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April 19, 2018

HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS

Vol. XLVIII No. 10

The

House met at 1:30 p.m.

MR. SPEAKER (Trimper):

Order, please!

Admit

strangers.

In the

Speaker's gallery today, I would like to welcome a bit of a family affair for

yours truly. I have over to my left my father- and mother-in-law, Billy and Lan

Hong, with my wife, Caroline, and my mother and father, June and Wendell

Trimper.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

There you go, a standing

ovation.

Thank

you very much.

Also in

the Speaker's gallery, we have someone also of equal merit. I would like to

welcome Neil, Cheryl and Liam O'Brien. Liam will be referenced in a Member's

statement today.

A very

great welcome to you as well.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

I'm also pleased to say that

in the public gallery today we do have, and I would like to recognize: Emily

Christie and Paul Walsh from the Coalition of Persons with Disabilities; Pamela

Anstey from the Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Community Living; Marie

Ryan from the Provincial Advisory Council for the Inclusion of Persons with

Disabilities; Kimberly Yetman-Dawson from Empower; and Leon Mills from the

Canadian Hard of Hearing Association, Newfoundland and Labrador.

All of

these folks will be the subject of a Ministerial Statement today.

A great

welcome to you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

Statements by

Members

MR. SPEAKER:

Today we will hear Members' statements from the hon. Members for the Districts

of Stephenville - Port au Port; Labrador West; Terra Nova; Ferryland; and

Bonavista.

The hon.

the Member for Stephenville - Port au Port.

MR. FINN:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr.

Speaker, I stand today to recognize Ryan McNeil-Lamswood. The grade 12,

Stephenville High honours student is a truly remarkable athlete. He is an

exceptional soccer player who has played with Stephenville High winning a

provincial banner in 2015. Also, as a member of the provincial junior golf team,

he has represented the province nationally in 2016 and 2017. However it is

curling where he truly shines.

Throwing

stones since the age of three, Ryan has represented Newfoundland and Labrador at

the national level on five occasions. Recently, he returned from the national

under 18 championships in New Brunswick where he played the role of skip for a

team based out of the Re/Max Centre in St. John's.

Losing a

close game to Northern Ontario in the bronze medal match, McNeil-Lamswood and

the NL team finished fourth overall in the country. Due to his exceptional play,

positive attitude and sportsmanship, officials named him the Fair Play skip of

the national competition.

I ask

all Members to join me in congratulating Ryan McNeil-Lamswood on this

achievement and wish him well as he continues to proudly represent this

province.

Thank

you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for the

District of

Labrador West.

MR.

LETTO:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

When Justin Hodge, a 23-year-old Labrador West

resident, received a cancer diagnosis in 2009, it set something very important

into motion. He and his family had never heard of Ewing sarcoma, a childhood

cancer, and discovered to their dismay it is one of the most painful, serious

types of cancers, often misdiagnosed and one many family doctors know very

little about.

His mother, Gail, joined the registered charity, the

Ewings Cancer Foundation of Canada, based out of Ontario. In 2016, with a small

budget and Gail's photographer son-in-law, Brad Dillion, and his two friends,

they produced a 48-minute educational documentary shot across Canada called:

Make It Stop. They are committed to keeping Ewing sarcoma on the radar of family

doctors and other front line medical professionals to save young lives.

Make It Stop has been inducted into the College of

Family Physicians of Canada within their self-learning module and available on

many websites across Canada.

I ask all hon. Members to join me in congratulating

Gail, Brad and others on this very important initiative. Justin has been in

remission for seven years and we wish him the best of health in the future.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR.

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Member for the District of Terra Nova.

MR.

HOLLOWAY:

Mr.

Speaker, the quest for the Herder Memorial Trophy is symbolic of senior hockey

supremacy in Newfoundland and Labrador. Since 1935, hockey clubs in communities

across this province have long fought to be winners of the covenant cup.

During the Easter break, I had the opportunity to take

in one of the championship games at the Eastlink Events Centre with the

Clarenville Ford Caribous leading the series 2-0 against the St. John's Senior

Caps.

During this past weekend, beating the Caps four

straight games, the Caribous were crowned the 2018 Herder Champions. This marks

the fourth win for the Caribous, having previously secured the title in 2009,

2010, 2012 and now in 2018.

History was also made this year for Coach Rebecca

Russell who has been described as Clareville's most decorated and celebrated

female hockey star and became the first female coach to win the Herder trophy.

Congratulations to Rebecca Russell and the entire coaching staff for pulling off

another successful year.

I ask all hon. colleagues to join me in

recognizing the Clarenville Ford Caribous and coach Rebecca

Russell as the 2018 Herder Champions.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for the

District of Ferryland.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. HUTCHINGS:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr.

Speaker, I rise today to recognize a constituent of mine, Liam O'Brien, who is a

level III student at Baltimore High School. Recently, he was awarded a Loran

Scholar, only one of 34 students from 5,000 applicants and the only one for

Newfoundland and Labrador.

Liam

completed level II at Baltimore High with a 94 average. He is actively involved

in the school and community. He is co-chair of Cape Broyle Recreation Committee;

4-H club member; competed in several provincial speaking competitions; helps run

a local radio station the Southern Shore Sounds; member of the school band;

serves as the church choir organist and senior member of the Royal Canadian Army

Cadets.

In 2017,

Liam participated in a 4-H citizen congress in Ottawa, the Global 4-H Summit

Encounters with Canada program and also participated in the Forum for Young

Canadians, all in Ottawa. He has just returned from Washington DC after being

selected as one of 10 Canadian delegates to represent Canada at the United

States National 4-H Conference.

The

Loran Scholar award is valued at $100,000 over four years and includes an annual

stipend of $10,000 and matching tuition waiver, access to $10,000 in funding for

summer internships, one-on-one mentorship, annual retreats and scholar

gatherings. Liam is planning on attending the University of Ottawa where he

plans to major in economics and political science.

Mr.

Speak, I ask all of my colleagues of this House to join me in congratulating

Liam O'Brien on his accomplishments and wish him the very best in his future

endeavours.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for the

District of Bonavista.

MR. KING:

That's going to be tough to

follow up, Mr. Speaker, but I'll try.

Mr.

Speaker, this week we are recognizing the 40th anniversary of National Volunteer

Week. As MHA for the District of Bonavista, I want to recognize all volunteers

who give their time to make our communities a better place to live. This year's

theme is Celebrate the Value of Volunteering.

Volunteerism is the heart of every community. Without volunteers, many great

things that take place would fall by the wayside. There's certainly value in

volunteering and it is worth celebrating.

This

year marks the 10th year that Voluntary Organizations in Community Engagement,

VOICE, is holding its annual volunteer appreciation event for the Bonavista

Peninsula. This year's event, as in the past, will showcase local talent through

music and skits, with refreshments being provided and lots of prizes to be won.

RNC Chief Joe Boland will be the guest speaker.

The

event will take place this coming Friday at the Factory

Interpretation Centre in

Port Union. Doors open at 6:30 with a 7 p.m. start. If past years are any

indication, Mr. Speaker, over 100 volunteers from all over will be in

attendance.

Please

join me in congratulating VOICE on their milestone and all the volunteers for

everything they do.

Thank

you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

Before we continue, I would

like to also recognize Mr. Dan Goodyear with the Canadian Mental Health

Association. A very big welcome to you, Sir; glad to have you here.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

Statements by Ministers.

Statements by

Ministers

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Children, Seniors and Social Development.

MS. DEMPSTER:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Just a

few moments ago, I met with a number of those representatives in the gallery.

Thank you for acknowledging them.

I rise

today to express our government's formal support for Canada to join the Optional

Protocol to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with

Disabilities.

This UN

Convention places existing rights and freedoms in a disability context. It was

territories in 2010.

The

federal government has now officially requested Newfoundland and Labrador's

formal support to join the Optional Protocol, which commits Canada to

co-operating with an individual complaints procedure and an inquiry procedure

for grave or systemic violations of the UN Convention.

Mr.

Speaker, this province's Policy Framework for the Inclusion of Persons with

Disabilities is closely aligned with the convention.

Through

our collaboration with the community of persons with disabilities, our

government is creating change. We have increased accessible transportation and

removed barriers from our electoral processes. We have made amendments to the

inclusion of persons with disabilities on agencies, boards and commissions.

Joining

the Optional Protocol further strengthens our commitment to equality, inclusion

and full participation in Canadian society for persons with disabilities and it

reaffirms our support for the UN Convention.

Mr.

Speaker, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador values the contributions of

persons with disabilities in this province and we remain committed to ensuring

their human rights and fundamental freedoms are protected.

I call

on all my colleagues in this hon. House to also express their support for the

Optional Protocol.

Thank

you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for the

District of

Fortune Bay - Cape La Hune.

MS.

PERRY:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I thank the minister for the advance copy of her

statement. We, on this side of the House, certainly support joining the Optional

Protocol which commits this country to co-operating with an individual

complaints procedure and an inquiry procedure for violations of the UN

Convention.

Mr.

Speaker, we must do more to ensure that buildings, services, transportation and

persons with disabilities on agencies, boards and commissions is just one step

in ensuring this.

However,

Mr. Speaker, I must express my disappointment that in the last three years this

Liberal government cut almost $300,000 in grant funding from the Disability

Policy Office. This is funding which is given to both individuals and community

Funding they continue to need.

Thank

you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for the

District of St. John's East - Quidi Vidi.

MS. MICHAEL:

Thank you very much, Mr.

Speaker.

I, too,

thank the minister for the advance copy of her statement. I do hope that joining

the UN protocol, which obviously I'm totally behind, will provide another

channel for moving this province closer to an inclusive society.

We have

a lot of work to do here. There should be no longer new and renovated buildings

about the long-overdue review of the

provincial disability rights act.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

Further statements by

ministers?

The hon.

the Minister of Health and Community Services.

MR. HAGGIE:

I rise today to congratulate

the recipients of this year's Community Addictions Prevention and Mental Health

Promotion Grants program.

Mr.

Speaker, 44 community groups and organizations throughout Newfoundland and

Labrador will receive a total of approximately $150,000 in funding for their

projects. This is an increase of $10,000 over last year.

The

program is designed to encourage individuals, groups and organizations, as well

as communities, to step up and take a greater role in promoting positive mental

health. Our partners already do such important advocacy and development and

through this program, we're pleased to support their efforts.

Successful proposals focused on several priority areas such as supporting young

families, substance use prevention, suicide prevention and positive mental

well-being.

Some

examples include the province-wide Roots of Empathy program and support for a

youth-run LGBTQ2S summer camp on the West Coast. Other projects include positive

mental health activities during Empowerment Week at Lakewood Academy in

Glenwood, support of the Terry Kelly tour in Southern Labrador and a new support

group for people living with addictions issues in St. Anthony and surrounding

areas. The complete list of recipients and their projects can be found on the

department's website.

Investments in this program and the priority area align with

Towards Recovery: The Mental Health and Addictions Action Plan for

Newfoundland and Labrador .

Mr.

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

year's recipients. We appreciate efforts to reduce stigma in our communities and

keep the conversation going about mental health.

Thank

you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for the

District of Conception Bay South.

MR. PETTEN:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I want

to thank the minister for an advance copy of his statement. Mr. Speaker, we're

always pleased to hear about additional supports for addictions prevention and

positive mental health initiatives. It's great to see so many groups and

projects benefit from these grants.

