Newfoundland and Labrador Hansard — Members' Statements — 6 May 2010 (46th General Assembly, 3rd Session, Vol. XLVI No. 17)
2010-05-06
Newfoundland and Labrador — Debates (Hansard)
May 6,
2010 HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS
Vol. XLVI No. 17
The House met at 1:30 p.m.
MR. SPEAKER (Fitzgerald): Order, please!
Admit strangers.
Statements by Members
MR. SPEAKER: Today the Chair welcomes the following private members'
statements: the hon. the Member for the District of Signal Hill-Quidi Vidi; the
hon. the Member for the District of Port au Port; the hon. the Member for the
District of Bellevue; the hon. the Member for the District of Fortune Bay-Cape
la Hune; and the hon. the Member for the District of St. John's Centre, by
leave.
Does the hon. the Member for St. John's Centre have leave to make a private
member's statement?
AN HON. MEMBER: Leave.
MR. KELVIN PARSONS: On a point of order.
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
The hon. the Member for St. John's Centre, by leave.
The hon. the Opposition House Leader, on a point of order.
MR. KELVIN PARSONS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I rise on a point of order. It concerns the behaviour of the Minister of
Health yesterday in this House, in this Chamber. We have order and decorum rules
pursuant to the Standing Orders of this House. I refer in particular to Standing
Order 7.
Mr. Speaker, there has been a report in the media today concerning utterances
by the Minister of Justice yesterday towards the Leader of the Official
Opposition and his use of the word: fool.
Mr. Speaker, I would submit in support of this point of order, reference as
well to Standing Order 1.(2). I think it is clear enough in terms of decorum
anyway in Standing Order 7, but just in case you need further assurance, I would
refer you to Standing Order 1.(2)(
a) which deals with the precedents of this
House.
With regard to precedent, I would like to submit and table, as well, a copy
of our Hansard proceedings dated April 19, 2005 in which case a member of this
House used that word and was ruled by your predecessor that it was, in fact,
inappropriate and that it should be withdrawn. So, I would submit that in
support as well. I also submit in support of that, Mr. Speaker, a copy of the
broadcast centre tape of yesterday in which it can easily be heard that the
minister did, in fact, utter that word.
I would ask the minister to do the honourable thing and withdraw that remark
and apologize to the member.
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
The hon. Opposition House Leader is well aware of the situation, if there is
a disorder that occurs then the disorder should be raised at the time the
disorder happens, or at least at the earliest opportunity. To what the hon.
member is referencing, if that happened yesterday in Question Period then that
particular sitting of the House is over. I did not hear - and this is why I
continually ask for members, after they ask questions, to allow the answers to
happen, and while the questions are being asked, to allow the questions to be
asked.
The Chair has great difficulty hearing what is being said and what is not
being said. The Chair did not hear what the hon. member said. The Chair reviewed
the written transcript of Hansard and did not see any reference to what the hon.
member said, but I say to the hon. member that if the hon. member echoed those
words, I ask him to be a hon. member and withdraw the comments.
MR. KENNEDY: Yes, Mr. Speaker, I withdraw those comments and I apologize
to the Leader of the Opposition.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for the District of Signal Hill-Quidi
Vidi.
MR. KELVIN PARSONS: (Inaudible).
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
The hon. the Opposition House Leader, on another point of order?
MR. KELVIN PARSONS: Yes, Mr. Speaker.
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Opposition House Leader.
MR. KELVIN PARSONS: Probably more, Your Honour, with respect to some
direction from the Chair in the future. I realize that under the parliamentary
system that we have always operated on and in Ottawa as well, Hansard has been
deemed to be supreme, but we have had a number of incidents in this House where
Hansard does sometimes pick it up and other times do not pick it up; yet, we
also have the official, shall we say, parliamentary proceedings which are
broadcast, and quite often the broadcast proceedings picks something up that
Hansard did not.
I am just wondering, on a go-forward basis, how we should conduct ourselves
in terms of providing the Chair with evidence if something happens because we do
not have any Standing Orders to that effect, as I understand it, but I guess it
is like the new rules in hockey, sometimes the ref did not pick it up but the
video tapes are deemed to be supreme these days. So, just some direction from
the Chair would be helpful.
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
If there is a point of order, then the point of order should be raised - I
think that is what should echo supreme here, that the point of order should be
raised when the disorder occurs. I do not think we should be referencing what
the media says the following day and be alerted to the point that there was a
disorder that occurred. We all sit here in this House and if we recognize that a
point of order needs to be raised, then it should be raised at this time. If we
go and reference to support the point of order that is being made, we can use
Hansard or we can use the broadcast studio. They are all copies of what happens
here in this House, so the Chair will accept either or.
The hon. the Member for the District of Signal Hill-Quidi Vidi.
MS MICHAEL: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I stand in this hon. House today to recognize the 215
anniversary of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment, which resides in the District of
Signal Hill-Quidi Vidi, and the immense contribution it has made to the country,
to Newfoundland and to our Province - I want to rephrase that, Mr. Speaker,
because I want it the way it is here: the immense contribution it has made to
the country of Newfoundland and to our Province because they began being there
for the country of Newfoundland.
Mr. Speaker, on April 24, I had the honour of attending the presentation of
the regimental colours by the Colonel-in-Chief, Her Royal Highness The Princess
Royal. It was truly a proud moment for the regiment.
The Royal Newfoundland Regiment has been the recipient of a number of
distinguished honours including sixteen battle honours awarded by its service
during the Great War of 1914-1918 in which hundreds of Newfoundlanders fought
and gave their lives heroically for their country.
Two of these battle honours are particularly noteworthy, Mr. Speaker. The
Royal Newfoundland Regiment was the only North American unit to fight during the
Gallipoli campaign and is the only unit in the Canadian Army that has the right
to carry "Gallipoli" on its regimental colours.
Of course, Mr. Speaker, hon. members know the story of the Battle of the
Somme in 1916 where hundreds of men gave their lives at Beaumont Hamel on July
1, 1916. The British Army created a unique honour to mark the Regiment's
courage; no other unit in the British Commonwealth has the right to carry
"Albert (Beaumont Hamel) 1916" on its colours.
Mr. Speaker, the Royal Newfoundland Regiment continues to serve as an
integral part of our Canadian military in missions overseas and at home. After
215 years the Royal Newfoundland Regiment continues to be a source of pride for
Newfoundland and Labrador and the country.
Mr. Speaker, I ask all hon. members to join me in congratulating the Royal
Newfoundland Regiment on receiving their new regimental colours and for the 215
years of distinguished service to our Province and to our country.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for the District of Port au Port.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. CORNECT: Mr. Speaker, I rise today in this hon. House to congratulate
Susan Fowlow, on having her master's thesis published as a book by VDM
publishing in Germany, one of the leading publishing houses of academic
research, this past fall.
Mr. Speaker, Susan Fowlow's published book is entitled Women and
Motherwork: Raising families and communities . Ms Fowlow noticed how women
are largely invisible in the history books, so she decided to conduct several
focus groups with rural women who raised families from the 1940s to the 1970s.
She discovered that these women were the thread that kept these rural
communities together with their involvement in churches, schools, community
development, and social conscience of the community.
Mr. Speaker, I ask all hon. members of this hon. House to join with me in
congratulating Susan Fowlow for her academic achievement and for raising
awareness of the vital roles women have played in the past and indeed fulfill
today in creating and contributing to society in both essential and fundamental
ways.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for the District of Bellevue.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. PEACH: I rise in this hon. House today to speak of the Trinity
Placentia AAA Bantam Female hockey team. In January of this year, the Trinity
Placentia Bantam Female team went undefeated in the first Bantam Female
tournament this Province has held.
The Trinity Placentia Bantam team has players of the arenas from Bonavista,
Clarenville, Marystown, Placentia, Whitbourne, Harbour Grace and Bay Roberts.
These thirteen and fourteen-year-old young women had the honour of representing
Newfoundland and Labrador in Prince Edward Island during the month of March,
where they were undefeated at the Female AAA Bantam Atlantic Championships. They
brought us home the gold, Mr. Speaker.
Please join me in congratulating the AAA Atlantic and Provincial Champs, the
Trinity Placentia Bantam Female team.
Thank you very much.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for the District of Fortune Bay-Cape la
Hune.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MS PERRY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I rise in this hon. House today to commend the Girl Guides of Newfoundland
and Labrador, and in particular, the Guides and Guiders in Fortune Bay-Cape la
Hune.
2010 is a momentous occasion for the Girl Guide movement in Canada, marking
the 100 anniversary of this remarkable leadership organization for women. The
Guiding movement is very active in my district, and I commend the leaders,
parents, and especially the girls for their commitment to ensuring our youth
have the opportunity to avail of the wonderful experiences that Guiding brings.
The Girl Guides of Canada place a special emphasis on leadership,
international friendship; and skill development, including the Duke of Edinburgh
Award. Having gone through the Guiding movement myself from Brownies through to
Junior Leaders, I know first-hand the benefits that can be gained from this
organization.
On April 23, two former Girl Guides of my district, Ms Jeanette Barnes and Ms
Elizabeth Ingram, were recipients of the prestigious Gold Duke of Edinburgh
Award - congratulations to you both.
Mr. Speaker, I know that all members of this hon. House join me in
recognizing this outstanding organization, and we look forward to another 100
years of girl greatness.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for the District of St. John's Centre.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SKINNER: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I want to thank the members opposite for granting me leave, I appreciate
that.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Froude Avenue Community Centre's
twenty-five years of community achievement and development. This week, the
Centre's staff, volunteers, community residents and invited guests celebrated
this milestone.
The Froude Avenue Community Centre was founded on the fundamental belief in
community spirit and a positive social environment, and it currently serves a
population of well over 200 families. The Centre's mandate is to meet the needs
of the community through the provision of recreational, health, educational,
social and vocational programs.
With the tremendous efforts of Mr. Bob Dawson, the Centre's Executive
Director, along with the hard work of its Board of Directors and the
Neighbourhood Enhancement Association as well as the outstanding community
support given to the Centre, it is able to provide a wide variety of
community-based programs and services to individuals and families in the
neighbourhood.
Among these programs and services are breakfast programs, summer programs,
play group and after school homework programs for the children, as well as a
neighbourhood enhancement association, community clean-up, and recreational gym
nights, just to name a few.
As do all community centres in the Province, Mr. Speaker, the Froude Avenue
Community Centre provides an invaluable service to the residents of its
community, and I ask all members to join me in recognizing and commending the
Centre on an amazing twenty-five years.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: Statements by Ministers.
Statements by Ministers
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Education.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. KING: Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in the House today to announce that our government is
providing approximately $600,000 to the Labrador School District to support
housing for teachers in two coastal communities - the towns of Postville and
Rigolet.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. KING: For remote communities in Labrador, providing living
accommodations, Mr. Speaker, is a key factor in the recruitment and the
retention of teachers. The recruitment of teachers, of course, is essential to
ensure that we continue to offer quality education for students in Labrador.
The school district, Mr. Speaker, will investigate options to purchase
existing housing in each community. If there are no viable options available,
construction on two new homes will begin immediately. Combined, these houses
will provide a minimum of nine new rooms for teachers who work in these two
communities for the upcoming school year, Mr. Speaker. Together with the new
homes constructed in Makkovik and Cartwright over the last two years for which
we invested $345,000, this will result in fifteen new spaces for teachers in
Labrador.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. KING: This brings our total investment in teacher housing in
Labrador, Mr. Speaker, to almost $1 million over the past three years. This,
indeed, is great news for the people in these communities, Mr. Speaker. Housing
in rural and remote areas can present unique challenges and through this
funding, we are working to address these challenges head-on for the benefit of
our education system.
