May

16, 2012 HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS

Vol. XLVII No. 33

The House met at 2:00 p.m.

MR. SPEAKER (Wiseman): Order, please!

Admit strangers.

Today we are very pleased to welcome to the Speaker's gallery Mr. Jerry

Ouellette, Member of the Provincial Parliament from the District of Oshawa,

coming all the way from Ontario, and joining us with his wife and two sons.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The Minister of Tourism will be delighted to know that they

have chosen today to celebrate their twenty-fifth anniversary in Newfoundland

and Labrador, and they are on their way to his district.

Statements by Members

MR. SPEAKER: Today we have members' statements from the Member for the

District of St. John's North; the Member for the District of Conception Bay

South Bell Island; the Member for the District of Exploits; the Member for the

District of Port de Grave; the Member for the District of The Straits White

Bay North; and the Member for the District of St. John's Centre.

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

MR. KIRBY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I rise today to tell this House about a group of volunteers who make life

more pleasant for the residents of their building. The Wigmore Seniors

Association provides social activities, camaraderie, and support to the

fifty-four tenants of Wigmore Manor.

The elected volunteer committee hosts regular Sunday night bingo and

Wednesday night card games. On special occasions like Valentine's Day and St.

Patrick's Day, they hold potlucks and dances. For a special Christmas party, the

committee prepares a delicious cold plate with dessert and music for dancing.

The Wigmore Seniors Association invites experts to come in and talk on topics

ranging from diabetes to elder abuse. They were instrumental in educating their

tenants about the government's dental program, and about twenty of their tenants

received much-needed and long-delayed dental and denture work.

Committee members, with the support of community donors, were able to give

every tenant in the building a Christmas stocking this year. As you can imagine,

the residents were enormously grateful of that.

Mr. Speaker, I ask all hon. members of the House to join me in thanking the

Wigmore Seniors Association for everything they do for the residents of Wigmore

Manor.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for the District of Conception Bay East

Bell Island.

MR. BRAZIL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I stand in this House to acknowledge a significant business investment in my

district. Last week, Home Hardware opened a modern state-of-the-art retail

operation on Bell Island. With executives of Home Hardware and owner-operator

Mr. Leonard Clarke in attendance, the ribbon was cut to unveil one of the

largest Home Hardware stores in Atlantic Canada.

Mr. Clarke, a long-time respected Bell Island entrepreneur, had a desire to

offer the residents of Bell Island a modern shopping experience. With an

investment in the millions, he and his staff created the principle shopping

centre for the Island. This is another example that Bell Island is a community

and as a potential place for business investment is alive and well.

Mr. Clarke, along with his family and senior managers Ron Moores, Wade

Reardon, and Theresa Power and all staff of Clarke and Clarke Home Hardware

Limited, are proud of this accomplishment. The total shopping experience

includes nearly 25,000 square feet of retail space.

Mr. Speaker, I ask all members to join with me in congratulating Mr. Clarke

and all staff of Home Hardware Bell Island on the opening of their new

operation.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for the District of Exploits.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. FORSEY: Mr. Speaker, exercising for breakfast may not have much

meaning until you meet a unique group of women from Bishop's Falls. Sheila

Brace, Agnes Wells, and Diane Hillier started an exercise program and targeted

women between the ages of forty to seventy. This group, now forty-seven members,

decided to collect a fee and donate it to a charity.

Mr. Speaker, Pastor Anna Rowsell of Bishop's Falls is the director of an

orphanage in Tanzania, Africa, and started a breakfast program for children in

the area not involved with the orphanage.

Mr. Speaker, Sheila Brace, a friend of Pastor Roswell, thought it would be a

great idea if her group would agree to sponsor the breakfast program, which they

did without hesitation. The group also has a motto: We lose, they gain, we are

all winners.

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

exercise group for sponsoring this worthwhile cause and my niece, Anna, for

starting the breakfast program.

Thank you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for the District of Port de Grave.

MR. LITTLEJOHN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I stand today in this hon. House to recognize the students of Ascension

Collegiate who won six medals at the recent Skills Canada competition held in

St. John's. As well, these students earned their school the overall top place

standing in this year's competition. This is the seventh time in eight years the

students of Ascension Collegiate have won this award.

The school earned four gold and two silver medals in the following

competitions: robotics, IT network systems administration, job interviews, IT

software solutions for business, TV-video productions, and 2D computer

animation. The medal winners were: Kaden Clarke, Brandon Snow, Jordan Dicks,

Justin Stone, Jordan Marshall, Erica Badcock, Jared Petten, Jordan Thomas, Sarah

Dawe, Alex Oates, Clay Burton and Joshua Coombs. Some of these fine students

represented our Province at the recent national competition held this past week

in Edmonton, Alberta.

I ask all hon. members to join me in congratulating these students on their

various achievements.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for the District of The Straits White

Bay North.

MR. MITCHELMORE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate SABRI - St. Anthony Basin Resources

Incorporated, who honoured me by inviting me to speak at their annual general

meeting this year. SABRI is celebrating fifteen years of making innoavative,

economic contributions to my district.

SABRI manages the 3,000-metric ton northern shrimp quota for the area, and

gets the greatest benefit possible for the area they represent, which includes

the communities from Big Brook to Goose Cove. The SABRI mandate includes

expanding the region's economic base and increasing employment opportunities.

Profits from the operations are invested back into the communities into diverse

projects, which include tangible assets like trail systems and integrated

signage, as well as bursaries and scholarships for students from the area.

Today, SABRI operates with three employees and a fifteen-member volunteer

board, composed of fish harvesters, plant workers, and community and rural

development representatives. Board members are Chair Wayne Noel, Paul Dunphy,

Roy Taylor, Todd Hedderson, Dale Colbourne, Wilfred Alyward, Carl Hedderson,

Sterling Dawe, Dean Patey, Alvohn Pilgrim, Alick Pilgrim, Jim Pilgrim, Eric

Boyd, and Lester Bessey. Employees are Sam Elliott, Glenda Burden, and Alicia

Shears.

Mr. Speaker, I ask all hon. members to join me in commending SABRI for its

leadership and success.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MS ROGERS: Mr. Speaker, I rise today to salute an organization which does

incredibly important work in shattering stereotypes.

Planned Parenthood - Newfoundland and Labrador Sexual Health Centre is on

Merrymeeting Road in my district, but their work reaches people across the

Province. Tomorrow is International Day against Homophobia. Planned Parenthood's

does fantastic work around lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer issues.

Their youth group offers a safe social meeting place, breaking the barrier of

isolation and giving youth the vital supports they do not always find at home or

school.

Growing out of that group is the incredible Camp Eclipse, which brings youth

from across this Province and Nova Scotia together for four days of empowering

workshops and leadership training. Camp Eclipse: OUT in the Woods is open to all

youth who want to learn about issues faced by queer people, and to help end

discrimination in their schools and their communities. Two years ago, I had the

pleasure of facilitating a workshop there on activism and social change.

Tomorrow morning, I will attend Planned Parenthood's International Day

Against Homophobia Breakfast at the Battery Hotel. Tickets are $20 at the door.

I invite all hon. members to join me and demonstrate their support for this very

important cause.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: Statements by Ministers.

Statements by Ministers

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Innovation, Business and Rural

Development.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. HUTCHINGS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, as part of the provincial government's approach to economic and

business development, we are a committed partner in supporting innovation and

facilitating greater research and development. It is an approach that is proving

effective with the emergence of such industry sectors as ocean technology and

information and communications. It is also leading to the growth of Newfoundland

and Labrador's life sciences sector.

In its very essence, life sciences is about using living organisms such as

plants and trees and marine organisms to create new things, and where there are

living things considerable economic potential exists.

Globally, there is a growing focus on the opportunities attached to life

sciences. Research in such areas as bio-fuels, agrifoods, pharmaceuticals, and

bio-pesticides is in high demand. These are emerging fields that present

exciting opportunities. With greater activity, we are better able to support

local researchers develop solutions for the aquaculture sector; make crops or

plants more resistant to pests; find new ways to treat health conditions; or

find new energy sources.

To support its growth, the provincial government is making investments that

hold the potential to strengthen the Province's position in the global sector.

Just recently, I announced a $750,000 investment that will help researchers make

advancements in their work to fight against sudden cardiac death. It is also a

commitment that further builds on the $17 million contribution that this

government made in the $28 million Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in

Human Genetics that is currently under construction.

Expanding infrastructure, Mr. Speaker, helps attract

internationally-recognized researchers and supports sustained industry growth.

The future of the sector looks promising and, as reflected by the recent success

of two high school students, is capturing the interest of the Province's youth.

Just recently, Jared Trask and Kaitlyn Stockley of Holy Spirit High School in

Conception Bay South finished first at the regional Sanofi BioGENEius Challenge

which is a biotechnical research competition. They subsequently represented the

Province at the national competition where they received honourable mention. I

congratulate them for their impressive accomplishments.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. BENNETT: Mr. Speaker, I thank the minister for an advance copy of his

statement. Once again, the government takes the opportunity to talk about how

much taxpayers' money they spend. There are great opportunities in this Province

for workers, for industries, and for the health of the people of the Province.

It is a broad field, which covers many areas, and it is easy to get lost in the

range of opportunities. We need to focus on areas that are more useful and

compatible with our existing strengths, such as oil and gas related, fish

related, forestry related, and health related specific to our people.

Mr. Speaker, it is easy to applaud the government's efforts in this area, but

for even better results the government should focus its efforts more precisely

and get even better results for the same number of taxpayers' dollars spent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

MR. MITCHELMORE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Congratulations Jared and Kaitlyn for their achievement for attending the Sanofi

BioGENEius Challenge this year. It certainly shows the diverse interests that

our youth have.

I am very pleased about the interest and the investment in life sciences

supporting genetic research that Memorial University has pioneered. My father

died of sudden cardiac death due to this particular gene, which is now known and

tested here in the Province. Newfoundland and Labrador can be a centre for

innovation in life sciences. This kind of research leads to significant benefits

to our population and economy.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS BURKE: Mr. Speaker, I rise today in this hon. House to offer

congratulations to the fifty women and men on being awarded one of the

successful Post-Secondary Transition Scholarships. Mr. Speaker, all of these

individuals are adult learners beginning full-time programs at university or

college, and each will receive $2,000 for a total investment of $100,000, funded

by the provincial and federal governments through the Labour Market Agreement.