Having

served as a member of the All-Party Committee on Mental Health and Addictions, I

certainly recognize that these initiatives are much needed and will be welcomed

across the province. I commend each and every one of the recipients for the

valuable work they do and I congratulate them on receiving these grants. Any

additional programs or supports that address the needs outlined in our mental

health and addictions plan will have a positive impact on individuals, on

families, on society as a whole.

Thank

you very much.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Leader of the

Third Party.

MS. ROGERS:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I thank

the minister. In the All-Party Committee on Mental Health and Addictions, we

heard clearly time and time again about the important work community groups do

in advocacy and support work with mental health and addictions issues. I am

pleased to see this modest increase in this year's funding of these 44 groups.

This year's increase in funding is a good start; however, they also need

multi-year funding to give them the security they need to retain staff and plan

their work.

Bravo to

all those working on the front lines to reduce stigma and keep the conversation

on mental health going. Their work is crucial and invaluable.

Thank

you, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER:

Further statements by

ministers?

Oral

Questions.

Oral Questions

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Opposition House

Leader.

MR. HUTCHINGS:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr.

Speaker, as part of the 2018 budget process, I ask the Minister of Natural

Resources did she ask Nalcor Energy to cut its budget by $20 million.

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Natural Resources.

MS. COADY:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

believe he's referring to the seismic program. No, we didn't ask them to cut it

by $20 million in particular; we asked all of our agencies, boards and

commissions to do zero-based budgets, to come in with as low a budget as they

possibly can, Mr. Speaker. Nalcor has been trying to find savings, of course, as

they move through the Muskrat Falls Project.

The

entire Province of Newfoundland and Labrador understands how expensive and how

over budget the project that we inherited because of the former administration.

Thank

you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Opposition House

Leader.

MR. HUTCHINGS:

(Inaudible) referencing

Nalcor and the whole content of Nalcor as the corporation. Was the recent

decision to transfer an additional $20 million to Nalcor to support exploration

as a result of the CEO of Nalcor cutting $20 million from the oil and gas

exploration fund, and were you in agreement with the cut?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Natural Resources.

MS. COADY:

Mr. Speaker, I think the

Member opposite can tell by the actions of this government – not the words, the

actions of this government. We put in place

Advance 2030 to drive exploration in

offshore Newfoundland and Labrador, to drive production, doubling of production

in offshore Newfoundland and Labrador. Therefore, it is a priority, a very big

priority of this government to ensure exploration takes place, to ensure that we

attract new entrants into Newfoundland and Labrador's offshore industry.

therefore, Mr. Speaker, I think it speaks volumes that we did direct Nalcor to

ensure they had a new exploration program this year and not just review the

program that was held last year.

Thank

you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Opposition House

Leader.

MR. HUTCHINGS:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr.

Speaker, taking $20 million from the exploration fund for oil and gas

exploration doesn't drive the Advance 2030

plan laid out by government to the best of my knowledge.

So I

ask: Are the Nalcor board of directors and the Nalcor CEO offside with your

Advance 2030 plan?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Natural Resources.

MS. COADY:

Absolutely, unequivocally

not, Mr. Speaker. They have been involved, Nalcor Oil and Gas has been involved

with the development of the plan. They worked very – as a major stakeholder in

the oil and gas industry.

As you

heard, Mr. Speaker, we did direct the board of directors of Nalcor to continue

with new seismic work this year. The board had taken a decision that they would

not invest in new seismic work. The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador

thought it was that important to the people of the province to continue to drive

exploration offshore Newfoundland and Labrador that we said it was a priority,

the board reinstated that funding.

And let

me tell you how much money we've invested. The former government invested in

five years, $64 million. This government, $96 million over (inaudible).

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

Order, please!

The

Member's time has expired.

The hon.

the Opposition House Leader.

MR. HUTCHINGS:

And you have the money to

invest because of the equity stakes we put into the oil and gas sector, I say to

the minister.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. HUTCHINGS:

Mr. Speaker, the minister

indicated on Monday that the program was a five-year program. If so, why would

such a substantial cut of $20 million happen in one year of a five-year

exploration program?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Natural Resources.

MS. COADY:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I'm not

quite sure what his question is asking. The $20 million is a new exploration

program for this year. We felt it was a priority. Based on the work that we're

doing in Advance 2030 , based on the

recommendations of 150 stakeholders in the industry, based on the success we've

been having as a government of Newfoundland and Labrador, we've been able to

attract seven new entrants into our offshore.

We have

650 leads and prospects offshore Newfoundland and Labrador. Mr. Speaker, we want

to continue to do the seismic work so that we can continue to grow our offshore

opportunity. Does the Member opposite think that we should not do so?

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Opposition House

Leader.

MR. HUTCHINGS:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I remind

the minister, we started the seismic program supported originally with Nalcor

when some on that side said it was marketing and it wasn't worth the effort to

put the money into it. So I'd remind her of that, Mr. Speaker.

The CEO

of Nalcor cut $20 million off the exploration budget which contradicts

Advance 2030 . Your government then

provided $20 million to Nalcor to cover it off.

Did

Nalcor make any cuts in regard to their budget as you had asked them?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Natural Resources.

MS. COADY:

Mr. Speaker, the Member

opposite can certainly see what we're providing to Nalcor this year. They did go

through a very extensive exercise, as everyone in government had to do, Mr.

Speaker, zero-based budgeting.

Nalcor

is in a transition now from really developing the project of Muskrat Falls to

starting the operations of Muskrat Falls. We've held their budget, Mr. Speaker,

they've held their budget. Even though they've had to do some things with regard

to adding some resources to ensure that we can operate the project that the

Member opposite was part of voting in favour of doing.

Mr.

Speaker, we're going to continue to work with Nalcor. It's a great board of

directors, a great CEO. They're working very hard. This morning we had the

annual general meeting of Nalcor. They've had a good year, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Opposition House

Leader.

MR. HUTCHINGS:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The

project the minister referenced in terms of supporting it, she may want to

recognize the current Minister of Finance, the prior minister of Finance and the

Minister of AES also supported it. So maybe you should talk to them about it as

well.

Mr.

Speaker, an order-in-council posted on budget day –

AN HON. MEMBER:

(Inaudible.)

MR. SPEAKER:

Order, please!

MR. HUTCHINGS:

Which side were you on then?

MR. SPEAKER:

Order, please!

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER:

Please proceed.

MR. HUTCHINGS:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

order-in-council posted on budget day indicated that $20 million was transferred

to Nalcor.

Was this

funding part of Budget 2018 or an

add-on on budget day, and where did the $20 million come from for transfer?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Natural Resources.

MS. COADY:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I seem

to be hearing from the Member opposite that he's not supportive of a new

exploration program. That's what I'm hearing.

Mr.

Speaker, this government thinks it's a priority. To ensure that we can grow our

offshore oil and gas, we believe very firmly that new exploration is very

important. That's how we now know, Mr. Speaker, that we have 20 different

basins. That's how we now know, Mr. Speaker, we have 650 leads and prospects.

We don't

want to leave that oil in the ground, Mr. Speaker. We want to responsibly

develop it to the benefit of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.

I will

say, Mr. Speaker, we are looking to a good program this year for new exploration

and we're also making sure that we maximize the equity of the programs that we

already have.

Thank

you.

MR. SPEAKER:

Order, please!

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The Opposition House Leader.

MR. HUTCHINGS:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr.

Speaker, I'll ask the Premier if he could give an update on how much this

province has spent on legal bills and, as well, the projected costs of future

legal advice related to the unfair tariffs placed on Corner Brook Pulp and Paper

by the government of the United States.

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Premier.

PREMIER BALL:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I just

found the first line of questioning very interesting, actually, when they talked

about the investments coming from the equity, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to remind

the Members opposite if there was that much equity available to support great

programs like seismic, we would not be borrowing over $700 million a year to go

back into the reversing falls project, Nalcor. It seems to me the money is

flowing in the wrong direction; the power is actually flowing in the wrong

direction.

I'll get

back to the very issue. As I mentioned a few days ago, we are currently at

around $500,000. That bill will grow, Mr. Speaker, but it's important to know

that in order to make an argument in the US, you must have legal support from

the US in that jurisdiction.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The Opposition House Leader.

MR. HUTCHINGS:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr.

Speaker, NAFTA, or any international trade agreement, is signed by the sovereign

countries, Canada – this one in particular, Canada, the United States and

Mexico.

I ask

the Premier: Because of that, has he asked the federal government to pay for

these fees and expenses?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Premier.

PREMIER BALL:

Mr. Speaker, when you look at

softwood lumber, when you look at the newsprint tariff that was put on and the

current NAFTA negotiations that are ongoing, with the countervailing tariffs

that were put in place from January – and I agree, unjust, unfair, unjustified,

puts undue hardship on the industry within our province – then the anti-dumping

tariff that was put on, it's accumulating to some 32 per cent.

This is

a long process. We've had the federal government involved in many aspects of

their involvement through various organizations and departments. To date, it's

$500,000. That number will grow, Mr. Speaker.

I'll

tell you, the federal government, the industry, the local communities, the

workers: everyone is involved in this argument. We'll continue to work together

on that.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The Opposition House Leader.

MR. HUTCHINGS:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr.

Speaker, the federal government is a signatory to NAFTA. The federal government

negotiates international trade agreements. They're the ones that go to

arbitration in areas of dispute. It's their responsibility.

I ask

the Premier: Have you asked or will you direct costs to the federal government

for the work you're doing?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Premier.

PREMIER BALL:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

As I've

said in the past, everyone is involved in this, Mr. Speaker. Of course, at some

point, when this decision is finalized – it is not a final decision. The final

decision will come around August, September that time frame. We'll know what the

total is at that point and we'll be reaching out to any group at all that can

help support the work that we have done.

We will

do that, Mr. Speaker. The feds are already involved in this file. We are

involved, rightfully so. I can't imagine anyone in this House, especially the

Members opposite, that watched two newsprint mills close up under their watch –

we are going to stand up for this industry and we will do whatever we can when

it comes to legal support, north and south of the border. Mr. Speaker, the

industry deserves this government fighting on their behalf.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Opposition House

Leader.

MR. HUTCHINGS:

Here's a news clip for the

Premier, Mr. Speaker: Newfoundland and Labrador doesn't control the paper market

in the world. You might want to understand that.

Mr.

Speaker, what discussions are ongoing at this time with Kruger and with the

Government of Newfoundland and Labrador and with the Department of Natural

Resources in regard to these tariffs?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Premier.

PREMIER BALL:

Mr. Speaker, there are

discussions ongoing virtually every day because, as you know right now, this

industry and Corner Brook Pulp and Paper, there is significant – theses tariffs

are imposed. They came in place just five days after they were announced, Mr.

Speaker. So this is having a significant impact. As I said, we are going to work

closely with that industry. We're working closely with the federal government on

this very issue as well to find wherever we can get some support for this

industry.

Listen,

Mr. Speaker, let's be very clear, these discussions are ongoing on a daily

basis. They're intense and we're going to do whatever it takes to make sure this

industry is viable well into the future. Nearly 6,000 jobs are attached to this

industry, Mr. Speaker. These are families that are living in our communities,

and many of those communities are rural communities.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for the

District of Mount Pearl North.

MR. LESTER:

Mr. Speaker, we just learned

today of families in a certain community that are employed by South Brook

logging company that will likely face bankruptcy after 44 year in business.

Doing business with Kruger came to an abrupt end. They were blindsided.

Was

government or did government have indications that these job cuts were coming,

given that you're talking to them on a regular basis?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Fisheries and Land Resources.

