Newfoundland and Labrador Hansard — Members' Statements; Statements by Ministers — 30 May 2011 (46th General Assembly, 4th Session, Vol. XLVI No. 32)
2011-05-30
Newfoundland and Labrador — Debates (Hansard)
May
30, 2011 HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS
Vol. XLVI No. 32
The House met at 1:30 p.m.
MR. SPEAKER (Fitzgerald): Order, please!
Admit strangers.
Today the Chair would like to welcome twenty-two members from the Turks Gut
Heritage Seniors Group from the District of Harbour Main and they are
accompanied by their driver, Mr. Gerry Lush.
Welcome to the House of Assembly.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
Statements by Members
MR. SPEAKER: The following members' statements will be heard: the hon.
the Member for the District of Ferryland; the hon. the Member for the District
of The Straits & White Bay North; the hon. the Member for the District of Humber
Valley; and the hon. Member for the District of Mount Pearl North.
The hon. the Member for District of Ferryland.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. HUTCHINGS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, on Saturday evening, May 28 I had the pleasure of attending the
grand opening of the Regional Arts Centre in the Bernard Kavanagh Premises in
Ferryland. The event included a host of performers including an accordion
session, Ferryland Dinner Group, singers, piano session, fiddlers and the
session was closed by Ferryland's own Ron Hynes.
Actor Kevin Lewis, who did a recital as part of the event, called the
facility the best in Atlantic Canada. These premises have a long and storied
connection with the Southern Shore Commerce as this building once operated as a
former salt fish processing facility, general store, wholesale warehouse and now
a Regional Arts Centre. These premises will be a venue for the Southern Shore
Folk Arts Council Dinner Theatre, cultural events, public arts displays, a new
museum and other social gatherings for the general public of the Southern Shore.
Ferryland is one of the most historic communities in North America enriched
with Irish culture and heritage. The development of the Regional Arts Centre has
given the region the opportunity to ensure that our culture and heritage will be
kept alive for years to come.
This facility will provide the space needed for our growing arts community to
perform their talents and display their works. The Southern Shore Folks Arts
Council is a non-profit organization operated by a volunteer board of directors
committed to preserving and promoting the unique culture and heritage of the
Irish Loop region.
The restoration of these premises comes as a result of
thirteen years of complete devotion by the Executive Director, Mr. Keith Mooney,
as well as the office administrative staff and all past and present volunteer
directors.
Mr. Speaker, I ask all hon. members to join me in congratulating the Southern
Shore Folk Arts Council, the many volunteers, funding partners and corporate
sponsors involved in making this project a reality and wish them every success
in the future.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for the District of Humber Valley.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. KELLY: Mr. Speaker, I am so pleased to rise today in this hon. House
to recognize the graduating class of Hampden Academy for 2011. Their graduation
ceremony was held in their school auditorium on Friday, May 13, and it was
indeed a pleasure for me to be in attendance as their MHA.
Mr. Speaker, four students made up the graduating class and included Robbie
Davis, Bradley Penton, Travis Pittman, and Melanie Osmond. It was an outstanding
program, and the decorations for the event were phenomenal. Beverly Parsons did
an outstanding job as their Master of Ceremonies. The guest speaker was Pearce
Penton, a post-secondary student and older sibling of Brad Penton, the event's
valedictorian. They both did a commendable job indeed.
Mr. Speaker, the school principal, Catherine House, and her staff, the
parents, graduates, and the community deserve the highest accolades on the
success of the event. The theme for the occasion was, Here Comes the Rest of Our
Lives. In this regard, Mr. Speaker, I ask all members of this hon. House to join
me in wishing Hampden's graduating class of 2011 all the very best as they
embark on their dreams and goals on their journey through life. In the words of
Dr. Seuss: "Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting. Soget on your way!"
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for the District of Mount Pearl North.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. KENT: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I rise in this hon. House today to congratulate a resident of Mount Pearl,
and a great friend of mine, who was recently named the 2010 Mount Pearl Citizen
of the Year, Mr. Andrew Ledwell.
Andrew has been a volunteer with numerous groups in Mount Pearl over many
years, some of which include the Frosty Festival, where he recently served as
Chair of the Board of Directors, St. Peter's Parish Council, where he also
serves as Chair, Mount Pearl Special Olympics, the 1st Mount Pearl Scouting
Group, again serving on the executive as Group Commissioner, and that is just to
name a few.
I have known Andrew for a long time. Growing up, we were both involved in
Scouting in Mount Pearl, and we have been volunteering together in some capacity
ever since. I can certainly attest to Andrew's dedication first hand. He is the
first person to offer assistance when there is a real need. His generosity and
compassion toward others is truly amazing.
I would like to extend a sincere thanks to the Mount Pearl Kinsmen for
hosting the Mount Pearl Citizen of the Year Awards, and congratulate all of the
nominees for 2010, including Doug Chaytor, Sandi Hoysradt, Michael Hussey,
Louise Noseworthy, Geraldine Sceviour, and Sharon Upshall. Their volunteer
efforts in Mount Pearl certainly do not go unnoticed.
Mr. Speaker, I ask all members of this House to join me in congratulating
Mount Pearl's 2010 Citizen of the Year, Andrew Ledwell, and wish him all the
best as he continues to make our community a great place for others.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: Statements by Ministers.
Statements by Ministers
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Education.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MS BURKE: Mr. Speaker, twenty years ago, best-selling children's author
Robert Munsch and his son made a visit to the town of Rigolet in Northern
Labrador.
He visited the school, rode a snowmobile, and went ice fishing with Roger
Shiwalk and his daughter Cheryl. While he did not catch a fish, Mr. Speaker, the
master narrator did turn his adventure into a storybook which, two decades
later, was instrumental in bringing Mr. Munsch back to Labrador last week.
In the fall of 2010, Scholastic Canada decided to hold a contest to celebrate
Munsch's thirtieth book published by that company. They asked fans to help
decide which of the three possible books would be published. The three stories
were set in Fort McMurray, Alberta; Brussels, Ontario; and Rigolet. The battle
was on, and by the time the on-line voting was over, the story set in Rigolet,
Give Me Back My Dad , was the clear winner with 170,000 votes.
The contest prize was the promise of a personal visit from Mr. Munsch, who
would visit the community where the book was set to celebrate its launch.
Mr. Speaker, this past Friday, Mr. Munsch was at Northern Lights Academy in
Rigolet to make good on that promise. He also took the opportunity on Thursday
to visit Peacock Primary and Queen of Peace Middle School in Happy Valley-Goose
Bay. Students from other area schools, including Lake Melville School in North
West River, cole Borale in Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Mud Lake School,
Sheshatshiu Innu School, and St. Lewis Academy were also in attendance. Students
at A.P. Low Primary in Labrador City and J.R. Smallwood School in Wabush were
hooked up via video link.
What a thrill for the young students in Labrador, Mr. Speaker, to have an
international best-selling author visit their schools, tell them stories, and
serve as an inspiration.
I invite my colleagues in this House to join me in congratulating the
Northern Lights Academy school community in Rigolet for their work in helping to
secure the on-line win which, in turn, enabled many of their fellow students in
Labrador to have the opportunity to meet the popular children's author.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for the District of The Straits & White
Bay North.
MR. DEAN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I would like to thank the minister for an advance copy of her statement. I am
sure it was very exciting for the children who go to those schools in Labrador,
who live in Rigolet. I know from listening to the radio that some of the
students who were there travelled from the South Coast of Labrador and other
areas, some by bus to Goose Bay which was their first trip over the road. Our
childhood memories would suggest that these are important and things that the
children will remember for a long time.
Mr. Munsch is an awesome author for kids and has been for years. It is great
to see him visit with so many children in Labrador. We certainly would want to
join with the minister in congratulating the students at Northern Lights Academy
in Rigolet for winning the contest and the initiative they took
part in, Mr.
Speaker.
I have tremendous respect for him, as does every parent I am sure in this
House of Assembly. I recall as a parent reading some of his stories to my
children way back when, The Paper Bag Princess in particular. So it is
great to see this award coming to Newfoundland, and I am sure it is a lifelong
memory for the children involved.
Thank you.
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for the District of Signal Hill-Quidi
Vidi.
MS MICHAEL: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
I, too, thank the minister for an advance copy of her statement. I am happy
to join with others in celebrating with the children of Northern Lights Academy
and other schools in Labrador who had the wonderful experience of receiving a
visit from Robert Munsch. This is something they are never going to forget, I am
sure of that.
I would especially like to congratulate Roger Shiwak who is a staff member at
Northern Lights Academy, his daughter Cheryl, and all the other people in
Rigolet who made Munsch's trip such a memorable experience, even though there
was no catching of fish this time. It is a fantastic experience for them, Mr.
Speaker.
It is an opportunity also for us to encourage parents and young children to
become book readers and local library users. It is an opportunity for me, once
again, to remind the government of the need to increase funding for libraries so
they can offer more reading sessions with small children around the Province and
to continue to promote reading at a young age.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
MR. SPEAKER: Further statements by ministers?
The hon. the Minister of Human Resources, Labour and Employment.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. KING: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Last summer the provincial government launched a collection of twelve video
testimonials by immigrants who reside in Eastern and Central Newfoundland. At
that time, we began work as well on additional testimonials featuring
individuals from the Western and Labrador Regions of our Province. I am pleased
to report today that these videos have now been completed and have been posted
to our immigration Web site.
Mr. Speaker, video testimonials provide personal insight into what attracts
newcomers to our Province and their experiences living and working here. They
also help in promoting the Province as a warm, welcoming, safe, and inviting
destination for prospective immigrants.
It is with no surprise, Mr. Speaker, that a recent study of newcomers who
entered via the Provincial Nominee Program found that over 80 per cent have
remained here in Newfoundland and Labrador. Clearly, Mr. Speaker, not only are
more immigrants choosing Newfoundland and Labrador as their new home in Canada,
but more are opting to stay in the Province and contribute to our booming
economy and are helping create more opportunities for all.
Mr. Speaker, immigrants work in a variety of sectors, bringing critical skill
sets to local employers and helping them make connections to the global
marketplace. These stories are truly inspirational and we should all be very
proud that we have opened our communities to immigrants from around the world.
The Provincial Immigration Strategy, Diversity-Opportunity and Growth, which
was launched in 2007, laid the framework for our government to promote
Newfoundland and Labrador as a destination of choice for prospective immigrants
to Canada. The complement of twenty-four immigration videos serves as a great
recruitment tool for the future. Immigration, Mr. Speaker, is critical to our
long-term economic success.
These videos can be viewed at www.nlimmigration.ca. Mr. Speaker, I encourage
everyone to visit the Web site and see these videos. You will truly be inspired
by their messages and proud of what our Province is providing - a wonderful
place to live, work and raise a family.
Thank you.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Opposition House Leader.
MR. KELVIN PARSONS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I thank the minister for the advance copy of his statement. It is good to
hear an update of course on the Province's Immigration Strategy, particularly
about these videos and testimonials from Western and Northern Newfoundland and
Labrador. There is no better place, of course, we are absolutely biased. There
is no better place in the world to live than here in our Province of
Newfoundland and Labrador. Any tool that is going to help put that message out
there through video testimonies and Web sites, for example, to help reach more
potential immigrants is indeed a good thing to be doing. That being said, of
course, we still have a ways to go.