Mr. Speaker, our government continues to make education in Labrador a
priority. With investment of over $24 million in infrastructure funding for the
K-12 and post-secondary systems in Labrador this year alone, we are ensuring
that students in this region receive their education in quality learning
environments. This includes, Mr. Speaker, $5.36 million to complete construction
of a new school in L'Anse au Loup; $7.37 million to complete construction of a
new school in Port Hope Simpson; and $11.46 million for the construction of the
new College of the North Atlantic campus in Labrador West.
In fact, Mr. Speaker, by the end of the coming fiscal year, the Government of
Newfoundland and Labrador will have spent more than $2.4 billion in Labrador
across all sectors -
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. KING: - across all sectors since the first Budget of 2004.
Mr. Speaker, our government's commitment to education is unprecedented.
Budget 2010: The Right Investments For Our Children and Our Future will see a
record $1.3 billion invested in K-12 and post-secondary education systems this
year. With that kind of commitment, Mr. Speaker, everyone benefits school
boards, teachers, and most importantly, our students.
Thank you.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Opposition.
MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I thank the minister for an advance copy of his statement.
Mr. Speaker, I am glad the government is recognizing that housing for
professionals has become a real problem across Labrador. Over the last twenty
years we have had to build houses right across the North and South Coast of
Labrador to accommodate social workers, nurses and police officers.
In the last number of years, especially in the last five years, a lot of our
problem with the recruitment and retention of teachers have been linked to lack
of housing in many of these communities.
I know, for example, Mr. Speaker, in the Community of Cartwright there was a
huge problem going back a number of years in trying to retain teachers in this
community because there was no available space for them to live. Fortunately,
with some newer accommodations, that recruitment rate has gone up somewhat. Mr.
Speaker, in general, in Labrador - and I think the minister knows this - it is
very difficult to recruit and retain teachers in many of our communities.
In the Community of Black Tickle, for instance this year, we have had in
Grades 4 to 6 three different teachers in that classroom this year. I am not
sure today, Mr. Speaker, but there may even be a vacancy again today for those
grades where they are having a complete transition of teachers on a regular
basis;, bringing in a supplementary, and oftentimes, Mr. Speaker, these children
are not getting the quality of education that they should be getting in the
classroom.
Mr. Speaker, the other issue that concerns me around these Labrador schools
is teacher allocations. Last year, the government opposite made some massive
cuts in a lot of rural schools around the Province. One of those schools, in St.
Lewis, for example, kids between the ages of K-6 were going to be left in the
classroom with one teacher, and, Mr. Speaker, because the parents lobbied
against that, the change was made. So I say to the minister, the infrastructure
is a huge bonus
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
MS JONES: - but ensure that you have the right number of allocations for
all of these kids in these classrooms. Mr. Speaker, when you are dealing with
infrastructure -
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
I say to the hon. member that her time for speaking has expired.
The hon. the Member for the District of Signal Hill-Quidi Vidi.
MS MICHAEL: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
I thank the minister for the advance copy of
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
The Chair recognized the hon. the Member for the District of Signal
Hill-Quidi Vidi.
MS MICHAEL: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
Once again, I hope he will hear me this time. I thank the minister for the
advance copy of his statement.
It is obviously very good news for the teachers in the Labrador school
district, who are teaching in Rigolet and Postville, to be getting this money
from the government for housing; and has been indicated by the Leader of the
Official Opposition, the practice of providing housing for professionals in
Labrador has been long standing and is needed. We need professionals in all
areas, and especially in the educational system.
I have been to every single one of the communities along the North Coast of
Labrador, including Black Tickle, and I know the situation. I know why housing
is necessary but I also want the government to recognize, Mr. Speaker, that we
have a housing -
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
If the Chair has to stand again to interrupt the hon. the Member for the
District of Signal Hill-Quidi Vidi, the Chair will first point to the members
who are causing the disorder here and after that the Chair will take the
appropriate action.
The hon. the Member for the District of Signal Hill-Quidi Vidi.
MS MICHAEL: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
As I was pointing out, while it is really important and it is essential that
we have housing for professionals working in Labrador who are coming in from the
outside, it is also important that we look at a housing crisis that is going on
for people who live in Labrador. I speak specifically of Labrador West, where we
have rents going up by two and three times the original rent. It is a serious
situation, Mr. Speaker, and I ask the government to respond to the housing
crisis in Labrador in particular though it is elsewhere - by enacting rent
control and building more social housing.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
MR. SPEAKER: Further statements by ministers?
The hon. the Minister of Justice and Attorney General.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. F. COLLINS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, as recognized on Monday by my colleague, the hon. Minister of
Health and Community Services, May 3 to May 9 is Mental Health Week 2010. In
recognition, I wish to provide information on the Canadian Mental Health
Association-Newfoundland and Labrador Justice Project.
Mr. Speaker, in continuing with our response to the independent review of
adult corrections, Decades of Darkness: Moving Towards the Light, the Department
of Justice, in partnership with Health and Community Services and the Canadian
Mental Health Association Newfoundland and Labrador, last year established the
Justice Project to improve mental health services at Her Majesty's Penitentiary.
As highlighted by the independent review, many inmates of this facility face
complex mental health issues. In response, we are now providing psychological
services at all our correctional facilities and also have the CMHA's exciting
new endeavour the Justice Project.
Administered by the Department of Justice, Mr. Speaker, the Justice Project
receives $220,000 each year from my department and the Department of Health and
Community Services to develop in-service mental health programming to inmates at
HMP. The Justice Project delivers counselling and support to inmates along with
transitional planning and intensive case management upon release for transition
back into the community.
Our goal, Mr. Speaker, is to reduce recidivism by creating more opportunities
for programming and rehabilitation, especially for those afflicted with mental
illness. Far too often in the past inmates diagnosed with mental illness
re-entered the community with minimal supports. These high need individuals
often found themselves back behind prison walls continuing the cycle of
incarceration.
To successfully reintegrate into the community, ongoing counselling and
support is critical for inmates suffering mental illness and already this
program has proven to be successful. In keeping with the recommendations of the
independent review to avail of community groups' expertise, the Justice Project,
Mr. Speaker, has developed effective professional partnerships to deliver this
innovative and groundbreaking program.
Mr. Speaker, the Justice Project has recently hired two case managers and has
already received twenty-four referrals. The Justice Project is innovative and
groundbreaking, and already other jurisdictions across the country have
expressed interest and wish to learn more from our experience.
The Canadian Mental Health Association-Newfoundland and Labrador is a strong
partner and we are pleased to work with them and the Department of Health and
Community Services to provide improved mental health programming for those in
custody. This relationship, Mr. Speaker, is a clear indication that change is
possible and our corrections services are moving in the appropriate direction.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Opposition House Leader.
MR. KELVIN PARSONS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I thank the minister for an advance copy of his statement. Of course, mental
health services at Her Majesty's Penitentiary have been an issue for quite some
time. I guess it was highlighted a couple of years ago when we had the
unfortunate death of Mr. Austin Aylward, who died while he was incarcerated
there in his cell. Of course, Justice initiated a review there with Justice
Robert Wells, who came back also, in addition to the Darkness report, and made
some suggestions for improvements. Hopefully, we will see the recommendations
that Justice Wells made also implemented, in addition to this program right now
called the Justice Project. This, of course, is only one small step as to what
is needed to combat the issues and the problems that we have there.
For example, when prisoners enter HMP right now, regardless of the fact that
they might be prescribed legitimate drugs by their doctors, the policy is to
remove them from the drugs. We have had numerous inmates and parents who have
called to say that all of their drugs are removed immediately. There are people
who have suicidal tendencies, depression, and bipolar disease. They simply have
their drugs removed by the psychiatrist at HMP and they are put in a handling
unit until it is decided what to do with him, and it has caused a host of
problems there. In fact, the Justice Department are also aware now that the
Citizens' Rep. is himself conducting a review based upon some of the horror
stories we have heard from what has happened to these inmates because their
drugs have been stripped from them and apparently no easy remedy available for
them.
Of course, Mr. Speaker, probably the most outstanding one we have is the
pre-detention centre in Happy Valley-Goose Bay where that lady was, because we
did not have a mental health room there, had her clothes stripped and was put
into a cell where she remained for quite some time. That is the other bigger
issue we need to address here as well, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you.
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for the District of Signal Hill-Quidi
Vidi.
MS MICHAEL: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
I thank the minister for an advance copy of his statement. This program
sounds like an excellent program. I am aware of some of the work that has begun
at Her Majesty's Penitentiary, for example. It is really essential that we make
sure that inmates are taken care of both physically, mentally, emotionally and
psychologically when they are incarcerated. This program is a drop in the bucket
with regard to the needs that are there. Mental health is an important issue in
corrections, we know that, but it is merely one piece of a much larger problem
that this government has to continue addressing.
The Minister of Health, himself, spoke in Estimates of the negative effect
addictions play in our society and how addictions are behind so much of crime in
our Province. There are many dimensions to somebody who has mental health
problems in the Penitentiary. The thing though that I think we need to recognize
is that the Penitentiary itself here in St. John's is an abomination. The last
time I was there staff said to me that programming is negatively affected by the
building itself, by that facility. I cannot say how much I believe that we have
to take action with regard to that facility. This Province has to move ahead
with or without the federal government to make sure that inmates are safely
incarcerated in accommodations that would allow them to get better if they have
mental health situations.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
MR. SPEAKER: Further statements by ministers?
Oral Questions.
Oral Questions
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Opposition.
MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, yesterday I raised an issue in the House regarding the dismissal
of the only child psychologist at the Janeway. We understand since, from Eastern
Health's press release, that this individual was suspended from their position
for apparently not having the necessary provisional license to practice.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the minister today: How long was this
individual practicing without a provisional license before his suspension, and
did the loss of this license have anything to do with his testimony into a youth
mental health case in this Province?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Health and Community Services.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. KENNEDY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Eastern Health outlines in its news release the issue of why this individual
was suspended, and further on states that there is other personnel information
that they are not going to get into. So essentially, Mr. Speaker, that is
something that Eastern Health will have to address when it comes to the
personnel issue.
Mr. Speaker, the one point and this was raised by the Leader of the
Opposition the other day. I want to point out, when you look at what we have
done as a government in relation to the Janeway incident that took place in
December of 2008, there was $620,000 in funding in 2009-2010, Mr. Speaker. That
is for five psychiatric nurses, an occupational therapist, a social worker and a
recreational therapist. In the funding for 2010-2011, Mr. Speaker, another
$429,916; again, another psychologist, an additional child care worker.
So, Mr. Speaker, in a period of two years, since this incident at the Janeway
in December of 2008, we have invested $1.1 million. We have our two new centres
which are being built, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. KENNEDY: I do not know how much more government can do in such a
short period of time.
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Opposition.
MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
This is a very serious issue, I say to the minister. When you have only one
child psychologist out of three positions left on staff at the Janeway, and the
individual is suspended saying that they have lost their license, yet no one is
prepared to say how long this individual continued to work without a license,
why they had lost their license in the first place. Those are the questions I
pose to the minister, and I ask you to provide an answer.