MR. BYRNE:

Mr. Speaker, it's wonderful

to hear the hon. Member actually speak of forestry and actually want to promote

its best interests because we have not heard that as of yet. So I'm taking that

he is making an impassionate case that forestry is important to us.

Yes,

there are jobs that have been affected already now from the tariffs and

restructuring and cost efficiencies at Corner Brook Pulp and Paper. He

highlights the case as to why it's so important to try to punch above our weight

to make sure that these tariffs are dealt with.

Mr.

Speaker, I'm sure he'll probably ask a question soon about whether or not we

should be intervening more strongly when his hon. colleague, another Member of

the Opposition, just argued that we should not be arguing against these tariffs

and we should leave it to the federal government.

MR. SPEAKER:

Order, please!

Your

time has expired.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for Mount

Pearl North.

MR. LESTER:

Once again, I rise to

represent the individuals who are directly affected. That's the families of the

rural community –

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. LESTER:

– living in the rural

communities who've lost their jobs and their livelihoods. What are they going to

do now?

Has the

minister expressed any concern to Kruger about this termination of business? Has

he pushed Kruger to reconsider their decision that will have such a negative

impact on so many young families?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Fisheries and Land Resources.

MR. BYRNE:

Mr. Speaker, it is a very

devastating decision and situation for the families and for the company that is

affected. I spoke with the owner of the company last night. I did offer him

whatever help that can be offered, the other opportunities that exist; and, yes,

we will be reaching out to Corner Brook Pulp and Paper as well.

Mr.

Speaker, what we have to realize, and this is why it's so, so important – which

I have not heard as of yet –we have to work together to resolve these issues to

enhance our forest industry, not to try to cut it down, not to try to smear it,

not to try to minimize it. When we have opportunities to create jobs in our

forestry sector, I would expect, and the forest industry would expect, that all

Members stand up in favour of our forestry industry. We haven't heard it yet

from this Member opposite (inaudible).

MR. SPEAKER:

Order, please!

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for Mount

Pearl North.

MR. LESTER:

Mr. Speaker, the people of

this province are standing behind Kruger. We want Kruger to stay, but we expect

equal respect from Kruger to the families and the people who are employed in our

forest industry. We expect due course of notice.

Has

Kruger made government aware of any other impending cuts coming to their

operation?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Fisheries and Land Resources.

MR. BYRNE:

Mr. Speaker, we know that

Corner Brook Pulp and Paper always want to create efficiencies, and we are

working with Corner Brook Pulp and Paper not to reduce or diminish jobs but to

expand them. We're looking at new opportunities for Corner Brook Pulp and Paper;

opportunities in biofuels, opportunities in other sectors which complement the

pulp and paper industry.

Mr.

Speaker, I'll say this, it'd be very, very helpful right here, right now, if the

hon. Member would stand on his feet and inform this House of Assembly that

unlike the comments that have been made by the hired henchman, Mr. Sandy

Collins, who has diminished the forest industry and said the forest practices of

Newfoundland and Labrador are inappropriate in so many venues, I'd appreciate it

if he'd stand on his feet and denounce his hired henchman's advice.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for the

District of Conception Bay South.

MR. PETTEN:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr.

Speaker, earlier this week I asked the minister if he could release an

assessment of what the average family in Newfoundland and Labrador, with two

small children, will pay in extra costs for food, clothing and other necessities

as a result of the trickle-down effect of the carbon tax. He could not.

Can you

today?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Municipal Affairs and Environment.

MR. JOYCE:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank

you for the question. I just find it strange; we went through Estimates this

morning, I think he asked two questions.

AN HON. MEMBER:

What?

MR. JOYCE:

Two questions on the whole

environment, and here he is today up grandstanding, Mr. Speaker.

As I

said before, Mr. Speaker, I was here this morning, I offered the Member for

Mount Pearl - Southlands an opportunity to speak, any time, any question. He

asked two questions, I think it was. It could be three, I'm not sure.

Mr.

Speaker, I got to say –

AN HON. MEMBER:

(Inaudible.)

MR. JOYCE:

Which member? The Member for

Mount Pearl – Southlands, I gave him the opportunity to ask any questions and we

would stay. The critic, who just asked the question, Mr. Speaker, never asked

one question today on carbon tax. Not one. Not one.

So, Mr.

Speaker, I say to the Member, as we said before, that is a federal program that

we were told we must do. We will make it made in Newfoundland and Labrador and

we will present it to the public (inaudible).

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for the

District of Conception Bay South.

MR. PETTEN:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I want

to point out the Minister never actually answered any questions. If I can count

up, I think he might have answered four – his officials did. When we were posed

to ask questions, he's on the record numerous times, I will not be answering

those questions, just line by line.

I had

four pages, Mr. Speaker, and I asked all of those line-by-line items. The

Minister decided to sit back with his arms folded and let his official answer

the questions. So we were done. We had our Estimates done. Maybe he should've

answered those questions then. We wouldn't have to stand up here in the House

and ask them again.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. PETTEN:

I'll ask questions as long as

I'm an Opposition Member and they're government. That's our job and I'm not

going to stop.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. PETTEN:

Your government is bringing

in a new tax that everyone in Newfoundland and Labrador will have to pay.

Have you

done any analysis on how much your carbon tax scheme costs residents and

households in Newfoundland and Labrador?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Municipal Affairs and Environment.

MR. JOYCE:

Well, Mr. Speaker, I'm sure

Hansard will show that the Leader of

the Third Party did ask questions on carbon tax and the questions were answered.

Hansard will show it, Mr. Speaker.

Mr.

Speaker, as we said before, this is something that was put in by the federal

government –

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER:

Order, please!

MR. JOYCE:

– and part of that is we can

make a made in Newfoundland and Labrador – problem here, Mr. Speaker, and the

solution in Newfoundland, if not, as I said before, the federal government will

come in with a backstop.

So we're

working with the industry in Newfoundland and Labrador. We're working with all

the stakeholders in Newfoundland and Labrador so that we can make a Newfoundland

and Labrador product to benefit Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. Unlike Muskrat

Falls, which will be the biggest tax we'll ever see in Newfoundland and

Labrador.

MR. SPEAKER:

Order, please!

The

Member's time has expired.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

I do remind all Members, I

will not tolerate interruptions. I only want to hear from the MHA identified.

The hon.

the Member for Conception Bay South.

MR. PETTEN:

Mr. Speaker, he doesn't know the answer once again. This rhetoric that goes on

and on, he doesn't know. I'm going to try another one. I got lots of questions.

You are

going to be introducing this new tax, which all residents of the province will

have to pay, but you refuse to provide any details.

Do you

have a plan or a formula for charging individual residents of the province for

your new carbon tax?

Forget

about the federal government. Stand up for the people of the province and tell

them what they got to pay.

MR. SPEAKER:

The Minister of Municipal

Affairs and Environment.

MR. JOYCE:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Once

again, Mr. Speaker, I can say as many times as the Member wants me to say: We're

developing a plan for Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.

This

carbon tax was put in by the federal government who told all the provinces that

by January 1, 2019, if you don't have a plan, we will put a backstop in. What

they informed all provinces is that what you can do is use the funds in

Newfoundland and Labrador to help create new green initiatives in Newfoundland

and Labrador and help with the green initiatives that right now are lacking in

Newfoundland and Labrador.

Mr.

Speaker, we will be presenting a plan. I said it before, this kicks in January

1, 2019. There will be a plan presented to all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.

The

Member opposite is quite welcome, Mr. Speaker, once the plan is out there, to

ask any questions he'd like (inaudible).

MR. SPEAKER:

Order, please!

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The Member for Conception Bay

South.

MR. PETTEN:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

It's

astounding; the minister really doesn't know any of the answers to these

questions. I think that's shameful.

This

issue is one of the biggest issues talked about in the country now, one of the

biggest issues here, the carbon tax. Go to the rest of the country and it's a

big issue. Here, we can't get any details. So half-a-million people here and we

can't any details from this minister or government.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER:

Order, please!

MR. PETTEN:

You stated the plans for your

new carbon tax would be introduced this spring. People were expecting to see

details in the budget; it's a new tax after all.

When

exactly will you be open and transparent and let the people of the province in

on the details of your new carbon tax plan? It's straightforward question, Mr.

Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER:

The Minister of Municipal

Affairs and Environment.

MR. JOYCE:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I'll

tell you one thing that was straightforward, Mr. Speaker; $18 million for Humber

Valley Paving when he was executive assistant to the minister of Transportation

and Works.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. JOYCE:

Mr. Speaker, I'll tell you

one thing, and I said it before to the Member opposite, he can stand here – and

I said the plan will be put in for Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. We will

have discretion on the plan. When the plan – it will be rolled out so all

Newfoundlanders and Labradorians will look at it.

I say to

the Member opposite: Did you agree with Humber Valley Paving when you were

executive assistant to the minister waiting for the new Premier to come in, when

$18 million was released by three sentences, Mr. Speaker? That's the difference

of this side.

We'll do

a plan; we'll do a comprehensive plan. We'll do it; we'll let everybody

(inaudible).

MR. SPEAKER:

Order, please!

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

Conception Bay South.

MR. PETTEN:

Mr. Speaker, you know what's

shameful, the Minister of Environment does not know one single thing about

climate change.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. PETTEN:

Carbon tax; he knows zero.

I'll ask

him one more. He might be able to go and text his friends in Ottawa and might

get an answer. I'm going to ask him one more and it's straightforward. This he

should be able to answer.

In his

Budget Speech, the Finance Minister linked the new carbon tax with the phase-out

of the remainder of the temporary gas tax.

Will the

minister confirm the four cents remaining on your Liberal gas tax will be rolled

into your Liberal carbon tax plan? Yes or no?

MR. SPEAKER:

The Minister of Municipal

Affairs and Environment.

MR. JOYCE:

Mr. Speaker, I can say one

thing, at least we have friends in Ottawa. Those friends in Ottawa are putting

$540 million in capital works –

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER:

Order, please!

MR. JOYCE:

– in the Province of

Newfoundland and Labrador for water and sewer. We have a fishery fund, Mr.

Speaker, I can tell you, $100 million. I'm glad we got friends in Ottawa.

As we

said, when the carbon tax rolls in, the four cents left will be eliminated from

the gas tax. I'll say to the Member opposite, I take offence when you said I

have no details – all the work that's done by the officials. You stand here

today with the officials, never asked a question about how many staff are there,

how many people, what type of work they're doing, is there any increase in

funding – it's shameful for you (inaudible) –

MR. SPEAKER:

Order, please!

The

Member's time has expired.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for the

District of

Fortune Bay - Cape La Hune.

MS.

PERRY:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The quote that came to my mind with that response was

with friends like that, we sure don't need enemies.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MS.

PERRY:

Last month, March 16, a woman called into

Open Line to look for help on her financial situation. This lady, who was in

need of home care, cannot afford it. Eastern Health told her that she must pay

$418 a month, which she simply does not have. When she called the Seniors'

Advocate they said: Who is your Member? Phone your Member.

I ask the minister: What's the purpose of the Seniors'

Advocate? Is the office just a call-direction service?

MR.

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Minister of Children, Seniors and Social Development.

MS.

DEMPSTER:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I don't need to remind Members of this House that the

Member that asked the question is the person who thought a Seniors' Advocate was

a luxury in this province. Here we are, Mr. Speaker, with a rapidly aging

population, many, many seniors and we saw fit to put a Seniors' Advocate in

place to deal with important issues of people who are very important to us.

