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June 18, 2020

HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS

Vol. XLIX No. 42

The

House met at 1:30 p.m.

MR. SPEAKER (Reid):

Order, please!

Admit

strangers.

Statements by

Members

MR. SPEAKER:

Today we will hear Members'

statements from the hon. Members for the Districts of Harbour Main, Windsor

Lake, St. John's Centre, Topsail - Paradise, Placentia West - Bellevue, and it's

my understanding that the Member for Burin - Grand Bank is seeking leave to

present a Member's statement as well.

The hon.

the Member for Harbour Main.

MS. CONWAY OTTENHEIMER:

Thank you, Mr.

Speaker.

It is

with great pleasure that I share with all hon. Members how a church group in the

District of Harbour Main transformed the lonely times of the pandemic into

something quite extraordinary for seniors.

The

elderly, in particular, have been deeply impacted by COVID-19 and have felt the

psychological toll of the quarantine and isolation. St. Peter's Anglican Church

in Upper Gullies immediately recognized this vulnerability and were determined

to find ways to get the seniors in their congregation connected despite social

distancing measures.

They

recognized the importance of educating their elderly on technology, so with the

guidance of a 17-year-old tech wizard, designed and created a program to help

and assist seniors on how to use all the modern-day applications. The church

group was delighted when they received a grant from Advanced Education, Skills

and Labour in support of this initiative.

It is

heartwarming to hear some of the finer moments of the pandemic when an

82-year-old lady, like a pro, turns on her iPad at her kitchen table every

Sunday morning and tunes in on Facebook Live to attend the local church service.

I ask

all Members of this House to join me in paying tribute to St. Peter's Anglican

Church in Upper Gullies for their innovation and the loving concern they have

shown for their elders.

Thank

you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for St.

John's Centre.

MR. J. DINN:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr.

Speaker, Mother Teresa said: Not all of us can do great things, but we can do

small things with great love. Sometimes, something as simple as picking up a

piece of trash can be a tremendous act of respect for the environment and love

for the world we all share.

For over

25 years, Walter Harding, his wife, Kimberly, and a dedicated core of volunteers

have waged a quiet war against litter in St. John's. Members of this

enthusiastic team are: Jill Bruce, Shirley Parsons, Anna Penney, Donna Imhoff,

Ernie Walsh and Rod Pomeroy.

Walter

has been organizing neighbourhood cleanups – often at his own expense –

throughout the metro region. So far this year, Walter and his team have

collected 300 of their annual 1,000-bag goal. In pre-COVID times, Walter

normally organized 20 to 40 volunteers for weekend cleanups throughout the

spring. For now, it's just him and his wife. A pointless exercise? After all,

it's not their litter. But to Walter and his team it's their world and their

problem to solve. It's a labour of love.

I ask

hon. Members of this House to join me in recognizing the great work of Walter

Harding and his team. I challenge us to go one step further: commit to picking

up one piece of trash a day. Let's all be a little more like Walter.

Thank

you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

Topsail - Paradise.

MR. P. DINN:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

From May

2 to 9, Louise and Bernie Mercer of the beautiful District of Topsail - Paradise

held a food drive to honour their late children's birthday. Alex and Riley

Mercer both shared the same birthdate. Though years apart, both were lost to a

rare form of brain cancer: Alex, when she was in elementary school and Riley as

a teenager. Both parents wanted to do something special for their birthdays and

also wanted it to be a community event. Thus, seven years ago SOAR was born –

the Spirit of Alex and Riley.

The food

drive, headquartered every year at the Salvation Army Church in Long Pond, has

been embraced by residents as a way to honour the Mercer family's courage and

grace, and give back to the community by supporting the efforts of the food

bank. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Mercers held a virtual birthday where

they accepted monetary donations, raising $27,905 that went directly to the

CBS/Paradise Community Food Bank. The Mercers said that as long as there is a

need in the community, they will continue this as a way of thanking the

community and as a way for those who helped them in their time of need.

Mr.

Speaker, I would like to thank the Mercers for what they do for their community

and to say what a wonderful and beautiful tribute to Alex and Riley.

Thank

you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

Windsor Lake.

MR. CROSBIE:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I pay

tribute to the MacMorran Community Centre who stayed operational during this

difficult time and continued to operate its food bank to provide the essentials

for those in their community.

coordination with local restaurants, they ensured hot meals were provided

throughout the neighbourhood on a weekly basis. Staff connected with those in

need on an ongoing basis to ensure their food and supplies were met during the

pandemic. Staff put together comfort and activity kits for seniors and school

children, which were delivered on an ongoing basis. Finally, staff worked with

the schools to ensure that educational work was distributed to the children in

the community.

The

MacMorran Community Centre stands out not only as a beacon of hope and

compassion, but is a prime example of the tireless work of the dedicated staff

and volunteers in my district and in our province to the most vulnerable in our

society.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

Placentia West - Bellevue.

MR. DWYER:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Today, I

speak of a remarkable young man from my District of Placentia West - Bellevue:

Blake Colbran, a youth who beautifully represents the Town of Marystown. Blake

has strived through more personal hardship then should be allocated to any

person, and has done so with a soaring attitude.

Blake

has most recently received the Horatio Alger Scholarship. This scholarship is

awarded to full-time students in their final year of high school with financial

challenges and who have demonstrated integrity and perseverance in overcoming

adversity, a commitment to pursue a post-secondary education, a desire to

contribute to society and a good academic record. Blake has most deservingly

received $5,000 to assist with his academic studies.

Mr.

Speaker, this is not all that Blake has received. Blake is also the recipient of

the Joyce Family Foundation bursary, a bursary which is endowed upon students

enrolled in full-time studies of a recognized college or university in Canada,

which are based on financial need and to increase the participation of

disadvantaged or at-risk youth who face obstacles and barriers to a

post-secondary education. Blake has received a $20,000 bursary to assist in his

studies.

I would

like this hon. house to show their appreciation and give praise to such an

outstanding accomplishment of Mr. Blake Colbran. He is a man that definitely has

a bright future ahead of him.

Thank

you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for Burin

- Grand Bank with leave.

MS. HALEY:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

It is

with a heavy heart I speak today of a devastating loss, not only to the Town of

St. Lawrence but the province as a whole.

On May

25, the fishing vessel the Sarah Anne ,

with crew members Eddie Joe, Scott and Jody Norman and Isaac Kettle, left port

for the fishing grounds. Tragically, it would be their last trip and four of St.

Lawrence's fine citizens taken by the sea.

While

the bodies of Eddie Joe, Scott and Jody were soon recovered, and despite long

days of searching and heartache, it wasn't until June 6 that Isaac's body was

recovered and brought back home. We are so thankful to those who searched and

offered closure.

Mr.

Speaker, another

chapter written in St. Lawrence's long history of tragedy as

generations of native sons and daughters have taken to the sea or gone

underground to earn a living, too often with tragic results.

St.

Lawrence is grieving, and the grieving of one is the grieving of all. As is

their custom, the good people of St. Lawrence have come together to comfort and

support the families.

I ask

all hon. Members to keep the Norman and Kettle families in their thoughts and

prayers, and pray also for those who “go to the sea in ships, that do business

in great waters.”

Thank

you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

Statements by Ministers.

Statements by

Ministers

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Service NL.

MR. OSBORNE:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Saturday, June 20, officially marks the first day of summer. Throughout the

season, thousands of motorists will travel over our provincial roadways to enjoy

all that our province has to offer.

As the

province continues to learn and live with COVID-19 and as residents travel and

vacation at home this summer, I strongly encourage all motorists to keep the

following simple rules top of mind so we can avoid senseless tragedies on our

highways.

Don't

drink and drive. Don't use your cellphone while driving and don't text and

drive. Adhere to posted speed limits, slow down in construction zones and make

sure you reduce your speed when roads are wet or during foggy conditions. Wear

your seat belt. Stay alert and do not drive fatigued or distracted. It almost

seems too silly to mention, Mr. Speaker, but I think it's important to remind

people.

Mr.

Speaker, this is also an important time to remind all Newfoundlanders and

Labradorians that it is illegal to operate any type of motorized vehicle if your

ability to drive is impaired by alcohol or drugs.

Last

year, motor vehicle collisions claimed approximately 2,000 lives in Canada,

between five and six people a day. In addition, almost 10,000 more were

seriously injured. Most of these collisions were preventable.

Public

safety is a top priority for government and we will continue to make

improvements in the Highway Traffic Act

to help make our roads and highways safer.

Thank

you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

Ferryland.

MR. O'DRISCOLL:

I thank the minister for an

advance copy of his statement.

Mr.

Speaker, to hear that 2,000 people lost their lives and 10,000 others were

injured in collisions in our country last year is distressing. To know that most

of these collisions were preventable makes it more sad and senseless.

It is

often said that road safety is a shared responsibility. Mr. Speaker, as people

start getting back on the roads in our province, we must be mindful of our safe

driving practices, of others using the roadways and, of course, weather and road

conditions.

Mr.

Speaker, safety should be everyone's priority. I encourage all those using our

roads – motorists, construction crews, cyclists, runners and pedestrians – to

stay safe.

Thank

you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

Labrador West.

MR. BROWN:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I

thank the minister for an advance copy of his statement.

I join

with the minister in recommending and reminding people to stay safe on the

provincial highways this summer. I would also advise people to make sure they

stay aware of our road conditions, watch out for moose and other wildlife on the

highways and avoid, if possible, driving at night.

In the

summer of the COVID pandemic, government is advising people to take a

staycation. An excellent idea, but when rediscovering our beautiful province,

stay safe and keep your eyes on the road.

Thank

you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

Further statements by

ministers?

The hon.

the Minister of Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation.

MR. DAVIS:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I rise

in this hon. House to encourage all residents to vacation in our beautiful

province this summer as we continue to learn to live with COVID-19.

restrictions have eased, the call to action is simple, to get out and explore

the place we love and call home.

In the

very near future, we will be launching our new marketing campaign, one that is

about our unparalleled pride of this place. Our heart swells when we talk about

home, which is more than just a house and family – it's a place, it's a state of

mind. And for us, it's the entire province.

discover more about the unique story of our home, I urge travellers to consider

experiencing our many hiking and walking trails, parks and museums. Discover one

of our 11 provincial historic sites opening in July, or learn more about those

local registered attractions and experiences at one of our six Visitor

Information Centres opening this month.

Mr.

Speaker, by vacationing in our province, we are supporting hard hit, registered

tourism businesses such as attractions, craft shops, restaurants and licensed

accommodators. These businesses and their employees are our friends, our

neighbours and our families. They connect us to this place, our roots and to our

culture. And this summer they need our help. To learn more about these

businesses that are registered and licensed in our province, please visit:

newfoundlandlabrador.com.

encourage everyone to start making their vacation at home plans, because like so

many in this province, there's no place I would rather be than here in

Newfoundland and Labrador.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for Terra

Nova.

MR. PARROTT:

Mr. Speaker, I'd like to

thank the minister for an advance copy of his statement.

Mr.

Speaker, this summer I will be vacationing in our province, and I look forward

to exploring many coves and communities to which I've never visited before.

I'm

happy to hear that the department will be launching a new staycation marking

plan; however, I suggest to the minister that this campaign should have been

launched weeks ago. As people plan their vacations in advance, I worry that this

announcement may be a little too late for the industry.