There is some statistical variation, I guess, from what the minister said
here. The study I was aware of from the Interprovincial Mobility of Immigrants
in Canada indicated that we did not fair too well, certainly between 2000 and
2006 when it came to attraction and retention. I believe our percentages were
like 43 per cent compared to Ontario which had 91 per cent, and Quebec which was
86 per cent. Now, hopefully, those trends have turned around. When people come
here, of course, they just do not come for a short stay, because they bring a
lot of skills with them and they certainly add to our cultural mix as well.
It is great to see their skills and their figures; their information and
their skills add to our economy that we do have here. The attraction and
retention of immigrants, of course, is going to be absolutely essential for our
Province on a go-forward basis, as it is for every Province. We face an aging
population, a declining population, coupled with an increase in demand for
highly skilled and educated workers. Whatever strategy and tools we can use,
such as video testimonials, for example, to expedite that and promote that is
certainly beneficial.
Thank you.
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for the District of Signal Hill-Quidi
Vidi.
MS MICHAEL: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
I, too, thank the minister for the advance copy of his statement. I am glad
to know we are doing a better job at retaining immigrants here in our Province,
it is extremely important. I note that it is those who have arrived under the
Provincial Nominee Program where we get that increase.
The reality is we do have one of the lowest rates of immigration in the
country. This is very timely, Mr. Speaker, because on the weekend I was speaking
to an immigrant, a person who is a landed immigrant, is working here in the
service sector in a restaurant but who is a resident nurse trained in his own
country. He spoke to me deliberately because he said he really believes the
Province is not doing enough to help people like him, and there is a whole group
of them that he referred to, with various expertise and degrees and diplomas. We
do not have enough here in our Province to help them gain the equivalency in
their profession so that they can start working in their professions here in the
Province, Mr. Speaker.
I say to the minister, things like these videos are great but we have to make
sure our post-secondary institutions have programs there to help immigrants who
are coming in to gain equivalency in their profession so that a person who is an
RN is not serving tables in a restaurant downtown.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
MR. SPEAKER: Further statements by ministers?
Oral Questions.
Oral Questions
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Opposition.
MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Natural Resources. In the
Estimates hearing just before the Easter break the minister promised to consider
providing us with copies of the studies that Nalcor concluded on alternatives to
Muskrat Falls. To date, we have not received the information.
I ask the minister today, if he can tell us what studies actually exist for
cost alternatives of power, and if he can provide that information to us and to
the public?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Natural Resources.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SKINNER: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, in the Estimates there were a number of pieces of information
requested by the members opposite. A number of questions were asked, a number of
areas of clarification were asked for. All of those I indicated I would provide
to the members opposite. I told them I would have a letter written to them
outlining what it was I understood they were asking for. Assuming they agreed
with what I had in that letter, we would then get ready to turn that information
over to them.
That information, Mr. Speaker, is being compiled. They should have that in
their possession very shortly and the information will be provided to them.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Opposition.
MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
While we await the letter from the minister to see what information will
follow it, maybe he could tell the House and tell the people of the Province
today: What alternatives were looked at, that were costed by Nalcor, and if he
will commit at the end of the day to provide all of that to us?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Natural Resources.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SKINNER: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, there were a number of options that were looked at. We will
provide the information, as I committed to do in the Estimates. I have spoken to
that here in the House before. I have indicated that we looked at bringing in
power from Quebec. I indicated that we looked at bringing in power through Nova
Scotia. We looked at the isolated Island option. We looked at recall power.
Things like wind, diesel, and hydro were looked at. There were a whole bunch of
things that were looked at, Mr. Speaker, and that information is available and
will be provided so the members opposite can have a look at it.
Thank you.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Opposition.
MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The Premier also indicated in the House of Assembly there had been two audits
completed on the Muskrat Falls Project.
I ask if you are prepared to table those audits and make them available to
the people of the Province.
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
PREMIER DUNDERDALE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, Nalcor has had two external audits done on the methodology. They
have used a gaited process around decision making with regard to the development
of the Lower Churchill, Mr. Speaker. I will check with Nalcor to see if those
audits can be made available to you. I certainly do not see any reason,
personally, at this point in time, why they might not.
Now, Mr. Speaker, in terms of another piece of work that Nalcor has
undertaken, they have now gone to a external consultants to do an evaluation on
whether or not Muskrat Falls is the least-cost option for electricity generation
here in the Province. Mr. Speaker, an RFP has been called and we hope to have
that report and make it available to the people of this Province by the end of
July or early August.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Opposition.
MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I would like to ask the Premier why Nalcor and her government would choose to
go to external consultants when we have the Public Utilities Board, a process in
place in this Province, and we have our own Auditor General.
I ask you, Premier: Why are you not referring the deal to those two bodies?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
PREMIER DUNDERDALE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, we are so thorough in what we do, we are doing both. As part of
Nalcor's gaited decision process, this is part of their due diligence. Mr.
Speaker, what we are doing as a result of their decision to get this third party
audit, we are asking Nalcor to make it available to the people of the Province.
They have agreed to do so.
Mr. Speaker, the question that is being put to the PUB is: Is this the
least-cost option? Is Muskrat Falls the least-cost option to meet the future
energy needs of the people in Newfoundland and Labrador? Mr. Speaker, that is
the question the Opposition has posed since day one of the announcement of this
project. The PUB is going to give us the answer.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Opposition.
MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
We have no problem with external consultants. The only issue here is that
Nalcor and the government chooses the external consultants. You define the terms
of reference, you give them the information that you want them to have, and that
defines what the outcome is. I say to you, Premier, it is not independent.
I ask you today: Will you refer this to the Auditor General of our Province,
and will you refer it to a full review of the Public Utilities Board in
Newfoundland and Labrador?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
PREMIER DUNDERDALE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, the Leader of the Opposition is nothing if not predictable, and
that is why the question is being referred to the PUB. We absolutely understood
that when Nalcor went to external consultants, the criticism we just heard was
what was going to come out of the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Speaker. That
does not invalidate the work that Nalcor is doing, it needs to do it as part of
its own due diligence process, and we will make that information available to
the public of this Province, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, she keeps asking for reports. She wants report after report
after report, but she does not believe or accept any of them. So, I am not sure
why we have to go through that exercise; however, to answer her criticism, the
very same question will be put to the PUB.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Opposition.
MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
If I had a report to look at, a report to read, some information, some
documentation, to back up anything that you say in this House, Premier, maybe we
might have a different opinion. To date, it has been secretive, it has been
controlled, it has been left out of the public, and no one wants to disclose the
information.
When you say you are referring it to the Public Utilities Board, why are you
misleading people in this Province to think that it is going to be a full and
open process? Why are you not allowing the Public Utilities Board to hold full
public hearings right across this Province, and to launch this under the full
regime of the act, which is what should happen?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
PREMIER DUNDERDALE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Now, Mr. Speaker, this is coming from the same people who exempted the full
development of 3,000 megawatts of the Lower Churchill from review by the PUB.
From the very same people who kicked the Auditor General out from auditing the
House of Assembly. So again, we have: don't do as I did, but do as I say. That
will not work, Mr. Speaker. We have always had the highest standards of openness
and accountability. Mr. Speaker, document after document has been filed, tabled
here in this House of Assembly. Mr. Speaker, any number of briefings has been
provided to the members of the Opposition, and will be every time they ask for
one. Go to the site of the environmental review panel, Mr. Speaker, all of that
information is logged there. She can go to Nalcor's site, Mr. Speaker, and now
the PUB is going to review whether or not Muskrat Falls is the least-cost option
because once that answer comes, Mr. Speaker, every other question is answered.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Opposition.
MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I inform the Premier we went from site to site to site to site and I will
tell you the conclusion is the same; you are going to double up the price of
electricity for people in this Province. You are going to add to the debt of
this Province
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
MS JONES: You have no guaranteed sale for power. You are not prepared to
invest money back to bring down the cost to ratepayers in Newfoundland and
Labrador and you are hiding the information to the people of this Province.
Mr. Speaker, in a letter to the editor over the weekend, the Minister of
Natural Resources stated that rates on the Island have gone up because of the
increased use of Holyrood. That is interesting, Mr. Speaker, because Nalcor's
own figures indicate that Holyrood required two million barrels less of oil last
year than it did in 2001.
I ask the minister: Why are you telling the public that we are using Holyrood
more
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
MS JONES: and more each year when in fact the complete opposite is
true?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Natural Resources.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SKINNER: Mr. Speaker, there are a number of factors that are driving
up the price of electricity in this Province. We have proven with the review of
the bills that people have been receiving I have stood in this House and have
said that I reviewed my own bill over the last ten years and the rates have
gone up 36 per cent, 38 per cent and we project that they will continue to do
that between now and 2017. The price of oil is impacting the cost at Holyrood.
The amount of hydrology that is out there, the amount of water that we have in
our rivers is impacting it. All people need to do is look, Mr. Speaker, at what
has happened over the last ten years and they will see that it will continue to
happen. The price of oil is going up and therefore the price of our electricity
rates is going up. If we do not do Muskrat Falls, Mr. Speaker, the rates will
continue to rise 4 per cent to 6 per cent per year. Muskrat Falls, as I have
said before, is the solution; it is less than 1 per cent increase once we have
Muskrat Falls on stream.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Opposition.
MS JONES: Mr. Speaker, the numbers just do not add up and the minister
knows it. In 2001 there were two million barrels of oil less used at Holyrood.
Last year 11 per cent of our power came from Holyrood. Mr. Speaker, the numbers
are not adding up and the minister knows it.
Mr. Speaker, I had several inquiries from the people in Labrador as to when
the Apollo will be taken out of service for the identified repairs on its
propeller. The people in Labrador are making plans for summer travel and the
tourism season is about to swing into high gear.
I ask the minister today: Have any decisions been made as to when the ferry
will come out of service and, if so, is he prepared to share that with us today?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Transportation and Works.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. HEDDERSON: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I appreciate the question from the member opposite. The Apollo is now
running on one propeller. We had her brought into dry dock, did an inspection.
Basically the parts are on order and upon receipt of the parts that boat will
come out of service for about a week. The exact date I cannot say, depending on
when the parts do come in, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Opposition.
MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I know when the minister meets with the Labrador business network committee
this week he is going to hear these issues as well. When the Apollo was
taken out of service earlier in the season, the Astron was used to
transport vehicles, there was an aircraft used to transport passengers and, Mr.
Speaker, the service was very inadequate. We fear that with the increased
traffic that is on that service tremendously more traffic this time of the
year than there was a few months ago.
I ask the minister: What is the plan for the replacement of this service and
what will be done to enhance it over and above what happened in the last few
weeks when the Apollo was taken out?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Transportation and Works.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. HEDDERSON: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
In response to the question opposite, again, the contingency that we put in
place the last time involved the Astron and an airplane flying back
across the Straits. That contingency still will work this time, we are looking
at a more adequate plane.
Again, the Bond will come back in service at that time as well. So we
are working now to see what can be arranged and perhaps the Bond being
used, but again that is a contingency. We are working with the provider and
fully cognizant of what the member opposite has said. This is an important
crossing and we will do everything that we can to make sure that this delay in
getting the Apollo back will be done in a proper manner.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for the District of The Straits & White
Bay North.
MR. DEAN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, the ongoing issue of the plant in New Ferolle still not ready
for this year's fishing season is back on the news again. The plant committee
met with the owner on Friday and still did not really get any real answers as
far as they are concerned. This morning we listened to the minister on Open Line
hoping that something will be done soon; it has been three years of hoping, Mr.
