PDF Version

May 18, 2022

HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS

Vol. L No. 56

The

House met at 10 a.m.

SPEAKER (Bennett):

Order, please!

Good

morning everyone.

Government

Business

SPEAKER:

The hon. the Government House

Leader.

S. CROCKER:

Thank you very much, Speaker.

Speaker,

I move, seconded by the Minister of Digital Government and Service NL, that this

House resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole to consider Bill 52.

SPEAKER:

It is moved and seconded that

I do now leave the Chair for the House to resolve itself into Committee of the

Whole to consider the said bill.

Is it

the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?

All

those in favour, 'aye.'

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Aye.

SPEAKER:

All those against, 'nay.'

Motion

carried.

motion, that the House resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole, the Speaker

left the Chair.

Committee of the

Whole

CHAIR (Warr):

Order, please!

We are

now considering Bill 52,

An Act To Amend The Petroleum Products Act.

A bill,

“An Act To Amend The Petroleum Product Act.” (Bill 52)

CHAIR:

Any further speakers to

clause 1?

Shall

the motion carry?

All

those in favour, 'aye.'

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Aye.

CHAIR:

All those against, 'nay.'

Carried.

motion, clause 1 carried.

CLERK (Barnes):

Clause 2.

CHAIR:

Shall clause 2 carry?

All

those in favour, 'aye.'

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Aye.

CHAIR:

All those against, 'nay.'

Carried.

motion, clause 2 carried.

CLERK:

Clauses 3, 4, 5 and 6.

CHAIR:

Shall clauses 3, 4, 5 and 6

carry?

All

those in favour, 'aye.'

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Aye.

CHAIR:

All those against, 'nay.'

Carried.

motion, clauses 3, 4, 5 and 6 carried.

CLERK:

Be it enacted by the

Lieutenant-Governor and House of Assembly in Legislative Session convened, as

follows.

CHAIR:

Shall the enacting clause

carry?

All

those in favour, 'aye.'

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Aye.

CHAIR:

All those against, 'nay.'

Carried.

motion, enacting clause carried.

CLERK:

An Act To Amend The Petroleum

Products Act.

CHAIR:

Shall the title carry?

All

those in favour, 'aye.'

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Aye.

CHAIR:

All those against, 'nay.'

Carried.

motion, title carried.

CHAIR:

Shall I report the bill

without amendment?

All

those in favour, 'aye.'

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Aye.

CHAIR:

All those against, 'nay.'

Carried.

Motion,

the Committee report having passed the bill without amendment, carried.

CHAIR:

The hon. the Government House

Leader.

S. CROCKER:

Thank you very much, Mr.

Chair.

I move,

seconded by the Deputy Government House Leader, that the Committee rise and

report Bill 52.

CHAIR:

The motion is that the

Committee rise and report Bill 52.

Is it

the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?

All

those in favour, 'aye.'

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Aye.

CHAIR:

All those against, 'nay.'

Carried.

motion, that the Committee rise, report progress and ask leave to sit again, the

Speaker returned to the Chair.

SPEAKER (Bennett):

Order, please!

The hon.

the Member for Baie Verte - Green Bay and Chair of the Committee of the Whole.

B. WARR:

Speaker, the Committee of the

Whole have considered the matters to them referred and have directed me to

report Bill 52 without amendment.

SPEAKER:

The Chair of the Committee of

the Whole reports that the

Committee have considered the matters to them referred

and have directed him to report Bill 52 without amendment.

When shall the report be received?

S. CROCKER:

Now.

SPEAKER:

Now.

When

shall the bill be read a third time?

S. CROCKER:

Presently.

SPEAKER:

Presently.

motion, report received and adopted. Bill ordered read a third time presently,

by leave.

SPEAKER:

The hon. the Government House

Leader.

S. CROCKER:

Thank you very much, Speaker.

Speaker,

I call from the Order Paper second reading of Bill 62.

SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Children, Seniors and Social Development.

J. ABBOTT:

Speaker, I move, seconded by

the Minister of Health and Community Services, that Bill 62,

An Act To Amend The Child And Youth Advocate Act, be

read a second time.

SPEAKER:

It is moved and seconded that

Bill 62,

An Act To Amend The Child And Youth Advocate

Act, be now read a second time.

Motion, second

reading of a bill, “An Act To Amend The Child And Youth Advocate Act.” (Bill 62)

SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Children, Seniors and Social Development.

J. ABBOTT:

Speaker, thank you.

I'm

pleased to speak today to Bill 62,

An Act To Amend The

Child And Youth Advocate Act. This is an important piece of legislation, as the

Office of the Child and Youth Advocate represents the rights, interests and

viewpoints of children and youth receiving government programs and services.

This statutory

office also provides advocacy in four areas, which include individual advocacy,

systemic advocacy, reviews and investigations, and education and promotion. I

think we would all agree that the Child and Youth Advocate has an extremely

valuable role to play in our province. The Advocate and their office provides

both recommendations and advice, which has and continues to help improve

services and programs for children and their families throughout Newfoundland

and Labrador.

In fact,

the Child and Youth Advocate, through both individual and systemic advocacy,

play a critical role in identifying areas where improvements can be made in the

best interest of children and youth. It is for this very reason the provincial

government takes all recommendations of the Child and Youth Advocate seriously.

Further, we are committed to ensuring the ongoing and effective operation of

this critical office to ensure a voice for children and youth throughout the

province.

To that

end, Speaker, the first amendment to Bill 62 is to repeal subsection 8.1(2) of

the act which states: “Where the office of the advocate becomes vacant and an

acting advocate is appointed under paragraph (1)(

b) or (c), the term of the

acting advocate shall not extend beyond the end of the next sitting of the House

of Assembly.” In this case, we're talking about this particular sitting of the

House. The second proposed amendment is to incorporate gender-neutral or

gender-silent language.

Let me

now take this opportunity to speak in more depth on the first proposed

amendment. The former Child and Youth Advocate retired in December 2021. While

the process continues to fill this important position, a senior official from

the Office of the Child and Youth Advocate is currently acting in that Advocate

position. As we are all aware, the House of Assembly is set to close in short

order on June 2. Since the appointment process is still ongoing and will not be

concluded by then, it is essential that we implement the proposed amendment in

order to extend the acting appointment of the Advocate's position.

To do

this, we are proposing to allow the term of the acting Child and Youth Advocate

to extend beyond the end of the current sitting of the House of Assembly. To

enable this

section 8.1(2) of the Child

and Youth Advocate Act , which limits the term of an acting Advocate to the

end of the sitting that follows their appointment, it has to be repealed. By

implementing this amendment, it provides us with the opportunity to continue the

acting appointment. Speaker, I'm sure we would all agree that the level of

expertise and experience required in this position is significant and, for this

reason, we need to be sure this recruitment process has the time needed to do it

right.

While we

are waiting to confirm the new Advocate, we have the acting Advocate, who has

all the same powers under the act, and has been and was a senior director in the

office before her acting appointment, so is very familiar with the files and

process of that office. Therefore, she is certainly able to continue the good

work of the office without interruption.

With

regard to the second proposed amendment, we are proposing to incorporate

gender-neutral or gender-silenced language. This is a best practice and will

align with the overall direction for all legislation within this hon. House.

With all this being said, I want to let this hon. House know that the Office of

the Child and Youth Advocate continues to work diligently to ensure the best

interests of children and youth throughout the province.

department is in constant contact with the office to ensure we work and

co-operate with that office in current investigations and in implementing past

recommendations, and I'll refer to those in a moment. This is important work and

today's proposed amendments will allow the office to maintain its acting

Advocate while carrying out its function to help ensure protections for the

children and youth of this province.

Speaker,

I just wanted to refer to some of the work of the office and where we are so

that people here in the House have an understanding of how the work is

progressing. The Child and Youth Advocate's most recent status report, issued in

2021, notes that as of March 31, 2020, the office has issued a total of 243

recommendations since 2002. Forty-four of these recommendations were issued

during the 2019-2020 fiscal year, with 33 of the 44 contained in

A Long Wait for Change , which is the

review of the child protection services for Inuit children. The Advocate, at the

time, noted that this review outlines critical issues that need to be addressed

for Indigenous children in this province. My department continues to work on

those recommendations.

Since

the release of the '20-'21 status report, the Office of the Child Youth Advocate

has released three reports. With the addition of these new reports, the office

has issued a total of 179 recommendations specific to the Department of

Children, Seniors and Social Development. Of these 179, 64 per cent of them are

implemented; 24 per cent are partially implemented; 2 per cent are not

implemented to date; and 10 per cent are new recommendations which have not been

assessed by the office for implementation status.

The four

Government of Newfoundland and Labrador recommendations outlined in

A Long Wait for Change are included in

these statistics, as my department is responsible for leading these

recommendations, in collaboration with the Office of Indigenous Affairs and

Reconciliation.

There

have been six investigative reports released with recommendations for my

department, which have outstanding recommendations in the most recent status

update. We have

Stolen Life ,

November 2016, which has two recommendations for my department, and the themes

include working with Indigenous governments and communities to change adoption

legislation and ensure consistent provincial standards of care for children.

The report released in January 2019 around chronic

absenteeism has two recommendations for my department to be implemented in

collaboration with other government departments in relation to chronic school

absenteeism.

The report in April 2019,

Seen But Not Heard , has six recommendations for my department.

Themes of this investigation were: improving prevention; in-home parenting

supports; collaborating with the Department of Health and Community Services on

mental health and addiction services; training on working with parents with

complex mental health diagnosis; policy compliance and permanency planning. My

department is working with the Department of Education and Health and Community

Services, internally, to address these recommendations.

The report in May 2019 was entitled

Trans Youth in Newfoundland and Labrador .

There were two recommendations for my department and the recommendations were

offering training on gender diversity and ensuring gender-diverse youth have

access to safe shelter space. My department has partnered with Memorial

University on children's gender-diversity training and the training was offered

in 2018. My department is also working with the Newfoundland and Labrador

Housing Corporation on ensuring safe shelters spaces for gender-diverse youth.

In A Long Wait

for Change the independent review of child protection services to Inuit

children in Newfoundland and Labrador, released in September 2019, there were 28

recommendations for my department; four for government overall; one for the

Department of Justice and Public Safety. Themes include working with Indigenous

governments and communities to address issues such as permanency, family

placements, cultural continuity plans, integration of Inuit values and healing

practices and ensuring Inuit children and youth maintain important

relationships. My department is engaged with Nunatsiavut Government on the

implementation, which is requiring ongoing collaboration with multiple other

government departments.

In October 2020, the report released was entitled

A Soft Place To Land and had five

recommendations for my department. The recommendations were in relation to

enhancing access to supportive housing options for youth; seeking youth input

into housing decisions; offering training on trauma-informed care; and

collaborating with regional health authorities when youth are seeking emergency

medical treatment.

One of

the recommendations for my department has been transferred to the Department of

Health and Community Services for further investigation and an interdepartmental

working group is in place to implement action plans for the remaining four

recommendations.

There

were three reports issued in December 2021, as the former Advocate was

concluding her work. The first one was No

Time to Spare . It had five recommendations for my department and the

recommendations were primarily focused on kinship programing, more specifically,

the need to assess the relationship between the caregiver and birth parents in

the kinship home assessment; ensuring kinship care agreements provide

verification that caregivers have an understanding of their roles and

responsibilities; developing enhanced planning and monitoring for kinship care

specific to complex relationships; policy compliance regarding supervisory

documentation; and collaborative consultation regarding service planning.

The

second report was entitled Blanket of

Insecurity . There were five

recommendations for my department, specifically they included: verifying the

history of extended family when determining placements suitability; identifying

steps to mitigate risk to a child when a kinship agreement is terminated due to

safety risks; having my department review and clarify its commitment beyond

financial support when kinship placements and out-of-home safety plans are

engaged; undertaking an audit of all long-term out-of-home placements; and

giving greater consideration to reports from school authorities when protection

concerns exist.