Mr.

Speaker, our tourism industry is in trouble because of this public health

pandemic. The industry's activities for the season have been severely and

negatively impacted and it is unknown how the tourism market will respond next

year. For these reasons, I believe the Premier needs to make an announcement

regarding the Atlantic tourism bubble sooner rather than later.

If our

province is to be a part of it, our tourism operators need to market their

establishments in other Atlantic provinces now to prompt people to come visit us

this summer and to bring revenue into our province.

Thank

you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

Labrador West.

MR. BROWN:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I, too,

thank the minister for an advance copy of his statement.

marketing plan will be a great boost for many businesses that rely on tourism.

Hopefully, the plan will encourage more people from the Island to travel to

Labrador.

All

Labradorians have been to Newfoundland, but most Newfoundland residents have

never been to Labrador. This is a good time to come see the historic communities

and breathtaking scenery of the Big Land.

Thank

you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

Further statements by

ministers?

The hon.

the Minister of Transportation and Works.

MR. CROCKER:

Mr. Speaker, it gives me pleasure today to inform this hon. House of recent

actions taken by the department to make highways safer for children, parents and

teachers walking on provincial roads in school zones.

Earlier

this week, digital speed signs that display the speed of motorists travelling

over the speed limit and warns them to slow down began being installed in school

zones on provincial roads. As of today, 10 signs have been installed and by the

end of August we anticipate that 165 signs will be installed in 81 schools

zones. Mr. Speaker, in addition to showing speed and issuing a warning, the

digital signs also display a second flashing message to motorists travelling in

excess of 10 kilometers above the speed limit.

These

signs are similar to those you may have seen in school zones on municipal roads.

We have also been using them on some highways in our province and we know they

are quite effective in promoting highway safety and reminding motorists to slow

down.

Mr.

Speaker, we want to thank the Department of Education and Early Childhood

Development and the province's school districts for their work on this

initiative. This initiative will now lead to a safer environment for everyone

walking in school zones. However, we will also take this opportunity to remind

motorists that it is important to drive responsibly and cautiously, and

encourage all motorists to pay attention to all signs and slow down on all of

our highways.

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. Mr. Speaker, I have said many

times before, we welcome and support all initiatives that increase road safety

for all individuals using our roadways. Children and others walking to and from

school can be some of the most vulnerable.

Digital

display speed signs can be very useful tools, and we are certainly glad to see

the government finally taking advantage of this technology in installing these

signs in the school zones throughout our province. Mr. Speaker, while we are

pleased to see these measures to help ensure the safety of our children, we

would also encourage government to look at some other initiatives, such as the

1.6 busing policy and speed limit reduction signs in all school zones across the

province.

I would

like to make this point on our last day before the summer. I've lobbied for this

for several years and the minister can attest to it. I believe we should have

reduced speed limits on all provincial roads that run in school zones. We don't.

It's not a policy and I call on government to change that.

Thank

you very much.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

Labrador West.

MR. BROWN:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I

thank the minister for an advance copy of the statement.

welcome the installation of more digital signs in school zones. It's a great

first step forward.

When

schools are located on our highways every effort should be made to ensure that

our students are safe going and coming from schools, whether they are walking on

the shoulder or trying to cross the highway. I advise all motorists to heed

these signs to ensure they slow down in school zones. Safety of our children is

the highest priority and initiatives like this increase safety, so let's do more

like this.

Thank

you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

Further statements by

ministers?

Oral

Questions.

Oral Questions

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Leader of the

Official Opposition.

MR. CROSBIE:

Mr. Speaker, in a statement

yesterday, Dominion Bond Rating said that in the absence of a fiscal and

economic update and uncertainty about federal support, a negative trend on

long-term bond ratings is warranted.

Has this

helped the government to beat a retreat on the increase in judges' pay?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Justice and Public Safety.

MR. A. PARSONS:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

As the

Member should know, that would have absolutely nothing to do with the resolution

that has been tabled and reported to this House. What has been done here is not

only constitutionally required, it's statutorily required, so that's what we've

done here. As the Member should know, that would have no consideration in the

decisions that have been made, especially by the tribunal, which again had this

evidence some time ago.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Leader of the

Official Opposition.

MR. CROSBIE:

Mr. Speaker, thank you.

emergency physician told me the department doesn't know what happened to all the

heart attacks over the last three months.

Does the

Minister of Health have an estimate of excess heart- and stroke-related deaths

during the lockdown?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Health and Community Services.

MR. HAGGIE:

Thank you very much, Mr.

Speaker, a very important question around care not related to COVID-19.

I'm

pleased to be able to report to the House that over the period up to the middle

of May through COVID there were no deaths on the cardiac wait-list at all, Mr.

Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Leader of the

Official Opposition.

MR. CROSBIE:

I thank the minister for that

partial glimpse into the question because it refers to the wait-list.

I was in

the Health Sciences as a designated visitor last weekend and a surgeon told me a

patient died that morning before they could complete the COVID protocol and give

crash therapy. The surgeon also thought there's no evidence of virus in the

province and the continued lockdown contributed to the death.

What

does the minister have to say to the family of a deceased person such as this?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Health and Community Services.

MR. HAGGIE:

Thank you very much, Mr.

Speaker.

The

issue of managing acute health care during a pandemic like this has challenged

us in ways that we have not been used to. Quite frankly, the protocols that are

in place are based on public health and infection and prevention control advice.

As the situation has improved across the province in terms of prevalence of the

disease, those changes, those restrictions, those requirements for PPE and

changes in the way business is done are slowly being relaxed. As of next week,

we will be back to pretty well routine activities in the health care system, the

only caveat being to preserve some beds in case of a surge.

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.

Trades

NL have said that a staggering 90 per cent of their 18,000 members are without

work, while outside workers continue to work on the Core Science building at

MUN, Corner Brook hospital and long-term care facilities in Central

Newfoundland.

Why is

the government continuing to sit on their hands while much-needed jobs are going

to outside workers?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Transportation and Works.

MR. CROCKER:

Thank you very much, Mr.

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

We're

not sitting on our hands. We have done more, I would say, in actually monitoring

work job sites in this province over the last number of years than any other

jurisdictions or any other government in the past, Mr. Speaker.

Currently, there are 95 per cent of the employees on these projects in this

province from the province. There are 371 people right now working on TW

projects in this province; 353 of them are actually from the province. I've

talked to Mr. King at Trades NL as recently as yesterday. We're seeing some new

language since COVID coming in from other jurisdictions when it comes

trade-related issues around workers and we're exploring that information along

with Trades NL and Mr. King. We look forward to continuing that conversation,

Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

Conception Bay South.

MR. PETTEN:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

That's

not new news. We spoke about this in the House last month. Your actions need to

match your words, Mr. Speaker, and in this case his inaction is deafening.

The

minister continues to make excuses for government's inactions in the past.

Will the

minister stand with our caucus and Trades NL and commit here and now to a local

hiring policy on all future government infrastructure projects?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Transportation and Works.

MR. CROCKER:

Thank you very much, Mr.

Speaker, and again I thank the hon. Member for the question.

You can

see the actions that this government has taken. Just recently my colleague the

Minister of Service NL brought in the procurement regulations with a 10 per cent

buffer for Newfoundland and Labrador companies, Mr. Speaker. The reality is here

– and I've had this conversation with my colleague the Minister of Service NL

and others – if we're going to be giving buffers or additional room for

companies in this province, we expect them to be hiring Newfoundland and

Labrador workers, 100 per cent. That is something we're looking at. We're

reviewing legislation right now.

Mr.

Speaker, when you think about mobility in a workforce, as Newfoundlanders and

Labradorians we've benefited, I guess, for generation after generation of

mobility. We don't want to be putting up walls that eliminate mobility, but I

can tell you one thing, as we see challenges around mobility in other provinces,

we will certainly follow suit with as strong or stronger rules.

Thank

you very much, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for Grand

Falls-Windsor - Buchans.

MR. TIBBS:

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

Mr.

Speaker, let's bring this back to the ground roots. This government prides

itself on having 95 per cent of their work done locally. The 5 per cent work

done by outside workers in Grand Falls-Windsor long-term health care centre are

plumbers and sheet-metal workers.

I ask

the minister: Do we not have enough out-of-work plumbers and sheet-metal workers

in this province, and what is your message to them?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Transportation and Works.

MR. CROCKER:

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

Any time

we see these numbers we actually go back to the companies and inquire why we see

that. There is a variety of reasons. We don't appreciate or we don't want people

coming in from other provinces. Again, Mr. Speaker, I think the Member behind me

would actually be somebody who, from what I know, has been a worker that's

benefited from worker mobility within our country. It's something we've long had

in this country. It runs with our trade agreements in this country and lots of

times there are provinces out there, and jurisdictions, that want to talk about

increasing worker mobility.

We want

to be able to have a mobile workforce, but we will take the actions necessary to

make sure that Newfoundlander and Labradorians are the ones – of all the

policies I've reviewed in this country, Mr. Speaker, I have not seen one yet

that would get us close to a 95 per cent Newfoundland and Labrador component in

the work sites.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

Topsail - Paradise.

MR. P. DINN:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

continue to hear from constituents who are substitute teachers who feel

forgotten by this government. Since Snowmageddon and COVID-19 many have not

worked since Christmas and many are now looking outside the province for

employment opportunities.

The

minister has spoken to school starting in the fall with split classes and

staggered learning.

I ask

the responsible minister: Does he see us as having enough staff to do so?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Education and Early Childhood Development.

MR. WARR:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I'd

certainly like to address the Member's concerns with regard to substitute

teachers. As I've said in this House several times, it's not lost on me the

importance of substitute teachers. They play a huge

part in the educational

system here in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Just

this morning I had the opportunity, again, to address the issue with my MP, in

my particular part of the district, Mr. Speaker, the issue of substitute

teachers which I review with him each and every week.

Mr.

Speaker, this is not only a Newfoundland and Labrador issue, this is an issue

right across the country and I will continue to do what I can, Mr. Speaker, to

make sure that the word is out on substitute teachers. We'll continue to work

with our federal partners on developing a program to help them.

Thank

you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

Ferryland.

MR. O'DRISCOLL:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I'm

getting many calls from harvesters in my district who are still without any

details on critical programs announced by the federal government to provide

assistance. There's been no response from the federal MPs.

Minister, will you intervene to get these answers, these critical details, so

the harvesters can access these programs?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Fisheries and Land Resources.

MR. BYRNE:

Thank you very much, Mr.

Speaker.

This is

a really important question and it's one of the reasons why I continue to meet

with the federal minister on a weekly basis to discuss not only the issues of

harvesters but plant workers and plant owners. There have been a number of

federal programs that have been initiated, which will be of great assistance to

our industry and to the national industry, but what I am most focused on is

making sure that our provincial harvesters, plant workers and plant owners have

access to these programs.

I was

one of the first to highlight the fact that in the federal government's program

for harvesters, plant workers were totally exempt. There was no direction or no

strategy in place for plant workers. I'm assured that when it comes to plant

workers, there will be a program, but, Mr. Speaker, I'm keeping the federal

government's feet to the fire on this. We need a program for our industry, it is

too important for each and every one of us.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

Harbour Main.