The Member knows we can't speak to individual

circumstances. As a matter of fact, Mr. Speaker, I listened to the exact call

that she is referring to as I was driving along. All I can say is if they went

to the MHA, the MHA should have come to me and asked me specifically about the

questions and then I could have got into the details.

Thank you.

MR.

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Member for Fortune Bay - Cape La Hune for a very short question,

please.

MS.

PERRY:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I'm proud to represent the seniors and stand up and

raise their concerns, Mr. Speaker –

MR.

SPEAKER:

Short question, please.

MS.

PERRY:

and I will ask the minister: Will she bring legislation into this House to

fix the role of the Seniors' Advocate and give them the ability to actually help

seniors?

MR.

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Minister of Children, Seniors and Social Development for a quick

response, please.

MS.

DEMPSTER:

Mr.

Speaker, when it comes to assisting the seniors in Newfoundland and Labrador, I

believe our government has a track record already, despite the tough fiscal

situation that we found ourselves in: $122 million helping seniors and

low-income people ;

$7.5 million to add new treatment options under the Newfoundland and Labrador

Prescription program.

Many,

many things happening and we're very pleased to have been able to follow up and

put a Seniors' Advocate in place to help seniors deal with systemic issues in

this province.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Leader of the

Third Party.

MS. ROGERS:

Mr. Speaker, yesterday the

Minister of Labour responded to my question saying: “We all know that the best

solution to any negotiations is we go through collective bargaining in good

faith.” But twice the Labour Relations Board found D-J Composites guilty of

bargaining in bad faith – twice.

They

continue violating workers' rights and locking them out for 16 months and

counting. Seven years ago, government set up the Industrial Inquiry to study the

18-month Voisey's Bay strike. It recommended that binding arbitration occur when

strikes or lockouts are ineffective in bringing about resolution of a dispute.

I ask

the Premier: Why does he not action immediately in order to deal with the

situation in Gander?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Advanced Education, Skills and Labour.

MR. HAWKINS:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

certainly realize that, as I said yesterday, we are concerned about the strike.

As I also mentioned yesterday to my hon. colleague and Leader of the Third

Party, if she wanted to get some information on the last dispute and complaint,

there is a report on the website that she can read. I offered it to her

yesterday.

I also

made a statement, Mr. Speaker, that in reference to the arbitration, legislation

is not necessary because if she reads and go into

section 123(5.1) of the act –

in 2012 when the Labour Relations Board was given extra authority.

Here's

what the board says: “… the Board finds that it does have the jurisdiction to

potentially order binding arbitration upon the parties pursuant to

Section

123(5.1) of the Act .” If she'd like to

read the report, Mr. Speaker –

MR. SPEAKER:

Order, please!

MR. HAWKINS:

(Inaudible.)

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The Leader of the Third

Party.

MS. ROGERS:

Thank you very much, Mr.

Speaker.

I ask

the minister: What will it take, two years, three years, 10 years? When is it

bad enough?

He also

said unions don't want binding arbitration when, in fact, unions wrote the

minister asking for binding arbitration in cases where an employer is egregious,

unlawful and acting in bad faith. The Industrial Inquiry warned this would

happen more often as multinationals try to violate Canadian workers' rights.

I ask

the Premier again, this is a matter of justice: Will he meet with unions and

amend the Labour Relations Act to

include Recommendation 5 of the Industrial Inquiry?

MR. SPEAKER:

The Minister of Advanced

Education, Skills and Labour.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. HAWKINS:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I really

invite the Member of the Third Party to read the report and also read the

legislation, as I said, very clearly, very clearly, very clearly: “… the Board

finds that it does have the jurisdiction to potentially order binding

arbitration upon the parties pursuant to

Section 123(5.1) of the

Act. ” So the Labour Relations Board

has the authority.

Mr.

Speaker, what I said yesterday is the fact that when we get into any

negotiation, collective bargaining is a right that we have. It's an opportunity

for us, for labour, for employers and for the union to be able to have a

collective agreement which is negotiated, not forced upon them.

Thank

you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for the

District of St. John's East - Quidi Vidi.

MS. MICHAEL:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Yesterday I said to the Minister of Finance that cuts made in 2016 to dental

care and home care have been hard on seniors. In reply, the minister talked

about building long-term care facilities as a sign that this government values

seniors.

I ask

the minister: How is investing in a building in Corner Brook going to help the

senior in St. Anthony or Bonavista who can't get enough home care to meet their

needs?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Finance and President of Treasury Board.

MR. OSBORNE:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I also

said in the answer to her question that we have 155,000 seniors on the Seniors'

Benefit, but she didn't hear that part of the response, Mr. Speaker, because

it's not politically advantageous to her.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for St.

John's East - Quidi Vidi.

MS. MICHAEL:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I ask

the minister: How can he balance the minimal Seniors' Benefit – because it is –

against the cost to seniors of losing home care hours, dental care and coverage

of over-the-counter drugs?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Finance and President of Treasury Board.

MR. OSBORNE:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr.

Speaker, we are investing $121 million in the Seniors' Benefit in this province.

In addition to that, the Minister of Health put forward in this year's budget

measures for the home-first program. There are also measures put in place in

many of the departments in this government to deal with seniors.

All you

need to do is ask the minister of responsible for Seniors of some of the

benefits that are in this year's budget. We are not ignoring seniors, as the

Member would want people to believe. We have a great deal of benefit in this

year's budget for seniors.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

Time for Oral Questions has ended.

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 Member for

Fortune Bay - Cape La Hune.

MS. PERRY:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

To the

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

Parliament assembled:

The

residents of Hermitage and surrounding area depend on timely access to medical

services. The amount of days that medical services are being provided at the

Hermitage Medical Clinic has been reduced from two days per week to just two

days per month.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER:

Order, please!

require to be able to hear the speaker.

Thank

you.

MS. PERRY:

Residents of the Hermitage

area, including many seniors, now must travel approximately 50 kilometres to

Harbour Breton to receive medical services and no public transportation is

available in the area. The residents of the Hermitage area have expressed

concerns about their ability to receive medical services in a timely manner, as

well as safety concerns related to travelling for medical purposes.

Therefore, we petition the hon. House of Assembly as follows:

The

undersigned, your petitioners, humbly pray and call upon the House of Assembly

to urge the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador to extend operations at the

Hermitage Medical Clinic to include an extra two days of service per month, for

a total of four days per month.

Again,

Mr. Speaker, I will say that I feel strongly that the people of this portion of

my district, the ConHer portion we call it, the Hermitage-Sandyville, Seal Cove,

McCallum and Gaultois area – I don't think they're asking for enough personally.

They're really not asking for much, two additional days. That will still only

give them one day per week.

It's

unfair that the people of rural Newfoundland and Labrador are subject to a

different level of service than any other Newfoundlander and Labradorian, Mr.

Speaker. We are equally as important and we equally contribute to the well-being

of this province, I would say.

In fact,

in my District of Fortune Bay - Cape La Hune, for a small population of 8,000

people I would think we contribute significantly more than some other areas with

over $200 million in aquaculture production alone; with the hydro production

down there, Mr. Speaker, 600 megawatts; and with the traditional fishery that

continues to be a major employer for the area.

The

people of the Coast of Bays region deserve decent health care. It is unfair to

expect seniors to travel on roads that are not snow cleared with no cellphone

service, to expect their children or their family or friends to take a day off

work to drive them to a clinic appointment 50 kilometres away, when the simple

solution is to send a nurse in their direction two additional days a month. It's

not asking for a lot. We truly hope that government will hear them and reinstate

those services.

Thank

you, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER:

Further petitions?

The hon.

the Member for the District of Conception Bay South.

MR. PETTEN:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

To the

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

Parliament assembled, the petition of the undersigned residents of Newfoundland

and Labrador humbly sheweth:

WHEREAS

Newfoundland has the highest incidence of cardiac disease in Canada and we need

to do what we can to improve our ability to save lives; and

WHEREAS

the implementation of a new registry can be completed for less than the cost of

a new vehicle; and

WHEREAS

after implementation, the annual cost will be five cents per resident;

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

of Assembly to urge government to enact legislation requiring all AEDs in the

province be registered with an online registry. This registry must also be

linked to the 911 system to enable faster response time in case of cardiac

emergencies.

And as

in duty bound, your petitioners will ever pray.

Mr.

Speaker, I presented several of these and I guess I'll continue on. This issue

is of particular importance to me – the issue itself is very important but

there's a family in my district who suffers from this rare disease and require

AEDs. Actually, as a matter of fact, the proponent, I guess the person that

spurred me on to petitioning on his behalf to get this registry in place has

also been a very vocal advocate with the Heart and Stroke Foundation in getting

AEDs installed in a lot of the remaining schools and whatnot, and has been very

actively involved.

I've had

many conversations with him. As a matter of fact, he is presently at the Ottawa

Heart Institute recovering from his heart transplant; successful heart

transplant surgery he had several weeks ago, and I keep wishing him well because

I think it's a great story.

This

registry is tied to the fact of making sure those AEDs are there to save lives.

I spoke previously this week. In my own community of CBS, the Robert French

Memorial Stadium, the second life was saved Sunday passed. This gentleman, he is

in mid-forties; I know him well. He just got released from hospital today, but

he actually was saved. Six times they had to shock him to bring him back. It was

a very serious incident. I spoke about it earlier this week. On the way to the

hospital, they stopped twice; emergency surgery at the hospital.

It's a

successful story but he was saved by this AED, Mr. Speaker. As a result of the

batteries being operational, this machine was operational in the stadium and was

ready to use. If we could have this registry in place that would make sure that

batteries would always be charged, first responders would know where to find the

nearest AED. As I say, every time I've gotten up and spoken on this petition,

Mr. Speaker, these save lives. Living proof in my own town; there were two in

the last year. And other places – I know Stephenville had one and this other –

MR. K. PARSONS:

One last week in the Jack

Byrne Arena.

MR. PETTEN:

Jack Byrne Arena last week,

as my colleague says.

So this

is very important and it's about making sure those machines are readily

accessible and functioning. It's fine to have them there, but we need to make

sure we have it tied to our 911 and everything is operational, should the need

arise because we never know when we may need one.

I'll

keep petitioning for this gentleman and his family in my district, very

passionate about it and I'm only too glad to present this petition.

Thank

you very much.

MR. SPEAKER:

Further petitions?

AN HON. MEMBER:

(Inaudible.)

MR. SPEAKER:

Oh, I'm sorry.

The hon.

the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Environment for a response.

MR. JOYCE:

Thank you very much, Mr.

Speaker.

I thank

the Member for the petition. It is a great petition.

Just to

know, we are working with the Heart and Stroke Foundation. Last year, we put

$100,000 in to buy AEDs to put across the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador.

actual fact, Mr. Speaker, one of the announcements we had was the Member for

Cape St. Francis was in the same stadium that you were just talking about when

the other person took a heart attack. We had the same announcement that they

saved a young boy in the stadium. We were up there last year (inaudible).

This is

a big issue. I met with the Heart and Stroke Foundation on this issue. I told

them we'll commit to look across Canada. I think all provinces got it done.

The

issue, Mr. Speaker, you have to resolve before you create a registry – because

once you call in to 911 and you get a registry, you have to ensure that this

registry is updated. That's the big issue. If you call in to 911 and say there's

an AED at the Jack Byrne Arena stadium, you have to ensure that AED will always

be updated or taken off the list. That's the kind of stuff you have to work

through.