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Health and Community Services.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. KENNEDY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I am aware if we are talking about the same psychologist of the comments
that were made by Justice LeBlanc in his decision in the case of the teenager,
but, Mr. Speaker, the statistics provided to me indicate that we have fifty
psychologist's positions at Eastern Health, and eleven-and-a-half of those are
current and new positions, or assigned specifically to mental health, addiction
programs, and services for children and adolescents. Of these, seven are filled
and recruitment efforts are ongoing. So, it is inaccurate to state that this
individual is the only child psychologist in the Province. There are all kinds
of people out there, Mr. Speaker, who are also engaged in child psychology, but
in terms of Eastern Health, we also had an interdisciplinary team at Unit J4D,
which included an art therapist, an occupational therapist, and they are part of
the team. So if you read the report prepared by the Acting Child and Youth
Advocate, he does not simply talk about one individual being important. He talks
about a global approach and the need to have an interdisciplinary team.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Opposition.
MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
As the minister just stated, and was stated by Eastern Health yesterday, the
interdisciplinary team at the Janeway would provide the services to these
children and youth on an in-patient and outpatient basis while all three
psychologist's positions remain vacant. However, Mr. Speaker, I have spoken to
all three families who were using the services of the recent psychologist that
had been let go. They have informed me that their children have not been
receiving any treatment in the past month since this doctor has been suspended.
I ask the minister: Why that is the case?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Health and Community Services.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. KENNEDY: Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker.
In terms of I would not know who these families are that the Leader of the
Opposition is talking about. If there are concerns, I can certainly pass those
concerns on to Ms Kaminski, the CEO of Eastern Health and ask her to look at
them.
Mr. Speaker, again, what we are talking about is a psychologist is one part
of a team in terms of the interdisciplinary team. Mr. Speaker, for example, with
the new facilities that we are building, both in the addictions centre in Grand
Falls and the Centre for Youth with complex needs here in St. John's, they are,
again, based upon interdisciplinary models where you have, not simply
psychologists, you have psychiatrists if needed, you have various types of
counsellors, Mr. Speaker. In St. John's, for example, and Grand Falls, there
will be dedicated social workers, psychologists, teachers, art music therapists
and consulting psychiatrists. So, again, it is part of a continuum of care that
is being provided, and if there are issues with the care being provided to
children we will certainly take that up with Eastern Health.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Opposition.
MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I would say the minister should be well aware of who some of these families
are because he has dealt with them.
Mr. Speaker, how can the minister stand here today and say that these
children are receiving care as part of that team, and Eastern Health make those
statements publicly yesterday, when three of those families that I have had
communications with are stating otherwise?
I ask you, minister, in the case of this psychologist being suspended for
what reason we do not know, everyone is refusing to tell us, I ask you again:
What treatments are going to be made available to these children?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Health and Community Services.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. KENNEDY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, over the last number of years this government has invested more
than $17.5 million in the mental health and addictions field. If this is an
issue of money, in terms of we do not have the people to provide psychologists;
I can assure you, that is not the issue. That consulting psychologists can be
found and that if there are issues out there, I will personally speak to Ms
Kaminski and if we do not have the psychologists to provide, we will hire
people. The money will be provided. Money is not going to stand in the way of
providing proper health care to the people of this Province.
In our Budget, Mr. Speaker, we talked about this being a youth budget and
that is what we are trying to do. So, the Leader of the Opposition raises an
issue, I say to her, I will deal with that issue but I do not know the family
she is talking about. There are privacy concerns and there are ways that this
has to be dealt with, but that is the way it is, Mr. Speaker. I am more than
willing to deal with that. We are not going to allow families out there to be
without proper medical
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Opposition.
MS JONES: Unfortunately, minister, you have already left families out
there without this service.
Mr. Speaker, the Cabinet unilaterally selected John Rorke as the Acting Child
and Youth Advocate after heavy-handedly removing Darlene Neville from that
position. They selected Mr. Rorke, Mr. Speaker, without going through any
selection process. They chose to pay him $175 per hour, $100 an hour more than
any other advocate who has served in this position.
I ask the minister today: Why is government willing to pay such a substantial
salary to an individual who refuses to even advocate for children and to even
discuss his reports publicly?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Justice and the Attorney General.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. F. COLLINS: Mr. Speaker, the people of this Province were well aware
in September of the chaotic conditions that existed in the Office of the Child
and Youth Advocate. The situation down there was in shambles; it was in chaos.
Government had to take action. The action of the government was confirmed and
verified in the Noseworthy report. We had to do what we had to do in the
interest of the children of our Province.
The second piece of that process, Mr. Speaker, was to have somebody go in
there in an interim position, an acting position, to do the job, to clean that
office up. We did that, Mr. Speaker. We got a person with impeccable
characteristics; he has done the job. Contrary to what the Leader of the
Opposition says, he has advocated for the children of our Province. He is doing
a tremendous job. He has impeccable characteristics. We are delighted to have
him there. We put no price tag on him.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Opposition.
MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Other officials in the House of Assembly, such as the Auditor General, the
Citizens' Representative, the Information and Privacy Commissioner, all make
less than half of what Mr. Rorke's salary is. While Mr. Rorke is making the
equivalent of over $300,000 per year, in this year's Budget the government has
only estimated $107,000 for the Child and Youth Advocate salary.
So I ask the minister: According to your own Budget Estimates, one, when will
you be selecting a new, substantially lower paid permanent Advocate; and why is
there such a discrepancy between what is budgeted for this year and what is
being paid to Mr. Rorke at present?
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
The hon. the Minister of Justice and the Attorney General.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. F. COLLINS: Mr. Speaker, we make no apologies for the appointment of
John Rorke.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. F. COLLINS: I imagine he is eminently qualified and has done a
fantastic job. He has cleaned up a mess. He has cleaned up a mess in a short
time. He has advocated for the vulnerable children of this Province. We put no
price tag, Mr. Speaker, on his efforts. We are happy with the results. It was
one of the best decisions this government ever made to get such great results in
such a short time.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Opposition.
MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I say to the minister: You have no trouble putting price tags on doctors in
this Province who are saving people's lives in operating rooms every day.
Mr. Speaker, I did not ask the minister to apologize; I asked him to tell me
why they are paying Mr. Rorke as high as they are for the job he is doing.
Mr. Speaker, the Child and Youth Advocate in other provinces speak publicly
regarding their reports because they want to explain the methodology used and
the recommendations they put forward. They want to clarify all issues within
their reports. Even the Citizens' Representative, Mr. Speaker, as early as this
morning in this Province spoke out regarding a report and an issue from his own
office on the cancellation of the pre-detention facility for Goose Bay.
I ask the minister: Why is there a double standard and a lack of
accountability when it comes to Mr. Rorke? Is it because he was hand-picked by
your government and you are protecting him?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Justice and Attorney General.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. F. COLLINS: Mr. Speaker, the Leader of the Opposition was quoted on
September 3 in The Telegram as saying that her only concern with the new
appointment was that the work gets done, and it gets done in a timely manner.
Her concerns have been met, Mr. Speaker, in spades, with Mr. Rorke.
Mr. Speaker, the act that governs the role of the Child and Youth Advocate
he is a member accountable to the House of Assembly, not to any member or any
minister or Premier or anybody else. We cannot direct Mr. Rorke to speak to the
media. That is up to him, if he wants to do it. His contract - the legislation
is permissive legislation. It sets out his rules and duties. It is not
prescriptive of what he can do, what he cannot do. If he wants to talk to the
media, he can do that on his own. Some officers of the House like to talk to the
media, some do not.
There is nothing in this legislation or our control, whether it is me as
Minister of Justice, the Premier, or the Leader of the Opposition that can
direct Mr. Rorke to do anything like that.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Opposition.
MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
When Mr. Rorke was appointed with his big salary, Mr. Speaker, no one in this
Province understood that he would be muzzled, that he would never speak out
again, that he would just push paper out the door in the Child and Youth
Advocate office and not make himself available to talk about the findings and
recommendations in his report.
I ask the minister: Does he honestly believe that that is the acceptable
behaviour for a Child and Youth Advocate in this Province?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Justice and Attorney General.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. F. COLLINS: Mr. Speaker, anybody who knows John Rorke, I do not think
can say he can be muzzled.
Mr. Speaker, again I repeat, Mr. Rorke took on a position in an acting
capacity for a short term, a very highly volatile situation, very public
situation, agreed to do it, did a job for government, did it well, and worth
every cent he is getting.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Opposition.
MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
When the Opposition reviewed the court decision documents relating to our
government's environmental protection orders against AbitibiBowater, we learned
that there were environmental assessment reports presented as evidence. Up to
this point, no one in the public knew that government had full knowledge of the
extent of Abitibi's environmental liabilities.
I say to the minister, to use her own words, we take the issues of the
environment very seriously. Minister, officials in our office have had the
opportunity to read the reports, and we now realize that government had full
knowledge of all environmental liabilities since the fall of 2009, but did not
make the public aware of the extent of the damage.
I ask you today: Why did you not tell the people of the Province that you had
reports which outlined the full extent of pollution on former Abitibi properties
once these reports were in your hands?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Environment and Conservation.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MS JOHNSON: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, we do not have full knowledge. If she understood the difference
between Phase I, Phase II and Phase III environmental site assessments, she
would know that the information we have is limited information and there is a
further piece of work that needs to be done and it needs to be done by Abitibi.
As a part of that work that was done, one of the things that was brought to
our attention was that there was immediate health and safety concern in Buchans.
That is why, Mr. Speaker, we were very public around that issue. Within days of
having the information, analyzing the information, the Minister of Health and
myself were out in Buchans. The information was put forward, presented in a very
public way - it is, in fact, on the Web site if you want to see it. Our
government committed $9 million to clean up the immediate health and safety
concern in that area, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Opposition.
MS JONES: Mr. Speaker, at the same time that the minister had the report
on Buchans, you also had the report on Grand Falls mill site which showed that
heavy metals and other toxic pollutants exceeding human health guidelines were
not only in the soil but discharging into the Exploits River.
I ask the minister: Why did you not bring that information forward to the
people of Grand Falls in a timely fashion and on a precautionary basis as you
did in Buchans?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Environment and Conservation.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MS JOHNSON: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, her question is about forty-eight hours too late. Do you know
why it is too late? Because under her direction, an e-mail was sent to the Town
of Grand Falls stating that there is some very serious health and safety
concerns for the people in your community.
Mr. Speaker, there is nothing further from the truth. There are environmental
issues there; they are not of immediate health and safety concern. What she did
was absolutely, totally irresponsible. Mr. Speaker, I had to pick up the phone
and call the Mayor of Grand Falls-Windsor yesterday to reassure the people of
that community that there is not an immediate health and safety concern there.
Yes, there are environmental issues; they are on an industrial site, very
different than the case in Buchans where we stepped up to the plate. Had there
been issues that related to the public in that area in health and safety
concerns, we would have done the exact same thing in Grand Falls-Windsor that we
did in Buchans.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Opposition.
MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
If the minister was doing her job, no one else would have to send an e-mail,
I say to you, Minister.
In the same press release concerning the Buchans soil contamination, the
Minister of Environment and Conservation said, "While this data is preliminary,
it allows us to inform the town so appropriate measures can be taken to reduce
their exposure while additional testing is ongoing."
