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December 7, 2017

HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS

Vol. XLVIII No. 43

The

House met at 1:30 p.m.

MR. SPEAKER (Trimper):

Order, please!

Admit

strangers.

Before

we begin routine proceedings, I would like to observe an old parliamentary

tradition. I have the pleasant task today of formally welcoming a new Member who

was duly elected in the by-election of November 21, 2017.

The new

Member is Mr. Jim Lester, representing the District of Mount Pearl North. I have

been advised by the Clerk of the House that the Member has taken the Oath of

Office and the Oath of Allegiance to the Crown, as required by the Constitution,

and has signed the Members' Roll.

(The new

Member for Mount Pearl North, along with the Leader of the Official Opposition,

enter the Chamber through the main doors, approach the Chair and bow to the

Speaker.)

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Leader of the

Official Opposition.

MR. P. DAVIS:

Mr. Speaker, I present to you

Mr. Jim Lester, the Member for Mount Pearl North, who claims the right to take

his seat.

MR. SPEAKER:

Let the Member take his seat.

Welcome,

Sir.

MR. LESTER:

Thank you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

(The new

Member and the leader then approach the Chair and exchange greetings with the

Speaker. The new Member is escorted to his seat by the leader.)

MR. SPEAKER:

In the Speaker's gallery

today, I'd like to welcome family members of the Member for Mount Pearl North:

Mr. Lester's wife, Michelle Lester; his daughter, Samantha Lester; sons, John

and Caleb Lester; grandmother, Juanita Lester; aunt, Karen Lester; father and

mother-in-law, Dave and Beverley Woolridge; uncle and aunt, Terry and Carolyn

Penny.

Welcome

to you all.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

I was just remarking on how

nice it is to win a by-election because the spotlight is truly on yourselves

today.

Also in

the Speaker's gallery, I'm very pleased to acknowledge the King family of

Victoria who will be mentioned in a Ministerial Statement today. They are former

guests of the Ronald McDonald House. Six-year-old Emma will join the Premier

this evening to switch on the Christmas lights on Confederation Hill.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

May I suggest I think we're

upping our game because our public galleries have been quite full lately.

AN HON. MEMBER:

Business is good.

MR. SPEAKER:

It is good.

I'd like

to welcome several other guests who will be referred to in a Ministerial

Statement today. We have with us Linda Ross of the Provincial Advisory Council

on the Status of Women and employee Judit Lovas; John Whelan of Blue Sky Family

Care Home and employee Ciara O'Connor; and Anthony Butt of The Reluctant Chef

restaurant and employee Jeremiah Stafford.

Welcome

to you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

I'd also like to recognize

Margo Cranford. She will be the subject of a Member's statement today. She is

joined by her husband, Gary Cranford.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

We also have with us retired

Professor Leo White of the Newfoundland and Labrador Coalition of Agricultural

Reform who is joining us in the gallery today.

We have

Mayor Stone of Red Bay and, finally, Mr. Henry Windeler of the Goose Bay Airport

Corporation.

Welcome

to all of you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

Statements by

Members

MR. SPEAKER:

For Members' statements

today, we will hear statements from the hon. Members for the Districts of Fogo

Island – Cape Freels, Mount Pearl North, Lewisporte – Twillingate, Labrador West

and Topsail – Paradise.

The hon.

the Member for Fogo Island – Cape Freels.

MR. BRAGG:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Great

things are happening in the grade four class at Centreville Academy. The

students there are learning about social justice issues, they are becoming

activists and educating others on these issues. They got really interested in

homelessness and those in need.

During

my visit, they told me they researched this issue in Newfoundland and Labrador.

It was interesting chatting with them and answering their questions.

During

their research, they came across an advertisement: Kindness Wanted, a campaign

for The Gathering Place, looking for support to help those in need. These 10

students and their teacher, Ms. Butler, were so impressed with the services that

were offered by The Gathering Place that they wanted to help.

They did

freezie sales and gave their spare change. They raised $250 so they could buy a

hot lunch for those less fortunate. They did not stop there. They presented me

with a letter asking me to do my part and bring awareness and support The

Gathering Place.

These

students and their actions can give us hope for a brighter future, a great

lead-up to the Christmas season.

Thank

you, grade four class, and Merry Christmas to all.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for the

District of Mount Pearl North.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. LESTER:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I rise

in this hon. House today to recognize the organizers and participants of the

Mount Pearl Lions Club Christmas parade, which was held this past weekend. The

parade travelled through the heart of Mount Pearl, down Ruth Avenue and Park

Avenue, ending at Mount Pearl Square where participants got to enjoy

refreshments and meet Santa himself.

The

parade was, as usual, organized by the Mount Pearl Lions Club who did a

tremendous job. I congratulate all members of the organizing committee,

volunteers and the City of Mount Pearl on a job well done.

This

year's parade featured many community groups, school organizations, dance

troops, sporting clubs and businesses from the area. Participants and onlookers

delighted in the sights and sounds and festive community spirit, which Mount

Pearl is well known for.

I ask

all Members of this hon. House to join me in congratulating the Mount Pearl

Lions Club and all of its partners in hosting another successful Santa Claus

parade in the City of Mount Pearl.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for the

District of Lewisporte – Twillingate.

MR. D. BENNETT:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I rise

in this hon. House to recognize the Lewisporte Collegiate scholarship committee

for their recent and very successful fundraiser gala/dinner. Businesses and

individuals showed their support for a new initiative that will see scholarships

awarded to qualifying students as they graduate from Lewisporte Collegiate. The

fundraiser was a great success, raising over $80,000.

With a

school population of 270 students from 14 communities, Lewisporte Collegiate

prides itself on high academic achievements, while offering a full curriculum,

along with an award-winning music program and varsity sports.

Mr.

Speaker, Lewisporte Collegiate graduated nearly 50 per cent of students with

honours over the past two years, making it the highest achieving high school in

the province by 13 per cent.

The

guest speaker for the evening was retired General Rick Hillier. The Campbellton

native spoke of the people who have inspired him over the years in his military

career. He noted that the people supporting the scholarship fund can inspire

future graduates and that the financial support offered today will be important

to these youth in pursuing their future goals so they can go out and change the

world.

Thank

you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for the

District of Labrador West.

MR. LETTO:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I rise

in this hon. House today to bring to your attention something new and unique to

Labrador.

Several

years ago, our Labrador MP, Yvonne Jones, had a vision of being able to

recognize Labradorians, past and present, with their own award of distinction.

During the past few weeks, she has been travelling all over Labrador doing just

that. In Labrador West on November 14, a special recognition ceremony was

organized and over 60 people gathered in the historic setting of Menihek Nordic

Ski Club to help congratulate 22 recipients on their Labradorians of Distinction

award.

This

medal was created by MP Jones and it was launched in conjunction with Canada

150. Here, 150 Labradorians have been recognized for their outstanding

contributions.

Recipients are selected by a committee from all backgrounds, cultures and

regions of Labrador, a great unifying celebration of our history and a way to

learn about the exceptional individuals that have shaped our region. Every year

going forward, members of the award program will be inducted during a special

ceremony and will receive a special medal.

I ask

all hon. Members to join me in congratulating all recipients of this award and

MP Jones for bringing her vision to light.

Thank

you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for the

District of Topsail – Paradise.

MR. P. DAVIS:

Thank you very much, Mr.

Speaker.

Mr.

Speaker, every corner of our province benefits from having local citizens who

stand out, are well recognized and sometimes, and most unfortunately, the depth

and reach of a citizen isn't fully realized until after they're gone. Such a

realization has become evident after the recent passing of Mr. Val Slaney.

During

his entire life, Val was a giver, to his community, to people and to his family.

He was a long-time counsellor in the Town of Upper Island Cove and a volunteer

who was well respect by everyone who knew him.

After

his passing, a flood of people showed up to offer support and condolences to the

family. Many offered their previously unknown stories of how Val quietly helped

youth, seniors and those who were facing some pretty tough times in their lives.

There were many stories shared.

It was

an honour to know Val Slaney. I can tell you, Mr. Speaker, that I personally am

a better person because I knew him. Many people are.

I ask

this hon. House to join me in honouring a man who today is dearly missed.

Thank

you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

I understand that the

Minister of Finance and President of Treasury Board has leave to give a Member's

statement?

The hon.

the Member for the District of Waterford Valley.

MR. OSBORNE:

Thank you, and I thank the

Members of the House for offering leave.

Mr.

Speaker, healthy living choices equate to both physical and mental wellness. In

this day and age we all know the importance of a healthy lifestyle and the

benefits that it can bring. Many of us strive to make healthier choices; some

are more successful than others in following through on their commitments. No

matter how big or small, making change can be challenging.

I would

like to recognize Margo Cranford, who is in our public gallery today, who took

health in hand with the help of an organization called TOPS, she made a

commitment to change. TOPS stands for Take Off Pounds Sensibly and it is the

first international non-profit organization of its kind, promoting healthy

weight loss.

Margo is

a member of TOPS NL 0590, Mount Pearl and, in 2016, she achieved the highest

weight loss in this province. In recognition of her remarkable achievement, she

was crowned TOPS Queen 2016 for Newfoundland and Labrador. As part of this

award, she was given the honour to represent this province in Little Rock,

Arkansas, in July of 2017.

Margo

has recently become a member of the Century Club, having lost even more weight,

and she's attained a total weight loss of more than 100 pounds.

congratulate Margo on her achievements and note what a tremendous inspiration

she is to others who choose to make health and healthy living a priority.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

Statements by Ministers.

Statements by

Ministers

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Transportation and Works.

MR. CROCKER:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I am

pleased to rise in this hon. House to invite the public to join us for the 31st

annual Christmas Lights Across Canada ceremony happening this evening on

Confederation Hill.

The

event begins tonight at 6 p.m. in the main lobby of Confederation Building, East

Block. Every year, cities across Canada participate in this event by

simultaneously lighting beautiful displays of Christmas lights for all to enjoy.

Here in

St. John's tonight we will illuminate a total of 60,000 LED lights on

Confederation Hill and along Prince Philip Drive.

We'll

hear festive music from the St. Andrew's Elementary School Choir and the Royal

Newfoundland Regiment Band. There will be hot chocolate, cookies and other

refreshments, and when the moment comes to switch on the lights, the Premier

will be joined by six-year-old Emma King and the King family to push the button

to light the display and officially begin the holiday season in our province.

The King

family reside in Victoria – a community located within my District of Carbonear

– Trinity – Bay de Verde – and are former guests of the Ronald McDonald House

Charities Newfoundland and Labrador.

Emma and

her parents Stephen and Sherry are big supporters of Ronald McDonald House

Charities, and in fact Emma just hosted 65 fellow princesses for a fundraising

tea party, held at Persalvic Elementary School. We are certainly pleased

to have them join us here today and for our special event tonight.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage all to join us this evening. The

holiday season is a wonderful time of year for spending time with family and

friends. Our Christmas Lights Across Canada ceremony is a perfect way to

celebrate the season.

On behalf of the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador,

best wishes and a safe and happy holiday season and a happy new year.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The

hon. the Member for Conception Bay South.

MR. PETTEN:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I want to thank the minister for an advance copy of his

statement. We, too, encourage the public to attend tonight's event. I've

attended this ceremony in the past; I know firsthand what a delight it brings to

all those who join in the celebrations. For many people, coming to see the

lighting of the tree at the Confederation Building, and for those along the

Parkway, has become a family tradition.