The

third and final report issued in December of '21 was A Special Kind of Care . There were four recommendations for my

department. The main themes of which were around staffed residential care

including the requirement to share information necessary for the planning and

care of children and youth in staffed residential care; the importance of child

and youth care workers in Level IV residential care, having training specific to

a child's needs; conducting an audit residential care providers; and ensuring

residential programming meets the needs of children and youth in care.

Speaker,

you can see that the work of the office is very comprehensive, covering all

aspects of children and youth in care, and that work continues under the acting

Advocate. My department is in constant communication with the office and that

will continue under the extension, if this amendment is approved.

Speaker,

I look forward to debating these two amendments to the

Child and Youth Advocate Act in

this House of Assembly today.

Thank

you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

SPEAKER:

Any speakers to the bill?

The hon.

the Government House Leader.

S. CROCKER:

Thank you very much, Mr.

Speaker.

Mr.

Speaker, I move that we adjourn debate on Bill 62.

SPEAKER:

Is it the pleasure of the

House to adopt the motion?

All

those in favour, 'aye.'

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Aye.

SPEAKER:

All those against, 'nay.'

Motion

carried.

The hon.

the Government House Leader.

S. CROCKER:

Thank you very much, Mr.

Speaker.

I call

third reading of Bill 51.

SPEAKER:

The hon. the Government House

Leader.

S. CROCKER:

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded

by the Minister of Justice and Public Safety, that Bill 51 be now read a third

time.

SPEAKER:

It has been moved and

seconded that the said bill be now read a third time.

Is it

the pleasure of the House to adopt this motion?

All

those in favour, 'aye.'

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Aye.

SPEAKER:

All those against, 'nay.'

Motion

carried.

CLERK:

A bill,

An Act Respecting

Access To Health And Educational Services. (Bill 51)

SPEAKER:

This bill has now been read a

third time and it is ordered that the bill do pass and that its title be as on

the Order Paper.

motion, a bill, “An Act Respecting Access To Health And Educational Services,”

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

51)

SPEAKER:

The hon. the Government House

Leader.

S. CROCKER:

Thank you very much, Mr.

Speaker.

Mr.

Speaker, I move, seconded by the Minister of Finance and President of Treasury

Board, for third reading of Bill 54,

An Act To Amend The Income Tax Act, 2000.

SPEAKER:

It has been moved and

seconded that the said bill be now read a third time.

Is it

the pleasure of the House to adopt this motion?

All

those in favour, 'aye.'

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Aye.

SPEAKER:

All those against, 'nay.'

Motion

carried.

CLERK:

A bill,

An Act To Amend The

Income Tax Act, 2000. (Bill 54)

SPEAKER:

This bill has now been read a

third time and it is ordered that the bill do pass and that its title be as on

the Order Paper.

motion, a bill, “An Act To Amend The Income Tax Act, 2000,” read a third time,

ordered passed and its title be as on the Order Paper. (Bill 54)

SPEAKER:

The hon. the Government House

Leader.

S. CROCKER:

Thank you very much, Speaker.

I move,

seconded by the Minister of Digital Government and Service NL, that Bill 55 be

now read a third time.

SPEAKER:

It has been moved and

seconded that the said bill be now read a third time.

Is it

the pleasure of the House to adopt this motion?

All

those in favour, 'aye.'

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Aye.

SPEAKER:

All those against, 'nay.'

Motion

carried.

CLERK:

A bill,

An Act To Amend The

Life Insurance Act. (Bill 55)

SPEAKER:

This bill has now been read a

third time and it is ordered that the bill do pass and that its title be as on

the Order Paper.

motion, a bill, “An Act To Amend The Life Insurance Act,” read a third time,

ordered passed and its title be as on the Order Paper. (Bill 55)

SPEAKER:

The hon. the Government House

Leader.

S. CROCKER:

Thank you, Speaker.

I move,

seconded by the Minister of Digital Government and Service NL, that Bill 56 be

now read a third time.

SPEAKER:

It is moved and seconded that

the said bill be now read a third time.

Is it

the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?

All

those in favour, 'aye.'

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Aye.

SPEAKER:

All those against, 'nay.'

Motion

carried.

CLERK:

A bill,

An Act To Amend The

Condominium Act, 2009. (Bill 56)

SPEAKER:

This bill has now been read a

third time and it is ordered that the bill do pass and that its title be as on

the Order Paper.

motion, a bill, “An Act To Amend The Condominium Act, 2009,” read a third time,

ordered passed and its title be as on the Order Paper. (Bill 56)

SPEAKER:

The hon. the Government House

Leader.

S. CROCKER:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I move,

seconded by the Minister of Digital Government and Service NL, that Bill 57 be

now read a third time.

SPEAKER:

It has been moved and

seconded that the said bill be now read a third time.

Is it

the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?

All

those in favour, 'aye.'

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Aye.

SPEAKER:

All those against, 'nay.'

Motion

carried.

CLERK:

A bill,

An Act To Amend The

Income Tax Savings Plans Act And The Pension Plans Designation Of Beneficiaries

Act. (Bill 57)

SPEAKER:

This bill has now been read a

third time and it is ordered that the bill do pass and that its title be as on

the Order Paper.

motion, a bill, “An Act To Amend The Income Tax Savings Plans Act And The

Pension Plans Designation Of Beneficiaries Act,” read a third time, ordered

passed and its title be as on the Order Paper. (Bill 57)

SPEAKER:

The hon. the Government House

Leader.

S. CROCKER:

Thank you, Speaker.

I move,

seconded by the Minister of Municipal and Provincial Affairs, that Bill 58 me

now read a third time.

SPEAKER:

It has been moved and

seconded that the said bill be now read a third time.

Is it

the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?

All

those in favour, 'aye.'

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Aye.

SPEAKER:

All those against, 'nay.'

Motion

carried.

CLERK:

A bill,

An Act To Amend The

Urban And Rural Planning Act, 2000. (Bill 58)

SPEAKER:

This bill has now been read a

third time and it is ordered that the bill do pass and that its title be as on

the Order Paper.

motion, a bill, “An Act To Amend The Urban And Rural Planning Act, 2000,” read a

third time, ordered passed and its title be as on the Order Paper. (Bill 58)

SPEAKER:

The hon. the Government House

Leader.

S. CROCKER:

Thank you, Speaker.

I move,

seconded by the Minister of Justice and Public Safety, that Bill 59 be now read

a third time.

SPEAKER:

It has been moved and

seconded that the said bill be now read a third time.

Is it

the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?

All

those in favour, 'aye.'

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Aye.

SPEAKER:

All those against, 'nay.'

Motion

carried.

CLERK:

A bill,

An Act To Amend The

Access To Information And Protection Of Privacy Act, 2015. (Bill 59)

SPEAKER:

This bill has now been read a

third time and it is ordered that the bill do pass and that its title be as on

the Order Paper.

motion, a bill, “An Act To Amend The Access To Information And Protection Of

Privacy Act, 2015,” read a third time, ordered passed and its title be as on the

Order Paper. (Bill 59)

SPEAKER:

The hon. the Government House

Leader.

S. CROCKER:

Thank you, Speaker.

I move,

seconded by the Minister Digital Government and Service NL, that Bill 52 be now

read a third time.

SPEAKER:

It has been moved and

seconded that the said bill be now read a third time.

Is it

the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?

All

those in favour, 'aye.'

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Aye.

SPEAKER:

All those against, 'nay.'

Motion

carried.

CLERK:

A bill,

An Act To Amend The

Petroleum Products Act. (Bill 52)

SPEAKER:

This bill has now been read a

third time and it is ordered that the bill do pass and that its title be as on

the Order Paper.

motion, a bill, “An Act To Amend The Petroleum Products Act,” read a third time,

ordered passed and its title be as on the Order Paper. (Bill 52)

SPEAKER:

The hon. the Government House

Leader.

S. CROCKER:

Thank you very much, Mr.

Speaker.

Mr.

Speaker, I move, seconded by the Deputy Government House Leader, that pursuant

to Standing Order 11(1), this House not adjourn at 5:00 p.m., today, Wednesday,

March – May18. I got lost there in the days of the week for a second, Mr.

Speaker.

SPEAKER:

That's all right; none of us

knows what day it is.

Is it

the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?

All

those in favour, 'aye.'

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Aye.

SPEAKER:

All those against, 'nay.'

Motion

carried.

The hon.

the Government House Leader.

S. CROCKER:

Thank you for your

indulgence, Mr. Speaker.

Mr.

Speaker, I call from the Order Paper second reading of Bill 61.

SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture.

D. BRAGG:

Speaker, I move, seconded by

the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, that Bill 61 be now read a

second time.

SPEAKER:

It is moved and seconded that

Bill 61,

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

Motion,

second reading of a bill, “An Act To Amend The Forestry Act.” (Bill 61)

SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture.

D. BRAGG:

Thank you.

Speaker,

it's my pleasure to introduce a bill to abolish the Timber Scalers Board by

amending the Forestry Act and the

timber scaling regulations and authorizing the Department of Fisheries, Forestry

and Agriculture to appoint a chief scaler to fulfill the requirements and duties

of the board.

The

Timber Scalers Board has not been active since 2008. Since this time, the duties

of the board have been fulfilled by the chief timber scaler for Newfoundland and

Labrador. This amendment will formally incorporate the duties of the chief

timber scaler into the Forestry Act .

The

Newfoundland and Labrador Forestry Industry Association has been consulted and

have no concerns with this amendment, as it will have no impact on timber

harvesting operations or any other components of the province's forestry sector.

Where

there have been no costs associated with the board since 2008, eliminating the

Timber Scalers Board from the Forestry Act

we are eliminating operating costs if the board is not to be reactivated.

Speaker,

there are currently 175 certified scalers in this province who have been issued

timber scaling certificates for a five-year period. These certificates cost $50.

As a result of this amendment, the chief timber scaler will be responsible for

performing the duties of the board as outlined under the act.

These

duties and responsibilities will include: determining ability and knowledge of a

person to apply to be certified to be a timber scaler; issuing certificates and

renewing of certificates to this person found after examination to be qualified

as a timber scaler will be their responsibility; as well as revoking, suspending

or refusing to renew certificates; hearing appeals following the scaling

disputes will be another responsibility of this person; and to review and to

make recommendations relating to new scaling methods and technology.

Mr.

Speaker, this is a job that really needs to be done with the human eye. It is

all about the quality and the volume, and it is about the personal touch. So,

Speaker, this amendment will see the

Forestry Act better reflecting the administration of timber scaling

activities in the province. I am also confident consolidation of timber scaling

operations within the Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture where

there is ready access to forest management experts who can provide long-term

support and guidance to our province's forestry industry and will be a positive

move.

This

amendment also supports the government's commitment to reduce the number of

agencies, boards and commissions – ABCs incorporated – where possible to

government. We are taking this opportunity to realign and create a greater

accountability.

Mr.

Speaker, since this board has not been in effect since 2008 and the chief scaler

has been doing this job, it just makes sense that we incorporate this into our

new Forestry Act and make the

amendment.

I know I

have 56 minutes left on the clock but this is not a contentious amendment or a

contentious change at all. So after that, I guess I would remain seated and look

forward to the next speaker on this bill.

Thank

you, Mr. Speaker.

SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

Exploits.

P. FORSEY:

Thank you, Speaker.

It's a

pleasure to speak on Bill 61, the Forestry

Act to amend the Scaling Board. Like the minister said, it's not a big move.

The board hasn't been operating since 2008. The chief scaler has been doing most

of the operations. So to have the chief scaler take over that job, initially,

and remove the scaling board is good.

I will

certainly support the move with regard to the Scaling Board, because it gives

the opportunity for the timber scaler to work directly with the minister to be

more transparent in actions of what is happening in the forestry and what is

happening in the scaling operations which needs to be done.

Ever

since 2008, since Abitibi shut down, the Stephenville plant and also four

machines in Corner Brook, there has been really no use for the board itself. So

one chief scaler will operate as the board did to operate for their scalers.

There will be some questions when we get to Committee. To have one chief scaler

take the responsibility of a full board will certainly leave some questions of

how the board operated and what responsibilities are put to the chief scaler.