So I say to you, Minister: Why were you not equally concerned about the
potential health impacts of the sixteen areas of concern that were identified in
the environmental assessment of the Grand Falls mill site?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Environment and Conservation.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MS JOHNSON: Mr. Speaker, I am going to give the member a little science
and engineering tutorial here now.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MS JOHNSON: There is a difference in terms of a health and safety risk
when it is related to an industrial site and a residential site. On an
industrial site, such as Grand Falls-Windsor, there is no continuous source. It
is not spreading throughout the community, Mr. Speaker. It is an environmental
issue that we do want remediated but compare that to Buchans where you have
exposed tailings that are spread around the community, that the children have a
potential to ingest. There are no children on an industrial site; that is the
difference; that is the science difference.
Mr. Speaker, if she has any questions like this before they go fear mongering
in the public, I suggest that they certainly call my office and ask me.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Opposition.
MS JONES: Mr. Speaker, the minister put out precautionary notices to
Buchans back in the fall. She had the same information on Grand Falls.
I say to you, Minister, do not lay the excuse here today, do not lay the
excuse here today that there are no children on a playground in this community
when you know that the sixteen areas of concern, noted in the consultant's
report, include facility wide concentrations of arsenic in the soil at higher
levels than legal guidelines, along with other metal facilities in groundwater,
and an asbestos disposal site in which the people who were out there working had
to stop digging in.
So I ask the minister: Why did you believe that this information should not
be shared with the public, and why did you not conduct further testing and
analysis on the residential properties and the public spaces adjacent to the
Grand Falls mill site as you did in Buchans?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Environment and Conservation.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MS JOHNSON: Mr. Speaker, last week in this House, the Leader of the
Opposition stood up and said that we took over half of Grand Falls when we
expropriated that site - fear mongering again. Now, she is back here trying to
put fear into the people of Grand Falls-Windsor again. She is making it up as
she goes.
The Phase II reports indicate that there are environmental issues in the
groundwater and in the soil. Mr. Speaker, there are no children playing in an
industrial site; that is the very difference. However, when the issue came to
our attention that there was an immediate potential human health and safety
issue in the Town of Buchans, Mr. Speaker, we immediately acted. We did sections
of a Phase III study in Buchans. That was not necessary in Grand Falls-Windsor
because it is on an industrial site. That is the difference, Mr. Speaker.
Again, if she needs some further lessons in Phase I, Phase II, Phase III, and
risk assessments, I will gladly give them to her.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Opposition.
MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The only one who needs lessons here is the Minister of Environment in how to
do her job, Mr. Speaker, because she has failed at it miserably.
The consultants also found significant pollution in six logging camps in the
Botwood site and the former Stephenville mill site.
Why did you not release this information to the public so that they could
take precautions similar to the one encouraged in Buchans? I ask the minister:
Will she release all of these reports to the public today and explain the
implications of this contamination of human health and environmental safety to
the people of this Province? What you should have done (inaudible)
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
The hon. the Minister of Environment and Conservation.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MS JOHNSON: Mr. Speaker, this information is public. I have offered it to
the member, to come over to my office, and she has sent her staff over. I have
offered it to the mayor of Grand Falls
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
MS JOHNSON: Mr. Speaker, talk to the mayor of Buchans, ask him how open
and transparent we were when that issue came to the forefront of an immediate
health and safety concern. Yes, Mr. Speaker, there are environmental issues in
Stephenville, in Botwood, in the logging camps, but we prioritize. When it comes
to health and safety and when it comes to children that gets prioritized over
groundwater and soil.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MS JOHNSON: That is exactly why we committed $9 million to the people of
Buchans. That is why the tenders are going out very soon. We are going to see
work conducted there in June, all complete by the fall, so the people of Buchans
do not have to deal with these exposed tailings any further.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for the District of Port de Grave.
MS JONES: (Inaudible).
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
I ask the hon. Leader of the Opposition to allow her colleague to ask the
question.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. BUTLER: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker, for my protection.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. BUTLER: Mr. Speaker, last week the minister assured us that the
Beaumont Hamel will be going back to Bell Island over the past weekend;
however, the vessel is still in St. John's Harbour.
I ask the minister today: What is the status on the repairs being conducted
on the Beaumont Hamel , and when can the residents of Bell Island expect
to see this vessel back in service?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Transportation and Works.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. HEDDERSON: Mr. Speaker, as I indicated last week in response to the
question from the member opposite the Beaumont Hamel is in for repairs
and inspections are ensuing. Certainly, I am not going to rush bringing a boat
back until I have the satisfaction that everything is okay, the inspection is
continuing. As soon as it is complete and the boat is ready to come back, it
will come back.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for the District of Port de Grave.
MR. BUTLER: Mr. Speaker, I never asked the minister to rush the return of
the Beaumont Hamel . It is just that he stated it would be in service last
weekend.
Mr. Speaker, we have also heard that when the Earl W. Winsor goes for
its annual maintenance that it would be likely replaced also by the Beaumont
Hamel . The Beaumont Hamel can accommodate half of the passengers of
the Winsor which poses problems for commuters, tourists and the crab
fishery. We also cannot forget the residents of Bell Island who also depend on
the Beaumont Hamel .
I ask the minister: When the Winsor goes on dry dock, will the
Beaumont Hamel be replacing it, or will it return to the Bell Island
service?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Transportation and Works.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. HEDDERSON: Mr. Speaker, again, in response to the question, obviously
we are trying everything we can - I, as minister and we, as a government - to
make sure that services to our islands are at a level that is meeting the needs
of the people.
We are working - I, as minister, our department and my officials are working
very closely with both committees, both on Bell Island and on Fogo Island. We
are certainly working to the best of our ability to provide those services. The
Beaumont Hamel , we hope, will be back as soon as possible. It will go
back on the Bell Island run. The Nonia then will be going out to Little
Bay Islands or Long Island to take care of that and, I believe, on May 25 the
Winsor will be coming out of Fogo to go in for three weeks we hope
repair and during that time we will be moving the Beaumont Hamel out
there and the Nonia back to Bell Island.
Again, asking the patience of the people as we try as best we can to manage
this particular situation.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
The hon. the Member for the District of Port de Grave.
MR. BUTLER: Mr. Speaker, our office has also received calls from
concerned workers on the Earl W. Winsor , many who are worried that they
are going to be laid off while the Winsor goes in for emergency repairs
on May 25. We understand that this is going to affect about twenty-two workers
and that such layoffs have not occurred in the past.
I ask the minister: Is this a new practice and, if so, what are the reasons
for laying off twenty-two workers while the vessel is on refit?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Transportation and Works.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. HEDDERSON: I say, Mr. Speaker, when I was in Opposition asking
questions I always knew the answers before I asked a question. I am sure the
member is very much well aware that this is not a new practice. The member next
to him got up in the last session of the House and asked a similar question.
As I pointed out, the practice is that when a ship goes into refit that we do
make sure that the crew that are aboard go in, usually the captain and
engineers, to make sure that the work is completed and completed to
satisfaction. Any crew members that are necessary for additional maintenance,
they will be kept on, but those that are not needed, that the boat does not need
that type of a refit or maintenance, those people will indeed be laid off. It is
not a new practice; it is a practice that has gone on now for several years. The
crew on the Winsor know it, the people we serve know it, everyone knows
it, and I am sure the member knew it before he asked it.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. Member for the District of Signal Hill-Quidi Vidi.
MS MICHAEL: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, this morning there was a report that the Citizens'
Representative was not giving up the fight for the pre-trial detention centre
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
MS MICHAEL: recommended by his office in 2007.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
MS MICHAEL: Mr. Speaker, yesterday here in this House we debated a
government private member's motion on the Violence Prevention Initiative when we
spoke about women trying to escape violent situations. Mr. Speaker, the women
who get charged with a criminal action are often victims of abuse themselves.
Mr. Speaker, it is important that women in Labrador feel safe and secure when
they are in the pre-trial situation.
In light of this, Mr. Speaker, I ask the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs if
she will make a commitment to the women of Labrador to fight for a centre to be
put in place before the review of correctional facilities in the Province is
completed.
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Justice and the Attorney General.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. F. COLLINS: Mr. Speaker, the Department of Justice and the Government
of Newfoundland and Labrador is well aware of the need of the women and the
youth in Labrador as expressed a couple of years ago by the Citizens'
Representative. That need has been identified and, as has been said so many
times in the last couple of weeks, that need will be considered in the internal
review that we are doing of correctional institutions, including Labrador.
Mr. Speaker, we are looking at what options are available to us to deal with
these particular needs in Labrador, and at the end of the year hopefully we will
have some clear direction as to how we can deal with that. That is where we are
at the moment. They have not been forgotten. It has not been shelved, as the
Opposition has claimed. Mr. Speaker, it is very much a part of our review.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for the District of Signal Hill-Quidi
Vidi.
MS MICHAEL: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
The decision has been shelved, Mr. Speaker, because it has been put on hold.
I would point that out to the minister.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
MS MICHAEL: We have heard the minister give this excuse a couple of times
now here in the House. The Citizens' Representative points out in his report
that a pre-trial detention centre is not a prison; it should be a stand-alone
program - a building, obviously - that has nothing to do with what happens with
the correctional facilities in the Province. It is something that is needed in
and of itself.
I ask the minister: Why are they determined to revisit this decision, and why
not allow this pre-trial detention centre to go ahead?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Justice and the Attorney General.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. F. COLLINS: Mr. Speaker, we take no opposition to the decision of the
Citizens' Rep; and, in fact, we welcome his comments. What we have examined, Mr.
Speaker, to date, is a pre-trial detention centre, or some modifications
thereof, and that may not well be the answer to the needs in Labrador, as the
Citizens' Rep has said. I mean, we might not need a pre-detention centre in the
sense of a glorified lock-up or a detention centre where services are given to
people who are staying for short terms.
He might well be right; there might well be other options in Labrador that we
can look at. There might well be other facilities. We may not need walls and
barbed wire in this situation. There are other options we are looking at and
that is exactly what we are doing, Mr. Speaker, in our internal review.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for the District of Signal Hill-Quidi
Vidi.
MS MICHAEL: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
Well, reading and listening to what the women in Labrador are saying, and the
Mokami Status of Women Council are saying; they believe that this centre is
necessary.
I am asking two ministers, the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and the
Minister of Justice: Will they go and sit down with the women in Labrador and
the women on the coast and hear what they have to say? Because they are saying
it is needed, and it is needed now.
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Justice and the Attorney General.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. F. COLLINS: Mr. Speaker, just yesterday we met with the Minister's
Committee on Violence Against Women. We have talked to the people in Labrador;
we have talked to a number of groups, Mr. Speaker. We recognize that we have to
do a whole lot of consultation with the women's groups, the stakeholders on the
ground in Labrador, before we make any decisions in this respect.
Mr. Speaker, I am happy to say that we are sending officials to Labrador
within very short order, to meet with all the stakeholders in Labrador, to get
what consultation we can on this issue.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The time allotted for questions and answers has expired.
Presenting Reports by Standing and Select Committees.
The hon. the Government House Leader.
MS BURKE: I am rising on a point of order, Mr. Speaker.
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Government House Leader, on a point of order.
MS BURKE: Mr. Speaker, I did not interrupt Question Period to make a
point of order, but I would like to bring forward now what I would like to
address.