Speaker.
I ask the minister now that the owner has basically bluffed his way past the
crab season: Has the minister set any conditions if he does not begin to process
turbot when the season opens in the next week or so, as he committed to do?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. JACKMAN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
As I said before, we have had staff on top of this issue right from the
beginning pressing Mr. Mullowney to move in and see what he can do to make it
operational. Mr. Speaker, the last that we got, as late as this morning, is that
the plant is ready to go. As the member indicated, he did meet with the
committee there on Friday. He has boats arranged. The turbot season is scheduled
to open on June 6. Mr. Speaker, Mr. Mullowney has hired a new manager on site.
So, Mr. Speaker, as far as we know he has boats lined up. We should see
operations within that plant very shortly. To my knowledge right now, there are
some ten to twelve people who are working in the plant. I think our efforts in
trying to get Mr. Mullowney to move along have been successful and we hope the
people who work there will have a successful season for the rest of it, Mr.
Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for the District of The Straits & White
Bay North.
MR. DEAN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I know the minister was baffled and bewildered on Friday, as were a lot of
us, on the broadcast. Mr. Speaker, I want to ask the question again because it
is important, and I would like for the minister to give us an answer.
Are you willing, or have you set, or are you willing to set any conditions to
this plant on the turbot fishery when it is supposed to open in the next week or
so, if it does not open?
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
The hon. the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. JACKMAN: Mr. Speaker, Mr. Mullowney owns the plant. We cannot do
anything from that perspective, we face the legal challenges. As I outlined just
previously, we have been pushing the issue, having our inspectors in there.
There were Canadian Food Inspection Agency standards that had to be met, we
pushed them until that was successfully completed. Our inspectors have been on
site, and, Mr. Speaker, the operation is ready to go and we look forward to
workers being in there as of June 6.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for the District of The Straits & White
Bay North.
MR. DEAN: Mr. Speaker, we have heard that since March. We will wait and
see, I guess.
Earlier this month I requested from the minister information relating to the
species and the minimum processing thresholds attached to the plant, and indeed,
if any of these species had lapsed from the licence. The minister did provide a
listing of licences, as well as the threshold. The information did not disclose
if any of these licences has been rescinded. I know that the owner did not meet
the crab processing requirement.
I ask the Minister: Has the owner of the New Ferolle plant met the processing
requirements of the seven other species attached to the plant?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. JACKMAN: Mr. Speaker, I did provide the information to the hon.
member. If there is something that he needs additional, he well knows that he
can get the information from us.
Mr. Speaker, in terms of us working with this community; in fact, we have
gone beyond our means to do what we can for this facility.
AN HON. MEMBER: Oh, oh!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
MR. JACKMAN: The crab licence, for example, Mr. Speaker, would have
expired as of April 1, but we have given the plant, Mr. Mullowney, and the
community every opportunity. Mr. Speaker, anything we can do to keep continuing
and supporting that community and that plant, we will.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for the District of The Straits & White
Bay North.
MR. DEAN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
My question is for the Minister of Transportation and Works. The Budget has
$223 million earmarked for road and bridge work this year. This comes just four
months ahead of this fall's election. In previous years, the then Premier had a
staff person in his office to portion out the road money.
I ask the Minister today: Will you table in the House a list of all road and
bridge projects that will be done this year?
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
The hon. the Minister of Transportation and Works.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. HEDDERSON: Mr. Speaker, where do I start?
All I am saying to you is we came down with a Budget not too long ago. As a
matter of fact, the Budget is still on the floor of this House. I can guarantee
the member opposite that we have looked at the priorities of roads from one end
of this Province to the other, that we have allocated according to priorities,
and the tenders are now in the hopper and ready to go out. I cannot see what his
problem is, but if you have a problem, come see me.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Opposition House Leader.
MR. KELVIN PARSONS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
MR. KELVIN PARSONS: Mr. Speaker, last week I asked the Premier if she
would consider senatorial elections for this Province. She replied she had more
important business of the Province to consider and this matter rested entirely
with the federal government. However, it is of course the job of the provincial
government to address the federal government on issues related to the people of
the Province, regardless of jurisdiction.
I ask the Premier: Will you consider holding this fall, elections in
conjunction with the provincial election to name a provincial senator elect for
consideration by the Prime Minister in filling vacant provincial Senate seats?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
PREMIER DUNDERDALE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I can only think that I must be doing such a good job with my
colleagues of running this Province that they want to expand my reach onto the
federal government.
Now, Mr. Speaker, my own personal view is if anybody goes to represent the
people of this Province then they should have the blessings of the people of
this Province.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
PREMIER DUNDERDALE: Now, Mr. Speaker, anybody who read The Globe and
Mail this morning knows where the federal government is and the fact that
they are going to introduce legislation. We have been aware of that for some
time. Mr. Speaker, there are still a lot of questions that need to be answered.
For example, who is going to fund it? Who is going to pay for it? Mr. Speaker,
when we get the answers to those questions, then we will say whether or not we
are in favour of elected senators.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Opposition House Leader.
MR. KELVIN PARSONS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Each day we are hearing more and more reports of moose sightings and, sadly,
moose-vehicle accidents. It is unfortunate that this government continues to
drag its feet on this very serious issue. They seem to think that some brush
cutting and public awareness campaigns are sufficient but, obviously, it clearly
is not. We have had over 768, I believe, moose-vehicle collisions in this
Province last year.
I ask the minister: What else are you prepared to do as a government to
finally try to help reduce moose-vehicle collisions in this Province?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Transportation and Works.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. HEDDERSON: Mr. Speaker, we will continue to try, as best we can, to
ensure the safety of the travelling public on our highways. As the member is
well aware, we have been, for over the last number of years, doing adequate
brush cutting in the sense of going to areas where we feel we need to, doing the
proper brush cutting, as well as following up with vegetation control to keep
that under control for many, many years to come, and the public awareness that
you have mentioned. We had presented to us something like seven areas that we
could go into, which we have now looked at and have under investigation as to
see the exact places that we need to go.
Most importantly, we are looking at our data management system that we are
upgrading to make sure that we understand not only about moose-vehicle accidents
but accidents in general, and we will continue to invest money to try to keep
our highways as safe as we possibly can.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Opposition House Leader.
MR. KELVIN PARSONS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The government promised a five-year moose management plan over a year ago,
and we are still waiting to see it. They have flat out denied meetings with some
groups and businesses interested in preventing moose-vehicle collisions. We are
not seeing much leadership and direction on this, other than saying an
educational program and a bit of brush cutting.
I ask the minister: Where is the moose management plan that was promised? It
was over a year ago. We have seen no sign of it yet.
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Environment and Conservation.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. WISEMAN: The moose management plan and moose-vehicle accidents - the
reason we have undertaken the moose management plan is partially, yes, related
to motor vehicle accidents, but moose are a tremendous resource in Newfoundland
and Labrador. They are a tremendous attraction for tourists, a tremendous
benefit for outfitters in the Province, and, as a sport, many people like to
hunt moose, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
MR. WISEMAN: Our moose management strategy will be focusing on many
aspects of the moose population in Newfoundland and Labrador. We have the
concern about the habitat that moose travel in, that is another big
consideration. A moose management strategy is not just a matter of determining
how many licences we will issue, how many people will hunt moose, how many motor
vehicles accidents we want to try to control, it is a pretty comprehensive view
of that resource. That is a piece of work that is in progress. When we are
further along, we will be able to start engaging in some very informed dialogue
with the general public.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Opposition House Leader.
MR. KELVIN PARSONS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
This from a minister who is part of a government who in the last six, seven
years have had 268 strategies, yet moose has been on the radar in this Province
as a nuisance problem for years and you are just getting around now to trying to
do a piece of work on this.
Well, Minister, this question is also for the Minister of Environment. Last
month, we asked the minister if he would take some action and implement a ban on
cosmetic pesticides in this Province. We are now into the spraying season and we
have not seen any action by government to date.
I ask you, Minister: You have known the details of this issue since back when
you were Minister of Health, why have you stalled on making any decisions with
pesticides and they are still continuing to be sprayed today? When are we going
to see a decision?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Environment and Conservation.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. WISEMAN: We are obviously getting to the end of this session of the
House. We are obviously getting to the end of this session because members are
forgetting what they said in the first part of the session.
Throughout this entire last session of this House of Assembly, we have been
constantly criticized for not having a vision, not having an understanding of
where we are going. No plan, no vision, and no sense of direction. Now, we learn
today we have 268 strategies. So, I cannot think of any government in this
country that would have approached
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
MR. WISEMAN: - their goal and approached their responsibility more
prudently and more strategically than we have to have developed that many
strategies.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. WISEMAN: I thank the member opposite for bringing that to the
public's attention on these closing days, as they compliment us for the great
work that we do in having a clear vision for the future and having 268 clearly
articulated strategies for the future I say, Mr. Speaker. I thank you very much
for pointing that out.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
The hon. the Member for the District of Signal Hill-Quidi Vidi.
MS MICHAEL: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
MS MICHAEL: Mr. Speaker, last week an economist from Carleton University
presented a report to provincial MHAs at a breakfast sponsored by the
Newfoundland and Labrador Nurses' Union showing that this Province could save as
much as $166 million on administration and the cost of drugs and medical
supplies if we had a national public pharmacare program.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
MS MICHAEL: Mr. Speaker, unfortunately the Minister of Health and
Community Services was not at the presentation, though I trust he has seen the
report.
So I ask the minister: What is he doing to push for a national public
pharmacare program?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Health and Community Services.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. KENNEDY: Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker.
By definition, a national pharmacare program would be the equivalent of our
medicare program, Mr. Speaker, in terms of a universal, publicly funded and
administered drug program for all. We currently in this country, Mr. Speaker,
spend $25 billion a year on drugs. In this Province alone, Mr. Speaker, we have
our Newfoundland and Labrador Prescription Drug Program. Although this thought
of universal pharmacare sounds good in theory, Mr. Speaker, there is a practical
reality to this: There is not a lot of interest in this throughout the country.
At the health ministers' meetings here in St. John's on September 13, Mr.
Speaker, I can tell the member opposite, we had discussions on group purchasing
and generic drugs. There was no discussion on national pharmacare, Mr. Speaker.
The federal government has to buy into this program. At this point, there is
certainly no interest on the part of the federal government that we can see.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for the District of Signal Hill-Quidi
Vidi.
MS MICHAEL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Well, with the new Official Opposition in Ottawa, perhaps they will be
pushing for this on the agenda.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
The hon. Member for the District of Signal Hill-Quidi Vidi.
MS MICHAEL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I am glad the minister referred to the meeting on September 13
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
MS MICHAEL: because it was my understanding that at that meeting on
September 13 of the ministers from across Canada they committed to work together
on the purchasing of drugs and supplies to get value from money through lower
unit costs.
So I am asking the minister
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
MS MICHAEL: He said they talked about it. My understanding is they
committed to do something.
What steps have been taken since then on the joint purchasing of drugs and
medical supplies with the other provinces?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Health and Community Services.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. KENNEDY: Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker.
At the health ministers meetings, there was discussion of the sustainability
of the health care system, Mr. Speaker, from a financial perspective.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
MR. KENNEDY: One of the things we had to look at, Mr. Speaker
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
The Chair is having difficulty hearing the hon. minister when he provides his
answer and the questions being asked are being drowned out by conversation on
both sides of the House. I ask members for their co-operation and respect to the
person who has been identified by the Chair.
