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May 16,

HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS

Vol. XLVIII No. 19

The

House met at 1:30 p.m.

MR. SPEAKER (Osborne):

Order, please!

Admit

strangers.

recognize in the public gallery today a former member of the Legislature, Mr.

George Murphy.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

I would like to welcome to

the Speaker's gallery today members of the Hutchings family, Ms. Jane Hutchings

and her mother, Lynn Croft. Jane is the daughter of the Member for the District

of Ferryland and is the subject of a Member's statement today.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

I welcome to the public

gallery Ms. Bev Moore-Davis, founder of the Miles for Smiles Foundation. Ms.

Moore-Davis is present for the reading of a Member's statement today as well.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

I understand that the Member

for the District of Windsor Lake has leave of the House to present a private

Member's statement.

Statements by

Members

MR. SPEAKER:

For Members' statements today

we have the Members for the Districts of Harbour Main, Cape St. Francis, Fortune

Bay Cape La Hune, Topsail Paradise, St. George's Humber, Harbour Grace

Port de Grave, as well as the Member for Windsor Lake.

The hon.

the Member for the District of Harbour Main.

MS. PARSLEY:

Mr. Speaker, on April 29,

2017, I had the honour to attend the 31st annual Firefighter's Ball with

Avondale Volunteer Fire Department. The evening was filled with many laughs,

stories, a delicious meal, and of course awards recognizing many of the

volunteers for their contribution to the department and their community.

I'm

pleased to announce this year's winner of Firefighter of the Year was Howard

Costello. Additionally, I was pleased to present long service awards for 30

years to: Joseph Cantwell, Gordon Hawco, Andrew Mason, Owen Mahoney, James

O'Leary, John O'Leary, Harold Power, Wayne Wall.

Mr.

Speaker, as I have stated before, our volunteer fire departments are the

backbones of our communities. They are the ones who answer a call for services

at any time of the day or night. They are the ones running into a burning

building while the rest of us are running out, and they are the ones who lend a

helping hand in our time of need.

I ask

all hon. Members to join me in thanking the Avondale Volunteer Fire Department

for their service to the Conception Bay Centre region.

Thank

you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for the

District of Cape St. Francis.

MR. K. PARSONS:

Thank you very much, Mr.

Speaker.

I rise

today to acknowledge two great events that happened last week in the District of

Cape St. Francis.

Last

week, we celebrated Municipal Awareness Day. It was a great day for

municipalities in my district, especially for the Town of Torbay.

On that

day, the town councils and staff of Torbay, Pouch Cove and Portugal Cove-St.

Philip's, as well as the fire chiefs, firefighters and residents from those

communities all gathered to view their new rescue vehicle. These towns signed a

regional mutual aid agreement to allow their fire departments to assist each

other and this new vehicle will be very helpful in responding to the many

emergency calls for assistance.

On the

same day, the Town of Torbay celebrated the official opening of the new

municipal depot. This is a modern facility with sufficient space for staff,

extra storage and more bays for heavy machinery and equipment. The new depot is

ideally located to access all residents of Torbay.

I know a

lot of work went into these projects and I ask all hon. Members to join me in

congratulating everyone involved on a job well done.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for the

District of Fortune Bay Cape La Hune.

MS. PERRY:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I rise

in this hon. House today to deliver accolades to the Harbour Breton Lions Club

to recognize another fabulous year of service and share some highlights of their

awards, volunteer and 51st annual charter night celebrations.

The 2016

Citizen of the Year went to Georgina Ollerhead, who goes above and beyond to

serve her community. With nearly 25 years of service as a Lion and the

prestigious distinction of the Melvin Jones Fellow and Queen's Diamond Jubilee

recipient, Ms. Ollerhead has continually proven to be an energetic and committed

volunteer.

We also

celebrate Lion of the Year 2015-16, Glen Pierce; Lion Melvin Jones Fellowship

Award, Lloyd Blake; 20-Year Service Awards to Lions Ruben Rose and Jerome

Stoodley, and 10 years to Wanda Martin. As well, a special bouquet to Lion Leo

Martin, charter member of 51 years, who is always there to lend a helping hand

and offer advice. The Lion Eric Lace Award was presented to Jenna Strowbridge,

graduate with the highest academic average and the granddaughter of our beloved

late Lion Bill Strowbridge.

I ask

all Members of his House to join me in recognizing the Harbour Breton Lions Club

for the outstanding contributions they make to their community each and every

year.

Thank

you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

Topsail Paradise.

MR. P. DAVIS:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The

Miles for Smiles Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to the

support, awareness and prevention of child abuse and has become a support for

adult survivors of child abuse in St. John's and surrounding area since 2011.

Mr.

Speaker, on April 30, I was pleased to attend the annual Miles for Smiles walk

at Bowring Park. The foundation has raised much needed awareness through a host

of organized events, most notably in having the month of April proclaimed as

Child Abuse Prevention Month in Newfoundland and Labrador. As well as in cities

in British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Alberta, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia,

Northwest Territories and Nunavut.

Miles

for Smiles has organized annual awareness walks in St. John's for five years and

this has now expanded to Gander, Marystown, Halifax and even, Mr. Speaker, to

the State of Maine, with three additional Newfoundland and Labrador communities

already committed to similar walks in 2018.

Mr.

Speaker, prevention comes in the form of a training program offered to adults,

and also the foundation is in the final stages of developing an educational tool

aimed at prevention of sexual abuse in primary age children.

Mr.

Speaker, I ask all Members of this House to join me in congratulating Bev

Moore-Davis and the Miles for Smiles Foundation for their dedication to bringing

awareness to child abuse.

Thank

you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for St.

George's Humber.

MR. REID:

I rise today to recognize the

30th anniversary this month of the Grand Codroy Estuary receiving its official

designation as a Wetlands of International Importance under the International

Ramsar Convention.

I also

want to inform Members that a celebration of this anniversary will be held on

May 27 at the Wetland Centre in the Codroy Valley.

The

Codroy Valley Estuary is located where the Grand Codroy River flows into the

Atlantic Ocean on the Southwest corner of the Island portion of the province.

The river broadens into an estuary of about three kilometres wide and 12

kilometres long.

This

estuary is an important breeding and staging site for numerous waterfowl species

in this province. In particular, it is significant for Canadian geese and 19

other species of waterfowl. The beach at the mouth of the estuary is also

inhabited by piping plovers, a rare sparrow-sized shore bird that has been

identified as a species at risk.

I ask

all Members to join with me in recognizing the work of the Codroy Valley Area

Development Association, along with other groups, for their efforts in

protecting and promoting the importance of the Grand Codroy Estuary.

Thank

you very much.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

Harbour Grace Port de Grave.

MS. P. PARSONS:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I'm

excited to speak about the annual Songs, Stages and Seafood Festival in Bay

Roberts, an event that celebrates the sea and our culture surrounding it. The

festival is a five-day journey featuring local seafood cuisine, the province's

top chefs and our traditional entertainment.

The

municipality of Bay Roberts, volunteers and residents work together to make this

event a success each year. The festival kicks off with a salmon dinner, hosted

by Donna Fowler at Kelly's Landing on May 24. Then on Thursday evening get

hooked on local at the Shearstown Community Centre, with seafood stations, while

local musician Lloyd Snow will be on stage.

Friday night, it's a Small Plates reception at the Royal Canadian Legion a

series of eight small-plate courses and music by local favourites Connemara. On

Saturday, take in the culinary workshop. It's a hands-on family event at the

Wolverines Search and Rescue building. There will be singing and dancing

Saturday night at the chef's barbecue at the Bay Arena.

The

festival concludes with a fishcake championship and Toutons, Tomcods and Tunes

on the Shoreline Heritage Walking Trail. Please join me in wishing organizers a

safe and successful festival this year.

Mr.

Speaker, I invite you and all hon. Members and our viewers at home to come join

us in Bay Roberts.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

Windsor Lake.

MS. C. BENNETT:

Inspiration can come from our

youth, Mr. Speaker, and Jane Hutchings, a young woman from the District of

Windsor Lake, provides just that inspiration. Jane was recently awarded the D&R

Sobey Atlantic Scholarship, valued at $80,000, to attend the Smith School of

Business at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario.

The

scholarship, established in 1999 by Donald Sobey and his son Robert, both alumni

of Queen's, is awarded annually to a first-year student from Atlantic Canada

enrolled in the four-year commerce program. The scholarship recognizes Jane for

her academic abilities, her creativity, organizational thinking, community and

school activities and leadership qualities.

Jane, a

Level 3 student at St. Bonaventure's College, is an example for her younger

schoolmates. Maintaining a 95 per cent average and full extracurricular

schedule, Jane is the daughter of the Ferryland MHA, Keith Hutchings and Lynn

Croft.

Jane is

president of her student council, leads three choirs, plays in the school band.

She also volunteers with the Jack Hand Legacy Foundation, and shares her musical

talents at MacMorran Community Centre and The Gathering Place.

Colleagues, please join me in congratulating Jane on her accomplishment, and

wish her every success as she begins her studies this fall.

Thank

you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

I have an idea who may

someday be replacing the Member for Ferryland.

Statements by Ministers.

Statements by

Ministers

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Justice and Public Safety.

MR. A. PARSONS:

Mr. Speaker, I would like to

recognize May 14 to 20 as National Police Week and acknowledge the important

work of our Royal Newfoundland Constabulary and Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

Across this province, the dedicated women and men of our police agencies

contribute to the safety and security of our communities. They are to be

applauded for their unwavering dedication to protecting the people of

Newfoundland and Labrador.

Mr.

Speaker, the brave members of our law enforcement services often face difficult

and dangerous situations. On Wednesday, I will pay tribute to the fallen peace

officers who have been killed in the performance of their duties, when I

represent the province at an International Police and Peace Officer Memorial

Service. The multi-denominational ceremony, held at the Seventh Day Adventist

Church in St. John's, will honour officers who died and recognize the sacrifice

peace officers made to keep us safe.

Throughout the year, citizens can also visit the police and peace officer

memorial here on the grounds of Confederation Building.

Mr.

Speaker, I ask all hon. Members to join me in thanking the police and peace

officers across this province for the difficult work they do every day. I

encourage the public to work in partnership with police services by reporting

crimes to assist in creating safe, positive communities in Newfoundland and

Labrador.

Thank

you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Leader of the

Opposition.

MR. P. DAVIS:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I thank

the minister for an advance copy of his statement today. On behalf of the

Official Opposition, we join with the minister, government and the people of the

province in thanking and expressing our gratitude to the women and men of the

Royal Newfoundland Constabulary and also the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

Mr.

Speaker, I know first-hand the work and efforts that many of these officers make

on a daily basis in their roles in serving our communities. I'd also like to

take the opportunity to join in recognizing some of the partner agencies,

wildlife officers, municipal enforcement officers, Canada Border Service

officers, correctional officers, Sheriff's officers, Fisheries officers and all

those who partner with both police services in the protection of the public.

Mr.

Speaker, as well, again I extend our sincere gratitude and thanks. I encourage

members of the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador, if you see a police

officer today, or this week, take a moment to thank them.

Thank

you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. Member for St.

John's Centre.

MS. ROGERS:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I thank

the minister for an advance copy of his statement. How lucky are we to have

these wonderful and generous women and men willing to step up and serve and

protect our communities with the RNC and the RCMP. I thank them for their

dedication, their passion and compassion.

In turn,

it is our responsibility to protect them by introducing legislation on

presumptive PTSD allowing them faster access to benefits, resources and

treatment for job-related PTSD.

Thank

you RNC and RCMP for your excellent service to the people of Newfoundland and

Labrador. Bravo!

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. Minister of

Fisheries and Land Resources.