Mr. Speaker, Standing Order 49 of our Standing Orders of the House of
Assembly reads, "No Member shall speak disrespectfully of Her Majesty, nor of
any of the Royal Family, nor of the Governor or Administrator of the Government
of Canada; nor of the Lieutenant-Governor of this Province; nor use offensive
words against any Member of this House. No Member may reflect upon any vote of
the House except for the purpose of moving that such vote be rescinded."
Mr. Speaker, the
section of this Standing Order that I would like to address
is the fact that says; "nor use offensive words against any Member of this
House."
During Question Period, Mr. Speaker, the Leader of the Opposition spoke about
Members of this House of Assembly muzzling the Child and Youth Advocate. Mr.
Speaker, that is not true. No one has given any orders that the Advocate cannot
speak; that is his choice if he speaks or not. To use the word muzzle and to put
those motives on a Member of the House of Assembly, Mr. Speaker, is offensive.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
The hon. the Opposition House Leader, to the point of order?
MR. KELVIN PARSONS: Yes, Mr. Speaker.
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Opposition House Leader, to that point of
order.
MR. KELVIN PARSONS: Mr. Speaker, I challenge the submission made by the
Government House Leader. In no parliamentary dictionary that you would want to
refer to has the word muzzled ever been found to be unparliamentary or
disrespectful in any manner. It describes the actions that the Leader of the
Opposition said this government are ascribing to. It has nothing to do with
being disrespectful. It describes their course of action.
If we are going to get down to suggesting that the use of the word muzzled
Mr. Speaker, I can suggest that would do nothing but muzzle the freedom of us,
as parliamentarians, to speak our minds here in this House.
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Government House Leader, to that point of
order?
AN HON. MEMBER: (Inaudible).
MR. SPEAKER: A final submission, I say to the hon. Government House
Leader.
MS BURKE: Yes, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, it is not so much the word muzzle as the actions that would
imply: that Members of this House of Assembly, in some way, have ordered or have
indicated that the Child and Youth Advocate is unable to speak publicly.
To indicate that a Member of this House of Assembly has that control over an
officer of the House of Assembly, Mr. Speaker, is offensive and certainly gives
an impression to the public that, as politicians or members of this House, we
indicate when that Advocate is able to speak or not able to speak.
Mr. Speaker, that is what is offensive. We do not take that action. That has
not happened, and I think that point needs to be clarified.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
Often there are phrases used and there are words used here that members refer
to as being unparliamentary, and in some cases they are unparliamentary. It
depends on the tone being used, and it depends on the debate that is taking
place and the body action of the person who is talking at that particular time
as well.
I say to members opposite, it is not the point of the word muzzling being
unparliamentary or parliamentary; it is the point of being cognizant and being
sensitive to the language that we use here in this House. It is done by both
sides of the House and by many members quite often.
I say to members, be a little bit sensitive to the terminology you use, the
words you use, because to you or to me it may not be offensive but to others it
might.
So I am not going to say whether it is parliamentary or unparliamentary
because I do not know if it is either, but certainly members should be guided
and be sensitive to some of the words that they use here in this House that
might be unparliamentary or unacceptable to other members.
Presenting Reports by Standing and Select Committees.
Tabling of Documents.
Notices of Motion.
Answers to Questions for which Notice has been Given.
Petitions.
Petitions
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Opposition.
MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I stand today and present a petition on behalf of the residents, Mr. Speaker,
in the Province who are totally appalled and against the decision of the
provincial government to relocate air ambulance services out of St. Anthony to
Happy Valley-Goose Bay.
Mr. Speaker, these individuals feel that there is a need for a third air
ambulance service in this Province. They certainly feel that there is a need to
close the gap on air ambulance and the need in Labrador. They do not feel that
the government is going about doing it in the right and proper manner, Mr.
Speaker. In fact, they feel that the air ambulance service should be kept in St.
Anthony and the service should be enhanced by adding a full medevac team in that
community, and that Labrador within itself should have its own air ambulance
services to provide for the needs of the patients in that particular area.
People have felt so strongly about this and have really challenged the
government in their decision. They have done it with very few answers and they
did it, Mr. Speaker, without being given a lot of time at all.
In fact, Mr. Speaker, yesterday we heard from the Mayor of St. Anthony who
tried to bring the points of his community and the views of his community to the
government in meeting with the minister. He was absolutely appalled with the
treatment and the behaviour and the language that was used by that minister of
the Crown, Mr. Speaker, in dealing with his council and this issue which is so
important to them. In fact, he felt so strongly about it that he took the
opportunity to write to the Premier to express his concerns about the callous
remarks and the insinuations that had been put forward by the Minister of Health
and Community Services in bringing forward their issue.
Mr. Speaker, this is an individual, a mayor who has always prided himself on
his working relationship with government and with the ministers of the Cabinet.
Unfortunately, on this particular issue he soon found out how this government
really acts and how callous they can really be. Mr. Speaker, that kind of
bullying and those kinds of tactics would not be tolerated in our classrooms in
our schools, it would not be tolerated from teachers in a classroom, it would
not be tolerated from medical professionals, and I suggest it would not be
tolerated from lawyers in any other environment.
I think that the minister, at the very least, should not only reconsider the
decision that he has made knowing it is the wrong decision, but he should openly
apologize to the people in the St. Anthony area, to Mr. Simms and to his
council, and give these individuals a fair hearing on getting their air
ambulance services back and getting them in place.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
MR. SPEAKER: Further petitions?
Orders of the Day.
Orders of the Day
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Government House Leader.
MS BURKE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the hon. Minister of Justice and Attorney
General for leave to introduce a bill entitled,
An Act To Amend The Fatal
Accidents Act, Bill 15, and I further move that the said bill be now read a
first time.
MR. SPEAKER: I wonder if I could ask the Government House Leader which
bill she is referencing?
MS BURKE: Bill 15, Mr. Speaker.
MR. SPEAKER: Bill 15. Thank you.
It is moved and seconded that the hon. the Government House Leader shall have
leave to introduce a bill entitled,
An Act To Amend The Fatal Accidents Act,
Bill 15, and that Bill 15 be now read a first time.
Is it the pleasure of the House that Bill 15 be now read a first time?
All those in favour, aye'.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Aye.
MR. SPEAKER: All those against, nay'.
The motion is carried.
Motion, the hon. the Minister of Justice and Attorney General to introduce a
bill, "An Act To Amend The Fatal Accidents Act", carried. (Bill 15)
CLERK: A bill,
An Act To Amend The Fatal Accidents Act. (Bill 15)
MR. SPEAKER: Bill 15 has now been read a first time.
When shall the said bill be read a second time?
MS BURKE: On tomorrow, Mr. Speaker.
MR. SPEAKER: Tomorrow.
On motion, Bill 15 read a first time, ordered read a second time on tomorrow.
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Government House Leader.
MS BURKE: Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the hon. the Minister of
Government Services for leave to introduce a bill entitled,
An Act To Amend The
Insurance Companies Act, Bill 16, and I further move that the said bill be now
read a first time.
MR. SPEAKER: It is properly moved and seconded that the hon. the
Government House Leader shall have leave to introduce a bill entitled,
An Act To
Amend The Insurance Companies Act, Bill 16, and that Bill 16 be now read a first
time.
Is it the pleasure of the House to accept the motion that Bill 16 be now read
a first time?
All those in favour, aye'.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Aye.
MR. SPEAKER: All those against, nay'.
The motion is carried.
Motion, the hon. the Minister of Government Services to introduce a bill, "An
Act To Amend The Insurance Companies Act", carried. (Bill 16)
CLERK: A bill,
An Act To Amend The Insurance Companies Act. (Bill 16)
MR. SPEAKER: Bill 16 has now been read a first time.
When shall Bill 16 be read a second time?
MS BURKE: Tomorrow, Mr. Speaker.
MR. SPEAKER: Tomorrow.
On motion, Bill 16 read a first time, ordered read a second time on tomorrow.
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Government House Leader.
MS BURKE: Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the hon. the Minister of
Health and Community Services for leave to introduce a bill entitled,
An Act
Respecting The Regulation Of Certain Health Professions, Bill 17, and I further
move that the said bill be now read a first time.
MR. SPEAKER: It is properly moved and seconded by the hon. the Government
House Leader to ask leave to introduce a bill,
An Act Respecting The Regulation
Of Certain Health Professions, Bill 17, and that Bill 17 be now read a first
time.
Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion that Bill 17 be now read
a first time?
All those in favour, aye'.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Aye.
MR. SPEAKER: All those against, nay'.
The motion is carried.
Motion, the hon. the Minister of Health and Community Services to introduce a
bill, "An Act Respecting The Regulation Of Certain Health Professions". (Bill 17
CLERK:
An Act Respecting The Regulation Of Certain Health Professions.
(Bill 17)
MR. SPEAKER: Bill 17 has now been read a first time.
When shall Bill 17 be read a second time?
MS BURKE: Tomorrow, Mr. Speaker.
MR. SPEAKER: Tomorrow.
On motion, Bill 17 read a first time, ordered read a second time on tomorrow.
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Government House Leader.
MS BURKE: Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the hon. Minister of
Government Services for leave to introduce a bill entitled,
An Act To Amend The
Accident And Sickness Insurance Act, The Automobile Insurance Act, The Insurance
Adjusters, Agents And Brokers Act, The Insurance Contracts Act And The Life
Insurance Act, Bill 18, and I further move that the said bill be now read a
first time.
MR. SPEAKER: It is properly moved and seconded by the hon. the Government
House Leader to ask leave to introduce a bill entitled,
An Act To Amend The
Accident And Sickness Insurance Act, The Automobile Insurance Act, The Insurance
Adjusters, Agents And Brokers Act, The Insurance Contracts Act And The Life
Insurance Act, Bill 18, and that this bill be now read a first time.
Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion that Bill 18 be now read
a first time?
All those in favour, aye'.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Aye.
MR. SPEAKER: All those against, nay'.
The motion is carried.
Motion, the hon. the Minister of Government Services to introduce a bill, "An
Act To Amend The Accident And Sickness Insurance Act, The Automobile Insurance
Act, The Insurance Adjusters, Agents And Brokers Act, The Insurance Contracts
Act And The Life Insurance Act", carried. (Bill 18)
CLERK: A bill,
An Act To Amend The Accident And Sickness Insurance Act,
The Automobile Insurance Act, The Insurance Adjusters, Agents And Brokers Act,
The Insurance Contracts Act And The Life Insurance Act. (Bill 18)
MR. SPEAKER: Bill 18 has now been read a first time.
When shall Bill 18 be read a second time?
MS BURKE: Tomorrow, Mr. Speaker.
MR. SPEAKER: Tomorrow.
On motion, Bill 18 read a first time, ordered read a second time on tomorrow.
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Government House Leader.
MS BURKE: Mr. Speaker, I would like to call from the Order Paper, Motion
MR. SPEAKER: The motion is that we now revert to Motion 1, the Budget
Speech.
I recognize the hon. the Member for the District of Terra Nova.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. S. COLLINS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
It is a tremendous honour to stand in this House today and represent the
wonderful District of Terra Nova; a district that I am so extremely proud of, a
district that I owe so much to. Allow me to begin by taking this opportunity to
express my sincere gratitude to the residents for their overwhelming support
during my recent by-election.