It's a

great idea. As I said, I met with the Heart and Stroke Foundation again just

yesterday. I agreed to go back and look at some of the information for this. We

will work with anybody we can. I'll even work with the Member because this is

such a great issue. It can affect anybody.

Even in

St. John's, just last week, besides the stadium, there was a second person saved

by an AED at a private building, actually, I think it was, in St. John's. It's

an important issue that we all should work together to help save lives in

Newfoundland and Labrador.

A great

petition.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

Thank you.

Further

petitions?

The hon.

the Government House Leader.

MR. A. PARSONS:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I call

Orders of the Day.

MR. SPEAKER:

Orders of the Day.

Orders of the Day

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Government House

Leader.

MR. A. PARSONS:

I call from the Order Paper,

Motion 1, the Budget Speech.

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

Stephenville - Port au Port to continue his debate.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. FINN:

Thank you very much, Mr.

Speaker.

I just

have to stand today; I don't know how much time I have. I'm sure the Clerk will

notify me. I spoke for a few short minutes yesterday prior to us adjourning for

recess. The intention there was specifically around the comments from the Member

for Conception Bay South.

I had no

choice but to stand, Mr. Speaker. I had to listen for a 20-minute piece from the

Member for Conception Bay South as he distinctly criticized the Minister of

Transportation and Works, the Department of Transportation and Works and the

work that's been done in that department. Specifically, he stated we had not

taken any politics out of paving at all. He said we were not doing a proper job

in terms of our ranking system.

Mr.

Speaker, I then quoted just a short piece from the Auditor Generals' report

which was released in June of 2017. That report was a reflection of work carried

out in the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador on our provincial highways and

our secondary highways. The Auditor General examined some 13 different pieces of

work and there were some rather scathing findings, specifically with respect to

politics in pavement, Mr. Speaker.

In the

2015-2016 year, some $240 million was spent on construction and maintenance on

our highways in our province – $240 million in both construction and

maintenance. Specifically with respect to some of the work that was done, of the

$77 million of new work that was completed, 46 per cent of that work had direct

MHA interference.

Mr.

Speaker, the figures are quite frightening. If you look at $77 million worth of

work done in this province in 2015-2016, MHA priorities were reflected in $35.9

million worth of work in that one year – $35.9 million. Almost half of all of

the roadwork in the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador had direct MHA

interference.

In fact,

the MHA interference trumped what was needed and deemed essential,

significantly. It trumped carryover work, that's work that was not even finished

the previous year. It trumped strategic work priorities as well. Direct MHA

interference in all of the roadwork in the province under the PC government's

watch, and yesterday the Member stood up in this House and accused us of not

having any plan to address it and we're not doing anything to take the politics

out of paving.

Mr.

Speaker, the report, which I can table for the Member if he's not familiar – he

should be familiar. I understand the Member for Conception Bay South was the

executive assistant to the Minister of Transportation and Works during the year

in which this report reflects. He was the executive assistant to the Minister of

Transportation and Works in the year that this report is reflecting. That's the

PC government's 46 per cent interference with MHAs into all roadwork in the

province that year.

Other

things in the report are very concerning as well, Mr. Speaker. There are

references to tack coat that was often not used. Tack coat is a type of material

that's used to ensure that the asphalt and the adhesive can stick together

clearly. It was often not used for a good six-year period under the PC

government's watch.

The PC

government is quoted in the report: they had no system in place to identify

maintenance priorities. They had no system in place to identify maintenance

priorities for our provincial highways; yet, the Member had to stand on his feet

and complain about Route 60 – sorry, I meant to say 460. Route 460 is in

Stephenville, I'll get to that in a few moments.

Route 60

is a direct issue that the Member has, and I'm sure it's a highly travelled

road. He's stating it's the fifth or sixth busiest travelled road in the

province, and perhaps he's correct. I certainly won't dispute that. I'm sure it

perhaps needs some work, but under their watch they didn't even have a system to

identify maintenance priorities. They also had interference in half the roadwork

in the province. So I don't understand how just a year or two removed from this,

if he was that concerned about Route 60 he couldn't have addressed it then.

Late

tendering; the Auditor General's report reflecting the Department of

Transportation and Works under the PC government. I think it was half of the

projects examined were going to tender late. Almost half of those projects were

going to tender late.

Mr.

Speaker, that's just a few things. Again, very concerning when you look at

politics and pavement and PC Members interfering directly with the work and the

priorities. Their priorities trumped safety priorities. When we look at no

system in place to identify priorities, going to tender late and so on and so

forth.

Mr.

Speaker, what are we doing about it as a Liberal government and what has our

government done? Well, I can tell you, and I have no trouble tabling this

document for the Member for Conception Bay South as well. This is the Five-Year

Provincial Roads Plan, the 2018 edition. You should check it out, I tell the

Member for Conception Bay South.

addition to outlining all of the work that we'll be doing in the next number of

years, over the next five years, the rankings are here for the projects, the

rankings are listed. The rankings are based on safety, traffic volumes and

social and economic impacts. So despite the PC government having no plan to

prioritize their roadwork, we are focusing on prioritizing our roadwork based on

safety, traffic volumes and the social and economic impacts to the residents in

the areas in which these roads go.

Secondly, Mr. Speaker, what else are we doing? We're going to tender early. I'll

perhaps defer to the Minister of Transportation and Works at a later date and he

can reference the number of projects and the tenders that went out early.

Putting

out early tenders, and it's not just issuing the tenders early, Mr. Speaker,

it's awarding them early as well. The Heavy Civil Association and contractors in

this province and companies that do roadwork in this province, they have told

us, and they have told our government and they've told the minister, they

applaud the five-year Roads Plan and they applaud the early tendering.

Going to

tender early allows our contractors to be better able to be prepare, it allows

them to forecast their needs in terms of their construction supplies and the

type of materials they need and the amount of staff they'll require. Awarding

the tenders early as well, Mr. Speaker, is extremely important. I think there

were nine projects referenced in this report from the Auditor General and under

the PC government's watch, half of them, the work wasn't completed and it was

being completed late.

The

five-year Roads Plan also allows contractors to prepare better, as I said, but

it allows them to look at bundling work as well. If a contractor in the Western

region for example, Mr. Speaker, understands that there's going to be work done

under several sections of highways – be it from Port aux Basques to Corner Brook

and Stephenville and in between – the contractors can bid on these pieces of

work and they can look at bundling it in. They can take a piece of work from one

section, say again, Port aux Basques, and as they move through Codroy Valley

they'll bundle in that piece of work as well, allowing them to prepare better.

Another

thing we've done, Mr. Speaker, to address some of the concerns and some of the

long-standing issues under the PC watch in the Department of Transportation and

Works is we've started a nighttime construction project. The intent of that is

to see if there's a way to alleviate traffic congestion in certain areas and

busy stretches of the highway by completing the work at night. There's been an

asphalt testing program that has just been unveiled as well. There are some five

different sections using different types of asphalt so we can determine what is

the best outcome and what are some of the best materials that we can use.

Those

are just a few things that we have done, Mr. Speaker, in terms of making sure

that our citizens, our municipalities, our contractors and our general public

are well informed about our roadwork. We have taken the politics out of paving,

I'll tell the Member for Conception Bay South, unlike the PC government. With

our five-year Roads Plan, work will get done.

Having

said that, I have to go back to the piece where 46 per cent of the roadwork

under the PC watch in 2015 – 46 per cent of the roadwork that year had direct

MHA interference. I think my district was a result of being trumped by some MHA

interference, Mr. Speaker. Route 460 that comes into Stephenville is a very

heavily travelled road. In fact, I was on town council with the Town of

Stephenville in the years 2013 and 2014; we did some of our own traffic counts.

In some of our traffic counts we were looking upwards to a maximum of about

2,000 cars a day travelling back and forth between Corner Brook and

Stephenville. Route 460 has been neglected I cannot tell you how long. I'm going

to say about nine years.

During

the rule of the PC government, three different Transportation and Works

ministers came to Stephenville and announced a bypass highway to go around a

flood zone in Route 460. Three different PC Transportation and Works ministers

announced, came out and had drawings, cut a ribbon and spoke to the Chamber of

Commerce. Three different PC ministers came out and announced work on 460 in the

District of

Stephenville - Port au Port. Mr. Speaker, I regret to tell you that that

never seen the light of day.

Three different announcements, three different

Transportation and Works ministers, zero work completed on Route 460 in

Stephenville – zero work, despite three separate announcements by three separate

PC ministers. Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Transportation and Works and the

former minister of Transportation and Works, the Member for Grand Falls, now the

Minister of Advanced Education and Skills, both of these ministers have had my

ear since day one.

I can tell you they are well aware of the concerns on

Route 460. I'm pleased to tell you, Mr. Speaker, that this year we're going to

see some seven to nine kilometres of pavement on Route 460 from Stephenville to

Corner Brook. Next year, again planning ahead – something the PC government

never do – in the five-year Roads Plan, I'll tell the Member, we're going to get

more work done on Route 460 in Stephenville - Port au Port.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Oh,

oh!

MR.

SPEAKER:

Order, please!

MR.

FINN:

Mr.

Speaker, I take great exception because this area – and you want to talk about

rankings and say the rankings aren't there. When we look at safety rankings,

they're ranked anywhere from zero to five. You want to know where Route 460

ranks –

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Oh,

oh!

MR.

SPEAKER:

Order, please!

MR.

FINN:

They ranked us a four when it comes to safety. It ranks as a four, and that's

given the traffic volumes and some of the concerns on this stretch of road.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Oh,

oh!

MR.

SPEAKER:

Order, please!

MR.

FINN:

When I have to hear the Member for Conception Bay South say that we have

politics in pavement, we're doing this based on safety and based on priority,

whereas the PC government decided to directly interfere with all the roadwork

and then just simply forget about their previous announcements – just simply

forget about their previous announcements.

I tell you the Chamber of Commerce in Stephenville and

the town council, when I got elected to town council in 2013, when we heard that

the PC government was coming out to announce roadwork for 460, everybody

laughed. Everybody in the town laughed. The chamber laughed; the Town of

Stephenville laughed. My God, people actually sometimes have a hard time

believing me that there's actually work going to be done this year because it's

been announced so many times under the Progressive Conservative watch.

Mr. Speaker, it's so upsetting to have to be here in

the House of Assembly. You get elected with the intention to do good, you want

to help the people in your district and I certainly want to help the people in

Stephenville - Port au Port. I travel Route 460 and I travel our provincial

highways almost weekly, Mr. Speaker, and I can tell you this particular stretch

of road is of extreme importance. I'm very proud that we're going to get this

work done.

Mr. Speaker, the Auditor General's report on the

Department of Transportation and Works, I'll say to the Member again – I can

certainly table it if need be – I'm going to have to ask him to go back and take

a look. I don't think that we deserve, on this side of the House, any lectures

at all. We do not deserve any lectures from the PC government on how to properly

do roadwork. We certainly do not.

And we certainly do not need to hear it from somebody

who was the executive assistant to the minister of Transportation and Works

during the year which is referenced that they directly

interfered with half of the

roadwork in the province, Mr. Speaker. It's absolutely unacceptable. I will not

sit over here and not take an opportunity to stand up and reply to some of the

remarks when they come in this nature.

With

that, Mr. Speaker, I'll look forward to speaking on the budget and some of the

things in the District of Stephenville - Port au Port. I'll look forward to

talking about many other initiatives. To sit here yesterday for 20 minutes, I

was absolutely stomach sick to hear the Member talk about politics in paving

when they interfered in 46 per cent of the roadwork.