The hon. the Minister of Health and Community Services.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. KENNEDY: So, Mr. Speaker, we did discuss how we can save money by
working together as provinces. We know that in western provinces there are group
purchasing alliances. We recently in this Province, Mr. Speaker, entered into
HealthPRO with a view to saving money. So we are looking at ways we can save
money. There is a major difference between entering into group purchasing
opportunities, looking at how we can save money with generic drugs, as opposed
to a universal pharmacare program, Mr. Speaker.
In this Province, we have not waited for a national pharmacare program. We
have our Access Plan, Mr. Speaker, which has 30,000 beneficiaries. We have our
Assurance Plan which has 6,700 beneficiaries. In Budget 2010, Mr. Speaker, we
spent $142 million on the Prescription Drug Program.
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for the District of Signal Hill-Quidi
Vidi.
MS MICHAEL: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
I am glad the minister knows the difference between a pharmacare program and
joint buying. I understood that joint buying would be while they continue
planning towards a pharmacare program.
Mr. Speaker, the Canada-EU Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement
negotiations that are currently going on could lead to costly changes to our
prescription drug system in Canada. The European Union wants to lengthen the
period of time that brand name drugs have exclusive monopoly in the marketplace
before a generic drug is allowed, potentially raising drug costs in this
Province alone by $46.4 million a year.
Mr. Speaker, I ask the minister: Is he concerned about this EU proposal and
has he made any representation to the federal government about it?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Health and Community Services.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. KENNEDY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, what we are doing in this Province, we are providing drugs to
the people of our Province who need them, Mr. Speaker, and cannot afford them.
What we have, Mr. Speaker, our Access Plan is formerly known as the Low Income
Drug Program. As I indicated earlier we have 31,000 beneficiaries of that
program. Budget 2010, Mr. Speaker, provided $142 million
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
MR. KENNEDY: Budget 2010, Mr. Speaker, provided approximately $142
million from the Newfoundland and Labrador Prescription Drug Program. This
includes approximately $16.2 million for the Assurance Plan and almost $8.9
million for the Access Plan. What we are doing, we are providing drugs to the
people of this Province from cancer drugs to insulin pumps, Mr. Speaker, to
providing dialysis throughout this Province. We are using our money, we are
spending it wisely and if there are ways we can save money we certainly will but
it will not be at the cost of rural Newfoundland and Labrador like she wanted to
last week in shutting down private ambulances.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
The time allotted for questions and answers has expired.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
The Chair is always reluctant to interrupt routine proceedings during
Question Period, considering there is thirty minutes left to provide questions
and answers but I call on the Leader of the Opposition to withdraw a remark that
she made during Question Period when she stated to the Premier: Why are you
misleading the people of the Province? Clearly unparliamentary and I ask the
hon. Leader of the Opposition to withdraw the remark.
MS JONES: I withdraw, Mr. Speaker.
MR. SPEAKER: Presenting reports by standing and select committees.
Tabling of Documents.
Notices of Motion.
Answers to Questions for which Notice has been Given.
Petitions.
Petitions
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Opposition.
MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I stand today to present a petition on behalf of women in this Province who
are calling upon the government, Mr. Speaker, to reduce the age for breast
screening in Newfoundland and Labrador. These are women from all over the
Province who have signed petitions and sent them to the House of Assembly.
I will read the prayer of the petition for you:
WHEREAS breast cancer is the most common cancer among Newfoundland and
Labrador women excluding non-melanoma skin cancer, with approximately 370 women
to be diagnosed with breast cancer in Newfoundland and Labrador this year; and
WHEREAS we have one of the highest mortality rates from breast cancer and
breast cancer in young women tends to be more aggressive; and
WHEREAS the benchmark for Newfoundland and Labrador's organized breast
screening program is age fifty; and
WHEREAS women aged forty to forty-nine are not eligible to participate in
Newfoundland and Labrador's organized breast screening program, while women aged
forty to forty-nine are eligible in the provinces of British Columbia, Alberta,
Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Northwest Territories and the Yukon; and
WHEREAS there is evidence that routine mammography screening of women in
their forties can reduce mortality from breast cancer by at least 24 per cent,
but Newfoundland and Labrador still does not allow women in that age group to
self-refer into their breast screening program;
WHEREUPON the undersigned, your petitioners, humbly pray and call upon the
House of Assembly to allow women aged forty to forty-nine to be eligible for
breast screening to begin at age forty and that all women be able to self-refer
through Newfoundland and Labrador's screening program.
Mr. Speaker, this petition has been circulating throughout the Province. We
have hundreds and hundreds of signatures on this petition alone. Most of this
petition comes from the Gander area. From places like Glenwood, Gander, Wings
Point, Gander Bay area I am just reading through it, Mr. Speaker Norris Arm,
from all different areas, Lewisporte, Frederickton, Gambo, Glovertown, Port
Blandford, Appleton.
Mr. Speaker, there are people from all over, women mostly but men as well,
who are signing these particular petitions because they see this as an important
issue, an important issue in the Province. They think the age of breast
screening should be reduced for women in Newfoundland and Labrador.
As is outlined in the petition, it is already being done in places like
British Columbia, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, the Northwest Territories,
the Yukon and Alberta. It is now going to be done in Ontario. We are one of the
few provinces in the country that still does not provide that service for women.
Everyday, Mr. Speaker, I get e-mails from women who were diagnosed at a
younger age. This morning I received an e-mail from a woman who was forty-one
years old when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. We know, Mr. Speaker, early
diagnosis means that we save lives in this Province. We can reduce the mortality
rate by nearly 25 per cent through early diagnosis. Why is it that the
government will not bring in this policy? Why will they not provide for
screening for women under the age of fifty so that they can self-refer into
their system and not have to go begging the doctors to get referrals? I think it
is time for the government to take this seriously. The evidence out there
supports it, and all of these women are sending petitions to the House of
Assembly asking the government to do that. I appeal to the Premier today, I
appeal to her government, on behalf of women in this Province, please, do
something to lower the benchmark to save lives of women through early diagnosis
of breast cancer.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
MR. SPEAKER: Further petitions?
Orders of the Day.
Orders of the Day
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Government House Leader.
MS BURKE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
From the Order Paper, we will go to Order 1 and continue the Committee of
Supply.
With that, Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the hon. Minister of Natural
Resources, that the House resolve itself into Committee of Supply to debate the
Estimates for Executive Council, the Legislature, and the Consolidated Fund
Services.
MR. SPEAKER: The motion is that this House do now resolve itself into a
Committee of Supply to debate Consolidated Fund Services, Executive Council, and
the Legislature and that I do now leave the Chair.
All those in favour, aye'.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Aye.
MR. SPEAKER: All those against, nay'.
The motion is carried.
MR. KELVIN PARSONS: On a point of order, Mr. Speaker.
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Opposition House Leader, on a point of order.
MR. KELVIN PARSONS: It may not be necessary, but we had a private
member's motion there if need be, and Wednesday, we are not certain about what
the timelines are going to be. We had it prepared and ready. We skipped so
quickly through the Orders of the Day we missed if over here. So, if need be, we
can certainly have it ready. We have it ready here now to be
MR. SPEAKER: Does the hon. the Opposition House Leader have leave to
revert to Notices of Motion?
MS BURKE: Mr. Speaker, we have no concerns with going back to Notices of
Motion; however, I will indicate it is all of our intentions that the House will
adjourn tomorrow, so we will not go to Private Members' Day, but if the
Opposition would like leave to go ahead, they certainly can.
MR. SPEAKER: I understand the Opposition has leave to present the private
member's motion.
The hon. the Leader of the Opposition.
MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
WHEREAS tobacco addiction is the leading cause of preventable disease,
disability and death in Canada; and,
WHERAS the prevalence of people smoking in Newfoundland and Labrador is
roughly 21 per cent and this percentage has not significantly decreased since
2005; and
WHEREAS Newfoundland and Labrador has one of the highest rates of smoking of
any of the Canadian provinces; and
WHEREAS smoking costs the health care system in Newfoundland and Labrador
between $300 million and $400 million annually; and
WHEREAS smoking is among the most important of chronic disease risk factors
for common chronic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, lung
disease and cancer which drive health care system costs and outcomes; and
WHEREAS chronic disease is the leading cause of death in Newfoundland and
Labrador and diseases of the circulatory system, cancer and respiratory disease
account for approximately 75 per cent of all deaths in this Province; and
WHEREAS the Canadian Journal of Cardiology states that tobacco addiction is
the most significant of the modifiable cardiovascular risk factors, and its
prevention and treatment should be the highest priority; and
WHEREAS international studies show that strategies to help smokers quit,
including the use of stop smoking medications are extremely cost effective and
double or triple the chances of a smoker quitting; and
WHEREAS smoking cessation aids are considered more cost effective than many
other classes of preventatives medications currently funded by the Newfoundland
and Labrador Provincial Drug Program; and
WHEREAS the editorial board of the Canadian Medical Association Journal is
now calling directly on governments to fund smoking cessation treatments; and
WHEREAS the Lung Association of Canada has called for universally accessible
smoking cessation supports for all smokers living in Canada; and
WHEREAS the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada has recommended that
governments improve access to programs and aids that help people become
smoke-free, including pharmaceutical products, and that aids should be covered
under public and private health care plans; and
WHEREAS the funds required to provide full smoking cessation therapy coverage
would be generated by an increase in tobacco tax of just over ten cents per
pack, or by lowering generic prices which offers millions of dollars in budget
savings for this Province; and
WHEREAS the Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technology in Health issued a
comprehensive health technology assessment report on pharmacological smoking
cessation therapies and found that: medications are effective in helping the
general population to quit smoking; cost is a barrier to accessing smoking
cessation medications for many people where a coverage plan does not exist; full
coverage of pharmacotherapy may increase the uptake of cessation therapies and
have an impact on use and success rates;
THEREFORE
BE IT RESOLVED that this House of Assembly calls upon this
government to consider funding smoking cessation therapies immediately.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
MR. SPEAKER: This House will now resolve itself into a Committee of
Supply.
On motion, that the House resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole, Mr.
Speaker left the Chair.
Committee of the Whole
CHAIR (Kelly): Order, please!
We are now in Committee of Supply debating the Consolidated Fund Services,
Executive Council and Legislature.
The Chair recognizes the hon. Member for St. John's South.
MR. T. OSBORNE: Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I want to talk a little bit today about the contradictions coming from the
Opposition in some of the things we are doing and some of the things they did. I
will start off with their criticism of this government for putting money into
Nalcor; the contradiction, which I find rather amusing in a way.
I remember in their last Budget taking $128 million out of Newfoundland
Hydro. They took money out of hydro, including their natural dividends that
year. The amount they took out was $61 million, I believe, over and above the
dividends that were due to government that year. So, they were taking money out
of Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro to fund their deficits and to fund their
spending, as governments did in the past taking money out pension funds and so
on.
This government has been investing money into Nalcor, trying to invest in
this Province's future so we can continue to reap the benefits of royalties from
the offshore, from the mining sector, and from hydroelectricity, so our children
and our grandchildren will see the benefits of those investments. Mr. Chair, not
only have they criticized us for our investment in Nalcor I want to talk a
little bit about that. I find that really interesting, because it is the same
party, as I said, that have not only taken millions year after year out of
Nalcor for their spending and to support their spending habits, Mr. Chair, they
have used it as a cash cow while they were in government.