On November 26 of last year, residents made their way to the polls to cast
their ballots. The result was a victory by over 700 votes. This decisive win
told us a couple of things. First, it said the voters had the confidence in me
as an individual to effectively represent them. Secondly, and just as important,
the residents of Terra Nova district agree with the direction this government
has taken since gaining office in 2003, and they look forward to the same
effective leadership as we proceed into the future.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. S. COLLINS: Mr. Speaker, I would like to take a few moments now to
pass along some specific words of appreciation; recognizing some very important
people that were instrumental in my success.
First and foremost, I give thanks to God for giving me the ability and
opportunity to pursue my dreams. I am so grateful for all the good things that
have been afforded to me. Mr. Speaker, we are so blessed to call Newfoundland
and Labrador home. In a world that often feels like it is full of turmoil and
upheaval, we certainly should recognize and appreciate the peace and prosperity
we enjoy here.
To my wife, Samantha: Mr. Speaker, if you allowed me all day to talk about
this woman, I still would not have time to explain how great she is.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. S. COLLINS: She knew that it was a dream of mine to become elected to
the House of Assembly and
MR. O'BRIEN: (Inaudible).
MR. S. COLLINS: I would say to the Member for Gander, I have been married
now for one year and so far so good, but I do take that under advisement, so
thank you.
She knew that it was a dream of mine to become elected to the House of
Assembly and she was willing to take on that huge responsibility with me. It is
no easy task to be the partner of an elected official and she has thus far taken
it all in stride and has been so supportive. I will certainly rely on that
continuing support in the days, months and years ahead.
To my mother, Gertie, and stepfather Calvin: you two were always so extremely
helpful and supportive, and during my campaign was no exception. Mom, you are by
far and away the strongest person I know.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. S. COLLINS: When Dad passed away, you had so much pressure on you to
keep things going and to establish a new normal for our family. While it seemed
like an impossible task, your love and strength brought us through. You will
never know how thankful and how proud I am to call you Mom.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. S. COLLINS: Mr. Speaker, while my late father, Dan, is no longer with
us, he remains ever present in my mind and heart. Not a single day goes by that
his memory is not with me. Many people comment that I am very much like my
father, so any accolades I receive are certainly a testament to him. While he
passed away shortly after the Premier took the helm as leader, I know he would
be so extremely happy with the job that has been done thus far by this
government and so extremely proud that I am now part of it.
To my brother Bart and his wife Deanna: a huge thank you for your love and
support. Bart, when Dad was taken from us prematurely you stepped in and you
stepped up. You provided with me the guidance through my university years and
continue to be such a big part of my life. Thank you for your patience and
concern. I can always rely on you, and for that I am grateful.
To my campaign team: you people did a tremendous job. Everything ran smoothly
because of your organization and planning. I will be forever indebted to you for
the help provided during those three weeks.
As a candidate, Mr. Speaker, you are so busy knocking on doors and trying to
connect with as many people as possible, you really do not have the appropriate
time to participate in the organization and planning. You are left relying on
your campaign team, and, Mr. Speaker, I can certainly say that I was able to
trust and rely on this group so easily. They were simply amazing.
I must, however, single out my campaign manager, and now my constituency
assistant, Ang Chatman. Thank you so much for your effort, commitment, and
friendship. We, better than anyone else know how much work was involved in this
campaign and getting elected was just the start. We recognize what is needed in
our district and we work every day to achieve the many goals we have set out. As
each of my colleagues would admit, behind every successful member is a
hardworking assistant. Mr. Speaker, anyone who has had the pleasure of dealing
with Ang would surely agree she is well suited to such a position, as she is
caring, compassionate and very competent. I look forward to working with Ang for
many years to come.
I would like to also acknowledge my local PC Association under the leadership
of long-time party supporter, Richard Kelly. I knew what the goal was, and you
folks were able to get me here. An association such as mine is an incredibly
important asset. Thank you for your unwavering commitment.
To my good friends Karen and Paul Oram, I certainly recognize and appreciate
all you have done for me. In 2004, Paul gave me the opportunity to get involved
with this Administration. I worked as his constituency assistant for three years
and then as executive assistant for almost two years. During that time, I had
the chance to meet and deal with countless people in the district and in
government. Those four-plus years were a tremendous benefit to my growth, both
professionally and personally. It allowed me to see, and most importantly,
appreciate the various aspects involved with being a member of the House of
Assembly.
Mr. Speaker, I am so very thankful for the opportunity and guidance Paul
provided me in the years that I worked with him and most recently, in the help
given during the by-election. He went above and beyond. Paul was a terrific
representative for our district and I can only hope to one day be as good as
him. I wish my good friend all the best in the future.
Last, and certainly not least, I would like to thank the Premier and the
entire caucus for the support during the by-election, but more importantly,
since taking my seat. Upon being elected, I was openly welcomed in the caucus.
As a member of this team I am given equal opportunity to pass opinions and
participate. The Premier always says that each voice around that table brings a
different perspective and therefore should be heard. Our newest voice, the
Member for Topsail, will undoubtedly prove to be an invaluable addition to this
team. I would like to again welcome our newest member and look forward to
working with him in the future.
We have a strong caucus with a clear vision and it is a tremendous thing to
witness this group working together. A team cannot be measured on any one
individual's ability, and while we have the most dynamic Premier this Province
has ever seen, the group around him must also be equal to the challenge. Mr.
Speaker, the saying, "No one can whistle a symphony. It takes an orchestra to
play it," certainly describes this caucus.
While I singled out a number of individuals and groups, I must also
acknowledge the huge number of volunteers that assisted me during the campaign.
Right throughout the district, from Bloomfield to Dover and all the communities
in between, people came forward to offer their time and support. Whether it was
making phone calls, knocking on doors, erecting signs or always making sure we
had food at the various campaign headquarters, you folks were terrific. Not only
did I gain supporters, I gained many friends, friendships that will undoubtedly
last a lifetime.
Now, Mr. Speaker, if I may speak a little about the riding I so proudly
represent. Terra Nova district, home to over 13,000 residents spread out over
twenty-one different communities. As diverse and dynamic as any district you
will find in this great Province, a vibrant and thriving district that has
experienced new growth and prosperity under this Administration.
I am quick to brag about my district and to flaunt its many assets. The
district includes such industries as three fish processing plants, numerous
forestry related operations, a world-class shipbuilding operation, dairy farms,
the Province's largest cranberry operation, various manufacturing facilities and
many up and coming businesses. We have so much potential and it is safe to say,
the best is yet to come.
Mr. Speaker, we all know how important tourism is to our Province and my
district plays a large role in its success. We boast such things as the Eastport
Peninsula with its gorgeous beaches; the Smallwood
Interpretation Centre in
historic Gambo; the rugged beauty of Salvage, one of the oldest inhabited
communities in North America; Terra Nova River, which any angler would tell you
is among the best salmon rivers in the Province; the Burnside Archeological Dig
chronicling the vast history of Maritime Archaic, Paleo-Eskimo and Beothuk
Indians, and of course there is Terra Nova Park, established in 1957 as the
Province's first national park.
The district comes alive with festivals every year, wonderful celebrations of
our culture and heritage: Smallwood Days and the Loggers festival in Gambo; the
Eastport Peninsula with its Winterset in Summer literary festival; the annual
Agricultural Fair and Seafest, and many musical festivals showcasing the area's
talent, such as the Glovertown Music Fest and the Accordion Festival. We have so
much to offer and we love to show it off.
While all these industries and assets are significant, undoubtedly our
greatest resource is our people, made up of generous, compassionate, hardworking
women and men. Throughout my life growing up in Glovertown and having spent over
four years working for and with the district, I have come to realize just how
lucky I am to refer to this place as home. The two years spent teaching and
travelling abroad further convinced me that what we have here is so very, very
special.
While I spent the majority of the past five years in St. John's working for
government, I am happy to say that on Monday, March 22, the groundwork began on
my family's new home in the district. You cannot imagine how thrilled I am to
once again become a full-time resident of Glovertown.
Mr. Speaker, if I may change gears for a moment: after hearing the maiden
speech from my colleague for The Straits & White Bay North, and witnessing the
daily rhetoric from the Opposition parties, I feel as though I must address some
of the opinions that seem to be continually recycled and reused, but
unfortunately not reduced. They talk so much about the supposed doom and gloom
that they have witnessed in rural parts of this Province.
Mr. Speaker, allow me to quickly put things into a proper context. My
district's largest town has a population of 2,500 people, with the smallest
having eighty-two. My district does not have an airport; my district does not
have a Tim Hortons; my district does not even have a traffic light. My district
is a rural district. It is made up of small rural communities, Mr. Speaker, that
are thriving and contributing to the provincial economy. They are not, as the
Opposition would have us believe, suffering and on the road to disaster. It
actually offends me when I constantly hear the Opposition parties touting that
rural Newfoundland and Labrador is in an out-of-control tailspin. Frankly, it is
untrue and I would suggest altogether ridiculous.
Why do we see communities in my district performing so well? Why are
communities growing? The answer is unwavering commitment by this government. The
folks in the Terra Nova district have been given the tools of unprecedented
investment and support from this Administration. We are not sitting idly by
watching progress pass us by; we are seizing opportunities and making them work
for us. This is what we are witnessing right across this great Province.
It is no wonder that employment will grow in the coming year, with employment
rates to shrink. It is no wonder that housing starts will again increase; it is
no wonder that personal and disposable income will grow; and, Mr. Speaker, it is
no wonder that the population is expected to increase once again. The facts and
figures speak for themselves.
Now, Mr. Speaker, I am not foolish enough to think that everything is
completely rosy. We have had our difficulties and there will undoubtedly be
issues that arise in the future. The forestry sector, for example, has
experienced a downturn over the past number of years due to currency issues,
supply and global market demand, and we are all aware of the challenges facing
the fishery. We, as a government, recognize these issues and are committed to
resolving them with sustainable long-term solutions, an idea that seemed lost on
the former Administration.
Mr. Speaker, while everyone acknowledges that the oil industry is so vitally
important to our economy's bottom line, our traditional industries remain
significant, both financially and culturally. We will work hard to ensure their
survival and, more highly, their success.
Mr. Speaker, how did this unprecedented support and investment I spoke of
early unfold in my District of Terra Nova? In the past four years alone this
government has invested over $50 million into the District of Terra Nova;
important funding that has touched each and every community and person. This
spending included: $6.2 million for education, things such as school
construction and renovations, maintenance and upgrades; over $1.5 million into
local business and community groups and organizations for start-up, marketing,
cultural development and recreation grants; $6 million into natural resources,
silviculture initiatives, construction and maintenance of resource roads and
agrifood funding; $4 million into health care, including such things as
operational expenditures, recruitment initiatives and clinic renovations; over
$15 million into infrastructure, road construction, upgrading, maintenance,
paving, and wharf and building construction; furthermore, an additional $17
million went into municipal infrastructure, vital projects such as water and
sewer work, town roads, and community enhancement initiatives.
While speaking of municipal support given by this government, I would be
remiss if I did not praise the foresight and commitment of this Administration
in introducing a once unimaginable cost-shared ratio of 90-10 with the
provincial government providing the 90 per cent towards capital projects. Since
its inception in 2008, the program swung wide open the doors of opportunity for
small communities, like the ones in my district, to acquire and maintain crucial
infrastructure. Projects that were previously unattainable due to fiscal
restraints are now becoming reality.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. S. COLLINS: A true, real life example of how this plays out, Mr.