MS. CONWAY OTTENHEIMER:

Mr. Speaker, last

fall the Minister of AESL was found guilty of gross mismanagement with

taxpayers' dollars, yet he was allowed to remain in Cabinet. On the other hand,

the Minister of Service NL's position in Cabinet was vacated, based on an

allegation.

I ask

the Premier: Why the double standard?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Premier.

PREMIER BALL:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

double standard, the report was issued to the House of Assembly to be dealt

with, in the first instance that the Member speaks about, and that issue was

dealt with in the House of Assembly through the normal processes, and the

apology and the recommendations of what led to the address to this House. That

was all carried out by the minister that she speaks about. I'm surprised that

she would bring that up since she was part of those discussions.

The

second instance that we talk about, it was a much different situation, Mr.

Speaker. As you know, I'm not going to get into the details of this. It's all on

public record.

Right

now, once the issue and the investigation has been dealt with and the decision,

Mr. Speaker, will be made by me. I made it quite clear if this investigation

that we're talking about clears the individual then she would go back into

Cabinet.

It's

unfortunate that needs to be raised (inaudible).

MR. SPEAKER:

The time is expired for an

answer.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

Harbour Main.

MS. CONWAY OTTENHEIMER:

Yes, Mr. Speaker,

we're very well aware of the report, but I don't think the Premier understood

the question.

The

evidence was unequivocal of an ethical misconduct by one minister, yet he was

kept in Cabinet. The Premier had a choice, but he readily accepted the

resignation of a female Cabinet minister who had an accusation – no finding of

guilt against her.

Again, I

ask the question: Why the double standard?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Premier.

PREMIER BALL:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Once

again I think in all actual fact what we're seeing here – and the Member is

quite clear, given her background and knowledge of what would happen in these

investigations. I'm not here to get into the details of this. I'm sure this is

probably something that the Member opposite would like to see happen, but that

would be breaking a number of privacy rules and a number of questions around

transparency.

I can't

imagine that someone who sits on the other side of the House in Opposition

today, especially a woman, would want me to actually be publicly disclosing

what's happening.

As I

said quite clearly, there is no double standard here. In one case, the report

was given to this House, it was given to this House to be dealt with. It was

dealt with.

Secondly, on the other investigation, once that's dealt with, as Premier of this

province, I will make that decision and I will make it then quite clear.

I've

already said if the investigation is cleared, the Member would be back in

Cabinet.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

Harbour Main.

MS. CONWAY OTTENHEIMER:

Mr. Speaker, as

critic for the Status of Women I have rights to ask these important questions.

There is a real perception of gender bias in this government, and the Premier

needs to address those concerns by the public.

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Premier.

PREMIER BALL:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Well, I

would be very clear in my position as Premier, since I'm the only Premier in

this country, the only jurisdiction in this country that has set aside a

department clearly and exclusively dedicated to issues around the status of

women.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

PREMIER BALL:

So if there is a bias that

the Member opposite is referring to, it's bias to make sure that we get more

women in leadership roles. I would say, Mr. Speaker, we need more of that and I

would expect all Members of the House to actually support this initiative. In a

year or so, whenever that is, we're going to see more people step up for

leadership. I hope there's a lot more women in the next Assembly in this House

of Assembly.

There

will be one seat that will be vacant in my own district that I hope some woman

steps up to run for.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

Harbour Main.

MS. CONWAY OTTENHEIMER:

Again, Mr.

Speaker, as critic for the Status of Women, I asked the question why there are

not more women running for politics and for public office.

I wonder

if that will increase when we have the Premier not answering the direct

questions about perceived bias in the government with respect to gender.

Thank

you, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Premier.

PREMIER BALL:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Well,

the questions early on with this ongoing question and answer period was directed

to me, so it's only fair that when the questions are directed to me, that I

would answer them. I think the Member clearly understands that because it was

her words.

For me

right now, Mr. Speaker, I'll do whatever I can, while my time in politics, and

even after in an elected role, to promote more women in leadership. I would ask

you, just go look at my own business experience and you will find out that the

majority of the people that were working in any of the businesses that I've

operated in the past or any of the organizations that I work with, far outweighs

the number of women in leadership roles.

I would

suggest to the Member opposite to go look at the key leaders that we have in

government right now and you will see we have put an emphasis on making sure

that we have more women in leadership roles in this province, Mr. Speaker.

Our

records speak for themselves. I would suggest, look around your own caucus and

you can ask yourself the very same question.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

Stephenville - Port au Port.

MR. WAKEHAM:

Mr. Speaker, earlier in his

answer to one of my colleagues, the Minister of Health alluded to the potential

for the health care system to get back to normal with the new Alert Level, but

this time of year is normally a time of year when regional health authorities

actually close beds to allow for staff to take much-needed vacations.

I ask

the minister: Are the regional health authorities planning on bed closures this

summer, and will the dedicated health care workers get their vacation they so

desperately need?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Health and Community Services.

MR. HAGGIE:

Thank you very much, Mr.

Speaker.

I would

use this opportunity just to, once again, thank the health care workers of this

province for what they have done above and beyond over the last little while.

The

Member with his background raises a very important point. We have a balance here

between the needs of a backlog and wait-lists and the usual expectation of

family vacation time as schools finish and we enter the summer. That has been a

topic of discussion with the regional health authorities and will continue to be

so. It will be informed, I think, by my discussions next week with the Medical

Association and the CEOs.

Somewhere in the middle is a balance to make sure that we have healthy,

well-rested staff and yet deal with the issues the people of this province face

with health care.

Thank

you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

Stephenville - Port au Port.

MR. WAKEHAM:

Yes, Mr. Speaker, we have been told here that the actual return to normality for

people on those wait-lists that have been cancelled could take up to 18 months.

I ask

the minister: Is that true, that it could be up to 18 months before we actually

take care of the backlog? If so, what will you do to speed that up?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Health and Community Services.

MR. HAGGIE:

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

I have

not been given a figure by the regional health authorities. We, indeed, are

still in discussions as the bulk of the wait-lists material is actually held in

certain areas in private physicians' offices. The next key, sort of education

piece from my point of view, would be to get hold of that through the NLMA in my

meeting next week. Thereafter, we would be in a better position to assess the

magnitude of the backlog.

At the

moment, we cannot put a time frame on when it's going to be cleared up, and 18

months is a figure that seems to have just appeared out of the ether. I haven't

heard that.

Thank

you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

Torngat Mountains.

MS. EVANS:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

district and all of Labrador has suffered the effects of systemic racism;

systemic harming all aspects of quality of life including our health care. COVID

has exposed the impacts of this systemic racism, denying access to essential

services. Our people often have to wait years to see the right specialist and

then receive the proper treatment. Now, they are waiting with no word when their

surgeries will be rescheduled; life-saving surgeries in a lot of the times.

I'm

asking: Mr. Minister, do you support this lack of communication?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Health and Community Services.

MR. HAGGIE:

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

We have,

over my mandate, made really concerted efforts, which I think quite frankly have

been appreciated by the Indigenous groups with whom I've met, to incorporate

traditional knowledge, traditional healing into, particularly, our mental health

and addictions work. I think that's an example of how we can and should do

business going forward.

Urgent

cases have been dealt with as they arose. Elective cases are going to be

contacted as part of Level 2, which I have now been told will be next week.

If the

Member has any specific challenges with one of her constituents, I'd be only too

happy to look into it for her, but this should start to ease up over the next

little while, Mr. Speaker, with Level 2.

Thank

you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for Terra

Nova.

MR. PARROTT:

Mr. Speaker, I've been bombarded by calls from seniors in my district and

families who can't get home support assessments for personal care homes or home

support.

I ask

the minister: What is the plan to speed up this backlog?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Health and Community Services.

MR. HAGGIE:

Thank you very much, Mr.

Speaker.

With the

move to Level 3, the backlog is being addressed. Urgent placements continued

throughout the pandemic and were not interrupted. And as Level 2 comes, these

assessments will become more and more frequent. A lot of the preliminary work

can actually now, because of some changes, take place virtually or by phone if

we can organize that, bearing in mind the challenges of the individuals

concerned.

This is

work that will come with the transition from Level 3 to Level 2 and is

anticipated to start fully next week, Mr. Speaker.

Thank

you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

Bonavista.

MR. PARDY:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

On May

7, I communicated to Health and Community Services about a constituent who was

diagnosed with breast cancer a year ago. She had surgery and her one-year post

mammogram was scheduled for April past but was postponed due to COVID. In

addition, a consult with a specialist regarding nodules found on her thyroid was

also postponed.

Can the

minister provide more exact information as to when these backlog assessments

will be addressed?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Health and Community Services.

MR. HAGGIE:

Thank you very much, Mr.

Speaker.

Obviously, I can only speak in generalities with that level of detail. Urgent

mammograms, for example, continued throughout COVID. This would have been an

issue of communication between the primary care provider and the radiologist.

Again,

consults continue to be received. These were looked at by the specialist and

prioritized. If they were urgent they could go ahead. If not, they were

deferred, and the deferred ones were being checked, I am told, on a regular

basis to make sure that anything of priority did not slip; as what may not have

been urgent in May, would become urgent in June.

Those

kind of situations, I am informed, were being examined regularly, Mr. Speaker.

Thank

you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

Placentia West - Bellevue.

MR. DWYER:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Minister, I know of a middle-aged, single dad that has been waiting for the

removal of a lump since February. There are concerns that the lump could be

cancerous.

What

assurances can you give that person and his young family as to when he can

expect this surgery in a timely manner?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Health and Community Services.

MR. HAGGIE:

Thank you very much, Mr.

Speaker.

These

are concerns of a general kind that have been brought to the department.

Essentially, this is a matter for discussion between the primary care provider,

the patient and the specialist. If this was deemed urgent, it would go ahead; if

it is deemed of a more routine nature, these will start in Level 3 and increase

in volume in Level 2.

If there

are any concerns about a particular individual, this should be conveyed to the

primary care provider and thence to the specialist and it will be dealt with on

the basis of clinical need, not administrative expediency.

Thank

you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for Mount

Pearl North.

MR. LESTER:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Minister, prior to COVID, we had a health care system in crisis; now it's in

tatters. Many residents in my district have contacted me to raise concerns about

wait times for needed prescriptions for rheumatoid arthritis, blood tests and

many other progressive medical concerns. These are health requirements that

cannot be delayed.

What

confidence can you give the residents that these time-sensitive services will be

fast tracked?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Health and Community Services.

MR. HAGGIE:

The Member opposite raises

two really important issues and I'm going to deal with the first.

I reject

utterly the concept that the health care system is in tatters. That is an insult

– it really is – to the people who have worked long and hard to keep this system

amongst the best in Canada. Look around you and see what's happened out there.

We have had the lowest hospitalization rates for COVID, we have had the lowest

ICU rates for COVID and we have had the lowest death rates for COVID of a lot of

jurisdictions, and it is not in tatters.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Leader of the

Third Party.

MS. COFFIN:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

For the

benefit of ministers today, all our questions can be answered with a simple –

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER:

Order, please!

The hon.

the Leader of the Third Party.

MS. COFFIN:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

For the

benefit of ministers today, all our questions can be answered with a simple yes

or no.

I ask

the Minister of Labour: Will he work with the Federation of Labour to make the

changes to labour standards and workers' compensation legislation stipulated by

the federal government as a condition of their budgetary contribution to our

province?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Advanced Education, Skills and Labour.