MR. CROCKER:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr.

Speaker, yesterday I was pleased to attend Seal Day on the Hill events in

Ottawa. Seal Day on the Hill brings together various levels of government and

industry to discuss and promote the true values of the Canadian sealing

industry.

This

event provides a great opportunity to highlight the many benefits our sealing

resources provide such as nutrition and health advantages associated with the

Omega-3 fatty acids found in seal products.

In 2016,

seal fishery landings in Newfoundland and Labrador totalled 66,000 animals,

nearly double 2015 harvest levels. While statistics for this current season have

not been finalized, data collection to date indicates approximately 80,000 seals

have been harvested so far in 2017. This confirms 2017 will see the most seals

harvested in Newfoundland and Labrador since 2013.

Mr.

Speaker, events like Seal Day on the Hill allow us to highlight the importance

of the sealing industry for our coastal communities and the growth opportunities

that exist in that industry. The seal harvest is one of the most sustainable,

humane and best managed harvests of mammals in the world. I would like to

acknowledge the Craft Council of Newfoundland and Labrador and the Fur Institute

of Canada for organizing this year's event and I am pleased to announce my

department provided a $10,000 grant to the Craft Council of Newfoundland and

Labrador to help with this event.

We will

continue to work with the industry and the federal government to ensure this

economically valuable industry remains viable well into the future.

Thank

you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for Cape

St. Francis.

MR. K. PARSONS:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I want

to thank the minister for the advance copy of his statement. I'm pleased to see

that the minister attended Seal Day on the Hill to promote the industry. It

plays a significant role in thousands of families here in Newfoundland and

Labrador.

I would

encourage the provincial government to increase marketing plans for seal

products here in our province and right across Canada. Just recently, a

restaurant in BC placed seal meat on its menu and became a major hit. We know

that seal products such as oil, fur and meat are becoming increasingly popular

and we need to focus on this opportunity.

Increasing numbers are very encouraging and provide future evidence that we need

to support this industry. With the right marketing and promotion, we can

continue to make the seal industry a major success.

Thank

you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for St.

John's East Quidi Vidi.

MS. MICHAEL:

Thank you very much, Mr.

Speaker.

I, too,

thank the minister for the advance copy of his statement. The seal harvest is

historically tied to our diverse cultures and economies from Labrador's north

coast to the east and northeast coasts of the Island. It continues to be a vital

source of income in the small communities.

Thank

you to the Craft Council and the Fur Institute for their work this year

highlighting the sealskin products that we value so much. I invite anybody who's

not yet a member of the Sealers Association, Mr. Speaker, to join.

Thank

you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

Further statements by

ministers?

Oral

Questions.

Oral Questions

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Leader of the

Opposition.

MR. P. DAVIS:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr.

Speaker, here in the House yesterday we asked questions about the insurance

burden on Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. The December 2015 mandate letter to

the then Minister of Service NL calls for a thorough review of the insurance

industry in the province

So I ask

the Premier: When will this review be completed?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Premier.

PREMIER BALL:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I appreciate the Member for the question. This is an important issue,

important enough that it went into the mandate letter of the minister

responsible for SNL. This review will be started this fiscal year, but even in

the current framework that we're working in, I speak on a regular basis with the

current Minister of SNL who has been speaking and in direct contact with this

group, with this taxi industry yesterday.

Mr. Speaker, the constant contact is there. The door is always open. This

review will be done within this fiscal year, Mr. Speaker. As we know, it's the

PUB that sets the rate.

AESL is also engaged looking for training mechanisms that could actually

help with this industry today, and we're ready to work with them on those

aspects as well.

It's interesting to note, though, the former premier, who is also a

former Minister of Service Newfoundland and Labrador, sat on this file while the

previous administration was in government for 10 years and did nothing about it.

This government will do it this fiscal year.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Leader of

the Opposition.

MR. P. DAVIS:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Well, the taxi industry has reached a crossroads as a result of the very

high, recent increases in cost to their operations and this fall they could see

an additional 42 per cent increase in their insurance premiums. Taxi companies

cannot absorb this, and they believe it's not in the best interest of citizens

or their business to try and pass this on to customers. They don't want to do

that.

I ask the Premier: What assurance can you give the taxi industry today

that you will take steps to reduce their operational costs so that those taxi

businesses don't go out of business?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Service NL.

MR. TRIMPER:

Thank you very much, Mr.

Speaker.

One thing I can assure the Member opposite is that we're taking this

matter very seriously.

I reflect back on what the Premier just said in terms of the mandate. The

reason the mandate was there was because there had been an escalating problem,

failed to have been recognized by the previous administration. He recognized it;

put it in the mandate for the department.

As we've indicated, we will, in this fiscal year, be initiating that

review. I look forward to working both with colleagues of the industry,

government and so on, because it will be that collaboration that will get this

job done.

I also look forward to the day, frankly, Mr. Speaker, when I can move

forward with new problems, not those left by the previous administration.

Thank you

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Leader of

the Opposition.

MR. P. DAVIS:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Well, 18 months on the mandate and they haven't began, what he calls, a

very important process yet, and that's after seeing two significant bumps in

costs to taxi operators.

I met with a taxi operator yesterday. I met with several in recent days.

I met with a taxi operator yesterday, and last year before this government put

on sales tax on their premiums and before they saw an increase from the facility

association, he was paying $43,000 a year to insure his fleet. After the Liberal

tax on insurance and the facility increase, he is now paying $117,000 for

insurance $43,000 to $117,000.

Again, I ask the Premier: What are you going to do to ensure that these

operators can continue to operate today?

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Service NL.

MR. TRIMPER:

Mr. Speaker, I'd almost like

to join the Member opposite, because I would also note that in 2012 the fees

doubled that year, they doubled the next year, and so on and thereafter, and

again, no action. Yeah, it's been 18 months; I've been in the job for two

months. I look forward to making progress.

When I

met with the industry yesterday, they indicated it was the first time a minister

had ever sat face to face and had a dialogue with them. We are listening to

them.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER:

Order, please!

MR. TRIMPER:

Mr. Speaker, I enjoy solving

problems. We've got a good one on the go here, but we're going to get it fixed.

I committed to those people that are in the audience watching, as well as out

there across the province, we will get it done. I look forward to that honour.

Thank

you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Leader of the

Opposition.

MR. P. DAVIS:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

It's a

very important matter and I'm glad the minister is taking it seriously, but the

government's been in power now, they're well into their second year, and they

haven't taken any action until this week when the taxi industry has finally

spoken up on this and have talked to government about it. The government should

take further action and should do it today.

I ask

the Premier: Will he ask for an independent review by the Public Utilities Board

to conduct a full review on the insurance costs which are directly impacting not

only taxi drivers, but every Newfoundlander and Labradorian who drives a car.

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Service NL.

MR. TRIMPER:

Mr. Speaker, I just heard in

the

preamble the suggestion there had been no action. Well, I'd like to remind

him and this hon. House, and, indeed, the entire province, insurance is a

complicated topic. It's not just about rates. It's about the atmosphere, the

environment on the roads, making our roads safe, making our drivers safe and so

on.

I would

refer to the action of the previous minister in this role in terms of the new

Procurement Act . I had the honour a

couple of months ago of passing the new Bill 68, the

Highway Traffic Act . They're all matter of measures we're taking

right now to ensure that our roads become safer, that those that are abiding by

the laws and so on are doing so in a manner that's very safe for our roads.

In fact,

later this week I have staff meeting with representatives of the taxi industry

to talk about a new level of professionalism, training and so on. So, Mr.

Speaker, I am very pleased to say, there is a lot happening right now.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Leader of the

Opposition.

MR. P. DAVIS:

I'm glad to hear that, Mr.

Speaker, but unless I didn't hear the minister correctly, his commentary was

they're going to start it this fiscal year, and the Premier said this fiscal

year as well. The industry is suffering today, and that's why I encourage the

government to get on with it.

Mr.

Speaker, in Estimates, the Minister of Finance stated they're not reviewing the

tax system, but they're waiting for the federal review to be conducted.

I ask

the Premier: Will you order an immediate review of the provincial tax system?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Finance and President of Treasury Board.

MS. C. BENNETT:

Mr. Speaker, what I said in

Estimates was the same thing we've been saying since last year's budget: Our

plan is to do a tax review that would include personal and corporate tax. As a

result, we will implement that tax review this fiscal year.

What I

said in Estimates was that the federal government had undertaken a tax review

last year. They've since broken it up into two pieces and we want to make sure

that as we learn how the federal government is adjusting their tax policy that

we integrate that to make sure there are no unintended consequences in the tax

changes we put forward in our province, Mr. Speaker.

Thank

you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Leader of the

Opposition.

MR. P. DAVIS:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

We know

it's going to take some time before the insurance review is done. We now know

it's going to take some time before the tax review is done. A review of the

insurance industry is desperately needed, not only for the taxi industry but for

all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.

I ask

the Premier: Will he commit to freezing all insurance rates until a full review

is completed?

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Service NL.

MR. TRIMPER:

Mr. Speaker, that particular

question was posed in the meeting that I had yesterday with the taxi industry.

It's also one that we've been evaluating.

promised those representing the taxi industry we would deliver a message next

Tuesday. I intend to do that in response to that question.

Thank

you very much.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Opposition House

Leader.

MR. HUTCHINGS:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr.

Speaker, yesterday the minister tabled a cost to date of the EY report which was

close or in excess of $2 million. Last week, the minister said that the

Oversight Committee was looking with EY on the finalization of that report.

Now that

we know the cost of the report and it's continued to increase, I ask the

minister: A draft has been submitted to the Oversight Committee, will the

minister table that draft?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Natural Resources.

MS. COADY:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I'm

going to remind the people of this province, the Muskrat Falls Project was

conceptualized, it was approved and it was developed under the PC

administration. It was very important when this government came into its own to

ensure that EY was engaged to review that entire project.

It was a

good thing we did, Mr. Speaker, because we found out that the $7 billion that

they said the project was going to cost in 2015, in September just before the

election, was indeed not correct. It was actually over $9 billion.

The EY

report, the finalization of the EY report, is being handled by the Oversight

Committee, Mr. Speaker, and when it is available, we'll certainly make it

public.

Thank

you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Opposition House

Leader.

MR. HUTCHINGS:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr.

Speaker, the minister also said she engaged with EY in January to finalize the

report. It's now May, four months later.

Minister, how long do you intend for the finalization of the report to actually

take place? Is it months more? What's the timeline?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Natural Resources.

MS. COADY:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I'm obviously anxious; that's why I stood up more quickly.

Mr. Speaker, an important question, an important response. I will say

what I did say was that once we were finished fixing the problem that they

created with the Astaldi contract in December, I did meet with EY to start the

process with the Oversight Committee to re-engage with EY to finalize the

report.

Once that report is finalized, Mr. Speaker, we will make it public. It's

an important document for this province. It laid out recommendations to improve

upon the situation. They failed, Mr. Speaker, in their decision making around

Muskrat Falls. They failed to manage it. This government will make sure it is

cleaned up, on track and to the benefit of the Province of Newfoundland and

Labrador.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Opposition House Leader.

MR. HUTCHINGS:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I'm sure the minister is aware that EY was involved with the

original Oversight Committee that was put in place in 2014, already did a review

and made recommendations. At the time when they announced this money for another

review, we asked what the purpose of it was. Eighteen months after, there's no

sign of the report. It's exceeded $2 million.

Minister, tell us, if this report is so important and the recommendations

are so significant, why haven't you released it?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of Natural Resources.

MS. COADY:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The report that they engaged was on process; it wasn't on getting to the

root problems around Muskrat Falls and around Muskrat Falls' management. The EY

report that was released in April of last year had some excellent

recommendations to ensure we put this project on track. Those recommendations

are being implemented, Mr. Speaker.

