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June 17, 2020

HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS

Vol. XLIX No. 41

The

House met at 2 p.m.

MR. SPEAKER (Reid):

Order, please!

Admit

Strangers.

Statements by

Members

MR. SPEAKER:

Today we will hear Members'

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

Lewisporte - Twillingate, Mount Pearl North, Labrador West and St. John's East -

Quidi Vidi.

The hon.

the Member for Stephenville - Port au Port.

MR. WAKEHAM:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The

Province of Newfoundland and Labrador has a rich culture and heritage that makes

us all proud.

In 1995,

three local francophone groups on the beautiful Port au Port Peninsula joined

forces in creating a regional francophone organization to promote, preserve and

celebrate the wonderful francophone culture and language of the West Coast.

Twenty-five years later, L'Association Régionale de la Côte Ouest (ARCO) has a

lot to celebrate. Fitness gyms in our rural communities, children's books that

share our culture, French bread ovens for our families and visitors, regional

bilingual festivals, promotional music videos, bilingual CDs and French flag

licence plates, of which I am proud to say I have one.

Congratulations to the volunteers and employees of ARCO. Here's to another 25

years of success.

Thank

you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

Lewisporte - Twillingate.

MR. BENNETT:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

It gives

me great privilege to recognize an exceptional role model from my district. Ms.

Jade Roberts of Twillingate was a very accomplished athlete in her youth,

excelling in a variety of sports, including a silver medal at the national

Figure Skating Championships.

Jade is

now a competitive cross-country runner and in 2019 she represented Memorial

University Sea-Hawks at the Atlantic University Sports Championships, where she

not only ran away to win the gold medal, she also was named the female

cross-country Athlete of the Year.

Another

highlight in her running career happened in April, when Jade was honoured with

both the Butler Trophy for the overall female athlete of the year at Memorial

University and the Jubilee Cup for the female MVP of the Sea-Hawks Cross Country

team.

Jade's

athletic career can only be surpassed by her professional career. She followed

in her mother's footsteps in becoming a nurse and currently works at the Janeway

pediatric intensive care unit. On March 11 her lifelong dream came true, when

she was accepted into Memorial University faculty of medicine.

Mr.

Speaker, I ask all Members to join me in congratulating Jade Roberts for all of

her accomplishments and wish her continued success in her athletics and her

studies at medical school.

Thank

you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for Mount

Pearl North.

MR. LESTER:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Today I

would like to acknowledge the many blood donors from Mount Pearl North and

across our province and country who voluntarily donate their blood and blood

products to save lives. It isn't every day you can do something to save

someone's life, but that's exactly what you do every time you donate blood.

Even the

best trained medical personnel using the most advanced equipment can become

helpless in the event of a patient needing blood. Blood is special. It can't be

manufactured and it can't be replaced by animal blood. The gift of blood is

essential to saving lives and can only come from another human being. There are

no substitutes.

There is

a constant need for regular blood supply because blood can only be stored for a

limited time. We can all save precious lives and bring smiles just by donating

blood.

A few

moments of your time will be greatly rewarded by the thought of saving a loved

one, a cancer patient, a bleeding child or an injured motorist. Donating blood

takes minutes and the benefits can preserve a lifetime.

I ask

all those present to join me to celebrate and thank individuals who donate

blood, and encourage those who have not yet donated blood to consider donating,

as the need for blood and blood products is greater now than ever.

Thank

you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

Labrador West.

MR. BROWN:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I rise

today to pay tribute to a dear friend, Art Huxter, who passed away on January

20, 2020.

Many

locals will say it was an honour to have met and worked with Arthur. He had many

stories to tell and a contagious laugh. Art was a union activist for over 40

years in Labrador West, starting out as a shop steward before joining the union

executive.

Arthur

worked at the Iron Ore Company of Canada and was a dedicated member and rep for

all members of 5795. He served for 40 years on the executive, with 37 of them as

their financial secretary.

Arthur

could be found at the union centre volunteering hundreds of hours to fellow

members, fighting for each member to be treated with fairness. Art provided

solid leadership and guidance. His contributions to improving the financial

viability of all USW locals during labour negotiations was something that the

local union took pride in.

Arthur's

passion for helping others did not stop with his local. He was also a long-time

advocate and volunteer for local food banks. Arthur was a friend to all. He was

loved by his family and many in his community.

I ask

all hon. Members to join me in remembering Arthur and his dedication to his

family, his local and our community.

Thank

you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for St.

John's East - Quidi Vidi.

MS. COFFIN:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Black

Lives Matter NL is a local

chapter of a global movement founded in 2013 in

response to the acquittal of Trayvon Martin's murderer. Black Lives Matter

Foundation Incorporated is a global organization whose mission is to eradicate

white supremacy and build local power to intervene in violence inflicted on

black communities.

In the

wake of the murder of George Floyd by police in Minneapolis, Black Lives Matter

NL held a historic rally against systemic, anti-black racism and police

violence. Thousands kneeled in solidarity as organizers and speakers brought to

light the need for action on anti-black racism in our province.

The

solidarity and compassion I witnessed at this rally moved me, and I would like

to thank its organizers: Khadeja-Raven Anderson, Precious Familusi, Nuna Toweh,

Brian Amadi, Rioko Milani, Dr. Delores V. Mullings, Dr. Sulaimon Giwa, Dr.

Zainab Jerrett, and community advocacy groups including the Anti-Racism

Coalition NL, MUNSU, Planned Parenthood of Newfoundland and Labrador and

STARFest.

I ask

all hon. Members to join me in thanking Black Lives Matter and recognizing their

work to end anti-black racism in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Black

Lives Matter, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

Statements by Ministers.

Statements by

Ministers

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Children, Seniors and Social Development.

MS. DEMPSTER:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I'm

pleased today to recognize June as Recreation Month. This year, more than ever,

being involved in recreational activities is important for our physical and

mental health.

While we

may be limited in the ways we can interact with others as we learn to live with

COVID-19, now is an excellent time to discover new ways to be active in our own

homes, backyards and communities.

As a government,

we recognize the vital role recreation plays in helping us lead healthy, active

and balanced lives, and we remain committed to supporting initiatives that

promote healthy active living.

Our Community

Healthy Living Fund is an important part of this commitment, as it provides

funding for initiatives such as exercise and activity programs for people of all

ages, community infrastructure like playgrounds, trails and community gardens,

and healthy eating programs in communities throughout our province.

Mr. Speaker, I

want to acknowledge the many recreation partners who have developed innovative

approaches during this public health emergency and have maintained connections

in communities with people who may be experiencing social isolation.

This includes

everyone at Recreation Newfoundland and Labrador, an organization that provides

many benefits to our communities, including leadership and training for

recreation professionals and volunteers.

I invite all hon.

Members and all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians to celebrate Recreation Month

by staying active and involved as we adjust to a new normal.

Thank you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

Placentia West - Bellevue.

MR. DWYER:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I thank the minister for an advance copy of her

statement.

Today, I

join with the minister in recognizing June as Recreation Month. This pandemic

has been tough on the people of our province, which is why it is so important

for individuals to practise self-care and attend to both their physical and

mental health.

It has

been particularly challenging to provide safe outlets for people in Newfoundland

and Labrador to be physically active at this time; however, our partners in our

recreation community have answered the call. This is a testament to their

innovation and commitment to our province.

I wish

to thank everyone in our recreation community and wish everyone a safe and

active Recreation Month, June 2020.

Thank

you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for St.

John's Centre.

MR. J. DINN:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I, too,

thank the minister for an advance copy of her statement.

commend the volunteers and staff working with hundreds of community

organizations around the province to provide recreational programs every year in

their communities. These programs provide not only physical recreation but also

opportunities for people to socialize and develop leadership skills.

These

groups are facing many challenges this summer because of the need for physical

distancing, and I encourage government to do what it can to support them in

overcoming these challenges and in adjusting to a new normal.

Thank

you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

Further statements by

ministers?

The hon.

the Minister of Fisheries and Land Resources.

MR. BYRNE:

Mr. Speaker, every year more

farmers are accessing high-quality vegetable transplants and getting a head

start on the growing season by availing of the Provincial Vegetable Transplant

Program.

This

initiative aims to increase the variety and the amount of produce we grow in

Newfoundland and Labrador by planting crops and using agricultural techniques

that are best suited to Newfoundlander and Labrador's specific growing

conditions.

Mr.

Speaker, to address Newfoundland and Labrador's increased food security needs

during the COVID-19 pandemic – and thanks specifically to the efforts of

dedicated staff at the Wooddale Centre for Agricultural and Forestry Development

– we have prepared and delivered three million vegetable transplants in 2020 to

65 eligible commercial farmers across the province. That's nearly double the 1.7

million transplants delivered to 54 farmers last year. That's nearly 15 times

more than the 225,000 transplants when the program first started in 2018.

With

proper planting and care, three million transplants have the potential to

produce approximately 3.8 million pounds of vegetables – the equivalent of 63

tractor-trailer loads of fresh, home-grown broccoli, cabbage, onion, kale,

cauliflower, rutabaga and lettuce to Newfoundlanders and Labradorians so that

they can buy from local markets come harvest time.

Now, Mr.

Speaker, the agricultural sector is growing in Newfoundland and Labrador thanks

to farmers who are dedicating their lives to producing fresh, nutritious foods.

I wish them a fantastic season and look forward to a bountiful harvest ahead.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for Mount

Pearl North.

MR. LESTER:

I thank the minister for an

advance copy of his statement.

There

has been a growing awareness of the importance of local food production, food

supply and food security in our province this year. I am sure that most people

were alarmed in April when the Premier stated the province only a had five-day

food supply. Simply put, we need to do better; we must do better.

Mr.

Speaker, providing transplants is only one small step of a tall staircase to

increasing our food security. The minister may or may not realize that the

agriculture industry in our province will not be able to expand if the

government continues to erode the funds and programs for farmers.

addition to transplants, farm operations must acquire innovative equipment,

expand storage capacity, and most importantly, develop and improve agricultural

land. Farmers are reporting to me continued frustration with Crown Lands, a lack

of long-term storage, a seasonal market oversupply, non-existence of an active

moose predation policy and slow rollout of provincial programs.

Mr.

Speaker, the Vegetable Transplant Program can help farmers increase crop variety

and get a jump on the growing season. We are glad to see the number of plants

and numbers of farmers availing of this program is increasing.

Mr.

Speaker, in closing, I would like to wish all farmers, both commercial and

hobbyists, a successful growing season.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for St.

John's Centre.

MR. J. DINN:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I, too,

thank the minister for an advance copy of his statement. I'm delighted to hear

of the continued success of this excellent initiative.

Anyone

familiar with growing vegetables in our unpredictable spring weather knows the

advantages of these transplants, or starts as they are known. I hope the

minister is working just as hard on initiatives at the other end of the

vegetable farming, developing marketing plans, cold storage options and other

ways of ensuring fresh local vegetables get to the market.

Farmers

have vegetables in the field; let's make sure they also get to the tables of

this province.

Thank

you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

Further statements by

ministers?

The hon.

the Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Labour.