Speaker, is what it has meant to small communities with regard to the
acquisition of fire protection. Mr. Speaker, a fire truck costs in the ballpark
of a quarter of a million dollars. In the past, that generally demanded a 50 per
cent contribution by a municipality at a cost of $125,000. The same fire truck
now costs a community a mere $25,000, a total savings of $100,000. That savings
can now be invested into other worthwhile projects, and that is exactly what is
happening.
If I may quote my hon. colleague from Baie Verte-Springdale: Why did we do
it?
AN HON. MEMBER: Because you care.
MR. S. COLLINS: Yes, because we care.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. S. COLLINS: This Province suffered from years of neglect under the
former Administration. It is so easy for them now to say: It was neglected
because we did not have the funds that exist today.
True, they did not have the funds that are available, but the money they did
have was mismanaged and squandered. Furthermore, and more notable, the reason we
currently have the funds available is due to sound decisions by this government
and the persistence, dedication and strength of our Premier.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. S. COLLINS: Our current prosperity, just as the former neglect, did
not befall us by chance. In October 2003 this government was given the
responsibility of correcting deficiencies and neglect. That is just what we have
done and we will continue to do as long as the people of this Province allow us.
Never before have we seen such investment into our communities, particularly
rural communities.
Mr. Speaker, while I bragged about the funding in my district, I should
clarify: this type of spending was not exclusive to my district alone. Each and
every district across this Province has had huge investments into capital
projects and programming; and, as I have said, rural Newfoundland and Labrador
has been the major beneficiary. Anyone who would suggest otherwise is grossly
mistaken. Mr. Speaker, by the very fact that I stand in this hon. House in the
overflow
section says it all.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. S. COLLINS: I am surrounded by forty-three Progressive Conservative
members, most of whom represent rural districts, and that simply says it all.
These men and women, under the leadership of this Premier, work tirelessly for
the benefit of the Province. People see and people appreciate this and are
overwhelmingly satisfied with the job that has been done, and look forward to
even brighter days ahead.
If the members of the Opposition are not convinced, I would suggest they look
at the results from the latest opinion polls. Time after time after time after
time, the numbers grow and seem to keep getting better.
Never did a time exist in this Province when there has been such a great
sense of pride and self-sufficiency. This change in attitude did not simply dawn
on us. While everyone knew what they wanted, we struggled to realize it.
Scottish Author John Buchan said, and I quote, "The task of leadership is not to
put greatness into people, but to elicit it, for the greatness is already
there."
The Premier did not give us greatness; he summoned it. It was due to hard
work and determination of this government and our Premier to implement a plan, a
blueprint for success. As a result of that successful plan, this Province has
taken its proper place in Confederation: among the top. It is safe to say that
Newfoundland and Labrador has arrived.
I would certainly not label us as arrogant, Mr. Speaker, but definitely we
have a new-found swagger. No longer are we perceived as the poor and desolate.
We are now seen as leaders and have become the envy of others. As each day
passes, more and more Canadians take notice of our prosperity and strong
governance and, Mr. Speaker, I think I speak for all Newfoundlanders and
Labradorians when I say this has been long overdue.
In conclusion, I am very pleased and greatly honoured to have the opportunity
to serve with my colleagues and continue to work for the people of Newfoundland
and Labrador, more specifically for the wonderful folks of the Terra Nova
district. While this position is demanding, I give you my word I am equal to the
challenge. Through hard work and dedication I will perform my duties to the best
of my abilities, while holding honesty and integrity as my measuring stick for
success.
To the residents of the Terra Nova district, you supported me; now allow me
to support you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for the District of Bay of Islands.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. LODER: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak on behalf of the great District of the Bay
of Islands, which I represented since 2007. I would like to take this
opportunity to speak on Budget 2010.
Before I go there, Mr. Speaker, I would like to pass on my congratulations to
the hon. Member for Terra Nova. I am sure the constituents there, his family and
friends are quite proud of him today. I am sure he will pursue their
achievements for the district to the utmost - greatest work he will provide. I
am really glad to be a part of the team with him involved and I would like to
wish now - welcome, sir, to an overflow and you will enjoy it over here during
your time in office.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to also bring attention to one little mistake I
made during a member's statement two days ago. I was up speaking on behalf of a
Mr. Bram and Ada Russell. During the member's statement, I thought I had done a
good job right up until the last of it when I got to one particular word. I
tried to get it out three times and I could not get it out. I wanted to come
public and make an apology to Mr. Bram Russell who is watching today and just to
let him know that I wanted to finish that sentence and let everybody know I can
say: inspiration.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. LODER: Mr. Russell you are an inspiration to the world in the work
you are doing, and care and love you are giving to your wife, Ada. I wish you
all the best in the future.
Mr. Speaker, when I had the opportunity to speak on the Budget 2010, I did
not know what
part I was going to speak on because we have so many positive
things happening in this great Province of Newfoundland and Labrador. This all
occurred, of course, in 2003 when our present Premier took over the leadership
of the government.
At 1:54 p.m. on May 3, my mind was made up. I was here listening to the
Opposition Leader. She shouted across to the Minister of Health and Community
Services to the effect that she said: Give our children half a chance. With
that, I was taken aback by that comment because I think that we are going to the
top on that particular emphasis. We all realize, Mr. Speaker, the greatest
resource we have in Newfoundland and Labrador is our children. This has been
mentioned throughout every minister, every district and every part of
Newfoundland and Labrador of the most important resource that we do have in
Newfoundland and Labrador, of course, our children.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to start this off and be able to explain fully how
this approach was taken by our government. I go back to when the Minister of
Finance got up and provided us with Budget 2010. The Budget, Mr. Speaker,
consists of thirty-seven pages; thirty-seven pages of positive things happening
in Newfoundland and Labrador. I am not going into all the pages starting off
with this speech here today; I just want to take the first paragraph of those
thirty-seven pages, an introduction to Budget 2010.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to quote the hon. Minister of Finance. He states,
"Mr. Speaker, we have no greater responsibility, we have no finer purpose, we
have no higher priority, than to ensure our children's future is rich with
opportunity and secure." That is what Budget 2010 covers; it is our young
people.
Again, going back to the Opposition Leader's comments, I want to bring up
some points of what we are doing for our young people. I cannot go into it all,
of course, because it is so in depth, but I wanted to go into the education part
and give some highlights on what we have done in 2010 Budget. Of course, that
did not just start at 2010 that started at 2003 when we took possession of the
Government of Newfoundland and Labrador.
I would just like to list a few items here. It highlights there in our Budget
book: Investments in Children and Youth. Right off the bat, we are saying here
there is $1.3 billion - with a "b" - in education spending - $1.3 billion. What
an enormous amount of money. Also, we have $167 million for the Department of
Child, Youth and Family Services. This is a new program to safeguard our kids,
our young people; the hiring of twenty-seven new personnel - another great
opportunity to safeguard our children.
Also, of course, we are going in with new technology and we are investing
$400,000 in the first phase of new computerized case equipment which will allow
our social workers to monitor the situations and to do their job more
responsibly. I am sure they are doing a wonderful job now, but to make their job
much easier and spend more time basically, I do not know, probably out in the
field or whatever. It is a great investment.
Another investment in the millions of dollars, Mr. Speaker, is $21.8 million
to cover the cost of residential services for at-risk children and youth,
another item which is very important to our young people.
Of course, another one there - I will not go on too much longer with the
investments, but again, you could just stay here all day if you wish. We do have
another investment of over $500,000 to commence extensive further work to
develop early childhood programming. I understand the North Shore Early
Childhood group is a recipient of some of that money and will enhance the
program in that area.
Mr. Speaker, our investment does not stop at children and youth. It goes up
to the secondary stage, when it comes to high school, and then it goes on to the
second level of secondary education. Of course, two items there that stand out
in my mind would be the investment of the construction of a 200-bed residence at
the Corner Brook campus of Memorial University. We also have $13 million going
to the construction of a new academic building at Memorial's Corner Brook campus
also. So there is a great lot of opportunities there for our students, for
secondary education.
Of course, years ago when young people graduated from high school, the first
discussion that would take place was: What part of Ontario are you going to
live? Mr. Speaker, we do not even hear that from our young people now. Their
discussion is now whether they are going to go to a university, College of the
North Atlantic, or an independent school, private school like Academy Canada. So
there are great opportunities there, and they are going throughout the Province,
of course, taking advantage of the education schools that are provided to them.
Mr. Speaker, I am just going to stop there for a moment. I would like to
speak on behalf of areas that involve young people in my district of the great
Bay of Islands. Of course, the great Bay of Islands does take in a portion of
Corner Brook. I just wanted to make sure people are aware of that.
We will start off - on February 22, of course, that was Olympic Day in
Newfoundland and Labrador. One of the schools that was picked throughout
Newfoundland and Labrador to be involved in that celebration was St. Peter's
Academy. I had the occasion of going down to St. Peter's and spending the day
with the students and the families and the teachers. I was so impressed with the
discipline, the involvement of all the family members. My hat goes off to the
organizer, Mr. Gordon Casey, and the Principal, Carol Anne Eldridge. They did a
fine job, Mr. Speaker.
Also, Mr. Speaker, I have to go back a few days before that. On February 16,
I would like to thank you, Mr. Speaker, for taking the Speaker's outreach
program on the road. For the benefit of the people who are not aware of that,
being rural Newfoundland and Labrador, of course, students in our areas do not
get an opportunity to come to this fine building here and be able to listen, to
understand what happens in the House of Assembly. So the Speaker - Mr. Speaker,
you took it upon yourself to start a program, and it takes, basically, the House
of Assembly on the road.
We had the pleasure, Mr. Speaker, of having you come out on February 16.
First of all, we travelled to the Town of Meadows and we visited Templeton
Academy, which by the way is the biggest K-12 school in Newfoundland and
Labrador. At that time we had the occasion of having Levels I, II and III come
to the gymnasium to which you, dressed up in your garb, explained the
responsibilities of the House of Assembly and the Legislature. There were
several questions, several interests; much interest, I must say, by all students
involved. I think one of the most important questions, as they thought, was: How
much do you make? So, again, we thank you for passing that information on; which
was available of course to anybody. That was so much appreciated.
From there, Mr. Speaker, we travelled across the other side of the bay to the
South Shore Highway and travelled to St. James All-Grade School in Lark Harbour
and we met the principal of course, Penny Sheppard, and she arranged to have her
high school students, Levels I, II and III come out to the gymnasium. Again, you
placed your comments and gave the explanation of how this House operates. It was
so educational, even for me, Mr. Speaker, because you went so in-depth. There
were things that I learned on that same education procedure. So, that is another
thing that we took on the road. Mr. Speaker, that is another item which I am
very proud of to take to the district.
Of course, we cannot forget the Forest Fair which took place in Corner Brook
on February 23. We had children from the West Coast go to the Pepsi Centre and
look at all the forestry products, look at the people working there, the
loggers, the truck drivers and the equipment used by these people. They showed
the items that are being manufactured here in the Province of Newfoundland and
Labrador and it was great to see so many young people from all schools within
the Bay of Islands, Corner Brook region, Humber Valley to come and witness this
great show.
Another item that I took pleasure in taking
part in would be the DARE program
at J.J. Curling Elementary School. This DARE program, for the people who are
unaware of this program, it is a Drug Awareness Resistance Education program. It
was put off by Constable Bobby Edwards of the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary.