MR. MITCHELMORE:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I

thank the Member opposite for the question.

We work

very closely with the Federation of Labour. I actually have a meeting with the

president again tomorrow as part of a routine discussion that we have on

important matters of labour here in this province. The federal government has

identified paid sick leave as something that they would like to pursue and

that's of provincial jurisdiction.

We will

continue to have dialogue with the stakeholders on this particular matter and

look forward to all of the dialogue. Whenever we talk about labour matters, it's

very important that we always balance the employee and employer relationship.

Thank

you for the question today.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

Labrador West.

MR. BROWN:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I ask

the Minister of Labour: Will he protect our workers from multinational

companies' union-busting tactics to bring forward anti-replacement worker

legislation?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Advanced Education, Skills and Labour.

MR. MITCHELMORE:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I thank

the Member opposite for the question when it comes to labour legislation that we

would have here in this particular province.

understand that as responsible for the Labour Relations Agency, whenever there

are matters and whenever there are disputes when it comes to labour, we would be

able to provide support when it comes to mediation and conciliation services

here in this province. And we continue to offer those services to the people

today as they would need it.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for St.

John's Centre.

MR. J. DINN:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr.

Speaker, substitute teachers are a vital part of our education system. They are

also a vulnerable group of professionals who depend on schools being open to

earn a living. The suspension of in-class instruction has placed them at

financial risk and may cause some of them to consider leaving the profession.

I ask

the Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development: Will he put in

supports to keep substitute teachers in the profession so that our education

system will continue to function efficiently?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Education and Early Childhood Development.

MR. WARR:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I

thank the hon. Member for his questions and his concerns with substitute

teachers.

As I've

previously said, Mr. Speaker, that is not lost me. It's not lost on the

education system here within Newfoundland and Labrador. It's not lost on the

district as well. And certainly, as I said earlier, we've had discussions with

our federal colleagues. I've had additional discussions with members of CMEC.

This is not only a provincial issue, this is a national issue, and it's one that

I hope we can get cleared up really soon.

Mr.

Speaker, it's our intention to have students back with full class instruction in

September and substitute teachers will be a big part of that going forward.

Thank

you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for St.

John's Centre.

MR. J. DINN:

Mr. Speaker, the Inuit

Bachelor of Education is an exemplar of a true partnership between the

Nunatsiavut Government and the MUN Faculty of Education.

I ask

the Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Labour: Will his department

encourage the development of programs similar to the IBED program for other

Indigenous groups to promote reconciliation and empowerment?

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Premier.

PREMIER BALL:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I think

it's appropriate – this will probably be my last answer as Premier of the

province – to speak to the importance of Indigenous education, Mr. Speaker, in

all aspects in our education process, either the K-12 system, where the

Premier's Task Force on

Improving Educational Outcomes and then the action plan subsequent to that

made it a priority to make sure that in our K-to-12 system that we would include

Indigenous education, also as multiculturalism – so a big focus on that within

the department.

Also in

post-secondary, Mr. Speaker, I know in the past days speaking with the previous

president as well as speaking with the incoming president, the importance in

post-secondary education, making sure that we include Indigenous issues.

It's

critical to reconciliation. It's an action that I can tell you as this Premier

and incoming premiers and this government will take very seriously and make sure

and commit that it will be included in all aspects of our education.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Leader of the

Third Party.

MS. COFFIN:

These are yes or no. I have

three; let's see how quickly we can go.

Mr.

Speaker, form is as important as function, so I ask the Ministers of

Transportation and Works and Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation will they

work with our many talented local artists on the design of public buildings,

spaces and infrastructure.

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Premier.

PREMIER BALL:

Thank you – this might be my last one.

As part

of making sure that we include parts of our history and our culture, I think we

have a responsibility to make sure that we include that in all aspects of

buildings that we will actually construct in Newfoundland and Labrador. You

would actually see that if you go into the new long-term care centre in Corner

Brook, it speaks to this very issue.

Mr.

Speaker, this is a government that makes sure that we include all the things

that are important in our past and present into new building designs.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The time for Question Period

has expired.

Presenting Reports by Standing and Select Committees.

Tabling

of Documents.

Notices

of Motion.

Answers

to Questions for which Notice has been Given.

Petitions.

Petitions

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Opposition House

Leader.

MR. BRAZIL:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The

reason for this petition and the background of the petition is as follows: On

July 19, 2018, Eastern Health announced that the services offered at the

Portugal Cove-St. Philip's Community Health Clinic would be relocated to Major's

Path Clinic, with the transition expected to be completed September 30, 2018.

The

Portugal Cove Community Health Clinic has provided public health services for

decades and is the only clinic in Portugal Cove-St. Philip's, a town of nearly

10,000 residents.

The

clinic provides direct health care programs and services to the town on a daily

basis and addresses the vital and growing needs for community health services,

particularly for the increasing youth and aged population of Portugal Cove-St.

Philip's.

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

undersigned, call upon the House of Assembly to urge the Government of

Newfoundland and Labrador to take immediate action to ensure that the services

currently offered at Portugal Cove-St. Philip's and that those services that

were to be put to Major's Path would stay in Portugal Cove-St. Philip's.

Mr.

Speaker, we lobbied consistently – and this petition has over 3,000 names to it

– to have the services not depleted within the community because of the need for

the population and because our understanding from Eastern Health and all the

regional health authorities would be about providing services in the

communities. It would be a better return on the investment. It would be better

to get a gauge on the needs of the community.

Mr.

Speaker, after lobbying and protesting – and I met personally with the CEO and

the chair of the regional health board – we did get an understanding that there

would be a scaled-back clinic, and I mean an extremely scaled-back clinic, that

would be temporary until we got to a point where we could then bring back the

other services with some enhanced services. We went to the regional health

authorities' AGM and had the CEO on record, in an interview with NTV,

acknowledged that Portugal Cove-St. Philip's would be one of the integral parts

of how they expand community health services.

Mr.

Speaker, 18 months later we were hoodwinked. It's not very often that you will

find the Member for Conception Bay East - Bell Island or, I would say, the mayor

of Portugal Cove-St. Philip's get hoodwinked. But we have come to an agreement;

both of us got hoodwinked and so did the residents of Portugal Cove-St.

Philip's, because not only do we not even have the small, one-room clinic that

did very minor interventions, because of the nature of that – the health

professionals would have to leave Major's Path, come down. It was more of a

holdover closet, as we called it.

The fact

of the matter is, during the COVID even those services are now not being

offered. We are now lobbying. We're adamant and we were very open to having

dialogue. There's a committee set up where Eastern Health comes down, but while

I compliment the health professionals, the individuals who are facilitating this

process, we know it's a stall tactic. We have no idea why this process was taken

away.

We were

first told it was a savings of $100,000. When I sought it with some financial

people and we did the cost analysis, we realized it's going to cost $10,000 more

because we were led to believe that they owned the building that they were in.

Since then we found out they lease.

They

could've leased a building in Portugal Cove-St. Philip's, where they were, much

less than what the original cost was. The cost of a health professional's

transportation to and from Major's Path to Portugal Cove-St. Philip's adds up.

Not counting the 40 minutes that's lost in that transportation time. It's

costly.

So, Mr.

Speaker, this is not acceptable. We're asking that somebody step in, either

through the Minister of Health, to Eastern Health to say you have a better way

to offer health services in Portugal Cove-St. Philip's and you can still save

the taxpayers' money.

We will

bring this adamantly to the House of Assembly until we get restitution of those

programs.

Thank

you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

Humber - Bay of Islands.

MR. JOYCE:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I'm

going to present a petition on behalf of the residents of Route 450 in Humber -

Bay of Islands. I was a bit late in getting the petition in. I want to thank the

Clerk for allowing me to present the petition a bit later.

Mr.

Speaker, as people know, we had the major flood back in 2018, January 2018, and

there was a lot of work that needed to be done. There was one bridge that was

done. There is a second one, Cammies Brook Bridge, now being completed.

Mr.

Speaker, I just want to recognize the Minister of Transportation and Works who,

yesterday, as I asked a question, received notification from the federal

government that the rural and northern fund has been approved and there will be

major improvements to Route 450. There'll be work around Mount Moriah, 1.2 km;

Halfway Point, 1.1; John's Beach and Bennett's Cove, 2.9; Frenchman's Cove,

there's 0.2; Blow Me Down Brook; Copper Mine Brook; and Route 450 from O'Connell

Drive to Allen's Road and in Lewin Parkway.

I know

it's been a struggle for myself and the minister working with the federal

government. I have to recognize that the minister sometimes got frustrated with

me, but he kept at it and there will be major improvements in the Route 450

since the flood. There is major work that needs to be done, but this work will

take care of the major safety concerns in the district. I know the minister is

looking at if there is any way something for Lark Harbour – no guarantees, but

looking at what the cost comes in as.

I just

have to recognize that, and to the residents, I know you're a bit frustrated

with some of the work, but it takes time when you're doing your bridges and

there's extensive work done on the bridges.

Mr.

Speaker, I just have to recognize the Member for Conception Bay East - Bell

Island who did the major bridge around Cook's Brook about three years ago. That

was a major improvement for the area for safety concerns also. I just have to

recognize that.

I'll

just say to the minister: thanks for working with me. I know sometimes I

frustrated you. Sometimes I'm noted to keep on an issue until I get good

answers, but the roads in the Humber - Bay of Islands this summer will be much

safer. I just have to recognize the minister for the work that he did on it.

Thank

you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Transportation and Works with a reply to that petition.

MR. CROCKER:

Thank you very much, Mr.

Speaker.

I thank

the hon. Member for the petition. That's a good petition.

Mr.

Speaker, I just want to take a few moments, just because of my ability to

respond here actually, to send a thank you to the Department of Transportation

and Works. Our engineering staff in the challenges – and all of our staff in the

challenges – that we've seen in the past few months have done an outstanding

job, from our security guards to our people working around the building, people

working on our ferries and in our depots. I'm going to miss somebody in the

department because there are 1,800 different people.

employees really stepped up during COVID and stayed on the job when a lot of

people weren't able to come to work. I want to thank them for the work that

they've done.

We have

a tremendous Roads Plan this year for the circumstances that we find ourselves

under. We have work on Route 60, work on Route 10, 450, 430, 75, 210, 220 and

90. Mr. Speaker, for the type of year we're going through – and our road

building industry for the work that they're out starting to do.

Thank

you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

Conception Bay South.

MR. PETTEN:

Three times is the charm.

Thank

you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr.

Speaker, these are the reasons for the petition:

WHEREAS

the individual residents and municipal leaders, including the Joint Council of

Conception Bay North, have spoken to deplorable road conditions in the District

of Harbour Main; and

WHEREAS

the district is made up of smaller communities like the towns of Holyrood, Upper

Gullies, Seal Cove, Cupids, Colliers, South River, North River, Roaches Line and

Makinsons who have roads in desperate need of repair or paving; and

WHEREAS

these roads see a high volume of traffic flow almost every day and drivers can

expect potholes, severe rutting, limited shoulders and many washed-out areas

along the way;

THEREFORE we petition the hon. House of Assembly to take immediate steps to

repair and repave these important roadways and ensure the safety of the driving

public who use them on a regular basis.