MR. MITCHELMORE:

Mr. Speaker, it's my pleasure today to highlight enhancements to the Provincial

Student Loans Program for the 2020-21 academic year.

These

improvements align with changes to the federal Canada Student Loans Program and

will help mitigate the impacts that the COVID-19 public health emergency will

have on students for the coming academic year.

Enhancements to the provincial program include increasing the weekly loan limit

to $100 per week of study from $40; bringing the combined provincial loan and

grant weekly limit to $200; and exempting student and spousal contributions when

assessing applications for provincial student aid.

This is

in addition to the temporary suspension of both federal and provincial student

loan repayments until September 30, 2020.

I am

also pleased to announce that the student aid application for 2020-21 launched

this week, thanks to staff from the Student Aid Division and the Office of the

Chief Information Officer. This is another example of the great work public

service employees are doing during these unprecedented times.

Mr.

Speaker, our government recognizes the impacts that COVID-19 has had on

students. The combined effects of these enhancements to the Provincial Student

Loans Program and the Canada Student Loans Program will ensure post-secondary

students have access to much-needed financial assistance.

Thank

you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

Topsail - Paradise.

MR. P. DINN:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I thank the minister for an advance copy of his

statement.

Mr.

Speaker, my colleagues and I join with the minister in welcoming enhancements to

the Provincial Student Loans Program. Anything we can do to enhance the

the department over the years, I can personally attest to the dedication and

work ethic of the Student Aid Division staff and their drive to help and assist

students.

Mr.

Speaker, I do have some reservation. I note the minister referenced increasing

loan limits. I would assume that student groups have been consulted and are in

favour of this over the possibly of increasing student debt burdens.

Lastly,

Mr. Speaker, I do urge the minister to take some leadership in ensuring specific

information is provided to post-secondary students on program details and how

instruction will be provided in the fall. Uncertainty and a lack of information

continues to be a major issue with post-secondary students.

Thank

you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Leader of the

Third Party.

MS. COFFIN:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I, too,

thank the minister for an advance copy of his statement. This slight increase

helps students now, but I remind the minister that increases in loans now create

a larger debt burden in the future. Instead, we need increases in the provincial

student grants, especially in these dire times.

I also

remind the minister that our international students receive far fewer benefits

from the federal government and pay higher tuition fees. Many are struggling

during the pandemic and need more supports too.

Thank

you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

Further statements by

ministers?

Oral

Questions.

Oral Questions

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Leader of the

Official Opposition.

MR. CROSBIE:

Mr. Speaker, did the Minister of Justice consult the wisdom of his caucus

colleagues before attempting to ram through the judges' pay raise?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Justice and Public Safety.

MR. A. PARSONS:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The

Member knows quite well how this process goes. The reality is that every

Attorney General since 1991 has received one of these tribunal reports and that

they are obligated by law to bring them to the House of Assembly, no matter what

they may think of them.

The

Member knows that. His wife ran a tribunal in 2001, so he should be quite aware.

Thank

you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Leader of the

Official Opposition.

MR. CROSBIE:

I thank the minister for his reminder of my wife's professional activities.

In legal

circles, missing a critical deadline to do something is called negligence. Was

the minister negligent in missing the deadline for wetland capping?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Justice and Public Safety.

MR. A. PARSONS:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and

I'm quite happy to answer questions on this.

As I

reminded the Member, I think it was back in December, I believe the Auditor

General is doing a report on this. I absolutely cannot wait to talk to the

Auditor General when requested. In fact, I have written to the Auditor General

asking when I may have an opportunity under oath to answer any questions. I will

speak to the Auditor General when I get that request.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Leader of the

Official Opposition.

MR. CROSBIE:

Well, Mr. Speaker, the

problem with that is we don't have an Auditor General and there can't be a

report until one is appointed. The minister may want to speak to the Premier

about that.

Mr.

Speaker, the minister is not speaking to negligence but we know he missed the

deadline. If this was not negligent, was it deliberate?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Justice and Public Safety.

MR. A. PARSONS:

I'll repeat the answer that I

just gave in case the Member wasn't listening. When it comes to the Auditor

General, if the position is open he's more than welcome to apply for it and go

through the Independent Appointments Commission.

I have

gone directly to the Auditor General and said I would be more than willing under

oath to answer any questions that they may have, and I look forward to that. I

can't wait for the opportunity.

Thank

you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Leader of the

Official Opposition.

MR. CROSBIE:

Mr. Speaker, there's mounting

frustration which has boiled over in an email sent to members by the Royal

Newfoundland Constabulary Association asking members if they still had

confidence in leadership. This extraordinary move has shaken confidence in the

Constabulary.

As the

Attorney General, does the minister feel the RNC still has confidence in him?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Justice and Public Safety.

MR. A. PARSONS:

I guess the Member is trying

to take a different attack or direction here. What I will say to the Member is I

just had a meeting with the RNCA two days ago, and I can tell you there was no

lack of confidence expressed there.

Thank

you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Leader of the

Official Opposition.

MR. CROSBIE:

That's very inspiring, Mr.

Speaker. It's difficult to fully credit it in the face of the fact that a survey

was conducted of members of the Constabulary Association, which found that 48

per cent feel they cannot bring forward a grievance complaint or appeal without

fear of reprisal.

I ask

the minister again: As top law enforcement official, how does he defend this

indictment of his leadership?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Justice and Public Safety.

MR. A. PARSONS:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I think

the Member is trying to make a connection that doesn't actually exist. As it

stands right now, the RNCA is going through a survey process with their members,

which I understand is still ongoing, so we can speak to it then.

What I

will say is if we want to talk about confidence, I understand the Member is

going through his own leadership review. So the question I would put back is, do

you have the confidence of everybody around you, Sir?

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for Cape

St. Francis.

MR. K. PARSONS:

It's obvious the minister

don't like to be asked questions.

I have a

question that's pretty appropriate. The Auditor General's position has become

vacant since March 11. The Public Accounts Committee met this morning and we're

wondering: When will we see a new Auditor General in place?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Finance and President of Treasury Board.

MR. OSBORNE:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

There is

an Acting Auditor General in place at the moment, I will remind the Member

opposite. The process is underway to have the IAC appoint an Auditor General on

a full-time basis.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for Cape

St. Francis.

MR. K. PARSONS:

Mr. Speaker, I don't mean to

correct the Minister of Finance, but there is no Acting Auditor General in

place. The Deputy Auditor General is in place but there is no Acting Auditor

General in place right now; plus, there is no position that's being advertised

for the Auditor General yet.

It's

been three months since the Auditor General's position has been vacated and

there are some important investigations underway like the wetland capping

scandal, cannabis growth industry investigation.

I ask

the minister: Isn't it time to put an Auditor General in place so we, as a

Public Accounts Committee, can continue with our work?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Finance and President of Treasury Board.

MR. OSBORNE:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

believe the Deputy Auditor General is running the office there at the moment,

Mr. Speaker. I don't think there's anybody on this side of the Legislature that

would say that we don't have confidence that that individual is able to carry

out the duties in the process.

The

process internally has started to ensure that the IAC are given instructions to

carry forward with the search for a new Auditor General.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for Terra

Nova.

MR. PARROTT:

Mr. Speaker, in 2018, the

former minister launched an RFP to ensure the economic viability of Marble

Mountain. In Estimates 2019, the minister said the department was still

reviewing proposals. It is now 2020.

I ask

the minister: Why have you failed to take action on this file?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation.

MR. DAVIS:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I

thank the hon. Member for the question.

As I

said back then, and I will say at this point, we did enter into an RFP for the

sale of Marble Mountain in 2018. We're still working through that process. As

soon as we're finished that process, I will be more than happy to present it

here to the House or to the general public. I look forward to that day as well,

Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for Terra

Nova.

MR. PARROTT:

I assume by the minister's

response that it's safe to say that this RFP is similar to the one in Bull Arm:

You're waiting for the right friends to apply.

Mr.

Speaker, will the minister table all the responses to the June 2018 RFP, along

will the decision and evaluation matrix which was used to make the decision and

evaluate the proposals?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation.

MR. DAVIS:

Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon.

Member for the question, although I am disappointed by the tone. That's not what

we're into in this House of Assembly, I don't think.

From my

standpoint, we entered into the RFP process, as I said, in 2018. We're moving

through that process; we're in the final stages now. As soon as we reach that

culmination of that report, I'm more than happy to meet with the hon. Member, as

he knows. I'm more than happy to bring it to the House of Assembly and we will

go out in public with that answer as well.

Thank

you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for Terra

Nova.

MR. PARROTT:

Mr. Speaker, Marble Mountain

is subsidized by taxpayer money to function. A recent news

article quotes the

Finance Minister as saying he may be interested in offloading money-losing

assets like Marble.

I ask

the minister: Do you agree with the Minister of Finance that Marble Mountain

should be sold?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation.

MR. DAVIS:

Mr. Speaker, I'll refer to my

last answer to say that I unequivocally support the idea that Marble Mountain

should be sold. That's why we entered into an RFP process. We're working through

that process. Obviously, we would like to see that process finished in a

positive way. I look forward to that day coming forward in this House of

Assembly or into the public domain and I look forward to meeting with the Member

to discuss that very topic.

Thank

you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for Grand

Falls-Windsor - Buchans.

MR. TIBBS:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The

Lionel Kelland hospice was promised to Grand Falls-Windsor during the election

last year as an election promise.

I ask

the minister: When will construction begin on the much-needed Lionel Kelland

hospice, or is he continuing the trend of playing politics with our health care

system and avoiding the people in Grand Falls-Windsor and the commitment he's

made?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Health and Community Services.

MR. HAGGIE:

Thank you very much, Mr.

Speaker.

welcome the question. I'm pleased to inform the House that the design project

work is under way and, as far as I'm informed, is on schedule, and that there

are no obstacles from our point of view to this proceeding on the

schedule that

was outlined when Mr. Bradley and I made that announcement in Grand Falls a

little while ago.

I would

also like to take the opportunity now that the subject has been raised to thank

Mr. Bradley for his service as chair of the Lionel Kelland Hospice foundation.

He has retired recently from that role and he will leave a great legacy behind

him, Mr. Speaker.

Thank

you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

Exploits.

MR. FORSEY:

Mr. Speaker, also in the 2019

election the Premier promised to reinstate the 24-hour emergency service at the

Dr. Hugh Twomey Health Care Centre in Botwood.

Minister: Instead of taking services from my district, will the minister promise

to reinstate the 24-hour emergency service?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Health and Community Services.

MR. HAGGIE:

Thank you very much, Mr.

Speaker.

colleague from Transportation and Works informs me that the $20 million

investment in a new facility add-on at the Hugh Twomey centre is well under way

and well on schedule. That will then be fully staffed with new employees, new

employment for the area. And at that time the demand and the staffing will be

examined to see whether or not there is a need to change the way emergency

services are provided to the people in Botwood – bearing in mind it's 20 minutes

from Central Newfoundland Regional Health Centre.

Thank

you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

Stephenville - Port au Port.