We have now engaged a world-class CEO. We have a stellar board of

directors that has been expanded. We have settled the problem that they left

from June of 2015 on Astaldi. We have an expanded and extended loan guarantee by

the federal government.

Mr. Speaker, things are on track now and we will continue to ensure

effective management, unlike the former administration.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for Conception Bay East Bell Island .

MR. BRAZIL:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Can the minister confirm that the Libraries Board met with the consultant

today to finalize the library review? Will you commit to tabling the review

prior to the House closing?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development.

MR. KIRBY:

Mr. Speaker, I'm pleased to stand in my place again and answer this question

that the Member asks day after day after day. The response to the second part of

his question is the same as it was the last time he asked it. I understand that

the provincial libraries board is meeting. I didn't get a copy of the agenda. I

didn't ask for a copy of their agenda. They're an independent, appointed body;

do their work independent of me.

As I have said over and over and over again to the Member opposite when I

get the report, he will get the report. That will be when it is released by the

Libraries Board.

Thank you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

Conception Bay East Bell

Island.

MR. BRAZIL:

Just so we're clear, the

minister commissioned it. The minister's department paid for it. The minister's

staff in the department participated and helped organize it and the report is

ready to be released. Yet, the minister won't commit to bringing the report to

the House of Assembly.

When can

we have it? The libraries in this province and the communities they serve need

to know what the viability for them is in the future. Will you table the report

in the House of Assembly before it closes in the next couple of weeks, Mr.

Speaker?

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Education and Early Childhood Development.

MR. KIRBY:

Mr. Speaker, I ask other

Members of the House to indulge me because this Member has a very short memory,

unfortunately.

Last

year, as a result of public reaction to the decision to regionalize public

library service in this province, the department agreed with the provincial

libraries board a recommendation that they had made prior to the Government

Renewal Initiative that we would engage a consultant through a process that

was guided by the provincial libraries board and a steering committee that had

membership from the department but was made up of a majority of the members of

the provincial libraries board that there would be a consultant engaged to do a

review, extensive consultations and produce a report.

As I've

said many times when that report is released, the Member will see it and I will

see it.

Thank

you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for Mount

Pearl North.

MR. KENT:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Liberal

budgets 2016 and 2017 continue to take a huge toll on the people of this

province. Bankruptcies are up over 30 per cent in Newfoundland and Labrador.

I ask

the Premier: What specifically has government done to help families facing this

situation?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Premier.

PREMIER BALL:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Well, I

think the former leadership candidate and now probably potential leadership

candidate is re-launching his campaign again. Mr. Speaker, with or without I

don't know if the coalition is in place or not over there, but we'll find that

out, I'm sure, in a few days.

Mr.

Speaker, when you talk about the financial situation of our province, the gall

of the PC Opposition to talk about the financial mess that they left the people

of this province in. We are left to clean it up, Mr. Speaker. A year ago, their

plan for sustainability in our province that they still say was a plan for the

future of our province is a complete failure.

People

in this province are left with doubling electricity rates, skyrocketing debt,

per capita debt reaching unprecedented levels. We are cleaning it up, and we

will look after the people of Newfoundland and Labrador.

MR. SPEAKER:

Order, please!

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for Mount

Pearl North.

MR. KENT:

Mr. Speaker, the challenges

facing families in this province are not a laughing matter.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. KENT:

If you want to talk about

leadership concerns, the people of this province have far more concerns about

the leadership of government than they do about the leadership of our party.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. KENT:

There has been a staggering

150 per cent increase in insolvency proposals to avoid bankruptcy. These folks

are just barely able to keep their heads above water and, likely, headed for

bankruptcy unless things change.

What

advice, Premier, do you have for these young families who think leaving this

province is now their only option?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Premier.

PREMIER BALL:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

listen to people in Newfoundland and Labrador all the time. There are a number

of measures that we've put in place. Number one, we had to save the future of

this province; even getting this province to the point where we could actually

put in a borrowing plan something they could not do for the future of our

province.

There

are a number of issues that we have faced. We've had thousands of people that

were impacted, even with the Alberta economy, Mr. Speaker. They put in three

megaprojects that were started, not even phasing them in; they did not plan for

the future. In a year and a half, Mr. Speaker, we have made significant process

in securing the future of our province.

So that

crowd over there should not be firing questions over here, blaming us for the

mess that they put the people of this province in. Shame on them for even going

there, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for Mount

Pearl North.

MR. KENT:

Mr. Speaker, the people of

the province aren't buying it. A year and a half, two budgets and his government

have done nothing to strengthen the economic conditions in Newfoundland and

Labrador.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. KENT:

Can the Minister of Tourism,

Culture, Industry and Innovation confirm that over half of all accommodations in

the Western Region have had their Canada Select star ratings downgraded in the

province's traveller's guidebook as a result of a departmental error?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation.

MR. MITCHELMORE:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Last

week, on Thursday, a media report was put forward about the star ratings for the

Western Region. And yes, I can confirm that there was a technical printing error

that happened where 50 per cent of operators were impacted by a half star

rating.

Since

then, our department has taken very proactive measures by contacting all the

operators in the Western Region that were impacted. The website does have the

correct information. The online version of the guide as well is correct; 16,000

people last year downloaded that online and over 1 million people view our

business listings online, and 2.2 million people go online.

The call

centre, the Visitor Information Centres and all of these mechanisms with our

stakeholders will relay the correct information.

Thank

you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for Mount

Pearl North.

MR. KENT:

I would respectfully suggest

to the minister that contacting operators is not going to solve this problem.

The error means that many hotels, motels and B & Bs will be overlooked by

tourists who search for a certain quality of accommodation, this will very

likely result in a loss of business.

How is

the minister addressing this real concern, and are you considering any form of

compensation?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Premier.

PREMIER BALL:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Well,

I'll tell you what this government has done to address this, and unlike the

Member opposite, I spent Saturday in Gros Morne National Park talking to

operators in that area.

There

was no concern, Mr. Speaker. They understood what happened here. It was an error

by people who put this work together, put this piece of information together.

I will

tell you, if he's worried about the tourism industry for this upcoming summer, I

will tell him to get around Newfoundland and Labrador, get off your leadership

campaign, put your feet on the ground where it really matters and talk to this

group.

All

indications are the tourism industry will see significant increases this year.

Mr. Speaker, we are making investments in this industry; the marketing campaign,

an extra 9 per cent in the culture and arts community.

We are

taking this seriously, Mr. Speaker. We will never take this industry for

granted.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

Order, please!

I'm

hearing considerable noise from both sides of the Legislature.

recognize the hon. the Member for Mount Pearl North.

MR. KENT:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

They may

not be telling the Premier about their concerns or he may not be listening, but

they're certainly telling us.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. KENT:

In light of the profound

impact that this will have on business owners, what specific actions will

government take to address these legitimate concerns of small business owners?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation.

MR. MITCHELMORE:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

As I

said, upon learning about this error, we contacted every person directly. We

also asked them how their bookings were doing and people talked about how upbeat

they were for the tourism season, that their numbers are up. I've talked to some

people who have 80 per cent of their bookings, all the way to the end of

September, when it comes to the West Coast of this province.

So I

would say to the Member opposite, that he should as well talk to the operators.

This is going to be a great year for tourism. Last year, we had consecutive

year-over-year traffic for non-resident traffic at Marine Atlantic; the first

time in 20 years.

We made

sure that our visitor information centres will have the correct information;

130,000 people pass through there. Our stakeholders provided updated

information, our call centre and online, all the information is correct with

more than 1 million views

MR. SPEAKER:

Order, please!

The hon.

the Member for Mount Pearl North.

MR. KENT:

Thank you, Minister. It's

good to see some of our investments are paying off.

Issues

at Mistaken Point on his watch, the Liberal tax on icebergs on his watch and now

problems with major tourism publications on his watch.

Is it

purely coincidental that the same year that the government slashes positions in

tourism, including the positions of tourism program manager and director of

strategic tourism product development, to list just two, that we begin to see

significant gaps that are impacting the future of our tourism sector?

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation.

MR. MITCHELMORE:

Mr. Speaker, I have every

confidence in my staff in tourism and the product that they deliver and work

with the stakeholders for the people of the province. This was an error that

happened. It is unfortunate, but we have taken proactive measures when it comes

to reaching out to all the operators on the West Coast, the campgrounds and the

accommodators that were impacted.

When it

comes to the publication, we have only printed 100,000 booklets. They have been

distributed throughout the province, but the majority of people now are going

online, people are using TripAdvisor. The star grading for Canada Select is not

the primary motivator for people when they're making bookings to accommodations.

You can ask anybody in tourism product development or in the industry, Mr.

Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

Fortune Bay Cape La Hune.

MS. PERRY:

Minister, it has been almost

two years since you took office. The ratios for social workers in Labrador still

have not improved.

I ask

the minister: What have you done to strengthen recruitment, retention and

services available in Labrador?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Children, Seniors and Social Development.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MS. GAMBIN-WALSH:

Mr. Speaker, it's been 17

months, not two years.

We work

very closely with the Innu round circle and the working relationship that we

have with the Aboriginal population in Labrador, Mr. Speaker. We are working to

address the needs. Our ratio is 1-20.

We have

put in place a number of services and supports to recruit staff to Labrador. It

is very difficult to recruit staff, Mr. Speaker, but we are working to do it and

we identify the issues, we work with the Aboriginal populations. We deal with

each issue individually, and it is a very complex situation, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

Fortune Bay Cape La Hune.

MS. PERRY:

We've heard more sad stories

from Natuashish regarding solvent abuse.

Can the

minister confirm that additional resources have been deployed to Labrador to

help with this situation?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Children, Seniors and Social Development.

MS. GAMBIN-WALSH:

Mr. Speaker, as the Member

knows, I cannot speak about individual cases; however, Mr. Speaker, there are

numerous resources in Natuashish. We have a healing lodge there. We have

individual counselling services. There are men and women's treatment programs.

Mr.

Speaker, there are a lot of services and supports on the ground in the community

and we are working directly with the social workers and with the Aboriginal

leaders to try to help resolve this problem.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

Fortune Bay Cape La Hune.

MS. PERRY:

That sounds to me like there

are no additional resources. Having addictions counsellors and mental health

professionals on the ground right now is essential for the immediate situation.

Can the

minister tell us if she has a long-term plan to support the children and youth

in Aboriginal communities? We're interested to know what you're going to do for

them today and what your plan is for the long term to address this most serious

situation.

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Children, Seniors and Social Development.

MS. GAMBIN-WALSH:

Mr. Speaker, I'm not sure if

there's enough time for me to read off all the resources and supports and

services that are in the community. I just listed a few. There are others such

as the Head Start program and the daycare specialist.

The CYCP

Act is being reviewed, Mr. Speaker. We just did extensive consultations. We will

bring that act to the House of Assembly in the fall, and I can assure the Member

opposite that we are addressing their concerns.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for St.

John's East Quidi Vidi.

MS. MICHAEL:

Thank you very much, Mr.

Speaker.

The

medical audit of IOC workers' X-rays has found 35 suspected cases of silicosis

and 86 lung abnormalities possibly related to silica dust. Government has the

medical audit but hasn't released it. We are told that workers have concerns

about serious inaccuracies in the results.

I ask

the Minister of Service NL: When will the medical audit be released?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Service NL.

MR. TRIMPER:

Mr. Speaker, thank you very

much for the question. It's a very important issue, a very important topic.

I'm

working very closely with the MHA for Labrador West. We received the report, I

believe, on February 17. We are concluding our review of the report's

recommendations and results, and I expect that very soon I will find myself

along with a consultant in the community to speak to the findings of this

report.