This

petition is not directly regarding my district itself, but it is part of CBS

included in these roads I listed. Most of my residents drive these roads. I

drive these roads. The Member for Harbour Main drives these roads. People from

CBS contact me about these roads. The Minister of Transportation drives these

roads. The Member for Harbour Grace - Port de Grave drives these roads. We all

drive these roads, Mr. Speaker.

Part of

the reason – and it kind of spurred me to want to present this petition – the

Member for Harbour Main sat in her place the other day and read a petition

similar to this. The minister took it upon himself to stay back on and never

answered it. They're people in your district, your colleague from Harbour Grace

- Port de Grave's District, Harbour Main District, CBS District. Give an answer.

People deserve an answer. It's not about politics all the time, Minister. Do

what's right.

People

drive these roads. I drive these roads. You can laugh but you drive these roads

and a lot of people in your own district drive these roads. We know you're after

spending about $30 million in your own district in the last few years. Maybe you

should start spreading a bit of it around to your neighbouring communities.

The CBC

took it upon themselves to spend a couple of days down there taping the paved

roads. We all know the truth. There are more roads there we haven't got to. This

year, I believe, it's $12 million on this one. Only for COVID it would probably

would have been higher.

So get

up and answer the lady's question. Tell the people of her district, and yours

and mine, why these roads are the way they are. I drove those roads myself,

Minister. I couldn't drink a coffee. I was in the backseat of a car, I almost

needed a helmet on to go up the road; it's that bad. I trust you, it's that bad.

Get up

and answer the people. Tell the people the state of the road. Give an answer to

the people, b'y. Stand up and do what you're supposed to do.

Thank

you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Transportation and Works.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. CROCKER:

Thank you very much, Mr.

Speaker, and I appreciate the Member's banter.

He's

quick to move on now, Mr. Speaker, because he has seen the efforts and he has

seen the way the five-year Roads Plan works. I just have to refer to Foxtrap

Access Road. Foxtrap Access Road was a road that was listed for completion, I

think in an out year from the Roads Plan, and we were able to elevate that road.

Mr.

Speaker, I do have to do one thing before I stop. I want to take an opportunity

right here. He referenced Holyrood. I want to thank Mayor Goobie and the senior

staff in the Town of Holyrood for the amazing job that they did and how they

worked with us during the excavation work on the highway, Mr. Speaker. Again,

I'm just going to take this opportunity to thank Mayor Goobie and the senior

staff in Holyrood.

I say to

all Members in this House – and I've spoken to Members on all sides of the House

– so far this year we have had a successful year in our tendering in this

province, Mr. Speaker. That will enable us –

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Oh, oh!

MR. CROCKER:

Mr. Speaker, I'm trying to

get my words out. I know my time is running out, but I can't hear myself.

We have

had a successful year in –

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER:

Order, please!

MR. CROCKER:

We've had a successful year

to date, Mr. Speaker, in tendering in this province, as we've done in the past.

If there are ways to move projects forward, we will certainly be doing that as

the construction season moves forward.

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

Torngat Mountains.

MS. EVANS:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I think

the biggest joke is I'd like to have roads to complain about potholes. I'd like

to be able to drive in a car from the North Coast to Goose Bay and complain

about spilling my coffee because I'm sitting in the back seat of a car actually

driving on a highway. That would be great and I would really appreciate it.

petition actually is for – because we have no roads and we don't have a reliable

ferry service, Mr. Speaker, I'm presenting this petition: We, the undersigned,

are concerned citizens of Newfoundland and Labrador who urge our leaders to

return affordable air travel to the region of Northern Labrador through

subsidization of the cost of airfare between Happy Valley-Goose Bay and the

Northern Labrador communities of Rigolet, Makkovik, Postville, Hopedale,

Natuashish and Nain.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER:

Order, please!

I'd like

to hear the petition the Member is presenting.

MS. EVANS:

Our Northern Labrador communities are totally isolated, with no road access to

complain about and marine transportation is limited only to the summer months.

With the provincial government's cancellation of the Lewisporte freight ferry to

our communities, families are now struggling with increasing basic costs,

including food security.

Our only

means of transportation is marine or air. Our marine transportation service is a

once-a-week ferry running July to October. Our air transportation service is

provided by a single monopoly airline, Air Borealis. The cost of air travel for

residents living in Northern Labrador is grossly disproportionate to their

available income, thereby restricting travel and increasing cost of living and

contributing to isolation.

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

undersigned, call upon the House of Assembly to urge the Government of

Newfoundland and Labrador to provide an air transportation subsidy to reduce the

cost of airfare between Happy Valley-Goose Bay and the Northern Labrador

communities.

Now,

it's hard to come here and actually ask for a subsidy because I'm starting to

understand how government works; it's difficult. This petition was actually

signed last year; I just didn't get a chance to present this particular one.

That was while people still had hope.

We've

heard in this House me stand and talk about the failure of the ferry service.

Every time I do, when I talk about the ferry service I talk about how important

it is, Mr. Speaker, to the people. A lot of people in this House were shocked

when I said for one person to fly from our most northern community to Happy

Valley-Goose Bay, return, is a thousand dollars. So imagine trying to take your

family on vacation if you have three or four kids. You can't.

I was

talking to my sister the other night who is actually a teacher. She said: Lela,

there are people in communities that have not been able to travel. I phoned and

I was talking to a mother a couple of weeks ago. She said we can't afford to

travel and her and her husband work.

This

petition is about an airline subsidy but it's also about showing the failure of

essential service to six Indigenous communities, failure of service.

Thank

you, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Transportation and Works, with a response.

MR. CROCKER:

Thank you very much, Mr.

Speaker, and I thank the hon. Member for the petition.

Mr.

Speaker, I understand exactly what the hon. Member is talking about because she

and I had a lengthy discussion a couple, or three weeks back, about even the

allocation right now as we go through COVID. The Member arranged a meeting with

myself and one of our officials with the AngajukKâks to talk about how people –

I guess, lower income people or even middle-income people – are disadvantaged

now even more so this year than they would have been last year, because at this

point in time we've had to place passenger restrictions on the ferries.

Unfortunately, at this point we've had to allocate, I guess, passage to two

communities. We're going to work with that as we come through the different

stages of our alert levels and hopefully be able to increase that, while

ensuring the security of those communities. I've heard loud and clear from the

NG, as well at the AngajukKâks and the Member, the concerns around being remote

communities and something like COVID.

Mr.

Speaker, we will certainly look at ways to alleviate the travel strains on the

North Coast this coming season.

Thank

you, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

Harbour Main.

MS. CONWAY OTTENHEIMER:

Thank you, Mr.

Speaker.

Mr.

Speaker, the background to this petition is many residents of the District of

Harbour Main, especially those of Seal Cove, have spoken to the state of

disrepair to the channel, or the gut, as it's locally known.

Conception Bay South itself consists of coastal communities and it's a popular

destination for boaters from all over the province. The Seal Cove Channel has

been an access point for recreational and commercial fishers and boaters since

the area was first settled. The iron retaining wall that protects the trestle is

now failing and it's causing the natural rock and debris to enter the channel

making it very unsafe for boaters.

petition the hon. House of Assembly to urge the Government of Newfoundland and

Labrador to immediately take the necessary steps to repair and restore the train

trestle in the Seal Cove Channel, to ensure boater safety and the safety of the

general public who use this channel for their recreational pleasure.

Mr.

Speaker, just by way of background, this is amazing future development potential

in this area. I've been there. It's absolutely beautiful but it's undeveloped.

Not only is it undeveloped, more importantly, it's left to deteriorate. The pond

itself offers a beautiful sheltered waterfront with easy access to Conception

Bay, the bay itself. It is a popular destination for boaters from all over the

area, including Mount Pearl and St. John's.

As well,

another benefit is that each year during the food fishery, Seal Cove Pond is the

access point to Conception Bay for many boaters. It's a huge economic driver for

businesses during the summer months and there's a lot of spinoff for local

businesses with respect to fuel purposes.

Mr.

Speaker, sadly, there's a risk of losing Seal Cove Pond as an access point for

Conception Bay. The channel itself is in serious disrepair. Over the past

several years – at least for five years – numerous discussions, correspondence

and lobbying has taken place on behalf of residents and neighbouring communities

regarding the condition of the trestle over Seal Cove Pond, and now it's an

issue of safety throughout the channel underneath.

Many

residents of my District of Harbour Main, especially those of Seal Cove, have

raised these concerns, their disappointments. They've raised their frustrations

regarding these problems that have occurred in the channel and they continue to

be ignored. Mr. Speaker, we're asking and imploring the government to look at

this.

The

Minister of Tourism mentioned the importance of staying in Newfoundland and

enjoying our province. We have a gem here in our midst, a treasure in our midst.

It would be a big disappointment to the many boaters not only in the area, but

Mount Pearl and St. John's, who go there. However, the retaining wall which was

there to protect the train trestle is now falling and we have to have some

action, remedial action.

Mr.

Speaker, I ask the government to take an interest, not only for the people, but

there is a vested interest in acting to preserve this important area in the

Conception Bay South area.

Thank

you, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation with a response.

MR. DAVIS:

Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon.

Member for the petition.

couldn't agree more that the gem we have that's our trail networks within our

province – the one in particular that she's talking about is, I think, 900 km

running right across the Island – it's very impressive in and of itself. The one

issue that we struggle with, with that trail system, like any investment, is the

amount of money to put into it to try to maintain it.

We do

some preventative maintenance on that. We're working on some of the washouts

that have happened over the last little bit, but one of the opportunities that

is challenging is the budget that would be required to maintain a 900-kilometre

trail system. I get exactly what the hon. Member is saying. I support the idea

of that and I'll be looking, as a department, to try to do anything we can to

expand our trail networks and work with areas to try to support that

appropriation of money.

One good

thing about the trail networks that we do have, there have been a lot of

advancements in those. I remember in my previous position with Advanced

Education, Skills and Labour, there was a lot of JCP money that went to the

trail development in our province. I do hear what the hon. Member is saying and

I do appreciate the concern she brought forward.

Thank

you.

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for St.

John's Centre.

MR. J. DINN:

My legs are getting tired,

Mr. Speaker. I think I've improved my quad strength for sure, but anyway.

AN HON. MEMBER:

That's all that hair.

MR. J. DINN:

Another hair joke.

Thank

you, Mr. Speaker.

I have a

petition here for updating the anti-racist education in Newfoundland and

Labrador's secondary schools. The reasons for this petition: racism, recognizing

that racism is a systemic issue that remains incredibly prevalent in North

America, Canada and here in Newfoundland, as we can see by the global protests

and here in our province.

The only

way to effectively dismantle these systems is by tackling them from within our

own institutions, and this includes our education system. The Newfoundland and

Labrador high school curriculum, as it currently stands, has inadequate

anti-racist education. Books and stories about BIPOC – or black, Indigenous,

people of colour – should come from BIPOC authors rather than through a white

lens.

Therefore, we, the undersigned, call upon the House of Assembly to urge the

and French-language arts books list to include more BIPOC – or black,

Indigenous, people of colour – authors and specific resources regarding

anti-racism; update the social studies curriculum to include more anti-racist

resources as well as more comprehensive histories of BIPOC communities;

recognize and teach the significance of Black History Month every February; and

consult with local BIPOC leaders within the community when implementing these

changes to ensure that updated curriculum properly represents these communities,

and properly compensate these leaders for their time and efforts.