MR. WAKEHAM:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

A recent

RBC report indicates that retail sales for this province are forecasted to drop

by 10 per cent. Small and medium businesses are facing cost increases and

reduction in revenue. These businesses are the job creators. Without them we

will not recover.

I ask

the minister: How many small and medium businesses have closed in this province

since January 1?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Finance and President of Treasury Board.

MR. OSBORNE:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

This is

a concerning and uncertain time, not only for Newfoundland and Labrador, not

only for every province in Canada, but globally, Mr. Speaker. We have come up

with a number of programs and incentives to try and help boost the economy to

ensure that we try and save as many businesses as possible. There is no doubt

that the pandemic has been difficult on businesses, and there's no doubt that

some businesses will see that the pandemic has taken a toll on them.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

Stephenville - Port au Port.

MR. WAKEHAM:

I realize the minister can't

provide an exact number, but I do want to point out that in my district – and

I'm sure in the districts of all of the Members here – there are a number of

businesses who have been told by their landlords that they will not be applying

for the rent program that was offered up by the federal and provincial

government. These businesses have no way of accessing those funds without

supports.

So I ask

the minister: Will you look at making changes to the rent program so that the

monies that you have committed to can be delivered right to the tenants?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Finance and President of Treasury Board.

MR. OSBORNE:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

It's an

important point that the Member raises. I will say that it is a federal program.

The parameters of the program are federal. I've raised the same concerns he's

just raised with the federal minister. We've had regular calls with the federal

minister. I know other provinces have similar concerns.

So far,

we've got close to 200 tenants in this province who will benefit as a result of

that program. Unfortunately, not every landlord is applying so there is a gap

there; there is absolutely no doubt about that. We certainly urge every landlord

to give the benefit to the tenants. It would be better for the landlord, better

for the tenant, better for the economy in that long run.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

Stephenville - Port au Port.

MR. WAKEHAM:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I'd ask

the minister then: Would he commit to providing some of the funds that you've

allocated, if it's not going to be used as part of the federal program, will you

make them available for those businesses whose landlords refuse to take

part in

the program?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Finance and President of Treasury Board.

MR. OSBORNE:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I'm not

sure what funds the Member is talking about. The program is cost-shared. It is a

federal program, but we're putting in a very small amount of the overall funding

that goes into this program because it was a federally announced program; the

parameters are set by the federal government. Those parameters are consistent

across the country. We may not see that every landlord is taking advantage of

this, Mr. Speaker, which is a gap. We've raised that. Several provinces have

raised that with the federal government seeking change, but we are required

under the federal program to put our share in.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

Topsail - Paradise.

MR. P. DINN:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

During

this pandemic, many workers now will not get financial support. They work many

hours, many overtime hours.

I ask

the minister responsible: How can you penalize people for putting themselves at

greater risk?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Finance and President of Treasury Board.

MR. OSBORNE:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Again,

the lower income essential work program is a federal program. The parameters of

that program were set by the federal government. The Member may recall when the

program was initially announced the federal government said that it capped out

at a maximum of $2,500 a month income as the threshold before people could

qualify. It took an exceptionally long time in this province to get approval

from the federal government because we had pushed to stretch the parameters,

including a $3,000 threshold in order for people to qualify.

Again,

we recognize the valuable work of every essential worker, but those are the

parameters set by the federal government.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

Topsail - Paradise.

MR. P. DINN:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Not only

did employees step up, employers also stepped up and increased the wages for

those who had to go to work and put themselves at greater risk.

I ask

the minister responsible: What are you doing for these employers?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Finance and President of Treasury Board.

MR. OSBORNE:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

It is a

very important point that the Member raises. There were some employers, in order

to ensure that their employees continued to show up for work and provide

services to the public – and I do want to say again, because I think it's

important, that while the parameters of this federal program don't recognize

everybody, as a province we do recognize everybody, those who went to work in

essential jobs providing essential services. But it is an important point that

the hon. Member raises, that some of the employers did put additional money to

their employees to get them to show up for work.

I think

the federal program was meant to level the playing field. Some employers were

not able to afford that and this ensures that lower income employees get some of

that benefit.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

Topsail - Paradise.

MR. P. DINN:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

At a

press conference on Monday morning past, the Premier said that the program was

to thank people who continued to work even though the fear of the Coronavirus

was at its peak.

How come

front-line health care workers were not included?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Finance and President of Treasury Board.

MR. OSBORNE:

One of the things that we did

in stretching the parameters put forward by the federal government was ensuring

that the federal guideline of $2,500 was increased to $3,000. One of the other

things we did was broaden the list of people who would qualify.

So we've

gone with the federal government's public safety list of essential workers which

is very, very broad. There are health care workers on that list. Unfortunately,

the federal government's cap of $2,500 would have been even less people than

what we pushed for when we had it increased to $3,000. But again, we have to

live within federal parameters. They had to sign off on and agree to that.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

Topsail - Paradise.

MR. P. DINN:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

It's

encouraging to hear that we stretched the parameters, we're recognizing people,

yet they are falling through the cracks and not being recognized or paid for the

work they did during this pandemic.

Substitute teachers play a critical role in our education system, and we've

received emails from them. I want to ask the minister responsible: What has he

done to ensure there are supports provided to ensure the financial security of

our substitute teachers?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Education and Early Childhood Development.

MR. WARR:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I

thank the hon. Member for the question.

Mr.

Speaker, we recognize the important role substitute teachers play in the

education system. The pandemic and subsequent closure of schools and many

services and businesses was sudden and unprecedented.

There

have been some opportunities for substitutes, as I said previously in this House

of Assembly. When we put in the child care program for essential workers, we

used substitute teachers, where students were going to school – having child

care in schools.

Mr.

Speaker, I just want to point out to the hon. Member that the CERB program was

in place and good news that the CERB program is going to be extended.

Again,

we recognize the important role of substitute teachers. I'm hoping to have –

thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for Mount

Pearl North.

MR. LESTER:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Yesterday, when the House was asked concerning our concern of food security, how

we only have a five-day supply, the Premier replied there was

The Way Forward and it was not a concern. I can guarantee you paper

and promises will not put food on the table of the people of Newfoundland and

Labrador.

I once

again ask: Has there been anything done to extend our food supply in this

province beyond five days?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Fisheries and Land Resources.

MR. BYRNE:

Thank you so much for the

question, Mr. Speaker. It's an important question.

The

answer is yes. Not only has this government seized on the opportunity for

farmers to expand our own domestic production, but we've also realized that by

producing just 10 per cent of what we eat, by doing that for generations we have

failed our citizens.

That is

why we have deliberately – we're the first government to take food security

seriously and build upon it. That's why we instituted a three-million strong

transplant program and we do not want one of those transplants ever to go to

waste.

We want

to make sure that we grow our cattle industry; we want to make sure that we grow

our apiaries. We want to make sure that we grow all food supplies in

Newfoundland and Labrador and, Mr. Speaker, this government is committed to it.

MR. SPEAKER:

The minister's time has

expired.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for Mount

Pearl North.

MR. LESTER:

Once again, words and

promises. I don't think that's going to fill my belly, that's for sure.

I ask

the Finance Minister: Has government provided funds to secure a supply of corn,

barley and wheat to ensure producers of eggs, chicken, milk, beef, lamb and pork

have production ability for the coming year?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Fisheries and Land Resources.

MR. BYRNE:

Thank you so much, Mr.

Speaker, for that question.

It is a

very important question because what the hon. Member is asking is, is this

government committed to spending the necessary resources. The hon. Member is

encouraging the government to spend the necessary resources to get the job done,

to fulfill all of its commitments on food security. Mr. Speaker, I am delighted

to hear that commitment, that they will be supporting the government as we bring

forward initiatives to spend resources, valuable money, to expand our food

security.

This is

a welcome message for this government from the Opposition; however, I can say to

you, Mr. Speaker, those initiatives are well under way. I tell you what will be

feeding the bellies of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians: those three million

transplants that are coming from Wooddale, being planted in farmers' fields

throughout the entire province. It's making a huge difference.

MR. SPEAKER:

The minister's time has

expired.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for Mount

Pearl North, time for a quick question and a quick answer.

MR. LESTER:

Well, this just goes to show

that the minister doesn't fully comprehend his department. The provincial

government actually extends a loan guarantee each year to the livestock

producers of Newfoundland and Labrador to secure a supply of grain for this

coming fall.

I ask

again: Has the government extended that guarantee?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Fisheries and Land Resources.

MR. BYRNE:

Thank you very much, Mr.

Speaker.

Teach a

fisher to fish and they will be able to feed themselves for a very long time,

and what we have done is we have expanded the capacity to be able to produce

forage for our cattle producers. Because you know what, Mr. Speaker? Instead of

being a solution in search of a problem, which is what the hon. Member is often

engaged in – he's often engaged in the process of becoming a solution in search

of a problem – what we have done is we have expanded forage production so that

our cattle producers and our dairy farmers can be self-sufficient. That's the

real answer here.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Leader of the

Third Party.

MS. COFFIN:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Today we

will talk about systemic racism. One hundred and forty-four Indigenous and

non-Indigenous women have been murdered or are still missing in Newfoundland and

Labrador; Indigenous women are 12 times more likely to go missing or be murdered

than non-Indigenous women; Indigenous women in Canada are 3½ times more likely

than non-Indigenous women to be the victims of violence and intimate-partner

violence and they are more often subject to severe intimate-partner violence

resulting in death.

I ask

the Minister Responsible for the Status of Women: After four years in

government, why have these statistics gotten worse and what is she going to do

about it?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister

Responsible for the Status of Women.

MS. HALEY:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I

thank the hon. Member for her question.

First of

all, allow me to say thank you to the families and survivors who relived the

tragic losses while testifying before the inquiry, Mr. Speaker, as well as the

elders and knowledge-keepers for all their inputs.

COVID-19, as you know, has presented its challenges, Mr. Speaker, but the

provincial government, I can assure you, has remained committed to the national

action plan to prevent violence against Indigenous women and girls.

Thank

you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

Labrador West.

MR. BROWN:

Mr. Speaker, systemic racism

and ignorance towards our Indigenous peoples is very much apparent in our

province and has become more prevalent in recent years.

I ask

the minister responsible: What concrete actions is government planning in order

to fight racism in this province?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Children, Seniors and Social Development.

MS. DEMPSTER:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I

thank my hon. colleague for raising this very important topic.

Mr.

Speaker, not just as an MHA in this government, but as a member of an Indigenous

group in Labrador, I'm really proud of the progress that this government has

made in building relations with Indigenous governments. The Premier's round

table sitting with Indigenous governments, to my knowledge, it's never happened

before in our history – and I've been at that table.

I had

opportunity, right before COVID hit the province, to sit down with the federal

minister, Carolyn Bennett, to discuss the calls to action on the missing and

murdered. And I can tell this hon. House that it is an active file, it's a

priority for me, it's a priority for this government and we'll continue to work

with the federal counterparts to make sure that there is progress and that less

lives are lost.

Thank

you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

Labrador West, time for a quick question.

MR. BROWN:

Mr. Speaker, we continue to

hear nice things in this House about fighting racism.