These scholarships are awarded to graduates of the Province's upgrading

programs, such as Adult Basic Education. Our government recognizes the

importance of education in providing a foundation for prosperity, innovation,

and growth. Along with the recognition of academic excellence, these

scholarships celebrate the commitment of the winners to further their education

and training.

Mr. Speaker, since 2004, more than $48 million in new funding has been

allocated by the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador to help adult learners.

As we train people for the challenging and rewarding opportunities on the

horizon, this government's commitment to post-secondary education is also clear.

In fact, our investments on that front have increased dramatically since our

government came into office less than nine years ago.

Mr. Speaker, in 2003-2004, we invested $246.1 million in post-secondary

education. In Budget 2012, that figure was $548.1 million an increase of 122.7

per cent. With internationally recognized post-secondary education combined

with a rapidly growing economy leading the country across many sectors this is

an unprecedented time of opportunity for Newfoundland and Labrador. This

Province leads the country in affordable education and growing employment

opportunities. With a labour demand forecast of up to 70,000 job openings within

the next ten years, investments continue on our ongoing efforts to ensure

today's opportunities are used to secure a future of growth and prosperity.

Our most valuable resource will always be our people, Mr. Speaker, and our

government is proud to support initiatives that encourage their success. On

behalf of this hon. House, I congratulate the scholarship winners more than 70

per cent of these scholarship winners are women and I wish them all the best

in continuing their education.

Thank you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The Member for Burgeo La Poile.

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

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

these fifty scholarship recipients. It takes tremendous courage to return to

school as an adult, and I commend these people for taking this step. Clearly, it

is paying off.

Education is a primary determinant of health and well-being, and certainly we

should indeed empower people to further their education. Unfortunately, this

Province still have one of the lowest literacy levels in this country, and I am

hoping that the promised literacy plan will come out this year. We need a

strategy to address this issue, and we need to ensure that our investments are

maximized.

On the good side, though, we have a number of job openings coming up in this

Province, and I hope that these people, along with many more, are going to take

advantage of this so we can contribute further to this great Province.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

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

MR. KIRBY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I thank the minister for an advance copy of her statement, and I would like

to say congratulations to these scholarship winners. This is a good initiative;

it is important to continue to invest in adult education initiatives in this

Province.

To reiterate the comments made by the Member for Burgeo La Poile, I hope

this government will also follow through on its commitment to adult literacy.

Since 2007 we have been waiting for the government to produce its strategic

adult literacy plan. This is concerning since adult literacy is a major issue

for this Province, and at present, government does not even up-to-date

information on adult literacy here. So, I urge the government to fulfill that

promise on adult literacy.

MR. SPEAKER: Oral Questions.

Oral Questions

MR. SPEAKER: The Leader of the Official Opposition.

MR. BALL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Last year, when I asked about the boundary issue between Quebec and this

Province relating to the Old Harry oil field, the Premier stated: Now that we

have a process, the boundary issue finally, after fifty years, can be settled

once and for all. So I ask the Premier: What actions have been taken by this

government to advance this file a year later?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KENNEDY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

We have hired an international law expert out of the University of Ottawa to

advise us on the issue of the Old Harry boundary dispute. The professor in

question, Mr. Speaker, has met with the Premier and myself and outlined the

various scenarios and alternatives that are available. It appears that the way

to resolve the boundary is well recognized in international law, and if there is

no agreement that is forthcoming then there is a mediation or arbitration

procedure in place such as was utilized by Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and

Labrador a number of years ago.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The Leader of the Official Opposition.

MR. BALL: I ask the minister: As the process in the timelines, is there a

deadline or a time when you would expect to hear back about that process?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KENNEDY: Mr. Speaker, one of the issues that is ongoing in relation

to Old Harry and the gulf development is the environmental dispute or arguments

that are ongoing, more in relation to individuals and groups in the Quebec and

Nova Scotia side. We are challenging the question of whether or not there can be

any exploration or development in that area. The C-NLOPB is involved, Mr.

Speaker, and in fact has issued an order allowing for an environmental review.

We continue to explore and define the legal and international law issues, but

there are other issues too that will impact on the ability to resolve the issue.

I would not call it a dispute yet, Mr. Speaker, because we have not attempted to

agree.

MR. SPEAKER: The Leader of the Official Opposition.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. BALL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The minister raised the C-NLOPB in his response. One of the issues around

C-NLOPB, of course, is that they make major decisions on behalf of the Province,

especially in projects the size of this. This, we understand, could be the size

of Hibernia.

When will this government take steps to fill the long-standing provincial

vacancy on the C-NLOPB board?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KENNEDY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I can inform the member opposite and the people of this Province that this

government, shortly after the election in October, made representations to the

federal government in terms of filling that position. As I indicated the other

day, Mr. Speaker, under the Atlantic Accord there is a process for filling the

chair when it becomes vacant, that six months before, under the Accord act, you

have to start a process whether by agreement or a mediation procedure. No such

process exists, Mr. Speaker, in relation to the appointment of the vice-chair.

At this point, despite our approaches to Ottawa, there has been no agreement.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The Leader of the Official Opposition.

MR. BALL: I guess just a follow-up question on that again: Do we have a

timeline in place, or how much longer can this vacancy be in place, do you

think?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KENNEDY: Mr. Speaker, the Premier has made it very clear in terms of

our position in relation to this vacancy. We have asked and pushed. I, in fact,

met with Minister Oliver where we brought up the issue of the vacancy.

What will happen, Mr. Speaker, from a very practical perspective is that the

chair has to be filled by October of this year. There will be a process there

whereby that vacancy will be filled. I would assume, Mr. Speaker, that if the

federal government is going to seek any agreement from us in relation to the

appointment of a chair, then they there will also have to be agreement on the

vice-chair.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. BALL: I think the assumption is probably the wrong word, in all

fairness, minister. To assume anything with this federal government right now I

think is a stretch in itself.

Yesterday in response to my question about the Roddickton pellet plant not

being in operation, the Minister of Natural Resources stated that it is time for

the company to stand on its own two feet. This comes just three years after the

government made a $10 million investment into that operation.

I ask the minister: Is this the policy, to give a large sum of money and then

walk away?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KENNEDY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

No; the policy is to help businesses get established and to support their

establishment, Mr. Speaker. In terms of Holson in Roddickton, there was the

modernization of the plant and the construction of a pelletizing facility. There

was a $10 million investment which included a $7 million repayable loan, a $2

million non-repayable loan, and $1 million under the Green Fund.

Mr. Speaker, Holson has since come back looking for more money and we have

indicated that there is only so far as a government that we can go. Beyond

Roddickton, we also put $1 million in 2010 to assist harvesters in the Northern

Peninsula, of which $830,000 has been spent as of March 31, 2012.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. BALL: Aside from the issue of money, what was stated yesterday is

that the company is also having problems with finding and getting their product

to market. In order to protect this investment that we have made, shouldn't

government be helping the company find and access these markets, especially in

the fact that we have $10 million tied up in this company?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KENNEDY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Leader of the Opposition is also aware, Mr. Speaker, that we have

invested money or helped a Burton's Cove logging operation in Hampden. We have

offered money to Cottles Island Lumber, Mr. Speaker. We have allocated $2.7

million under the Forest Industry Diversification Fund for Sexton Lumber.

What we are trying to do is help these companies modernize and get into the

business. At that point they have to make it on their own, Mr. Speaker. In this

place, it is my understanding that Holson does have contracts with European

companies for the provision of pellets. It is not clear to me at this point as

to why those orders have not been filled.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. BALL: I guess one of the other issues about the markets, of course,

being the Residential Wood Pellet Rebate Program, which has been cancelled in

this year's Budget so there is no money in this year's Budget also for the

forestry diversification.

Do we have a plan? Does this government have a plan for innovation and

biodiversity in the forestry sector, because it really does not appear?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

When I put the numbers together in just the major or the bigger mills, that

is $14 million there, along with $1 million in the harvesting sector on the

Northern Peninsula. We have also invested, over the last number of years, Mr.

Speaker, $90 million in Corner Brook Pulp and Paper in one way or another with

power purchase agreements.

The Pellet Rebate Program, Mr. Speaker, was discontinued this year, but there

had been 562 rebates. We also are beginning, or will begin, public consultations

on a provincial, sustainable forest management strategy. As I indicated

yesterday, we have been in ongoing discussions in relation to Grand

Falls-Windsor.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The Leader of the Official Opposition.

MR. BALL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Yesterday, the Premier stated that the environmental mess at the Abitibi site

in Grand Falls-Windsor would be cleaned up eventually. This area continues to be

a health and safety risk, and the government really has no timelines, costs, or

plans for the cleanup. As we know, environmental issues can affect financing of

any future investment in that area.

Why are we waiting on the court case before cleaning up this site? Shouldn't

we do it and then bill Abitibi?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

PREMIER DUNDERDALE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, there is not an industrial site in this Province that will not

have some requirements for cleanup once the activity is finished on that site.

That is true for fish plants; for example, it is an issue that we had to deal

with in Harbour Breton, in terms of reactivation of the fish plant there, Mr.

Speaker.

As long as that site is going to be used for industrial purposes, you would

not clean up the site, Mr. Speaker, because you would have to keep doing it over

and over again. When the site is no longer used for an industrial purpose, then

remediation takes place, Mr. Speaker, the same as in mining sites and any other

number of industrial sites in this Province.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The Leader of the Official Opposition.

MR. BALL: It is going to be extremely important for the next investor as

they come in there because they are going to come in and who is going to own the

environmental mess that has been there.

Do you have any timelines at all to offer anybody in Central Newfoundland on

this?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

PREMIER DUNDERDALE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I can only refer the Leader of the Opposition to past practices.

There are certain obligations that go with companies who originally own the

site, Mr. Speaker, as has happened in Harbour Breton and as has happened in

other industrial sites in the Province. No new operator is going to come in and

take responsibility for a contamination that happened under somebody else's

watch, Mr. Speaker.

One of the things we have done as a result of people not owning

responsibility for the messes they have made, particularly in mining where the

people of Newfoundland and Labrador have had to come in and clean up the mess,

is to put certain fiscal requirements in place and financial tools in place

before you can start mining activity, to make sure when that industrial purpose

is completed, there is money there to clean up the site.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The Member for Burgeo - La Poile.

MR. A. PARSONS: Mr. Speaker, over the last ten years, other provinces

have seen increases in melanoma rates from 4 per cent to 57 per cent. In

Newfoundland and Labrador, the rate has increased a staggering 200 per cent. The

Canadian Dermatology Association met with government in August 2011 about

tanning beds, and government sent the decision to the Provincial Cancer Control

Advisory Committee.