Mr.

Speaker, when I was a teacher and I taught at junior high, up on the Southern

Shore when I had to be a master of everything – well, no, attempt to be a master

of everything – I had the opportunity to teach in a lot of courses across the

curriculum. That included bringing people in; believe or not, survivors of

Auschwitz and survivors of apartheid in South Africa at the time.

We had a

number of speakers who would come in, and I had an opportunity to teach this

across the curriculum not only within –

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER:

Order, please!

I ask

Members to keep the noise level down; I'm having trouble hearing the speaker.

The hon.

the Member for St. John's Centre.

MR. J. DINN:

Thank you.

Not only

on and so forth. It was a great opportunity to bring these social justice issues

to the forefront.

However,

there was very little in the way of curriculum that would deal with people of

Protestant background, but we know we've become more diverse, Mr. Speaker, as

the years go on, so we need to reflect that. For that reason, we encourage the

minister to improve and to have a more diverse curriculum to reflect that.

Thank

you.

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Education and Early Childhood Development with a response.

MR. WARR:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The hon.

Member for St. John's Centre brings up a very important issue and those

discussions are occurring. Currently, race and racism are common themes in both

the language arts and social studies curriculum. The issue of present-day racism

is not explicitly taught as part of the curriculum; however, discussions

encouraging critical thinking about world events, such as the Black Lives Matter

movement, are often part of the class work.

Such

discussions are encouraged and opportunities and input on how to strengthen the

curriculum or to do things better are always welcomed. We also welcome and

encourage the celebration of Black History Month in schools. Mr. Speaker,

through the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development and Advanced

Education, Skills and Labour, we are taking several steps to improve

multicultural education within Newfoundland and Labrador.

I'll

also end on the fact that issues related to racism is the focus and attention of

our Safe and Caring Schools initiatives.

Thank

you, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

Labrador West.

MR. BROWN:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I'd like

to present this petition on behalf of the residents of Labrador West.

Since 2010, the province has seen significant work stoppages, including a

16-month strike at Vale in Voisey's Bay in 2010 to 2011 and a two-year lockout

at D-J Composites in 2016 to 2018. These work stoppages involve multinational

corporations that have practices that have altered the balancing of collective

bargaining.

The

industrial inquiry into the Voisey's Bay strike recommended changes to the

Labour Relations Act to include the imposition of binding arbitration as an

effective means to achieve a fair collective agreements when all else fails. The

only way to uphold the workers' right to a strike is to ensure companies are not

permitted to replace their workers during a labour dispute.

Therefore, we, the undersigned, call upon the House of Assembly to urge the

Government of Newfoundland and Labrador to bring forward amendments to the

Labour Relations Act to impose binding

arbitration – when only one of the two parties make application – in cases where

strikes or lockouts are prolonged, where collective bargaining has failed or

it's in the best interest; and bring forward amendments to the

Labour Relations Act to ban

replacement workers.

Mr.

Speaker, I have this petition here. I presented a similar one earlier the year.

The residents of Labrador West, during their striking things, had found that

there were some issues with workers brought in during the strike. It seems to

bring an unfair balance to the collective bargaining issues. This, on top of

what happened at D-J Composites and then what happened again at Vale at Voisey's

Bay, creates an environment where collective bargaining is just muddled. It

becomes so unachievable. We need the mechanisms in place to make sure that both

sides are operating fairly.

understand that there's mediation and things like that, but sometimes the

companies, especially these larger multinational corporations who don't see the

lens of the province and the value of the workers of this province fairly – so

this is why we need to continue to have these kinds of discussions to make sure

we do bring up this kind of legislation and change the

Labour Relations Act so that it's fair and balanced for everybody

involved. Fairness and balance is good for the province, it's good for the

workplace so we don't have people who are out on the picket line or locked out

from a strike for months and months, and in some cases years on end, because

talks and the bargaining has completely collapsed and failed.

I ask

the minister to take this into serious consideration. This is something that has

been recommended time and time again. We've even had an inquiry into it and

these recommendations and things have been brought up again. I really ask the

minister to take this into serious consideration and address the needs and the

desire for these individuals who have been victims of the collapse in fair

collective bargaining.

Thank

you, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

Member for Grand Falls-Windsor - Buchans.

MR. TIBBS:

Thank you very much, Mr.

Speaker.

Mr.

Speaker, the Buchans Highway is in desperate need of repairs in several areas.

The 10-kilometre stretch before Millertown has been decimated from heavy logging

trucks and years of negligence.

Just

before the Buchans highway, Mr. Speaker –

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER:

Order, please!

I'd like

to hear the Member's petition.

The hon.

the Member for Grand Falls-Windsor - Buchans.

MR. TIBBS:

This beautiful stretch of

highway, the Buchans highway, Mr. Speaker, a lot of money went into it but it

will soon be destroyed due to washouts which are now at the highway's edge. This

presents a possibility of destruction to millions of dollars of roadwork to a

lack of maintenance. More importantly, the safety concern is unforgiving, as

we've seen fatalities on this highway before.

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

undersigned, call upon the House of Assembly to urge the Government of

Newfoundland and Labrador to ensure maintenance is given to the washouts on the

Buchans Highway permanently or regularly so they are not faced with spending

millions to fix a new highway again, as well preventing any accidents in the

future.

Mr.

Speaker, when you drive up the Buchans Highway now there's about 25 pylons where

washouts are. It is an absolutely beautiful piece of highway, no complaints

whatsoever with that piece of highway. But as we go into the future, I know that

the purse strings are going to get tightened here because of COVID-19 and where

the province sits, financially. So I want to make sure that the good work that

we have done so far remains intact.

Like I

say, the highway is absolutely pristine right now, but these washouts are

literally about to go underneath this Buchans Highway, Mr. Speaker, and millions

upon millions of dollars that went into this are going to have to go back into

it again one day. I just want to get a handle on it now before it gets out of

hand or before somebody gets hurt.

Thank

you, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Transportation and Works with a response.

MR. CROCKER:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I

thank the hon. Member for the petition.

As he

was reading I did make some jot notes and I'll send them to the Operations

Division.

I am

going to take a moment just to thank the Operations Division, because, Mr.

Speaker, COVID has really hampered our abilities in maintenance this year. We're

getting back in stride now. Our workers are adjusting. There are many challenges

we're facing, but I can assure the hon. Member, I'll make sure that the

Operations Division gets that.

Actually, I thank the hon. Member, because one of the challenges we saw some

years back, our depots were reduced to – cut in half, actually, from winter to

summer maintenance. One of the challenges we've seen ever since those drastic

cuts were made back 2004-2005, we really struggle when it comes to summer

maintenance, Mr. Speaker. We've been

looking at ways to adjust that, and we're certainly continue to do so.

Thank

you, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

Topsail - Paradise.

MR. P. DINN:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I have

to say, this reminds me of growing up around the kitchen table and there's only

one piece of pie left – trying to get a petition in today. And as you realize,

the Member for St. John's Centre got ahead of me again, right.

WHEREAS

affordable, reliable and safe child care is a necessary component of a

functioning society, especially one that expects to reduce poverty, create

employment, decrease outmigration, increase in-migration, increase population

and the workforce, which are essential to a growing economy;

THEREFORE, we petition the House of Assembly as follows: We, the undersigned,

call upon the House of Assembly to urge the Government of Newfoundland and

Labrador to develop a child care strategy that will provide affordable,

accessible and quality child care for Newfoundland and Labrador parents of

different economic and social backgrounds.

Mr.

Speaker, I think it's no news to anyone, but we are in a critical stage here –

our province, with the economy and that – but we also need to build our

population. One of the key areas to build that is with our most valuable

resource. We pump money into our mining, into our oil and gas, into our

forestry, into our fishery. These are all extremely important, but our child

care, our children, they are our most valuable resource. If we're going to

attract people back to the province, if we're going to keep people in the

province, if we're going to have more people working, if we are going to

increase our population, we have to have affordable child care.

cannot ignore investment or further investment into child care. We found this

out. Many studies, many surveys we have done, people want to come back, first,

where they have meaningful employment and, secondly, where they can raise a

family. We need to build our population.

Our

natural population growth is outpaced by our mortality rate about 12 years ago.

Our fertility rate we really have to work on. Individuals out there, young

parents, young families – much like the substitute teachers I spoke about

earlier – they need to have resources here that are affordable and allows them

to have children, or have additional children and have them stay here in the

province.

I do

implore the government to seriously look into this. I know there have been steps

taken; I know we are trying to do what we can there, but building our base

population, creating a province for young families to stay, live, work and play

is crucial.

Thank

you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Education and Early Childhood Development with a response.

MR. WARR:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I

thank the hon. Member for Topsail - Paradise for his petition.

understand the importance of the sector, of supporting young families and we've

child care services in the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador.

The last

report on child care fees from the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives

stated that child care fees, Mr. Speaker, in St. John's have plummeted 24 per

cent since 2017. This is the largest decrease for preschool-age fees of any city

in the country in the category.

Through

the Operating Grant Program, we are increasing the number of affordable child

care spaces and we have been investing $17 million, annually, Mr. Speaker, in

the Childcare Services Subsidy Program to ensure families with low-to-middle

incomes will have access to crucial supports for reducing child care costs.

I will

add to that, Mr. Speaker, that we've also put in $14.7 million in the Essential

Worker Child Care Program during COVID-19. I think this government has shown the

young families in Newfoundland and Labrador that we understand the importance of

child care and we are prepared to put the investment there.

Thank

you, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for Mount

Pearl - Southlands.

MR. LANE:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Sticking

to the theme. There are many families in Newfoundland and Labrador struggling

with issues associated to child care as available child care facilities are

unable to meet the demand due to impacts of COVID-19s social distancing

requirements.

This has

caused problems for child care operators who are unable to take in enough

children to make their business viable, problems for families who require spaces

and can't obtain them and also problems for families being asked to pay for

spaces they can't use as a means of keeping child care facilities open and

ensuring their spaces are held for these families when they become available.

Therefore, we petition the House of Assembly as follows: To urge the Government

of Newfoundland and Labrador to work with daycare operators in our province to

seek solutions to this massive problem, including giving consideration to the

continuation of daycare subsidy program utilizing a sliding scale as they have

recently announced in the Province of Nova Scotia.

Mr.

Speaker, again, I'll give full credit in terms of there was a great response by

our government as it relates to COVID-19 in terms of continuing with the child

care subsidies and the grants and so on to the child care facilities, so that

they could basically ensure the viability of their businesses once the Alert

Levels change and they got back.

As has

been indicated here by the petition though, we are still running into some

problems, because what has happened, of course, is that due to the COVID

restrictions, I know we're moving up an Alert Level and I'm hoping that that's

going to take care of a lot of this, but with the current restrictions on social

distancing and so on, you have a facility that maybe it had 60 kids, now they

can only have 30 kids or 40 kids.

I know

the minister talked about 70 per cent capacity, but the child care operators

tell me that the reality is they are not able to accommodate 70 per cent of the

children; by the time you look at the space they actually have in their

facilities and then the other resources, the staff and everything else. The

reality of it is they are probably at about 40 – or at least they were – at

about 40 to 50 per cent capacity.