I ask

this government: Will they create a task force to end systemic racism within

government and this province?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Children, Seniors and Social Development.

MS. DEMPSTER:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Again,

my hon. colleague raises a very important topic.

Mr.

Speaker, work has been ongoing since we have formed government, sitting at the

table with Indigenous groups, sitting at our federal tables and we'll continue

to do that.

recently, Mr. Speaker, heard an Indigenous leader in Labrador say never before

in their experience have they had an open door policy with any government to

bring forth the issues of concerns to Indigenous groups like they have had with

this administration.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

Humber - Bay of Islands.

MR. JOYCE:

I ask the Minister of Health

– people have a lot of anxiety concerning cancelled medical procedures. I've

been contacted about cancelled heart surgeries, people needing pacemakers, 100

per cent blockages, eye treatment and hip replacements. This is very serious.

What can

the minister tell these people who desperately need these health procedures and

relieve the high level of anxiety which they are experiencing?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Health and Community Services.

MR. HAGGIE:

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

It's a

very timely question, given the fact we're now emerging from Level 3 with the

prospect of going to Level 2 next week having been announced literally as the

House sits.

The RHAs

have a plan. Individual patients who were scheduled for surgery will be

contacted by their clinicians. If their condition has changed, that fact needs

to be passed on through their primary care provider to the specialist.

In the

case of cardiac care, that is a seamless integration at the moment because we

now have MyCCath, which is a made-in-Newfoundland-and-Labrador solution which

allows patient, primary care provider and cardiologist to be all on the same

page.

With

other disciplines, I'm meeting with the NLMA next week to discuss how best to

deal with the backlog.

Thank

you very much, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

Humber - Bay of Islands.

MR. JOYCE:

I thank the minister for that.

The

Minister of Transportation and Works, Route 450 had a major flood in January

2018, almost three years ago. There were some improvements. The Rattling Brook

Bridge and Cammies Brook Bridge will be replaced. The condition has deteriorated

to the point where there are serious safety concerns.

There is

a tender, but it hasn't been awarded and is waiting to be awarded. We're waiting

for the funding from the rural and northern fund.

I ask

the minister: When will your department be issuing this tender?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Transportation and Works.

MR. CROCKER:

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker, and I thank the Member for the question.

Mr.

Speaker, there is a tender in place that has closed on Route 450. It's quite an

extensive tender, getting a lot of work done on that

section of road this year.

I can assure the Member that at the moment we get the final written approvals

from Ottawa through the northern and rural funding, the award letter will be

out.

I can

assure the Member, from conversations I had earlier today, we're expecting that

funding approval from Ottawa any time at all now, Mr. Speaker. I can assure the

hon. Member that the moment we get that approval from Ottawa the award letter

will be issued.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The time for Question Period

has expired.

Presenting Reports by Standing and Select Committees.

Tabling

of Documents.

Tabling of

Documents

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for Mount

Scio.

MS. STOODLEY:

Mr. Speaker, I'm tabling a letter to the Privacy Commission of Canada for my PMR

in March.

Thank

you.

MR. SPEAKER:

Further tabling of documents?

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER:

I think the Standing Orders

allow ministers to table documents. A Member would have to have consent to table

a document.

Does the

Member have leave of the House to table the document?

I'm

seeing no objections, so we will accept the document.

Further

tabling of documents?

Notices

of Motion.

Answers

to Questions for which Notices has been Given.

Petitions.

Petitions

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for Mount

Pearl - Southlands.

MR. LANE:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

There

are many people in Newfoundland and Labrador who are very concerned about how

our K-to-12 education has been impacted by the public health measures

implemented due to COVID-19, and are further concerned about what the plan will

be to deliver education in this province in September. This is particularly

concerning for parents of children with special needs.

Therefore we the petition the House of Assembly as follows: to urge the

Government of Newfoundland and Labrador to direct the province's school boards

to develop and make public a plan to address the upcoming school year.

Mr.

Speaker, I want to say, as I have said previously, when it comes to these issues

with the schools and so on around education, I have to give credit once again to

the Minister of Education and his executive assistant. They have been very

co-operative. I really do appreciate that.

The

purpose of this petition is certainly not to be critical, to beat up on the

would know and admit himself, that nobody expected COVID-19 really to happen and

to impact us the way it did, but it did have an impact, a sudden impact on our

school system. I know the school boards did, perhaps, the best they could. I

know teachers did the best they could, but nobody can deny the fact that there

were a number of challenges this year in trying to deliver curriculum, whether

it be just the logistics of it or issues around having people able to avail of

technology and so on. There were challenges.

These

challenges are exacerbated even further when you have children, for example,

that have exceptionalities and special needs who, at the best of times, are

challenged when it comes to our education system. This year is what it is.

Everyone did the best they can, but we need to ensure – and what I'm hearing

from parents is that they want some assurances that there will indeed be a plan

in place for September. Whatever that plan might look like, if it's going to be

virtual, if it's going to be in-classroom, if it's a going to be a combination

of both. Obviously there's going to be a lot of considerations in delivering

these programs, but I just want to say that parents are concerned.

I know

the minister knows this. I'm sure every Member in this House of Assembly has

gotten emails or phone calls or whatever from parents, families in their

districts who are concerned about their children's education, what it's going to

look like in September. Obviously, like the health care system, we need to make

sure we have a plan as we move forward, and this is just encouraging the

minister to make sure that that happens for September.

Thank

you, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Education and Early Childhood Development with a response.

MR. WARR:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

certainly appreciate the petition that the hon. Member for Mount Pearl -

Southlands has brought forward.

Mr.

Speaker, as he spoke so candidly, there are many, many concerns from parents,

from teachers. I've heard from students. I've heard from just about every Member

in this House of Assembly with regard to constituents within their own districts

on the education system.

Mr.

Speaker, discussions and planning with the school districts, the NLTA, Public

Health officials and as well as the Federation of School Councils, these

consultations are happening. Even this past week, consultations with school

council chairs and parent representatives were happening

The plan

will provide an approach, Mr. Speaker, and guidance for school districts to put

in operation, given the particular status of the pandemic at that time and the

advice of Public Health. Mr. Speaker, we are planning on having full in-class

instruction come September; however, depending on the chief medical officer of

health, we will make plans as we go forward.

Thank

you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

Placentia West - Bellevue.

MR. DWYER:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

present a petition on the Bull Arm Fabrication site again today for all the

concerned residents. I have signatures on this petition, Your Honour, right from

Chapel Arm to Swift Current, Clarenville. I think it's important that we're an

integral point in our economy, I guess, on such a big downturn to have such a

world-class facility sitting idly.

understand that we're doing some work there currently about warm stacking and

cold stacking. I'm not an expert in the engineering of oil and gas but from my

understanding, in layman's terms, that's shutting down our oil and gas industry.

That's not encouraging at all for all the people that I represent in the

beautiful District of Placentia West - Bellevue, which covers 5,503 square

kilometres. It takes in 45 communities with over 11,000 constituents. That's

just my district.

If we

can avail of this world-class fabrication site, then that gives us an

opportunity to bring us to the next level, not only in oil and gas but our

economy here in the province. These people never asked me to prepare a petition

and have them sign it so that it could fall on deaf ears or anything like that.

Currently, Irving Oil is in the process of purchasing the refinery. My

suggestion would be that we talk to them and engage them as soon as possible to

find out what their long-term goals are, and maybe they can understand that we'd

be willing to work with them to house them at the Bull Arm Fabrication site and

they can bring their corporation to another level.

It's an

Atlantic province company that we feel they're our partners too, that have been

in this province for a long time. I don't think the Irvings are going anywhere

any time soon. To have somebody local with that kind of interest in the area …

I would

ask that this Bull Arm Fabrication site and this petition be accepted by the

minister to understand that now is the time for talks. We can go on about a

pandemic all we want, but we still need to talk to these companies and let them

know how we're going to be coming out of this pandemic and setting up our

economy for success.

Like I

said, what the people here on this petition are asking for is that we bring this

facility at Bull Arm back to a full-fledged facility.

Thank

you, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Natural Resources for a quick response.

MS. COADY:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The

Member has presented this petition in the past, and as I've said, we, on this

side of the House and I know throughout the community and I'm sure even the

Member opposite will say that we are very supportive of a robust oil and gas

industry.

We have

done everything possible to ensure growth and development. We have 650 leads of

prospects; we have eight new entrants and record bids in our land tenure

process. We have made arrangements in Bull Arm through a company to warm and

cold stack rigs, Mr. Speaker, to allow us to get into more exploration as

quickly as possible, rather than having to do a rig intake process. We will

continue to do everything possible to grow the industry.

Thank

you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

Orders of the Day

Private Members'

Day

MR. SPEAKER:

It being Wednesday, 3 of the

clock, we will now move to the private Member's motion. I'll call on the Member

for Stephenville - Port au Port to introduce his resolution standing in his

name, Motion 6 on the Order Paper.

MR. WAKEHAM:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I would

like to move the following private Member's resolution:

BE IT RESOLVED that this

hon. House urge the government to table and bring to debate and concluding votes

the 2020-21 budget prior to any general election.

Again,

it is seconded by the Member for Windsor Lake.

Mr.

Speaker, this is perhaps the first time in memory that the province has been

without a budget in the middle of the summer. Instead, we're essentially running

on autopilot with an Interim Supply. The difference between Interim supply, of

course, and a budget is the level of scrutiny and transparency.

A budget

includes line-by-line Estimates that are brought to Estimates Committees, where

ministers and officials are questioned in painstaking detail. The House goes

through hours of debate over a period of weeks or months, and Members vote on

the detailed plan that has been brought before them. By contrast, Interim Supply

is a simple bill to provide a chunk of money to the government without any

details whatsoever.

Interim

Supply is a common provision for the first three months of a fiscal year to

cover spending while the House considers the budget. This year, because of the

COVID pandemic, we have provided six months of Interim Supply, which is very

unusual. The province cannot continue to run on autopilot without a fiscal and

economic plan for the year. A budget also includes an Economy document that

shows the state of the province's economy, sector by sector, and the plans to

drive growth. Employers hit hard by the COVID pandemic are eager to hear about

the province's plan to drive growth and position us all to rebound.

We don't

know, of course, whether any plans we make could be impacted by a second or a

third wave of the virus. No one can predict such things with certainty, but we

can provide realistic scenarios and adjust them later if the circumstances

require. A sound economic plan is an honest appraisal of the challenges we face

and the options for meeting those challenges.

Business

leaders are looking to the government for leadership and direction. They are

eager to partner in plans for growth, but the first step in building such a

partnership is to lay the facts on the table.

Labour

unions also want to know where we stand. Their participation in recovery efforts

is essential, but the first step in engaging their participation is to be honest

with them about the challenges.

course, a new leader may argue that he can't do any of this without a fresh

mandate. He might argue that he can't bring down a budget without a fresh

mandate. While it is 100 per cent true that he will need to seek a mandate

within a year, it would be wrong to suggest he needs a fresh mandate to produce

a budget. To argue such a thing would be to fundamentally misunderstand the

obligations of government.