I ask the minister: What is the delay in addressing this issue? Why are you

not leading the way to prevent melanoma instead of waiting to see what everyone

else does before you act?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS SULLIVAN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I can inform the member opposite that we are not waiting on any

other jurisdiction to see what they are doing. We have some very competent

people who we work with on a daily basis, particularly our Cancer Control

Strategy people and the people who working on the advisory council. We take

their counsel and we listen to everything they have to say.

This is an issue that we are very concerned about. This is an issue that we

intend to address.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The Member for Burgeo - La Poile.

MR. A. PARSONS: Mr. Speaker, skin cancer is the most common cancer in

Canada and one of the most preventable. Studies show that young people who

regularly use tanning beds are eight times more likely to get skin cancer than

those who never use them. BC and Nova Scotia have outright banned the use of

tanning beds for people under the age of nineteen, and Quebec introduced

legislation this week to do the same.

I ask the minister: Is the government concerned about tanning beds and are

you planning to do anything about it?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS SULLIVAN: Mr. Speaker, the area of all cancers is exceptionally

important to us and that is why we have undertaken so many initiatives $140

million dollars worth of initiatives, to be specific around the control of

cancer, particularly in terms of tobacco cessation and all kinds of other

programs like that. The answer to his question is yes, we take this very

seriously. We are investigating, we are consulting, and we will be back to you

in due course.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The Member for Bay of Islands.

MR. JOYCE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, the government has just distributed a householder to the people

of the Province outlining the highlights of the Budget 2012. People in this

Province have been told: Tighten your belts, 3 per cent cuts across the board,

and possible layoffs. A glaring omission in the householder is $655 million, or

10 per cent of the total Budget, for Muskrat Falls, an unsanctioned project.

Last year, government's investment in Nalcor was highlighted in the householder.

I ask the Premier: Why was the $655 million for Muskrat Falls not included in

the householder, and why is government not up front with the people of the

Province?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KENNEDY: Mr. Speaker, the equity investment in Nalcor has been

discussed in this hon. House since the Budget. It has been out there in the

media. There have been questions asked and questions answered, Mr. Speaker.

The one thing I need to make clear though to the people of this Province that

any equity investment in Nalcor is on the basis of the project being sanctioned.

The money stays in the Department of Natural Resources and is then disbursed to

Nalcor as money is spent, Mr. Speaker. Also, it does not go to the net debt of

the Province because it is a capital investment. In this particular case, Mr.

Speaker, we have a revenue generating asset which can produce monies and

revenues for this Province, along with hydroelectricity, for 100 years.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. JOYCE: I say to the minister, if you are so proud of the investment

why didn't you tell all of the people of Newfoundland and Labrador in your

householder?

Mr. Speaker, another noticeable omission in the provincial householder is the

$1 million for the Corner Brook hospital. People in Corner Brook feel that this

is a slap in the face and were expecting construction to begin. Government was

too embarrassed to even include this in the householder because it was an

embarrassment to the people on the West Coast. The minister refuses to answer

the questions.

I ask the minister: Will this $1 million complete the design? The big

question, when will the construction begin for this hospital that your

government committed?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

PREMIER DUNDERDALE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, there is one thing that this government has led the country on

since 2003 is a government that is principally centred and reiterates, not only

in their words but in their practice, every day that we work for the people of

Newfoundland and Labrador. There is nowhere you can go in this Province that you

would have any more evidence of that than in the region of Corner Brook, Mr.

Speaker. Between schools, between the university, between the courthouse,

infrastructure, long-term care, Mr. Speaker, and we are so proud of all of it.

Mr. Speaker, we have made a commitment to the people of Corner Brook for a

new health care centre, and they will receive this (inaudible).

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

The hon. the Member for St. Barbe.

MR. BENNETT: Thank you.

I ask members to wait for the question before they applaud.

Mr. Speaker, according to DFO, the value of sea urchins in this Province is

only $58,000

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

MR. BENNETT:

whereas in New Brunswick the same species brings in $2.6

million and in Nova Scotia more than a million dollars in value to their people.

I ask the minister: Why our landings are so small and what is his government

doing to maximize the benefits of this under-utilized species for our Province?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KING: Mr. Speaker, first of all, I think the question might be

appropriately asked to DFO, as the stats that the member opposite is quoting, I

think he admittedly said came from DFO.

We are working with harvesters on a daily basis, Mr. Speaker, to maximize the

quotas that can be landed in this Province, and maximize the benefits for the

Province. There are often issues around harvesters wanting to pursue certain

species and not wanting to pursue others, Mr. Speaker. They make business

decisions every single day. We support them and we try to encourage them to

maximize the benefits for all quotas available in Newfoundland and Labrador, but

we do not intrude ourselves into the daily operations of harvesters, Mr.

Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. BENNETT: Mr. Speaker, sea urchin is one of the top three delicacies

in Japan, used primarily in the preparation of sushi. I understand that outside

buyers are taking our sea urchins for processing outside the Province.

I ask the minister: How many licences has he issued for sea urchin

processing, and how much product is being shipped out of the Province?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KING: Mr. Speaker, I do believe we have four licences, although I

would ask for the member's indulgence. I will certainly get that information,

but I understand there are four, maybe five. There are certainly two in the

Province, only one that has been active. We have issued I think three outside

buyers' licences, Mr. Speaker, and we did so after collaborating with members of

the industry, as well as those who own the current licences in the Province, and

it was their recommendation and ask of the minister of the day that we grant

outside buyers' licences.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. MURPHY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, two years ago the Auditor General reported problems in the

enforcement of ambulance regulations in this Province, including rules around

timely inspections and ambulance staff training. The Department of Health and

Community Services said at the time that it would upgrade the standards manual

and the policies and procedures manual to address these problems.

I ask the minister: What has the department done to make sure that adequate

resources are available for staff training?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS SULLIVAN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, one of the things that we have undertaken to do in this Province

as a result of some of the material that the member opposite just mentioned is

to undertake an ambulance review. That will be a fairly extensive review. We are

in the process now of completing the RFP; that will look at our road ambulance

service, our air ambulance service, and so on. It is a very, very comprehensive

review that will also look at some training that we would enter into in terms of

all of our operators.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. MURPHY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, Service Newfoundland and Labrador said in response to the

Auditor General that it would make sure that each regional health authority has

ambulance inspections done on time and properly documented.

Will the minister tell us what has been done to ensure that ambulances are

properly inspected in this Province?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. DAVIS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I can tell you the inspection of

commercial vehicles is an activity that occurs on a regular basis and is

coordinated through Motor Registration Division and enforced by highway

enforcement officers, weigh scale inspectors, and private inspection firms

throughout the Province that are licensed to carry out inspections of motor

vehicles. I can tell you that our inspection regulations here in the Province

are as good as they are in any Province in Canada, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. MURPHY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Auditor General also stated that Newfoundland and Labrador is the only

Province that does not have legislation to specifically govern the operation of

road ambulances and related services. This makes it difficult to enforce some of

these regulations.

When will this government bring in legislation governing ambulance inspection

and to bring us on par with the rest of Canada to ensure patient safety?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. DAVIS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I say to the hon. member again, throughout Newfoundland and Labrador we have

a variety of inspection processes that exist and that take place for different

types of vehicles that we find on the highways, the roads, and streets of

Newfoundland and Labrador. We have official inspection stations throughout the

Province which are licensed by Service Newfoundland and Labrador to carry out

inspections on vehicles.

We have our own staff who carry out inspections on vehicles, highway

enforcement officers as well as weigh scale operators, who are all licensed;

part of their roles and responsibilities are to inspect vehicles. Ambulances are

part of the inspections that take place in Newfoundland and Labrador as they do

with other commercial vehicles.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. KIRBY: Mr. Speaker, parents at Beachy Cove Elementary recently

learned that the school's cafeteria will be converted to deal with shortage of

classroom space. The gymnasium at the school must also accommodate classroom

instruction. This problem will not be resolved for at least four years. People

in Portugal Cove St. Philip's have been pleading with government for years to

construct a new school.

I ask the Minister of Education: Why did you not listen to parents in

Portugal Cove St. Philip's when all of this could have been avoided?

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. JACKMAN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I did indeed hear that the hon. member was at the meeting the other night, as

was my colleague here, hearing what parents have to say. He is right on one

account, Mr. Speaker. Looking to acquire land and planning for a school is the

first step in a process. It is my understanding the board is working very

closely with the parents. The end result is we are looking at the populations in

those particular areas. There has been a boom in population in the entire area

there, and as such we are moving ahead with that plan.

Mr Speaker, in the interim, as we have found, parents are very co-operative

with us in these types of situations. We expect the same from this school, Mr.

Speaker, and that parent community.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. KIRBY: Mr. Speaker, this government uses a flawed and outdated

formula to allocate teaching resources to schools.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. KIRBY: As a result, a number of schools will lose teachers next year.

The loss of a single teaching unit will be devastating to schools, especially

schools in rural and remote communities.

Can the Minister of Education tell us specifically when communities will know

if they will lose teachers in the coming year?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. JACKMAN: Mr. Speaker, I, as Minister of the Department of Education,

do not get into those things. This is a decision boards make, and it is based on

declining enrolment. Now, I would expect there are some schools who would have

known by now if they are losing a unit or not.

Mr. Speaker, I will tell you one thing. Just a few years ago, this department

and this government instituted a needs-based policy of teacher allocation.

Without that formula there would be 800 less teachers in the system today.

Therefore, we as a department are acting in the role that we do. The school

boards will work with schools and school communities to lay that out, Mr.

Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. KIRBY: Mr. Speaker, four years ago this government adopted the

current teacher allocation formula following an independent review. I remind the

minister that this independent review recommended that any new formula be

reviewed itself within three years of implementation.

I ask the minister: Will he order an immediate review of this flawed and

outdated teacher allocation formula?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. JACKMAN: Mr. Speaker, we are debating an issue on bullying after. To

contain yourself with some people is a pressure tactic, Mr. Speaker, I have to

tell you.

Mr. Speaker, our programs are always under review; we look at things. I am

going to remind the hon. member of this: Our student-teacher ratio, 11 to 1 in

this Province. It takes into consideration guidance counsellors and

administrators. Ask other jurisdictions in this country where the average class

size is 18 to 1, Mr. Speaker. We make no apologies for it. In fact, Mr. Speaker,

we are proud of our teacher-student ratio.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MS ROGERS: Mr. Speaker

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

The Member for St. John's Centre.