Mr. Chair, they have also used Newfoundland Hydro as a shell to cover the
expenses of trips for the previous Premiers, for their ministers. They spent
tens of thousands of dollars on a video to sell their project, their deal that
they had with Quebec; the deal that, luckily, government changed. We took office
before that deal had a chance to see the light of day. They had all the
arrangements made with former Premier Bouchard in Quebec and the Premier in this
Province. They spent tens of thousands of dollars on promotional items to
promote their deal with Quebec, on propaganda. They had everything set up.
Former Premier Grimes and former Premier Bouchard were going to stand on a stage
together and talk about how this Province was going to do a deal with the
Province of Quebec, and now we are being criticized for going through Atlantic
Canada.
Now, there is something very, very funny about that. There is something very
funny about that, because I will say, Mr. Chair, that not only did they spend
tens of thousands of dollars on a deal that did not happen, producing
promotional and propaganda equipment, but when they were in government they
wanted to deal with the same company, the same province, the same utility in
Quebec that has been taking advantage of this Province for years and years and
years. The same province, Mr. Chair, that uses the royalties from the Upper
Churchill to attract business and investment away from this Province, but they
trust Quebec. I am not sure if the rest of the people of Newfoundland and
Labrador trust Quebec, but they trust Quebec. They will say that the deal we
have going through the Atlantic Provinces is no good, but they would do a deal
with Quebec. They would do a deal with Quebec. They trust Quebec.
Mr. Chair, I can see why they trust Quebec, why they condemn
ours, of course . Now, that is a bit of sarcasm, for anybody who has not
picked up on it.
Mr. Chair, they wanted to do a deal with the same province and the same
utility that has shown very little, if any, respect for this Province and the
people of this Province. When we went to Quebec, when we tried to correct the
injustice and the imbalance on the Upper Churchill deal, we were turned down
time and time and time again, not only this government but previous governments
as well. Quebec has turned us down time and time and time again on trying to
correct the imbalance on the Upper Churchill deal.
Mr. Chair, they have been reaping the rewards of the Upper Churchill. They
have shown a great disrespect for our Province's boundary, something that was
not only clarified but made concrete, made solid in law by the Privy Council, I
believe it was 1929 or thereabouts. That province has continuously shown
disrespect for our border. Let me tell you a little story about that.
I went representing this Province to a conference in Quebec back when we were
in Opposition. There are only a couple of members still in this House, myself,
the Leader of the Opposition and the Speaker, and I think the Member for Harbour
Main might have been here at the time and a couple of others, but they gave us a
token of appreciation for going to the conference. I got it in a big, cardboard
Sonotube. I opened it up and unrolled it, and it was a very nice map. When I
looked at the map and started to explore the map in greater detail, to my
astonishment there was no Newfoundland-Quebec border on the Labrador portion of
our Province. What an insult! What an insult, I say. A map of Canada where there
was absolutely no border between Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador. Yet, the
Liberal Party would trust that same province and that same government to do a
deal on the Lower Churchill. Now isn't that astonishing, the trust they would
put in that province and that utility? Mr. Chair, I find it unbelievable. They
wanted to do a deal with the same people who would treat us unfairly.
Let me talk about fair, an indication of fair in how Quebec would deal with
this Province. Mr. Chair, we had to go to trial, we had to fight, the Rgie I
believe it was. We tried to deal on the Lower Churchill and to get wheeling
rights, and that province blocked this Province at every possible avenue in
trying to get a deal on the Lower Churchill. They blocked us, and we are now
taking it - I believe it is in the process of going through the Supreme Court,
some of the decisions with the Quebec utility, the Rgie, and so on.
They condemn us for not trusting them. The best possible deal for the people
of this Province is the deal that is now on the table. Not the deal, I tell you,
of 2002 with the very people who have stopped us at every pass, at every avenue
in trying to get power from the Lower Churchill through Quebec. Not only in
stopping the Lower Churchill through Quebec, Mr. Chair, we gave up on that. We
realized that we could not trust dealing with them, that they were not going to
play fair ball.
Now, we all remember Hydro-Quebec trying to purchase the utility in New
Brunswick in a boldfaced attempt, I say, to prevent this Province from having
access through the Atlantic Provinces. Every one of us remembers that. When that
failed, the same process that has taken literally years in Quebec to try to get
fair and just treatment in Quebec on the Lower Churchill, has taken only months
in the Atlantic Provinces. The Atlantic Provinces were ready and willing to deal
with us and let us wheel power through their province into the New England
states and so on. They stood in the way of this Province as well in wheeling
rights through Quebec for decades - for decades - on the Upper Churchill and
prevented us on the Lower Churchill.
Mr. Chair, I just want to go back and talk about the Rgie decision and so on
and our attempts there. When the decision was made on the Quebec utility and our
application to go through the province
CHAIR: Order, please!
I remind the hon. member that his time for speaking has expired.
MR. T. OSBORNE: Just a few moments, by leave?
CHAIR: By leave to clue up?
AN HON. MEMBER: (Inaudible).
MR. T. OSBORNE: Okay. Thank you.
CHAIR: The Chair recognizes the hon. the Leader of the Opposition.
MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Chair.
It is obvious that the members opposite are a bit testy today. Just listening
to the Member for St. John's South getting up, Mr. Chair, he is rehashing
everything, going back now. He has just gone back to 1998.
They will not talk about their own deal on Muskrat Falls. They do not want to
tell the people of the Province what they are going to do with Muskrat Falls. I
can guarantee you the people in Shea Heights in his district are not going to be
too happy to get their light bill under Muskrat Falls, I say to the Member for
St. John's South. They will not be too happy, Mr. Chair. You go knock on a door
in Shea Heights today and you ask a family in Shea Heights if they are prepared
to see the light bill that they are paying today at $250 a month go to $500 a
month in this Province. Do know what the answer is going to be? No. The answer
is going to be no, because the people in this Province are not that silly.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!
CHAIR: Order, please!
MS JONES: The people in this Province are not that silly. They know the
difference, I say to the Member for St. John's South.
Now, he is all brave and bold, Mr. Chair. He is standing up today talking
about Brian Tobin's era and talking about Roger Grimes' era. Well, let's talk
about the current Premier's era. I cannot use her name, Mr. Chair, because I am
not allowed. Let's talk about the current Premier's era, Mr. Chair. Let's talk
about the deal she is trying to push on the people of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Let's talk about that.
Stand in your place today and tell the people of this Province how their
light bill is going to increase. Tell them how you are prepared to sell Muskrat
Falls power to Nova Scotians, to New Brunswickers, and to Americans on the
Eastern Seaboard, Mr. Chair, for cheaper than you are prepared to sell power to
the people in your own district. Stand in your place today, tell the people of
the Province that, and explain it to them.
Mr. Chair, what is the explanation: because oil prices are going to go up
anyway? No one out there has bought the arguments of the Minister of Natural
Resources, with all due respect. No one has bought into the arguments because
the arguments are not justified I say to you, Minister. They are not justified,
just like the arguments on the demand for energy is not justified. The Minister
of Finance has yet to stand in his place in this Legislature and tell us where
that demand is going to come from in the Province.
People, Mr. Chair, see through this. People in this Province see through
this, and they see two things here. They see this proposal is not justified when
it comes to the demand, when it comes to construction cost, and when it comes to
oil consumption. They know the numbers and the formulas that Nalcor and the
government are trying to sell to the people of this Province are unrealistic.
Even two former Cabinet Ministers of the Tory government have been out in the
media saying it is not justified. Even, Mr. Chair, people in the media
themselves who have been following this issue will say it is not justified.
So I say to the government: If you believe what you say, it is time to lay it
out. It is time to lay it on the line for the people of this Province, Mr.
Chair. It is time to start laying it on the line for the people of this Province
and start explaining to them, Mr. Chair, explaining to them what it is that you
are trying to do here, what it is that you are trying to do to burden them, the
people of this Province, to burden them
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!
CHAIR: Order, please!
The Chair is having difficulty hearing the hon. member speak and I would ask
both sides of this hon. House to respect the person speaking.
Thank you.
MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I was in a room the weekend with nearly 300 people and they were enthusiastic
but it was not as much noise, Mr. Chair, as what is in this House of Assembly
today. There was not as much noise as what is in this House of Assembly today,
Mr. Chair. I can guarantee you that. There was not that much noise there. There
were a lot of people in that room, Mr. Chair, and they did not make as much
noise as the members in the House of Assembly. Do you know why, Mr. Chair? They
were open-minded. They wanted to hear what people had to say. They wanted to
know how Muskrat Falls was going to affect them.
Mr. Chair, they are all upset by Winston, but I am going to talk about
Winston in a minute now; I am going to talk about Winston, Mr. Chair. First of
all, I want to finish addressing some of the comments that the Member for St.
John's South made; because, Mr. Chair, the government opposite, if they are
taking their lead from the Premier in trying to sell this deal, they are never
going to get past first base. She has not provided the information in the House
of Assembly. She is not prepared to go through a full review of the Public
Utilities Board. She is not prepared to allow the Auditor General in this
Province to do a full review of this project. Why not? The reason why not is
because they cannot back up the information that they are providing to the
public in this Province. They cannot back up the demand. They cannot back up the
fuel consumption. They cannot back up the construction costs and they cannot
back up the fact that there will be no overruns on this particular development.
That is the reason, Mr. Chair, that they want to control the environment that
they are calling an external review.
Well, Mr. Chair, we can have an external review on every single thing that we
talk about in this House of Assembly but what is the purpose of it if we are
going to control the information that goes into it and we are going to control
the information it means that we going to control the outcomes. That is exactly
what the government is doing in the Province today. All the discussion around
Muskrat Falls is external in the Province today I say to the members opposite,
but it is external to the point of the information that you want to give people.
If you do not give people the information they are not going to be able to make
a full decision.
So why are you hiding? Why was the Premier last week hiding from the media?
Why is she sending her media personalities out to the lobby, Mr. Chair, to tell
them she cannot come out because she is hiding in the House of Assembly or
hiding in the caucus room because she does not want to answer questions?
Mr. Chair, what a way to govern in this Province. What a way to govern. To go
out and say that we are prepared to borrow $4.2 billion, we are prepared to make
Newfoundlanders and Labradorians pay for it, we are prepared to bring a Muskrat
Falls line here, but we are going to double up your electricity bill to make it
happen. Now what kind of a government is that, Mr. Chair? Irresponsible is what
it is; it is irresponsible.
The government opposite, Mr. Chair, is not only the members do not want to
talk about their deal but I do not mind talking about it. It is not only about
doubling up the cost of electricity for people in this Province, Mr. Chair, it
is about the fact that there is 40 per cent of this power that is going to be
sold we hope it will be sold somewhere. We know today that there is not one
power purchase agreement in place not one power purchase agreement in place
that is signed for the sale of that power. If every bit of it was signed today
the other issue is the government opposite will not commit to use the revenues
from the sale of that access power to be able to subsidize the cost of this
project so that the people in Shea Heights, Mr. Chair, and the rest of this
Province will not have to pay double the cost of electricity.
Mr. Chair, the members opposite like Winston Churchill the water drop
Winston. I am going to tell you something, Winston, Mr. Chair, has an important
message for the people of this Province. Winston, Mr. Chair, is going to deliver
that message.