I would also like to congratulate Emma King on being

selected to light the display this year. I'm sure it will be a very exciting

moment for herself and her family.

It's a great family event and a great kick start to the

holiday season. I certainly do hope that many come out to enjoy St. Andrew's

choir and the Royal Newfoundland Regiment Band, the sparkling lights and all the

related festivities.

Thank you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The

hon. the Member for St. John's East – Quidi Vidi.

MS. MICHAEL:

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

I, too, thank the minister for the advance copy of his

statement. I love the lights at this time of year. I wish we could have them all

year round, and even more so with energy-saving LEDs.

Congratulations to everyone involved in the preparation of

this event and who are taking

part in tonight's celebrations, especially to Emma

King and her family.

I will now take this opportunity to offer best wishes for

this holiday season to my colleagues in this House, the staff and all the

public. I wish everyone relaxation, fun and happy times over the holiday.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

Further statements by ministers?

The hon. the Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and

Labour.

MR. HAWKINS:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

It's certainly an honour for me today to welcome Ciara

O'Connor, Dr. Judit Lovas and Jeremiah Stafford to our province. They are among

the newest immigrants to Newfoundland and Labrador and come to us through the

Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program that was launched in March of this year.

Dr. Lovas came to Newfoundland and Labrador from Hungary

and is being endorsed by the Provincial Advisory Council on the Status of Women,

working as a research and policy analyst.

Ms. O'Connor is from Ireland and is working as program

director with Blue Sky Family Care in Corner Brook.

Mr. Stafford is from Australia and is the executive chef of

the Reluctant Chef restaurant in St. John's.

These three individuals are among over 100 people to date

who are being endorsed by

employers in our province under the Atlantic Immigration program.

The goal

of the pilot is to enhance retention of immigrant workers throughout Atlantic

Canada. By assisting employers in filling labour market needs, the program

supports objectives of The Way Forward on

Immigration in Newfoundland and Labrador . In partnership with government and

community organizations, employers ensure that immigrant workers have access to

settlement services and supports.

continue to promote the program to raise awareness. I encourage employers to

follow the lead of those who have endorsed Dr. Lovas, Ms. O'Connor and Mr.

Stafford, by seeking designation through the program and helping to grow our

province's population and economy.

I ask

all hon. Members to join me in extending a warm welcome to all of our newcomers

and thank them for putting their talent and training to work for Newfoundland

and Labrador.

Thank

you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

Conception Bay South.

MR. PETTEN:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I thank

the minister for an advance copy of his statement. We, too, wish to welcome Dr.

Lovas, Ms. O'Connor and Mr. Stafford to our beautiful province. I also thank the

employers who have taken this initiative to partake in this program: the

Provincial Advisory Council on the Status of Women, Blue Sky Family Care, The

Reluctant Chef and all of the employers throughout our province currently

enrolled in this pilot.

Mr.

Speaker, while I encourage more businesses to consider employing immigrants and

becoming involved in the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program it's the

responsibility of government to create a favourable environment for businesses

to hire and grow. Over the past 24 months, this government has done anything

but.

Government must do a better job to work with the local business community,

create additional opportunities that will lead to further success stories like

the three individuals here today.

Thank

you very much.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for St.

John's East – Quidi Vidi.

MS. MICHAEL:

Thank you very much, Mr.

Speaker.

I, too,

thank the minister for the advance copy of his statement. I'm really happy to

welcome all newcomers to this province and especially Dr. Lovas, Ms. O'Connor

and Mr. Stafford.

This

pilot program assists employers and supports immigration. I'm glad the program

is showing results. In addition to encouraging people to move to Newfoundland

and Labrador, however, government also needs to ensure programs and the supports

exist for the ongoing retention of immigrants in our province.

Thank

you very much, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

Further statements by

ministers?

The hon.

the Minister of Finance and President of Treasury Board.

MR. OSBORNE:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I rise

today in this hon. House to announce the start of pre-budget consultations for

budget 2018.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. OSBORNE:

This is the earliest these

consultations have commenced over the past decade.

This

year's consultation process is a multi-phased approach, with numerous

opportunities to provide feedback from interested stakeholders, members of the

public and employees in the public service. Starting today, we are accepting

feedback by email at Budget2018@gov.nl.ca and by regular mail to the Department

of Finance; the address can be found on the Department of Finance's website.

Mr.

Speaker, our public service has also been invited to complete an online

questionnaire. In January, the public will have an opportunity to fill out a

separate online questionnaire, and we will host in-person public and stakeholder

sessions.

Mr.

Speaker, in the interest of collaboration and openness, I would also like to

take this opportunity to invite Members opposite to participate in this process.

I truly believe that with the fiscal situation our province is facing,

collaboration may lead to answers. These Members can choose a day between

Wednesday and Friday of next week, where we can meet in this hon. House. I will

bring along my staff from the department and we will listen to any suggestions

that Members opposite have.

Members

of the media will also be welcome to observe and all of the discussion will be

on record.

I look

forward to hearing from all interested parties as we move forward with these

important consultations.

Thank

you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Opposition House

Leader.

MR. HUTCHINGS:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I thank

the minister for the advance copy of his statement and certainly encourage all

members of the public, along with community groups, businesses and organizations

to participate in the pre-budget consultations.

It is,

however, unfortunate that the ongoing tax review will not be concluded in time

to incorporate it into this budget. Instead of doing a review of the tax system

in 2016, this Liberal government deceived – or determined to charge the people

of the province more to live here.

Mr.

Speaker, it's evident that this Liberal government after two years is out of

ideas. This Liberal government clearly does not have a way forward as they are

looking to us to tell them what to do.

Mr.

Speaker, we have given this government budgeting suggestions in this very House.

We will continue to offer our suggestions in due course and directions for the

benefit of all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Leader of the

Third Party.

MS. MICHAEL:

Thank you very much, Mr.

Speaker.

I, too,

thank the minister for the advance copy of his statement. I'm glad he's making

an early start on pre-budget consultations – much needed – and giving everyone

interested a variety of ways in which to give feedback on what they would like

to see in the budget.

In terms

of consulting with individual Opposition Members, I remind the minister that we

provide feedback and suggestions publicly on an ongoing basis every day the

House is open and beyond. If the minister is suggesting a special additional

consultation, I invite him to get in touch with the individual Opposition

caucuses and request open public meetings with them.

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. P. DAVIS:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr.

Speaker, on November 7, the Premier told the media that his chief of staff had –

quote – followed every single rule – end of quote – on rules surrounding

lobbying. We now know that the Premier's chief of staff violated lobbying rules

by not meeting deadlines to file documents on time.

I ask

the Premier: Why did you state to the media that your chief of staff had

followed every single rule, when in fact he had violated lobbying rules?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Premier.

PREMIER BALL:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Well, I

think you would have noticed in the media yesterday the chief of staff had

issued a public comment about this in his response. That was based on the

question the Leader of the Opposition is asking, which is a discussion that had

been essentially started by one of the leadership candidates in all of this.

Mr.

Speaker, what we're talking about here is lobbyist registration. The chief of

staff in our office clearly said yesterday – he had given me his assurances that

the rules were followed and that he had completed the necessary records.

What

happened here, Mr. Speaker, near the notice of termination there was a one-month

period. The chief of staff clearly identified yesterday there was an

administrative error in filing for the notice of termination.

I can

tell you speaking with him today he is very sorry, remorseful and apologetic for

that omission.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Leader of the

Official Opposition.

MR. P. DAVIS:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The

rules are in place for a very good reason. A breach of the rules is a breach of

the rules.

I ask

the Premier: When did you become aware that your chief of staff had violated the

rules contrary to the legislation?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Premier.

PREMIER BALL:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I became

aware of this just a few days ago there, when this was made public. As I said, I

spoke to the chief of staff. He's very sorry, has apologized and has said this

publicly about what has happened there.

I will

want to clarify this though. The key part of this registry is – our chief of

staff, in this particular case here, Mr. Mercer, was using the registry. That's

how this information has become available, Mr. Speaker, unlike some of the other

people we know in this province who actually haven't used the registry.

Certainly, many of those people would have been lobbying Members opposite over a

number of years.

I want

to reiterate this and point this out, Mr. Speaker – this is very important – at

no point was there any lobbyist activity without it being registered by the

chief of staff.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Leader of the

Official Opposition.

MR. P. DAVIS:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

It was a

month ago today when the media reported the Premier's statement that his chief

of staff had followed every single rule. The Premier just said it was only a few

days ago when he found out that wasn't correct.

That's a

significant problem for me, Premier, I suggest, when several weeks go by before

the correct information was brought to the attention of the Premier by his very

chief of staff.

Does

that present a problem to you, Premier? It certainly does to me.

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Premier.

PREMIER BALL:

Mr. Speaker, what we're talking about here is at any point – so let's ask this

very basic question. The Member, the person that we're talking about, was this

person doing any lobbyist activity, any activities at all, prior to a

registration? No, clearly he wasn't.

Was

there financial gain, Mr. Speaker? This has happened prior to coming into the

office and the position that he currently holds. So what has happened here, near

the end of it or a completion of the activity there is a 30-day, one-month time

frame that you actually file for the termination.

He's

apologized for this, Mr. Speaker. That's what I'm saying. This was a human

error; it was an administrative error. I'm sure every Member in this House, at

some point, has missed something in terms of a notification.

He's

apologized for this, Mr. Speaker, and made that public yesterday.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Leader of the

Official Opposition.

MR. P. DAVIS:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The

chief of staff had a considerable amount of time to inform the Premier that the

Premier's own public statements were inaccurate. Instead of giving the Premier

the opportunity to, immediately after, correct the statement, his own chief of

staff let the matter go on until someone else raised it again. This is a

problem. It wasn't just about lobbying or not lobbying, because we really don't

know that either.

Mr.

Speaker, in order for any actions regarding this matter to be taken, an official

complaint has to be filed for an investigation to take place. A complaint would

have to be filed with the Commissioner of Lobbyists.

I ask

the Premier: To ensure transparency and accountability, will you ask for an

investigation to start immediately?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Premier.

PREMIER BALL:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

What

we're talking about here is an activity in the past, prior to coming into

government. I want to just reassure the people of this province that these

activities were done and concluded before coming in to our office, Mr. Speaker.

I will

say this, however, to the Member opposite in this question: Yeah, sure, I've

asked questions about this. The person that we're talking about apologized and

was apologetic to the people of this province about this administrative error

that occurred based on this registry.

Mr.

Speaker, if you look at the history of the registry and how he's used this in

the past, he is one of very few people over the history that has actually

clearly been participating in this. What I've done, we've already started

discussions with the committee of conflict of interest.

We want

to review the processes that we've put in place around our chief of staff, Mr.

Speaker. I'm confident that nothing will be found, but I think public confidence

in this is extremely important.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Leader of the

Official Opposition.

MR. P. DAVIS:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The

Premier has stated that he has no issue with the chief of staff being involved

with government decisions involving companies he used to lobby for.

I ask

the Premier: How appropriate is it that your chief of staff has been involved in

meetings, as recently as March of this year, with Tata Steel, a group that he

was working for?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Premier.

PREMIER BALL:

Mr. Speaker, what I said was

all of the companies that the chief of staff had been involved in were clearly –

we had that discussion. If at any point of any one of those companies –we put in

rules. These are the conflict of interests. We will review all of this with the

committee, if they should see fit. We've reached out to open that discussion.

Mr.