MS ROGERS: Mr. Speaker, in their 2008 Throne Speech, government committed

to introduce whistle-blower protection legislation that same year after

appropriate consultation had taken place. Here we are, four years later, with no

whistle-blower protection legislation in sight.

Mr. Speaker, I ask the Premier: Will she honour the concrete promise that was

made so long ago?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. F. COLLINS: Finally, Mr. Speaker, we get the question on

whistle-blower legislation; we have been waiting all session for it.

Mr. Speaker, my answer in the past to that question has been that we were

monitoring jurisdictions across the country and elsewhere in the world with

respect to best practices and experiences with new legislation, because

whistle-blower legislation is relatively new in most jurisdictions. Mr. Speaker,

the results we found have not been encouraging, but let me say this to you, the

federal whistle-blower legislation, which is the one that all the other

legislations in the country are mirrored on, has been in effect since 2007.

There have been 228 complaints, nine investigations, and no findings of

misconduct. It is called a toothless piece of legislation (inaudible)

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MS ROGERS: Well, Mr. Speaker, I assume that monitoring must be some

comprehensive because it is taking a long time.

Mr. Speaker, government still has not included gender identity as a

prohibitive ground for discrimination in the Province's Human Rights Act. In

Estimates, we learned government will not add this because it is confusing. Mr.

Speaker, what is confusing is why government will not protect the human rights

of a group, transgendered individuals, who are more bullied than any other group

in schools and society.

Mr. Speaker, I ask the Minister of Justice: Will he add gender identity to

the act to protect one of the most vulnerable groups in our Province?

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. F. COLLINS: Mr. Speaker, we have brought in one of the most

progressive pieces of human rights legislation in this country.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. F. COLLINS: It will set the model for this Province and set the

future for this Province in human rights for the next twenty-five years.

Mr. Speaker, when we discussed gender identity in preparation for that

legislation, we had numerous

definitions of gender and confusing input from all

angles that we could not arrive at any kind of a sensible conclusion as how to

include gender identity in the act. All our advice, Mr. Speaker, was to leave it

out at that period in time. All discriminations under that issue are adamantly

covered under the sex discrimination in the act.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. MITCHELMORE: Mr. Speaker, in Estimates, we learned the Department of

Innovation, Business and Rural Development has cut their funding to the Export Advantage

Internship Program.

Mr. Speaker, I ask the minister: In a Province so heavily dependent on export

revenues, in a Province in dire need of diversifying its economy, why would the

government close the door of this opportunity to young innovators and

export-oriented businesses?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Innovation, Business and Rural

Development.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. HUTCHINGS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I spoke here many times in terms of the massive investments we

are doing in terms of youth and innovation, certainly in our post-secondary

institutions, research and development, and a number of programs, Mr. Speaker,

that we are committed to. This one here, we went through a review process like

any Budget; we reviewed different programs. Some programs, unfortunately, we did

not keep in the Budget; others we are expanding. Certainly from a youth

perspective, post-secondary, young entrepreneurs, we are there, Mr. Speaker. We

have been there in the past number of years. We built a suite of programs, and

we will continue to there in future years, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The Member for The Straits White Bay North, time for a

very quick question.

MR. MITCHELMORE: Mr. Speaker, I ask the Minister of Innovation, Business

and Rural Development: Given the dismal performance of the department's Business

Attraction Fund only $366,800 out of a $25 million fund was used will he

redirect some of the funds to create a social enterprise fund?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Innovation, Business and Rural

Development, time for a very quick answer.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. HUTCHINGS: Mr. Speaker, just in terms of investments in rural

Newfoundland and Labrador, $135 million since 2005. Mr. Speaker, we have a broad

range of programs.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. HUTCHINGS: We are committed to rural Newfoundland and Labrador. We

are committed to all regions of this Province. Certainly, in St. Anthony, we

have invested in wharf infrastructure; down on the Connaigre Peninsula, we have

invested; down on the Burin Peninsula; in Labrador; all over the Province, Mr.

Speaker, we have invested. We are going to continue to invest, and we do what is

right for Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.

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.

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 Innovation, Business and Rural

Development, standing on Answers to Questions.

MR. HUTCHINGS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, on April 3, the Member for St. Barbe tabled a question in the

House of Assembly requesting information related to actions of this government

that relate to our work with service providers to expand digital and cellular

telephone access to more regions of the Province. Mr. Speaker, that is a

question I am more than pleased to answer here today.

Through the Rural Broadband Initiative the provincial government has been

able to identify commercial partners to help create broadband access in

under-serviced areas. Through its implementation, the provincial government is

providing an incentive for carriers to deliver access where the business case is

not strong enough for them to go it alone.

With the $7 million allocated to the Rural Broadband Initiative, $3 million

was contributed to the $24 million construction of a new pole line between

Labrador West and Happy Valley-Goose Bay; Bell Aliant will use $2.1 million from

the provincial government to provide broadband access to parts of the Northern

Peninsula, as well as Central and Eastern regions of the Province; Burgeo

Broadcasting Systems and Ramea Communications, together through a combined

$230,000 investment, will upgrade services to Ramea, Grey River, and Franois;

and Xplornet Communications will use a $1.67 million investment to advance their

services in the Central region.

These investments bring this government's total commitment to improving the

Province's telecommunications capacity to $27 million, and levered an additional

$115 million, Mr. Speaker. These are investments that help alleviate congestion

problems experienced by many residents, and create greater availability to

broadband service. More importantly, they are investments that have resulted in

85 per cent of island portion coverage of the Province having broadband access,

up from 60 per cent in 2003, and approximately 95 per cent in Labrador having

access.

Effective partnerships with industry and the federal government have clearly

demonstrated how our government's investments can lever significant dollars from

other partners. With $2 million allocated in Budget 2012, we are looking to

sustain that momentum and track record for results-driven partnerships.

Both my staff and I have had and will continue to have dialogue with service

providers and the federal government to identify gaps in telecommunications

services. These discussions will help the scope of the provincial government's

role in addressing these service gaps.

It is important to emphasize that the federal government, through the

Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commissions and Industry

Canada, regulates the telecommunications industry and the private business

delivery service. The provincial government's role is that of a facilitator.

That is the role we intend to continue in the future.

Within this heavily-regulated environment, the provincial government has

proactively identified opportunities to make significant improvements in the

Province's telecommunication capacity. It is an approach that is based on

working collaboratively with cellular and Internet service providers as well as

the federal government.

The federal government's recent decision to lift foreign investment

restrictions in Canada's telecommunications industry, as well as dialogue at a

meeting on March 19 in Montreal of federal, provincial, and territorial economic

ministers who met to discuss Canada's digital economy, illustrates the

importance of the issue.

Nationally, all jurisdictions are pursuing avenues to improve

telecommunications. I represented the Province at those meetings and voiced our

view that greater access to digital and cellular access is an integral part of

economic and business development.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: Petitions.

Petitions

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

MR. MITCHELMORE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

It is a petition for the removal of the Englee fish plant, a public safety

hazard and environmental concern.

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 provincial government refuses to admit that they have a role to

play in the removal of the condemned Englee fish plant; and

WHEREAS the Town of Englee has exhausted all avenues over the past seven

years lobbying government for removal; and

WHEREAS inaction has resulted in economic loss for the town, delay of new

infrastructure, and has become a concern of public safety as large debris has

fallen into a major shipping route;

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

immediately order full removal and environmental cleanup of this condemned

property, a former fish plant, in order to restore public confidence in the

system and settle land issues to permit new wharf development, providing

residents of Englee with a mechanism to revitalize a presently devitalized

economy.

As in duty bound your petitioners will ever pray.

Sincerely, the undersigned.

Mr. Speaker, the government has issued, through the Department of Service

Newfoundland and Labrador, a ninety-day order to have the property removed. This

property has become a complete, utter safety hazard where the roof has

collapsed, there are bits flying over on other parts of the road, and it has

contaminants.

This has prevented and hindered economic development. The Department of

Fisheries and Oceans through their Small Craft Harbours has had millions of

dollars on the books to develop the property and the site. The government is not

taking appropriate action, in my view, on this matter as they have with other

plants and other properties. As they have stated here today: if it is not going

to be used for fishing, we will take a look at it.

This plant in its condition is certainly not going to be used as a fish plant

anymore in 2012. The people are pleading here; the people of Englee are pleading

with the House of Assembly to urge the government to absolutely do what is right

and have this property removed as soon as possible. It is something that is an

utter shame in Newfoundland and Labrador today.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

MR. BENNETT: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

To the hon. House of Assembly of the Province of the 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 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.

And in duty bound, your petitioners will ever pray.

Mr. Speaker, this is not something that is a strange request. This is a

common, ordinary, everyday occurrence for many people who require home care for

their families. This is not asking for a new initiative. This is simply saying

that a promise has been made. A promise was made in the Blue Book a year ago and

an election was based upon that in part. Now we have seen it referenced in the

Budget. The people are really pleading for this to come forward sooner rather

than later.

Mr. Speaker, every one of these people reads this petition, signs this

petition, and they understand what it is. It is all original signatures. It is

from various communities. It is a request to government to move on, get this

done, and look after people in their most urgent time of need.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

MS ROGERS: 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 Taskforce 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

heath authorities, and school boards.

And as in duty bound your petitioners will ever pray.

Mr. Speaker, I have petitions here that are signed from people in St.

David's, Corner Brook, Port au Port, Stephenville, Conception Bay South, Grand

Falls-Windsor, Paradise, Gander, St. Vincent's, St. John's Burin Bay Arm,

Paradise, Corner Brook, Mount Pearl. Mr. Speaker, these are people who serve the

people of Newfoundland and Labrador, people who work in our health care system,

people who work in our schools, people who work in every public sector in the

Province. These are people who care about their work, who care about the

services that they provide to the people of Newfoundland and Labrador.

I have received many calls from workers saying, I need to talk about this but

I have no protection, I will lose my job. Mr. Speaker, we know that several

jurisdictions have introduced whistle-blower protection and that it is

effective.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

MS ROGERS: As health care becomes more technological we know that even

more so we need it now more than ever. Our workers want this; the people of

Newfoundland and Labrador want this. This is a good thing for the protection of

our workers and it is a good thing for the protection of the services for our

people of Newfoundland and Labrador. Since the government has been monitoring

this for the past four years, I am sure they have enough information to do it.