Every

government has an obligation to deliver an annual budget. No premier goes to the

people to ask, should we have a budget this year? Of course not. Delivering an

annual budget is part of the job. If you run to become premier, you take on that

obligation. The people have a right to know the state of the province's

finances. The people have a right to know what the government plans to do to

live within the fiscal constraints it faces.

Every

government has an obligation to respect those rights and deliver the facts and

their plan. But to refuse to deliver that plan and use an election as a cover

for that failure would be an insult to the people. A failure to deliver, an

approach that some would rightly call cowardly. If you are prepared to lead, you

must be prepared to take the bold decision to table your plan. If you are afraid

to show the people your plan, you do not deserve to lead.

The time

for an election will come soon enough. This is a time for the fiscal and

economic plan the province needs for this crisis year of 2020. We have found a

way to resume the Legislature within the public health constraints of the COVID

crisis, so there are no longer any excuses for a delay.

already know the picture this year will be terribly challenging, but every

government has to deal with the challenges it faces on its watch. If a

government feels it's not up to the task, it always has the option of stepping

down and passing the torch. I don't believe the government opposite is saying it

wants to do that.

So the

alternative is to step up to the responsibility of governing in these tough

times. Is the Opposition going to be tough on you? Are the people going to be

tough on you? Of course. When are we not? That goes with the job. But the crisis

is upon us and the time for information and planning and action is now. People

have questions they need answered, details they need filled in so they can plan

the next few months of their lives and to challenge the government if they feel

the answers are not adequate.

That is

all the more true when the province's fiscal and economic status is under

threat. The COVID pandemic has thrown national and provincial economies into a

tailspin, ours included, but in times of great crisis planning is all the more

important.

A ship

in a storm cannot just flail about. It needs a destination and a charted course

to get there. That course may need frequent corrections in the months that

follow, but having a plan is better than not having one.

understand that a big reason for this year's delay is that our federal partner,

the Trudeau government, has made things particularly difficult for Newfoundland

and Labrador. They promise to provide additional monies to help us cope with our

fiscal predicament, as they are obligated by the constitution, but apparently

they have not told us what monies to expect.

If they

had kept their promise five years ago, we might be $10 billion better off now

than we were then. It is outrageous that they broke their word on this. It is

outrageous that no federal Liberals held them to account for this, MPs or

senators. We all ought to be outraged over this. They have spent five years

promising to be fair and they have spent five years breaking that promise. The

value of their broken promises have compounded year after year.

The

Trudeau Liberals have also been reluctant to help our oil industry, which was

battered not just by the pandemic, but also by other pressures; American

fracking and glutting the market, the collapse of OPEC, and so forth. There are

ultra-green and anti-petroleum idealists around the Trudeau table that have

conspired to undermine our province's relatively green offshore oil and gas

industry.

Thousands of jobs, at enormous sums of revenue, have been impacted by the

pressures crushing our offshore industry, but Ottawa can't seem to get around to

stepping up. If it were the Quebec aircraft industry, the Ontario auto industry

or Western pipeline, would they be as reluctant to step up? Where are the

national voices fighting for Newfoundland and Labrador when we need them? If

there are none, then we, as a province, must step up to fill the void by making

a noise of our own.

course there are the pressures we are experiencing because of the huge cost

overruns on the hydro project that Ottawa enabled us to pursue to bring green

energy to Eastern Canada, and as a partner and facilitator in that project,

Ottawa has a moral obligation to step up. We are still waiting to see what

Ottawa will do in terms of fiscal stabilization, oil industry support and rate

mitigation.

These

are giant holes in the 2020 fiscal and economic plan. Nevertheless, despite

Ottawa's failure to behave responsibly, we need to produce the plan sooner

rather than later. Frankly, we should not have to cut services or raise taxes

because of Ottawa's constitutional obligation to ensure every province is able

to provide comparable levels of public services at comparable levels of

taxation, even when revenues suddenly fall as our oil revenues have fallen.

comprehensive fiscal and economic plan could state this clearly and lay at

Ottawa's feet the responsibility they bear. With one voice across party lines,

we could make a strong and unignorable case, and a budget would be a great place

to articulate that.

It might

be a particularly harsh message for the political cousins of the Members

opposite, and for at least one of the leadership contestants who evidently has –

quote – close federal ties, but it's time to be honest and forthright about our

circumstances and what it's going to take to deal with them.

We need

to put our province's people ahead of partisan loyalty and fight proudly for

what's right. This approach has proven to be effective in the past and it can

prove to be effective again, now that we most need Ottawa to pay attention.

One

thing that concerns us is that the new premier elected at the start of August

might want to seek a fresh mandate before telling people exactly what sort of

fiscal and economic plan he proposes to impose on them. We believe people have a

right to know the plan that government intends to deliver.

If the

plan is missing key elements that the federal government ought to be providing,

we want to know how loudly and strongly a leader will fight Ottawa for fairness.

Will that leader let Ottawa off the hook because of partisan considerations or

will that leader put the people of this province first, ahead of party and fight

tooth and nail for fairness?

These

are the things, Mr. Speaker, that a budget can spell out without mincing words.

Denying them a budget means treating voters with contempt. People want to know

if the government is leaning towards austerity or leaning towards stimulus. They

want to know the new path to fiscal balance and the whittling away of debt.

People want to see the numbers. Those numbers are not going to be as pretty as

they would have been but for COVID, but people still want to see them and

understand where we are.

Thank

you, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER (Bennett):

The hon. the Minister of

Finance and President of Treasury Board.

MR. OSBORNE:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

usually start off by saying it's a pleasure to speak in the House – and it is,

there's absolutely no question about it, but when we're talking about the

finances of the province in such an uncertain time, I think it's fair to say

every Member of the Legislature has a concern. The people of the province, the

business community have concern. This is certainly an unprecedented time and a

time of great uncertainty.

Mr.

Speaker, in the 48th General Assembly, this government, in 2017, brought forward

Bill 65,

An Act to Amend the Financial Administration Act. The amendment was

something that our government did specifically to prevent us and any future

governments from trying to call an election without giving a fiscal update. The

reason that was done, Mr. Speaker, when we saw the election of 2015 without

anybody in the election or the general public having a full understanding of the

situation the province was in.

Bill 65

read: “This bill would require that, in addition to tabling of Public Accounts

on the required date, where a general election is to be held in accordance with

the provisions of

section 3 of the House

of Assembly Act other than subsections 3(2) to (5), an unaudited financial

report on the financial state of the province be submitted in the same manner as

the Public Accounts no less than 15 days before the date fixed for the general

election unless, within 3 months of the date fixed for the general election,

other indicators of the financial state of the province have been made publicly

available.”

So, Mr.

Speaker, we as a result of that – that is legislation, it's a bill, it would

actually be illegal to call an election without providing a fiscal update to the

province, either three months prior to an election, and if that had not

occurred, at least 15 days prior to an election.

We made

that change specifically to make government more transparent and to avoid a

situation where an election was called without an update, as we did see in 2015.

I'd also

like to remind everybody in the Chamber of our financial record in this province

compared to what had come before us. The deficit in 2015-2016 was $2.2 billion,

and we all acknowledge it would've been significantly higher than that without

immediate actions by our government when we took over.

2016-2017 we reduced the deficit to $1.1 billion. That was not easy, to

literally cut the deficit in half in one year. Mr. Speaker, it wasn't popular.

We faced challenges from the general public and the province because we did

that. But government was essentially given direction by lenders, lender

syndicate, even by bond rating agencies at the time because the deficit was

unsustainable and without immediate and decisive action, as unpopular as it was,

the province was absolutely on a crash course.

Mr.

Speaker, in 2017-18 we further reduced the budget to $910.8 million and in

2018-19 we reduced the deficit further to $552.1 million. Every one of these,

Mr. Speaker, is a fact that these are looked at and accounted by the Public

Accounts numbers. These are the audited financial statements. They are the true

numbers and show the progress that this government has made.

A few

weeks ago, Mr. Speaker, I did what the former administration was afraid to do; I

delivered a very difficult fiscal update. The 2019-20 fiscal year, based on what

we know, looks like a deficit of $1.1 billion without the Atlantic Accord. We

all know that with the Atlantic Accord, we had showed a surplus. The accounting

of the Atlantic Accord was done based on accrual accounting and accounting

standards signed off on by the Auditor General. When we received the money for

the Atlantic Accord, I will point out that I wanted to have that spread over

each and every year as opposed to accounting for it in one year, as we were

supposed to do and we did.

Mr.

Speaker, it is the definition of a setback what we faced this year because it

puts us back, essentially, to where we were in 2016-17, not as dire as 2015-16,

but obviously not where we wanted to be. This number could change again when

Public Accounts are complete, but, Mr. Speaker, I've been honest and forthright

about the fact that there is a lot of uncertainty right now so I think it's

realistic to admit that to the people of the province.

In that

update, I was also very forthright on the fact that we're looking at a very

difficult year in 2020-21. I said that we expect most revenues to be down and we

expect increases in several expenses across the board. The reason, Mr. Speaker,

that I'm not simply tossing around numbers is because I take this job very

seriously and I want to be as accurate as possible when speaking about the

provincial finances. I won't apologize for that because before the current

challenges, we have made significant process against our plan. Our fiscal plan

for the last five years has looked inward at how best to manage the government's

programs and services. We have balanced that with a focus on investing in

people, businesses and sectors with potential for economic growth.

Our

plans have been supported through collaboration with stakeholders representing

several industry sectors. There were several pillars of how we've worked smarter

as a government: shared services, operating reductions, digital government,

attrition, post-employment benefits, zero-based budgeting, working with

agencies, boards and commissions and that work is far from over.

Mr.

Speaker, I can keep talking about the work our government has done and which I'm

proud of, but I'd like to bring to the attention of Members, and anybody who may

be watching the broadcast, some quotes from others about how hard we've worked,

specifically, our bond-rating agencies.

We've

been told by our bond-rating agencies that our financial management is a credit

positive. We've been told that Muskrat Falls is a downward pressure on our

credit rating and the single-largest contingent liability on the province. We've

been told that the management of the Treasury is seen as a positive towards our

credit ratings.

Mr.

Speaker, Standard & Poor's in their most recent report said the following: We

view the province's financial management favourably. The ruling Liberal Party

was re-elected in 2019, albeit as a minority in the Legislature. We do not

believe this will be a significant constraint on the government's ability to

enact fiscal policies. That's the one where during COVID or shortly after COVID.

To date,

since the last oil price shock in 2014, the government has already acted

decisively in implementing a two-pronged fiscal policy response through tax

increases and expenditure reductions. Leading up to the current fiscal year,

government was on track to meet its target of a balanced – a budget by fiscal

DBRS, in

their most recent rating – and, again, during COVID pandemic – stated: The

government set out an ambitious plan in 2016 amid a challenging economic

environment. The province's progress in reducing deficits has slowed somewhat

relative to DBRS's expectations. While the plan is unlikely to evolve precisely

as planned because of underlying volatility in the economy, the government

remains strongly committed to restoring the province's finances.