Speaker, clearly in this House – and the Member should know this, opposite. He's

been working in the private sector prior to being in government. We have Members

that are sitting clearly right next to him, Mr. Speaker, that time and time they

would have been advocating and working for various companies and then find

themselves in the political arena just a few weeks later and would have received

donations, I would say, Mr. Speaker, from these groups.

Mr.

Speaker, what we're looking at right now is we want to restore public

confidence; we're willing to take this to the Conflict of Interest Committee.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The Leader of the Official

Opposition.

MR. P. DAVIS:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

In this

case, the Premier's Chief of Staff was a lobbyist who failed to abide by the

legislation.

Mr.

Speaker, I ask the Premier: When will his government be announcing his

sole-source deal with Canopy Growth to produce marijuana that excludes

Newfoundland and Labrador suppliers?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation.

MR. MITCHELMORE:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I thank

the Member opposite for his question. As I said previously and publicly, we want

to develop an industry here in Newfoundland and Labrador with the legalization

of cannabis federally that leads to production, leads to job creation, supply

chain development opportunities and research and development. When we're in a

position to make matters public, we will.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The Leader of the Official

Opposition.

MR. P. DAVIS:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Well, a

decision that Cabinet made this week includes an incentive program.

I ask

the minister: What's the value of the incentive program going to be provided to

Canopy Growth?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation.

MR. MITCHELMORE:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for

the Member's question opposite.

When it

comes to any type of business program or investment opportunity the Department

of Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation would be undertaking, we have

officials in our department that would be in dialogue with any company and would

be working out business deals, good business deals for the people of the

province that would lead to job growth and creation.

We've

done a number of business deals here in the province. We did one with Provincial

Aerospace that's leading to job creation here in this province. We did one with

Canada Fluorspar Mine just a short time ago that's leading to significant job

creation here in this province – unlike Members opposite, that have done a

number of significant bad business deals.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The Leader of the Official

Opposition.

MR. P. DAVIS:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr.

Speaker, in October of 2015, on the heels of the federal election, the

Ottawa Sun published a story regarding

the chief financial officer for the Liberal Party of Canada who's a significant

shareholder in Canopy Growth. The story says he's in line for a big payday.

I ask

the minister of business: Why have you refused to issue a public request for

proposals for a supply for marijuana for Newfoundland and Labrador?

MR. SPEAKER:

The Minister of Tourism,

Culture, Industry and Innovation.

MR. MITCHELMORE:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I thank

the Member opposite for his question. As we have said publicly here in this

House, one of the big issues is obtaining supply. Supply is very important given

that we're one of only two provinces that do not have active producers right

here.

There

are a limited number of providers that are in Canada right now that would be

approved and regulated by the federal government in this particular matter.

We're certainly having conversations with some of the providers, including

Canopy. They already have agreements with New Brunswick, with Ontario and with

Alberta.

Thank

you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The Leader of the Official

Opposition.

MR. P. DAVIS:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The

question is: Why is the government not going to issue a public request for

proposals? It's not a difficult question; it's a very simple question. Why are

you refusing to do so?

MR. SPEAKER:

The Minister of Tourism,

Culture, Industry and Innovation.

MR. MITCHELMORE:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

We had

addressed this at a media availability that we had when we had talked about how

the regulation and distribution would happen here in this province. There will

be an RFP that will be issued for the retail model when it comes to retailing of

cannabis.

When it

comes to supply, we have to secure a supply. There are a limited amount of

people that actually have the regulations and have that approval. We're open to

dealing with anybody, anybody across the country that is actually producing and

would have that licensing, whether they're in Newfoundland and Labrador.

As the

Minister of Justice and Public Safety has said previously, we've had discussions

with numerous companies and we invite them into that dialogue. We're open for

business.

MR. SPEAKER:

Order, please!

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The Opposition House Leader.

MR. HUTCHINGS:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr.

Speaker, I ask the Minister of Natural Resources: What is the final cost of the

EY report related to the Muskrat Falls oversight and particularly related to the

interim and final report?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Natural Resources.

MS. COADY:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I'd be

happy to get that information for the Member opposite; I don't have it off the

top of my head. I couldn't be able to tell him what the definitive amount is

today, but I will certainly undertake to get that information for him.

Thank

you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The Opposition House Leader.

MR. HUTCHINGS:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr.

Speaker, I'll ask the minister: Are there ongoing invoices related to the

Muskrat Falls Oversight Committee and EY doing work for that committee today?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Natural Resources.

MS. COADY:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

There is

a budget for the Oversight Committee, Mr. Speaker. The Oversight Committee does

have a budget that is given annually to make sure it has all the expertise that

it requires.

As to

whether or not the Oversight Committee currently has any process with the EY, I

will undertake to find out that information, Mr. Speaker, and provide it to this

House. As the Premier just indicated, the ongoing cost for everyone in this

province will be the power bills related to Muskrat Falls.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The Opposition House Leader.

MR. HUTCHINGS:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I'll

advise the minister in case she doesn't know; the cost she's incurring today

also goes to power supply and to bills as well, I say to her. That's why we're

asking what the cost is, but she can't tell us.

One of

the EY's recommendations was to implement enhanced independent assurance

functions.

I ask

the minister: Has this been done or will it be done?

MR. SPEAKER:

The Minister of Natural

Resources.

MS. COADY:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Certainly, the Oversight Committee which we've expanded, we've added four

independent, well respected and well educated people to that Committee to ensure

we have a broader Oversight Committee, Mr. Speaker, just one of the things we've

done for the Muskrat Falls Project. They do have the opportunity to reach out

and get the expertise they need in an ongoing basis, and I'm sure they are doing

their very best, Mr. Speaker, to ensure the proper oversight of the Muskrat

Falls Project is undertaken.

Thank

you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for Mount

Pearl North.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. LESTER:

Mr. Speaker, the residents of

Mount Pleasant Manor were recently hit with an increase in their rent by their

property owners. This increase now exceeds the rental subsidy provided by

government through NL Housing.

I ask

the minister: Has the government given any thought to lifting the rental subsidy

cap?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Children, Seniors and Social Development.

MS. DEMPSTER:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I thank

the hon. Member for the question. As I said earlier, as a part of

The Way Forward initiative, we are

currently going through a full review of all of the programs and services that

are offered under the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation. We want to

make sure, Mr. Speaker, that we get this right because we've seen many examples

in the past where just simply spending the money is not a measurement of

success.

We're

aware of what the Member is talking about, and those conversations are happening

right now. There will be something coming in the very near future, I say, Mr.

Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for the

District of Fortune Bay – Cape La Hune.

MS. PERRY:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The

activity plan of the Intergovernmental and Indigenous Affairs Secretariat

indicates that by March 31, 2018 the secretariat will have worked to repatriate

the remains of Demasduit and Nonosabasut.

I ask

the Premier: Can you provide an update on these efforts?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Premier.

PREMIER BALL:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

remember back in 2015, in the last spring session, there was unanimous PMR that

was done right here in this House of Assembly on this very issue. Since that

time, I think the Member opposite would understand in her role as critic now we

have put in place a roundtable on indigenous affairs. One of the priorities of

that roundtable discussion was indeed the repatriation.

Mr.

Speaker, this is led by Chief Mi'sel Joe, a highly respected individual within

our province. That work is ongoing, as the Member opposite would know. That

repatriation would have to be done in conjunction with the Canadian Museum

Association.

This

group of people, they would actually be responsible for the repatriation of the

remains, and then indeed the process is ongoing right now. It's a considerable

amount of work that would happen nationally and right here with the province.

All indications are, Mr. Speaker, I would say that we want to get this done

because it's the right thing to do.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for the

District of Fortune Bay – Cape La Hune.

MS. PERRY:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and

thank you, Premier.

In April

of 2016, this House did support a resolution on repatriation with unanimous

agreement with one government MHA stating we will continue that work.

I ask

the Premier: What timelines can we expect for their remains to be returned home?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Premier.

PREMIER BALL:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I will

tell you now that the timelines, being specific, there's a considerable amount

of work that has to be done. Actually, we have Scotland is involved in this

discussion right now. We have of course the national museums. Those associations

are involved. Certainly, we are prepared now as a province, but much of this

discussion will have to occur between – an agreement between Scotland and, of

course, our national government and so on.

Our

indications – all our indigenous groups are clearly involved in this all along

the way. There's clear alignment on this, but to put a time frame on all of this

would be very difficult at this stage since there are so many people that are

involved in this, but we want to get this done. We believe it's important for

the history of Newfoundland and Labrador that we repatriate the remains.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for the

District of Cape St. Francis.

MR. K. PARSONS:

Thank you very much, Mr.

Speaker.

I ask

the minister: Is the Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Review Division

meeting its requirement to deliver its decision within 60 days?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Service NL.

MS. GAMBIN-WALSH:

Mr. Speaker, the workers'

compensation system works on behalf of the injured clients and the employers. We

are working diligently toward meeting the requirement, the set date. However,

sometimes there are obstacles and there are appeals and there are reasons why

individual clients' particular case file cannot be met within the period of

time.

Mr.

Speaker, I can't go into individual files here in the House, but there are

times, yes, that we do not meet the 60 days.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for the

District of Cape St. Francis.

MR. K. PARSONS:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

How many

clients are currently backlogged at the Workplace Health, Safety and

Compensation Review Division?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister

Responsible for WorkplaceNL.

MS. GAMBIN-WALSH:

Mr. Speaker, I work very

closely with the appeals division, even though they're a separate entity of

government. The number that exists today is probably about 150 at the present

moment; however, as I said, those are individual cases.

What we

have to realize is that some people have actually paused their appeal, so that

number is not a true number of the number of cases that are backlogged as the

Member has asked. Mr. Speaker, there are different reasons why individual cases

do not move forward when they meet appeals.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The Member for the District

of Cape St. Francis.

MR. K. PARSONS:

Very interesting, Mr.

Speaker.

Minister, how long have they been waiting? Do you have a time frame that some of

these 150 have been waiting?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister

Responsible for WorkplaceNL.

MS. GAMBIN-WALSH:

Mr. Speaker, as I just

indicated, they're individual files so there are individual reasons. So waiting

– I'm guessing the Member opposite kind of means why it's taking a period of

time to do some files and not others.

I can't

address individual files in the House of Assembly, Mr. Speaker. There are

different reasons. I just can't take out individual files and discuss why each

individual file is waiting.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The Member for the District

of Cape St. Francis.

MR. K. PARSONS:

Mr. Speaker, I'll tell the

minister: I'm not asking for individuals, I'm asking for timelines. There are

150 clients that are waiting and I want to know how long have they been waiting

for? Has it been six months? If it's 60 days the decisions are supposed to be

turned around, how long have these people been waiting?

We're

getting calls to our office all the time with people saying they're waiting to

hear from the commissioner to see when their review can happen. I want to know

what the timelines are.

MR. SPEAKER:

The Minister Responsible for

WorkplaceNL.

MS. GAMBIN-WALSH:

Mr. Speaker, the Member is

actually asking for individual timelines. I'm sorry, but I can't haul out 150

files and tell him how long each individual has been waiting.

MR. SPEAKER:

The Member for the District

of Cape St. Francis.

MR. K. PARSONS:

Again, Mr. Speaker, I remind

the minister that we get calls from clients all the time. They're waiting to

hear from the Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Review Division and they

want to know when because they've been put off and put off.

You told

us today that there are 150 clients out there waiting that are in this backlog,

which is huge. I'd just ask: Can they expect it to be done within the next six

months? Can they expect it to be done in the next seven months? What's the time

frame?