Let's just do it, it is time.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

Orders of the Day

Private Members' Day

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

Today being Wednesday, Private Members' Day, I now call on the Member for St.

John's North to introduce the motion that stands on the Order Paper in his name.

MR. KIRBY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

It is an honour to stand and read this motion into the record. The motion is

as follows:

WHEREAS education plays a critical role in preparing young people to grow up

as productive, contributing, and constructive citizens; and

WHEREAS all students, teachers, and staff members should feel safe at school

and deserve a positive school climate that is inclusive and accepting,

regardless of race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin,

citizenship, creed, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, marital status,

family status or disability; and

WHEREAS everyone government, educators, school staff, parents, students and

the wider community has a role to play in creating a positive school climate

and preventing inappropriate behaviour, such as bullying, sexual assault, gender

based violence, homophobia, and other forms of harassment; and

WHEREAS neither bullying nor harassment is yet mentioned anywhere in the

Schools Act, 1997; and

WHEREAS bullying, harassment, and intimidation are as prevalent in our

schools as ever;

THEREFORE

BE IT RESOLVED that this House of Assembly urge government to

address the issue of bullying and harassment in our schools as follows:

Section 2 of the Schools Act, 1997 is amended by adding the following

definition:

(c) "bullying" means repeated and aggressive behaviour by a pupil, teacher,

or staff member where:

(

i) the behaviour is intended by the pupil, teacher, or staff member, to

cause, or the pupil, teacher or staff member, ought to know that the behaviour

would be likely to cause, harm, fear, or distress to another individual,

including psychological harm or harm to the individual's reputation,

(ii) the behaviour occurs in a context where there is a real or perceived

power imbalance between the pupil, teacher, or staff member, and the individual

based on factors such as size, strength, age, intelligence, peer group power,

economic status, social status, religion, ethnic origin, sex, sexual

orientation, gender identity, family circumstances, race, disability, or the

receipt of special education, and

(iii) the behaviour occurs in the form of any physical, verbal, electronic,

written, or other means.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week be

enacted twice during the school year the weeks beginning the third Sunday in

September and the third Sunday in February.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this government create a bullying prevention plan

that will be placed in legislation, which would be included in the curriculum,

and would include reporting mechanisms and discipline structures between

schools, school boards and the department.

Mr. Speaker, we are all too aware of the tragic impact that bullying can have

in our schools and on our communities. The frequency of bullying in schools is

too often underestimated. Even today, it is still too often dismissed. I was

reading a news story just this morning where it was suggested that bullying and

hazing activities in schools are just a part of growing up. That is an

unfortunate message, considering what we know about the effects and the impacts

of bullying.

We know that bullying in our schools is pervasive. We have had a number of

disturbing incidents of bullying and hazing over the course of the current

school year, in particular. Research has shown that most children are indeed

bullied at school, and most children say they have been a witness to bullying at

school. Many children are bullied regularly, and that is one or more times each

week. We do not have a lot of local published data on bullying, though I do note

that Mr. Gerry White, who is a doctoral student in community health at Memorial

University of Newfoundland, has done some recent research on cyber-bullying in

schools in Newfoundland and Labrador.

One study at the University of Toronto, a survey on cyber-bullying, showed

that half of students, half of them reported that they had been bullied online.

A 2010 research report published by the American Journal of Orthopsychiatry ,

which looked at thirty-three junior high schools in Toronto, reported also that

half of students surveyed had been bullied online, or cyber-bullied, as we call

it. It is a sad fact that most children consider bullying to be a normal part of

school life, something that is normal, because that most certainly should not be

the case. Because for one, we know that students cannot really have the

opportunity to succeed in a learning environment that is not safe, that is not

healthy, and that is not inclusive of all school children.

We are also aware that everyone has a role to play in the development of a

positive school climate; a school environment where inappropriate, hostile, and

aggressive behaviour is not tolerated. It is not just students who are affected

by this issue, many educators, parents, volunteers, and community organizations

say that cyber-bullying is one of their biggest concerns as it relates to

schooling and the education system today.

A Statistics Canada survey carried out in 2007 with parents who had children

between the ages of five and twenty-four years old found that bullying was a

concern to no less than 80 per cent of parents. That is quite a lot of concern.

Similarly, in 2010 the Canadian Teachers' Federation found that 85 per cent of

Canadians felt that bullying and violence were very serious problems.

An Angus Reid poll that was carried out just this year found that 80 per cent

of Canadians surveyed felt that bullying was a serious problem in elementary

school, and a further 94 per cent, no less than 94 per cent, felt that it was

problem in high school and in the middle grades.

There is also little doubt that inappropriate, hostile, and aggressive

behaviours in schools have immediate impacts for students, parents, and teachers

in our communities, but they also have longer-term impacts and create

longer-term problems as well. The research has shown that childhood bullying

leads to bullying in the workplace, on the job site, across professions, and

across occupations. Perhaps some hon. members have even observed that sort of

behaviour themselves. I know I have seen it first-hand, Mr. Speaker.

More concerning is the fact that children who are victims of bullies often

become victims as adults, so they are victimized throughout their lives. I

believe it is our responsibility to address

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

I ask members to take their private conversations outside.

The Chair has recognized the Member for St. John's North, who has a private

member's resolution on the floor today.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. KIRBY: Mr. Speaker, we know that there are remarkable things going on

in our schools in this Province and they are led by passionate teachers, by

inclusive and equity -focused students, and by principals who want the absolute

best for their students. The work they are doing is making our schools safer

places for students to learn, there is no question about that. We have to

applaud the current government for its investments in safe and caring schools.

This policy was launched quite some time ago, back in 2006. Government has

recently committed to an independent review of that policy and that is to be

followed by an action plan to eliminate all bullying in our schools. I have to

say that this is excellent work.

It is our responsibility, Mr. Speaker, to look at what government can do

more, what more government can do and should do to ensure schools are more safe

and inclusive than they currently are. We know that we have a responsibility to

continue work in this area, all of us do: legislators, government, teachers,

parents, students, volunteers, and everyone in our community. For my part, as a

father and as an educator, I hope everyone in this Legislature will work

together to make our schools accepting and safe for all students.

I am proud to present this motion which contains important new measures to

address the issue of bullying in schools. I think we need to recommit ourselves

to anti-bullying because we know that discrimination and harassment continues to

exist. That is why I am asking all members of this House to support the motion.

What is the New Democratic Party caucus proposing specifically with this

motion? First, we are establishing a definition of bullying in the Schools Act;

that way there can be little doubt about what actually constitutes bullying in

schools. That way every student, every teacher, every principal, every parent,

and every member of our communities will know what we mean when we say that

bullying is not permitted in schools in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Secondly, the motion says that government will designate two weeks of the

year as Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week. Unlike National Anti-Bullying

Week, which takes place every November, this motion calls for a Bullying

Awareness and Prevention Week each September and each February. The timing here

is very purposeful, in part because we want to head off and to address problems

that we have seen with hazing in our schools year after year. We tend to see

these incidents in September when students are newly back to schools and we also

see increased hazing when we get out of the winter season and into the spring

weather.

Each of the proposed Bullying Awareness and Prevention Weeks would encourage

and support schools, communities, and school districts in any efforts to

reiterate our message that bullying in our schools must end.

Finally, this motion calls on government to create a bullying prevention plan

that would be placed in legislation. This bullying prevention plan would also be

included in the school curriculum. Such a bullying prevention plan could include

instruction on bullying prevention during the school year for each and every

student. That could be instruction which is appropriate obviously to the age of

particular classes of students who are receiving the instruction. It would

include remedial programs for bullying to ensure that schools provide remedial

programs designed to assist the victims of bullying in recovering from bullying,

but they would also help to discourage perpetrators of bullying from continuing

to engage in bullying. They could be offered by social workers, psychologists,

or other trained professionals.

A bullying prevention plan could establish professional development programs

designed to educate teachers themselves about bullying and to help them devise

and develop strategies for dealing with bullying. A bullying prevention plan

could ensure these programs are also open to student assistants and other staff

members who work in our schools. A bullying prevention plan could make

educational materials on bullying available to the public, to everyone in our

communities, and share that vital information about recognizing and dealing with

bullying.

The plan could also mandate that principals' reports on bullying be promptly

forwarded to the Minister of Education and the Department of Education. It could

also establish clear reporting mechanisms and discipline structures between

schools, school districts, and the Department of Education.

Therein lies the essence of the motion, Mr. Speaker. It is, in fact, to

create an anchor and to anchor our values around anti-bullying in legislation so

that people will know what we mean when we say that bullying is not permitted in

our schools.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. JACKMAN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

It is indeed a pleasure for me to get up and to speak to this particular

issue. The motion is timely, I suppose. The hon. member mentioned a couple of

issues, the bullying issue, in particular, and the hazing that has gone on. If

anybody has followed some of my commentary in the media lately and I feel

quite confident the member who presented the motion today has followed me in the

media; there is no doubt about that. He has heard my commentary on bullying and

he has heard my commentary on hazing. I take this opportunity, if there are

parents out there listening school is probably still in session I do not

imagine many are watching at this particular point we want to get the message

out there that these types of behaviours are unacceptable.

We had Estimates this morning and one of the questions was asked I forget

what the exact question was, but we gave the response that we are administering

some quality of life surveys to our students. Those quality of life surveys will

start as low as Grade 2 and extend on up into senior high. That will provide us

with information as to if students feel safe and cared about in their schools,

and if not, why not. It would hopefully provide us with information as to how

our students in this Province feel about their day and their life in school.

When we talk about this today, we are talking about the physical and the

emotional part of being a student. Mr. Speaker, one of the things that we have

to be very much aware of is that bullying has changed. The hon. member mentioned

cyber-bullying. We have mentioned it numerous times. It has been mentioned

numerous times in the media. There is a little bit of debate on the go whether

it has happened with members in the House of Assembly. The role of the victim

and the role of the perpetrator always have to be looked at, because sometimes

we can trivialize it, but that certainly is not what we should be doing, and

maybe should examine some of the activities that happen. I will go no further on

that right now, because I think members know what I am talking about.

One thing has to happen and I am going to make an amendment to the motion

shortly. My research on the motion seems to be that much of it has been taken

from the Ontario piece around Bill 13 and Bill 14 I do believe it is and I

think they are finding their challenges with it. The one thing that I will

commit to, as the minister and I do not think there is anybody on our side

that would argue with me is that we are going to do everything that we can to

combat bullying in our schools. We all have children, we all have grandchildren,

we all have nieces or we either have nephews, and none of us would want to see

those children subjected to bullying.