But I know it's important. I mean, all the scalers are important to the forestry

industry, especially with the transformation of cubic metres being into play

with regard to pay. So the scalers are very important and they need somebody to

oversee that, no doubt.

Other

than that, Mr. Speaker, with regard to approving the bill, we'll certainly

approve the bill. Some of the language there with regard to the gender-neutral

language is appropriate at this time, no doubt. That's another good part of it.

We'll

wait until we get into Committee and we'll certainly have some questions. Other

than that, it's nice to speak on Bill 61.

Thank

you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for Lake

Melville.

P. TRIMPER:

Thank you, Speaker.

I won't

speak too much about this, but my background is in forestry, and very proud of

the education I got at UNB. So when we have a forestry bill, I go back to my

time in university and some of those great lessons that I learned at that time.

I just wanted to say a couple of things. First of all, I appreciate the staff,

and Steve Balsom and company, for their briefing with us.

I wanted

to point out a couple of things. First of all, the district within Lake Melville

District19 is extremely important. The actual allowable cut that the scalers

would be working towards, and where I'm going, is some 200,000 cubic metres, but

through an agreement with Innu Nation and the province that was established over

20 years ago, we actually have a very sustainable approach to forest harvesting

in our district.

I think

we have set aside some allocation of 100,000 cubic metres. I'm bringing up these

numbers because in the discussion that we had recently with the minister's

department, talking about the conversion that scalers bring to the situation –

so essentially, at roadside, as the wood is being stacked for further

processing, it's the scaler's job to evaluate exactly how many cubic metres of

wood are sitting there. Regardless of whether it's used for pellets, for

firewood, for sawlogs or for other applications, we still need to understand how

much volume was removed.

So we're working in cubic metres.

But I want to now go to a point I made one year ago, on

my feet here, and that is the fact that those that own the wood – essentially

for most of the land in this province, it is owned by the Crown – we sell at the

ton. So what we have to do is, the scaler actually does a conversion from the

cubic metre to the mass in terms of how many tons and that is what goes up.

Why this is important and what I'm advocating – I was

speaking to the minister's staff and I just wanted to put it into the record

because I am very pleased to hear this, the department is actually looking at

applying what is known as residual value royalty regime.

One year ago I was advocating, as lumber prices were

soaring in all those lumber stores across our province and we were facing great

frustration, I was talking about the nimbleness of jurisdictions such as Alberta

who were realizing that those that own the wood that scalers are working with in

terms of what is harvested and then goes off to the next step, which is with the

processor, it's the processors that were making great profits last year.

The retailers that we were all hearing from – that wood

that the scalers actually had evaluated and then was put into, let's say, lumber

– were enjoying great profits. I was advocating at that time that the province

consider entering into what is known as residual value royalty regime. Much the

same as I have been talking about windfall profit tax legislation for oil and

gas companies when they're in production mode and making great profits.

So the scalers are at the front end of this, Speaker,

and it is really important to recognize the professional service they do. That

is how we know how much wood is taken from our lands, whether it is owned by the

Crown or by the private woodlot owner. They play a very important role. I am

looking forward to seeing these other pieces in the very important aspects of

the forest industry come together and get us caught up with the rest of the

country.

I compliment the minister on this. While it's small,

it's extremely important to support this part of the entire industry.

Thank you very much.

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Leader of the Third Party.

J. DINN:

Thank you, Speaker.

We, too, will be supporting this. The only concerns

that we might have are ones that are echoed by my colleague from Exploits and it

probably has to do with the point of one person making the final decisions.

Certainly that's a question that will come up during the Committee.

We understand, as well, that there hasn't been anything

referred to the chief

scaler for arbitration of the past five years; however, the one thing with an

arbitration board, at least there is an element of balance, different

perspectives. It's not related to one person. As well, putting the control on

one person, there is always that risk of bias, of having someone who is

pro-logging, pro-business and who may not be giving the workers their due

consideration.

So with

that, we'll wait until Committee but otherwise we will support this.

Thank

you.

SPEAKER:

Seeing no other speakers to

the bill, if the minister speaks now he will close debate.

The hon.

the Minister of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture.

D. BRAGG:

Thank you very much.

I guess,

Mr. Speaker, we look forward to Committee and the questions that would follow. I

have nothing further to add, just to thank the Members opposite who spoke on

this. It is very important, as they said, so I look forward to the questions in

Committee.

Thank

you.

SPEAKER:

Is the House ready for the

question?

The

motion is that Bill 61 now be read a second time.

Is it

the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?

All

those in favour, 'aye.'

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Aye.

SPEAKER:

All those against, 'nay.'

Motion

carried.

CLERK:

A bill,

An Act To Amend The

Forestry Act. (Bill 61)

SPEAKER:

This bill has now been read a

second time.

When

shall the bill be referred to a Committee of the Whole?

S. CROCKER:

Now.

SPEAKER:

Now.

motion, a bill, “An Act To Amend The Forestry Act,” read a second time, ordered

referred to a Committee of the Whole presently, by leave. (Bill 61)

SPEAKER:

The hon. the Government House

Leader.

S. CROCKER:

Speaker, I move, seconded by

the Minister of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture, that the House resolve

itself into a Committee of the Whole to consider Bill 61.

SPEAKER:

It is moved and seconded that

I do now leave the Chair for the House to resolve itself into a Committee of the

Whole to consider the said bill.

Is it

the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?

All

those in favour, 'aye.'

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Aye.

SPEAKER:

All those against, 'nay.'

Motion

carried.

motion, that the House resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole, the Speaker

left the Chair.

Committee of the

Whole

CHAIR (Warr):

Order, please!

We are

now considering Bill 61,

An Act To Amend The Forestry Act.

A bill,

“An Act To Amend The Forestry Act.” (Bill 61)

CLERK:

Clause 1.

CHAIR:

Shall clause 1 carry?

The

Chair recognizes the Member for Exploits.

P. FORSEY:

Thank you, Chair.

We do

have a couple of questions regarding Bill 61 and the changing of the act. First

of all, the position of the chief scaler: Would this go through competition or

will this be appointed by the minister?

CHAIR:

The hon. the Minister of

Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture.

D. BRAGG:

So that would be a current

employee within the department, right now. It will be a senior official within

the Department of Forestry.

CHAIR:

Thank you.

The hon.

the Member for Exploits.

P. FORSEY:

With the great deal of

responsibility being placed on one person, rather than a board, what checks and

balances are in place to ensure impartiality of the chief scaler?

CHAIR:

The hon. the Minister of

Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture.

D. BRAGG:

As I said, the chief scaler

will be someone that is in our department and that is very qualified to hold the

position of scaler, would understand it. I guess the similarity I could use is

that it is much like a driving instructor when you go out and do your test. You

pass your road test based on your ability and the driver instructor helping you

out. This is based on your ability to measure and grade wood. This is done be a

senior official.

Should

that senior official be off for sick leave, if we need it, we could have someone

else fill it but it would be internal. Our own government employees could do it;

we have been doing this since 2008. The last time there was ever a dispute on

this was – well, we checked back to 2014, we couldn't find anything so it is

pre-2014.

It is

not a contentious – it doesn't seem to be – job. There are 250 commercial

operators in this province and we have, I thought I said, 175 certified scalers.

CHAIR:

The hon. the Member for

Exploits.

P. FORSEY:

Thanks for the answer.

Furthermore, what checks and balances are in place to ensure impartiality of the

other 35 scalers as well?

CHAIR:

The hon. the Minister of

Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture.

D. BRAGG:

I'm not sure – the other 35

scalers?

P. FORSEY:

Seventy-five, sorry. Do you

say 75 or 35?

CHAIR:

The hon. the Minister of

Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture.

D. BRAGG:

So there are 175 certified

scalers right now. Most of these would have been certified or recertified by our

chief official who has been doing this job. The board has been non-existent

since 2007-2008.

This has

been a job that's been done, that's been accepted by industry as the way. I

guess as long as there's no conflict and there's no dispute, there's no need of

a board. If there hasn't been a need for 14 years, we don't see a need right

now, nor does industry.

CHAIR:

The hon. the Member for

Exploits.

P. FORSEY:

What procedures are in place

to ensure compliance with operators that can scale their own lumber?

CHAIR:

The hon. the Minister of

Fisheries, Forestry, and Agriculture.

D. BRAGG:

Thank you very much there,

Mr. Chair.

I could

provide you with the criteria that they use to evaluate some for scaling. Would

that be of any assistance to you if I gave you their test structure and what

they would use to certify someone? I can provide you that information. I don't

have it at my fingertips, but I can provide it if that would help.

CHAIR:

The hon. the Member for

Exploits.

P. FORSEY:

If the department is going to

increase stumpage rates, what assurances can we have that the producers will not

pass this on to the consumer?

CHAIR:

The hon. the Minister of

Fisheries, Forestry, and Agriculture.

D. BRAGG:

So increase of stumpage rates

is not something that's on our radar right now. I mean, we're talking to

industry about future development. We just did an RFP on the Northern Peninsula,

in which there was a successful bidder, but we haven't looked at increasing any

stumpage rates. I think it's been clear in our budgets that there's no increase

in fees this years, so there's no increase in stumpage rates.

CHAIR:

The hon. the Member for

Exploits.

P. FORSEY:

How does the chief scaler

account for water-weight variances when mass-scaling timber and wood chips?

CHAIR:

The hon. the Minister of

Fisheries, Forestry, and Agriculture.

D. BRAGG:

Again, thank you very much,

Chair.

That's

information that if you want detail, very intricate details like that, like how

the scaling is done, what method, what they use, the metric system or the old

standard system, I can give you the full list of their criteria they use and how

they would calculate water, whether it's recently cut. I'm not a timber scaler

myself nor do I hold that position, but the person in that position would have

all that information.

So I can

give you their binder, for lack of a better word, of the criteria that you need

to meet and what you need to understand. Because this is a job, from my

understanding, that can't necessarily be done by a computer, it has to be done

with the human eye and with a measure stick or tape. Is that any help at all?

CHAIR:

The hon. the Member for

Exploits.

P. FORSEY:

Yes, that's good; we'll

accept that, Minister. Again, like I say, with regard to cubic metres to

tonnage, if we can get that done.

Other

than that, if they can't, we'll ask the Member for Baie Verte - Green Bay who

has been a scaler. I'm sure he's got lot of experience that he can pass along to

us. So other than that, we're done with the questions, Mr. Chair.

CHAIR:

I'd be more than happy to

help you out, Mr. Minister.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

CHAIR:

The hon. the Leader of the

Third Party.

J. DINN:

Just a quick question: With

timber royalty payments due to the province, how does the regime for

Newfoundland and Labrador compare to other provinces when it comes to timber

royalty payment regimes?

CHAIR:

The hon. the Minister of

Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture.

D. BRAGG:

So we've done a comparison of

that, and I don't have it at my fingertips. I can give it to you. I know we are

on the low end of what we charge, compared to other provinces. But if you look

at our cost of getting things to the border, there are some different factors.

So we may look low, but the cost of, say, Sexton or Philpotts to get their

lumber to the American border – and we have to be so careful because trade

barriers and all that come into play.

We're

not the highest; we are on the low side of the scale. But I can provide you with

these exact numbers.

CHAIR:

Any further questions?

The hon.

the Member for Bonavista.

C. PARDY:

Thank you, Chair.

I know

nothing to do with the fisheries portfolio, but just more curiosity. You had

mentioned that the job needs to be done with the human eye. Do we have

technology now where you can take the weight of the load and convert that to

cubic metres, that can be done from that transition? I just ask that now for

curiosity and to see where we are.

CHAIR:

The hon. the Minister of

Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture.

D. BRAGG:

So the technology in wood, I guess, fibre production – I viewed the sawmill or

the factory I would call it now, more so than a sawmill, that Sexton has. That

may be in your district or just outside of your district. I would certainly

encourage you to go there, because the most modern technology known in that

industry is in that plant. I can't vouch for the other ones in the province, but

I did see it first-hand. It's amazing, when a piece of wood goes in there's a

big rotating cup that grabs it, a set of claws, spins it around. There's an

electronic eye that tells it exactly how to best cut that log.