Thank

you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for St.

John's East Quidi Vidi.

MS. MICHAEL:

Mr. Speaker, we have reliable

information that silica dust levels are going up again on the mine site due to

problems with dust collectors, a blocked fresh air duct and dust blowing into

buildings.

I ask

the minister: What is government going to do to ensure that the IOC workplace is

free of silica dust exposure?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Service NL.

MR. TRIMPER:

Mr. Speaker, as I've

mentioned several times, and as my predecessor for this department has also

mentioned in this government, if there are reports of unsafe work conditions and

so on there are a variety of mechanisms and avenues that both the workers, those

who observe the infractions and dangerous situations, can avail of. I would

invite the Member opposite to give me further details. She can contact our

office.

We have

regularly staff associated with Service NL, particularly in our Occupational

Health and Safety Division who are making regular inspections. That work will

continue. Worker safety is our priority.

Thank

you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. Member for St.

John's Centre.

MS. ROGERS:

Mr. Speaker, the request from

the taxi industry to freeze their insurance premiums is understandable in light

of the exorbitant increases they are facing, including the application of HST to

their insurance premiums. These increases may, in fact, drive many of them out

of business.

I ask

the Premier: What will he do to ensure the mandatory 10-year insurance review is

done in a transparent manner, giving full opportunity for input to affected

industries such as the taxi industry?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Service NL.

MR. TRIMPER:

Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned I

think a few questions ago, the question about freezing their rates and so on is

one that was posed by the representatives of the taxi industry just yesterday.

It's one that we've been looking at and, as promised, I feel it's most

appropriate that we'll respond back those representatives. They're the ones that

are feeling, frankly, most of the problem that was left to fester for the last

several years.

In terms

of the review itself, I can assure the Member opposite that it will be done in a

very transparent, very public way. It needs to be very all-encompassing; it

needs to involve all stakeholders around the insurance industry. I look forward

to undertaking that mandated obligation.

Thank

you very much.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for St.

John's Centre.

MS. ROGERS:

Mr. Speaker, I ask the

Premier: In light of the financial pressure caused by these skyrocketing

insurance premiums and the application of the HST to insurance premiums, what

consideration has his government given to a cap on soft-tissue injuries and the

implementation of a no-fault insurance regime?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Service NL.

MR. TRIMPER:

Thank you very much, Mr.

Speaker.

Thank

you for the question. As I've indicated in several of my responses, the issue is

extremely complicated. The aspects that the Member just posed in her question,

frankly, are included within the scope of many of the issues that I'm discussing

with the representatives of the taxi industry.

That

collaboration has frankly been moving along very well. Yesterday's meeting was

yet just another example of how government working with industry, with those

affected, can achieve a very productive result. I can assure everyone in this

House that we will do this in a very transparent way and that we will be

listening and we will be acting.

Thank

you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for St.

John's Centre for a quick question, no

preamble.

MS. ROGERS:

Mr. Speaker, I ask the

Premier: Will his government require fish plants to provide measures to prevent

occupational shellfish asthma, including adequate ventilation and masks, as a

condition of licensing?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Fisheries and Land Resources.

MR. CROCKER:

Thank you very much, Mr.

Speaker.

I thank

the hon. Member for the question. Mr. Speaker, back last summer I had the

opportunity to meet with the FFAW and their industrial council, and I do know

that the department led by the Minister of Service NL is looking at how we get

the industrial council in place. But again, this is something that dates back

many, many years and it's an active file within the department.

Thank

you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The time for Question Period

has expired.

Presenting Reports by Standing and Select Committees.

Tabling

of Documents.

Notices

of Motion.

Notices of Motion

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Finance and President of Treasury Board.

MS. C. BENNETT:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr.

Speaker, I give notice that I will move that the House resolve itself into a

Committee of the Whole to consider a resolution relating to the advancing and

guaranteeing of certain loans made under the

Loan and Guarantee Act, 1957 , Bill 12.

MR. SPEAKER:

Further notices of motion?

Answers

to Questions for which Notice has been Given.

Petitions.

Petitions

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for St.

John's Centre.

MS. ROGERS:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

To the

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

Parliament assembled, the petition of the undersigned residents humbly sheweth:

WHEREAS

government plans to remove the provincial point-of-sale tax rebate on books,

which will raise taxes on books from 5 per cent to 15 per cent; and

WHEREAS

an increase in the tax on books will reduce book sales to the detriment of local

bookstores, publishers and authors, and the amount collected by government must

be weighed against the loss in economic activity caused by higher book prices;

and

WHEREAS

Newfoundland and Labrador has one of the lowest literacy rates in Canada and the

other provinces do not tax books because they recognize the need to encourage

reading and literacy; and

WHEREAS

this province has many nationally and internationally known storytellers, but we

will be the only people in Canada who will have to pay our provincial government

a tax to read the books of our own writers;

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

of Assembly to urge government not to impose a provincial sales tax on books.

And as

in duty bound, your petitioners will ever pray.

Mr.

Speaker, here I am yet again, another day, another petition on the taxes on

books. We have, I'm sure, thousands of signatures from all over the province.

Earlier in the House during Question Period, the Minister of Finance was talking

about another tax or another fee, and talking about she didn't want to not know

about the unintended consequences of a certain tax.

Well,

Mr. Speaker, who has thought on government side about the unintended

consequences of placing an ill-thought-out tax on books, with the lowest

literacy rate, the highest illiteracy rate, taxing books? Has the Minister of

Finance really stopped and looked at the unintended consequences of an extra tax

on books? The only province in the country with this tax on books.

Well,

let me talk a little bit about some of the unintended consequences. This I

believe, Mr. Speaker, is not only an ill-informed tax on books; it's a reckless

tax on books because the unintended consequences are it will reduce book sales

to the detriment of local bookstores, publishers and authors.

How hard

it is in this current business model, industry model for independent booksellers

to survive, and how much more difficult is it for independent booksellers in

this particular provincial economic reality. So there's an unintended,

detrimental consequence of her ill-thought-out tax on books.

Local

bookstores are affected, publishers and it is such a precarious industry,

publishing, from such a small province; and our authors, we know that the

majority of people in the arts community live below a standard poverty line. Mr.

Speaker, that's a specific unintended consequence of her ill-thought-out,

ham-fisted tax on books.

What

else? We can see the loss in economic activity caused by higher book prices;

people will have to think twice. We know that a book that costs $20, with this

tax, is $23. Some people can buy it online and not pay that extra $3.

Mr.

Speaker, the unintended consequences are reckless consequences caused by the

Minister of Finance who did this ill-thought-out tax.

Thank

you very much, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for St.

John's East Quidi Vidi.

MS. MICHAEL:

Thank you very much, Mr.

Speaker.

To the

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

Parliament assembled, the petition of the undersigned resident humbly sheweth:

WHEREAS

we insist that the well-being and safety of our families take priority over any

economic consideration; and

WHEREAS

we reject in advance any Nalcor-led plan to send its experts to Labrador to

inform; and

WHEREAS

we are calling for a process where independent experts are provided with

everything they need to ascertain the safety of the North Spur: i.e., the proper

mandate, documents, financing and time; and

WHEREAS

we demand this process have a public component where we, the people, can have

access and can ask questions; and

WHEREAS

the Premier promised to open the books on Muskrat Falls and, so far, that has

not happened;

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

of Assembly to urge government to consider the establishment of an independent

expert review of the North Spur.

And as

in duty bound, your petitioners will ever pray.

Once

again, Mr. Speaker, I stand and speak to this very serious issue that is

concerning people in Labrador and also concerning people on the Island of

Newfoundland. People throughout the province are concerned that government

continues to ignore the call for review of the North Spur. They don't seem to be

taking it seriously. They seem to think that people who are signing petitions,

maybe they think they don't know what they're talking about.

The

issue is, Mr. Speaker, that there are people around the world, experts, who have

questions about the North Spur. The individuals who have signed these petitions

are only a sign of the questions that are being asked. I think it's very

important to note that people who have continued this call for a study of the

North Spur involves not just individuals but also municipalities in Labrador.

March, Mr. Speaker, the Town of Northwest River sent a letter asking that a

study be done. The Town of Northwest River is quite concerned by what would

happen if the North Spur fails, and they have asked that an independent review

be done.

January, a letter was sent by the Town of Happy Valley-Goose Bay, again,

supporting the call for the independent review. Asking that government pay

attention to the concerns that experts are expressing and asking for a workshop,

everybody get together to really talk about the North Spur.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER:

Order, please!

MS. MICHAEL:

As well, Mr. Speaker, another

municipality no, the Government of Nunatsiavut also has written saying that

they too believe there needs to be a review of the North Spur by an independent

expert panel.

Thank

you very much, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Government House

Leader.

MR. A. PARSONS:

Orders of the Day.

MR. SPEAKER:

Orders of the Day.

Orders of the Day

MR. A. PARSONS:

Yes, Mr. Speaker.

I would

move Motion 4, that pursuant to provisional Standing Order 11(1) that the House

not adjourn at 5:30 p.m. today, Tuesday, May 16, 2017.

MR. SPEAKER:

The motion is that the House

not adjourn at 5:30 today.

All

those in favour, 'aye.'

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Aye.

MR. SPEAKER:

All those against, 'nay.'

Carried.

MR. A. PARSONS:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I move,

seconded by the Minister of Finance and President of Treasury Board, that the

House resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole on Supply to consider the

following heads of expenditure: one, Contingency Reserve; two, the following

activities of the Executive Council, Lieutenant-Governor's Establishment, the

Premier's Office, Cabinet Secretariat, Communications and Public Engagement,

Intergovernmental and Indigenous Affairs and the Office of Labrador Affairs; and

three, the Legislature.

Further,

Mr. Speaker, I would move, with the agreement of all parties, that for the

purpose of debate in Committee of the Whole on Supply we forgo the traditional

process of debate in this House and, instead, revert to the process that we use

in the Estimates Committee.

MR. SPEAKER:

The motion is that the House

resolve itself into a Committee of Supply.

All

those in favour, 'aye.'

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Aye.

MR. SPEAKER:

All those against, 'nay.'

Carried.

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

left the Chair.

Committee of the

Whole

CHAIR (Dempster):

Order, please!

believe we're starting in Executive Council.

I'll ask

the Clerk to call the

CLERK (Barnes):

(Inaudible.)

CHAIR:

We are now considering the

Contingency Reserve, the following activities of the Executive Council: The

Lieutenant Governor's Establishment, 1.1.01; Office of the Executive Council,

2.1.01 through 2.4.01 inclusive, and 2.6.01 through 2.7.02 inclusive and the

Legislature.

We're

starting with Executive Council.

CLERK:

1.1.01 through 2.4.01

inclusive.

CHAIR:

Shall 1.1.01 to 2.4.01

inclusive carry?

The hon.

the Member for Mount Pearl North.

MR. KENT:

Thank you, Madam Chair.

We're

switching up the format here a little bit today and breaking from some of the

normal House procedures, which is why we're sitting down. We're conducting this

session as if we were in an Estimates session, which we've done for all

government departments but today we have an opportunity to ask government

questions about Executive Council Estimates. So with the co-operation of

everybody in the House, we're going to conduct the session in that manner which

is why we're in our seats and it's going to appear far more casual and perhaps

even more pleasant than normal debate in this House.

With the

agreement of the minister, we're going to go in order here. A number of my

colleagues have questions. Members from the Third Party and the independent

Member have questions as well. We'll try and go in order so that we can get

through this in an efficient manner.

The

first subhead that's been called relates to the Lieutenant Governor's

Establishment and Government House specifically. I have a number of questions

for the minister, or whoever may be able to answer these questions on the

government side, mostly just points of information related to the operations of

Government House.