Any of us who have ever experienced bullying will tell you that they remember

it. It may have happened forty-five years ago but it leaves such an impact on

you that you will remember it. People in this House who have experienced it will

know exactly what I am talking about, and I think if there are people of our

ages in this House who were bullies, they have come to recognize their role on

the other side.

We see examples. I saw one recently, I believe it was on The

National , where an individual recalled taking a young person's bike

and destroying it, who some thirty-or-so years later still remembered it. He was

the bully. He contacted that individual and went to see him. On both sides of

the fence, once you recognize that a bullying activity has occurred you will not

forget it.

Mr. Speaker, the thing about this is that it is not just something that you

can put into the act without much work that has to proceed it. The member

acknowledged, as I will now, some of the initiatives that we have taken. We

partner very closely with Child, Youth and Family Services. The minister and I

have worked since coming into Cabinet in both of our portfolios, we have worked

together extensively on this, and she is going to be the next speaker for this

side to speak on initiatives from her department. The Women's Policy Office, we

have worked together on. The Safe and Caring Schools policy, and the member is

right, there is a review being done of it because we want to know what is

working, what is not, and then we want to make improvements to that because all

of us here are talking about the betterment of the children.

Mr. Speaker, I do not know if we can show props but I wear this band, it is

from EGALE Canada, equal rights for gays and lesbians and dealing with sexual

orientation. I wear it because - we have many bracelets here. I support other

initiatives because if we are going to support autism it is very easy to wear

the pin. There is no one dispute it, but to stand up and say: Do you know what?

I support young students in our schools who are struggling with their sexual

orientation, I support them. I recognize it and I want to do my part as Minister

of Education, but more importantly, I want to do my part as an individual who

wants a safe, caring environment for students of all, whether it be gender,

whether it be religion, whatever. This indicates my support for the initiatives

that these young people undertake in schools; therefore, this spring we have

introduced MyGSA, My Gay-Straight Alliance, so that students have a resource in

their schools that will help them with these initiatives. I said it here the

other day, I was extremely proud to go to Queen Elizabeth High to look at what

they are doing and to attend an inclusion event at Bishops College just recently

to look at what they are doing.

Mr. Speaker, having said that, we are moving ahead with the initiatives, we

want to continue, but it is very important that we consult. The member talked

about in his motion there is a definition. He talked about remedial programs,

getting materials to the public, mandate principals to report when incidents

happen and clearly identify disciplinary actions. We cannot just simply

institute these things right now. We have groups - we call them our stakeholders

- that need to be involved in that.

In moving ahead, and that is what my amendment will speak to very shortly.

The role of consulting with, I will just say off the top of my head the NLTA,

that we consult with the RNC and the RCMP. The minute that we move it out, there

will be groups there that will say, I want to have my part and provide my input

into where you are going with this.

I did say, and I will quote this, Mr. Speaker, if approval is granted for the

amendments and regulations outlined here today, when I spoke to some changes to

the act earlier the Department of Education will be putting forward, they

request to conduct a further review of the act at a later date. That review

would involve discussions with stakeholders, including but not limited to school

district directors, identified district personnel, the teachers' association and

the school boards association. At that particular time we will decide then where

it goes. The important point that I am trying to make is that before we move

into any of that we have to have these consultations. These groups we have

partnered with before, these groups we will continue to partner with.

I would say before I read out my amendment, the place that we are at today in

terms of bullying and other issues in school, I am willing to bet that everyone

would agree that we are at a different place today than we were fifteen years

ago. The

article that I believe he referenced about this being part of growing

up that does not fly anymore. There are people who still contend that, but for

the majority of the population, that does not fly anymore. This is about having

respect for your fellow students and respect for your fellow human beings.

So, Mr. Speaker, I am going to put forward the following amendment, seconded

by the Member for Gander:

To move that the private member's resolution currently before the House be

amended:

(1) by deleting the fourth and fifth recital clauses and substituting in

their place the following recital clauses:

WHEREAS this government has already taken significant measures in

collaboration with students, teachers, parents and the community to address

bullying including:

(

i) the establishment in 2006 of a Safe and Caring Schools Policy;

(ii) the OutrageNL campaign, which is not limited to two weeks of the year,

but is year-round;

(iii) participation the Pink Day campaign in February;

(iv) funding the MyGSA resource to support Gay-Straight Alliance groups in

schools offering Grade 7-12;

(

v) the implementation of Phase I of the Violence Prevention Initiative and

the development of Phase II, which has already commenced; and

(vi) a wide range of other initiatives to inform students, teachers and

parents about bullying and ways to prevent and respond to it; and

WHEREAS this government has already announced it is in the process of

reviewing and consulting on the Safe and Caring Schools Policy with the

intention of enhancing the policy and has publicly stated its intent to further

review the Schools Act following discussion with stakeholders; and

WHEREAS any legislative changing respecting bullying awareness and prevention

should be a product of careful consultative processes involving the Newfoundland

and Labrador Teachers' Association, the Newfoundland and Labrador School Boards

Association, law enforcement professionals and others with the expertise to

inform the process; and

(2) by deleting the three resolution clauses and substituting in their place

the following resolution clauses:

THEREFORE

BE IT RESOLVED that this House of Assembly urge government to

continue addressing the issue of bullying and harassment in our schools through

the many initiatives it has already commenced, including the process it has

already undertaken to review and enhance the Safe and Caring Schools Policy in

consultation with the Newfoundland and Labrador Teachers' Association, the

Newfoundland and Labrador School Boards Association, law enforcement

professionals and others with the expertise to inform the process; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the government is urged to bring forward any

legislative changes, bullying prevention plans, curriculum revisions, reporting

mechanisms, discipline structures, awareness and prevention campaigns, and other

measures that, in light of this careful, consultative process, are deemed to be

effective and warranted.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER (Verge): Order, please!

We will take a brief recess to consider the amendment put forward by the

Minister of Education. We will ring the bells when we want members to return.

Recess

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

We have considered the amendment as put forward by the Minister of Education

and found that the amendment is in order.

The hon. the Member for Burgeo La Poile.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

It is a privilege to stand up today and speak to this private member's

resolution introduced by the member. I took some time going through it; this is

a pretty substantive resolution that was put forward by the member for St.

John's. It is discussing an issue that is a huge issue, not just in this

Province but in the entire country and the entire continent, when you think

about it.

I think the motion put forward was very comprehensive and laid out some

specific actions that could have been taken to address this issue. Just speaking

about the topic, bullying itself, it is does not take long to see it; it is on

the news, it is mentioned every week, whether it be a call-in show, whether it

be if you are watching cable news from down in the United States. There are

episodes and incidents of bullying happening all the time. I just made some

points; I wrote down some of my thoughts on this topic. There are very few

people out there that are not affected by bullying

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

MR. A. PARSONS: whether that be directly or indirectly. Bullying in

some way affects us all. Again, this private member's resolution is directed

mainly toward schools, but bullying is something that is prevalent in this

entire society.

It is my belief that one of the ways to address this issue is that we need to

start programs and educate our young people, because that is how you fix issues;

it is by getting people on board with the right way from a young period of time.

I think it is harder to change people's thoughts, perceptions, or behaviours if

you start later on. I am not saying it is impossible, but it makes things easier

if you start them at a very young age. Mr. Speaker, there are a lot of educators

in this House, and I am sure they have seen that it is easier to get to young

minds. I would say it is harder to change a learned pattern.

I am saying that and again, without any reliance on any studies in my next

statement it would seem to me that bullying that occurs during your youth

would obviously have a greater effect than bullying that occurs at any other

period of life. I think there are studies to show this, that bullying in youth

is going to have effects as you continue on through life, whether you are the

bullyer' or the bullyee'. And again, those effects are negative for both

sides.

I did have an opportunity when the resolution was first introduced to just do

some research and make myself more aware of some of the statistics on this. They

are troubling: delinquent behaviour is far more common in children who bully

other children. They have done self-reporting delinquency studies that show that

40 per cent of boys who frequently bully report delinquent behaviour, as opposed

to 5 per cent of boys who do not bully or infrequently bully.

The statistics for females are just as alarming: girls that bully frequently,

close to 31 per cent report delinquency, as opposed to 3 per cent who never or

infrequently bully. That is from a study back in 2003. Another study has shown

that the effects of bullying do not disappear with time. They continue on.

Certainly, with individuals that bully, in a lot of cases, it is going to lead

to negative behaviour, especially in their adulthood; some of these behaviours

turn out to be, unfortunately, more serious and even criminal in nature. So, for

us to nip this in the bud now when we have these young minds in our schools, it

is probably the easiest way that we can get to them.

Again, we have all seen these heart-wrenching stories on the news about youth

that have a hard time in life dealing with being bullied, whether it be

physically, whether it be verbally, or even these days something that did not

occur when I was growing up; I would say for the majority of members what they

call social bullying or cyber-bullying. There are so many means to perpetrate

this behaviour now. You see children who are mortified because of what somebody

kid, it is hard to wake up in the morning and want to go to school and want to

be around people when you know that you have to face this or be embarrassed.

What this is leading to is that we have become more aware as a society of the

effects of mental health issues, especially something like depression.

Depression was one of those things we are finally, as a society, realizing how

prevalent it is, how widespread it is, and how many people that it affects.

When we see things like this that are helping cause our youth to grow up and

show indications of depression, it is very troubling. Again, an issue that is

brought up in this House all the time is in the media we are talking about not

only mental health issues, but addictions issues. I would wager that a lot of

these social issues that we are facing can be caused by things that we have

dealt with when we were young, or episodes that people have had to go through.

Again, I would reiterate that it is my opinion that the private member's

resolution was a very good step in the right direction of helping to eliminate

this.

To eliminate, basically, the cost that this society has to bear as we move

into adulthood whether it be when we talk about an issue like Her Majesty's

Penitentiary or any kind of incarceration, a lot of it has to do, we all know,

with mental health and addictions issues. If we can eliminate one of the root

causes of that, then we are only making things better in other areas that we

must deal with on a daily basis.

I took some time actually to review the Schools Act, Mr. Speaker. Again, one

of the resolutions was to add a definition, and I found it interesting that the

Schools Act actually does not have one mention of the word bully. It is

something that we all hear about, but the word bully is not mentioned once in

the act. The word violence is not mentioned in the act. The word harass is not

mentioned in the act. Finally, something that has been touted and we are all

proud of and we hope that it works the Safe and Caring Schools Policy is not

actually mentioned in the Schools Act. So, I thought that the resolution to

amend the act to include this topic, or this actual phrase, would have been a

good step in the right direction.