So there

is a lot of great technology. Yes, there's always the computer, but you need it

in the woods most times where you can't access that. You need the timber scaler

to be able to tell you what's on the ground by the side of the road so the

company would know what's there for their production.

CHAIR:

The hon. the Member for

Bonavista.

C. PARDY:

Yeah, just a follow-up.

They've got wonderful technology there at Sexton. That is in my district, I'm

proud to say.

I'm just

thinking about an empty truck proceeds to pick up wood, they drop in to the

weigh scales, they pick up the wood and then they turn and bring it back to the

producer or the factory, as you had mentioned. That is where I was thinking that

the basis of my question – I wonder if any conversion on that weight scale could

be converted to cubic metres to give an accurate indicator?

CHAIR:

The

hon. the Minister of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture.

BRAGG:

guess the scales and the volume that a truck can take would depend on what the

quality of the wood is; whether it is birch; whether it is aspen; whether it is

spruce, fir; whether it is dry; whether it is wet; whether it was cut for the

last two years. The scaler would really have to assess the wood and I am sure

there is a matrix that can tell, but the most reasons that we have a weight

limit is because of the restrictions on our roads and our highways.

I mean it is generally accepted, I think, that most

tractor-trailers are going to come with 10 cords of wood or 16 cords of wood and

sometimes you will see a B-train that is coming, different types of trailers

that carry – some have got just like tubing and some may be a flat deck. So I am

sure there is a matrix but the obvious thing that the scaler would do is they

would measure what is on the truck or what is on the side of the road.

CHAIR:

Any

further questions?

Shall the motion carry?

All those in favour, 'aye.'

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Aye.

CHAIR:

All those against, 'nay.'

Carried.

motion, clause 1 carried.

CLERK:

Clauses 2 through 46 inclusive.

CHAIR:

Shall clauses 2 through 46 inclusive carry?

All those in favour, 'aye.'

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Aye.

CHAIR:

All those against, 'nay.'

Carried.

motion, clauses 2 through 46 carried.

CLERK:

Be it enacted by the Lieutenant-Governor and

House of Assembly in Legislative Session convened, as follows.

CHAIR:

Shall the enacting clause carry?

All those in favour, 'aye.'

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Aye.

CHAIR:

All those against, 'nay.'

Carried.

On motion, enacting clause carried.

CLERK:

Act To Amend The Forestry Act.

CHAIR:

Shall the title carry?

All those in favour, 'aye.'

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Aye.

CHAIR:

All those against, 'nay.'

Carried.

On motion, title carried.

CHAIR:

Shall I report the bill without amendment?

All those in favour, 'aye.'

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Aye.

CHAIR:

All those against, 'nay.'

Carried.

Motion, that the Committee report having passed the

bill without amendment, carried.

CHAIR:

The hon. the Deputy Government House Leader.

CROCKER:

Thank you, Chair.

I move that the Committee rise and report Bill 61.

CHAIR:

The motion is that the Committee rise and report Bill 61.

Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?

All those in favour, 'aye.'

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Aye.

CHAIR:

All those against, 'nay.'

Carried.

On motion, that the Committee rise, report progress and

ask leave to sit again, the Speaker returned to the Chair.

SPEAKER (Bennett):

Order, please!

The hon.

the Member for Baie Verte - Green Bay and Chair of the Committee of the Whole.

B. WARR:

Speaker, the Committee of the

Whole have considered the matters to them referred and have directed me to

report Bill 61 without amendment.

SPEAKER:

The Chair of the Committee of

the Whole reports that the

Committee have considered the matters to them referred

and have directed him to report Bill 61 without amendment.

When shall the report be received?

S. CROCKER:

Now.

SPEAKER:

Now.

When

shall the bill be read a third time?

S. CROCKER:

Tomorrow.

SPEAKER:

Tomorrow.

motion, report received and adopted. Bill ordered read a third time on tomorrow.

SPEAKER:

The hon. the Government House

Leader.

S. CROCKER:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I call

from the Order Paper, Motion 1.

SPEAKER:

The hon. the Government House

Leader.

S. CROCKER:

Thank you very much, Speaker.

I move,

seconded by the Deputy Government House Leader, the following:

WHEREAS

subsection 6(3) of the Independent

Appointments Commission Act provides that members of the Independent

Appointments Commission are to be appointed by the Lieutenant-Governor in

Council on a resolution of the House of Assembly; and

WHEREAS

subsection 7(1) of the act states that a commissioner may be reappointed; and

WHEREAS

the appointment of the following commissioners expires on June 22, 2022: Peggy

Bartlett and Gerald Anderson; and

WHEREAS

it is proposed that the said commissioners be reappointed as commissioners for a

term of 3 years from the date of the expiry of their terms; and

WHEREAS

the appointment of Philip R. Earle expires on May 24, 2022, and is not eligible

for reappointment; and

WHEREAS

the chairperson, Earl Ludlow, has resigned as chairperson and as a commissioner;

and

WHEREAS

subsection 6(4) of the act provides that the Lieutenant-Governor in Council

designate one of the members of the commission to be chairperson;

NOW

THEREFORE

BE IT RESOLVED that the following persons be appointed or reappointed

as members of the Independent Appointments Commission for a term of 3 years:

Karen McCarthy, chairperson; William Mahoney; Brendan Mitchell; Jamie Schwartz;

Peggy Bartlett; and Gerald Anderson.

SPEAKER:

The hon. the Government House

Leader.

S. CROCKER:

Thank you, Speaker.

It's

great to have the opportunity this morning to highlight the six individuals who

we hope will receive unanimous consent of this hon. House for reappointment or

appointment to the IAC.

The

Independent Appointments Commission Act

provides an open and accessible appointment process for agencies, boards and

commissions. The IAC acts as an independent, non-partisan body and has a

responsibility of applying a merit-based process to recommended individuals for

appointments.

Mr.

Speaker, on March 14, we made two appointments to bring the IAC up to seven

members with the appointments of Mr. Earl Ludlow and Cathy Duke. On May 16, both

were reappointed for a three-year term and the IAC then consisted of five

members and two members seeking reappointment, Gerald Anderson and Peggy

Bartlett.

One of

the current members, Mr. Philip Earle, is not eligible for reappointment, given

that he has served the two consecutive terms. I want to take this opportunity to

thank him for his service to the Independent Appointments Commission over the

last six years. Subsequently, Mr. Earl Ludlow has confirmed his intent to resign

upon the appointment of a successor.

We are

recommending today, other than the reappointments that I mentioned earlier:

William Mahoney, Brendan Mitchell, Jamie Schwartz and Karen McCarthy are our

recommendations today for appointment.

William

Mahoney is the owner of a group of companies in Newfoundland and Labrador

related to real estate and tourism sector. He served for 27 years in the Royal

Canadian Air Force holding a number of staff and command positions, retiring in

2004. He is national chair of the Canadian Owners and Pilots Association and the

national vice-chair of the Canadian Forces Liaison Council. He is a former chair

of the board of Commissionaires for Newfoundland and Labrador, the Royal

Newfoundland Constabulary Historical Society, the St. John's International

Airport Authority, the St. John's Downtown Development Commission and he serves

as director on a number of charitable organizations. He completed the Directors

Education Program in 2020 and earned a designation with the Institute of

Corporate Directors.

Chief

Brendan Mitchell has held the distinction of being chief of the Qalipu First

Nation for seven years, serving three consecutive terms on its council. He

worked with Corner Brook Pulp and Paper Limited for 27 years and he has

extensive work experience in the areas of project management, materials

management, transportation and procurement management. His organizational

involvement, as many would know, served on many local, provincial and national

committees, including chairing the Newfoundland and Labrador marine advisory

board for five years and chair of the Corner Brook Economic Development

Corporation. Chief Mitchell holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology and an

advanced Bachelor of Business Administration degrees from Memorial University of

Newfoundland and Labrador.

Mr.

Jamie Schwartz retired as president and CEO of the Deer Lake Airport Authority

after serving 20 years with that organization. He is currently a director with

the Dr. H. Bliss Murphy Cancer Care Foundation and a member of the 2025 Canada

Summer Games Host Society Board of Directors. He served as president and chair

of the Atlantic Canadian Airports Association from 2014 to 2016 and was a

director of the Canadian Airport Council for four years. He has also served as

chair of the Marble Mountain Development Corporation for three years. Mr.

Schwartz holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in physical education and recreation

management from Acadia University in Wolfville, Nova Scotia.

Karen

McCarthy is vice-president of communication and corporate affairs for Fortis

Inc. She joined Fortis Inc. in 2016 as director of communication and corporate

affairs and was appointed to her current role in 2018. She was previously

president of the Atlantic Canadian Public Affairs Consulting Firm for seven

years and spent 15 years in the Newfoundland and Labrador provincial public

service, with senior roles in communications, Cabinet operations, energy, labour

relations and intergovernmental affairs. She holds a Bachelor of Public

Relations from Mount Saint Vincent University, a Master of Education Leadership

from Memorial University and was rewarded a ICD designation from the Institute

of Corporate Directors. She is currently pursuing a Doctor of Business

Administration at Athabasca University, with a research focus on corporate

governance and social responsibility. She is past chair of the ICD, Newfoundland

and Labrador chapter, is a regent and chair of the Governance Committee at

Memorial University and serves on the board of Newfoundland Power.

Gerald

Anderson has over 30 years experience working with the Marine Institute, most

recently as director of development and engagement. Mr. Anderson was the

designated lead for all work with Indigenous stakeholders in regions across

Canada throughout his career with Marine Institute and from 2016 to 2018 was

appointed as vice-president (Indigenous) with the University of the Arctic –

UArctic – a network university with 180 members worldwide, including Memorial

University. In his position, Mr. Anderson is responsible for ensuring Indigenous

inclusion in all activities undertaken by UArctic. Mr. Anderson earned a

Bachelor of Arts in political science and economics from Memorial University in

Peggy

Bartlett has over 22 years of experience as a successful owner/operator of five

McDonald's restaurants in Central Newfoundland, with stores in Grand

Falls-Windsor, Lewisporte and Gander.

Prior to this, she spent 15 years as a community

health nurse with the Janeway children's health centre. In recent years, she has

served as a town councillor with the Town of Grand Falls-Windsor, where she

currently resides. She has significant volunteer and board experience, including

current membership on the board of the Gander International Airport Authority,

the Grand Falls House Foundation and she serves as central director on the board

of the Newfoundland and Labrador Organization for Women Entrepreneurs.

She

is a graduate of the General Hospital School of Nursing Registered Nurse

program, the Memorial University Community Health Nursing program and the Small

Business Management program with the College of Trades and Technology.

Mr.

Speaker, I believe all the Members will agree that these candidates are more

than qualified to undertake the role that we are asking for them to be appointed

to and I look forward to continuing to further work with the Independent

Appointments Commission with all of our boards and agencies as we fill them with

qualified candidates.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for Mount Pearl - Southlands.

P. LANE:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

have no problem with the individuals who have been selected here. I listened to

the minister reading out some pretty impressive résumés. I don't think any

Member in this House of Assembly would dispute the qualifications of the

individuals that are being appointed or reappointed to these positions.

But, Mr. Speaker, I think it is important to note, once again – and this has

been raised in the past – that if we are going to ask the people such as these

people to serve on the Independent Appointments Commission, then I think it is

important that any work that they undertake in selecting people for positions is

not in vain, and that is an important point to make.

That is where, once again, I have to say for the record, I have a problem with

this whole concept that these individuals that we are going to select that they

can go out and do all of this work, interviewing people and everything, taking a

lot of time to do it, bring forward three names and the minister can decide, I

don't like any of those three names, and the minister can appoint whoever he or

she sees fit.

is not fair to these people who are being appointed to the Independent

Appointments Commission. It is not fair to the people who took the time and the

effort to apply for positions, very important positions, within the public

service and to go through the whole process and then to learn that somebody got

appointed to a position that never even applied for it.