So while you are knocking on the doors, Mr. Chair, out there in those
communities, they are going to be signed on to their Facebook sites and Winston
is going to be telling them what questions to ask you when you get to that door.
Ask you, Mr. Chair, to give them a guarantee that their light bills are not
going to double up, that is the guarantee that they want.
When they are logging in, Mr. Chair, to Facebook and you are knocking on that
door, Winston is going to be telling them, you go out and say to the member for
Mount Pearl, how much is my electricity bill going to cost if I go out and place
an X for the Member for Mount Pearl South this time around? The Member for Mount
Pearl South is going to stumble, Mr. Chair, he is going to stutter and he may
fall over the doorstep before he gets away from the door because he knows that
their electricity bill is going to double and he cannot deny it. He knows it is
going to double. He can try to justify it however he wants, but the reality in
this Province today is the man, woman, and the family who pays $250 a month this
month for electricity is going to pay $500 a month, Mr. Chair. That is the
reality and they know it.
They have stood in their place, Mr. Chair, and they have admitted that the
base cost of power is going to be 14.5 cents. That is the base cost of power.
That is ensuring Nalcor gets a profit. That is ensuring Emera Energy gets a
profit, Mr. Chair, and then we have to talk about Newfoundland Light and Power.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!
CHAIR: Order, please!
The Chair recognizes the hon. the Member for Humber West.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. GRANTER: Mr. Chair, it gives me great pleasure to rise and speak for
a few moments this afternoon. I know the people of the Province must have been
wondering what the members of the Opposition have been doing for the last eight
or nine weeks. After the weekend, I have it figured out. They have been playing
with their Blackberries, Mr. Chair. The people of the Province know this. They
have been playing with Blackberries and their graphics programs, and all they
could come up with was Winston the Water Drop.
Economists, Mr. Chair, put great store in certain numbers and few are more
highly regarded than the Gross Domestic Product. There are other indices, Mr.
Chair, but none any more important than the GDP. It is a pleasure to stand in
the House and to be able to say and repeat that the real GDP of the Province is
at 5.6 per cent, the highest in Canada.
Investment in Newfoundland and Labrador, Mr. Chair, is the cornerstone of
present wealth and future prosperity. Investment means that people,
organizations, businesses, community, lenders, banks, and economic institutions
have faith in our economy. Mr. Chair, the government can stand on our feet and
will be proud to go to the doors in October with that record. With investment
growth of 32 per cent to over $6.5 billion, no wonder that wherever you travel
in this Province they are talking positive about our present economy and future
economy.
Mr. Chair, they are talking positively about our economy throughout this
great Province. I spoke firsthand in a number of districts during Easter recess.
I was in the great District of Bonavista North where people would talk positive
about our present and future economy. I was in the District of Gander where
people talked positive about our present and future economy. I was in the
District of Humber East, the District of The Straits & White Bay North, and in
my District of Humber West, Mr. Chair, where everyone is talking positive about
the present and future economy.
Real exports in this Province, Mr. Chair, have increased by 4 per cent due to
significant increases in mineral output, such as iron ore and higher ore
production. Just ask the people of Labrador West about the success that they are
having. Mr. Chair, a couple of weeks ago we heard my friend, the hon. Minister
of Tourism stand in this House about the value of that industry to Newfoundland
and Labrador. Tourism counted for an increase of 7 per cent in 2010, to a total
number of tourists of nearly 520,000 people. This is 520,000 people spending
money in hotels, motels, restaurants, and boat tours, festivals, bringing
millions and millions of dollars into our economy.
Mr. Chair, employment grew by 3.3 per cent to reach nearly 220,000, recouping
all the losses experienced during the 2009 recession. I say, Mr. Chair,
Newfoundland and Labrador is a shining star in this federation we call Canada.
Retail sales grew in 2010 at a rate of 3.7 per cent, to $7.4 billion. People are
buying new cars, new trucks, new homes, and making huge investments. That is
part and parcel because of the policies of the Government of Newfoundland and
Labrador, which allows people to keep more and more of their dollars in their
pockets. Mr. Chair, we will continue to allow the people of this Province to
keep more of their hard-earned money so they can spend it on goods and services
right here at home.
Mr. Chair, we do not need to tell the people that a great sign of economic
growth is the number of housing starts. Housing starts in Newfoundland and
Labrador increased by 18 per cent to 3,606, the highest in thirty years. The
population of this Province is continuing to grow; 2011 is headed to be a
positive year for Newfoundland and Labrador.
Real GDP growth; again, it is to increase to 3 per cent, which was just
updated last week to 4.6 per cent. Capital investment is expected to increase
27.2 per cent to $8.3 billion; employment growth of 3 per cent to an average of
226,000. Personal income and disposable income growth of 5.5 per cent and 5.4
per cent respectively, Mr. Chair, both aided by wage gains and employment
growth; retail sales growth of 4.2 per cent, and an increase in population of
0.3 per cent again this year.
Mr. Chair, members opposite do not want to hear the good news. I have sat in
this House for the last eight or nine weeks, Mr. Chair, and they do not want the
people of Newfoundland and Labrador to hear the good news. They speak and they
live, and they continue to speak and live doom and gloom. Newfoundlanders and
Labradorians have had enough of the historical doom and gloom of the political
parties that sit opposite us, Mr. Chair.
They have attempted for the past number of weeks to create a feeling of
desperation, a feeling of hopelessness, a feeling of loss, agony and anguish,
anxiety and desolation, despair and despondency, melancholy, fear and misery,
pain and pang, Mr. Chair. Perhaps these names are the people who will be running
for the members of party opposite in October.
Mr. Chair, this doom and gloom did not just start in this session of the
House of Assembly. In July 2006, the MHA for the District of Burgeo & La Poile
and the Opposition House Leader currently said at that time that he is more
fearful than ever that a significant downturn in the Province's oil and gas
industry may be just ahead. That was in 2006, Mr. Chair, and the history of doom
and gloom that they preached in 2006, they continue to preach today and they
have continued to preach it all this session.
Mr. Chair, the parties opposite do not want to hear that this government
inherited a $12 billion debt back just a few years ago. They do not want to hear
that the public buildings where our children attended classes were falling down
around their ears. They do not want to hear that the hospitals we used to send
our sick were actually sicker than the people who we sent there. They do not
want to hear that the roads we travelled on were just not fit to travel on.
When our friends across the House talked about infrastructure and investment,
when they were in power, it was merely plaster and paint on our buildings.
Labrador West did poorly on their watch because there was no steel needed for
the infrastructure programs under their government, Mr. Chair. When this
government talked about our plan and when we delivered on our plan, it was about
hundreds of millions of dollars spent on real infrastructure investment, more
than just plaster and paint. It was about building new highways, building new
hospitals, building new schools, building new ships like the Hazel McIsaac
and the Grace Sparkes . It was about placing the best equipment in our
buildings, in our hospitals, placing the best equipment in our schools, and most
importantly, supporting the best people in these facilities to offer the
services to the people of this great Province: nurses, doctors, teachers, et
cetera.
Let me tell you, Mr. Chair, that the parties opposite do not want the people
of Newfoundland and Labrador to know that this government reduced the net debt
of this Province from $12 billion in 2004-2005 to now where it sits at $8.2
billion, a reduction of 31 per cent - yes, Mr. Chair, a reduction of 31 per
cent.
In addition, Mr. Chair, they do not want the people to know we have just had
a surplus of $485 million, the best surplus in six years. That is what we will
take to the doors in October, Mr. Chair. They do not want the people to know
that we have a forecast of $59 million for this fiscal year. That is what we
will take to the doors in October, and we know that is going to grow between now
and then.
Let me talk a little about taxation, Mr. Chair. It was unheard of just a few
years ago to think that we would be in a position to be able to have a new
residential energy rebate of 8 per cent, equal to the provincial portion of the
HST. That is in addition, Mr. Chair, to the current and all current rebate
programs. This is what we will take to the door in October, Mr. Chair. A new
non-refundable child tax credit based on child care expenses. That is what we
will take to the door in October; a new non-refundable volunteer firefighters'
tax credit, Mr. Chair.
I come from a background - in the last few seconds that I have left - in
education. Let me just for a moment talk in real cents what it was like for the
last number of years in education. Mr. Chair, the norm from governments from the
other side of this House saw physical education teachers going to garage sales
in the summer months to purchase second, third, forth-hand used equipment for
their programs. It was a real physical education scavenger hunt under the former
Liberal governments, Mr. Chair. I can tell you because I lived those days when
we did not welcome Budgets from the governments from the other side of the
House. Today, Mr. Chair, I can tell you that schools have never been more
equipped than they are right now with funding for technology, funding for
physical education equipment, funding for fitness equipment and so on.
CHAIR: Order, please!
MR. GRANTER: Thank you, Mr. Chair.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
CHAIR: The Chair recognizes the hon. the Member for The Straits & White
Bay North.
MR. DEAN: Thank you, Mr. Chair.
My ears are ringing a little from that, but I will try to get through it. Mr.
Chair, it is amazing how you can come in this House day after day and listen to
government members brag, as the government member just did as he was just up for
the past ten minutes. Mr. Chair, he read off statistics basically that or
Avalon statistics for the most part. If you go back again out into rural
Newfoundland where I live, and where most of these members live where that
member lives, Mr. Chair, the last announcement out of Corner Brook was that
Oceanex is not coming in there this summer because there is not enough freight
to pull in there any more. Yet, the economy is doing well out there, it is
booming, everything is up. The Bay of Islands has never been going better, yet
there is not enough freight for a boat to run in there once a week throughout
the summer.
Mr. Chair, you talk about heads in sand. I just really do not get it. This
government has been in power now for eight years. Mr. Chair, you sit back and
you think, well, I want to get up and I would like to give the government credit
today for the developments they have done because they are always patting
themselves on the back. So perhaps I can find something.
Well, if you think about Hibernia, they did not have anything to do with
that. If you think about White Rose, they did not have anything to do with that.
If you think about Terra Nova, no, they did not have anything to do with that
either. One of the most recent developments of course is Voisey's Bay. No, they
did not have anything to do with that either.
Yes, you can get up and brag about spending because prior government have
done so much in development and bringing deals into the Province and so on that
you are lucky you are in there in a moment when the funds are good. Anyone can
spend money, Mr. Chair. I would suggest to you that any government can spend it
as wisely as this one is as well, Mr. Chair.
To get up and brag about that all day, yet I do not hear government members
talking about the developments they have done because there really have not been
any, Mr. Chair. In eight long years, there has not been any development. It has
just been about spending money, it is about developing strategies, it is about
expanding this piece of government or expanding that, or whatever the case is.
Mr. Chair, when it comes to good economic development, it just is not there.
I can tell you what has happened, Mr. Chair. Again, we have had two paper
mills that have closed. We have a forestry that has gone kaput. Mr. Chair, I
remember driving the Northern Peninsula and you would pass wood trucks, just one
tractor-trailer after another, heading to the mill in Corner Brook with forestry
and with pulp and paper. I can assure you there is none of that happening up
there anymore.