Moody's,

Mr. Speaker, has said Newfoundland and Labrador has demonstrated its ability to

set aggressive budget targets and achieve them, which will help guide the

province through the current pressure as well. The province successfully lowered

the consolidated deficit from 36.9 per cent of revenues in 2015-16 to 71 per

cent in 2018-19, through the use of revenue and spending measures.

This

improvement highlights both the willingness and ability of the province to

adjust its revenues and expenditures to meet budget targets. They go on to say,

the province's debt management is considered to be strong, keeping debt services

costs low and affordable. That's based on the debt that the province had

acquired, Mr. Speaker, up to the time we formed government and the deficits we

were faced with.

Now, Mr.

Speaker, I know that we've received outlook changes due to oil price volatility

and COVID-19, and I'm not so naïve as to pretend that everything that the rating

agencies say about our situation is positive because even prior to COVID, while

we had made significant progress, Mr. Speaker, and that progress had been

identified in our bond rating agency reports year over year for the past three

years, they've identified the progress we've made, this province still faced the

challenges. Because of COVID, because of the spiraling oil prices, Mr. Speaker,

those challenges have become significant.

Mr.

Speaker, I don't anticipate that our critics would point out our positives. I

understand the role of critics in the Legislature, but it is their job, Mr.

Speaker, just as it is the job of bond rating agencies, to rate based on the

external factors we face and have very little control over.

Mr.

Speaker, the fact that our bond rating agencies see us as working hard, as

having good treasury management, of having a commitment to fixing this problem

is only one reason that we haven't seen major downgrades in recent years. They

recognize the work this government has done.

Mr.

Speaker, in closing, I have no problem reiterating my position that government

will bring forward a budget before an election, when we are in a position to do

so. We have a fiscal update from the federal government in July. It looks very

likely we'll probably have a budget, federally, by September – or hopefully in

September, I'm certainly hoping.

September would be a reasonable date for this province to bring forward a

budget, Mr. Speaker. We are more likely to see the federal budget by then, as

I've said, we're more likely to see more predictability in the economy, in the

outlook for the province, in employment levels for the province. Mr. Speaker,

officials in the department say they are more likely to have the ability to

provide accurate estimates to the people of the province.

Mr.

Speaker, we will not abandon our principles, our strong fiscal management and

our approach to providing the public with as accurate a picture as we can when

we present our fiscal updates.

Thank

you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for Cape

St. Francis.

MR. K. PARSONS:

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

It's

indeed a pleasure to get here again today and to represent the beautiful

District of Cape St. Francis, like I always do say.

This is

an interesting PMR today that we're having here. The discussion is basically

about what we're going to do. We need to find out our financial situation.

I spoke

yesterday on a motion that was here before the House and a lot of the things

that I said yesterday, I'm going to repeat again today.

We're in

difficult times, and to be the Minister of Finance in a situation like we find

ourselves in right now, I know it's not going to be easy, but that's why we're

elected, that's why we're here in this House of Assembly and that's why people

put faith in us to make the decisions on their behalf and make the right

decisions.

What

we're talking about here today, basically, is to make sure that government – we

know there will be a new leader of the Liberal Party in a very short time and

under our legislation an election has to be called within a year. That's what

has to happen and that's part of legislation. We'd like to see, and what the

people in Newfoundland and Labrador, and I'm sure the people in Newfoundland and

Labrador would also like to see, is that we make sure we do our part, and a

collaborative part.

We're

not here just to tear down government and say wrong, wrong, wrong. We're in a

difficult situation. We have constituents in every district in this province

that are very concerned, not only about their health – health is number one, bar

none – but people are worried about the fiscal situation of our province.

It's

important, as elected officials and elected representatives, that we represent

the people in our districts, that we show them, listen, there are going to hard

decisions that are going to have to be made. There are decisions that are going

to have to be made that are going to be very difficult. It's difficult times. We

spoke on a bill yesterday, a motion in this House, about giving judges raises.

In normal times, I think that motion would have went through in flying colours,

but we're not in normal times; we're in very difficult times and we have to

consider everything. Like I spoke yesterday, a budget to me means making sure

that you do the essentials, make sure you take care of the vulnerable people.

Mr.

Speaker, I grew up in a good household. I grew up in times when it was good. I

had brothers, and sisters and everything else. We never did without, but our

parents always did the best for us. I, as a parent, for many years was a single

parent and I had to make big decisions. I had to make decisions of how I had to

spend the few dollars that I was making at the time to make sure that my

children were taken care of. That's something that we all have to do and it's

something that we all have to do in our personal lives, is we get a budget and

we make sure we take care of our loved ones. That's what we do.

In this

House of Assembly, we have the responsibility to take care of the people of the

province and do it to the best of our ability. Sometimes, to the best of our

ability, decisions have to be made and sometimes these decisions – I've been

around this place now since – 2008 was the first budget that I was involved in.

Those times were good times. They were great times. I remember one Finance

minister said the money was flowing. There were a lot of good expenditures.

When I

was here in 2008, our infrastructure demands were so high it was unbelievable. I

had schools in my district, when kids walked down the hallway, the squeaking

noise interrupted the class underneath them. I had a bridge in Outer Cove that

pieces of concrete were falling off it that if it struck a car, it would crush a

car. We had to do the bridge. The infrastructure needs back in the late '80s

were huge. I don't know the number of schools we built in this province, but we

built an awful lot of schools. We built a lot of roads. We did a lot of work.

I'll

give examples in my own district of expenditures which made a big difference.

The Torbay Bypass Road: At the time it cost, I think it was about $8 million,

and now today I think if you built it, it would probably cost $30 million

because things have gone. But that road, every morning when I used to go to work

I'd either make a decision to go early or wait until the school got open in

Torbay at 9 because on Piperstock Hill you couldn't get by. Today on the

investment that government made because of monies, the expenditures that were

there, there's a new Torbay Bypass Road. And it's a great expenditure.

I always

talk about education in my district and since I've been elected we have two new

schools built: Juniper Ridge school and Holy Trinity Elementary. We've done

investments in schools at Cape St. Francis in St. Francis of Assisi. Those are

great investments.

I look

at a budget and those were monies that were allocated in a budget when times are

good. We're going to have to go to the people of Newfoundland and Labrador – and

like I said, it's going to be difficult decisions. We'll get in this House of

Assembly and hope we'll have the opportunity to debate. That's what we're

looking for here today, is that opportunity to debate a budget and see where the

expenditures are.

I'm sure

that everyone in this House of Assembly, from the Premier down, would want to

see us have a surplus of money so that we could take care of our grandchildren

and our children and the most vulnerable people in society. We're going to come

into a year that's going to probably be one of the most difficult, and I'd say,

they most difficult time in our province probably since Confederation. Since

people started sitting in this House of Assembly. There are going to be tough

decisions made. We've got to decide how we're going to spend our money and we've

got to decide what way we're going to spend our money.

Again,

like yesterday, when the motion came down to give an increase to somebody or to

a group of people I believe until we do that we have to see what the financial

situation of our province is in. I really believe we have to make sure that we

know that things that need to be taken care of have to be taken care of.

When I

look around this House of Assembly and I look at our new caucus Members that are

on this side of the House – and there are a couple of new ones on the other side

– and I know that when you first get here, listen, there's a lot you have a lot

of ambition, you have a lot of wants and you have a lot of demands that you

really wanted to see in your districts. But once you get in here and you realize

that, listen, it's all about can we afford to do it and setting priorities. I

see it in our caucus, and I'm sure it's in caucuses, both the NDP caucus and the

Liberal caucus as well.

We've

got to be realistic. And we're going to have to be very realistic when the new

budget comes down. But I think the people of Newfoundland and Labrador deserve

to see what the financial situation of this province is and to see where we are

– they'll judge us. They'll judge us on election day. Whether they judge us on

election day in September or they judge us on election day in May, they'll still

be the judge and they'll be the people that will decide who does the job and who

they wants to move forward to do their job for them.

I have

no problem with elections. I've been very successful, I have to say, and I

really want to thank the people of the District of Cape St. Francis for giving

me that confidence vote that they give me every year. Election time to me, I

love it, because I get the opportunity to knock on people's doors, to talk to

people, especially our seniors. It seems like when you knock on their door, they

wants to haul you in the house and have a yarn with you, but you have to explain

to them that you can't stay. Election time is a very exciting time; it's a great

time. It's a great time for an MHA to really get to the grassroots and

understand what people want and the needs of people and understand their

problems.

I really

have to say that we're very lucky to live in the province that we live in

because our people are so respectful. So respectful when you knock on their

doors, so respectful to the way they talk to you. The main thing is you better

be respectful back to them too. You have to do that.

We have

some huge costs that this province has to look at. We have some huge costs in

our health care system. The Minister of Health, he can tell you. Questions were

asked of him today about surgeries. I have lots of them. I send him a few emails

every now and then on people waiting for cataract surgery, waiting for heart

surgery, waiting for hip replacement, stuff like this. Those are the places our

investments need to go. Those are the places where we need to be spending our

money wisely.

Everyone

in Newfoundland and Labrador, you'll hear it all the time – and it doesn't make

any difference what side you're on or where the budget is coming from – the

people in Newfoundland and Labrador will always say that we have a spending

problem. We're going to have a real big spending problem because our revenues

are going to be way down.

I was

here in 2014-2015 when oil prices went boom, went down, and to see the effect

that had on our province and our bottom line at the time was amazing. It was

unbelievable; I couldn't believe it myself. Recently, we saw the same thing

again. I believe yesterday oil prices were about $40 a barrel. I would say the

Finance Minister and the Premier and everyone in this House of Assembly, we'd

like to see $140 a barrel so we could give the people of our province the needs

and what they want – and needs and wants are two different things; we need to

make sure we give them what they need.

People

will want everything, but we got to make sure that the needs are there when it

come to our health care system, when it comes to our education system. I feel

that a new budget is going to have to be adjusted because we're going to see

more people needing help – individuals, vulnerable people – with income support.

The whole economy, what is happening in Alberta, what's happening in

Saskatchewan, what's happening in BC affects what happens in Newfoundland and

Labrador.

always say the key to Newfoundland and Labrador, the heart and soul of our

economy is small business, and it is. Small businesses are going to need our

help. When we talk about restaurant owners opening a restaurant and you say you

can open your restaurant but you're only going to be at 50 per cent capacity.

Well most of the restaurants I know, and fast food places and everywhere you go,

suppertime, lunchtime they have to be booming in order to make a dollar. What's

going to happen to those small businesses?

Tourism

in our province is huge. The tourism industry, especially in rural Newfoundland

– and in my area, too, tourism is huge: bed and breakfasts, tour boats, you name

it, down the Southern Shore. I mean it's a huge industry. Anyone that comes

around – in the summertime we all take pride in our tourism industries, what we

have to offer. We're going to need money for people in our tourism industry.

Stay

vacation? I'm going to stay; I'm going to go to Millertown. I'm going to go up

and hopefully get my moose like anyone else. I'm going moose hunting. I'm going

to stay.