Imagine,

people apply for a position within the public service and go through the whole

process and not even get a response back to say you're successful or you're not

successful. And to turn on the news and hear that someone was appointed to a

job, who, according to what I was told, never even applied for it, because the

minister wanted that person. So that's the kind of thing that can happen under

this.

Under

this legislation, the minister can put whatever person they want there. They

don't have to pick someone off the list and they don't have to let the House of

Assembly or the public know that there was three names came forward but I didn't

like any of them and I decided to pick who I wanted. And there's no mechanism

for that openness and transparency and accountability.

So if

we're going to select these people – I'm glad that these people have put their

names forward,. They sound like great people, but if they're going to be

expected to put the time and effort in to do this job, then as far as I'm

concerned whoever they select, whoever these three names are that they think are

the best people, those are the people who should be chosen from, and the

government and the ministers need to stay out of it and leave it as an impartial

process. If not, this whole process is nothing but a big farce.

Thank

you, Mr. Speaker.

SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for Lake

Melville.

P. TRIMPER:

Thank you, Speaker.

I'm not

going to debate what my seatmate and colleague – he makes points there that,

obviously, there are opportunities to introduce, what would I say, maybe some

bias. However, on the other side, I welcome this over what we had before.

Having

been in Cabinet and familiar with the process and watched it come into the

floor, I am a big fan and promoter of the opportunity. Not just in a particular

aspect, but in all agencies, boards, and commissions and other appointments, I

have seen this to be an incredibly important way to provide transparency,

accountability and, most importantly, by the way, opportunity for so many of our

constituents.

So I'm

going to just make a little appeal to all of my colleagues here on the floor to

recognize, and I would invite you to sit down with your constituents. What I do

is I go into the Tier 1, Tier 2 opportunities and I sit down with folks, and

walk them through it, talk about the opportunity, what they could do, and

encourage them.

I know

in Lake Melville and even throughout Labrador, we are often looking hard to try

to encourage people to step forward. We need that regional representation. We

need the gender representation. We need the cultural representation, as well as

the experience around that boardroom table.

So I

would just invite all my fellow MHAs here to think about that. It's certainly an

opportunity and a way that you can make some good friends in your constituency

by promoting somebody in a great opportunity. My colleague for Mount Pearl -

Southlands makes a point, however, if there are good folks stepping forward and

they're being turned down, well that's something else we can get to the bottom

of.

But

right now in terms of the structure and the people who have overseen that

structure, I do have great confidence in them. To that point, and the main

reason why I wanted to stand up is, I just wanted to extend a great deal of

appreciation to all those who have served, who are coming on, but, in

particular, Mr. Philip Earle who lives right around the corner from me. He's a

good friend, vice-president of Air Borealis and well known throughout Labrador.

I feel he deserves a big thank you on behalf of the people of the province for

what he's done.

This is

a very time-consuming position; stepping forward to sit on the IAC is not a

subtle matter; there's a lot of responsibility and a lot of time that is

required. Philip, I just wanted to say on behalf of everyone and myself, thank

you for stepping forward and getting involved, I really appreciate all that

you've been able to do and look forward to seeing you and others continue to

guide us in the future.

Thank

you.

SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

Stephenville - Port au Port.

T. WAKEHAM:

Thank you, Speaker.

I feel

obligated as well to stand in the House and speak to this with some of my

colleagues. First of all, congratulations to the people that have been

appointed, because my comments will not be about the people who are appointed,

these are all excellent people and we certainly congratulate all of them on

their appointments. However, I will speak to the independence of the Independent

Appointments Commission because, clearly, examples provided by my colleague

suggest that the minister is independent of the Independent Appointments

Commission and that is a cause for concern, at times.

I also

believe, fundamentally, in the principle of the Public Service Commission

because I truly believe that a person qualified for the job should apply for the

job and whoever has the best qualifications, those are the ones that should get

the job. So I would be suggesting that we understand why this was put in place.

But at

the end of the day, if we truly had an independent Public Service Commission,

would we need another Independent Appointments Commission? Is it really

fulfilling a mandate if the three recommendations that come forward from an

Independent Appointments Commission still have the ability to be ignored by a

minister?

That's

the question. It's not about the integrity of the people on the commission. It is

about whether, in fact, the names brought forward are truly brought forward and

how the decisions get made after they are brought forward.

So, again, I question that piece of this. I am

concerned about it and would think that if we were to move to a truly

independent Public Service Commission, we wouldn't necessarily need an

Independent Appointments Commission.

But comments and concerns brought forward by my

colleagues are certainly of concern to all of us in the House. Is the

Independent Appointments Commission truly independent?

Thank you.

SPEAKER:

Seeing no other speakers, if the Government House

Leader speaks now he will close debate.

The

hon. the Government House Leader.

S. CROCKER:

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

thank the Members opposite for their contribution to this motion this morning. I

look forward to having the new members of the IAC start their role.

Mr.

Speaker, with that, I will take my seat.

SPEAKER:

Is the House ready for the question?

All

those in favour to adopt the motion, 'aye.'

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Aye.

All

those against, 'nay.'

Motion carried.

The

hon. the Government House Leader.

S. CROCKER:

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

move, seconded by the Minister of Justice and Public Safety, that this House do

now recess.

SPEAKER:

It is moved and seconded that this House do recess.

it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?

All

those in favour, 'aye.'

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Aye.

All

those against, 'nay.'

Carried.

This House stands in recess until 2 p.m. this afternoon.

Recess

The

House resumed at 2 p.m.

SPEAKER (Bennett):

Order, please!

Admit

strangers.

Before

we begin, I would like to welcome in the public gallery today members from the

Housing and Homelessness Coalition from Happy Valley-Goose Bay.

Welcome.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

Statements by

Members

SPEAKER:

Today we will hear statements

by the hon. Members for the Districts of Stephenville - Port au Port, Burin -

Grand Bank, Baie Verte - Green Bay, Ferryland, Labrador West and Fortune Bay -

Cape La Hune, with leave.

The hon.

the Member for Stephenville - Port au Port.

T. WAKEHAM:

Thank you, Speaker.

“You're

never too old to try something new.” Jack White of Port au Port East is a living

testament to this statement.

In March

1983, the fastest men and women from across the world had gathered in Labrador

City for the World Cup cross-country skiing championships. Jack, 43 years old at

the time, was working in Wabush and attended the races. His decision to watch

these races changed his life.

Fast-forward 40 years, Jack White is a legendary name in skiing. Jack's passion

for skiing has taken him to competitions to the skiing capitals of the world:

Austria ,

Germany, France, Sweden, Norway and Denmark.

the past 40 years, White has achieved many medals and awards for his success in

the sport. In March of this year, White celebrated three gold medals at the

Masters World Cup of Cross-Country Skiing in Canmore, Alberta: first place in

the five kilometre, 10 kilometre and 15 kilometre for the age 80-to-84 category.

Jack is looking forward to the Masters in France in three years' time.

Jack participates in other sports such as cycling, running and long-distance

hiking. Jack's greatest cheerleader is his wife, Margaret, who supports and

encourages him all the way.

would like for the Members of the hon. House to congratulate Jack on his past

accomplishments and wish him well in his upcoming tournaments.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Member for Burin - Grand Bank.

P. PIKE:

Speaker, volunteers

make a real difference in their communities and the people they serve. This is

so true for Charles Penwell of Fortune in the District of Burin - Grand Bank.

Charles dedicated much of his life to helping others unselfishly, offering his

knowledge, skills and talents.

Charles spent his

working career as an educator in this province for 33 years before retiring in

2009. He spent 28 years as a member of the Fortune Lions Club, served as chair

of the action centre committee for youth, vice-chair of the College of the North

Atlantic, member of the Burin Peninsula Waste Management Board, founding member

of the Feller From Fortune festival committee and the chairperson of the

Age-Friendly Committee.

Charles is best known

in his community and on the Burin Peninsula for his career in municipal

politics. He was elected to council in 1985 and served his community until 2021.

Yes, you heard it right; he served council for 36 years and 22 of those years he

was mayor. During this time, Fortune maintained its place in the fishery, made

great strides in tourism, upgraded municipal infrastructure and secured

developments to accommodate the St. Pierre ferry service.

I ask all Members to

recognize Charles's contribution as a volunteer and an elected official.

Thank you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Member for Baie Verte - Green Bay.

B. WARR:

Thank you, Speaker.

rise to acknowledge a constituent, Greg Roberts, a well-known and respected

businessman from Triton Island.

Desiring to be self-employed, Greg chose a career path as a chartered

accountant. Soon after

articling, he operated his first restaurant, Spencer's Diner, on Pilley's

Island. Having a keen interest in the restaurant business, Greg kept a close eye

on the Mary Brown's franchise, as he believed it had tremendous potential.

Since

purchasing the Mary Brown's brand in February 2007, Greg has expanded the

franchise to be recognized as one of the fastest-growing restaurant chains in

the country. Greg has over 170 restaurants across Canada, and plans to expand

globally.

November 2021, Mary Brown's Chicken acquired naming rights to the former Mile

One Centre in St. John's to be rebranded as the Mary Brown's Centre. The

partnership includes sponsoring local sports teams who play at the centre and a

Mary Brown's Express.

On April

6, 2022, Mary Brown's announced a five-year partnership with Canada's only major

league baseball team, the Toronto Blue Jays. The first-ever Mary Brown's Chicken

concession at the Rogers Centre began on opening night.

I ask

all hon. Members to join me in congratulating Greg Roberts and thanking him for

being an inspiration to us all.

Thank

you, Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

Ferryland.

L. O'DRISCOLL:

Thank you, Speaker.

I rise

today to recognize and congratulate two individuals and an organization in the

District of Ferryland who were recipients of the Recreation Newfoundland and

Labrador Awards in November of 2021. These awards are presented in recognition

of an individual or a group of volunteers in honour of their outstanding efforts

and invaluable contributions to the development of recreation.

Both

Kelly and Rodney Joyce of Bay Bulls received Volunteer of the Year awards. Kelly

and Rodney play a major role in sports and recreation in the Bay Bulls to

Bauline area. They both give freely of their time whenever required.

The

Kinsmen Club of Witless Bay & Area were also presented with the Volunteer Group

of the Year award. This group provides much-needed assistance and are very

active and supportive of all recreation groups both young and old. The Kinsmen

offer great support in a number of other recreation activities in the region.

Speaker,

I ask all Members of this House to join me in congratulating Rodney and Kelly

Joyce, and the Witless Bay Kinsmen Club on their awards.

Thank

you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

Labrador West.

J. BROWN:

Thank you, Speaker.

Today I

rise to give recognition to Ducks Unlimited

chapter in Labrador West. Ducks

Unlimited Canada is known for their conservation efforts.

recently had the opportunity to attend a Ducks Unlimited event where a wetland

conservation agreement was made between Tacora Resources for a 30-year agreement

which will result in 22 acres of Tacora's wetlands being reserved for wildlife

and waterfowl breeding.

Ducks

Unlimited Labrador West has been successful in other ventures in the

conservation efforts to support the duck population in Labrador West. In 2019,

the committee took on the challenge of building 100 nesting boxes, which had a

successful usage rate. Ducks Unlimited will be adding 90 more nesting boxes to

the area this year. They've been able to do this through fundraising and

raffling efforts.

Ducks

Unlimited has also acquired several educational signs which will be found along

popular trails in Labrador West and there will be more to come in the future.

I ask

all hon. Members to join me in congratulating Ducks Unlimited Labrador West for

their conservation efforts to protect wildlife in the area.

Thank

you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

Fortune Bay - Cape La Hune with leave.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Leave.

SPEAKER:

Leave is granted.

The hon.

the Member for Fortune Bay - Cape La Hune.

E. LOVELESS:

Thank you.

Speaker,

high school sports, whether it's volleyball, hockey or other sports like

badminton, is fun and part of the lasting memories created in our schools.