Mr. Chair, we have a fishery that is in absolute crisis. We have sat through
another session of the House of Assembly, we have tossed it back and forth
through Question Period every day, and we have debated it. Mr. Chair, we are no
further ahead today when it comes to rationalizing our industry, when it comes
to restructuring the fishery, when it comes to dealing with the issues, and when
it comes to ensuring people in rural Newfoundland and Labrador have a
livelihood. We are no further ahead today than we were a year ago. As a matter
of fact, I would suggest we are further behind because a year ago we were
holding on the promise of this infamous MOU that had been signed the year prior
to that and was going to be the answer. So, Mr. Chair, there is an industry in
crisis.
If you want to talk about health care, Mr. Chair, I have had today alone or
I should say since yesterday just so I will make sure I am correct within the
past twenty-four hours I have had no less than six e-mails come into me
regarding patients who are here in St. John's who want to go back to St. Anthony
to have their dialysis treatments done. Most of them are coming from their
families, obviously, for parents, older people who need dialysis treatment. Mr.
Chair, you know it was announced in the Budget that there was additional money,
three hundred and some-odd thousand dollars for four additional units in St.
Anthony. Mr. Chair, I would be the first one to applaud that move, along with
other locations such as Burin and other places throughout the Province where the
dialysis treatment is going to be increased.
Mr. Chair, the best that we can get today, two months later, after the
Budget, the best that we can get today is that it might be September, October,
hopefully, that people can start going back home. Now, Mr. Chair, when you have
been away from your community, when you have been away from your family, when
you have been away from the structure that you have had around you all of your
life, and when you have to be in a city in St. John's for three or four months
straight, probably a seventy year old man, with his sixty-eight year old wife,
some people even older, and not being able to necessarily afford to be able to
do that, but that is the inconvenience that you have to go through to get
medical attention in this Province, today, Mr. Chair, if you are a diabetes
patient and you need dialysis treatment. I do not hear anyone up talking or
bragging about that.
As a matter of fact, the only members I have ever heard even bring it up in
this House of Assembly have been the four of us that sit here in the Official
Opposition, and our Member for Signal Hill-Quidi Vidi, as well, the Leader of
the NDP. Other than that, it has never been brought up, Mr. Chair. No one
talking about the fact that they have people out in their districts that are
here in St. John's housed up in apartment buildings or living with relatives or
friends, or living with someone else that they have gotten to know. Trying to
get through, waiting for this government to deliver, and to meet the need of
dialysis care back in their regions.
Mr. Chair, I think it is an atrocity. It is terrible that we, today, cannot
plan, cannot see the future further than after eight years of governing a
province, and after eight years of having the wealth that we have today in this
Province, that the best we can do is put a bit of money into the Budget, and
then go out and try and develop it and see what happens, and leave people in
limbo for that period of time. Mr. Chair, I think it is terrible.
Muskrat Falls, I think back to the Member for St. John's South, as he spoke,
and talking about Muskrat Falls, and the best defence that he could give for
Muskrat Falls, today, Mr. Chair, the only thing that I heard him give,
basically, was that he talked about prior governments, the millions of dollars
out of hydro, talking about it being the cash cow and so on and so forth.
Instead of being able to defend where he is, he can only defend it, Mr. Chair,
as other government members do, to go back and talk about something that
happened ten years or twelve years ago or so on. Well, I have to be honest,
quite frankly, Mr. Chair, that is not that important to me.
While there is a history there, Mr. Chair, I am concerned about today. I
stand in the House of Assembly and it is great to know what happened ten years
ago, but if that is where we are looking, if we are looking back to try to
defend our future, I would suggest that we have issues. I would suggest that we
have problems that are in front of us. I would suggest, Mr. Chair, that we are
not managing the affairs and the finances of our problem in a very acceptable
way.
Mr. Chair, the member who just spoke a moment ago from Humber West bragged
about the government bringing the net debt in the Province down from $12 billion
to $8 billion. It sounds like a great accomplishment and, no doubt, it is, if
that were the case. Mr. Chair, we are going to increase that debt again this
year according to the Budget that has been tabled by this government. We have it
down to $8 billion but instead of taking it down to $7 billion this year we will
let it run back up to approximately $8.5 billion. Mr. Chair, you have to be
careful of bragging. If it is only a short-term slide, then I would suggest that
we probably should not talk about it in any great detail for sure.
I look at the lack of communication of high technology in our Province or of
technology and the improvements in technology and the opportunities that
technology offers our business communities and our tourism groups and our
residents, our young people and so on. Mr. Chair, I have not heard many members
in this House stand up in the past two months from rural Newfoundland where
there is no high-speed Internet, where there is no access to broadband, and
complain or suggest that we should do more.
Mr. Chair, the fact is and the reality is that the inability to access the
Internet at high speeds, the inability to go to Web sites and get information,
the inability for students to access their school work and so on, it is
absolutely terrible. We live in an age where this government really does not
have a plan to deal with that. They come back and they say we are working on it
and we are going to invest and so on, but it will be another number of years and
hopefully we will have it out. I guess we will have to wait and see, but again,
there is never anyone speaking about it. We have a cellphone service in some
parts of the Province that is absolutely notorious. It is better that we did not
even have it, Mr. Chair. You have communities that cannot access cellphones;
communities that cannot have high-speed Internet. Mr. Chair, imagine living in
that condition today. That is the reality of where many of our residents live,
that is the reality of many residents in my district.
I realize the minister does not want to hear that today, but I am going to
close with it anyway because it is a message I have given her many times and it
is a message I will give again. Instead of bragging about all the good things
that we do, sometimes I believe we should stand and talk about some of the
initiatives that we are going to do that is going to improve our time and so on.
Mr. Chair, my time has gone. Thank you for the opportunity to speak again
today.
CHAIR: The Chair recognizes the hon. the Member for Fortune Bay-Cape la
Hune.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MS PERRY: Thank you, Mr. Chair.
It is certainly an honour and a privilege for me to rise here today and speak
to Budget 2011 for a few minutes. There are a lot of things I would like to get
in but certainly not enough time, and a lot of great news happening in Fortune
Bay-Cape la Hune.
Budget 2011 is a progressive, forward-blazing Budget that promises to
continue us on the path of strength and prosperity that our government started
over eight years ago. Mr. Chair, as I went door to door just four years ago, I
was presented with an enormous list of concerns, issues, and needs by the
individuals, businesses and organizations of Fortune Bay-Cape la Hune. I am
proud to report that through Budget 2011, we are concluding four fantastic years
of strategic investment in the Coast of Bays. It is impossible to cover them all
in the short time I have today, but I will highlight a few of the major
accomplishments.
We now have three Community Youth Networks in the region that service the
whole area. That was quite an accomplishment; we only had one when we started
out. My very first announcement was a new CYN for Bay d'Espoir - quite a proud
day - and, of course, we have a satellite office in Pool's Cove as well.
We have affordable housing units now in Milltown, Harbour Breton, and St.
Alban's; over a $1.5 million investment. Water system improvements in McCallum,
Belleoram, Gaultois, Hermitage and there is more to come, Mr. Chair; again, over
$2 million in investment. Road work: We have gone from investing about $100,000
to $500,000 a year in the roads in the Coast of Bays. Make no wonder I have
about forty kilometres of bad roads down there to get done. Since I have been
here in office and with the support of my hon. colleagues, we have invested over
$12 million in the Coast of Bays region.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MS PERRY: We have roads done in St. Joseph's Cove, in St. Alban's, in
Milltown, in Harbour Breton, in Franois, Pool's Cove, and on the Bay d'Espoir
highway, with more to come.
Again, health care, quite another significant investment. For over two
decades we had not seen much investment in our facilities down there, Mr. Chair.
This year, we have announced renovations to the clinics in Gaultois, Hermitage,
Rencontre East, Mose Ambrose and Harbour Breton. We are expanding the clinic in
St. Alban's; we are putting on a new emergency entrance, Phase II of that
development.
One of our greatest accomplishments, one of the things that I am very proud
to have achieved for the people of Fortune Bay-Cape la Hune is a new dialysis
satellite service for residents of the Coast of Bays. That was a great
achievement.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MS PERRY: For the first time ever, Mr. Chair, regional games are going to
be held in the Coast of Bays. We have upgraded forestry roads, we have upgraded
provincial wharfs, and we have provided funding to fishers committees. These are
just scratching the surface of some of the major accomplishments we have seen
down there.
I want to talk a little bit about the fishery, because the fishery is the
most important industry, one of them, certainly, in the Coast of Bays region. It
defines who we are as a people, it defines why we settled the region in the
first place. It is the fabric and number one priority of rural communities in
Fortune Bay-Cape la Hune, and I am sure across this great Province. It has
always been a complex sector, Mr. Chair, and there is no magic solution, but
since I have entered politics and I have done, through my previous employment,
a lot of work and research and interaction with the fishery. I have learned so
much from speaking directly to the fisherpersons and speaking with them first
hand about what their key concerns are. I can tell you that we are listening, as
a government, to their key concerns. By working together, only by working
together, can a successful conclusion be reached.
The reason I talked about the fishery a bit is because here in the House I
have been very disappointed in some of the speeches, the Budget speeches,
particular the Leader of the NDP who has criticized the aquaculture industry and
indicates that she does not support aquaculture, which truly, truly, astounds
me. She says we are not spending enough on the fishery and putting too much
attention on aquaculture. Well, this department has increased its budget, since
2003 over 360 per cent, and this includes a substantial investment in the
fishery, Mr. Chair. Unprecedented investment in research, through the Celtic
Explorer, $140 million we have invested through the Fishing Industry Renewal
Strategy, which includes funding for financing of licence combining, debt
refinancing, and an increase in vessel financing limits. All those kinds of
initiatives, Mr. Chair, have been introduced by this government, and the fishery
remains a key priority. In fact, in 2010 the industry rebounded. It was valued
at $942 million, up from only $827 million the previous year. So we are doing
something right.
Now, Mr. Chair, I want to talk again, going back to the aquaculture industry
and why I am so dismayed to hear that there should not be as much of an
investment as what there is in the aquaculture industry in this Budget.
Certainly, I would argue there should be even more, and that is what I will
continue to advocate as the representative of my people. It certainly is not
fair. I see this as playing politics, pitting one industry against the other,
which is not fair to the people of the Coast of Bays region. We are very, very
fortunate to have this industry in a rural, remote region like the Coast of
Bays. It has not only enabled our population to stabilize, we are even seeing
substantial growth. The fishery is always going to remain a critical economic
generator but we must diversify into other sectors if we are going to sustain
the region as a whole and offer meaningful employment to my people.
In Fortune Bay-Cape la Hune these industries include aquaculture,
agriculture, tourism, forestry and hydroelectricity as well, Mr. Chair. We are
comprised of twenty-two communities from Rencontre East to Francois in the west.
Overall, we are seeing great success and great improvements to our economy and
well-being because of the aquaculture industry. To see how significant it is,
one should visit the region and view it first hand. Back in the 1990s, like many
parts of rural Newfoundland and Labrador, the outlook was bleak but today we
really are booming. Young people are moving home, children are running around
the streets, homes are being built, cars are being bought, and fifty or so loads
of freight, fish or feed are travelling up and down that highway every single
day, Mr. Chair. New businesses are being established and people are finding bona
fide employment. Even some fishers are supplementing their incomes by working as
captains in the aquaculture sector when they are not out fishing.