I'm

going to move on from that now. The decisions made by the Review Division are

made public and posted on the government website.

I ask

the minister: Will you make these decisions and post it in 2017, because there's

nothing posted there now?

MR. SPEAKER:

The Minister Responsible for

WorkplaceNL.

MS. GAMBIN-WALSH:

Mr. Speaker, this present

administration actually has a full board in place at the Appeals Commission,

unlike the previous administration. We have the full complement to address the

backlog, and it is moving along.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for the

District of Conception Bay South.

MR. PETTEN:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr.

Speaker, on November 22, while responding to a question, the Minister of

Municipal Affairs responded that while I may have read the briefing notes, he

actually wrote them.

In an

ATIPP request posted online recently, it was revealed that over the past two

years since being minister there is zero record of any briefing or information

notes written by the minister.

I ask

the minister: Is this indeed accurate, or perhaps you have hidden the notes?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Municipal Affairs and Environment.

MR. JOYCE:

Mr. Speaker, never let the

truth get involved with a good story, I always say.

What the

Member asked me, and I'll tell him right straight up, it was the briefing book

that I walked over during the Estimates and gave him. In his own words, he said:

yes, you brought me the binder.

Unlike

the government opposite when they were in government, the Members opposite, when

I take a book and I'm going to give it out to the public and give it to the

Opposition, I go word for word, I read it. When I signed off, it's my document.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. JOYCE:

I do not pass the

responsibility to anybody who works – I have an excellent staff, I sign off.

When I sign it, it's my document. Unlike the Members opposite, we can't get one

person to stand up and say who helped with Muskrat Falls. Not one of them will

take any credit.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for the

District of Conception Bay South.

MR. PETTEN:

Mr. Speaker, I'll quickly

move off it. I won't tell the minister he should check

Hansard .

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER:

Order, please!

MR. PETTEN:

Check Hansard . He informed the House

that he actually wrote it, not read. He wrote the briefing notes. I'm only going

by what I was told, so he should check

Hansard .

Mr.

Speaker, the minister confirmed for us yesterday that there are 14 heavy

equipment operator vacancies across the province and that six of these are on

the Avalon.

How many

of these six are out of the total number of positions on the Avalon? What are

the total positions on the Avalon?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Municipal Affairs and Environment.

MR. JOYCE:

Mr. Speaker, I can't let that

stand. I can't let this Member think that I don't take responsibility for the

document in Estimates. Before we had to go to the freedom of information and

even in some cases we had to embarrass the minister to get it. I walked down

during Estimates and said here's the document, it's my document.

I tell

you, Mr. Speaker, let me tell you; I knew he was going to bring this up because

I had the freedom of information request come in. It's too bad when he worked

with Transportation and Works he didn't do a briefing note when Nick McGrath

caused the Humber Valley Paving, Mr. Speaker, (inaudible).

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The Member responsible for

the District of Conception Bay South.

MR. PETTEN:

All we asked, Mr. Speaker,

was that we wanted him to provide the briefing notes he wrote. That's all, a

simple question.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. PETTEN:

I'm looking forward to him

tabling those in the House in the spring session, Mr. Speaker.

Yesterday, the minister boasted that they were running at 90 per cent

availability on snow-clearing equipment.

Minister, what's your plan to keep snow-clearing equipment up and running this

winter if you don't have mechanics on staff to fix them?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Transportation and Works.

MR. CROCKER:

Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. Member for the question.

Mr.

Speaker, the earlier question was vacancies on the Avalon. Currently, there are

six.

Mr.

Speaker, what the department does is when we have vacancies or when we have

equipment that our staff can't get repaired, we'll bring it out to a local

entrepreneur here in the city or anywhere across the province and let that

business do the work for us. We have great confidence in the repair shops

throughout the province.

We have

over 700 employees doing winter maintenance in this province, Mr. Speaker. We

spend about $62 million a year on winter maintenance and we're very proud of our

staff.

Thank

you very much, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for the

District of St. John's Centre.

MS. ROGERS:

Mr. Speaker, Grieg's massive

aquaculture project is based on increasingly controversial methods and wouldn't

be allowed in Norway today. Government wants to allow it and invest $45 million

of the people's money to do it. Norway, Iceland and Denmark are moving towards

land-based aquaculture, as are Nova Scotia and BC.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER:

Order, please!

MS. ROGERS:

In the last election, the

Premier promised to review the development of land-based aquaculture and a

possible land-based pilot project.

I ask

the Premier: Why go ahead with Grieg's problematic aquaculture project instead

of a more environmentally and economically sustainable one? Where is his

promised land-based pilot project?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Fisheries and Land Resources.

MR. BYRNE:

Mr. Speaker, all aquaculture, salmonid aquaculture in the world, occurs

initially by a land-based system; however, no aquaculture production is

commercially viable at this point in time under exclusively a land-based system.

Yes, there are some experimental facilities and, yes, the industry would like to

push further and further in advancement to land-based systems, but to make the

suggestion that an exclusively land-based system would be viable in Newfoundland

and Labrador, at this point in time, would be to perpetuate a falsehood.

With

that said, Mr. Speaker, we will always work with industry to advance the cause.

But in comparisons of Newfoundland and Labrador to Norway, we are producing

25,000 metric tons; Norway is producing over a million tons.

MR. SPEAKER:

Order, please!

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The Member for St. John's

Centre.

MS. ROGERS:

Mr. Speaker, government

intends to aggressively grow the aquaculture industry. This is a good

opportunity for jobs, but our aquaculture regulations are among the worst in the

country, second only to New Brunswick.

I ask

the minister: Will he follow the example of Nova Scotia and set up a truly

independent regulatory review in light of the new science, and once completed,

put the regulations into law?

MR. SPEAKER:

The Minister of Fisheries and

Land Resources.

MR. BYRNE:

Mr. Speaker, as Minister of

Fisheries and Land Resources, I've had an opportunity not only to speak to the

Canadian industry, leaders and regulators in the Canadian industry, but I've

also had an opportunity to speak with international regulators and industry

proponents.

What the

international community is telling the people of Newfoundland and Labrador, the

people of Canada, the people of the world, is that Newfoundland and Labrador has

the most robust regulatory regime found anywhere in the world for salmonid

aquaculture. In fact, our bay management system, our placement of pens, our

regulation of the industry is what's attracting industry development and jobs

for our province.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The Member for St. John's

Centre.

MS. ROGERS:

Mr. Speaker, the Newfoundland

and Labrador Coalition for Aquaculture Reform has hand delivered letters to the

Premier and the past and current Fisheries and Environment ministers asking for

a meeting. They received confirmations of those letters. I have the copies, yet

they can't seem to get a meeting.

I ask

the Premier again: Will he meet with this group that represents 20 organizations

and scientists?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Municipal Affairs and Environment.

MR. JOYCE:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I thank

the Member for the question. Just for the record, that Member has yet to ask me

for a meeting on anything concerning aquaculture in the Province of Newfoundland

and Labrador, Mr. Speaker.

Mr.

Speaker, we know the letter is in. I spoke to a person who is part of the group,

Bill Bryden. He said that the group will contact me for a meeting. To date, I've

yet to get a request. My door is open.

To be

fair, Mr. Speaker, when I do accept the meeting, I do not want the Member to

stand up and say I'm meeting with a group when this is going through the process

in the courts that I'm interfering. If I met with another group they would say,

well, you're interfering.

I will

meet with the group, but don't stand up and say that I'm being biased when I do

meet with the group, Mr. Speaker, if they don't get to hear what they want to

hear.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Leader of the

Third Party.

MS. MICHAEL:

Thank you very much, Mr.

Speaker.

During

the 2015 provincial campaign, the Premier stated he would share with the people

of the province the numbers on P3 projects, showing them the evidence on why

they would choose to build public facilities using this model.

I ask

the Premier why he has not yet fulfilled this commitment on the projects he's

put in place to date.

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Premier.

PREMIER BALL:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

We're

very proud of the work that's been done already; we've been working with the

private sector. But I would want to say this: Unlike what we've seen from the PC

administration, the activity, the delivery of services inside the P3 models for

long-term care, specifically the ones that we've been talking about in Corner

Brook, Gander, Grand Falls-Windsor and Botwood, will be done in the traditional

fashion.

We've

outlined the process, Mr. Speaker. There's some financial close information that

will be required for the project in Corner Brook. We will be making this

information – already we've said there's some $10 million to $12 million in

savings in some of the projects already. That's been out there publicly, I say

to the Member opposite.

All I

would say to her is read the documentation and the information that we have out

there. Clearly, there is good value for money for Newfoundlanders and

Labradorians. Clearly, this will create public sector jobs for Newfoundlanders

and Labradorians.

MR. SPEAKER:

Order, please!

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

Order, please!

The time

for Oral Questions has ended.

Presenting Reports by Standing and Select Committees.

Tabling

of Documents.

Tabling of

Documents

MR. SPEAKER:

Order, please!

Pursuant

section 8 and

section 10 of the Public

Tender Act , I hereby table reports of the

Public Tender Act exceptions for August and September 2017, as

presented by the chief operating officer of the Government Purchasing Agency.

Pursuant to

section 43 of the

Citizens' Representative Act , I am pleased to table the

Citizens' Representative Annual Digest

for 2016-2017.

Notices of Motion.

Answers to Questions for which Notice has been Given.

Answers to Questions for which Notice has been Given

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Natural Resources.

MS. COADY:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

During

Question Period, I was asked for the invoice for EY for the period of the final

report. It was $257,674.

Thank

you, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Education and Early Childhood Development.

MR. KIRBY:

Mr. Speaker, two days ago in

Question Period, the Member for St. John's East – Quidi Vidi asked a question

about a purportedly vacant position in the Department of Education and Early

Childhood Development.

With the

closure of the School for the Deaf in 2010, a transition period was set up by

the previous administration. This required the hiring of a full-time consultant

position in the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development.

That

transition period concluded in 2015, two years ago, when most students of the

former School for the Deaf had graduated and the remaining students were not

availing of services such as boarding with families – I apologize; that's the

first time that's happened, Mr. Speaker – in St. John's and travelling home on

the weekends and holidays.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Oh, oh!

MR. KIRBY:

We got a little bit of levity

here as we're getting towards the holidays. I hope everybody is able to

understand this disjointed message I'm delivering.

At this

point, the full-time position for the transition period ceased to exist and

services were continued and implemented by teachers in the system. The website

posting of a vacant position for the transitional deaf and hard of hearing

consultant was an oversight, unfortunately, that I apologized for and now that

problem has been fixed on the website.

There is

currently a consultant responsible for deaf and hard of hearing education in the

Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, as there was before,

and now after the closure of the School for the Deaf. As is the practice in the

Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, this consultant is

responsible for several files including deaf and hard of hearing education.

apologize for the interruption during that twice, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER:

I'd like to thank the hon.

Member for his clarification there.

Thank

you.

Petitions.

Petitions

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Leader of the

Third Party.

MS. MICHAEL:

Thank you very much, Mr.

Speaker.

To the

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

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

WHEREAS

the road, Route 100, through Dunville is not being maintained properly; and

WHEREAS

this roadway is becoming a safety concern for residents and visitors alike; and

WHEREAS

the highways depot is only open in the winter months;

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

of Assembly to urge government to open the depot and supply necessary manpower

to prepare the road for the projected increase in traffic in the very near

future.

And as

in duty bound, your petitioners will ever pray.

Mr.