This

past weekend Bay d'Espoir Academy in St. Alban's hosted the School Sport NL

Badminton provincials. Ten teams from all over the province came, and to say

excitement was in the air is an understatement. Many participated and lots of

fun was had and memories created.

The

tournament took place in the new state-of-the-art school in St. Alban's that

opened earlier this year. There's a lot of pride in that building and

surrounding communities. And after this weekend even more pride as the hosting

team, the Bay d'Espoir Academy Predators – and they include: Shawn Walsh, Amber

Roberts, Tia Cox, Braden Collier, Marcus Hoskins, Ryan Harding, Brooklyn Framp,

Noah Nugent, Mark Wilcott, and Peyton Howse – won gold, along with the

provincial championship banner that will proudly hang as the first banner won in

their new gymnasium. I'm sure there will be many more to come.

I ask

all hon. Members to join me in congratulating the winning team and all teams,

coaches, parents and all that made this possible.

Thank

you, Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

SPEAKER:

Statements by Ministers.

Statements by

Ministers

SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Immigration, Population Growth and Skills.

G. BYRNE:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Newfoundland and Labrador once again became a guiding light to the international

community when our province welcomed 166 Ukrainian refugees on the first

state-sponsored airlift to North America since the Russian invasion of that

peaceful country on February 24.

On May

9, children, women, men and families disembarked from an aircraft in St. John's

after travelling thousands of miles to come to a new land that, until recently,

they may have had little knowledge of. They came because they needed a new home.

They came because they learned of this place and the wonderful opportunities

that awaited them. They came after developing trusted relationships with a

dedicated team of professionals from the provincial government, including those

from the Office of Immigration and Multiculturalism. We are so proud of the work

of this small but mighty team.

Speaker,

while the welcome since their arrival has been overwhelming, it is not

unanticipated. The people of Newfoundland and Labrador have embraced our new

Ukrainian neighbours as family. In fact, many Ukrainians who landed in other

parts of Canada are now actively considering relocating to Newfoundland and

Labrador. We are building a new community, a Ukrainian community, within our

province.

As part

of the supports we are offering, tomorrow my office along with the Association

for New Canadians and TaskforceNL are offering a job fair for Ukrainians. The

fair will take place in St. John's at the College of the North Atlantic's Prince

Philip Drive campus.

Last

Monday, people with experience in resort management, medical technology, trades,

accounting and finance, carpentry, among many other skilled professions, arrived

on our shores. They are eager to go to work.

Speaker,

I would like to thank Gannet Construction, Rambler mines, Eastern Health and

several others who are already employing Ukrainians now. Our strength is in

embracing diversity and, once again, Canada and the world are taking notice of

Newfoundland and Labrador.

Thank

you very much.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for Grand

Falls-Windsor - Buchans.

C. TIBBS:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I

thank the hon. minister for an advance copy of his statement.

Speaker,

I join with the minister in welcoming our Ukrainian friends to our beautiful

province and thank our local businesses for doing what they can to provide them

job opportunities. Groups like Association for New Canadians and TaskforceNL are

doing tremendous work in providing supports and making our new friends feel

welcome.

behalf of the Official Opposition, I would like also to extend my gratitude to

Gannet Construction, Rambler mines, Eastern Health and others who are already

employing some of our Ukrainian friends. Let's continue to do what we do best

here in Newfoundland and Labrador, open our hearts and open our homes.

Thank

you, Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

SPEAKER:

The hon. the Leader of the

Third Party.

J. DINN:

Thank you, Speaker, and I

thank the minister for an advance copy of his statement.

welcome these refugees and compliment the government on this initiative. We

certainly welcome these refugees for taking steps to become part of our

communities and active members of our society. We certainly hope they will make

this province their home.

However,

we once again encourage this government to support all newcomers and refugees by

providing adequate housing supports and smaller class sizes in schools so that

their children will have the individualized attention they deserve.

Thank

you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

SPEAKER:

Further statements by

ministers?

The hon.

the Minister Responsible for Women and Gender Equality.

P. PARSONS:

Thank you, Speaker.

On behalf of the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, I would like to

recognize yesterday, May 17, as the International Day Against Transphobia,

Homophobia and Biphobia.

This day was created in 2004 to draw attention to the violence and

discrimination experienced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender people and all

of those with diverse sexual orientations, gender identities or expressions and

sex characteristics.

Speaker, the provincial government will not stand for

discrimination, persecution or violence towards any person based on their gender

identity, expression or sexual orientation.

As a government, we are committed to working

collaboratively with the 2SLGBTQQIA+ community to ensure Newfoundland and

Labrador is a safe, accessible and inclusive place for all people throughout our

province.

Speaker, as an indicator of our ongoing commitment to gender equality in

our province, Members of the House of Assembly today are wearing pins of the

Progress Pride flag. The Progress Pride flag features the iconic rainbow flag,

with the addition of black and brown stripes to represent marginalized

LGBTQ+ communities of colour, along with the

colours pink, light blue and white, which are used on the Transgender Pride

flag.

I was informed by my staff that, for those who are wondering, the pin is

to be worn with the arrow pointing toward our hearts.

Speaker, I ask all hon. Members in this House to join me in recognizing

May 17 and every day as the International Day Against Transphobia, Homophobia

and Biphobia.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for Harbour Main.

H. CONWAY OTTENHEIMER:

I thank the minister for an advance copy of her

statement.

Speaker, International Day Against Transphobia, Homophobia and Biphobia

is about freedom. Freedom to express your truth without fear. Freedom to love

who you love. Freedom to simply live your life on your own terms. We wear our

Progress Pride pins today as a show of support, but also a recognition of more

work needed right here in Newfoundland and Labrador to ensure we move beyond the

outdated notion of tolerance and into full acceptance of the supports needed for

the 2SLGBTQQIA+ community to live equally in our

society.

Textbooks in our high schools must be updated to give a

comprehensive education on gender expression in all its forms. The transgender

community needs an end to the classification of their identity as a mental

disorder in our health care system. Such a designation is an insult to the

transgender community. They don't have a disorder. They don't need to be fixed.

They need the support of our health care system to live their truth to its

fullest.

Together

we must stand against transphobia, homophobia and biphobia in our society. It's

easy to be afraid of what you don't understand. It's easy to be a bully to those

with a different experience in life than your own. It takes courage to listen

and to understand.

challenge everyone in the House, and everyone in Newfoundland and Labrador, be

courageous. Stand up and listen to our 2SLGBTQQIA+ siblings and end

discrimination in all its forms in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Thank

you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

Torngat Mountains.

L. EVANS:

I thank the minister for the

advance copy of her statement.

The

Pride movement, first and foremost, advocates for equality and inclusivity in

society, regardless of gender identity, expression and sexual orientation. Aside

from recognizing days like this on the day that they happen, one clear way to

support this movement is to build an equitable society by ensuring equal pay

across genders and identities.

Thank

you, Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

SPEAKER:

Are there any further

statements by ministers?

Oral

Questions.

Oral Questions

SPEAKER:

The hon. the Leader of the

Official Opposition.

D. BRAZIL:

Thank you, Speaker.

Yesterday, the prime minister had time for high tea with the Premier but we've

yet to hear about any results of that meeting.

Can you

table specific agreements signed from that meeting, or was it simply another

photo op?

SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Finance and President of Treasury Board.

S. COADY:

Thank you very much, Speaker,

for the question.

Members of the House know, and as members of all of Newfoundland and Labrador

know, yesterday's visit was a royal visit in honour of the Queen's 70th Jubilee,

70th year on the throne, which is an amazing feat and an amazing moment. It was

wonderful to be able to welcome, not just His Royal Highness and the Duchess of

Cornwall but also our Governor General, as well as our prime minister.

We took

the opportunity yesterday, the Premier did – as he does any opportunity – to sit

down with the prime minister. They discussed very important issues to

Newfoundland and Labrador. They made sure they discussed the Canada Health

Transfer, cost of living and the cost to providing services in the Province of

Newfoundland and Labrador.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

SPEAKER:

The hon. the Leader of the

Official Opposition.

D. BRAZIL:

Thank you Speaker.

And as

we welcome the carbon tax prime minister, the people of this province are

looking for action, not for the Premier to smile in front of the camera.

Did the

Premier reach an agreement with the prime minister to pause carbon tax increases

to give the people of Newfoundland and Labrador a break at the gas tanks?

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Finance and President of Treasury Board.

COADY:

Indeed, Speaker, we have spoken about this in the House over the last number of

months, the Council of the Federation, all of the premiers across this country

have interceded with the prime minister to put a pause on carbon tax increases.

The prime minister, as it is his policy, has determined that he will not be

doing that at this point in time.

I know the Premier took the opportunity yesterday to

again reiterate about the impacts of the cost of living and the cost of carbon

tax. But the prime minister has made this a policy for the country of Canada to

address climate change and, as such, has already been very forthright in saying

that at this time he will not do so.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Leader of the Official Opposition.

BRAZIL:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

So you invited your Liberal cousin to the party and

they didn't bring a gift to the people of Newfoundland and Labrador.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

BRAZIL:

While the people of Newfoundland and Labrador struggle to make ends meet during

the cost of living crisis, the Premier is caught up in the pomp and

circumstance.

If the Premier can't deliver specific results from a

meeting with the prime minister, is the Premier out of touch with the concerns

of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians?

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Minister of Finance and President of Treasury Board.

COADY:

Indeed, Speaker, in this year alone we received $5.2 billion from the federal

government to address the challenges of Muskrat Falls. So, indeed, the prime

minister is listening to the concerns and the impacts of the Muskrat Falls –

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Oh,

oh!

SPEAKER:

Order, please!

I can't hear the minister speak.

The hon. the Minister of Finance and President of

Treasury Board.

COADY:

appreciate that. I appreciate your protection, Speaker.

As I said, $5.2 billion. Yesterday, was an opportunity

to, again, speak to the prime minister about the cost of the Canada Health

Transfer and how we, as well as all other premiers in this country, feel it

needs to go up.

I will remind the Members in this House and the people

of the province, that to address the serious concerns around cost of living, we

have already provided $142 million to put cash back in the people's pockets and

we will continue to look to do more.

SPEAKER:

The

minister's time is expired.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Leader of the Official Opposition.

BRAZIL:

Thank you, Speaker.

I remind the minister that not one cent of that $5.2

billion was given back to us of the money that is owed to the people of

Newfoundland and Labrador from the royalties from the Hibernia Development

Project, Mr. Speaker.

One resident in this province copied me on an email to

the Premier. I would like to read this – and I quote – I live within my means,

but these weekly inflationary spikes are causing me and others like me to make

very tough choices. Listen to the people of the province. Listen to the

Opposition parties. Everyone is being hurt by your lack of action and it's time

for you to get to work for us.

So I ask the same question this individual asked, you

say you are doing everything to address the cost of living in this province, may

I ask you: Can you believe that this is true for the people of this province?

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Minister of Finance and President of Treasury Board.

COADY:

Indeed, in Newfoundland and Labrador, as it is in Canada, as it is around the

world, there is a lot of concern, a lot of anxiety,

a lot of stress being caused

by the increase in the price of fuel and the increase then that trickles through

our society, the price of food, the price of transportation, et cetera.

I can

say that we have provided the $142 million to the people of the province that we

had to borrow, so it's on the backs of our children and our grandchildren. We

are considering what more we can possibly do. This is very difficult times for

people.

As I

said, we have provided $142 million; we're looking to see what more we could

possibly do within the finances that are available to government on behalf of

the people.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

SPEAKER:

The hon. the Leader of the

Official Opposition.

D. BRAZIL:

Thank you, Speaker.

I just

want to ask another couple more questions here.

Speaker,

throughout Question Period today, you'll hear stories from our Members hearing

from their constituents every single day. They're difficult stories and they

highlight the need for action to support the people of our province.

Now I

offer the Premier a chance: Will you tell us a story you have heard from one of

your constituents about the struggles they are facing every day, and offer a

solution to improve the lifestyle of those individuals?

SPEAKER:

The hon. the Premier.