My first

question is: How much of this budget goes towards royal visits and other

diplomatic visits each year, or would that be contained elsewhere in the budget?

MS. C. BENNETT:

Thank you, Madam Chair.

If the

Member has a number of questions (inaudible) to give a number of the questions,

if that's okay.

MR. KENT:

I'm happy to do it that way.

The

minister just asked if I would because I don't think it was picked up, for the

purpose of Hansard ask multiple questions and then go back to her and we'll go

back and forth that way. I see her microphone is on now, so

MS. MICHAEL:

(Inaudible) because I just

came in, I'm sorry.

MR. KENT:

We're just saying that the

minister has asked that I ask multiple questions on each subhead, give her a

chance to then respond to multiple questions.

MS. MICHAEL:

Can I ask another question

then related to that?

CHAIR:

The Chair recognizes the

Member for St. John's East Quidi Vidi.

MS. MICHAEL:

Does the minister then want

me to come in with any questions on that subhead at that time? Because it could

be that all the questions are asked, I won't be adding anything. Since she wants

to deal with all of it at the same time, does she also want my questions at the

same time after Steve does his?

MS. C. BENNETT:

I'll leave that to the

Members of the Opposition. If they're okay with that process, once we do

MS. MICHAEL:

If you ask yours then if I

have any do it then, rather than waiting until you do other subheads.

MR. KENT:

Yeah, absolutely. We'll do

each subhead like we do in Estimates. That's fine by us, Madam Chair.

I'll

continue with a number of questions related to Government House and then ask the

minister to respond. Other Members may have additional questions and then we'll

go from there.

AN HON. MEMBER:

You should get in that chair.

MR. KENT:

I used to.

CHAIR:

Okay, so I understand

following a similar pattern to Estimates, we'll try and follow the clock as much

as we can, but periodically the Third Party may come in with a question while

you're on that topic.

MR. KENT:

Yeah.

CHAIR:

And we'll try and be fair

with the time.

MR. KENT:

Yeah, no problem.

CHAIR:

Okay.

The

Member for Mount Pearl North.

MR. KENT:

Thank you.

The

first question was how much of this budget goes towards royal visits and other

diplomatic visits each year, or is that contained somewhere else in the budget?

I should say to the minister, sometimes there will be follow-up questions

depending on her response, but I'll ask as many as I can upfront and then await

a response.

I was

also curious, what kind of support does this office provide for diplomatic and

royal visits, a related question, in terms of Government House. We know this

year the residence manager position was eliminated at Government House. We're

wondering why that is, what did the position responsibilities look like and who

is now doing those responsibilities that were previously carried out by the

residence manager at Government House?

My next

question which is related to that, another position change was the director of

protocol position within the Protocol Office. There was a protocol officer

position and a director position that were eliminated. We understand there's

been some kind of consolidation with a role at Government House. Again, we'd

like to understand what the duties of those positions were and who's now doing

them as a result of these changes?

Also, in

the information the minister tabled in the House, the position of manager of

protocol and general operations was added, which I believe is those positions I

just mentioned being consolidated into that new position, but I'd ask for the

minister to clarify that. Related to that, did you replace a director with a

manager as part of government's effort to reduce costs of management?

I'll

leave it there for now and would appreciate a response to any hopefully, all

of those questions.

CHAIR:

The hon. the Member for St.

John's East Quidi Vidi.

MS. MICHAEL:

I will just add one question

to those, Minister, because I had some of those questions as well. The only one

I would ask is the Purchased Services under the subhead for Government House:

What does that involve and what is the implication of its dropping $12,700 this

year from what it was estimates and revised at last year? That's it.

MS. C. BENNETT:

I thank the Members opposite

for their questions.

As the

Members of the House would appreciate, the Lieutenant Governor's Establishment

is responsible for the administration of services for the Lieutenant Governor

and maintaining Government House and its grounds, some 24 acres, along with the

grounds of three other government properties, including the Unified Family

Court, the National War Memorial and Commissariat House.

The

Establishment provides food and domestic services for functions at Government

House, as well as for the Lieutenant Governor and family and residents. Their

Honours attend and host or participate in approximately 300 events per year

incredibly busy people the Lieutenant Governor and Her Honour on behalf of the

people of Newfoundland and Labrador, Madam Chair. Approximately 100 of those

events are hosted at Government House.

The

Protocol Office, which also is referenced as part of this budget, is responsible

for providing guidance and has a role in the installation of the Lieutenant

Governor, Cabinet and parliamentary secretary swearing in, state funerals,

opening of buildings or ribbon cuttings, preparing for diplomatic visits and

trade missions through liaisons with appropriate Government of Newfoundland and

Labrador offices, including the Premier's Office and the Office of the

Lieutenant Governor, and possibly arm's-length Government NL entities such as

Memorial University, the College of the North Atlantic and other Newfoundland

agencies, boards and Crown corporations and Newfoundland businesses.

They are

responsible also for maintaining a list of the concert corps, the Canadian

Protocol Office contacts and other common contacts in Newfoundland, and

providing advice on issues in precedence, for example, seating plans and order

of remarks, and responsibilities respecting the administration of the provincial

honour and awards program, the Order of Newfoundland and Labrador, the

Newfoundland and Labrador Award of Bravery, and the Newfoundland and Labrador

Volunteer War Service Medal and the Public Service Award of Excellence.

On April

2017, the offices of Government House and Protocol were combined such that the

functions of the Protocol Office and the provincial honours and awards program

are now housed in Government House, and this resulted in the elimination of two

positions, as the Member opposite had referenced, and the creation of one,

resulting in a salary savings. This has also created efficiencies in business

processes for both offices, which will result in further budgetary savings, and

we anticipate further efficiencies and budgetary savings will be realized going

forward.

With

reference to the question about how much of the budget that is in the budget

this year is related specifically to royal visits, I don't have that information

for the Member opposite. What I can say is that the royal visit for 2016, as

based on the information that I have, total costs in '16-'17 were just under

$50,000. I don't have any information with regard to royal visit anticipated

costs for this fiscal year.

One of

the Members opposite also asked a question with regard to Purchased Services and

wondering about the reduction there of just over $12,000. That is a result of

and reflects the decreases from budget '16-'17, consistent with the following

items, which is the annualization of prior-year decisions as well as the

zero-based budgeting that all agencies, boards and commissions, including the

Government House team, would have been responsible for reviewing.

CHAIR:

The Member for Mount Pearl

North, if you want to do it just like Estimates, just when you're going to

speak, just introduce yourself for the Broadcast Centre.

MR. KENT:

(Inaudible.)

CHAIR:

Okay.

MR. KENT:

Thank you.

CHAIR:

The Chair recognizes the

Member for Mount Pearl North.

MR. KENT:

Thank you.

appreciate the minister's responses, but there are a couple of questions that I

didn't get an answer to, and that may be part of the challenge of trying to ask

all the questions at once. It may make more sense to do what we would actually

do in Estimates, which is ask a question or two, allow a response and kind of go

back and forth.

So we

can try it this way a little longer, but it might cause some repetition.

ahead.

MS. C. BENNETT:

If I might.

CHAIR:

The Minister.

MS. C. BENNETT:

Thank you, Madam Chair.

One of

the reasons why I had suggested that Members opposite, if they could, ask a few

questions at a time, unlike Estimates where officials have the opportunity to

participate and provide information, they wouldn't be in the Legislature today

but they are available and they are providing details.

MR. KENT:

Right.

MS. C. BENNETT:

So in trying to make sure

that their time is used efficiently and that we can make sure that the answers

if they have a number of questions, and if there's information that I don't have

at my fingertips here in the House, we certainly have officials working

diligently behind the scenes to provide the Members the answers to the questions

that they want.

MR. KENT:

Thank you.

I can

appreciate that. So in the interest of allowing time for that information to be

passed along to the minister, I'll pose a couple of the questions again before

moving on to some additional questions I have related to Government House.

appreciated the information around diplomatic visits, royal visits. The

minister's response focused more on the royal visits. I'm wondering, what kind

of support does the office provide for diplomatic visits? Perhaps the work that

was being done by the Protocol Office that's now been rolled into Government

House is exactly that.

specifically would like to know why the residence manager position was

eliminated at Government House. The minister did allude to the two Protocol

positions being eliminated, but the residence manager position at Government

House was also eliminated. I'm curious what responsibilities were involved in

that position and who is now doing them.

Also,

there were the two Protocol positions eliminated, as we said. Have those three

positions been rolled into one? Is the new manager of Protocol and general

operations also looking after the role that was played by the residence manager

in addition to the Protocol work? Did a director get replaced by a manager in

order to reduce cost?

While I

allow some time for that information to be gathered, I'll ask some additional

questions related to 1.1.01. Part of the challenge and this may sound somewhat

tedious in detail to anybody who's listening, but this is part of the process we

work through when it comes to the budget, to try and understand what's different

from last year, how money has been moved and so on.

In this

year's Estimates, the Government House and Protocol subheads have been combined,

and the minister has explained that. The new description combines them both. I

guess my question is: Was that simply to try and save money? But have there been

any other operational changes at Government House or in the Protocol Office as a

result? Can you give us an overview of the positions that are currently still at

Government House or now at Government House as a result of the change? Are we to

assume, then, that there is only one person, this new manager, who effectively

is the Protocol Office?

Related

to all of that, salaries have been cut by close to $100,000 actually, it is

$93,700. That doesn't look like three positions. So I am just curious how that

number is arrived at, and I will leave it there, Madam Chair.

CHAIR:

The Chair recognizes the

Member for St. John's East Quidi Vidi.

MS. MICHAEL:

Minister, I did not hear

and maybe you did. There has been some distraction going on for me, so I've

really got to focus. I will take responsibility for that. I am not sure you

talked about the Purchased Services.

MS. C. BENNETT:

Yes.

MS. MICHAEL:

You did? I am sorry I missed

it.

MS. C. BENNETT:

I will provide you the answer

again. I have a more detailed answer now actually.

MS. MICHAEL:

Okay, please.

Madam

Chair, I am assuming, but we should never assume, that as with Estimates we will

get your briefing book, Minister?

MS. C. BENNETT:

Yes, you will.

MS. MICHAEL:

Yes, thank you very much.

MR. LANE:

Madam Chair?

CHAIR:

The hon. the Member for Mount

Pearl Southlands has a question. Do you want to take that before you reply to

MS. C. BENNETT:

Sure.

CHAIR:

Okay.

The

Chair recognizes the Member for Mount Pearl Southlands.

MR. LANE:

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Perhaps

this is a simple question that the others know that I don't know. I am just

curious, I see in here we talk about salaries of support staff and so on. I

don't see anything in here about salaries of the Lieutenant Governor himself,

his travel, all that stuff. I am just assuming, and I guess for the information

of the public who would not know, is that covered by the federal government or

is that covered somewhere else by the provincial government?

And in

terms of what is here, for support staff and positions and so on, is there any

federal subsidy or whatever found somewhere else here that offsets these costs?

Or are the people of Newfoundland and Labrador basically on the hook for all

these costs? That's my question.

CHAIR:

Minister.

MS. C. BENNETT:

Sure.

For the

Member for St. John's East Quidi Vidi who asked a question with regard to

Purchased Services, I just wanted to provide some additional texture for her.

The cost of basic purchased services for the office, such as printing and

shredding, are included there. It also allows for catering services for

Government House events, and costs for swearing-in ceremonies, the Order of

Newfoundland medals and certificate framing costs.

The

merger of the Protocol and Government House, we expect, will result in

efficiencies. That's what the feeling is from the team who put the budget

together to go into the Estimates

book.