The PC

government, the MHAs, directly interfered. Their priorities trump safety, they

trump reliability and they trump traffic violations.

All of

their priorities trumped safety concerns. Mr. Speaker, that is unacceptable. We

will not stand for it. We can do better; we have been doing better. I direct the

Member to the five-year Roads Plan.

Thank

you very much, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for the

District of Ferryland.

MR. HUTCHINGS:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I'm

certainly pleased again to rise and speak to

Budget 2018 . My colleague on the other side mentioned the five-year

roads program and talked about safety and the elements of that. It's

interesting, in my own district in the last couple of years we've been working

on a bridge locally known as Stoney River Bridge entering Trepassey, the

technical name is Mutton Bay Bridge. Safety is of the utmost concern of the

residents of the region in regard to that particular bridge.

In late

2015 there was an engineering inspection report done which indicated that bridge

should be replaced. There were immediate rehab repairs that needed to be done

for the safety of those that use it in transportation.

We've

presented petitions here in the House signed by local residents from St.

Shott's, Trepassey, Biscay Bay, Portugal Cove South, all those communities in

that region and towns and had representation from the councils. As well, I met

with the Southern Shore Joint Councils on a couple of occasions. They, as well,

have written letters to the minister, just as my hon. colleague has indicated,

about safety and ensuring the safety of the general public in passing that

bridge. To date, we've had nothing done, nothing to address that.

Safety

is one aspect and the most important aspect, but the other

part is when you look

at some of the opportunities we have on the Southern Avalon in regard to

tourism. We have a number of fishing enterprises there; other commerce is taking

place as well. I'll speak to that in a minute in regard to in July of 2016 we

had UNESCO designation that had been worked on for a considerable number of

years.

This

being Volunteer Week, certainly, it's good to recognize those people in the

region in the community, that did a tremendous job in starting that process, not

just getting to the conclusion. It's wasn't a few years. It was probably 15 or

20 years from the initial start when the land was brought in under the Parks

Division in the provincial government. It was set up in regard to a protected

piece of property, how it was managed.

Then we

started the process of being shortlisted on the UNESCO World Heritage Site and

all the work that's been done, investments put in, dollars put in to the process

to ensure that you could move it along. Very technical information from the

scientific community, from academia. We had various academics and scientists

from around North America. I know there were – I think maybe in the UK, as well

as in Ontario – particular universities that were involved in that and provided

their expertise in developing that document and the expertise that was needed to

go into it to make the case of why UNESCO should have World Heritage Site.

All that

work was done and it was supported by our administration in terms of dollars put

in. I think there was somewhere around $600,000 over a period of time put in to

support that work and, as well, to support infrastructure on the site up there.

I mentioned a particular bridge I spoke of, but also road infrastructure and

helping to continue to build that to support it, to drive economic activity on

the Southern Avalon.

Small

business and entrepreneurship is alive and well. With some of the activities

we've seen with UNESCO and the influx of tourists and people to the area –

local, national and international coming to the area, last year we saw somewhere

in the range of 10,000 people who went through the

interpretation site in

Portugal Cove South. They would have been going to Cape Race and the wireless

communication site there and as well the

interpretation centre in Portugal Cove

South.

In the

interpretation site there is a cast of the actual fossils from Mistaken Point

that were done a number of years ago and a portion of that hangs there in that

site. For those that come who may want to share the experience of seeing those

fossils that are over 500 million years old and to get an

interpretation of

them, they can do that there. For some reason if they didn't want to go out to

the actual site, which involves about a 20 minute drive out to the trail, out to

Cape Race road, and a 45 minute hike roughly down to the actual fossil bed site

at Mistaken Point, which is a tremendous hike, beautiful shoreline down through.

You can

look at some of the earlier communities that were a part of that area and where

people lived. Today, there are some homes left there but there are no permanent

residents there, but goes back to hundreds of years ago all across Newfoundland

and Labrador where people lived in smaller communities and around bays and so

forth and mostly got their subsistence from the sea and from codfish. You can

see that as well and have that experience as well when you visit Mistaken Point.

there's huge opportunity. That was recognized decades ago by those that – after

it was identified, the fossils were discovered and those that participated to

protect them and to look at the economic opportunity. Obviously, the point is

you want to preserve what you have in regard to the uniqueness of those fossils,

but also you want to do everything you can to make sure you benefit from those.

One of

the patterns that was followed was Joggins in the Bay of Fundy. They received

designation a few years prior to UNESCO designation at Mistaken Point. A lot of

work was done and mirroring and discussing with those partners there on the

process they went through.

remember several years ago being in Portugal Cove South and a delegation from

Joggins in the Bay of Fundy, and their fossil site, came and met with the

volunteers in Portugal Cove and had a great discussion about the process they

had gone through, the pitfalls, what you needed to do, and it was a great help.

Again, a lot of work was put into that to bring it to fruition eventually in

July of 2016.

Getting

back; this is tied into availing of the opportunities that are presented from a

social and economic point of view and that road infrastructure. The hon. Member

mentioned before me, safety is the first and foremost priority, but as well,

making sure there's a free flow of traffic that you can allow to make sure that

access is available.

One

uniqueness about the Southern Avalon as well, when you look at various – for

example, health care infrastructure, there's a three-hour, roughly, drive to St.

John's for acute care facilities in most cases for diagnostic testing. So it's

fundamental that you have good roads. People recognize there's not a particular

health care service in your particular area, but because of that you should have

strong roads and you should have the infrastructure so you can travel back and

forth to medical care and the kind of services that are required. You can't have

those services everywhere, but you certainly should cover off to make sure those

roads are at a condition that makes the travel the best it can be in times of

need.

That

gets to when the Member earlier spoke of the five-year Roads Plan. My colleague,

who's the critic for TW, has asked over and over again – and I think asked just

recently again in Estimates – in regard to the five-year roads program and

what's identified in it.

Indeed,

there are road infrastructure and bridges identified and rated within the

five-year roads program. The issue is if something is not in the five-year road

program and it's causing considerable concern, as the hon. Member mentioned,

it's related to safety and you want to know where the rating is for it and how

does it compare to a piece of infrastructure that's already in the five-year

programs: we don't know, we can't find it, it's not there.

The

argument is, well, we've taken the politics out of roadwork but what we've

gotten in a five-year program is just a list of pieces of infrastructure that's

rated and they're saying we're choosing these and these are getting done, but if

someone else comes along with –

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER:

Order, please!

Please

proceed.

MR. HUTCHINGS:

If someone else comes along

and says we've got this piece of infrastructure, what's the rating on that? I

think there are three or four elements they're rated on, maybe safety, maybe

economic opportunity and there are a few others. How does my piece of

infrastructure compare to ones that are in the road program? You can't see it.

It's not available. It's not done. We don't know. We've been asking now since

2016 when the original road program came out and there's been an update since

where that's to.

That's

like the particular bridge I referenced leading into Trepassey in regard to

where that sits. As well, the piece of infrastructure from Cappahayden to

Trepassey is one piece we've been looking for some information; understanding

that it all can't be done at once. I know in my term, we did a couple of

sections of it. It couldn't be all done at once.

There

are a lot of needs across the province in regard to road infrastructure. We did

a 10 or 11 kilometre piece from Chance Cove Park south down towards Trepassey

and even back from Chance Cove Park north and did a significant

section there in

two particular years.

We've

also replaced a bridge in Southwest River. In Trepassey we did some work leading

into Trepassey proper in regard to the highway and upgraded that. We did some

work in St. Shott's, between the end of Trepassey toward St. Shott's, but

recognizing it's a huge piece of road infrastructure in my particular district.

When you

get out of the City of St. John's, you get out to Bay Bulls city limits and you

go from there south right to St. Shott's and on towards Peter's River, there's a

tremendous amount of infrastructure, a tremendous amount of road. Everybody

recognizes you can't come in one year and do all that work or two years but

you'd like to see a plan and have it prioritized on safety and the economic

opportunities that that presented. With the five-year Roads Plan we haven't seen

that.

The

current government is in the third year of its mandate. Particularly, there's no

reference to that piece of infrastructure, even to get a piece done this year

and moving forward. As I said, it ties back to what I start with in talking

about the Southern Avalon and the opportunities for economic development related

to tourism, Mistaken Point, Chance Cove Park. That's a day park under the

Provincial Parks program.

We've

had some entrepreneurs that wanted to look at that and see if there would be

interest in working with a partnership with the private sector in regard to

developing that and putting infrastructure into it. Because it's a day park,

there's been no infrastructure put into it in the past number of years. There's

really not a lot of oversight to that park.

It's

partnered somewhat with La Manche Park which is, I think, probably one of the

most second-used parks in the province next to Butter Pot. We have asked the

current Minister of Tourism to consider that. We've had some people in having

discussions but I don't think they're going anywhere. We're just asking to have

a discussion to take advantage of the opportunity that is in the area.

With

people coming in, ecotourism, there's a river there which is great for sea trout

and even salmon fishing, as well, trails there that could certainly be exploited

from a geotourism point of view. Have people stay there in it, from an RV point

of view, or certainly the camp, from that natural point of view, to allow to

drive the opportunities in the area. That's all tied to infrastructure and it's

tied to supporting particular ventures that are in the area. One of those, as I

talked about, was Mistaken Point, getting that designation and making sure we

have the supports.

Just

recently I brought up questions here in the House. There were questions asked in

Estimates. My colleague asked in regard to the investment this government is

making and being able to avail of the opportunities that exist. This has been

going on really since 2017 when there were issues in regard to the management

plan.

When the

request was put in or the large volume of documentation was put in to the United

Nations for consideration, as part of that there was a management plan. That

plan basically covered the full breadth and scope of once you get the

designation, what you need to do over a four-year period and you need to report

on that four-year period.

A lot of

the items in that dealt with financial sustainability, how it would operate, do

you have the confidence it can operate, you continue to see how it can operate;

infrastructure is maintained and how the partnerships are identified with

various levels of governments, municipal governments, provincial governments,

federal governments and how of all that is shown to be operational and has been

followed.

As well,

there's an element in regard to education. There was a manager of education that

was taken out, which is of some concern to those who are involved because when

UNESCO looks at it and looks at achieving what you have to achieve over that

four-year period and those are not being done and not being identified, there is

some concern.

Other

aspects deal with, as I said, partnerships. The actual

interpretation centre

there has had challenges over the last couple of years in regard to operational

help. They had asked several times in letters and emails; haven't gotten a

response to several ministers. Just recently, I remember I had meetings last

spring. We met with the then minister and the ADM I think it was in the spring

of 2017. There were discussions then about a funding model and how it would

work. Because in that budget, the current administration brought in a fee they

were going to charge for provincial sites. Those folks up there, if they lost

that or if someone charged a fee and it was pulled back into provincial revenue,

it would be devastation for their actual ability to operate.

They

operate a lot, the

interpretation centre and the volunteer group that operates

it, which is the gateway for Mistaken Point. To go to Mistaken Point, the

employees of the parks division work there and government rents some space off

them, but that's the gateway. So if that doesn't function, there's nowhere for

those employees to operate and there's nowhere for anybody to meet for the

actual tours to be arranged. Because it is a toured site, so you just can't walk

out on the site. It is a reserve.