We need

to spend money in Newfoundland and Labrador. We need to encourage people in

Newfoundland and Labrador to buy local. We need people in Newfoundland and

Labrador to ensure that we support each other because that's who we are as

Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. In times of crisis, we come through. I know in

the small community I come from, any time there's a crisis you can count on

everyone in that community to come through.

We're in

a crisis, there's no doubt about it. This pandemic, the oil prices, everything

else is after hitting us in the bank, but I believe as a person in this

Legislature, we can get through those. We're going to get through it because

we're going to work together, we're going to go forward and make sure that

people in our society are taken care of. That's what we're all about. It's about

planning.

Sometimes we'll argue in this House and we'll ask government all the time about

your plan. Where's the plan? Now is the time that we need to know where the plan

is. Where is this budget? Where are we going? There has to be a plan for our

health care system, there has to be a plan for our education system and people

in this province need to know it.

We came

out with a program last week about essential workers and trying to help

essential workers. We're going to have to help a lot more workers.

I look

at the fishing industry, and we're very lucky this year so far. The crab

industry has been very, very good. It's too bad it wasn't the price that it was

last year because it would be really, really good, but we have people in the

fishing industry we have to be concerned about.

While

the federal government came down with a program for harvesters, we have a lot

more people in the fishing industry. We have plant workers, we have monitors. We

have observers and everybody on the wharf. We have a lot of people working on

the wharf that I'm concerned about whether they're going to be able to qualify

for unemployment insurance, because we started so late that people couldn't get

in. When you talk about a plant worker or a monitor or an observer, they work a

little different. They have to get a number of weeks and hours in order to

qualify for unemployment insurance.

There

are so many different groups in this province we have to be concerned about.

I've gone beyond, because I could speak for an hour on this, I know I could, but

all I have to say is, listen, we need to show the people of Newfoundland and

Labrador that we're going to bring in a budget, we're going to answer their

needs and we're going to do our best to give them the future they deserve.

Thank

you very much.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Transportation and Works.

MR. CROCKER:

Thank you very much, Mr.

Speaker.

It's

always a pleasure to speak in this House and it's also a pleasure to speak after

my colleague from Cape St. Francis because he hit a lot of the important topics

today in his remarks. I'll certainly move into my remarks just in a moment, but,

first of all, it's always a privilege to represent the people of Carbonear -

Trinity - Bay de Verde.

I want

to take this opportunity, if you will beg me some leeway, to thank all the

essential workers in the district and everybody who helped out: our first

responders, our local town council and everybody who did so much during the

period we just came through and the period that we're still in. It's really

encouraging to see the way that Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, not only in

the district I represent, but all around the province have taken on this

challenge that we face.

Mr.

Speaker, I guess I'll start by saying I'm happy today to be voting in favour of

this motion. I won't dwell in the past very much, Mr. Speaker, but I will just

for context.

September 28, 2015, I was a Member of this House, and I was a Member actually

sitting on that side of the House, and the Premier of today actually wrote a

letter to the premier of the day, the premier in 2015, asking for a fiscal

update going into an election, which we knew was going to happen that November.

And disappointingly so, that response was never given and we went into that

election without a fiscal update, and we know where that led to.

We've

taken a lot of criticism over the last five years, or going on five years now,

for the Budget of 2016. I can tell you as any Member who sat here in this House

in 2016, that type of a budget is something that nobody would ever want to do,

and I wouldn't wish that on anybody in this House.

That's

one of the reasons I'm happy to support this motion today, because never again

should we be left in a situation the way that we were left in 2015. Subsequent

to that, we actually brought in some changes that mandated that there be a

fiscal update, before any election – I think it's six months before any vote in

this province – that there would have to be a fiscal update.

That's

so important, not only for the government but for the people who want to be in

government, because then you have to be responsible in the promises you make. If

you have the books, if you have a budget in place, Mr. Speaker, that actually

affords you the opportunity – anybody, any leader, any party – affords them the

opportunity to make reasonable presumptions going in as to how they would spend

that money.

Mr.

Speaker, if you think about the election we came through in May of last year,

there was a budget in place. Everybody had the opportunity to look at the books

and build their platforms accordingly.

I think

it's important that as we go into any election that not only do the people with

their names on ballots have the opportunity to know the fiscal situation of the

province, but so do the people who are voting. They have the opportunity to

actually test the platforms of parties and say, well, it's very easy to promise

things but what's your fiscal capacity to deliver? If that fiscal capacity is

there, that it's not able to deliver, it makes for a more informed voter, and I

would agree it puts all parties on a much more level platform going into an

election.

Again,

that's why I'll be supporting this today, and as a caucus we will be supporting

this motion today – as we did back on March 11. There was a very similar PMR on

March 11 of this spring, brought in by the Official Opposition, asking the

government to deliver a 2020 budget at the usual time in the spring prior to a

general election. So, unfortunately, that was days before we really entered in

to the COVID crisis that we found ourselves in but, again, on that private

Member's resolution on March 11 of 2020 our caucus supported it as well.

So we've

been very consistent in our belief that delivering a budget or at least a fiscal

update as we had asked for in 2015 be delivered. So that's important.

The

Member for Cape St. Francis brought up a lot of very true remarks or remarks

that really hit the situation that we're in today. It's important, because this

is a time in our province that I don't think we've ever faced, and I really

hope, to the good Lord, we never face again the challenges that we are about to

face.

This

really is not about political stripe, not about the colour of your party. This

is going to have to be one voice and all hands on deck as we move forward with

the next budget. It's going to be extremely challenging. The choices are going

to be difficult, but they're going to have to be made when you think about the

future for Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. I'm a parent of two young adults,

both at Memorial.

AN HON. MEMBER:

Very smart.

MR. CROCKER:

Thank you, Sir. They turn

after their mom.

Mr.

Speaker, just to get back to my remarks. I think about their future and I think

about other parents that I interact with on a daily basis with kids all ages

along the spectrum of age, and why we actually all get into politics. I don't

think for one minute there's anybody in this hon. House or any hon. House that

doesn't come here for the right reasons.

We're

going to face some challenges. We would never have predicted that we would have

the perfect storm that we're facing today along – we have the challenges of

COVID, and the health crisis has been immensely challenging. I know the Premier

and Minister Haggie and Dr. Fitzgerald have done an amazing job in guiding

Newfoundlanders and Labradorians through this crisis. All three of those

individuals are certainly to be commended for that effort.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. CROCKER:

What we've seen in the health

crisis with regard to Newfoundlanders and Labradorians pitching in to get us

through – through determination and just the nature of Newfoundlanders and

Labradorians – we're going to need the same resolve when it comes to the

economy. The same way as we've come through the health crisis – and by no means

am I saying the health crisis is over. There are many challenging months ahead.

That is

another one of the reasons that I don't feel for one moment we're in a position

as a province right now to have a traditional election. It will also bring

questions, I think, to the House committee on democratic reform, as to what

advancements can we make in getting voting in a lot of ways away from the

traditional methods. I think this is another reason, not only for voter

engagement but for voter apathy, is to explore new ways, to use new technologies

as we go into voting. Certainly, that's not something that could ever be in

place for an election in anywhere near the immediate future, for something that

we haven't tried as a province for a provincial election.

The

economic crisis that we are going to face will also be as challenging, and in

some ways maybe more challenging. Because the health crisis, we had good

strength, I think, going into it with good leadership.

When you

think about the price of oil and what happened to that. Two things; one was

COVID, but the other was the breaking away in the OPEC nations and the price war

with Russia and Saudi Arabia. It was a perfect storm for this province, one that

I'm more than confident we can weather but it's going to be one of those that

we're going to have to be all in this together.

The

Minister of Finance spoke earlier and he talked about a process that we will, I

guess, lay out in the coming months for a budget, and I really look forward to

going through that process. I guess I'd be remiss to say I look forward to it

because it's not going to be an enjoyable process but it's going to be a

necessary process.

We're

given an opportunity now where, I guess, we've stripped it back to the

foundation. That's where we are as a province, we're back to the foundation, and

it's incumbent on us all now to pitch in and find ways to rebuild our economy.

We're resilient people, we've seen that in the health care crisis and we will

see that in the economic crisis that we face as we move forward.

There

has made very nimble moves to get money, to get immediate economic relief to the

people of Canada. I applaud them for that because a lot of the programs that

they've instituted over the last three months, certainly under normal

circumstances are programs that would take years to develop. Are they perfect?

No. No, they're not perfect.

I share

the concerns of some of my colleagues I heard here earlier today around the

essential worker program and the efforts of our Finance Minister and our Premier

on moving the federal government from what was announced as a program that would

be a cap at $2,500 a month, to moving that program and pressuring our federal

colleagues to actually move the bar on that program from $2,500 to $3,000. That

made it open to a lot more people.

Now, Mr.

Speaker, there's no way to express the gratitude that we, as Newfoundlanders and

Labradorians, owe our essential workers and owe our front-line health care

workers: our nurses, our doctors, our custodians in those facilities. The work

they did to actually protect our most vulnerable is nothing less than heroic.

If you

look at Canada as a whole, the last time I heard a number, some 82 per cent of

the people in Canada who lost their lives to COVID were in long-term care

facilities. The work the workers in our long-term care, in our health system and

our service industries did to protect our most vulnerable, again, it's nothing

less than heroic.

Again,

Mr. Speaker, my time is winding down. I'm very pleased to follow the Member for

Cape St. Francis and his remarks about all hands on deck and that we all know

the challenges we're going to face, because that's where we are as a province.

We're going to have to come in here into this Chamber and have our debates and

have our disagreements, but the fundamentals of this will be, at the end of the

day, it will be incumbent on all 40 of us elected in this House to come together

for the betterment of our province and make those tough decisions together.

Because there's not going to be, in my opinion, appetite for the idea of this

debate of: it's your problem, it's my problem. It's just the to and fro on this.

We will have that to and fro, but this is going to have to be everybody in

looking for those solutions.

Again,

I'm very pleased to support this motion today, that the books of this province

be certainly put before the people sometime, I guess, late summer, early fall,

and be back in here this fall to have an opportunity to vote on a budget that

will be an all hands on deck and do what we can to make sure that we build up

the foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador once again.

Thank

you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Leader of the

Official Opposition.

MR. CROSBIE:

Mr. Speaker, I thank you and

I thank the hon. Members who preceded me in delivering their remarks in a

thoughtful to this resolution, an important resolution. I feel honoured to be

the seconder of the resolution, as well.

The

resolution is “

BE IT RESOLVED that

this Honourable House urge the Government to table and bring to debate and

concluding votes the 2020/21 budget prior to any general election.”

Mr.

Speaker, I had occasion this morning to deliver a letter to two gentlemen who

are in the process of seeking the leadership of the Liberal Party of

Newfoundland and Labrador and thereby the premiership, of course, because

whoever becomes the leader of the party ipso facto becomes the premier. I will

take a moment to read the text of the letter into the record of the House:

“Gentlemen,

“Congratulations on making the enormous commitment to public service required to

seek the leadership of the Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador. The

winner will be responsible to lead us as Premier through the most difficult

challenges we have ever faced as a province of Canada.

“Many in

the public believe that the new Premier plans to call a general election soon

after the winner of your leadership contest is announced on August 3.