That

becomes a challenge when you do the math, because 50 per cent of revenue does

not equal anything necessarily to your bottom line because depending on what

margins you're at, of course, you may need to have 70 or 80 per cent capacity

just to break even. You don't actually start making a profit until you reach a

certain point, so that's a challenge.

What's

happening, of course, is in order to make a lot of these businesses viable now

they're going to parents and saying: in order to stay viable, we need you to pay

for spaces that you're not even getting, just so that we can hold your space.

This is creating problems.

In the

Province of Nova Scotia, they're using a sliding scale whereby if they're only

at 50 per cent capacity, then the government is continuing with the subsidy for

the other 50 per cent. Once they get to 80 per cent capacity, the government

gives them 20 per cent. So it's like a sliding scale until they get back up to

full capacity. That's what was announced in Nova Scotia and that's what's being

suggested could be done here.

Thank

you, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of

Education and Early Childhood Development for a response.

MR. WARR:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I thank

the Member for Mount Pearl - Southlands for his petition. I also thank him

because I think he's a Member, probably, in this Legislature that I heard from

the most during COVID. He's taken every opportunity to pass along all the

concerns of his constituents, in both daycare issues and certainly with the

substitute teachers. I've certainly appreciated how well he's treated his

constituents.

With

regard to daycare, again, we understand the concerns. It is anticipated that as

of Monday we will go to Alert Level 2 and that means that our regulated child

care centres will be back to 100 per cent capacity.

Again,

Mr. Speaker, we provided $14.7 million in compensation to regulated child care

services to pay for all spaces during COVID. Approximately, 280 of the 300

centres availed of that particular grant, Mr. Speaker.

I see my

time is up.

Thank

you.

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for

Ferryland.

MR. O'DRISCOLL:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The

Public Utilities Board has approved a licence for an ambulance owner to operate

in the area from Bay Bulls to Bauline. This area is one of the fastest growing

areas of the province. There have been many concerns from residents,

municipalities, councils and emergency responders regarding response times.

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

undersigned, call upon the House of Assembly to urge the Government of

Newfoundland and Labrador to support the position to this service provider and

ensure the residents of Bays Bulls to Bauline meet national standards for

response times.

Regarding this petition, the area is very fast –

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER:

Order, please!

I'm

having trouble hearing the Member. I'd like to just hear from the Member who has

been recognized.

The hon.

the Member for Ferryland.

MR. O'DRISCOLL:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The area

is a fast growing area; one of the fastest in the province. When you're dealing

with ambulances, obviously, the closest one to St. John's would be in Cape

Broyle. So the residents from Bay Bulls to Bauline are at a disadvantage for

sure when it comes to that. They have a half hour to 40 minute response time.

If you

live in Bauline, Burnt Cove, St. Michael's area you have a 45 minute response

time from St. John's, if there's one available. If not, it would be 25 to 30

minutes from Cape Broyle to get down, if there's an ambulance available up

there. It's a growing concern in our area.

We have

our great volunteer fire departments from Witless Bay and the Ferryland area as

well that respond to take care of this until an ambulance arrives, but we would

certainly love to have this looked at in our area.

Thank

you very much.

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Opposition House

Leader.

MR. BRAZIL:

Mr. Speaker, I stand on a

point of order.

Normally, point of orders are confrontational or looking for clarification but I

stand on this one, on behalf of our caucus here, to thank the Government House

Leader for the privilege of allowing people – because we've had a shortened

session, to no fault of anybody in this House of Assembly – to express the

concerns and echo the recommendations of the people in their district through

the petition process.

I ask

and thank the Government House Leader for her indulgence here and her allowing

us to do that, and, Mr. Speaker, yourself for allowing us to take us through

this process, particularly where it's our last day to serve the people during

this sitting.

Thank

you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Government House

Leader, speaking to this point of order or –?

MS. COADY:

No, Orders of the Day.

MR. SPEAKER:

Okay.

While

there's no point of order, I appreciate the Member's comments, given the spirit.

Orders of the Day

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Government House

Leader.

MS. COADY:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Now,

I'll thank the Member opposite, all Members of this House, for their

co-operation over this very challenging time that we've come through. It has

been a privilege and an honour to work with everyone in this House to do the

business of the people. I thank you for that co-operation.

I will

call from the Order Paper, Order 5, second reading of Bill 39.

MR. SPEAKER:

I think the Member for Lake

Melville has some time left on the clock.

The hon.

the Member for Lake Melville.

MR. TRIMPER:

Thank you very much, Mr.

Speaker.

I'm just

having a little glance at the clock to see how much time I might have. Whether

there's time for a story. Maybe I'll start with –

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

(Inaudible.)

MR. TRIMPER:

I could tell a lot of stories there.

Thank

you very much, Mr. Speaker.

It is a

pleasure to return to this very important bill. I wanted to start with something

– this is very much an environmental issue and it's one that touches our

economy, it touches the agricultural sector, it touches every bit of food that

we eat on our plate.

I want

to start by way of an example as to the nuances of the environment. I was just

looking at a very interesting photo that was sent to me for some inspiration of

two bumblebees asleep in a flower. If you didn't stop and pause and have a look

at that you would miss it. And so much that goes on in the environment is like

that.

I was

reflecting back, and just a little story before I get into the seriousness of

what we're talking about. In the mid-80s, I worked for the Canadian Wildlife

Service. At the time, the big issue of the day was acid rain. Prime Minister

Mulrooney, President Reagan at the time, signed an international agreement and,

lo and behold, through international co-operation we made huge progress on that.

At the

time, I was looking at the effects of acidification on lakes on loons. On common

loons and how they breed. Because the problem was is that as the pH dropped in

these lakes, there was no longer any fish being produced. And the loons, the

adults, would fly off to another lake to feed, but they would never bring the

fish back to the nest and the youngsters were in the nest dying. It was amazing.

It just was so obvious, the solution was so apparent; yet, we lost many, many

lakes with loons. We've recovered.

The

point that I wanted to talk about is – and this applies to so much of this

province – when we go out into the environment we really need to think about

what we're doing. I recall one day, I was on a place called Red Rock Lake, and

we were approaching a loon's nest and it had been raining. As I came up on the

loon's nest, there are two guys in a canoe, in a boat, and they had been fishing

for several hours. There were two adult loons all around their boat displaying

diving, calling.

The two

guys, we came up on them and they said, wow, what a show these adult loons have

been putting on for us. I said, how long have you been there? He said, oh, about

three hours. It was pouring rain. Well, guess what? Those two adults were the

parents of the eggs in the nest. The rain's falling down on them. They were so

agitated and upset, they were trying to do what they can to drive away this

intrusion. Those fishermen didn't realize it, but they killed those eggs just by

sitting in a canoe and casually taking pictures of these adult loons. That is so

much of the nuance of the harm that we cause in this environment. I just leave

that thought.

What I

want to carry on with is about this varroa mite. It, again, is incredibly small

and if you didn't look you wouldn't know. For those who don't raise bees, the

good Minister of Health and Community Services was just telling me that in

Manchester when we was a young lad – not all that long ago, I'm sure – he was

raising bees. If you spend the time to work around agriculture or raising

beehives and so on, you will truly appreciate just how important bees are for

our society.

What I

wanted to go to is related, of course, to COVID-19. The bill is all about seeing

what we can do to take advantage of an amazing situation we have. Right now we

are essentially virus-free and we are also essentially varroa destructor – this

amazing mite that destroys bees – free as well. This is both an opportunity, an

advantage and a challenge. As I said the other day, 30 per cent of the foods

that we eat are all pollinated by bees, so it's really important that we

appreciate the role these small insects are doing so that we can have a

sustainable food supply.

If you

have worked around bees, you'll know that what farmers do is they can actually

take bees in the hives, go to a field, set up for a few days; when the crop is

there, and the blossoms are out and the opportunity for pollination is so

important, they actually rent the bees out. Over a course of a few days, the

farmer can have results in the yield of the crop – very dramatic over what they

would have had just by other situations, allowing wind or perhaps other insects.

It's incredibly lucrative for the farmer and for those who are holding these

beehives to get involved in this.

As I was

doing a little bit of research, it's interesting that across Canada, each spring

as we go to prepare for the agriculture sector and bring in these beehives, we

actually have a serious problem in the country right now. Because of COVID-19

and the shutdown of international flights, farmers are not able to get in the

replenishment queens and other members of the colonies to stock up their hives.

I just

checked some numbers, and Ontario alone needs 3,500 shipments of bees that

they're waiting on right now. Across the country it's probably close to 100,000

beehives. I would anticipate that unless we can get this resolved very quickly,

we are going to see a much lower production of food across the country and

that's going to affect so many other aspects of –

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER:

Order, please!

I'm

having trouble hearing the Member make his comments on this bill and I'd ask

Members to lower the level of noise so we can all hear the Member for Lake

Melville.

The hon.

the Member for Lake Melville.

MR. TRIMPER:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

With

this pressure to import, there is also great pressure in our own province to

import because those that are working with bees, they need to bring in bees, but

the key thing here is that we need to make sure those bees are pest-free.

There

are four problems affecting bees around the world, particularly in Canada:

pesticides. There are a whole group of pesticides which are wiping out bees.

They affect their behaviours and lead to increased mortality.

Habitat

loss: Maintenance of wild habitats is extremely important. Climate change: I

spoke a week or so ago about getting to net zero and the importance of what we

anticipate, whether it be Nain at 7.6 degrees or St. John's at 3.4 degrees

Celsius increase in temperature, you can imagine what that's going to do to the

reliability.

I look

to my colleague across the way, the good farmer from Mount Pearl North, who

correctly stated that it's the unpredictability of the climate situation,

getting weather that you don't anticipate. You can imagine what a warm spell

would do in the wintertime to bees that are trying to ride out some cold

temperatures and then they're suddenly stimulated to become active, only to see

there are still a couple months of winter left. You can imagine what that does

to them.

Finally,

the key reason why we're here, there is a serious mite, called varroa destructor

is its Latin name, the varroa mite. It is challenging bee production and food

production around the world. The amazing thing is that Newfoundland and

Labrador, as the good minister said the other day, we are pest-free of this

mite. This is a tremendous advantage and it's one that we need to take advantage

of. We need to maintain that status.

As the

minister said the other day – and I wanted to use sort of an analogy when we

talk about – one of the questions today in Question Period was whether or not we

are, as a jurisdiction, as a subnational government, ready to partner up maybe

with other Atlantic provinces and would we consider doing this.

I would

like to say that if you're thinking about a dance card, we're a pretty

attractive partner right now. We've essentially eliminated this virus. We've

done very well. The residents of this province, the health care system, we've

all collectively contributed to be a very attractive dance partner.

I can

think of some states that we may not be so much interested in partnering up

with, but from our perspective people are wanting to see us. Similarly, when you

have bees that are pest-free, we also have a very exciting dance card and we can

be very circumspect about who we are providing them to.

There

was a very interesting

article this morning – the Member for Topsail - Paradise,

I wonder if he noticed this because the gentleman's name is Paul Dinn. He was

speaking about this issue and this bill and he was concerned that he felt that

we shouldn't be importing bees at all. I saw that the minister was referenced in

his comments in responding because he said, while that's certainly a lofty,

aspirational goal to get to a point where we don't need to import bees, we

currently do.