So you

go or you call and you register on a particular day to take the tour to Mistaken

Point. It's a guided tour. There are two done a day. To stop and register, to

drive up there and go out, you're looking at probably four or five hours if

you're leaving St. John's to go out and do the tour. There are two done a day

and they get a lot of calls. Unfortunately, in the last couple of years, they

had to turn people away because, with the designation in 2016 the world exposure

and all of those types of things, there's been a lot of activity.

That's

what we need to seize. The minister the other day referenced inaccurately in the

media, talked about we're bringing these issues up because we don't want people

to go to Mistaken Point. Nothing could be further from the truth. This is about

seizing the opportunity, supporting those volunteers and what they've achieved

to date and expanding the opportunity for the Southern Avalon and all that it

holds. That's what it's all about.

We've

seen entrepreneurs and business people in Trepassey and Portugal Cove South

continue to build and put dollars in for infrastructure so when people come,

they have that type of experience they want to have and we can derive economic

opportunity from that great asset we have. That's what it's all about.

colleague again asked questions: Why hasn't government gotten back to these

groups? These are volunteers; these are tremendous volunteers that have done

work beyond the scope of what you can imagine. They're passionate about it, but

they are getting to the point where they're getting tired.

They're

saying: Does anybody really care about this? Does anybody get it, what an

opportunity this is and we're letting it slip by? They're talking now with the

interpretation centre, not sure if they can open because of no support or no new

support from this government.

Just

recently, last week, they had a dinner. This is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and

they've got volunteers that are out selling tickets and having a dinner to try

to raise money to run an

interpretation centre, which is the gateway for UNESCO

World Heritage Sites. Volunteers selling tickets to try to keep that open, yet

we can't get ministers to return their call to meet with them and just give them

some clear understanding of what it is they have in mind in terms of fees, in

terms of meeting the management plan, in terms of continuing to grow the site,

get the return from the economic opportunity.

Someone

needs to reach out to those folks, to sit with them and to put in the kind of

funding that's needed to allow them to continue to take advantage. We, as a

province – it's not just the region, it's not just the Southern Avalon, this is

one of four UNESCO sites in the province, it's one of 18 in the country. These

are not that easy to come by. Obviously, the work that's done, the recognition

that's put in for the United Nations to recognize it is huge.

There

are people around the world, from the data that's being collected, will come to

– they'll go to any UNESCO site in the world. It's their bucket list to go to as

many as they can. They will come. They will stay. They will stay in the

communities. They'll spend. That will drive economic opportunities. It will

drive jobs. It will drive the things that reinvigorate rural Newfoundland and

Labrador. This is a classic example.

I can

only say again, hats off to those great people and the work they've done over

the past 15 or 20 years and the kind of things they've done to get this to where

it is today. We cannot lose this opportunity. We've come too far, too much has

been invested. The opportunities that exist for decades to come are very

evident.

anybody out there that's thinking about what it should look like, go in on

Joggins in the Bay of Fundy. You go in and google that and search it and you can

see what comes up. You can see how they have managed it and how they've done

what they need to do to make that successful. That's where we need to go.

Here,

the group up there and I and everybody else is willing to work together with

this government, but we need them to step up and do what needs to be done. If

you want to talk about economic and social development, this is a great example

of reinvigoration of an asset you have and making sure you maximize the

opportunity. That needs vision, it needs understanding and it means being able

to meet and work together to fund what is an obvious gem.

It's

there. It's ours. It's Newfoundland and Labrador. It's Canadian. We can do

better, and I certainly call on government to do better and get this to where it

needs to be.

Thank

you, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER:

Is the House ready for the

question?

Is it

the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion of the budget sub-amendment?

All

those in favour, 'aye.'

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Aye.

MR. SPEAKER:

All those against, 'nay.'

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Nay.

MR. SPEAKER:

In my opinion, the nays have

it.

The

budget sub-amendment is defeated.

AN HON. MEMBER:

(Inaudible.)

MR. SPEAKER:

I heard more nays than I

heard ayes.

AN HON. MEMBER:

(Inaudible.)

MR. SPEAKER:

I said the motion is

defeated.

The hon.

the Government House Leader.

MR. A. PARSONS:

Yes, Mr. Speaker, I would

move that we return to the budget non-confidence motion.

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

Harbour Main.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MS. PARSLEY:

Good afternoon.

Mr.

Speaker, it is a pleasure to once again stand in this hon. House and represent

the great District of Harbour Main, the district where we boast two of the

world's most historic communities, Brigus and Cupids, that welcome thousands of

tourists each day, injecting millions of dollars into our provincial economy.

There

are (inaudible) right now in the Town of Holyrood. We have a new Tim Horton's

opening shortly. We have an Orange store. Business is booming in the district.

Mr.

Speaker, I am also proud to stand in this House as a woman who has dedicated

many years of my life to volunteering in the public service. No doubt, all hon.

Members have given back to your communities in various ways. So during Volunteer

Week, I would like to thank all of you, as well as many thousands of individuals

throughout the province who give themselves unselfishly to community programs,

organizations and causes.

matter what part of the Island we live in, in every nook and corner you'll find

a volunteer. Because without volunteers things just don't work, they don't go

ahead. You'll find them in the backs of hockey arenas, soccer fields. Wherever

there's a sport, volunteers work when people work together.

So once

again, hats off to all the volunteers in Newfoundland and Labrador. Great job,

keep up the work because without you, we wouldn't succeed.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MS. PARSLEY:

Last night, I had the

opportunity to attend in CBS a volunteer awards program. There were about 100

people in the room and we named Dr. Adrian Power, Citizen of the Year and Emma

Jacobs, Youth Volunteer of the Year, which was a great, great turnout. These

were just some of the volunteers there last night and it was awesome. Everybody

stayed around to chit-chat and otherwise but, like I said, it's great with

people doing work in our great districts.

Now,

getting back to our budget, I'd like to talk about transportation, some things

have happened that are great in the budget. There is a significant demand for

improvements to road infrastructure throughout Newfoundland and Labrador. We all

get justified calls, emails from constituents voicing their concerns regarding

potholes, the need for pavement, roads and bridge upgrades.

During a

public consultation in the fall of 2016, the Department of Transportation and

Works received more than 560 submissions from the general public on roadwork. As

a result, an evidence-based, five-year plan was developed and road projects were

prioritized using factors such as traffic volumes, safety, economic impacts, as

well as evidence and input from our engineers, industry and road users.

This

plan is one of the many commitments to be met as part of our government's way

forward. The heavy civil industry is extremely pleased with the provincial

government's decision to capitalize on the benefits of extended multi-year

roadwork. This plan also supports economic development, better planning, more

informed investments and decisions and improves a contractor's ability to secure

and maintain its labour force; building a successful road construction season in

2017-2018, with more than 600 lane kilometres of highway were paved and more

than 300 culverts were replaced. The Department of Transportation and Works has

announced another $77.2 million allocated for the Roads Program in 2018-2019.

Seniors

– the seniors of our province, I have to speak about; they're so important to

each and every one of us. Budget 2018

includes investments in the delivery of care for our seniors. In 2018, $8.6

million will be invested in palliative, dementia and complex care needs. The age

population is currently at its highest level in the human history. The United

Nations projects the rate of population aging in the 21st century will exceed

that of the previous century. With this prediction it is important that we have

programs and services in place for our seniors that enhance their quality of

life and maintains their dignity.

Also in

the budget this year we are looking at doing palliative care at home. That's

something that I was very familiar with because in the last year of my husband's

life, I took that challenge on. Instead of bringing my husband, I was fortunate

enough to be able to do it.

I did

palliative care at home and let me tell you, it was a rewarding experience. It

was horrible some days but the rewards were greater. We got to have my husband

at home with our family and to do the things he couldn't be a part of if he was

in a palliative care unit. That experience, I will carry until the end of my

days.

To bring

this in is great. Not everybody can do it but if we can keep people at home,

provide the services, a family doctor, have some nursing care on staff and get

through those horrible days that no one wants to have to face, we will do it

right. That's great in the budget.

Did you

know for the first time ever there are more Canadians over the age of 65 than

there are under the age of 15? This is incredible. The Premier's task force

report on education, Now is the Time ,

includes 82 recommendations to support its implementation.

Budget 2018 has allocated $6.9 million in new funding for our

education system.

Reading

specialists: There are provinces outside of Newfoundland and Labrador that has

had this implemented. Do you understand our children will be on the world stage

with reading, the most important thing? Once a child starts kindergarten, they

need to be able to read and understand in order to succeed. This is what's going

to happen with the student aid with the reading programs that our Minister of

Education has put forward. Reading specialists, learning resource teachers,

instructional assistants in K to 12; we are providing funding to support

professional learning for teachers, learning resources supports, school

libraries and then so much more.

Over the

next five years, government will invest $263 million on major health care

infrastructure projects, including new facilities, expansion and the

redevelopment of existing facilities. An additional $223.2 million will be

provided over a period for repairs and maintenance of existing health care

facilities and the replacement of aging health care equipment.

You

can't help but get excited when you see positive announcements like this. I am

so honoured to be a part of this government that cares about its people, a

government with vision. Mr. Speaker, I get more excited to know that the total

investment of $486.2 million is expected to generate an average of $144 million

in its annual GDP and 1,329 person years of employment per year over the next

five years. This year alone, we're investing $95.7 million in the new and

existing health care infrastructure. This is exciting.

Mr.

Speaker, while I talk of health care, an issue dear to my heart is the mental

health and addictions. Budget 2018

included investments to increase access to mental health and addictions

services. Just recently, our government announced $6.1 million towards the

replacement of the aged and outdated Waterford Hospital, as well as the

expansion of mental health community support services throughout our province.

This is something that is so much needed. Anybody who has anything to do with it

should surely realize today that we are coming to a new era when it comes to our

medical health.

Our

great Premier stated at the announcement that it was a landmark day for

Newfoundland and Labrador that “reflects our unwavering commitment to support

the changing face of mental illness and addictions services in communities

throughout our province.” This government is committed to supporting those with

mental health and addictions.

Mr.

Speaker, our government's The Way Forward

has a vision for sustainability and growth. We are committed to transforming the

way mental health and addictions services are delivered. We have an action plan.

Yesterday, I was honoured to join our hon. Minister of Justice and Public Safety

in the Town of Conception Bay South for another great announcement, a new Royal

Newfoundland Constabulary detachment. Conception Bay South is the second largest

municipality in the province, which I share. With more than 26,000 residents,

currently the closest detachment is 26 kilometres away.

represent a portion of this area and this new detachment will ensure timely

police response, ensure the safety and security of residents. As the minister

stated, “public trust and community co-operation are crucial in effective law

enforcement.”

Mr.

Speaker, yesterday, during the RNC announcement, the most beautiful rainbow I

have ever seen appeared over Conception Bay South. The definition of a rainbow,

for those who don't know: A rainbow is an important symbol that represents a

promise of peace and the magic that surrounds dreams coming true. Rainbows also

signify the energy of blessings.

This is

telling the people of our province that we have something to go forward with. We

have something to look forward to instead of despair. We are moving on in many

ways, and if it took the rainbow to come yesterday morning over CBS and show the

people, it did.

It's

been a privilege to stand here today to support

Budget 2018 . We are blessed as a

province and we are building for our future as we continue for our plan for a

balanced approach to supporting communities and families, while helping to

create new business and employment opportunities.

Mr.

Speaker, another event that happened last week here in the House, we had the two

– our province, Canada, we were put on the map with Kaetlyn Osmond and Liam

Hickey. Kaetlyn comes from, as we know, the Town of Marystown. My colleague over

here never lets us forget that she's done it again. But Liam Hickey is a young

man who's faced many barriers. His family comes from my district. I was so very

honoured and proud to be a part of the ceremony. We will be planning something

for him eventually as the months go by.