When you look at some of the sections that are referenced in our current

Schools Act, there is no mention of this very big issue the word bully.

Section 37, when we talk about expulsion, something that is very drastic

actually, expelling a child from school, there is no mention of bullying as

being one of those reasons. When we look at

section 75, the duties of boards,

again, there is no mention of bullying. I think that even though this amendment

has taken out this possible resolution, I think it is something that we need to

look at in the future. Part of the job here, being a Legislature, is to look at

the legislation. This is something that I am sure the department is going to

consider as we move forward to address this issue.

I just want to move on here, Mr. Speaker. When we talk about negative

behaviour and just the different forms of bullying, I think it was stated very

well; there are so many types. There is the obvious physical bullying, which is

terrible, but these days the verbal bullying and the effects that people's words

can have on us sometimes is worse than the actual physical pain, the mental pain

and anguish can be so much more terrible.

We talk about what we are trying to do here. We are trying to deal with

bullying. That itself is a complicated issue. We talk about power imbalances,

whether they are real or perceived. These exist throughout life. Inequality is

the root cause of violence; it is an issue that is there. Again, we all realize

it is a tricky, tricky thing here. We just cannot force something through

without looking at all of the different aspects of it. It is there and it needs

to be addressed. We cannot just shove it under the rug and hope that things will

get better over time.

Again, the other thing that we must discuss, as I alluded to earlier, was

just the new challenges that are facing adolescents. As good as life is, life is

different than it was for many members here. What kids and teenagers are going

through now, some of the challenges that they face, are so different than what

we had to face when we were the same age. I am hoping that these issues will be

addressed as well.

I guess I have to speak to the amendment that has been brought forward.

Again, I can indicate that my belief on this, Mr. Speaker, is that I will be

supporting the amendment because any step towards the eradication of bullying

has to be supported; but, I must put it on the record that I think that this

amendment has taken the teeth out of the resolution that was proposed. When we

look at the two resolution clauses suggested in the amendment, I think they

could have been added to the private member's resolution just to strengthen

that. I do not think we needed to eliminate these. They were very specific

resolutions. One, to amend the act, to actually incorporate the term that we are

discussing which is not there, when we talk about increasing what we are doing

towards Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week and to actually place plans in

legislation throughout the schools. I think these were very, very positive

steps, and I would have supported this motion today.

As I say, the government knows this is an issue and they have taken steps to

address this issue. The things that are listed in the amendment are there and we

support those very much so, whether it be My Gay-Straight Alliance, whether it

be Pink Day, whether it be Safe and Caring Schools. I must state that I think

this amendment has taken away the purpose that this resolution was trying to do.

It has weakened it, not strengthened it. Again, it is hard to not actually

support an amendment any amendment towards bullying is a good step in the

right direction, Mr. Speaker.

I feel that we have missed an opportunity here today to make real change in

dealing with this issue. It is something that we are probably going to hear

about tomorrow and we are probably going to hear about the next day. You hear

these parents when they call the Open Line. It is hard. It is hard to deal with

having your child come home and they have been traumatized by bullying of some

sort. To know that we could have moved forward I think we all could have moved

forward together, all of us, in taking steps to make it happen. We know it takes

time to make change, but we could at least have all voted and supported the

change that was suggested.

Mr. Speaker, I am going to conclude now by saying it is a privilege to

address this issue. Like many of us here, I am a parent. Bullying is a scourge

that I hope is never my son has never, on either side, I hope he is not the

bullyer', I hope he is not the bullyee'. I do not want him to have any part of

it.

I think the best way to effect this change, besides effective parenting and

mentoring, is through the schools because this is where they are going to spend

the biggest parts of their lives once they get in the school system. That is

where we can effect real change. I am hoping that even as we support this

amendment, it states on the record that we can and we should do more in the

future. The school is the best way to get there for these children.

Thank you for the opportunity, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

The Minister of Child, Youth and Family Services.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS JOHNSON: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, it takes a collective effort to prevent violence. Government can

provide leadership on violence prevention and we are certainly doing that, but

that is only one part of the solution, Mr. Speaker. As Minister Responsible for

the Violence Prevention Initiative I cannot stress enough how important it is

for government and community to work together to support each other in violence

prevention activities.

As a community, we should take every single opportunity we can to learn about

the types and severity of violence that youth are experiencing. We must equip

ourselves with the tools to support youth who are being victimized, as well as

help those who are inflicting violence on their peers. As my hon. colleagues on

both sides of the House have said today, education is one of the key steps in

doing that, Mr. Speaker.

In January of this year I had the opportunity, along with my colleague from

Bellevue, to attend an absolutely fabulous event. It was titled: This Little

Light Project. It was held in Heart's Content and it was sponsored by the

Masonic Lodge there. The Masonic Lodge approached schools within the region;

they wanted to do awareness around anti-bullying. They did not want to have a

negative connotation around it so the theme they used was friendship first. They

did not even want to have the word bully in there because they thought that

would be a negative connotation. I have to say, and I am sure my colleague will

agree it was a wonderful evening. They included six schools from the District of

Bellevue, the District of Placentia - St. Mary's, and they selected two winners

from each school of the six schools that were involved. One of the winners sent

in this beautiful poster about, be a friend not a bully. I keep that here on my

desk because it is just a reminder of how important education is and how it is

the young people who have to get it first. They will carry that with them

through life, Mr. Speaker.

I was really pleased, through the Women's Policy Office and in partnership

with the communities against violence committee, to support them with this

event. As well as the Department of Justice and the Department of Education did

provide support, financial and otherwise, for this event. Again, as was said,

education is so important. These children and their families really got the

message there that night.

Also, in February I had the wonderful opportunity to do a proclamation

signing to proclaim February as anti-bullying month here in the region. Another

reminder of how important it is to work with our community stakeholders.

Mr. Speaker, as I said, I am the lead minister for the Violence Prevention

Initiative and as you know, back in 2006, our government announced a six-year,

$12 million Violence Prevention Initiative. The focus was to prevent violence

against those most vulnerable in Newfoundland and Labrador, and there are many

vulnerable populations included in that: children, of course; youth; women;

older adults; Aboriginal women and children; persons with disabilities; and

persons who are vulnerable to violence due to sexual orientation, economic

status, and so on, Mr. Speaker.

This initiative is a partnership between eleven provincial government

departments, many, many agencies we have over thirty anti-violence community

groups. We also have the ten regional co-ordinating committees against violence

throughout Newfoundland and Labrador who are partners with us on this most

important initiative. There have been many accomplishments under the Violence

Prevention Initiative, particularly geared around youth and bullying. There have

been many conferences held in terms of building community capacity, exploring

the web of youth violence, preventing violence against children, sexual

orientation and violence, preventing homophobia and heterosexism, Mr. Speaker.

Under the Violence Prevention Initiative as well, the RNC has done a fabulous

job with their STRIVE program. STRIVE is Students Taking Responsibility In

Violence Education. This program was revised and updated by the Department of

Justice, but again, it is all done in partnership. The Aboriginal governments

and organizations were also supportive in taking action on preventing violence

against women and children and others in the community and that was done by

the Women's Policy Office.

Of course, Mr. Speaker, under the Violence Prevention Initiative we have many

social marketing campaigns. I am sure many members in the House and listening

have seen many times our OutrageNL campaign. This is a campaign really geared

toward youth. It was one of the action items that were created as a result of a

marketing campaign to target the vulnerable populations in this Province who are

most likely to experience violence. As I said, the first social marketing

campaign that we developed was the OutrageNL campaign to prevent youth violence.

Youth were chosen as the focus of our first campaign because, Mr. Speaker, it is

the youth who will be our future politicians, our future leaders, our future

teachers; they will be our future parents and community leaders. If we reach out

to youth now and raise awareness that violence is unacceptable, we can break the

cycle of violence in Newfoundland and Labrador, Mr. Speaker.

In fact, what was really unique about the OutrageNL campaign was that it was

youth aged thirteen to eighteen who really helped us in developing the creation

of this campaign. They told us their experiences with violence, what language we

should use in our ads, what Web site address we should use; they also advised us

that we should really encourage bystanders to take action against violence

because they told us that an incident of violence can be stopped within ten

seconds when a bystander steps in to support the victims. As you know, many of

our youth in our Province do suffer from violence inflicted by their peers,

their family members, and their acquaintances. They were certainly a key

component in helping us develop that, and it speaks to how important

partnerships are when trying to get an important message like violence against

all vulnerable populations out.

Mr. Speaker, violence and abuse is in all forms. I am not even sure if people

are aware of the many different forms of violence. I am sure the common ones in

terms of physical, verbal, emotional, sexual and those are more widely known;

but, violence also exists in forms of physiological abuse, spiritual, cultural,

financial, or neglect, and all of forms of violence are completely unacceptable,

Mr. Speaker.

The OutrageNL campaign that I spoke about, aims to educate people about all

of these different forms of violence and encourage everyone to reach out and

take action against violence.

As I mentioned, they helped us come up with our Web site; the Web site is

www.outrageNL.ca. By visiting that, people can learn how to recognize and to

take action against violence. The Web site also includes a host of valuable

information, including emergency numbers, links to community organizations, and

helpful information for youth who are victims of violence, or who struggle with

violent tendencies.

As I said, the main focus of the campaign is to encourage youth to take

action against violence and to make adults aware of the different kinds of

violence that are facing our youth today.

The slogan that was chosen for the campaign, which was also done in

consultation with young people, is: Don't stand by. Reach out! Take ACTION

against violence. It really truly does describe our goal for this campaign. The

prevention of violence is everyone's responsibility, and it is time for all of

us to stand up against violence and to reach out to support victims.

Mr. Speaker, some of the other interesting work that is going on in the

Women's Policy Office and this is being done at the ministerial level across

the FPT meetings across the country one particular project that we are

around cyber-bullying, Mr. Speaker. As was mentioned here, bullying comes in

many forms and cyber-bullying is one that we really decided, as Atlantic Status

of Women Ministers, to focus in on. This project is committed to create

awareness and prevent cyber violence perpetrated against young girls on the

Internet. That is the specific target.

Twitter, YouTube, et cetera, they can certainly provoke cyber violence.