PREMIER A. FUREY:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

We're

all hearing the stress and anxiety of families across this province, Mr.

Speaker. We all recognize that this is an anxious time, as we emerge from the

pandemic and the forces at play across the world when it comes to inflation, the

push and pull of inflation, the energy crisis around the world, Mr. Speaker.

I've

heard stories from my constituents about the cost of their home heating, Mr.

Speaker. I've heard concerns about the cost of gas and how that trickles down,

not just from domestic consumption but for local business consumption. I've

equally heard some gratitude, Mr. Speaker, about how we controlled the

electricity rates, Mr. Speaker.

We are

all working together, Mr. Speaker. Again, we've said that we're all looking at

creative ways to try to address this, but we have to realize that a lot of the

forces are well outside our reach, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

SPEAKER:

The hon. the Leader of the

Official Opposition.

D. BRAZIL:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

We'll

offer, again, as we have many times in this House, to work with government to

find solutions to the crisis that people are facing now in this province with

the cost of living.

Mr.

Speaker, is the Premier or his office aware of a report related to the conduct

of an Officer of this House? If so, when was the report submitted?

SPEAKER:

Order, please!

The

question is not in order. It doesn't fall within the purview of the

administrative competence of the Executive Branch. I ask you to –

The hon.

the Member for Terra Nova.

L. PARROTT:

Thank you, Speaker.

Speaker,

an individual who has experience with the former mental health crisis line used

the new 811 line recently and said – quote – when my call was answered, I wasn't

made aware initially that I was speaking with someone who was not qualified to

help. I was speaking with someone in some kind of a dispatch centre, who, after

taking all of my information, told me that somebody would call me.

When we

last raised this issue in the House, the minister stated: “It's not a matter of

callback. It's not a matter of waiting.”

Minister, why did this person have to wait for a callback?

SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Health and Community Services.

J. HAGGIE:

Thank you very much, Speaker.

The

company that provides the 811 service has considerable expertise in dealing with

mental health and addictions calls. They have been providing this service in the

United States and other parts of the world for many years; it is a Newfoundland

and Labrador company.

We have

a system now in place where mental health calls, if they identify as that to the

initial responder on the phone, are taken care of immediately. If that

information is not conveyed to the person who takes the call, then the next

option is discussion with another health care provider. It all relies on the

informant, the caller, providing accurate information initially on the call.

Thank

you, Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for Terra

Nova.

L. PARROTT:

It is pretty sad, Speaker,

that you put it back on the caller who was facing a mental health distress right

at that moment. That is pretty sad the Minister of Health just did that – shame.

Speaker,

this person said – quote – I did get a call and was asked a lot of questions

pertaining to my identity before getting to the heart of the issue. There is

comfort in anonymity when speaking on matters so personal as a mental health

crisis. Any comfort in those situations is huge. I didn't feel as safe as I had

in the past when I had called.

I ask

the minister: Is this person's experience acceptable to you?

SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Health and Community Services.

J. HAGGIE:

Thank you very much, Speaker.

As I

say, there are trained professionals, both mental and physical health

professionals, available 24-hours a day through Fonemed. If the Member opposite

has a particular call he would like investigated, I would be delighted to do

that. I simply need the date and the time of the calls because these are

monitored and it can be checked. I'd be happy to get back to him and his

constituent.

Thank

you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

Stephenville - Port au Port.

T. WAKEHAM:

Speaker, I would argue that

what we need the minister to do is to make sure that the program that he has put

in place is working the way it is supposed to work, because that doesn't sound

like it.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

T. WAKEHAM:

Speaker, this is the people's

House. So on behalf of the people of Stephenville - Port au Port and the people

of 40 districts of this Province of Newfoundland and Labrador, I ask the

minister: Will you commit, not just consider, to additional support to help

people with the cost of living in this province?

SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Finance and President of Treasury Board.

S. COADY:

Thank you very much for the

question.

I think

I have been very clear in this House, as has the Premier been to the people

publicly, in that we are looking at, working on providing, obviously, more

supports based on the fact that the price of fuel continues to rise, the price

of food continues to rise, considering what we can do – and I know the Member

didn't want me to use the word “consider,” so I will say working on programs

that we may be able to put in place, based on the fact that the price of fuel,

the price of food, cost of living, continues to increase. I made that commitment

to the people of the province. The Premier's said that publicly, so indeed we

are.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

Stephenville - Port au Port.

T. WAKEHAM:

Speaker, while the minister

considers it, the people of the province are the ones that are truly suffering

right now, and they need help immediately. Speaker, now is not the time for the

Liberal government to take more money out of people's pockets. It's the time to

put money back in people's pockets.

So I ask

the minister: Will you postpone the sugar tax?

SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Finance and President of Treasury Board.

S. COADY:

Thank you very much, Speaker.

We've

talked about that in this House before. I've heard the Member opposite and I

heard many Members in this House talk about the impacts of diabetes, the impacts

on health of sugar, the concerns that people have.

There is

choice when you choose to drink a beverage. You can drink one that's laden with

sugar or your can drink one without sugar. What we're trying to do with this tax

is to change behaviour so that you choose a soft drink that would not have as

much sugar.

Speaker,

it is very, very concerning the impact of diabetes on the people of the

province. We're working very hard to have a healthier society as quickly as

possible.

Thank

you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

Stephenville - Port au Port.

T. WAKEHAM:

Speaker, I thank the minister

for the answer, but the reality of it is they've actually budgeted $5 million in

additional revenue by hoping people will not choose the unhealthy drinks. So at

this point in time we had simply asked that this tax be postponed.

Speaker,

for as long as it takes, we're going to continue to stand in this House and

speak on behalf of the people of the Newfoundland and Labrador when it comes to

the cost of living.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Oh, oh!

SPEAKER:

Order, please!

I ask

Members not to be talking across the floor; it's hard to hear the speaker.

The hon.

the Member for Stephenville - Port au Port.

T. WAKEHAM:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I want

to quote a resident from my hometown of Kippens. She spends $200 a week on

gasoline just to go to work. She said – quote – the cost of gas and groceries

have backed us into a financial corner.

I ask

the minister the question she asked me: Do I quit my job or do I continue to

spend 30 per cent of my paycheque on fuel just to be able to go to work?

SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Finance and President of Treasury Board.

S. COADY:

First of all to the

preamble,

I will say to the Member opposite we on this side of the House are happy to stay

here as long as it takes to debate the current issues and the issues that are

facing Newfoundland and Labrador.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

S. COADY:

That's what I signed up for

and I'm happy to spend my entire summer here, Speaker, if I need to.

What the

Member opposite just said speaking on behalf of his constituent is a very, very

difficult situation and everyone in this House recognizes how difficult and

stressful and hard this issue is.

I say to

the Member opposite, that's why we have done what we can do at this point in

time and looking at the revenues going forward to see what more we can do, as

I've said publicly and in this House.

The best

I can say at this point is for that member maybe carpooling, is one of the ways

you can start to alleviate some of the stress that's being brought on because of

the cost of fuel.

SPEAKER:

Order, please!

The

minister's time has expired.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for Cape

St. Francis.

J. WALL:

Thank you, Speaker.

Let me

share with you a story from a lady from my district. A local businessperson is

helping to pay her oil bill. She is currently living off of canned food, and she

had to cancel her physio appointments, because she cannot afford to put gasoline

in her vehicle.

How will

the minister help this lady who said to me, please make sure something more is

done to help us?

SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Finance and President of Treasury Board.

S. COADY:

I thank the Member opposite

for the question and for pointing out a situation on behalf of an individual

member. I'm happy to work with him and his constituency assistant to help that

person. I know the Minister for Children, Seniors and Social Development would

be more than happy to help as well.

We have

programs available to assist people in this very circumstance. That's why we've

increased by 10 per cent the Income Supplement; that' why we've increased the

Seniors' Benefit. That's why we've cut fees and cut taxes, Speaker, to try and

put money back in the people's pockets. We recognize that the price of food, the

price of fuel is having a very challenging effect on the people of this

province.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for Cape

St. Francis.

J. WALL:

Thank you, Speaker.

appreciate the response from the minister; I will reach out.

Speaker,

I have another resident in my district who volunteers driving people to cancer

appointments and delivering food hampers to those in need. Unfortunately, due to

the skyrocketing cost of gasoline, he can no longer afford to do so. He's not

able to volunteer.

I ask

the minister: How can our province survive without the work of our dedicated

volunteers?

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Finance and President of Treasury Board.

S. COADY:

First of all, Speaker, I

commend and thank the individual whom the Member is referring to, because

volunteering, giving back to the community, driving people to appointments, and

delivering food hampers is very, very important and hopefully there are

organizations that would be able to assist that volunteer in his delivery or her

delivery of those services. I appreciate that.

One of

the reasons why we were able to find the $142 million is to help people like the

person the Member opposite referred to, to be able to continue to assist, and we

certainly thank them for their volunteer efforts and hope that an agency or some

organization could be able to assist that person to continue in their

deliveries.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

Harbour Main.

H. CONWAY OTTENHEIMER:

Speaker, it's very clear

that the government hasn't done enough. In my district early childhood educators

have to drive to work. One early childhood educator wrote me saying – quote – I

live paycheque to paycheque, and I'm currently having to put my gas payments on

my credit cards.

Does the

minister realize that people are going into debt just to keep their jobs?

SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Finance and President of Treasury Board.

S. COADY:

I thank the Member opposite

for the question, and we certainly are listening. I can tell you that's why

we've made certain investments in early childhood education. That's why we've

lowered the cost of child care. That's why we've made the investments in helping

make sure the electricity rates won't double. All of those are on behalf of the

person to whom the Member opposite referred.

These

are very, very challenging times. We had to put the $142 million that we've

returned to the people on the province's credit card, Speaker. That went on the

province's credit card, on behalf of our children and grandchildren. We're going

to continue to do what we can to help, and hopefully the situation will improve

in the next few months.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

Harbour Main.

H. CONWAY OTTENHEIMER:

Speaker, I truly hope

that the government is listening, and if they are listening, then hopefully

they're going to provide relief now to the people.

I heard

from a small business owner. She wrote – quote – I make at least two to three

trips a week to St. John's for supplies. This gas money comes off my very small

profit margins; add that to the unbelievable rate increases in almost every

product that comes through the doors of my business, and it is nothing short of

catastrophic.

Given

the increasing costs of doing business, should this small business owner have to

close her doors?

SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Finance and President of Treasury Board.

S. COADY:

Thank you, Speaker.

course that's not what this government wants; indeed, this is being faced across

the country and around the world, these very challenging times. We have acted,

we have provided $142 million back in the form of money, back in people's

pockets, and we're looking to see what more we can do to assist the people of

the province.

But I

have spoken, as I spoke this morning, to the Employers' Council on these very

issues of very, very difficult times right now, and we recognize that and that's

why we're trying to provide what we can from the province.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

Harbour Main.

H. CONWAY OTTENHEIMER:

Speaker, access to timely

health care is also a cost-of- living issue. I have a constituent who has been

waiting for hip replacement surgery for three years now. Because he can't work,

his spouse has to work two jobs to support their family. She says – quote – my

husband can't work. I have called to get an update

the surgery list and I end up crying on the phone like I am doing now.

I ask the minister: What does he say to families like

this?

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Minister of Health and Community Services.

HAGGIE:

Thank you very much, Speaker.

Surgical wait times and backlogs have become an issue

since COVID. It is a national issue. We have been in active discussions with the

NLMA and the regional health authorities. We announced, last week, measures to

address the cardiac surgery wait issue with a novel, collaborative arrangement

with the University of Ottawa Heart Institute.

There is more work being done and we have set up a task

force which will look at wait times across the province and mechanisms to

improve surgical wait times and reduce the backlog. So there is work coming and

we will have announcements on this as they roll out.

Thank you, Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Member for Placentia West - Bellevue.

DWYER:

Speaker, I heard from a government employee who said – and I quote – I am not

the one to usually bring my personal concerns forward, but I am a single parent

to a beautiful four-year-old little boy who can't afford to save money to build

a secure life for her and her son, due to all of the cost of living that are

rising.