I had

the advantage of going to Marystown last week with some of my colleagues. Let me

tell you, to get up on a Saturday morning at 9 o'clock and see the faces on the

streets of Marystown, children that were freezing to death waving flags, the

optimism in the town, everything was Kaetlyn Osmond. From the time you drove in,

there were flags everywhere. People were freezing. Some of our colleagues also

were freezing, but the enthusiasm in that room was more than anything else you

could see, and the smiles on the children's faces.

And then

to pack into an arena two hours, three hours later – and we were all frozen to

death, but it was well worth it. It was well worth to see the children get on

the ice and look up to Kaetlyn Osmond and to know one day that's where she

trained from the age of three, I think, or four, and they had hoped to be like

her one day. Then we went off to St. Lawrence to visit the mine. It was an

exciting day or two in Marystown. And let me tell you, these are exciting things

that are happening in our province and we need more. We have these people on the

world stage and we need more.

We saw a

young man in our chambers today – great, and this is what Newfoundland and

Labrador is about. It's about getting the education started first at an early

age, going through and being so important and being a part of it all.

So thank

you again, Mr. Speaker, for the opportunity to speak. I will sit now because a

colleague of mine needs to speak.

Thank

you.

MR. SPEAKER (Warr):

The hon. the Leader of

the Third Party.

MS. ROGERS:

Thank you very much, Mr.

Speaker.

I'm very

happy to stand once again and speak to this amendment, to speak to the budget.

Mr. Speaker, again I started my speech Tuesday actually where I talked about

budgets are about promises. Budgets are about a vision, a vision that government

has for the province and the budget is the way to get there. I have some

concerns about this budget and I have some concerns about a lack of a vision,

and I'd like to talk a little bit about that.

One of

the things I think that's really important right now is to look at what are

people talking about at their kitchen tables or around the water coolers. What

are people talking about? What are they concerned about? The other issue is:

What is keeping people awake at night? Because that gives us a sense of people's

confidence or lack of confidence in where the province is right now, their

confidence or their lack of confidence in the government, in the government's

vision and particularly in this budget.

We've

known that a lot of the comments that we've heard after the budget was released

were there was really nothing there. I think a lot of people were relieved that

there weren't any further deeper cuts; however, the cuts from the previous two

years are still in effect and people are still feeling those in their day-to-day

living but people are still concerned about the doom-and-gloom message that was

given to them in the last few years.

AN HON. MEMBER:

Fear mongering.

MS. ROGERS:

Mr. Speaker, I believe – I'm

hearing Members on the other side of the room here talking about fear mongering.

Actually, I'm doing the opposite, Mr. Speaker. What I'm doing is talking about

we have to find a different way of looking at the financial situation of our

province. Sure, absolutely, we have some challenges. They are not

insurmountable.

We are

not on the verge of bankruptcy. As a matter of fact, we have to look at how to

stabilize our people in their day-to-day lives and how to stabilize our economy

so, in fact, we can navigate through this time because we will get through it.

We absolutely will get through it.

Some of

the things that all of us are hearing – and these are the things that we have to

look at ways of turning around. Some of the things that we're hearing is that a

lot of young people are saying there's nothing here for me; I'm leaving. I'm

sure many of us have heard that from our constituents. We've heard it in our

communities. They're not young people who want to leave. A lot of us left at

different times to get different work experiences, but we're hearing from a lot

of working families.

I have

family that lives in Central Newfoundland. They're having a bit of a hard time

right now. A number of young fellows who are working in the auto sales industry

and as mechanics are having a hard time right now because a number of them have

been laid off. They've been laid off because the money that we were so used to

having our workers earn out in Alberta is not coming in. People are not buying

as many new vehicles and that affects that industry.

I'm

hearing it in my family. I'm hearing it in my constituency. I'm hearing it in

coffee shops. I'm hearing it at university campuses, the campus of the College

of the North Atlantic. I'm hearing it in bars. When I go out people come up and

talk to me. I'm sure that happens with a lot of us here in this House, where we

hear young folks saying: I don't know, I don't see a future here for me. I don't

want to leave but I don't see a future here for me. I don't know if there's

going to be work here for me.

The

other thing that I've been hearing lately, which is surprising me, is a number

of grandparents who are seeing their young people move away with their families

and their children. The grandparents are saying: I don't know. I'm not so sure

about the impending rise in electricity rates. There's a bit of a depression

over the land. A number of grandparents are saying: I'm thinking, too, of moving

to the Mainland to be with my children and my grandchildren.

This is

not what we want to see happening in our province. We'd like to be able to turn

that around. What is it that we need in order to keep our young people here?

Jobs, for sure and, also, their parents. What is it that we need to instill

confidence in the people of the province again?

We know

government talked about doubling oil and gas exploration. That's long term,

that's way down the road. We know with the real unemployment rate, it's going to

be 20 per cent by the end of this year and going into 2019; the highest in

Canada. By facing those realities, that's not doom and gloom, but that's facing

those realities to say: What can we do about that in the immediate future and in

the long-term future?

believe there are a lot of people across the province who are willing to roll up

their sleeves, who want to get to work. How is that accomplished? What has

happened in the past number of years is that government has put, for the most

part, all its eggs in one basket, in oil and gas. We've seen what happens when

we put all our eggs in large megaprojects. There's the boom and there's the

bust.

Then, in

the interim, we haven't established good sustainable jobs embedded in

communities throughout the province. That's what has been the shortcoming and

that's what we need to look at right now, Mr. Speaker. We haven't seen a real

concrete solution and a plan to address how we are going to do that in our

province.

believe we can. I believe that government believes they can as well. We all know

it's essential. We can hang on and wait for more jobs that come in the oil and

gas industry but, again, that's way down the road. We know there's agriculture.

They're not huge paying jobs. That takes a number of years to develop as well.

What's happened is that because of lack of planning, we've been kind of left in

the lurch. We have to see what can be done about that.

Families

want to stay, young people want to stay. I've been very impressed with what's

happening in some parts of the province. For instance, when we see what's

happening in Bonavista with the sort of renaissance that's happening there and

in Trinity. A lot of those jobs have come from the work of young working people

who have had innovation and creativity, and who designed new companies within

their communities. That's really exciting.

A lot of

those people have come from the arts. We know how important it is to really

support our arts, to make it possible for our young creatives, our people in the

creative industries, to have resources to really operationalize some of their

vision and their dreams. We're seeing that in some parts of the province when we

see what's happening in Fogo.

What

else we're seeing is the number of knowledge-based industries that are springing

up here in the province. A lot of those come from folks who have been in the

STEM disciplines at the university and the College of the North Atlantic. Those

are really exciting when we look at Verafin, when we look at Solace. There is

some very interesting work being done that also points to a future in a new

direction in sustainable work that can be embedded in communities across the

province, but they need support.

During

this time when we have to be developing sustainable work, it's not the time to

put a squeeze on our post-secondary education systems. We've seen, for instance,

that Memorial University got a $9 million cut, an operational cut in their grant

this year – $9 million, when we already know the infrastructure at Memorial

University is crumbling.

There's

been a freeze in tuition in the last few budgets but what we saw in the last

budget was an increase, a huge increase in other kinds of student fees for our

young students, particularly as well, in the area of residential fees for the

residences. Those primarily target young students coming out of rural

Newfoundland and Labrador, those who bear the greatest financial burden when

they have to travel into St John's to go to work or whether they have to travel

into Corner Brook to go to school. Those are really an unfair extra tax, an

unfair extra financial burden on our students who come from rural Newfoundland

and Labrador.

There

are other ways to look at what we could do. Earlier today, during Question

Period and in some of the responses, we've heard numbers around Nalcor, about

$96 million invested in Nalcor; $45 million going to be invested in Canopy

Growth, a multinational company that's coming here to set up to grow cannabis

for the cannabis market here.

When we

hear these great big amounts of money, imagine if we had great big amounts of

money invested in our rural communities in a planned way to develop sustainable

jobs. Imagine the difference that could make. I'm not talking about throwing

around money. I'm not talking about make-work projects. I'm talking about

developing real sustainable jobs that reflect the expertise and the desires of

different communities across the province where they can – they can, when we see

Bonavista, when we see Fogo Island, when we see some of the interesting and

innovative fishing practices that we're seeing being developed across the

province.

Imagine

if some of that money were invested in our local people who have the ability to

really plan, to really discern what would work, what would be economic

diversification in their community, because we haven't done that work in a long

time. As a matter of fact, the successive past two governments have actually

dismantled the infrastructure systems we did have to help develop community

economic development across the province. Imagine if we were able to do that,

real investment – real investment in our people. Now is the time to invest in

our post-secondary education institutions because that's where many of our

solutions are going to come from. We have young folks who are saying: I have to

leave because I can't afford child care.

I was

speaking with one of our workers in this building yesterday who told me that he

and his wife have three children; one is in full-time child care, $900 a month.

He has two children in primary school and they're in after-school programs while

he and his wife hold down their paid jobs. That's $900 a month. They are paying

– this young working family who also have student loans, car payments and a

house payment – $1,800 a month for child care. It's unsustainable.

Also, I

think I've told this story in the House before of meeting a young family, a

husband, wife and their young child. They remortgaged their house so that they

could pay child care costs so that they could both maintain their jobs. They're

tough decisions to make. They both carry student loans, a mortgage payment and a

car payment. We're not talking about young families who are being frivolous, who

are buying big toys or who are buying huge houses, we're talking about people

who are living just modest lifestyles who are trying to have children.

How many

young people have all of us spoken to who said can't afford to have children or

they have one child and they say can't afford to have another child. These are

people who want to be living and working in Newfoundland and Labrador. Look at

the missed opportunities that we have because we don't have a good public child

care system. I'm hoping this government is leaning on their counterparts in the

federal government, leaning strongly on them, pushing them to make sure that we

have a national child care program that's publicly administered, that is

publicly delivered.

colleague from St. John's East - Quidi Vidi spoke very eloquently on Tuesday

about what a publicly administered and delivered child care program means to the

people of the province in terms of how it is not only good for our children and

gives them a step up, but that it's also economically good for our province,

that every dollar that's invested has an economic return that far outweighs the

investment. It's not an expense, it's an investment.

Really,

one of the greatest challenges that are facing us today is the issue of

unemployment. Not only are we seeing increasing unemployment because of the

close down of a number of megaprojects, also, we were so dependent on the

remittance economy of some of our people travelling to Ontario, up north and

Alberta and bringing their money home. We've seen there's been a real squeeze on

that.

We're

seeing the loss of jobs because of the culmination of a few megaprojects and

also because we haven't diversified. We haven't done that work in communities to

diversify the economy. We're also seeing that a number of jobs have disappeared.

We have the unemployment rate growing plus the employment rate decreasing.

That's giving us a real challenge and we have to face that.

I would

like to speak a little bit about David Thompson who is an economist. On this

side of the House we're often accused of spending and being ignorant to the fact

that we're in a real tough financial situation and that there isn't any money to

invest in this or that. I would like to just draw attention to Mr. David

Thompson who is an economist. He said that doom and gloom – which is what this

government has been responsible for in its last two budgets especially. They

were the ones who sent out that message. They sent out that message so loudly

and so clearly he said: That kind of focus on the provincial economy right now

leads to certain policy conclusions and decisions that are not good.

The

situation th