I remind the hon. member that his comments need to relate to one of the

departments that falls under the Government Services Committee.

MR. EDMUNDS: Okay, Mr. Speaker. I am a little bit confused as to why

these issues are not relative to Finance.

Mr. Speaker, my time is nearly up so rather than be more confused, I will end

my comments there.

Thank you.

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

Before I call on the next speaker, I just remind hon. members that we are not

in a portion of the Budget debate that is as free flowing as some portions. It

is important that members confine their comments to relate to one of the

departments in question that relate to the Committee that we are in fact

debating. I remind members that that is the Government Services Committee.

MS JONES: A point of order, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Opposition House Leader, on a point of order.

MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

We are doing what is called Concurrence debate here in the House of Assembly.

One of the departments that falls under Concurrence debate is the Department of

Finance. I am just seeking some response from the Chair as to why, when we are

dealing with the budgetary items of Finance which encloses all expenditure of

government, why we are restricted in terms of what we can speak to under that

particular heading.

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Deputy Government House Leader, responding to

the point of order.

MR. KING: We would like clarification too, Mr. Speaker, but it is my

understanding that the member was out of order because he was talking about

foster children and reports on foster children, which do not relate to the

budgetary process of the Department of Finance.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

There is no point of order. I will provide some clarification, as requested

by members. Provided that the comments relate to expenditures of the Department

of Finance, the Chair will rule that those comments are indeed in order as part

of the Concurrence debate, but the comments

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

The comments must indeed tie back to one of the departments in question that

relate to the Government Services Committee.

The Chair recognizes the hon. the Member for Mount Pearl South.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. LANE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

It is certainly a pleasure for me to stand in this hon. House once again to

speak to the Budget and, in particular, to speak to the Estimates Committee, of

which I participated those being the Department of Finance, Service

Newfoundland and Labrador, and Transportation and Works.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take just the opportunity very quickly, before I

get into my comments, to thank the Minister of Finance, the Minister of Service

NL, and certainly the Minister of Transportation and Works for their time and

for their forthright ability when it came to answering questions. There were

certainly a number of questions posed, and I thought they were forthright in

their answers, very co-operative, and I certainly want to commend them on that,

Mr. Speaker. I would also like to just thank the hon. Member for Baie Verte

Springdale. I never had the opportunity to sit in on Finance; I was ill at the

time and he sat in for me. I certainly want to thank him for that.

Mr. Speaker, before I get into some of the specific points as it relates to

these departments, I just want to touch on a couple of overarching issues that

do tie to those departm