With reference to the question from another Member opposite

with regard to the operational changes in Government House as it relates to the

changes in the Protocol Office. The private secretary to the Lieutenant Governor

is currently working on some of the specific details, but I can say based on

feedback, that the work that was done before, there's no impact on services and

no impact on support. The protocol officer in Government House is there to

support protocol activities throughout government. My understanding is there are

no impacts on the support as per one of the Member's questions earlier.

The budget for diplomatic visits for this year, we'll

certainly look to provide for the Member opposite. One of the comments I will

make, the Member for Mount Pearl North made a comment, was this I think if I

remember the quote precisely, he made a comment, is this simply about saving

money.

Madam Chair, I would remind the Members of the House that

while decisions that were made throughout government were made in the context of

a significant deficit that this province has, still this year is over $788

million in deficit. Certainly, I applaud the leadership at Government House for

the initiative in providing further savings, particularly like the Purchased

Services.

The Protocol Office and the work that's being done there is

important to the people of the province, but we're pleased that the efforts and

supports will remain the same in a more efficient way.

CHAIR: The

Member for Mount Pearl North.

MR. KENT: Thank

you, Madam Chair.

I appreciate the responses. The minister referenced the

private secretary position. We're aware that the person who was occupying that

role was terminated. Is the new manager of protocol and general operations

person is that who's playing that role? Are they also the private secretary to

the Lieutenant Governor or is that an additional

position, and if so, I assume

from your comments it has been filled?

MS. C. BENNETT:

I tabled the information last

week as to the positions that were established after the management changes, and

I'd reference the Member opposite to refer to that.

MR. KENT:

Well, okay. We can be that

way if you wish. I thought it was a fairly straightforward question.

Why was

the residence manager position eliminated?

MS. C. BENNETT:

I'm still waiting on

information from officials, Sir.

MR. KENT:

Okay.

So you

won't tell us whether the private secretary and the manager of protocol and

general operations is one and the same?

MS. C. BENNETT:

No, Sir. I'm waiting for the

information on that answer. I'll provide it as soon as I have it.

MR. KENT:

Okay, you will. Because you

told me to refer to something you tabled in the House.

MS. C. BENNETT:

Because the information I

believe is there

MR. KENT:

That you're waiting for.

MS. C. BENNETT:

and I don't have it with me

today.

MR. KENT:

Okay, fair enough.

MS. C. BENNETT:

And I was pretty sure that

the information was there in the information.

MR. KENT:

Okay, I'm sorry. I thought

you were being flippant. If you're not, then that's fine. We'll carry on.

MS. C. BENNETT:

No, Sir. I leave that to my

Opposition colleagues.

MR. KENT:

Ha, ha, ha, touch.

Other

than asking the questions again that we haven't received answers to, I recognize

the minister is waiting for the information. So I don't have further questions

on Government House specifically, but I recognize the minister may wish to

respond once she has the information and we can go back if that makes sense.

CHAIR:

Okay, and if it's okay, there

are other Members waiting to ask.

MR. KENT:

Yes.

CHAIR:

The Member for Mount Pearl

Southlands.

MR. LANE:

Thank you, Madam Chair.

I never

got a response to the question I asked, is that because you're waiting for an

answer or

MS. C. BENNETT:

Yes.

MR. LANE:

Okay, I was just wondering.

You never referenced that.

Okay,

I'll wait until I get it.

Thank

you.

CHAIR:

Is it the wishes of all

parties that we move on to the next

section and then the minister can come back

once she

MR. KENT:

(Inaudible) sorry, Minister,

you want to speak to

MS. C. BENNETT:

That's okay.

I have

an answer for the Member for Mount Pearl Southlands who asked a question with

regard to federal support. Federal support provided directly to the LG's salary,

and you'd see that in the number; $65,000 is provided by the federal government

for entertainment and receptions. This is governed by the Constitution of 1867.

We're

still waiting on the information that the Member for Mount Pearl North asked

earlier on the royal visits that were planned for this year. As soon as I have

that information, I can certainly provide it.

Also to

the Member for Mount Pearl North, your question with regard to the private

secretary to the LG. There is a private secretary to the LG, and I'm still

waiting on the answer on the residence manager. I'll provide that when I get it.

MR. KENT:

Thank you.

appreciate the response. Just on that note, I now have a copy of the document

that the minister referred to that was tabled. It shows the two positions in the

Protocol Office being eliminated, a position in Government House being

eliminated. So that's the residence manager at Government House, the protocol

officer and the director of protocol, all of which have been combined into the

new manager of protocol and I guess Government House operations.

The

private secretary to the Lieutenant Governor was escorted out of the building,

so to speak, by the current administration. That position has been filled. I'm

sure the minister will say, well, it's an HR matter, but given the circumstances

that we're aware of surrounding that, we're just curious how that is justified.

From

everything we've been told, the individual was doing an exemplary job. It feels

like it was very much a political decision and that is not in reference to the

Lieutenant Governor in any way. This position is appointed by government. I'm

not in any way suggesting this has anything to do with the Office of the

Lieutenant Governor. It has to do with a government decision.

The

private secretary was escorted out the door and has been replaced, and all we're

asking for is some transparency around that to understand how that position has

been filled. Was there a competition, or was it simply an appointment by the

current government. So that is something we would appreciate knowing.

CHAIR:

The hon. the Member for Mount

Pearl Southlands.

MR. LANE:

Thank you.

I thank

the minister for the answer. Again, I just want some clarification because if

you go to a number of other sections here that shows revenues. I'm not seeing

any revenue here. So I'm just wondering then, when we talk about the Lieutenant

Governor's salary, the Lieutenant Governor's travel and all those types of

things, the minister indicated I think that salary, I'm understanding, is paid

for by the federal government. Is that why so it's just not reported at all

because he's considered a federal employee, or is it reflected somewhere else to

show the Lieutenant Governor's salary but then a revenue in here to offset the

salary, offset the expenses; and the original question was the other expenses

that are showing here, the $803,000 for support staff, Supplies, Purchased

Services, all those things that are in this, do we get any federal subsidy to

cover any of those costs or is that totally paid for by the citizens of

Newfoundland and Labrador?

CHAIR:

Minister.

MS. C. BENNETT:

Sure.

So with

regard to the question from the Member for Mount Pearl Southlands, the budget

that's presented here for Government House, my understanding is that includes

only expenses related to expenditures by the province, not related to any

expenditures that the federal government would have.

Federal

expenses and federal revenues would not be shown in this because they are paid

directly on behalf of Government House. The only thing that's in the

Estimates book for Government House

would be expenses related to items that are covered only by the provincial

government.

The

money, as I mentioned earlier, for the Lieutenant Governor's salary that would

be separate from this and outside of that. That would be something that the

federal government would be accountable for.

With

regard to the question from the Member for Mount Pearl North, specifically the

staff changes, as part of government's management changes that we made earlier

this year, a new position of protocol and House operations was created. This

position deals with all matters of protocol, including the provincial honours

awards program. From the information I'm being provided, I'm being told that

there was no competition and this was an executive appointment filled position,

and that would answer the question for the Member opposite.

CHAIR:

The Chair recognizes the

Member for Mount Pearl North.

MR. KENT:

Thank you.

understand that new role of manager of protocol and general operations have been

filled by someone who was previously working in the Protocol Office. I

understand the logic of that; I'm not at all questioning that.

For that

individual to take on the consolidated role, that makes sense. But in the case

of the private secretary, it's not one of the positions that listed on the

chart. The person who was in the role and, from what we can tell, was doing a

more than satisfactory job, was escorted out of the building, and has been

replaced. We understand that they've been replaced without any kind of due

process and competition.

In light

of some of the recent concerns related to the clerk of the Executive Council,

the director of Pharmaceutical Services, where we've seen in some cases

qualified people go out the door and be replaced by political appointees, we

certainly would hope that's not the case in this instance. We're just asking for

some clarification on how the private secretary role was indeed filled.

What it

appears is it's another case of somebody was doing a good job, was escorted out

the door and replaced by somebody who shall remain nameless who could very well

simply be a political appointee, whether they're qualified or not. The minister

may be able to assure us that that's not the case, but we are very concerned

that it is the case.

CHAIR:

Minister.

MS. C. BENNETT:

I certainly don't have the

information on the names of the individuals, nor would I have, as the Minister

of Finance and HRS, the names of individuals that have been successful through

competitions throughout the management process that we undertook earlier this

year, nor would I have information on the individual departments.

I will

seek to find the information for the Member opposite. When I can provide it to

him, I will.

CHAIR:

The Member for Mount Pearl

North.

MR. KENT:

Thank you, Minister, and,

Madam Chair.

conclusion on Government House, my colleagues may have other questions, but I

would simply ask that the minister provide us with, at her earliest convenience

I know it can't be done right now a breakdown of the cost incurred as a

result of the terminations and restructuring. So not just the three positions

that have been consolidated into one, but in addition, in terms of recent

changes, the private secretary was also escorted out the door, I can only

assume, for political reasons and replaced.

that's the case, can we understand what the total cost is for affected positions

and there are at least four related to salary continuance, paid leave,

severance. What's the total cost of all those changes? I recognize that number

may not be readily available but we'd certainly appreciate receiving it when it

can be available.

MS. C. BENNETT:

I would say to the Member

opposite, if I might, that the consolidated cost associated with the management

structure changes that were made earlier this year have been disclosed. They

were disclosed as part of the budget process and also disclosed as a

consolidated amount. But I certainly appreciate the Member opposite asking for

the specifics and we'll provide that information as soon as I have it.

MR. KENT:

Thank you.

The

challenge, of course, is that they're not included with the information that was

tabled in the House. I appreciate that the minister is willing to provide the

specifics but it also relates to something that wasn't covered in that

management restructuring exercise. The private secretary position was not part

of that exercise. Therefore the costs associated with that would not be included

in that information that was previously provided, hence my question.

MS. C. BENNETT:

I'm not sure that's 100 per

cent accurate. I certainly want to make sure that as we have these ongoing

discussions, particularly around costs associated with changes related to

management structures, I want to make sure that we're very specific and that we

provide clarity on those answers.

I will

take the question that the Member asked, take it under advisement with staff and

provide him feedback. I want to make sure that the correct information is

provided.

CHAIR:

Did anyone else have any

questions on what we have called in Executive Council?

AN HON. MEMBER:

(Inaudible.)

CHAIR:

But I say to the Member that

we have does the Member for Topsail Paradise have a question before we

proceed?

MR. P. DAVIS:

Yes.

CHAIR:

The Chair recognizes the

Member for Topsail Paradise.

MR. P. DAVIS:

Thank you very much.

Minister, I'm just trying to follow along and understand all the information.

Some of these questions, I know we're drilling down into the weeds, but that's

what happens when we go through Estimates sometimes.

What I'm

asking, Minister, while we're going through these line items in the

Estimates book is and my colleague

referred to it. The private secretary is not included in the list of impacted

eight positions resulting in a Flatter, Leaner Management review.

The

Government House line here for abolishment of actions to date has one manager

for a grand total of one, and created to date one position for a total of one.

So there's a zero reduction is indicated on what was tabled last week.

respect and understand the high-level information that you've tabled in the

House before, but what I'd like to know is for Government House, what the cost

was for the positions that were terminated. Some we know were filled; some we

know were changed from one position to a different position. So for those

employees that were terminated, I'd like to know specifically for Government

House what the salary continuance cost was, the paid leave and the severance

cost. Minister, maybe you can tell us if we are able to get that.

CHAIR:

Minister.

MS. C. BENNETT:

Madam Chair, I will let the

Members opposite ask, as I said earlier, a series of questions so I can make

sure that I have the most questions possible for the officials who are providing

the information. So I will wait until Members finish their questions.