Organizations like fire departments, recreation committees, Girl Guides and
seniors groups are thriving, Mr. Chair, because there are people and there is
new wealth generation. There are over 700 direct jobs in aquaculture alone. Then
you add the spinoffs like diving, trucking, net cleaning, hydraulics and small
engine repair, processing. We are well over 1,000 jobs, and that is just in the
Coast of Bays alone. If you take that beyond the Coast of Bays, we are seeing a
lot of investment in places like the Deer Lake Big Stop with all the trucks
coming through, Newfoundland Styro in Bishops Falls, fibreglass boat
manufacturers, Mercer's Marine and other industrial suppliers all across this
Province, and certainly we are going to see a new hatchery in Stephenville. We
are starting to see our wealth spread throughout the Province and there is more
to come, Mr. Chair.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MS PERRY: In Budget 2010 the aquaculture industry was valued at $116
million. Now $116 million and 700 direct jobs plus the spinoff is certainly
nothing to snuff at and it is certainly an investment that I believe is worth
making. It may not be as important as 2,000 jobs in Signal Hill-Quidi Vidi
district or some other urban area but in Fortune Bay-Cape la Hune it means the
difference in our survival; it makes a difference and it enables us to survive
as a region.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MS PERRY: Mr. Chair, one minute the Opposition will say that we have no
plan for sustaining rural communities and the next minute they criticize our
efforts when we try to do just that, by investing in aquaculture. To not support
aquaculture, Mr. Chair, is simply astounding and disturbing. I am going to add
another argument to that as well. I believe that this Province is one of the few
places in the world and in Canada that has ideal growing conditions for
aquaculture. As a Province, I believe we have a responsibility to produce this
essential food protein.
There are two simple facts we cannot ignore, Mr. Chair: the world's
population is exploding and the world's fish stocks are declining. It is
predicted by the year 2040 the demand for fish protein will outweigh supply.
Just like it was critical to learn how to farm wheat, cattle, pork, and chicken,
so too we must learn to farm fish.
Yes, Mr. Chair, the road toward developing this new sector has not been easy
for us. We have led the way and we have overcome challenges to reach the point
of prosperity we are at today. Mr. Chair, this government has delivered.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MS PERRY: Now, I am running out of time. I wanted to talk about all the
wonderful investments we made in aquaculture, but I am not going to get there. I
wanted to talk about the advocacy role I have been able to play for my
constituents, advocating on their behalf for things like portable oxygen tanks,
dialysis services, and increases to the Prescription Drug Program. My colleagues
and I have great, engaging debates at our caucus table.
CHAIR: Order, please!
MS PERRY: We all bring forward the issues of our constituents, and we
listen and implement policy.
CHAIR: I remind the hon. member her time for speaking has expired.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
CHAIR: The Chair recognizes the hon. Leader of the Opposition.
MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Mr. Chair, the members are all riled up here today. I can tell you now they
are feeling the pressure, Mr. Chair. They went back to their districts this
weekend and they know they are getting taken on big time come October. Mr.
Chair, they are all running scared today.
The Member for Fortune Bay-Cape la Hune was up trying to explain everything
she has done since she got elected, saying: Oh, but remember I did this for you
and remember I did that for you. She knows, Mr. Chair, her district today has an
unemployment rate of 23 per cent, one of the highest unemployment rates in this
Province one of the highest unemployment rates in this Province. Now, that is
something to be proud of after you sat in the government, Mr. Chair, for eight
years with some of the highest revenues you have ever seen in the Province's
history.
They are running scared, Mr. Chair. The members of the Conservative
Government are running scared, Mr. Chair. They are standing in the House today,
one by one, and they are patting each other on the back, trying to defend their
record out there for their constituents.
What else, Mr. Chair, the Member for Fortune Bay-Cape la Hune did not tell
you? She did not tell you that the people in her district are having to drive to
hospitals, Mr. Chair, in Central Newfoundland and in St. John's for all kinds of
treatments, for chronic disease and everything else without a subsidy, without
even the provincial government recognizing that there is a medical travel need
in this Province for patients. Without them even recognizing, Mr. Chair, that
the man, the woman coming out of Harbour Breton today, coming out of St. Alban's
today who has to come back and forth to St. John's for health care appointments,
are doing it on their own dime. Irregardless' of the fact, Mr. Chair, that they
have an unemployment rate of 23 per cent, irregardless' of the fact that they
might be working for minimum wage is, the reality is unless they are travelling
2,500 kilometres in this Province for medical care, up until that point they
cannot get one dime not one dime.
If they wanted to do something real, why would the government not do
something real for the people of this Province? Why would they not say to the
people down in the District of Fortune Bay-Cape la Hune, Mr. Chair, that we are
bringing in a medical travel subsidy so that when you have to go back and forth
to hospital in Grand Falls, in Gander, in St. John's or any of those
communities, that we are going to make sure that there is a subsidy there for
you? No, Mr. Chair, they did not allow for that. Let me tell you what they did,
they cut out private accommodations. Many of them could drive in, stay with
someone, give that someone $20 for letting them stay at their house and claim it
under the program.
No, Mr. Chair, the Member for Fortune Bay-Cape la Hune was part of a
government who cut that out. Who said no, we are taking that out, we are not
putting private accommodations in under the program, Mr. Chair. We are not
putting private accommodations in under this program anymore; we are taking
private accommodations out. So, Mr. Chair, many of the people in her district
who at one time could drive in here and claim private accommodations and claim
their meals can no longer do that because she and her government changed it,
they took it out. What did they give back? Nothing, Mr. Chair, absolutely
nothing absolutely nothing did they give back.
The member did not get up, Mr. Chair
MR. WISEMAN: A point of order, Mr. Chair.
CHAIR: The hon. the Minister of Environment, on a point of order.
MR. WISEMAN: I think, Mr. Chair, this is a debate on the Budget and
obviously everybody realizes a fair degree of latitude. I think it is important
when everybody stands in this House to speak, there has to be some semblance of
reality to the comments that are made.
I just want to put some comments the member opposite has made into
perspective, Mr. Chair. We have, in fact, in the last four years made
magnificent enhancements to the medical transportation program, so much so that
we have the best medical transportation program in the entire Nation.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
CHAIR: There is no point of order.
The hon. the Leader of the Opposition.
MS JONES: Nothing changes, Mr. Chair. The Member for Trinity North still
likes to hear himself talk, even when he has nothing to contribute. Anyway, he
has ten minutes just like I do, and I would appreciate it if he would not
interrupt me but stand up when I am finished. I would be happy to listen to what
he has to say. I would listen with tremendous courtesy and interest.
Anyway, Mr. Chair, those are some of the things the Member for Fortune
Bay-Cape la Hune did not tell you. The other thing she did not talk to you about
is home care programs, about the need in her district for home care. Because
there is a tremendous need in that area. There are people in that area today,
Mr. Chair, who are looking for home care who cannot access the program they
need. Where has the strategy been from the government opposite after eight years
in government? After Budgets of multi-billions of dollars a year, more money
than was ever seen in our history, where are those people today who still need
that service and who needed it eight years ago when members opposite came into
the House of Assembly?
Mr. Chair, we do not want to talk about any of those issues. I have no
problem talking about good things that are happening because you do not spend
that much money without making something good happen. You would have to be
awfully bad, I say to the members opposite, if you could not take that amount of
money and turn some good from it. Obviously, some of the good that has come out
have been investments like we have seen in the aquaculture industry. Mr. Chair,
if we are going to have an aquaculture industry in this Province, no matter who
the government is, where would they invest the money? One of the best areas in
the Province is in Fortune Bay-Cape la Hune, although there are other areas, in
Triton and Springdale area.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MS JONES: Mr. Chair, I have visited them. I say to the member opposite: I
have been in the aquaculture farms in her district. I have been into ones down
in Triton, down in that area as well. We know there is potential there and we
are prepared to invest in all of that potential.
Mr. Chair, you just cannot sugar-coat the fact that when you represent a
district in this House of Assembly that has needs, but you chose for eight years
to never talk about those needs, you never talk about them, you never stand up
in the House and say: I have people who need home care services. I have people
who have housing problems. I have people who are unemployed. I have people who
are going to hospital today who cannot afford to get there. When have I ever
heard the members, not only the Member for Fortune Bay-Cape la Hune but any
other member, standing up and saying that in the House of Assembly? I have not
heard it. Anyway, Mr. Chair, these are some of the issues.
Mr. Chair, we are committed to eliminate the gas tax in this Province: the
16.5 cents gas tax. We are prepared to eliminate that 16.5 cent gas tax. I would
bet you since Sunday the Minister of Finance has had half his staff called into
the Department of Finance over there trying to crunch the numbers on that and
how it is going to happen, Mr. Chair.
AN HON. MEMBER: Did you crunch the numbers?
MS JONES: Oh, absolutely.
So the Minister of Finance, Mr. Chair
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!
CHAIR: Order, please!
MS JONES: - I would say since Sunday when the news broke has had
everybody into the department trying to figure out how this is going to happen,
where the money is going to be found. Do you know why, Mr. Chair? Because the
members opposite never considered for one minute that people in this Province
need a break, that people in this Province could do a lot with that 16.5 cents
that they would put back in their pocket on a litre of gasoline. Not once did
the members opposite think about how much money the people in this Province are
paying out of their pocket every single day.
We are a regional economy, our schools are regional, our hospitals are
regional, and our industry is regional. People are driving longer distances,
people are commuting everywhere today for work. People in the member for Deer
Lake's area today, in Hampton, Jackson's Arm, and Pollard's Point, two or three
years ago they could work in the logging industry before Abitibi closed. They
could work in the shrimp plant two years ago before that closed down. Today,
they are driving to Deer Lake and Corner Brook to go to work. Guess what, Mr.
Chair? They are paying the tax on gasoline that they cannot afford to be paying.
Mr. Chair, we have become a regionalized economy in this Province, we have
become a commuter economy and people need to have a break, they need to have
more money put back in their own pocket. The members opposite, like the Member
for Grand Falls, they voted to put money into Nalcor, a corporation that
profited $77 million last year as opposed to putting it back into the pockets of
Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. That is the difference between what they have
done, Mr. Chair, in the last eight years and what we will do.
CHAIR: Order, please!
The time for speaking has expired.
The Chair recognizes the hon. the Minister of Finance.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. MARSHALL: Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
Mr. Chair, I have been listening to this debate and it is like hearing the
same debate for eight years. The Opposition has conducted themselves in the same
manner for eight years as they are doing here right now. The Leader of the
Opposition, no matter who is in that position, comes in, the voice gets up on
high decibel and away they go attacking everything that we have ever done.
Mr. Chair, what we are doing is making life in this Province better for the
average person in Newfoundland and Labrador. That is what we are trying to do.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. MARSHALL: Mr. Chair, there has been a lot of criticism and, of
course, how do you respond to it? I know the Opposition says we have not done
anything; we have not done any great projects. They talk about the projects they
have done and they talk about the wealth we have today is because of what they
have done. It is as if in the middle of the night young Liberals go out and pump
oil into the ground or they go and they pump iron ore into the ground. Well, we
have done a lot of deals, Mr. Chair, and we have done the difference between
our government and what I am hearing here today is that they say they are going
to do things but they never do it. We say we are going to do things and we do
it.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. MARSHALL: I remember eight years ago listening to members opposite
talking about what they were going to do in the City of Corner Brook. They were
going to do a long-term care facility. They never did it. They talked about it
for years. They talked about it but never did it. We did it; a long-term care
facility $70 million, four protective care units. They talked about the high
school. They were going to do the high school but they would not let the gym be
done correctly. They talked about it but w