When will the Liberal government provide some relief

for this single mother?

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Minister of Finance and President of Treasury Board.

COADY:

Thank you, Speaker.

I will say we have provided relief already in the form

of increase in the Income Supplement, increase in the Seniors' Benefit. For

income support, we provided a cheque of up the $400 per family. We have also

reduced fees, reduced the cost of home insurance by removing the tax.

Speaker, all of that has added up to $142 million of

which we are borrowing that money to provide back to the people's pockets and we

will continue to look and see what more we can do because we recognize that the

cost of living is very, very difficult and stressful on the people of the

province.

Thank you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Member for Bonavista.

PARDY:

Thank you, Speaker.

The government closed the then Bonavista Advanced

Education Skills and Labour office, which would be now called the Immigration,

Population Growth and Skills office, in 2019 – the most frequented office in the

province, sending the employees from Bonavista to commute over two hours a day

to Clarenville. This, while available office space exists in Bonavista.

Why are these people expected to spend over $400 a week

in gas to travel when existing space is available in Bonavista?

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Minister of

Immigration, Population Growth and Skills.

G. BYRNE:

Thank you very much, Mr.

Speaker.

One of

the efficiencies that have been created by a new awareness of the capacity to be

able to work remotely, but as well to work to stylize new ways of delivering

services is one of the rarities of the consequences of COVID-19. We'll examine

all impacts of staffing and service delivery.

But one

of the things that I will note is that one of the issues that has been

identified is that many are receiving telephone services, and I would be more

than pleased to work with the hon. Member and all Members of this House as to

how we can create greater efficiencies within our public service, within the

delivery of our public services because in so doing we may be able to use those

efficiencies to provide additional services to our –

SPEAKER:

The minister's time is

expired.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

Ferryland.

L. O'DRISCOLL:

Thank you, Speaker.

constituent in my district said recently: “… the gas prices have escalated to

the point that about 40% of my take home pay is going to have to pay for fuel,

just to get to work. My wife and I now find ourselves having to choose which

bills get paid and which do not.”

Minister: Which bills should this person prioritize, because I don't need to

hear $142 million?

SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Finance and President of Treasury Board.

S. COADY:

I really respect

Newfoundlanders' and Labradorians' resilience and I'm sure the constituent to

which the Member is referring will make informed decisions that best suits their

particular needs.

I can

say that we all recognize the price of fuel, the price of food, the price of

things have escalated and we're working very hard. That's why we put money back

into people's pockets, and that's why we're looking to see what further we can

do.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

Labrador West.

J. BROWN:

Thank you, Speaker.

Speaker,

students walked out of class this week at Menihek High School due to confusion

and poor communication over policies of the NLESD regarding trans students.

Now that

the NLESD will be absorbed by the Department of Education, will the minister

direct his staff to review and update these policies and make sure that they are

applied and understood by all schools in this province?

SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Education.

T. OSBORNE:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The

situation that happened at the school was unfortunate. I do understand that the

NLESD has sent out an advisory to all administrators reminding them of the

policy. I understand as well that situation has been resolved.

It is

important that all students, regardless of their culture, regardless of their

gender or gender identity feel welcome and safe in our schools.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

Labrador West.

J. BROWN:

Thank you, Speaker.

Words

are nice, but meaningful actions are much better.

Will the

minister commit to meeting with all 2SLGBTQQIA+ students and teachers from

across this province to hear first-hand the barriers that they are facing within

the current education system? These individuals deserve better and deserve to be

heard and respected.

SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Education.

T. OSBORNE:

Mr. Speaker, I have met with

a number of individuals and organizations representing the LGBTQ community. I

certainly welcome other meetings with representatives of the community in

various parts of the province.

It is

important that all students, regardless of how they identify, feel safe and

welcome in our schools and we aim to ensure that is the practice. The NLESD has

ensured that administrators are reminded of the policies. We will certainly

continue to endeavour to ensure that our students feel safe and welcome.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

Torngat Mountains.

L. EVANS:

Thank you, Speaker.

I was

surprised and pleased at how ministers in this House took the added press

coverage of the royal visit to talk about reconciliation. They confidently spoke

to reconciliation, yet made no commitment to take an action on the pathways to

truth and reconciliation.

So I ask

the Minister of Finance: What action has this government taken to end economic

marginalization so Indigenous peoples in this province can heat their homes and

have access to nutritional food?

SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister

Responsible for Indigenous Affairs and Reconciliation.

L. DEMPSTER:

Thank you, Speaker, and I

thank the hon. Member for her question.

Yes, we,

too, were pleased to see reconciliation at the forefront yesterday. We were

pleased to host the Indigenous leaders from around the province and were also

very pleased, Speaker, with the relationship, under this current Premier, that

we're building with Indigenous leaders and peoples around this province.

On the

cost of living, there is no doubt that people are feeling it, no matter what

part of the province that you live. That is why in this budget there were a

number of measures put in place. Whether it's housing – we were just up in

Labrador and announced a four-unit, one bedroom, in Happy Valley-Goose Bay. We

have the highest number of poverty reduction initiatives ever in a budget, $286

million. I believe the last time –

SPEAKER:

Order, please!

The

minister's time has expired.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

Humber - Bay of Islands.

E. JOYCE:

Mr. Speaker, cataracts for

seniors are very serious and denies them of their dignity and isolates them.

Premier, you need to get involved. They are your constituents also.

The

Canadian Institute for Health Information stated in their report: Newfoundland

and Labrador are one of the three provinces that cataract surgery wait-list has

increased. Tracy Johnson states: “… because even if you can ramp up to what you

were prepandemic … you still have that backlog ….”

Premier,

please, when will you help the seniors and eliminate these wait-lists for these

seniors out in Western Newfoundland, many who are your constituents?

SPEAKER:

The hon. the Premier.

PREMIER A. FUREY:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Certainly, as the Minister of Health has already articulated, we started a task

force with the NLMA addressing all surgical backlogs, including ophthalmology,

Mr. Speaker. We're working hand in glove with the NLMA so that we can get a

definitive plan moving forward to try to resolve all surgical wait-lists to our

best of our abilities. And certainly ophthalmology and cataracts on the West

Coast and throughout the province will be fully considered and surgeons are

welcome to participate in that.

In fact,

the NLMA sent out an email to all members yesterday, or the day before, asking

for surgeons to be involved so that they can voice their opinion about how to

best direct this task force, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

Humber - Bay of Islands.

E. JOYCE:

Mr. Speaker, I say to the

Premier: Why should they have to wait when they're blind as we speak, can't see,

can't drive and can't read their medication? Why wait?

Mr.

Speaker, in Halifax, the health authority, to help eliminate the cataract

surgery wait-list, they sent 2,300 cases to a private clinic. In St. John's, a

new ophthalmologist starting a new procedure, the allocation of approximately

1,250 citizens is now divided among the two surgeons, 625 each.

Due to

the reduction, the Eastern Health authority gave each ophthalmologist an

additional 300 cases off the wait-list – per person.

I ask

the Premier: If this can be done in Eastern Health without going to the NLMA,

why can't it be done in Western Newfoundland?

You just

stated Premier it has to go to the NLMA. Eastern Health just gave out 600 new

cases to a private clinic. Why can't it be done in Western Newfoundland? They're

your constituents, Premier – they are your constituents.

SPEAKER:

Move on to your question.

E. JOYCE:

They can't wait, Premier.

SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Health and Community Services.

J. HAGGIE:

Thank you very much, Speaker.

The

Premier is referencing the task force and surgical wait-lists in general. I

think it's important to inform the House that in the last year, we, in this

province, have exceed our prepandemic numbers for cataract surgeries. Ninety per

cent or more of cataract procedures in Western Health exceeded the national

benchmark of 112 days.

There is

no cap –

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Oh, oh!

SPEAKER:

Order, please!

J. HAGGIE:

There is no cap on procedures

in RHA facilities. The surgeons are welcome there. If they choose to take those

lists, that is their decision.

Thank

you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

SPEAKER:

The time for Question Period

has expired.

Presenting Reports by Standing and Select Committees.

Tabling

of Documents.

Tabling of

Documents

SPEAKER:

I do have one document to

table.

Wednesday, May 4, 2022, this House of Assembly passed the following resolution:

THAT this House concur with the report of the Commissioner for Legislative

Standards entitled Joyce Report,

April 12, 2022 ;

AND

THAT the Member for Humber - Bay of Islands is directed to submit the required

information to the Commissioner for Legislative Standards within seven clear

sitting days of the adoption of this resolution;

AND

THAT the Speaker is ordered to appoint a mediator to assist the parties to

resolve this matter described in the report;

AND

THAT the mediator appointed by the Speaker shall, within seven clear sitting

days, report to this House;

AND

THAT if the House is not then in session, that report may be tabled as if it

were a report under

section 19.1 of the

House of Assembly Act ;

AND

THAT where the mediator finds that a resolution cannot be achieved due to

unwillingness by the MHA for Humber - Bay of Islands to comply with a reasonable

requirement for the Commissioner for Legislative Standards and, as a result, the

Member's statutory obligations are still outstanding, the Member for Humber -

Bay of Islands shall, as the date of the tabling of the mediator's report, be

suspended from the House of Assembly in accordance with paragraph 45(1)(

c) of

the House of Assembly Act ;

AND

THAT the said suspension be without pay and shall continue until such time that

the Commissioner for Legislative Standards advises the Speaker that the

statutory obligations referred to in the report have been met.

wish to advise the House that I appointed Ms. Gail Hamilton, FCPA, FCA, ICD, to

assist in resolving the issues raised in the

Joyce Report, April 12, 2022 .

Ms.

Hamilton was a commissioner member with the hon. J. Derek Green on the Review

Commission on Constituency Allowances and Related Matters. The commission

produced the Green report, 2007, as well as a draft of the

House of Assembly Accountability,

Integrity and Administration Act .

Ms.

Hamilton also served two terms on the Audit Committee of the House of Assembly.

I note that external members of the Audit Committee are appointed on

recommendations of the chief justice of the province on the basis of

demonstrated knowledge and experience in financial matters and suitability to

represent the public interest.

Ms.

Hamilton has today submitted her report in accordance with the timeline

prescribed in the House of Assembly. I wish to advise all Members of her

findings as articulated in the Executive

Summary, as follows:

“It

was determined the information requested of MHA Joyce was reasonable in terms of

the applicable legislation and authority granted by the Commissioner. MHA Joyce

subsequently provided additional documentation to the Commissioner. After

reviewing the documentation, the Commissioner determined that the information

was in order and a Public Disclosure Statement for MHA Joyce was prepared,

delivered to the Clerk on May 17, 2022 where MHA Joyce reviewed the report and

signed it. As the Commissioner

has confirmed the information

is complete and the Public Disclosure Statement has been provided, the statutory

obligations of MHA Joyce are met and the issues noted are resolved.”

I would

thank Ms. Hamilton for her willingness to complete this work in a very quick

time frame and for her continued dedication to the House of Assembly on matters

for the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Are

there any further tabling of documents?

Notices

of Motion.

Answers

to Questions for which Notice has been Given.

Petitions.

Petitions

SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

Harbour Main.

H. CONWAY OTTENHEIMER:

Thank you, Speaker.

The

background to this petition is as follows.

WHEREAS

individual residents have expressed serious concerns about the economic crisis

our province is facing. The pandemic has had significant adverse impacts on

women in particular, who are getting hit the hardest; and

WHEREAS

women in Newfoundland and Labrador make 76.8 cents for every dollar earned by a

man, pay equity legislation is one way to help close the gender wage gap, and an

important step towards pandemic recovery; and

WHEREAS

in 2018 the House of Assembly unanimously approved a private Member's motion to

implement pay equity legislation. Here, four years later, Newfoundland and

Labrador is the only Atlantic province without such legislation;

THEREFORE we petition the hon. House of Assembly as follows: We, the

undersigned, call upon the House of Assembly to urge the Government of

Newfoundland and Labrador to develop, table and debate pay eq