Particularly girls, who are the focus of this project, can experience many forms

of violence in terms of name-calling, teasing, they can receive threats and

slanderous rumours. Often, unfortunately, they are sometimes exploited for

sexual purposes, as well as being stalked and lured online, Mr. Speaker. We

really want to put a major focus on this in working with our Atlantic Provinces.

We are developing a number of fact sheets and we are in the process of

developing a Web site to address the issue of cyber violence against young

girls. Mr. Speaker, we will be hosting the Atlantic Status of Women Ministers

here in this Province this fall. At that time, it is my intent to unveil the new

Web site.

It was also mentioned in the House about the Safe and Caring Schools Policy.

We have worked especially hard to ensure that we support schools in their

violence prevention initiatives. Of course, it makes all kinds of sense to start

in the schools. As was mentioned in 2006, the provincial government created the

Safe and Caring Schools Policy. Since that time, many schools have introduced a

number of initiatives. Students have been very involved in making their schools

safe learning environments, even the schools in my own district.

I recently attended an event at Acreman. They brag about their Safe and

Caring Schools Policy and how they participate in various activities, having

speakers come in to talk about anti-bullying. They have a behaviour matrix for

different parts of the school, whether it is in the stairwell, the gymnasium,

and so on. They participate in Lions Quest, which is a character building

program for students aged K-6. There is a whole suite of activities they are

doing in terms of safe and caring, and really wanting to be a school that is

free of violence and a school that is safe for all the students who attend.

Mr. Speaker, every classroom and every school community is only able to

function in a safe and respectful way when expectations for behaviour are stated

up front and consistently taught to our students. There also have to be measures

in place that the school administration can take when behavioural expectations

are not met. The Safe and Caring Schools Policy outlines these expectations as

well as the consequences that could come.

I am extremely proud of the work that is going on in the various schools

throughout the Province to prevent violence and abuse in our schools. I

mentioned earlier the Regional Coordinating Committees and the work they do in

terms of preventing violence. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to say that since

2006, government has increased the funding to these ten Regional Coordinating

Committees. They were receiving $55,000 each in 2006 and now they are up to

$80,000 each, so a significant increase, very valuable work that they do. Just

one caveat, for informational purposes, in Labrador it is $100,000 due to the

extra travel there.

The Regional Coordinating Committees do fabulous work in partnership with the

school boards, the local schools and the community. It was mentioned here

already the stand up day, also known as Pink Shirt Day. I can attest to how

early they start because my niece is in kindergarten and when I was out home on

the weekend after this particular event in school, she had her pink shirt on

that she had won at an event in school that day. I asked her if she knew the

meaning of the pink shirt and she said that this school had activities around

anti-bullying and so on. Then I went on to say, if you saw two children in the

playground or in the corridor and one was pushing the other or doing something

that they should not be doing, what would you do? She said, oh my auntie, I knew

I should not have worn this shirt here with you today. When we got past that we

did have a great chat about what it is you have to do and to find somebody in

charge and responsible to report that to, because violence can be prevented if

you tackle it head-on. They were talking to kindergartens and it is so important

that we do that at such a young age.

Mr. Speaker, in the last six years the Violence Prevention Initiative has

provided approximately $350,000 to help the Department of Education in the Safe

and Caring Schools policy. Many projects have been funded under this. As the

Minister of Education already talked about, the My Gay-Straight Alliance kit,

there has been professional development for school administrators on issues of

violence for LGBT students, there has been violence prevention training for

students with autism, the list goes on and on.

I only have a minute left so I just wanted to get into some concluding

remarks. Just on Monday we announced that we will be starting our consultations

on Phase II of the Violence Prevention Initiative. Our six years is up, fabulous

work has been done. Now it is time to evaluate the work, get feedback and see

where we want to go in the next phase, Mr. Speaker.

Consultations will take place with our stakeholders. I invite the public to

submit written ideas, any recommendations that they may have at our Web site,

www.gov.nl.ca/vpi. Also on Monday we released the details of a provincial survey

of attitudes that we did around violence and abuse.

I am down to twenty seconds, so I just want to highlight that as part of this

study it was identified, that the public identified their highest levels of

concern were around children and youth, older persons and women, and that the

locations for this violence was in the school place, the Internet, and within

families.

Mr. Speaker, as I started off from the beginning, I said it really takes a

collective effort to prevent violence. I really believe that with everybody

working together we can have a safer society for all, and I am really pleased to

support the amendment put forward by the Minister of the Department of Education

today.

Thank you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

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

MS ROGERS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I am honoured to have the opportunity this afternoon to speak to

this motion before the House and especially since it is the eve of International

Anti-Homophobia Day.

Bullying is tough. It is damn tough and it is complex. We have all either

witnessed it, we have been bullied, or we have bullied; it affects us all.

Perhaps the most painful and destructive incidences of bullying are those that

happen to our children in our schools. We know the stories: the chubby girl who

is repeatedly called cow and Miss Piggy and has to walk through the hallways

while bullies make oinking sounds, who misses days of school pretending to be

sick because it is too painful to go. She stays home and cuts her arms to let

some of the pain out.

The young boy who was called queer and has to walk through the hallways while

cowards repeatedly whisper: fag, fag, fag, or whose teachers tell him he is

going to go to hell and that homosexuality is unnatural and evil and he must be

cured. He constantly has a knot in his stomach and dreads going to gym class

where the torture ramps up even more.

The teacher who is called Mr. Faggot by bullies in the back of the room, who

laugh and sneer, who is constantly interrupted and mocked while he tries to

teach, making it impossible for him to effectively do his work. His equipment is

frequently stolen and rumours are spread on the Internet about his private life.

His administration does not back him up or intervene.

Mr. Speaker, this is beyond the bullying of the cut and thrust of the House

of Assembly. There are all kinds, miserable litanies of ways that students and

teachers and staff are tormented. Cyber-bullying is one of the most pernicious

forms of school bullying today. There is no escape. It follows students on their

cellphone through text messages, through Facebook, and through the Internet. We

all know the stories.

Mr. Speaker, in December 2007, EGALE Canada which is a group called

Equality for Gays and Lesbians Everywhere and one of the predominant national

advocacy and education groups in Canada in partnership with the Canadian

Institutes of Health Research, the University of Winnipeg, and the Social

Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, undertook a survey in

schools across the country called Every Class in Every School. It was an

excellent piece of work with some incredible heavyweights behind it. It was "The

first national climate survey on homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia in

Canadian schools".

The findings were that the incidences of bullying of lesbian, gay, bisexual,

transgendered, and queer students is rampant. Many of our gay or perceived-gay

students swim in a sea of insults as they wend their way through the hallways

from class to class, or in the gym, or in the washrooms in our schools. The

bullying ranges from verbal insults like faggot and lesbo', to physical

attacks, the destruction of their property, and cyber-bullying. There is no

escape.

They also found that two-thirds of LGBTQ students felt unsafe at school

two-thirds, Mr. Speaker. That is over 60 per cent of our children who are

lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgendered feel unsafe at school, a place where

they go five days a week for most of the year. Twenty per cent of these students

and almost 10 per cent of straight students have been physically harassed or

assaulted because of their perceived sexual orientation or gender identity. This

spills over, Mr. Speaker, even to our children who are not in the gay category.

Thirty-seven per cent of our youth with lesbian or gay parents have been

verbally harassed about the sexual orientation of their parents. Our own son,

Mr. Speaker, was tortured at school because he had two mothers. He was

threatened. He was afraid to go out. He was afraid to walk to school. He was

afraid to walk home from school. We had to go to the police. This was twenty

years ago, Mr. Speaker, and no one at that time no one helped us. Perhaps it

was because at that time it was perceived that it was our own fault for being

who we are.

Every day in our schools, LGBTQ students are exposed to verbal harassment,

physical assault, and isolation because of their actual or their perceived

sexual orientation or gender identity. Many straight students in this study, Mr.

Speaker, reported how unhappy they were with this type of bullying in their

school because it affected the environment in the school for everyone. It

spilled over. It permeated the atmosphere. We know that LGBTQ youth have the

highest suicide rate. Mr. Speaker, we are talking about the lives of our

children. Because of this bullying, they have the highest suicide rates. In

particular, transgender youth are among the most targeted by bullies.

Mr. Speaker, these are our children. All of this is at great cost to our

society. Many bullies, without intervention, without help, end up in our

prisons. Youth who are bullied mercilessly end up unable to complete their

education, or develop mental health issues, and yes, some who cannot cope with

the torrent of bullying and torture end up taking their lives. Mr. Speaker,

these are great costs to our society, great costs that we should all be

concerned about. Mr. Speaker, we can, all of us here, we can make a difference

to this scenario. This does not have to be the ongoing story. We can change the

story. We can change the script. We have the power and the authority to make a

difference.

Mr. Speaker, there are some good news stories. I, too, would like to commend

the Department of Education and the Women's Policy Office for some of the very

wonderful initiatives and programs they have undertaken to combat bullying and

to create safer and more conducive learning environments for our children and

our staff in our schools. In particular, I would like to congratulate the teams

for the development of the Safe and Caring Schools Policy for the Violence

Prevention Initiative for the OutrageNL program and more recently for the new My

Gay-Straight Alliance initiative.

Two years ago, I attended a meeting with senior officials from the Department

of Education and Women's Policy Office as a representative of EGALE Canada. In

that meeting, we encouraged and we pushed and we encouraged Newfoundland and

Labrador to take on this program for our entire school system. I knew, Mr.

Speaker, that we could be a leader in this field in the country and asked the

Department of Education and the Women's Policy Office to take the risk, to be

courageous, to be leaders and to jump on board.

As a Newfoundlander and Labradorian, I am very proud of what these

departments are doing in the area of educational resources to support the

development of My Gay-Straight Alliances in Grades 7 to 12. They have proven to

provide a more safe and inclusive environment for all students where diversity

is celebrated and students and staff can thrive in a more conducive environment.

The work being done by our Province is daring, it is innovative, and it puts

Newfoundland and Labrador on the map in the leadership role of providing safe

and caring schools for all our students and staff. Mr. Speaker, I know that

members of this House just love it when I ring out bravo. I would like to say

once again, Mr. Speaker, bravo for these initiatives.

This is a wonderful time in our history. How far we have come, that I can

rise in this hon. House and speak to these truths. Now it is time to take this

all one step further. It is our responsibility, every single one of us in this

Chamber as legislators; it is our responsibility to ensure a positive school

climate that is inclusive and accepting of all pupils and staff. One that

prevents and promotes the prevention of bullying is legislated. All students and