Speaker, I received this petition from people from the Dunville, Placentia,

Argentia areas. Signatures here from Placentia, Point Verde, Ferndale,

Jerseyside, Point Verde again, Freshwater. The whole area out in the Argentia

area is very, very concerned about the state of Route 100, which runs through

Dunville. It's deteriorating and people in the area consider this to be a

growing safety issue.

understand a committee that has been set up have met with their local MHA and

Department of Transportation and Works to discuss the state of Route 100, but

they've received no feedback and no action from that meeting. This is why, I

think, they've put this petition together and they've asked me to present it for

them.

The

citizen's committee called the Route 100 Improvement Committee was formed in

late June of this year, and their goal is to provide a unified voice on the

matter. We all know this area, Mr. Speaker. It's a highly industrial area and

you have people travelling back and forth both from that area to also Long

Harbour. Workers, commuters, and any of us who've been on that road – and I have

been, I'm sure many of us have – know that it is not being kept up the way that

it needs to be kept.

Monday, October 16, BAY TV , which is a

local TV channel, did a traffic survey of vehicles going through the Town of

Dunville. For that whole day from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., they counted 1,005 cars,

105 tractor trailers and 250 trucks, for a total on 1,360 vehicles in one day on

a road that's deteriorating, the shoulders are deteriorating, the road is not

being kept up. By having the depot open not just in winter, but in spring and

summer, you would have ongoing maintenance of this road, and then in spring,

summer and into the fall we're also talking about the ferry services as well,

Mr. Speaker.

So this

is an urgent issue for the people in the area, and I really ask the minister to

pay attention to what the concerns are of the people from that area.

Thank

you.

MR. SPEAKER:

Further petitions?

The hon.

the Member for Mount Pearl – Southlands.

MR. LANE:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The

petition of the undersigned residents humbly sheweth:

WHEREAS

the inshore harvesters of Newfoundland and Labrador have serious concerns about

their current union representation;

WHEREAS

the inshore fish harvesters of Newfoundland and Labrador want the right to vote

on which union will represent them;

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

of Assembly to request government to urge the Newfoundland and Labrador Labour

Relations Board to proceed immediately to a vote of the inshore fish harvesters

to decide which union will represent them.

And as

in duty bound, your petitioners will ever pray.

Mr.

Speaker, I have several petitions here again today. These are coming from areas

such as O'Donnells, Carbonear, Salmon Cove, François, Lawn, Durrell, Virgin Arm,

Benoit's Cove, Frenchman's Cove, Corner Brook, Bay L'Argent, St. John's,

Glovertown, St. Brendan's. So they're from all parts of the province. I think

the reasoning for that, Mr. Speaker, is because the fishery is something which

impacts all parts of the province.

Obviously it's been the life's blood for many communities in rural Newfoundland

and Labrador, but as I've said before, the fishery is also important to the

urban parts of Newfoundland and Labrador. Even in this area, certainly in Mount

Pearl, St. John's and so on, we have a number of businesses in the industrial

parks that service the fishery. A lot of those businesses probably wouldn't

survive if it was not for the fishery.

It is

important. If we want to make sure that the fishery is going to be sustainable,

then we all need to be pulling on the same oar, we all need to be working

together. The last thing we need when it comes to the fishery is division.

So what

these inshore fish harvesters are asking is let's end the division which

currently exists within that particular sector. They're urging government to –

let's make sure that we can expedite the process, have the vote and let the fish

harvesters decide which union they want to represent them. Once that issue is

put to bed and settled, then, hopefully, they can all work together for the

betterment of the fishery and for the province as a whole.

Thank

you, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

Conception Bay South.

MR. PETTEN:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

To the

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

Parliament assembled, the petition of the undersigned residents of Newfoundland

and Labrador humbly sheweth:

WHEREAS

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

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

WHEREAS

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

a new vehicle; and

WHEREAS

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

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

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

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

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

emergencies.

And as

in duty bound, your petitioners will ever pray.

Mr.

Speaker, these AEDs – this program started as a partner between the province and

the Heart and Stroke maybe six, seven years back. It started with arenas and

community centres. Right now it's evolved to all schools have been done. The

current administration just finished that initiative off this past year, which

is a great credit to government in general for supporting this important

initiative.

important and as good as it is to have all these AEDs presently in all those

buildings – and there are a lot of public buildings – we need to improve upon,

make it better. The whole idea behind this registry is to have it accessible.

The best

example I can give – when it was explained to me – is if you're downtown, you're

in one building and somebody goes into cardiac arrest. If you tie this to the

911 system, calling 911, they can tell you there's a defibrillator two doors

away. It's intended to help everyone, first responders especially, to find out

where these are. In doing so, you also make sure the batteries are up to

scratch, they're functioning and ready to be used.

I guess

another example is probably, like I'm saying, fire extinguishers, mandatory

checks on these. It's very life-saving. They're so crucial to saving lives, and

they have saved lives.

I've

spoken to the minister responsible, the Minister of Municipal Affairs, and Fire

and Emergency Services. I know that's something they've – I've also been

speaking to the Heart and Stroke Foundation. There's a family in my district

that are very afflicted by this issue, a defibrillation heart. It's a hereditary

problem they have. So it's very personal to them. In doing so, I've been very

involved with them and advocating on their behalf. I've spoken to the minister

and he's been very open to conversation on it as well.

This

petition is signed by a lot of people. There are a lot of people out there who

want to see this happen. I know there are some concerns with the liability and

some details have to be worked out, but it's my pleasure to present this on

their behalf. I do encourage government to continue working with the Heart and

Stroke Foundation to make this registry a reality and help save more lives in

doing so.

Thank

you very much.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for St.

John's Centre.

MS. ROGERS:

Thank you very much, Mr.

Speaker.

To the

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

Parliament assembled, the petition of the undersigned humbly sheweth:

WHEREAS

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

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

WHEREAS

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

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

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

and

WHEREAS

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

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

encourage reading and literacy; and

WHEREAS

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

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

a tax to read the books of our own writers;

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

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

And as

in duty bound, your petitioners will ever pray.

Well,

Mr. Speaker, didn't this petition work? Here we are only about a month away from

having the tax on books removed. I would like to think that in fact, although we

may have one of the lowest literacy rates in the country, although we may in

fact be the only province that ever taxed books, really, really affecting the

ability of students to pay, affecting our independent book sellers, I believe

the literacy lesson and the financial literacy lesson has been for government to

see that this was a bad move. This was a regressive move. It didn't improve the

province. As a matter of fact, it more so impoverished our writers, our

independent publishers, our independent booksellers and our students.

Mr.

Speaker, this is the last petition I have signed by the people of Newfoundland

and Labrador about the book tax. There are about 150 signatures right here.

I would

like to thank the activists in the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador who

pushed and pushed and pushed to have government remove those taxes and for

government to finally do the right thing, which was they never should have done

it in the first place. Now that they've reversed that decision, I believe that

it's a victory on behalf of the people of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Thank

you very much, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER:

If I may just for a moment –

and further to my comment about having the spotlight on the winner of the

by-election – there's one guest remaining in our audience today that I forgot to

identify. His name is Antoine Mandon; he's hosted by the St. John's Rotary Club.

He's a high school student, he's visiting us from France and he's staying with a

host family for the school year.

We gave

him a tour this morning. He's very interested in democracy and politics. I hope

to see him more often in our public galleries.

Thank

you, Antoine.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The Government House Leader,

please.

MR. A. PARSONS:

Thank you.

I'll

proceed to Orders of the Day, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER:

Orders of the Day.

Orders of the Day

MR. A. PARSONS:

I would call from the Order

Paper, Order 2, third reading of Bill 3.

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Government House

Leader.

MR. A. PARSONS:

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded

by the Minister of Natural Resources, that Bill 3,

An Act Respecting An

Independent Court Of Appeal In The Province, be now read a third time.

MR. SPEAKER:

It is moved and seconded that

the said bill be now read a third time.

Is it

the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?

All

those in favour?

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Aye.

MR. SPEAKER:

All those against?

This

motion is carried.

CLERK (Barnes):

A bill, Court of Appeal Act.

(Bill 3)

MR. SPEAKER:

This bill is now read a third

time and it is ordered that the bill do pass and its title be as on the Order

Paper.

motion, a bill, “Court of Appeal Act,” read a third time, ordered passed and its

title be as on the Order Paper. (Bill 3)

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Government House

Leader.

MR. A. PARSONS:

Mr. Speaker, I call Order 3,

third reading of Bill 19.

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Government House

Leader.

MR. A. PARSONS:

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded

by the Minister of Natural Resources, that Bill 19,

An Act To Amend The House Of

Assembly Accountability, Integrity And Administration Act No. 3, be now read a

third time.

MR. SPEAKER:

It is moved and seconded that

the said bill be now read a third time.

The hon.

the Leader of the Third Party.

MS. MICHAEL:

Thank you very much, Mr.

Speaker.

I just

want to use the opportunity to leave clarity with regard to this bill and one of

the points in the bill that I have spoken to. I think that –

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER:

Order, please!

MS. MICHAEL:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I think

it's important that I make perfectly clear why I'm concerned about the piece

about the quorum of the House Management Commission. The reason for doing this,

I think there has been misinterpretation.

When we,

as the House of Assembly Management Commission, dealt with the recommendations

from the Members' Compensation and Review Committee, we passed the

recommendations that included the quorum issue. There were a number of

recommendations.

I think

one of the things that was really important, that, for me, went along with the

quorum piece, was the fact that “no later than September 15 each year,” the

Commission would “set a fixed

schedule of a minimum of three

(3) Management

Commission meetings for the Fall, which all members shall make a priority in

attending; c. no later than January 15 each year, set a fixed

schedule of a

minimum of three

(3) Management Commission meetings for the Spring, which all

members shall make a priority in attending.”

The idea

of the fixed

schedule and the purpose behind it, by the Members of the MCRC, was

that we would all know well in advance when the meetings are. All Members of the

Commission would know well in advance. Then, naming a quorum, being a simple

majority period, without saying that you had to have both government and

Opposition Members present in some form, they didn't believe that was necessary:

number one, because we're not there representing our caucuses, we're on that

Commission as individual MHAs; and number two, they believe that by having the

fixed schedules, saying that you have a simple majority quorum would mean that

everybody knows the

schedule is there, it's on their shoulders and, therefore,

there should be no problem in people attending the meeting unless it was a rare

occasion.

They

also point out in their recommendations “that no member shall be permitted to be

absent from any Management Commission meeting without good cause and prior

approval of the Speaker.” So they had a package –

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER:

Order, please!

MS. MICHAEL:

Thank you very much, Mr.

Speaker. I appreciate that.

They had

a package of recommendations and the quorum was part of that package. So my

problem is that in the act, the changes that are being suggested do not

recognize that the quorum point is part of a bigger package.

Now, the

Management Commission accepted all of the recommendations, but the government

hasn't chosen to see those – all of them – reflected in the changes they're

making in the act. That's the reason I'm concerned about the quorum being the

way it is.

If the

other pieces had been there with it, then I would understand. It's one thing to

say that the Management Commission accepted all the recommendations, but why

didn't the government make sure that was reflected in the legislation.

Thank

you very much, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Government House

Leader.

MR. A. PARSONS:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Normally, I don't speak to many third readings of bills. I think I spoke pretty

clearly to this piece of legislation the other evening. I'm finding it very hard

to respond to this because the Member is not portraying this accurately at all.

There

were three recommendations put forward by the MCRC. What she is suggesting is

that we should change one of those. I will note that the Opposition put forward

an amendment. Her colleague voted against it.