CHAIR:

Okay. So what I am going to

do, we are still working on getting some structure here. We had called a bunch

of subheads. We are actually now going to go through

section by

section and

vote. We are trying to get back to the clock going again, just like we do in

Estimates. So I will ask the Clerk to call and then we will start with you guys,

the Opposition, and go on. Is that okay?

MR. P. DAVIS:

(Inaudible.)

CHAIR:

The Member for Topsail

Paradise.

MR. P. DAVIS:

Madam Chair, on this

particular section, on Government House, on 1.1.01, I think we have pretty much

exhausted this section. I'm just looking for concurrence from my colleagues on

this side of the House

AN HON. MEMBER:

(Inaudible.)

MR. P. DAVIS:

Oh, we haven't. Do you have

other questions?

AN HON. MEMBER:

(Inaudible.)

MR. P. DAVIS:

So it is only that one item

CHAIR:

Yes.

MR. P. DAVIS:

I know the minister does not

have it now. I am just asking for a commitment or a confirmation from the

minister that she will provide it to us.

CHAIR:

That's right, and the

minister can intervene when she gets that answer. But if it's okay with

everybody, we will call that one and we will move on.

MR. P. DAVIS:

I'd just like to have a

commitment from the minister that she is going to provide the information.

CHAIR:

That's what I understood from

the minister that she would come back with that information.

MR. P. DAVIS:

No, I didn't.

CHAIR:

The minister.

MS. C. BENNETT:

Madam Chair, I can answer the

question with regard to the termination costs for the previous private

secretary. They were released as part of an ATIPP, HRS33-2016. I'd reference the

Members opposite to refer to that, the information is provided there.

The

private secretary position is an Executive appointment and was not filled by a

competition. Also, I think the Member opposite asked the question about the cost

of diplomatic visits this year. I think the Member for Mount Pearl North asked

that earlier. The approximate value or approximate expenses related to those

diplomatic visits would be $8,200 in '16-'17.

I am

hearing some murmurs on the opposite side suggesting that the information I'm

providing isn't conclusive. My understanding, from what I am being told, is the

termination costs related to the private secretary to the LG were posted in an

online ATIPP.

CHAIR:

The hon. the Member for

Topsail Paradise.

MR. P. DAVIS:

Thank you, Madam Chair.

I thank

the minister for those details. The other terminations that happened at

Government House, are they also posted? The costs associated with the salary

continuance, paid leave and severance for those other positions, are they are

also posted? If you can't provide it to us here or after the House, where can we

go to get those details?

CHAIR:

The Minister.

MS. C. BENNETT:

Certainly, we'll provide the

details when I have them available. I think that's the extent.

MR. P. DAVIS:

I'm sorry, I couldn't hear.

CHAIR:

The minister just reiterated

that she would provide the details.

MR. P. DAVIS:

She'll provide the details of

the cost of those terminations. Okay.

Thank

you.

CHAIR:

Is everybody ready to call?

The

Chair recognizes the Member for Mount Pearl North.

MR. KENT:

I'm sorry, Madam Chair. I was

finished, but I just have to make a comment to be on record.

If the

minister has the information, it's a little insulting to this process for a

Minister of the Crown to sit there and say, well, go to the ATIPP website and

find the ATIPP request from 2016 where that information was provided. Granted,

yes, we could go to the site where there are thousands of ATIPP requests and

find the one she is referring to and get the information but if you want to

appear to be at all open and transparent and honest, then answer the question.

If you

have the information, just simply answer the question. Why we need to play this

cat and mouse game, where the minister says, we tabled that some time ago or you

can go to the ATIPP website and search for it. It's not in the spirit in which

this process has traditionally been conducted.

Yes,

we're going to touch on some topics today where we're going to disagree, and

they may feel a little politically charged or even heated, but something as

simple as the cost associated with terminating the private secretary and then

replacing them if it's publicly available information, I don't know why the

minister would dodge the question in the House. It's just not going to help this

process today and I think that kind of behaviour needs to be called out. So I'm

calling it out.

CHAIR:

The Minister.

MS. C. BENNETT:

Madam Chair, my intention is

to answer

MR. KENT:

Then answer.

MS. C. BENNETT:

as we have done in Estimates throughout the process and now in Committee of

the Whole, the questions that the Members opposite are asking.

While

the Member opposite may not be pleased with the timing of the responses that I'm

giving him, I can assure him that I am prepared to provide him the answers but I

would ask him to provide patience to the team that is working to provide the

information.

The

reason I referenced the ATIPP request is that the information has already been

publicly made available and I'll certainly redistribute that information and

provide that information to the Member opposite. There's no attempt to not be

transparent. It is extremely important for me, in my role as the Minister of

Finance as well as a Member of this House, to ensure that as we go through the

budget process the questions that colleagues opposite ask will be answered.

Madam

Chair, I appreciate the Member's commentary, but I will correct him and say that

the officials are working very hard to provide the answers that they would

normally provide if they were sitting in the House of Assembly. For those people

who are watching this at home, as the Member opposite indicated when we started,

this process is different.

Estimates, officials from each particular head would be available and

participating in the dialogue and questions that would be answered in the House

and we will certainly ensure that those officials that are outside the room

right now are able to provide the information. There is no attempt to avoid

providing that information and I would ask the Member for his patience and we

will provide it.

CHAIR:

The Chair recognizes the

Member for Mount Pearl North.

MR. KENT:

Madam Chair, I am fully

prepared to be patient. I recognize the dynamic.

Some of

the detail we're going to ask for is not readily available at the minister's

fingertips and it would be unreasonable to expect it all to be available at the

minister's fingertips, so that I have no problem with. What I have a problem

with, I say respectfully, is someone going and getting the information, it

getting back to the minister and then being told go to the ATIPP website and

there was a request filed in 2016, it was made publicly available then, but I'll

go through the trouble of making it available to you now without just simply

answering the question. That is disingenuous.

The

minister said on April 11 in this House: Having said that, the Estimates

process, which this House will go through in the next number of weeks, will

provide opportunity in this House for a detailed discussion on the line items

that build up the budget. The information that the Members opposite are looking

for, I'm sure they'll get their answers in the Estimates debate. That's exactly

what we're trying to do.

So on

one hand we're told wait until Estimates to get the answers, then when we're in

Estimates we're told go to the ATIPP website. That's just not an appropriate

response.

I'm not

trying to be confrontational; I'd like this process to go smoothly. In fact,

I've publicly commended the Minister of Health and Community Services for his

recent engagement in the Estimates process. He answered every single question I

asked.

didn't mean that I liked all the answers and it didn't mean that we agreed on

100 per cent, although we probably agreed on about 80 per cent, but he was at

least open and as transparent as I could tell. He certainly didn't direct me to

an ATIPP website to get an answer to a simple question. That's the part that's

offensive, Madam Chair.

I will

not repeat myself further, but it needs to be highlighted, largely due to the

comments the minister previously made in this House on April 11 and at other

times during Question Period.

MR. LANE:

Madam Chair.

CHAIR:

The Chair recognizes the

Member for Mount Pearl Southlands.

MR. LANE:

Thank you.

I just

have one comment as well. It's more about the process than anything. I'm not

certain, to be honest with you, if this is exactly how we've done it every other

year. I'm not sure if it is or not; I don't think it is. I don't know why we're

doing it this way, but for all the other Estimates I've ever sat through, you

had the minister and you then you had all the ministerial staff there.

AN HON. MEMBER:

(Inaudible.)

MR. LANE:

No, that's what I'm saying.

The Member is saying not for this section.

I guess

my point is I'm not sure why we wouldn't be doing this the same way we do all

other departments and have people there who have the answers at their

fingertips, then you can have a discussion. You can ask questions. There are

people there who can give you the answers. Then if you have a subsequent

question you can ask them right now, you're asking questions. In fairness to the

minister, she's doing the best she can.

We have

a bunch of people watching this on a TV screen or whatever, on a computer

monitor, and they're trying to text her the answers and so on. Then there are

issues around timeliness of information and then you say I'll get you the

information. Then you may get some stuff; you may not get some stuff. It may not

lead to the subsequent questions you would have.

I just

see this whole process, Madam Chair, as just being flawed. I would certainly ask

the Speaker and whatever, if this is the way it's been done every other year for

Executive Council and so on and for these Estimates, that's fine and dandy.

Maybe we should look at changing that process to do it the same way we do it

with other departments. It would make more sense to me.

CHAIR:

I will take a moment to

respond to the Member for Mount Pearl Southlands.

Pursuant

to Standing Order 74, there are a number of Estimates, traditionally, that have

not been referred to Standing Committees and they are considered just like we're

doing now in Committee of the Whole on Supply. Traditionally, those have been

the Legislature, the Executive Council and the Consolidated Fund Services. The

time from here is deducted from the 75 hours.

haven't been around as long as you, but as long as I've been around and pursuant

to Standing Order 74 in the handbook, this is how we have done it in the past.

MR. LANE:

Madam Chair, if I may.

CHAIR:

The Chair recognizes the

Member for Mount Pearl Southlands.

MR. LANE:

I appreciate the answer,

Madam Chair. I'm not disputing that's the way this has been done. I guess what

I'm saying is maybe it's time to change tradition; maybe it's time to update the

Standing Orders to make it a more fluid process. I just out that out there.

AN HON. MEMBER:

(Inaudible.)

CHAIR:

Order, please!

MR. LANE:

I'm not sure what

CHAIR:

Order, please!

Are

there any more questions on 1.1.01 or are all parties ready to call it?

The

minister.

MS. C. BENNETT:

Yes. Madam Chair, just for

the Members opposite, I believe the question that was asked earlier by one of

the Members opposite was related to the entire severance, relating to any

changes and all the changes that happened at Government House. The ATIPP

information that would have been released, for the Member opposite, that was

paid out, it was $111,078 in severance, and that would have been for the former

private secretary to the LG. That information would have been available based on

the financial information close of business on March 31.

The

other individuals that one of the Members asked about, we will certainly

endeavour to provide that information once officials are able to provide it to

me.

MR. KENT:

Madam Chair.

CHAIR:

The Chair recognizes the

Member for Mount Pearl North.

MR. KENT:

I thank the minister for that

number, but does it include salary continuance and paid leave. That sounds like

a severance amount. I'm just wondering, in addition to severance, does it

include outstanding paid leave and salary continuance as well?

MS. C. BENNETT:

My understanding is that it

includes 49 weeks' pay in lieu of notice; 11 months political severance pay and

also an estimated unused hours paid leave as well. And the total would be

$378,000.

MR. KENT:

$378,000.

MS. C. BENNETT:

That was paid out. The

number, $111,000 would be related to there are two amounts that are paid; one

is all employees would be entitled to pay in lieu of notice if there position

was eliminated and they would be available to paid severance, so it's two

different amounts. The $111,000 would be severance. The entire paid out, based

on the information that officials are sharing with me, would have been some

$378,000.

MR. KENT:

Madam Chair.

CHAIR:

The hon. the Member for Mount

Pearl North.

MR. KENT:

So I'm sure there are Members

on the opposite side who are perhaps frustrated that I'm continuing to raise the

issue, but in fairness to all of them they're being very respectful and the

House is rather quiet right now some are, for sure, but the majority that I

can tell are.

I'm now

more troubled by the minister's response. I asked a specific question related to

severance, salary continuance and paid leave. The minister responded with all

the information in front of her saying $111,000 and change. When I pushed

further to say that doesn't sound right, does that include and this is all in

a two-minute span salary continuance and paid leave? She said, oh yeah, well

that number is $378,000 all in.