During that time of the ceremony, they had a graduation ceremony. I think it was
sixty-one who started off, I think fifty-seven actually graduated. I think it is
a ten-week program, but what a program it was. We had these young people, ready
to go into high school next year, being taught of what to expect, the challenges
they will meet when it comes to peer pressure, and major decisions they will
have to make when it comes to drugs, alcohol or anything of that sort.
It was well attended, and I must say, there were about 120 people there,
including family members. I would like to congratulate Principal Brian Higdon,
Constable Edwards, the school staff, the parents, the school district,
(inaudible) club apparently, the gentleman there was one of the people who
brought that program to the West Coast. Of course, I would like to thank them
all for so much interest in our young people. I will continue on there. I have
been in contact with the RCMP which controls the other two sides of the bay. I
am hoping next year to expand that program and take it to the other three
schools.
Mr. Speaker, also looking at different programs, I did have the occasion last
weekend of attending the fiftieth anniversary of the 4-H program in the Town of
Summerside. Summerside, of course, is part of the town of Irishtown, Summerside.
I remember, Mr. Speaker, fifty years ago when this Mr. George Graskie guy came
to the community and was trying to start the 4-H program. I remember being there
with all the parents and young people, and he was explaining what the program
entailed. I was standing up by the potbelly stove that heated that particular
school at the time and was quite content in looking forward to joining that
program. I was quite happy, but the one sentence that he remarked there which
upset me terribly and that was: You have to be ten years old to join. Of course,
I was not ten years old. I had to wait an additional two years for that to come
about so I could actually join that group. When my time was up, I joined the
group, Mr. Speaker, and we continued on with that program for the last fifty
years as a result of involvement of every parent and probably every child in the
community of Summerside at the time. It is a great program, it teaches
leadership ability, citizenship; it gives you the opportunity to get up and
speak in public. I have so many positive things to say about the 4-H program.
The initial people who started off the program - I think of the first six
leaders, there is only one left and that is a lady by the name of Mrs. Olive
McAuley. She was there that night to celebrate with us; I think there were 120
people there of past members of that group, including myself.
We had the honour of having the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and
Minister Responsible for the Volunteer and Non-Profit Sector to accompany me. He
was quite enthused and impressed with the program and the people that were
involved. I thank you, Mr. Minister, for showing up with me, accompanying me and
celebrating this much important event.
I am looking at my time here and I have several notes, several comments to
make when it comes to volunteering organizations. Before I go to that, I would
like to give a few words on the Community Youth Network. That is a new program
that we brought into the Bay of Islands area last year. It consists of two field
workers two young ladies that we hired; one for each side of the bay.
A follow up with this program is having such major success. Apparently, we do
have seventy young people involved in the program. We have about an equal share
thirty-five from the South Shore, thirty-five from the North Shore. These
people meet during classes. They are given violence awareness education. They do
have social nights where they go out and go to a movie. In some cases if the
participants request guitar lessons, then somebody there can teach them; they
can do that. They are taught cooking, they are taught friendship, leadership -
again, another great organization responding to the needs of our young people.
Mr. Speaker, we cannot forget the
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!
MR. SPEAKER (T. Osborne): Order, please!
The Chair is having some difficulty in hearing the member recognized to
speak. I would ask for the co-operation of all members.
MR. LODER: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to go on to other organizations which shed some
light and gives a great compassion to our young people. One, of course, would be
the Lions Club. I happened to be a speaker at the Lions Club International
District N-3 Annual Convention and International Banquet at the Legion April 24.
I could not believe how much devotion goes by the Lions Club on a local level
and a provincial level.
I had two Lions Clubs; they came from Curling and one from Summerside
participating in the convention. At one point I met a gentleman representing the
director of the international group, Mr. Ed Lecius. He was quite impressed with
Newfoundland and Labrador to point that he is coming back again.
I would like to give an example of much compassion they have there at one
point -
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
I remind the hon. member that his time for speaking has expired.
MR. LODER: By leave?
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
The hon. member has asked for leave. Does the hon. member have leave?
AN HON. MEMBER: By leave.
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for the District of Bay of Islands, by
leave.
MR. LODER: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
They actually called for people who had any sponsors there to participate in
the Max Simms camp. Mr. Speaker, they came like that, within ten minutes they
had over $27,000 to go towards the running of the Max Simms camp. The next
question they put out to the membership: Does anybody have any donations towards
the K9 or guide dogs? Mr. Speaker, within ten minutes they had over $12,000.
That is going to be able to buy two guide dogs for our people of Newfoundland
and Labrador. I am saying young people - that is the way I understand where the
money will be going.
Mr. Speaker, I go on, if I can, and explain another organization throughout
rural Newfoundland and Labrador and that is the local fire departments. Mr.
Speaker, the fire departments in my district are so much involved in training,
but there was some concern there a while ago, I think a couple of years ago,
about lack of young people getting involved. I can say now, Mr. Speaker, every
fire department in the district has full membership and actually has some
applications unhand. This does not involve just men, we involve women. I just
recently had the occasion of witnessing the fire department one fire
department had a scene, and I cannot believe how much compassion, educated -
compassion, I will repeat that again - and expertise they presented fulfilling
their obligation.
Mr. Speaker, I do have a lot more but I realize we have other business to
attend to. I thank you for giving me an opportunity to speak on the great people
of the Bay of Islands, and I wish them all well.
Thank you very much.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister for Intergovernmental Affairs.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. DENINE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
First of all, before I get into talking about the Budget that was presented
here a while ago by our government, a very fiscally responsible Budget, I must
say, I want to congratulate my colleagues in the House of Assembly on their
maiden speeches: the hon. Member for Terra Nova, and the hon. Member for
Topsail.
Mr. Speaker, it is quite interesting and quite invigorating to hear the
compassion, the compassion which they have for the positions in which they were
elected. The compassion that they have for the people who elected them. Also,
for their dedication and commitment to the policies of this government and what
we laid down before us, before the people of this Province.
Mr. Speaker, it speaks very well of our caucus and our government to have
such fine, distinguished gentlemen within our midst, and they will only add
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. DENINE: - to the power and the commitment of this government to the
people of Newfoundland and Labrador. I thank both of them very much.
Mr. Speaker, I am going to talk about my district. I have not done a lot of
talking about my district. My district takes in half of Mount Pearl. I am in
Mount Pearl South, and my hon. colleague is Mount Pearl North, and part of it
comes into Topsail district.
Mr. Speaker, over the last number of years, there has been a significant
amount of infrastructure gone into our districts because we are all collectively
part of what Mount Pearl is those three people I just mentioned: South, North
and Topsail. Mr. Speaker, there has been a significant amount of money gone into
there, and the credit goes back to the three members, and also to this
government. The money gone into those districts, Mr. Speaker, it is more than
any other government has put in its history.
When you look at what is happening in Mount Pearl, there is a new arena being
completed as we speak - hopes to be open in December. There is a new extension
of the recreation complex in Mount Pearl, with regard to the Reid Centre, with a
swimming pool and an arts theatre added to it, Mr. Speaker.
AN HON. MEMBER: Which minister is from Mount Pearl?
MR. DENINE: I cannot tell you who the minister is from Mount Pearl; that
is a $64,000 question. Mr. Speaker, that is a significant amount of
infrastructure.
Also, there has been - I do not know if I mentioned it because I was
interrupted by my colleague. In that facility there will be a swimming pool.
Also, Mr. Speaker, not only did that happen, but we also have new soccer
facilities within the City of Mount Pearl and the provincial government was
instrumental in putting them there. There were a number of phases that went
through to that soccer facility. One was the soccer hut in which we contributed
to it and the late member of this House of Assembly, Mr. Byrne, who passed away.
He was Minister of Municipal Affairs, he was the one who gave us money for that
and he was very, very generous to the City of Mount Pearl, I must say.
Also, Mr. Speaker, there was another phase, which was lights in that
section
of the field. Then last year we were instrumental in putting the artificial turf
down. So, Mr. Speaker, when you look at the recreational complex of the City of
Mount Pearl, all these things have been very, very valuable and very, very
well-received. Again, that goes back to the credit of this government and the
MHAs which represent that district.
Mr. Speaker, also there has been a significant amount of road work. One
avenue was Park Avenue that runs from Dunn's Lane right up to Commonwealth
Avenue, which was a significant investment for both the City of Mount Pearl and
the provincial government. There was a significant amount of water and sewer
lines that had to be put in prior to the paving of the street and the sidewalks
and last year it had its first pavement done. It will be completed this year and
finished off in its entirety. It was a significant project and well over a
couple of million dollars to make that happen.
Mr. Speaker, when you talk about - and there were a number of things that
happened within our districts that this government has contributed to, and Mount
Pearl has gotten a fair share of what was put out by this government, and we are
certainly thankful. I know I get compliments from our residents daily of what
this government has done for our districts. I know my colleague from Mount Pearl
North and the Member for Topsail, who is a newly member, have had those
compliments come forward and a lot of thanks given to them.
Mr. Speaker, also, the support of this government to our Seniors Independence
Group has not gone unnoticed. We have a very vibrant Seniors Independence Group
that I go back a number of years - that when they first started out only had
twenty, thirty, forty members. Today, Mr. Speaker, we have significant numbers
in that Seniors Independence Group, and let me tell you, the amount of
knowledge, the amount of enthusiasm and the amount of support that they give to
all of our three MHAs is immeasurable, Mr. Speaker, immeasurable. They do a
tremendous amount of work with their outreach programs and getting people out of
their homes and providing entertainment and activities for them, and exercise
programs, et cetera, and the list goes on and on. So those people in the Seniors
Independence Group in Mount Pearl, I want to say a special thank you to all of
them for doing that.
Mr. Speaker, I want to move on to a couple of other things that were very
relevant to me as a minister over the last month or so. Mr. Speaker, we just
finished up Volunteer Week, and I represent the Volunteer and Non-Profit Sector.
I visited significant parts of this Province over the Volunteer Week, and I
shook hands with probably over 2,000 people. Now people say: 2,000 people I
see the hon. member over there saying - oh, yes, my hands were raw, but I tell
you, Mr. Speaker, I enjoyed every single minute of it.
I was down in Garnish - and I have to be careful now because I cannot leave a
place out. I was down in Garnish with my colleague, the Minister of Education,
and what a community.
Pardon me?
AN HON. MEMBER: Did you meet Tony Ducey?
MR. DENINE: Yes, I did. I met Tony Ducey. I said hello to Tony. Hi Tony,
how are you, if you are listening today?
Mr. Speaker, when I walked into the hall, there were over 200 people there
200 people there, Mr. Speaker to greet myself and the Minister of Education
there. What a night we had. The people were enthusiastic, very positive, very
energetic, and I have to tell you, the hospitality was second to none. I know
there are people down there today listening to this and I want to say a special
thank you for the warm welcome that was given to me and to the Minister of
Education.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. DENINE: Mr. Speaker, I also went to Botwood. Botwood included
Peterview and Northern Arm. I was the guest speaker there, and there were over
200 people there, Mr. Speaker. Now, when I tell you there were over 200 people,
that was representative of the groups that they represented. So there were a
significant number of people being represented by the people there. Mr. Speaker,
they gave out awards, over eighty-odd awards there, and I was glad to be part of
it.
Also, Mr. Speaker, I was in Port Union and over 260 people were there, from
all over the Burin Peninsula. I am sorry. The Bonavista Peninsula, I am sorry. I
got my geography wron