I'm

having trouble understanding what the NDP are doing, because there's not a

single issue expressed at any point during any Management Commission meeting by

the Leader of the NDP – not a single one. And then stands up in this House and

suggests that government is being disingenuous.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER:

Order, please!

MR. A. PARSONS:

Again, I would say, refer to

Hansard . The Leader of the NDP should

go back and perhaps remember what she has said in this House because clearly she

does not remember what she said the last time.

I'm

going to sit at this point; I think I've made myself clear. Unfortunately, the

Leader of the NDP clearly has not shown an understanding of the Management

Commission or this piece of legislation. I'm still going to support it and I'm

pretty sure that her colleague will as well.

Thank

you.

MR. SPEAKER:

Is it the pleasure of the

House to adopt the motion?

All

those in favour?

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Aye.

MR. SPEAKER:

All those against?

This

motion is carried.

CLERK:

A bill,

An Act To Amend The

House Of Assembly Accountability, Integrity And Administration Act No. 3. (Bill

19)

AN HON. MEMBER:

Division.

MR. SPEAKER:

Division has been called.

Division

MR. SPEAKER:

Is the House ready for the

question?

Is it

the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?

All

those in favour, please say ‘aye.'

CLERK:

Mr. Andrew Parsons, Ms.

Coady, Mr. Joyce, Mr. Haggie, Mr. Hawkins, Mr. Crocker, Mr. Osborne, Mr. Kirby,

Mr. Mitchelmore, Mr. Warr, Mr. Bernard Davis, Ms. Gambin-Walsh, Mr. Edmunds, Ms.

Dempster, Mr. Letto, Mr. Browne, Mr. Bragg, Ms. Haley, Mr. Derek Bennett, Ms.

Cathy Bennett, Mr. Finn, Mr. Reid, Ms. Parsley, Mr. King, Mr. Dean, Ms. Pam

Parsons, Mr. Holloway, Mr. Hutchings, Mr. Brazil, Ms. Perry, Mr. Kevin Parsons,

Mr. Petten, Mr. Lester, Mr. Lane.

MR. SPEAKER:

Those against the motion,

please rise.

CLERK:

Ms. Michael.

Mr.

Speaker, the ayes: 34; the nays: one.

MR. SPEAKER:

I declare that the motion is

carried.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

This bill has been read a

third time.

AN HON. MEMBER:

We're going to do it again.

MR. SPEAKER:

We're going to do it again?

Okay.

I'm

going to instruct the Clerk to read the bill again, please.

CLERK:

A bill,

An Act To Amend The

House Of Assembly Accountability, Integrity And Administration Act No. 3. (Bill

19)

MR. SPEAKER:

This bill is now read a third

time, for the second time, and it is ordered that the bill do pass and its title

be as on the Order Paper.

motion, a bill, “An Act To Amend The House Of Assembly Accountability, Integrity

And Administration Act No. 3,” read a third time, ordered passed and its title

be as on the Order Paper. (Bill 19)

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Government House

Leader.

MR. A. PARSONS:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I would

call from the Order Paper, Order 4, third reading of Bill 21.

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Government House

Leader.

MR. A. PARSONS:

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded

by the Minister of Natural Resources, that Bill 21,

An Act To Amend The Members

Of The House Of Assembly Retiring Allowances Act And The Portability Of Pensions

Act, be now read a third time.

MR. SPEAKER:

It is moved and seconded that

the said bill be now read a third time.

Is it

the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?

All

those in favour, ‘aye.'

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Aye.

MR. SPEAKER:

All those against?

The

motion is carried.

CLERK:

A bill,

An Act To Amend The

Members Of The House Of Assembly Retiring Allowances Act And The Portability Of

Pensions Act. (Bill 21)

MR. SPEAKER:

This bill is now read a third

time and it is ordered that the bill do pass and its title be as on the Order

Paper.

motion, a bill, “An Act To Amend The Members Of The House Of Assembly Retiring

Allowances Act And The Portability Of Pensions Act,” read a third time, ordered

passed and its title be as on the Order Paper. (Bill 21)

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Government House

Leader.

MR. A. PARSONS:

Mr. Speaker, I call Order 5,

third reading of Bill 23.

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Government House

Leader.

MR. A. PARSONS:

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded

by the Minister of Natural Resources, that Bill 23,

An Act To Amend The Liquor

Corporation Act, be now read a third time.

MR. SPEAKER:

It is moved and seconded that

the said bill be now read a third time.

Is it

the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?

All

those in favour, ‘aye.'

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Aye.

MR. SPEAKER:

All those against?

The

motion is carried.

CLERK:

A bill,

An Act To Amend The

Liquor Corporation Act. (Bill 23)

MR. SPEAKER:

This bill is now read a third

time and it is ordered that the bill do pass and its title be as on the Order

Paper.

motion, a bill, “An Act To Amend The Liquor Corporation Act,” read a third time,

ordered passed and its title be as on the Order Paper. (Bill 23)

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Government House

Leader.

MR. A. PARSONS:

Mr. Speaker, I call Order 6,

third reading of Bill 24.

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Government House

Leader.

MR. A. PARSONS:

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded

by the Minister of Natural Resources, that Bill 24, Serious Incident Response

Team Act, be now read a third time.

MR. SPEAKER:

It is moved and seconded that

the said bill be now read a third time.

Is it

the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?

All

those in favour, ‘aye.'

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Aye.

MR. SPEAKER:

All those against?

The

motion is carried.

CLERK:

A bill, Serious Incident

Response Team Act. (Bill 24)

MR. SPEAKER:

This bill is now read a third

time and it is ordered that the bill do pass and its title be as on the Order

Paper.

motion, a bill, “Serious Incident Response Team Act,” read a third time, ordered

passed and its title be as on the Order Paper. (Bill 24)

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Government House

Leader.

MR. A. PARSONS:

Mr. Speaker, I call Order 7,

third reading of Bill 27.

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Government House

Leader.

MR. A. PARSONS:

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded

by the Minister of Service NL, that Bill 27,

An Act To Amend The Highway Traffic

Act No. 2, be now read a third time.

MR. SPEAKER:

It is moved and seconded that

the said bill be now read a third time.

Is it

the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?

All

those in favour?

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Aye.

MR. SPEAKER:

All those against?

The

motion is carried.

CLERK:

A bill,

An Act To Amend The

Highway Traffic Act No. 2. (Bill 27)

MR. SPEAKER:

This bill is now read a third

time and it is ordered that the bill do pass and its title be as on the Order

Paper.

motion, a bill, “An Act To Amend The Highway Traffic Act No. 2,” read a third

time, ordered passed and its title be as on the Order Paper. (Bill 19)

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Government House

Leader.

MR. A. PARSONS:

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded

by the Minister of Children, Seniors and Social Development, that the House

resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole to consider Bill 26.

MR. SPEAKER:

It is moved and seconded that

I do now leave the Chair for the House to resolve itself into a Committee of the

Whole to consider the said bill.

Is it

the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?

All

those in favour?

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Aye.

MR. SPEAKER:

All those against?

The

motion is carried.

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

left the Chair.

Committee of the

Whole

CHAIR (Warr):

Order, please!

We are

considering Bill 26,

An Act To Amend The Child And Youth Advocate Act.

A bill,

“An Act To Amend The Child And Youth Advocate Act.” (Bill 26)

CLERK:

Clause 1.

CHAIR:

Shall clause 1 carry?

The

Chair recognizes the hon. Member for the beautiful District of Cape St. Francis.

MR. K. PARSONS:

Thank you very much, Mr.

Chair.

This is

just a continuance of the debate that we had the other day. We adjourned on

Wednesday morning and I was up speaking.

I really

want to be on record. I want to say that anything we can do in this House of

Assembly to protect children in our province is a great thing – and I mean

anything that we do.

Minister, I know that you probably think along the same lines as I do. I really

believe that this legislation is a good piece of legislation. As I read the

legislation and I look at what needs to be done – and I know that the Advocate

is okay with the legislation as it's going through – I'd like to be on record to

say that I think it can be improved.

I'm just

wondering out loud here today, Mr. Chair. If I could ask the minister – I'm

concerned about every child, as she is, in this province. I know the basics of

this legislation is children in care, but you hear of stories all the time,

whether they're through the education system or they're through the health care

system, where children do fall through the cracks. I believe if there's a crack

that we can fix, we should fix it. My concern is that if a child goes to the

hospital and there is some concern there, there's no legal right to make sure

that's reported. That's with a child that's not in care.

Again,

I'd like to ask the minister: Is she concerned about that or is there some

assurance she can give me today – that I'd like to have – that no child will be

able to fall through the cracks or anything else when you go through the health

care? Either the Minister of Health can answer this or anybody else.

It's a

genuine question. I want to make sure that if a child goes to – and I'll give an

example – the Janeway for any reason at all and there's some suspicion of

something that could be there, let me know what's there in place for that child.

Thank

you very much.

CHAIR:

The hon. the Minister of

Health and Community Services.

MR. HAGGIE:

Thank you very much, Mr.

Chair; an opportunity to add some clarity, hopefully, to the question.

The

answer in short is: There is a statutory obligation on any health care provider

who becomes aware of suspicious or dubious or unexplained injuries or harm to a

youth, whether they're in care or not, to report that fact under the child

protection act.

CHAIR:

The hon. the Member for

Fortune Bay – Cape La Hune.

MS. PERRY:

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

It's a

pleasure to rise once again and continue the debate on this very important bill.

Mr.

Chair, we had some really good discussion yesterday around the bill. As an

Opposition, it's certainly our main priority to try and put forward the

strongest legislation that we possibly can on behalf of the people of the

province. One of the issues that is of concern to us is the fact that there's no

longer a requirement to report the critical incidents and, as well, that the

bill, as it's currently written in its form at the moment, only pertains to

children in care.

Therefore, we are going to propose the following amendment: Clause 1 of Bill 26

is amended in the proposed

Subsection 16.1(2) of the act by deleting the word “while” and substituting the

words “or a critical incident as defined in the Critical Incident and Death

Protocol whether or not the child or youth is.” Then, of course, the rest of the

act says in care.

We put

forward this amendment for consideration, Mr. Chair, to see if it's in order.

CHAIR:

Order, please!

There's

an amendment put in order. The Committee will recess to consider the proposed

amendment.

Recess

CHAIR:

Order, please!

We were

considering an amendment to Bill 26. The amendment is not in order.

The hon.

the Government House Leader.

MR. A. PARSONS:

I move, Mr. Chair, that the

Committee rise, report progress and ask leave to sit again.

CHAIR:

The motion is that the

Committee rise, report progress and ask leave to sit again.

Shall

the motion carry?

All

those in favour?

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Aye.

CHAIR:

Those against?

Carried.

motion, that the Committee rise, report progress and ask leave to sit again, the

Speaker returned to the Chair.

MR. SPEAKER (Trimper):

The hon. the Deputy House

Speaker and Chair of the Committee of the Whole.

MR. WARR:

Mr. Speaker, the Committee of

the Whole have considered the matters to them referred and have directed me to

report progress and ask leave to sit again.

MR. SPEAKER:

The Chair of the Committee of

the Whole reports that the Committee have considered the matters to them

referred and have directed him to report progress and ask leave to sit again.

When

shall the report be received?

MR. A. PARSONS:

Now.

MR. SPEAKER:

Now, it is.

When

shall the Committee have leave to sit again?