I don't

know why anyone in this House, when we're going through a process that should be

on a topic like this should be relatively straightforward, I don't know why

there would be an attempt to hide the real information and avoid answering the

direct question. It's not appropriate and rather frustrating if you're sitting

here trying to get simple answers to simple questions.

If you

have the information, provide it. If the number is $378,000, don't be cute and

try and say that it's $111,000. That's not honest, Madam Chair.

MS. C. BENNETT:

Madam Chair, with all

CHAIR:

Order, please!

MR. KENT:

That's not honest, Madam

Chair.

MS. C. BENNETT:

Madam Chair, with all due

respect

MR. KENT:

I believe I have the floor.

The Finance Minister can attempt to cut me off if she wishes

CHAIR:

Order, please!

MR. KENT:

but I do have the floor and

CHAIR:

Order, please!

MR. KENT:

that kind of behaviour from

a minister is unethical, it's dishonest and it's deceptive.

MR. A. PARSONS:

Madam Chair, if I could get

up on a point of order. If I could get up on a point of order, please, under

section 49.

CHAIR:

The hon. the Government House

Leader on a point of order.

MR. A. PARSONS:

In the last two minutes the

Member opposite has made numerous unparliamentary comments calling the Member

unethical, hiding the information. It's absolutely unparliamentary; it's

absolutely disgraceful. I would suggest that firstly, he should be forced to

retract the comments; secondly, he should be forced to apologize; and thirdly,

as it relates to this process that's happening in the House, this is going to

end. This is not how this process goes.

If we

want to we can do the regular Committee and have 10 minutes and 10 minutes and

this is how it's going to go. But we're not going to have Members sit there and

call this government unethical and tell them they're hiding the information.

It's not going to happen that way, Madam Chair. This cannot continue.

AN HON. MEMBER:

(Inaudible.)

MR. A. PARSONS:

Madam Chair, again I'll stand

up. The Member said (inaudible)

CHAIR:

Order, please!

The

Government House Leader on a point of order.

MR. A. PARSONS:

Do I have to repeat what he

just said here on the record? It was loud enough I could hear you. He said: Damn

right it's not going to continue.

The

Member said it loud enough for me to hear. We can hear it on Hansard. Again, I

can't say how unparliamentary that is.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Oh, oh!

CHAIR:

Order, please!

The only

person that the Chair wants to hear in this House is the person who has been

recognized to speak. Are we ready to call the first section?

MS. C. BENNETT:

Madam Chair.

CHAIR:

The Chair recognizes the

Minister of Finance and President of Treasury Board.

MS. C. BENNETT:

Madam Chair, the Member

opposite has suggested that I have not provided him with the detailed

information. Officials have been working behind the scenes to provide the

information. He specifically asked about a position that was called the private

secretary to the LG.

Earlier

in this discussion, I referred him to an ATIPP request that as I reported to

this House, reported that severance of $111,078 was paid in severance and that

was the amount in the ATIPP request.

Further

to his questioning, I have provided the termination entitlements, the

all-inclusive amounts which would have been the numbers I referenced earlier,

which would have been the 49 weeks paid in lieu of notice at $129,318, the 11

months political severance pay at $111,078, as well as estimated unused hours

paid leave totalling $378,680.

Madam

Chair, I believe I have provided information to the Member related to his

question. The other question

MR. KIRBY:

Point of order.

CHAIR:

The hon. the Minister of

Education and Early Childhood Development on a point of order.

MR. KIRBY:

I apologize for interrupting,

Madam Chair, but the Member for Mount Pearl North just made, basically entered

into the record here a string of unparliamentary statements. He referred to the

hon. minister as unethical, dishonest and so on.

The

Government House Leader pointed that out on a point of order. I'd like to

inquire, are you going to make a ruling on this? I would like to see a ruling

made because that is absolutely unparliamentary.

CHAIR:

I thank the minister for his

point of order.

What

will happen in this case is what has traditionally happened in the past, we will

review the broadcast tapes and we will report back to this House.

MR. KIRBY:

Thank you

CHAIR:

Minister, were you finished?

Okay.

Is there

another question before we call that first?

The

Chair recognizes the Member for Topsail Paradise.

MR. P. DAVIS:

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Just

very, very briefly on this. The minister has provided the full information now

for the private secretary at Government House. She just indicated that she's

provided the information requested. I just want to confirm that we also asked

for the same information for all terminations at Government House. If the

minister doesn't have the information right now, we look forward to receiving

that maybe later today.

Thank

you.

CHAIR:

Minister.

MS. C. BENNETT:

I believe I had already

answered and indicated that we'd certainly work to provide that information to

the Members opposite.

CHAIR:

I'll ask the Clerk to call

the first subhead.

CLERK:

1.1.01.

CHAIR:

Shall 1.1.01 carry?

All

those in favour, 'aye.'

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Aye.

CHAIR:

All those against, 'nay.'

Carried.

motion, subhead 1.1.01 carried.

CLERK:

2.1.01.

CHAIR:

Shall 2.1.01 carry?

The

Chair recognizes the Member for Ferryland.

MR. HUTCHINGS:

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Minister, a few questions on 2.1.01, just a couple of line items there I want to

reference first as we go through. We look at Transportation and Communications,

we looked at what was estimated, the revision was down and again this year the

amount has been reduced. Can you give me some commentary on that, please?

MS. C. BENNETT:

I thought we had agreed

earlier there'd be a series of questions.

MR. HUTCHINGS:

Okay.

My next

question relates to line item Professional Services; in 2016-2017 there was

nothing budgeted, there was almost $45,000 expenditure. I'd like to know what

that reference again, in the estimate for 2017-2018, there's no estimate

there. It seems like a one-time expenditure in 2016-2017 for Professional

Services.

I will

now go to some questions related to the heading of the Premier's office. I'm

wondering, Minister, if you could provide a list of staff which was employed by

the Premier's office in the last 12 months along with salaries. Also, if we

could have a timeline to which they were employed. As well, if it was voluntary

termination or termination with or without cause, could we also have information

related to severance and additional benefits that were paid out?

As well,

we'd like to know how many positions have been vacated in the Premier's office

over the past 12 months. As well, if we could have some discussion and some

information related to spend on media, media monitoring, those types of aspects,

what was done with those or if there was any expenditure related to that.

I'd also

like to know what consultants, or if there were any, that the Premier's office

was engaged in in the last fiscal year, we'd certainly like a list of that.

I think

for now, that's good for me at the moment for that heading.

CHAIR:

The Chair recognizes the

minister.

Did the

Member for Signal Hill Quidi Vidi have some we're going to do 10 and 10 and

try and stick with some structure here.

The

minister.

MS. C. BENNETT:

Sure.

The

Member opposite asked a question about Transportation and Communications as it

relates to the projected revised budget in 2016 and why that amount was lower.

That $83,000 reflects the savings from the '16-'17 budget due to lower than

anticipated requirements. That would explain the $83,000.

Under

the area of Professional Services, the Member opposite asked a question around

the Professional Services at $42,900, not $45,000 but $42,900. That reflects an

overrun from the 2016-17 budget due to the requirements related to establishing

the Premier's blind trust.

As the

Member opposite I'm sure may have experienced, and certainly his colleagues may

have experienced, there's a long-standing government policy that's been in place

for several decades that requires, as Ministers of the Crown, including the

Premier, establish blind trusts. Any costs associated with the establishment of

that trust would be covered, and that would be the amount that's referenced

here.

With

regard to the questions around the Premier's staff and the number of staff, what

I can provide the Member opposite is a comparison indicating the salary costs

associated with the '16-'17 actual expenses. I can also provide a copy that

would detail out the salary planned as it has been established for the budget

for '17-'18. Also for comparative purposes, I can also provide the Member

opposite with the detailed salary costs associated with the Premier's office for

the fiscal year '15-'16.

CHAIR:

We're still with the

Opposition on the clock. We've gone back to trying

MS. C. BENNETT:

Sorry.

CHAIR:

The Chair recognizes the

minister.

MS. C. BENNETT:

Madam Chair, I was taking a

breath and I was breathing too long.

The

other two questions with relation to media monitoring, we're waiting to get an

answer from officials. Also with regard to consultants, specifically as it

relates to the Premier's office, I'm not aware but I'll certainly double-check

with the officials and provide that information.

With

regard to the information around the salary budget, I think it would be

important for me to point out to Members of this House that the salary budget

has seen a decrease in the Premier's office of 6.2 per cent over the two years.

Also, the operating costs inside the Premier's office have also seen a reduction

since 2015 of some 18 per cent. That would be a 6.2 per cent reduction in

salaries and an 18 per cent reduction in operating costs compared to the

spending in the Premier's office for fiscal '15-'16.

CHAIR:

Before I recognize the next

Member, because we're in a bit of a different process, I'm having a lot of

difficulty hearing here in this process. I would ask people to either take their

conversations outside or keep the volume down.

The

Member for Ferryland.

MR. HUTCHINGS:

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Minister, I think, probably the final question I have here. It's a small item

under 2.1.01, Revenue Provincial. There's an $800 figure there. I'm just

curious of what that would be.

CHAIR:

The minister.

MS. C. BENNETT:

The $800 amount would be

related to a repayment from an overpayment. For example, if an employee or

been overpaid as part of maybe an expense claim or if there was a ticket that

was paid for, an airline ticket that didn't get used, because as we know

employees are responsible for paying for that themselves. It would have been

revenue that would have been collected as part of the controller's work to make

sure that only those expenses that were related to government work was assigned.

If there was some type of repayment, that would be what that would be for.

Officials were able to confirm for me what I had mentioned earlier with regard

to consultants in the Premier's office. There are, I know, associated costs in

this particular heading related to consultants. Media monitoring, the answer to

that is still forthcoming.

MR. HUTCHINGS:

Okay.

Thank

you.

CHAIR:

So, no further questions.

We'll move to the Third Party.

The

Member for St. John's East Quidi Vidi.

MS. MICHAEL:

Madam Chair, the questions I

had have been answered. I wanted to know about the Professional Services and

that's been answered, and about the staffing. So they were all the questions I

had.

Just

one, the $800 under provincial revenue, I'm not sure if the minister explained

that.

MS. C. BENNETT:

Yes, I answered it a couple

of minutes ago for the Member opposite.

MS. MICHAEL:

Sorry.

MS. C. BENNETT:

That's okay.

That

relates to repayment for potential overpayments that may have been made on

behalf of staff in the Premier's office and their expense claims.

MS. MICHAEL:

Thank you.

Sorry

for the repetition.

MS. C. BENNETT:

No problem.

MS. MICHAEL:

Thank you, Madam Chair.

That's

all I have.

CHAIR:

Okay.

Does the

Member for Mount Pearl Southlands have some questions?

MR. LANE:

Thank you, Madam Chair.

I just

have one question, and I apologize if this has been answered already. I did find

it very difficult to hear. I thought I heard the minister in response to one of

the questions from the Member for Ferryland about one of these expenses. I

thought I heard her talk about something to do with the Premier's blind trust.

I'm sure I heard that, but I didn't hear what she said about it.

I wonder

if you could just outline for me exactly what that is. Is there some expense to

the government around that being set up, or what was it you said about the blind

trust?

CHAIR:

Minister.

MS. C. BENNETT:

As has been government's

long-standing policy for several decades, Ministers of the Crown who are

responsible for establishing a blind trust, the cost associated with that trust

establishment are bore by the departments where the ministers are assigned. In

this case, this particular amount relates to the establishment of the Premier's

blind trust.

MR. LANE:

Thank you.

Could

you

CHAIR:

The Member for Mount Pearl

Southlands.

MR. LANE:

Could you tell me in terms of

this one here, because we're under the Premier's office, exactly what that

amount would have been?

MS. C. BENNETT:

My understanding, and this

would be based on my own experienc