“Our

province is facing a financial catastrophe. We also face grave issues in health

care and education which demand the full attention of the new Premier for the

balance of this year. The threat of a second wave of infection also looms this

fall.

“The

public deserves their Premier – their employee – to show up for work on day one

and stay at work for the balance of the year instead of hitting the campaign

trail. An election before a budget would confirm the worst – the Liberal

government is hiding the true state of the financial crisis from the public.

“Any

Premier whose first act is to call a snap election in the midst of financial

crisis is only in it for himself.

“Any

Premier who calls an election this year without grappling with all the issues

which demand a fully functioning government would be viewed the same way.

“Accordingly, I ask that you each publically commit to table by September and

bring to debate and concluding votes the 2020/21 budget, and that you each

publically commit to put your full time attention without interruption by

general election, on managing the crisis caused by COVID-19 for at least the

balance of 2020.

“Yours

respectfully ….”

What I

was just read, Mr. Speaker, is the text of a letter that was delivered to the

two candidates this morning.

The

scope of the letter was slightly larger than the arguably more narrative scope

of the resolution, which focuses on debate and tabling and voting on the budget

prior to any general election. That's very important, Mr. Speaker. In the larger

picture, though, a budget is a planning document. It's an economic document.

It's not merely a disclosure document that shows you what the revenues have been

for a given period, what the expenditures have been in a given period and what

the deficit between the two, if any, is.

It is

also an economic document that reviews the economy sector by sector and it's a

planning document that sets out the government's agenda for how the government

plans to stimulate growth in the various economic sectors the budget document

reviews.

I think

we can all agree that any competent review of the economic sectors of this

province, undertaken today or for that matter two or three months from now, is

going to show in many sectors a very grim picture.

It's not

just a document which tells us revenues and expenditures, which gives us a

glimpse into the state of finances of the province, it's a planning document as

well and it tells us how the government of the day plans to spend the money that

it has. Choices about how you spend the money you have say a lot about a

government. They say a lot about a government because they are value choices.

They're choices as to what the government's priorities are.

The

importance of a budget is more than just an accounting for what money is spent

and what money has come in to spend. It's a statement that gives the public an

insight into the government's values and plans and their plan for, in this

particular situation, finding a path out of the dire fiscal and economic

circumstances in which we find ourselves, partly as a result of a number of

decisions that have accumulated over the years that have added up to a debt and

a deficit which would have been daunting regardless but also now, coming on top

of that, the back-breaking pressures exerted by the lockdown, which was required

in one degree or another to respond adequately from a public health standpoint

to the exigencies of the COVID-19 pandemic – pandemic because it's

multi-continental.

that's the significance of a budget. It goes beyond just a glimpse into the

state of finances, which I believe the hon. Premier has said he's intending to

give us before the end of the summer or before he steps down, I should say,

which would be in early August. It goes beyond that glimpse into the fiscal

state of the province because, as I say, it's a document which tells us what the

government's priorities area, therefore what the government's values are and

it's a planning document which gives us a glimpse into how the government plans

to get us out of the fiscal and economic mess into which we have devolved.

From the

point of view – and this may appeal to you, Mr. Speaker – of parliamentary

process, it's interesting to consider what a budget is. For this, I'm going to

information notes which have been supplied by House staff of this House,

actually. The Speaker will be aware that those of us on the Standing Orders

Committee went through a process of meeting numerous times in an effort to feel

our way along, and come up with and sanction eventually a process by which, in

case of necessity, our presence in this House could be facilitated in a virtual

way without physically having to be there. In the process, some information

notes were generated by the staff of this House, and there's an interesting

distinction.

I'm

looking at one Information Note. The Analysis says: “Legislatures in the

Westminster tradition have responded to physical distancing required by the

pandemic in a number of ways, with many making a distinction between

scrutiny proceedings (questioning) and

substantive proceedings (where decisions are required, e.g., a vote

on a Bill or resolution).”

Mr.

Speaker, the note here doesn't say it, but it strikes me that a budget is both

of these kinds of proceedings. It's a scrutiny proceeding because you're taking

a deep-dive look through the Estimates into the government spending and it's

also a substantive proceeding of the House because it requires decisions to be

made, e.g., a vote on a bill – the note says – and of course, budgets must be

voted on as well.

Very

importantly, they're regarded as the classic case of a confidence vote. A

government which loses a vote on a budget is universally, I believe, deemed to

have lost the confidence of the House and consequences follow from that.

That's

the importance of a budget. It has, for many hundreds of years in Parliamentary

tradition, been regarded as absolutely key to a system of government that

recognizes the supremacy of Parliament, in our case, restrained only by the laws

of the Constitution.

As the

scrutiny proceedings or questioning, the suggestion is these would include the

following: Members' statements, Ministerial Statements, Question Period,

Presenting Reports by Standing and Select Committees, Tabling of Documents,

Notices of Motion, Answers to Questions for which Notice has been Given and

Petitions, and all that will sound very familiar to the Speaker, I'm sure.

Substantive proceedings, which involve deciding things, are proceeding which

require a decision or vote of the House. These are thought to be somewhat more

complex when you're dealing with the prospect of a virtual proceeding.

There

was another Information Note, which explained matters the following way. It

listed the background, and one of the bullet points is the need to find a way

for “Members to fulfil their parliamentary duties as legislators and to hold the

government to account ….” I'm reading from a document prepared by House staff,

not by Opposition research staff. That point is absolutely basic and essential

and fundamental to the functioning of a Legislature and the need, the

responsibility to hold the government to account.

The

analysis goes on and says parliaments around the world, including many within

the Westminster system, are exploring ways in which their constitutional duties

can continue to be fulfilled during a time where rigorous social distancing and

working from home, wherever possible, is required. Core constitutional duties of

parliament include: holding the government to account, assenting to finance,

passing legislation and representing constituents. These are described as core

constitutional duties.

These

things are stated as a matter of general understanding and legal scholarship and

are not conveniences that Opposition Parties think up because it happens to suit

their passing interest of the moment. They are core constitutional

responsibilities.

It goes

further, this memo by our staff: Oversight and accountability – integral

function of a Legislature is to hold government to account. It is an

accountability body, not just the legislator acting on behalf of government.

Members must also be seen to represent the interests of their constituents.

That's what our research staff have had to say on the matter in the last month.

One

other point I'd like to make in response to this resolution about tabling and

bringing to debate, including votes on a budget this year and that is I made the

larger point, when I read the letter in, about the public interest lying in

there not being in fact an election this year at all. Budget, yes, but there are

many things for a new premier to deal with and it's going to take months to deal

with them or to start to deal with them; in other words, at least the balance of

the year.

There

will be an election within 12 months of the swearing-in of this new premier in

any event. This is not something that would put off an election until four years

down the road. No, that's not possible because the legislation, the

House of Assembly Act , by

section 3.1

requires that there be after the swearing-in of a new premier an election not

later than 12 months afterward. So we will have a general election soon enough

but in the face of the economic and fiscal fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic,

which has wrought such destruction to our economy and our public finances, an

election within 12 months, but not until a period of time has been put in

grappling with the several problems that this province faces will occur.

Mr.

Speaker, on those grounds, I support the resolution, as those, I think, who

proceeded me do, that the hon. House urge the government to table and bring to

debate and concluding votes the 2020-21 budget prior to any general election.

Thank

you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER (Reid):

The hon. the Member for

Lake Melville.

MR. TRIMPER:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I was

just listening carefully to the words, it's interesting – and I was reflecting

just one week ago when I led the private Member's resolution, and I think I made

some words to the effect that the discussion will be very important to look back

upon, as I talked about net zero last week and as the Opposition Party has

brought forward the idea of making sure we have a budget tabled in time for

catching our fiscal responsivities with our Interim Supply by the end of

September.

The

commitments and words here, there is actually not a lot of disagreement, but I

think it's important to bring forward a few concepts and a few points to the

floor just so we can have a proper consideration.

colleague, who I know in other lives and so on, representing Stephenville - Port

au Port, he talked about the unprecedented nature of the fact that here we are

this late in the year and we don't have a budget. In terms of recent memory, he

is absolutely correct. I would also suggest that in terms of recent memory it's

been a long time since we've had a pandemic grip, not just our economy but the

entire world, as it has. So we are, as we've all said, in unprecedented times

and it's obviously a great challenges and a great struggle.

I have

talked about this little story before so I won't elaborate on it, but I just

want to go back because what we, as a province, what the country, what the world

has just gone through has been a massive collection of sacrifice to deal with a

very serious problem.

When I

go back to where so many of my colleagues, and frankly many of the folks in this

House of Assembly on both sides, were back in the fall of 2015. I think a very

good point was made by the Minister of Finance and President of Treasury Board

when he talked about the new legislation that was brought in about ensuring that

there is a fiscal update in sufficient time prior to there being an election.

As we

walked into that situation – and the Member for Cape St. Francis, he talked

about it. He talked about the difficulties they faced in 2014 and 2015 when oil

started going down and the challenges that the then Leader of the Opposition,

now Premier, had with trying to understand exactly: Where are we, where were we

as a province and what were we facing?

So there

we are, 14th of December, I've recently been elected. It's pretty interesting; I

just left a career in science, now I'm a politician. Boom, now I'm a Cabinet

minister. I walk into the Cabinet room, spending about an hour getting to know

my colleagues, and then I remember the Premier distinctly saying: I've got some

folks from the Department of Finance going to come in and give us a little chat.

And I remember the honeymoon being over. I just recall all that happened. We've

all been through roller-coasters; that was definitely a roller-coaster moment.

What

happened over the next several months and what happened in this House, this

room, so many vivid memories and images. I can remember the Minister of Finance

and President of Treasury Board at the time as she prepared to deliver that

infamous 2016 Budget Speech. Many of us were down, actually, in the media room,

because she talked a little bit about what was going to go on and we had met as

a caucus and we had been briefed on the contents. Certainly, sitting in Cabinet,

I was well aware of the days and days of decisions that were made and the

horrific news that we were about to deliver everyone.

remember her saying I need to go catch my breath. I watched her walk out into

the parking lot there, a place I call Trimper's trail, and she just was trying

to gather her emotions before she came in here. It was probably the quietest

Budget Speech ever delivered in this Legislature. I think it's important to

reflect back on that time and remember all that happened.

I went

through some interesting situations myself, and I reflected back and in

preparation for this – and some of my colleagues have talked about it. We all

knew this was going to be tough and we all knew we had to make the tough

decisions. Again, as with the virus, we said we've got to take it now. We have

to make these tough calls, and we did. We set ourselves on a seven-year course;

a chart, if you like. The Opposition often asks us for a plan, well, that was a

heck of a plan.

We said

that in seven years we would get to a fiscal surplus. I've got the numbers in

front of me and my colleagues have read them. In the interest of time, I won't

go back through them, but, frankly, and I would suggest, we were making very

good progress on that plan. The Atlantic Accord is a little aberration,

fluctuating oil prices, always an aberration, but if you look at the targets and

then you look at what we achieved, we were doing very, very well thank you. I

was looking forward to getting there.

A little

side point, you