MR. A. PARSONS:

Presently.

MR. SPEAKER:

Presently.

motion, report received and adopted. Committee ordered to sit again presently,

by leave.

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Government House

Leader.

MR. A. PARSONS:

Yes, Mr. Speaker, I move from

the Order Paper, Motion 1:

WHEREAS

section 4 of the Auditor General Act

provides that on resolution of the House of Assembly, the Lieutenant Governor in

Council shall appoint an Auditor General;

THEREFORE

BE IT RESOLVED that Julia Mullaley be appointed as the Auditor

General.

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Government House

Leader.

MR. A. PARSONS:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Today,

we speak to a very important resolution regarding the appointment of an

individual to a very important job here in this Province. I think the goal, in

my time speaking here today, certainly won't be taking an hour, but it's just to

provide a little bit of background on the Office of the Auditor General and

speak a little bit about the individual who we're hoping to be appointed to this

position.

The

Office of the Auditor General is a Statutory Office of the House of Assembly. I

think that's important for people to remember. It's not a department; it's not

political. These are non-partisan, independent offices, similar to the Child and

Youth Advocate, similar to the Privacy Commissioner and Chief Electoral Officer.

It's a very important office.

Now,

without belabouring the point, the Office of the Auditor General has had a lot

of attention in this province, especially in, say, the last 15 years or so.

Their job is to come in and provide our House with relevant information and to

provide that public accountability that's necessary.

As of

March 31, 2017, the Office of the Auditor General had an annual budget of

roughly $3.6 million and a staff of about 40. I think 36 are based in St. John's

and four in Corner Brook. This is appointment by the LGIC and is one that is

done here in the House; it has to be voted in the House. It's for a 10-year

term.

The AG

is not eligible for reappointment, so it's one 10-year term. They are an Officer

of the House, so they're obviously not eligible to be nominated for election, to

be elected, to sit as a Member of the House. They cannot carry on another trade;

they cannot hold any public office.

The

current – I can't say current AG, the former AG, Terry Paddon, was appointed in

2012 on June 1. He announced his retirement. On October 31, 2017, it became

effective. He served about half of his term before he elected for retirement.

We'd like to thank him for his service to the province in that role.

The LG

sets the remuneration of the Auditor General. I was just thinking I probably

shouldn't keep referring to AG because there are two AGs that serve, there's an

Attorney General and an Auditor General. We're dealing with the Auditor General.

The remuneration is set by the LGIC in consultation with the Management

Commission. We've had some conversation about the Management Commission. It's

Members from all sides who deal with the remuneration side.

For this

position this time, the first time ever, the IAC, Independent Appointments

Commission, was engaged to recruit for it under the

Independent Appointments Commission Act . It was advertised publicly

this time 18 days. I believe there were 11 applications that were submitted back

in September. Four candidates were then selected for an interview. Out of those,

the selection and the resolution is concerning Ms. Julia Mullaley.

Ms.

Mullaley has served as a chartered professional accountant for 26 years. It's

funny, it's full circle because she started her career with the Auditor General

about 24 years ago, I believe it was. She started in the provincial public

service and spent some time there and, actually, I've spoken to Ms. Mullaley

about that.

Over her

career, she moved up. That shows her competence, her skill and her ability. She

became a director of Budgeting with the Department of Finance, then became an

assistant deputy minister of Royalties and Benefits in Natural Resources, a

deputy clerk and then clerk of the Executive Council – again, the higher civil

servant position in this province – and finally became the CEO of the

Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation. There was a managerial strength

that was demonstrated in all these positions, and demonstrated to anybody that

has had an opportunity to work with her.

We think

that the combination of her skills, her competencies, her values will allow her

to do an excellent job for the people of this province and for this House of

Assembly as the Auditor General.

Again, I

looked through Ms. Mullaley's resume; it's very impressive; a number of skill

sets, great employment. When you look at the jobs that I just referenced, the

positions, they're obviously progressively getting higher and higher, certainly

a lot of responsibility.

So on

that note, obviously we will be supporting the resolution appointing Ms.

Mullaley as the Auditor General and I look forward to comments from my

colleagues across the way, and looking forward to their, hopefully, support for

this resolution as well.

Thank

you.

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Opposition House

Leader.

MR. HUTCHINGS:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I'm

certainly pleased to rise to speak to the motion before us today:

“WHEREAS

section 4 of the Auditor General Act

provides that on resolution of the House of Assembly, the Lieutenant-Governor in

Council shall appoint an Auditor General;

“THEREFORE

BE IT RESOLVED that Julia Mullaley be appointed as the Auditor

General.”

As has

been indicated by the minister in speaking to the motion, this is an Officer of

the House of Assembly, an independent function, but a very important function in

regard to the oversight and assurance of the delivery of services, programs and

budgets of government, and the authority of the Auditor General of the work that

he or she does in that role.

It's

extremely important in relation to the autotomy, to the openness and

transparency and to the adherence of the operations of government that there's

oversight and certainly, as I said, openness and transparency to that. This

individual has a large scope of power, or a large scope of authority to do that.

As the minister said, it's about $3.5 million office, with a staff of about 40

people which provides that function.

I would

like to – before I just speak to Ms. Mullaley and her appointment – just

recognize the years of service of former Auditor General Terry Paddon and the

excellent service that he's provided to the province since his appointment in

2012. Mr. Paddon, as well, prior to that served in the Department of Finance,

deputy minister of Finance for a significant period of time, has a long history

in the public service and a great deal of experience that he brought to the

position when he was appointed as Auditor General. So I certainly think it's

appropriate in the House today to recognize his contribution.

Serving

in government myself, and as a minister running a department, the work of the

Auditor General is indeed significant. Sometimes in running a department, some

of the things that come up are challenging as a minister and as a group of

public servants to deal with. Sometimes it points out things that are done well,

but other times things that are not.

provides an impetus for a sitting minister, or that government of the day and

the public servants involved, to put a new set of lenses on something that's

happening or how it's being done and to improve it. That's a very important role

that was provided by Mr. Paddon. I certainly congratulate him on his years of

service and wish him well.

The

appointment today is in relation to Ms. Mullaley and her experience and what she

brings in regard to her appointment. She has a long history of service to the

public service and I understand as well in the Department of Finance. She was

clerk of the Executive Council and secretary to Cabinet. She's also recently

served as the chief executive officer of Newfoundland and Labrador Housing.

When you

look at some of her appointments in various capacities, she served in the public

sector in the past. She served as deputy minister of the Department of Advanced

Education and Skills, deputy minister of Municipal Affairs, I mentioned clerk of

the Executive Council, assistant deputy minister of Business Investment within

the Department of Business, ADM of Royalties and Benefits with the Department of

Natural Resources, executive director of Planning and Coordination with

Executive Council, director of Budgeting with Treasury Board secretariat and

audit principal with the Office of the Auditor General. All of these functions,

experience and knowledge, along with her education, we believe on this side,

makes her duly qualified and well positioned to take on the function of the

Auditor General for the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador and the office.

As the

minister mentioned as well, it's a 10-year appointment. It's significant, but

you need a significant period for that build-up of expertise on patterns of the

execution of expenditures and services in various departments over those Crown

corporations or other entities. That individual makes the autonomous decision

where and when he or she would review or look at the particular finances or

services of a particular entity under the government umbrella. I think it's very

important that broad spectrum is there.

From our

perspective, based on her experience, knowledge to date and what she's done, we

think she's duly qualified and certainly support this motion. I certainly look

forward to further commentary on it.

certainly wish her well on her new role over the next number of years. Again,

well qualified and certainly support the appointment.

Thank

you, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Leader of the

Third Party.

MS. MICHAEL:

Thank you very much, Mr.

Speaker.

I, too,

am very happy to stand and speak to the motion that's on the floor right now:

“WHEREAS

section 4 of the Auditor General Act

provides that on resolution of the House of Assembly, the Lieutenant-Governor in

Council shall appoint an Auditor General;

“THEREFORE

BE IT RESOLVED that Julia Mullaley be appointed as the Auditor

General.”

I think

the very fact that this appointment is something that is looked at by the IAC,

the Independent Appointments Commission, shows how important this position is,

the role of Auditor General, for the province. I was really glad to hear the

Minister of Justice let us know that not only did Ms. Mullaley go through the

process of making application to the IAC and being one of four candidates

interviewed, she was interviewed by the IAC, was one of the candidates put

forward and the Executive Council accepted that nomination. That's really good

for us to know, that there was a process that we recognize and that we –

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER:

Excuse me.

Order,

please!

MS. MICHAEL:

Thank you very much, Mr.

Speaker.

I'm very

glad the process that we have set up under the IAC was followed right through to

the very end, where the government accepted the nomination that was put forward.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER:

Order, please!

MS. MICHAEL:

Thank you very much, Mr.

Speaker.

Before

going on and speaking specifically to Ms. Mullaley, I, too, want to join my two

colleagues in thanking the former Auditor General, Terry Paddon, for his work

over a five-year period. It's certainly not an easy job.

As a

Member of the House of Assembly Management Commission, I'm privileged to be able

to work with some of the officers of the agencies under government. We get to

see the hard work that a position like the Auditor General entails. Mr. Paddon,

as well as the AG before him, showed that commitment to hard work and due

diligence.

Just to

remind us, this role is so important that it was an Auditor General that was

able to find what was going wrong in the House of Assembly way back in

2005-2006. Because of the AG of the day and the work that was done, we now have,

I think,

an act that other jurisdictions should really be looking at and saying

we should have

an act as good as this one. That's the

House of Assembly Accountability,

Integrity and Administration Act . That's how important the role of the

Auditor General is.

Ms.

Mullaley, from everything I know about her, is certainly somebody who can fulfil

that role, a very experienced senior executive with an excellent track record.

She began her provincial government career in the Office of the Auditor General,

actually, as a commerce graduate and chartered accountant, so she brings that

background with her. Since then, she has developed a diverse experience across

many departments in government and a deep familiarity with the workings of

government.

That's

so important, to have an understanding of how government works in doing the job

because it's more than just numbers, it's looking at how the money is being

spent. But then there has to be an understanding of what departments are

spending money on and what it means to be responsible and accountable for the

public purse.

Her

experience has ranged from the highest levels in Executive Council, as associate

secretary to Cabinet, deputy clerk and clerk, and then to executive positions in

Municipal Affairs, Business, Natural Resources, the Treasury Board and, most

recently, her role as acting CEO of Newfoundland and Labrador Housing

Corporation. These different roles have certainly given her an understanding of

public financial administration, as well as the administration of programs and

services across government, as I just spoke to. Understanding why the programs

are there and what is entailed in the delivery of our services is extremely

important for this role.

From

what I understand, of those who know Ms. Mullaley – I don't myself, but her

diverse experience, along with her reputation as a thoughtful, reasonable and

fair individual – these are words that have been used in speaking about her to

me – that background will stand her in good stead in fulfilling the duties of

Auditor General. It's nice to point out on a personal level she's also been

involved in her community, through Admiralty House in Mount Pearl, Girl Guides

and the Heart and Stroke Foundation.

We feel

very confident in our caucus that Ms. Mullaley will take the professionalism and

caring that she has exhibited in her past roles and apply them well to the

Office of the Auditor General.

Welcome,

Ms. Mullaley.

Thank

you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for Mount

Pearl – Southlands.