I would

hope that with the injection of the resources, the appointment of an apiarist

and other initiatives that are going on in the department, through the

legislation that will pass, we can really give a boost to an amazingly

attractive dance partner, amazingly attractive bee industry that we have here.

The

Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry, they recently produced a

report in 2015 outlining a whole host of challenges and suggested resolution

that governments, organizations and even individuals can all do to help address

the decline of bees and effects on food production in the country.

I would

refer you to it; I'm not going to go through it in detail but as I reach out to

my colleagues in this House of Assembly and across the province, those who are

watching and listening, there are some individual things that we can all do.

Certainly, you can avoid foods that are grown using these harmful group of

pesticides; they are called neonicotinoids. This particular group of pesticides

are causing this problem and if you look on the label, you can often find out

what source of pest control was used to grow these crops. Organic-free

vegetables and anything you'd buy of an organic-free nature would not have that

problem.

You can

go out in your backyard and plant a garden. You can let a

section of your

property go wild. These are all the kinds of things that you can do to encourage

bee habitat. As I said a week ago, in the PMR, you can also reduce your carbon

footprint and slow down the effects of climate change.

course, the final thing and to address the varroa mite, the key thing is to

support Bill 39. It does several things; there are amendments under the act. As

I said, we can get a provincial apiarist appointed and, of course, we can get

the regulations in place that will both protect and help grow this very

important industry and provide this opportunity for Newfoundland and Labrador.

With

that, I will conclude my remarks. I thank you for the opportunity to again

appear today and I'll turn it over to further speakers and the minister to wrap

it up.

Thank

you very much.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

The hon. the Member for St.

John's Centre.

MR. J. DINN:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I'll

start with a little poetry:

“I will

arise and go now, and go to Innisfree,

And a

small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made;

Nine

bean-rows will I have there, a hive for the honey-bee,

And live

alone in the bee-loud glade.”

That's

from William Butler Yeats.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. J. DINN:

No doubt about it, bees are a

source, if nothing else, of quietude and relaxation. Or from Sue Monk Kidd's

The Secret Life of Bees , “Most people

don't have any idea about all the complicated life going on inside a hive. Bees

have a secret life we don't know anything about.”

I guess

that's the key point here. We're only starting to realize just how integral bees

are to our very existence on this planet. They're not just a subject of poetry,

but they are necessary for our survival. If anything, we've seen in the past

number of years are plagues, I guess, that seem to be affecting wildlife – bats

with white-nose syndrome, bees with the varroa mite. Some might say it's part of

climate change; others might say it's part of the changes that we've brought

about on the environment ourselves. But there's no doubt it, if we're going to

in any way attain food security, it's important then to protect honeybees. This

is what this act is about, or this amendment.

This

amendment basically adds the definition of a honeybee. It requires an employee

of the department to be designated as the provincial apiarist – definitely to

have that person designated would indicate how important bees are to our food

production – require that an applicant for a licence must provide information

outlined in the regulations and give authority to the provincial apiarist to

conduct duties outlined in the act, such as inspections and enforce

registration.

Our

caucus will be supporting this bill. We understand the Beekeeping Association of

Newfoundland and Labrador has been consulted throughout the process, Mr.

Speaker, and they are satisfied and supportive of the amendments enabling this

bill.

We know,

of course, that there are many other insects within Newfoundland, such as the

bumblebee, that offer pollination to our plants, not only to wild plants but

also to our agricultural industry and farmers as well. We know that honeybees

themselves are domesticated insects and are regulated under the Animal Health

Act. They're different species from wild bumblebees. We have one honeybee

species in Newfoundland called Apis mellifera. This legislation is implementing

protection for this species, as bumblebees are already protected.

Interestingly enough, the genetic composition of our honeybees in Newfoundland

and Labrador is largely the creation of Wally Skinner, Andrea Skinner and Paige

Marchant with the Newfoundland Bee Company, who have been supplying nucleus

colonies and queens to beekeepers from the Island for many years. So in many

ways we've got a made in Newfoundland solution here.

The key

thing, and it's been brought up by previous speakers, is the pest-free status of

our honeybees. The common pest found on these bees has been found elsewhere in

the world the varroa mite.

Given

that we are one of the places in the world without this pest, it's extremely

important that we implement this policy to protect the honeybees in

Newfoundland. We know the demand for honeybees in Newfoundland is very high,

which risks illegal importation.

We have

more people in our province wanting honeybees than we can successfully supply.

We understand that honeybees cannot be imported into Newfoundland and Labrador

without a permit from a varroa-free origin such as the Isle of Man and Western

Australia. However, I too read the same

article and listened on CBC with Paul

Dinn and listened to it yesterday. Now, that is a different branch of the Dinn

family. No connection to us, but I figure anytime a Dinn speaks he or she is

worth listening to – just saying.

So he

made note – and here's an interesting – when we look at a precautionary

principle. He's saying mandatory registration, Mr. Speaker, doesn't go far

enough. That really we need to ban importation, and that maybe there is a – I

understand at this time maybe the capacity to do so is limited, but maybe we can

start to look at again if we have a honeybee that the genetic composition is

largely the creation of local – is a local home-grown solution, then maybe we

need to find a local home-grown solution to encouraging the growth of the bee

industry here. Something similar to the vegetable transplant or the starts

program, so that we create it here. If there's any way of guaranteeing, as Mr.

Dinn noted, it's about keeping other bees from outside the province outside.

He did

note in his interview with Mr. Blades yesterday on The Go that the main reason probably for bringing bees in, some

people are looking at it seeing dollar signs and they're wishing to import large

colonies so they can rent them out, lease them out to farmers for pollination

purposes. Now, if that's the case, that's a different thing than we need to

build up our population. In other words, we have to look at the reasons why

there is this pressure to do so.

I think

also, I'll speak here in term of – we know we've supported other industries,

salmon aquaculture and so on and so forth, and we know the consequences

sometimes of bringing species in from outside the province can have a

detrimental effect on species that are currently here.

We also

know, you can look at the importation of many non-native species. Well, the

moose is one, but I'm thinking on the West Coast now you do have snakes, a

colony of garter snakes. Newfoundland was snake-free. We do have deer mice. So

we do have other diseases that go along with it.

It's an

interesting thing, Mr. Speaker, we can't get off this Island portion without

having to go through the washing station in Port aux Basques because we don't

want to transport, I think it's the potato blight outside, but it seems that

there's nothing really stopping people from bringing stuff in, whether that's

the purple loosestrife, you name it. So here we are, the bees are indeed sort of

a non-native population, but we've managed to create something that's special

here, that's disease-free. I think, if nothing else, it's important to protect

it.

The

other thing I didn't realize is that St. John's is probably one of the most

bee-friendly cities in the country. What we're looking at here – I don't know if

any of you – we take a number of actions to protect our bees such as leaving

dandelions on the lawn. We know also that bees are dying in larger than average

numbers in North America, Europe and parts of Asia and Africa. We know in the US

there's been a honeybee decline from about 6 million hives in 1947 to only 2.4

million hives in 2008. That's a 60 per cent reduction.

Last

year, the US honeybees had the worst winter die-off in more than a decade,

losing about 40 per cent of the population. So, if anything, I think – not that

I want to see Newfoundland become the sole-source supplier of the world, but I

think it's incumbent on us, not only to protect our own supply of bee

population, maybe increase our own agricultural production, but also protect a

species that is valuable, not only for itself, but to our very existence and the

existence of many other creatures on this planet.

I refer

to my Member's statement this morning about doing those small things sometimes

to protect, to show that connection, our love, for the world and the environment

around us.

So with

this, we will support this bill, but we do believe, Mr. Speaker, that we do need

to go further. I think we do need to very clearly look at supporting our own

beekeepers here and making sure that they have everything that they need to

increase their bee population.

I'll end

with, of course, the words – you can't end anything, if we're going to talk

poetry, without some words from Shakespeare himself: “… for so work the

honeybees, / Creatures that by a rule in nature teach / The act of order to a

peopled kingdom.” That's from Henry V .

If anything they can teach us, it's how important an interconnected environment

and how important a role each organism plays in the survival of this planet and,

indeed, ourselves.

Thank

you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER:

If the hon. the Minister of

Fisheries and Land Resources speaks now, he will close the debate.

The hon.

the Minister of Fisheries and Land Resources.

MR. BYRNE:

Thank you very, very much,

Mr. Speaker.

I want

to say my thanks and appreciation to the speakers that did rise and give their

points of view on this particular legislation. I'm delighted that it is

proceeding without amendment and with the unanimous support, or appears to be

the unanimous support, of the House. This is reassuring. It shows that the

government is on a good path, good track, and we are listening to farmers.

Mr.

Speaker, eloquent Members have started their words, their discourse, the debate

with eloquent recitations. I depend on ABBA for all of my quotations, and all I

can think, Mr. Speaker, how appropriate it would be to say: “Honey honey, how

you thrill me, a-ha, honey honey / Honey honey, nearly kill me ….”

MR. SPEAKER:

I would caution the Member

that the health order we're under prevents us from singing, so I'd ask that he

cut the song short for that and other reasons, maybe.

MR. BYRNE:

Mr. Speaker, it would even

more memorable if I tried to sing. If I'd tried to sing ABBA, you would never,

ever forget that.

With

that said, Mr. Speaker, I want to say a true and genuine – in the spirit of

levity and as we gracefully leave this place, I want to say thank you, not only

to the speakers to this particular debate, but all the speakers during our

somewhat shortened, somewhat predicated session here in the House. It's been

very productive, and to end off on an excellent opportunity to provide further

protection to honeybees in this province is going to be, I think, one of the

crowning jewels of this particular session.

Mr.

Speaker, the hon. Member for St. John's Centre eloquently spoke of the

contributions of the Skinner family, which would be very, very true and

appropriate to elevate, but there were a number of West Coast innovators and

pioneers as apiarists. They include John Gullage and Stu Weldon both of whom

were pioneers of this particular field.

While it

was mentioned that a genic stock had been achieved from within the work of the

Skinners, we would never, ever diminish the work of Wally and his family, in

this regard. The truth is that they imported most of their colonies, their nucs

from Nova Scotia and Ontario. In fact, the honeybee is not native to

Newfoundland and Labrador, it is an imported species and, arguably, would be an

invasive species, but I think it would be a friendly invasion if that were to be

the case.

It was

John Gullage and Stu Weldon and the Skinner family, which really provided the

lift to the industry. I cannot forsake or leave out, Gerard Smith, a true, true

gentleman and a pioneer in this regard who, I think, is the father and

grandfather or modern-day apiculture in this province.

Mr.

Speaker, it goes without saying that, indeed, the honeybee is an introduced

species. It's been introduced for many, many years, many decades, but the

genetic stock is not peculiar to Newfoundland and Labrador nor has it been

refined. It's essential, though, that we protect that which we have been able to

benefit from, whether it be through (inaudible) or good, good husbandry, we are

finding ourselves today in a disease-free status.

It is

not certified as such, and that's something the Government of Newfoundland and

Labrador with the Newfoundland and Labrador Beekeeping Association, is currently

working on. There is only one of three places in this planet which are

disease-free: Australia and in particular South West Australia, the Isle of Man

and the Island of Newfoundland and Mainland Labrador.

This is

an important point because, not only does it give our current