MR. LANE:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I'm not

going to take very long, just to say that I think, basically, the same as others

have already said. Ms. Mullaley certainly is a very qualified individual from an

educational point of view, from an experience point of view, experience in

government and so on. She knows how government works, how systems work and so

on. I think that she's going to do a great job. I think she's a great choice,

and I certainly will be supporting this appointment.

Thank

you, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER:

Is the House ready for the

question?

Is it

the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?

All

those in favour, ‘aye.'

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Aye.

MR. SPEAKER:

All those against, ‘nay.'

The

motion is carried.

The hon.

the Government House Leader.

MR. A. PARSONS:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I'm

actually going to move Motion 2. I don't believe there's a need to read the

entire thing out; I read it into the record just a couple of days ago.

I'd like

to move that motion.

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Government House

Leader.

MR. A. PARSONS:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I'm

moving a resolution today that I think the Speaker will find particularly

interesting since it concerns the Speaker.

Basically what we have here – do you know what? I am going to read the motion

because I think to those that are watching, the motion, the language, says

exactly what it is we are trying to do here, but then I will provide some

information on the background and why we need to be here in the House of

Assembly to do this.

The

motion is saying:

WHEREAS

the Royal Newfoundland Regiment distinguished itself in a number of key First

World War battles, and fought valiantly as equal members of the British Empire

alongside Canada, Australia and New Zealand; and

WHEREAS

the Trail of the Caribou memorials commemorate the brave actions of the Royal

Newfoundland Regiment in France and Belgium but there is not, as yet, such a

memorial in Turkey; and

WHEREAS

this House respects and honours the bravery and sacrifice of all Newfoundlanders

and Labradorians who fought and died in conflict, and today recognizes in

particular those brave members who served in Turkey;

NOW

THEREFORE

BE IT RESOLVED that this House requests that the Speaker, as a servant

of this hon. House and therefore a representative of the people of the Province

of Newfoundland and Labrador, journey to Turkey to advance discussions towards a

shared goal of establishing a memorial commemorating the significant

contributions of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment at Gallipoli.

What

this resolution will do – as a resolution, it is something that has to be voted

on by all Members of the House and it concerns the Speaker who is obviously the

presiding Officer of this House of Assembly.

Now,

what I'd like to do is just basically provide some background to your role as

the Speaker – which again, I'm not doing it to explain to you, Mr. Speaker – you

certainly know your role – but to those listening and watching it may provide

some information.

The role

of the Speaker in the House is an ancient role going back to the beginnings of

parliament. I will give credit here to O'Brien and Bosc for all their work here.

Anything I'm saying today is likely cribbed from O'Brien and Bosc, the work

they've done.

The

classic statement respecting the role of the Speaker is referred to at page 302

of the text relating to an incident in 1642 when the Speaker refused to identify

certain Members to the Crown, the Speaker stated, and I quote: I have neither

eyes to see nor tongue to speak in this place, but as the House is pleased to

direct me, whose servant I am here. That says it all. The Speaker presides over

the House, gives direction, guides the House, but will take direction from the

House as well.

This was

the start of the concept. This tradition continues today. The Speaker acts only

on behalf of the House, has no authority, except as directed by the House. So

the Speaker is intimately involved in this very important issue, which is the

recognition of the people that served. In order for the Speaker to do this, the

Speaker has to be directed by the House. The Speaker cannot do this on his own,

as the Speaker; he has to be directed by the House. He can go and travel and

have conversations, but he would not be the actual representative or able to

provide instruction on behalf of the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador.

The

election of any Speaker is indicative of a trust that they will impartially

enforce the rules adopted by the House – again, our Standing Orders, something

we've debated here just this week – and uphold the precedence of the House.

Again,

O'Brien and Bosc states: The Speaker may exercise only those powers conferred

upon him or her by the House. In ruling on matters of procedure, the Speaker is

expected to adhere strictly to this principle. Upon being sworn in, the Speaker

states that he or she is a servant of the House. The House itself is the power

behind the Speaker. So, consequently, any activities in the House that are not a

part of normal proceedings, such as what we do in the House, Orders of the Day,

it actually requires permission of this House and the Members that sit within it

to give the Speaker the authority to do so.

This is

something that obviously is very important to all of us, I think. I couldn't

think of a better individual to represent our province in this very important

role. The issue has been spoken about on a number of occasions here in the House

when we talk about our regiment, we talk about the battles and we talk about

those who gave their lives for this province.

On that

note, I can say that I'm looking forward to supporting this and to supporting

the Speaker and giving this direction to the Speaker to be able to represent us

as he journeys to Turkey to meet with their officials and to work on this.

Hopefully, the end goal of this resolution will be the establishment of a

memorial in Turkey to remember all those Newfoundlanders and Labradorians that

gave their life and fought.

Thank

you so much and I look forward to supporting this, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Opposition House

Leader.

MR. HUTCHINGS:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I am

glad to rise today with an opportunity to speak to this particular motion as

outlined by the Minister of Justice and Public Safety, in particular to this

issue in Gallipoli and the Royal Newfoundland Regiment and certainly your role,

Mr. Speaker, and the role you play here in the House on your appointment and the

representative you are for this Chamber. I know the minister did go through why

we think it's important in regard to you being the representative and the

ability to have that representation and take it to Turkey. So I'm not going to

go through in any detail that particular aspect which he covered.

I would

want to just mention a few points in regard to our history and why this is

important to Newfoundlanders and Labradorians and what it means to those from

the Newfoundland Regiment and from generations gone by and from our history and

how important it is.

As we

look back in history, even today, wars are terrible things and what's involved

and if we can avoid them, we certainly should. We live in a world today and,

most cases, some of those wars we talked about, nations that once fought against

one another in wars are now at peace. British alongside Germans, Americans work

alongside Japanese and so forth. But a century ago the allies, including the

British Empire and the Dominion of Newfoundland, were at war with Central

Powers, including the Ottoman Empire centred in modern-day Turkey. Today, Canada

and Newfoundland are at peace with a country like Turkey.

As we

look through and at the end of the war and the president of the Republic of

Turkey, at the time, paid tribute to all of the fallen at Gallipoli – including

Australians, New Zealanders and Newfoundlanders from the Dominion – and he said:

“After having lost their lives on this land, they become our sons as well.”

As the

Turkish ambassador to Canada said a couple of years ago, that we live at a time

for “turning the tragedies of this war into a friendship among all nations

involved from here to eternity.”

So as we

know from wars and what transpires, we hope we learn from that, but those become

generational because lives are lost and generations die and pass on, what we

learn in the history carries with us and carries with nations all over the

world.

The

story of what happened in Turkey a century ago is well known as some of the

other incidents in our history – Beaumont-Hamel – but it's a story that

certainly deserves to be told as well.

Back in

1915, the First Five Hundred, the Blue Puttees, out of Pleasantville were in

Scotland training for combat. In May of 1915 the battalion of the Royal Scots

was being deployed by train to Gallipoli and Turkey when a terrible train

collision all but wiped out their battalion; only 58 of the 500 on that train

answered the roll call the next day.

With the

Newfoundland Regiment training in Scotland, the British Army decided to send our

soldiers to Gallipoli in the Royal Scots place. The Regiment went ashore in the

northern part of Gallipoli battlefield and on September 20, during the landing,

the Newfoundlanders suffered their first-battle casualties.

Two days

later, the first Regiment solider was killed in action; the next day, another

was killed. Of the thousand Newfoundlanders who wore the Caribou badge in the

months of deployment, 44 died and more than 500 had to be evacuated from the

front due to illness caused by the terrible conditions that you can imagine that

would be at the battlefront.

Turkey

was the first place the Blue Puttees faced an enemy in battle and, no doubt,

like many of those that served, they served with courage and with honour. The

unlikely capture of Caribou Hill, a peak guarded by enemy snipers, is a story

that certainly needs to be better known, better told.

The

Newfoundland Regiment was the only North American unit to fight in the Gallipoli

campaign of 1915. When the decision was made to evacuate all British Empire

forces from the area, the Regiment was chosen to be part of the rear guard,

finally withdrawing from Gallipoli with the last of the British Dardanelles army

troops on January 9, 1916.

certainly need a fitting memorial to stand as a reminder of their service and

their sacrifice, and also a reminder for all of us how terrible wars are. We

certainly support sending the Speaker as a servant of the House and, therefore,

a representative of the people of the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador to

Turkey to advance the discussions towards a shared goal of establishing a

memorial commemorating the significant contributions of the Royal Newfoundland

Regiment at Gallipoli.

I know

from my time in government over the past number of years there have been

discussions, trying to move this forward, work was done and we certainly hope we

can bring this to a conclusion. We believe in your capabilities as a diplomat in

the office and the necessary command of respect from Turkey officials when you

meet with them.

We look

forward to seeing a monument in Turkey similar in significance of those in

France and in Belgium, a site where people can visit, similar to Beaumont-Hamel,

when people go there, reflect on the past and celebrate the era of peace which

we now see ourselves in. I'm sure that all soldiers in war would certainly look

forward to that and who have been part of it.

Mr.

Speaker, as I said, we, on this side of the House, support this initiative. We

hope to see it and bring to a conclusion where we can have that memorial in

Turkey recognizing those from the Newfoundland Regiment, their service, what

they have done, all the work, us as the Dominion of Newfoundland when we look

back and the service we gave overseas and into far-off lands.

It's

important, as I said, recognizing war, conditions in the world today. It's

always good to remember and also for generations to come that are educated and

understand the implications of war and those that gave their lives and those

Newfoundlanders who did. We must continue to remember those and remember those

today that served, but this is certainly a worthwhile initiative and we strongly

endorse it.

Thank

you, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Leader of the

Third Party.

MS. MICHAEL:

Thank you very much, Mr.

Speaker.

I'm

pleased, too, to stand and speak to this motion put forward by the Government

House Leader requesting “that the Speaker, as a servant of the Honourable House

and therefore a representative of the people of the Province of Newfoundland and

Labrador, journey to Turkey to advance discussions towards a shared goal of

establishing a memorial commemorating the significant contributions of the Royal

Newfoundland Regiment at Gallipoli.”

I think

it's important to note, because we have had discussions around this, these

discussions have been going on for a while. The current government, obviously,

would like to see these discussions be brought to a conclusion. I think having

the Speaker represent this House is the way to do it. I think it's quite an

honourable thing that's being asked of the House to appoint the Speaker.

I thank

the Government House Leader for making reference historically to the role of the

Speaker, and that what's being asked is within what the role of the Speaker

should be as a representative in our name together, of both government and those

of us in Opposition.

With

regard to what we're asking of the Speaker at this point in time, I see this as

an opportunity to once again, yes, have a memorial, but a memorial that

hopefully will remind us that we don't want war. Every time we do a memorial, I

think that should be our goal. Every time we have ceremonies at our War Memorial

that should be our goal, to point out that wars aren't the answer. Wars result

in a loss of life and a loss of much more than that.

I think

it's really important that we mark the loss of the life of our young people

because that's what happened. They joined young people from other countries. I

think that's what this also does, reminding us it just wasn't our young men who

went down in the First World War, there were also young men from other

countries.

In this

case, of course, we have the members of the British Empire. So we had

Newfoundland along with – because it was Newfoundland then – Canada, Australia

and New Zealand. The battle that was fought in Turkey is the battle that we're

talking about.

I trust

that the Speaker of the House will bring that message as you have these

discussions with your counterparts in Turkey, a discussion that we're not doing

this to glorify war, we're doing this to remember we don't want it to happen

again.

believe that the Speaker of our House has the stature and the integrity to

represent us as you br