Newfoundland and Labrador Hansard — Members' Statements; Statements by Ministers — 20 May 2009 (46th General Assembly, 2nd Session, Vol. XLVI No. 23)
2009-05-20
Newfoundland and Labrador — Debates (Hansard)
May
20, 2009
HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS
Vol. XLVI No. 23
The House met at 2:00 p.m.
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
Admit visitors.
Statements by Members
MR. SPEAKER: Today we welcome the following members' statements: the
hon. the Member for the District of Cartwright-L'Anse au Clair; the hon. the
Member for the District of Bellevue; the hon. the Member for the District of St.
John's West; and, the hon. the Member for the District of the Bay of Islands.
The hon. the Member for the District of Cartwright-L'Anse au Clair.
MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
A week ago I stood in the House to congratulate Jamiee Thomas of L'Anse au
Clair who was representing this Province at the national 2009 Karaoke Star
Junior competition. Well today, Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate her on
becoming Canada's first Karaoke Star Junior as well.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MS JONES: Mr. Speaker, this first-ever competition hosted by YTV and CMT
featured in its finale ten youth from across the country, and I am proud to say
that Ms Jamiee Thomas from this Province and from the District of Cartwright-L'Anse
au Clair not only took centre stage but also took first place overall.
This outstanding youth from L'Anse au Clair has done a tremendous job in
taking her talents to a national level and coming out on top. Jamiee has been a
remarkable promoter of Newfoundland and Labrador and is a great ambassador for
our young people, inspiring them to follow their dreams and to embrace the
challenges along the way because, in the end, the success makes it all
worthwhile.
I ask my colleagues in the House of Assembly today to join with me in
congratulating Ms Jamiee Thomas of L'Anse au Clair on becoming Canada's
first Karaoke Star Junior and to thank all her supporters from across the
Province of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for the District of Bellevue.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. PEACH: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
It gives me great pleasure to stand here today and inform you of the Vista
Regional Schools' three-day Drama Festival which took place April 27-29 at the
Rising Tide Theatre in Trinity.
In total, eight schools competed this year in the Vista Regional Schools'
Drama Festival. Two schools from the District of Bellevue pretty much cleaned up
on the awards: Swift Current Academy and Tricentia Academy.
Swift Current Academy of Swift Current brought home the Best Lighting Award,
and student Brittany Newbury brought home Best Animal Performance. At the same
time, Tricentia Academy of Arnold's Cove brought home the Best Costume Award
and the Best Choreography Award.
Student Tyson Ingram of Tricentia Academy received the Jeffrey Johnson Award
for the Best Team Player. This award was presented by Donna Butt from Rising
Tide Theatre in memory of Jeffrey Johnson who passed away tragically last year.
I ask that this hon. House join me in sending congratulations to Swift
Current Academy and Tricentia Academy on a job well done.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for the District of St. John's West.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MS S. OSBORNE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you for the opportunity to congratulate the Matthew Blandford Curling
Team who recently won the Provincial Mixed Curling Championships at Bally Haly
Curling Club, qualifying them to represent Newfoundland and Labrador in the
Nationals in Burlington, Ontario, in November.
Team Blandford went through the round robin with only one loss, advancing
them to the final game which they won against Gary Oke from Corner Brook.
Members of the team are: Skip, Matt Blandford; Third, Stephanie LeDrew;
Second, Kerry Schuh; Lead, Jessica Mouland. They curl out of the St. John's
Curling Club, located in the ReMax Centre.
I ask all members of the House of Assembly to join me in congratulating Team
Blandford and wishing them all the best as they represent the Province in
Ontario in November.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for the District of Bay of Islands.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. LODER: Mr. Speaker, I rise in this hon. House today to recognize Mr.
Fred Humber of Benoit's Cove, Humber Arm South, in the Bay of Islands.
Mr. Speaker, on May 11 of this year, Corner Brook Mayor Charles Pender
presented Mr. Humber with a Certificate of Commendation from the Governor
General of Canada for saving the life of his brother Eric on March 5, 2008.
Mr. Speaker, during the night, the two gentlemen were snowmobiling across
Blow-Me-Down Mountain when they got caught in a sleet and windstorm. Within six
miles of Eric's home, a cornice they were travelling over gave away sending
both snowmobilers down thirty feet onto hard-packed snow and ice.
Fred escaped injury; however, Eric was not so fortunate. He had difficulty
moving, breathing, and responding. Fred, in the meantime, knew he had to get his
brother out for medical treatment and managed to use Eric's snowmobile, even
with bent handlebars, to take both out to safety.
Eric was transported to hospital via ambulance and was treated for seven
broken ribs, broken collar bone, dislocated shoulder, a punctured lung, massive
bruising -
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
MR. LODER: - to the left lung and lower portion of his heart. Mr.
Speaker, after twelve days of hospitalization, Eric was released.
If it were not for the actions of Fred, this story could have had a different
ending.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
MR. LODER: Mr. Speaker, I ask all members here today to acknowledge Mr.
Fred Humber for the saving of his brother Eric's life, and no doubt, is worthy
of the Commendation Award.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: Statements by Ministers.
Statements by Ministers
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Education.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. KING: Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, when government released the Skills Task Force report, All the
Skills to Succeed, in May, 2007, we made the commitment to see that the
recommendations would be implemented in a timely manner and that this important
work would not lose momentum. With that in mind, government established the
Industry Coordinating Committee with representation from business, labour,
industry, non-governmental agencies, education and the provincial government.
Today, Mr. Speaker, the Industry Coordinating Committee, or ICC, is hosting
the first Skilled Trades spring forum. More than 100 registrations have been
received, with the bulk coming from representatives outside government.
Participants are discussing achievements to date in implementing the task force
recommendations, as well as future opportunities to continue to build this
Province's skilled labour force.
I am pleased to report, Mr. Speaker, that much progress has been made on
implementing the fifty recommendations contained in the report for government,
industry, education and labour.
Government has committed more than $50 million toward the Skills Task Force
action plan to support apprenticeship, science and technology, programming,
training and infrastructure. Of the twenty-five items identified for government,
some have been fully implemented or are at various stages of implementation.
Industry and employer stakeholders have shown dedication to addressing their
twelve action items, and indeed have been able to assist in addressing items
beyond their responsibility.
Non-governmental agencies continue to provide valuable input into this
process and our post-secondary institutions have been very active. All eight
education items are being addressed in some way and our post-secondary
institutions are dedicated to offering the training our labour market requires.
Finally, Mr. Speaker, labour has been a consistent player in the
implementation of the Skills Task Force report. As just one example, Mr.
Speaker, the Office to Advance Women Apprentices, which I referenced in the
House just last month, now has 171 female apprentices and journeypersons
registered in their database.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. KING: Mr. Speaker, the level of commitment shown by our partners to
this initiative is very encouraging. It is through strong partnerships and
mutual commitment to our goal that we are seeing growth in our labour force. And
our investments are paying off, Mr. Speaker. From 2007 to 2008, the number of
registered apprentices grew by 23.3 per cent in the Province, while the number
of Red Seal certificates issued was up 19 per cent.
I thank all partners who have worked with us over the past couple of years,
Mr. Speaker, to help build our labour force and we look forward to continued
success in the future.
Thank you.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for the District of Port de Grave.
MR. BUTLER: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I thank the minister for an advanced copy of the statement and to say that it
is very encouraging to know that business, labour, industry, non-government
agencies, as well as education and the provincial government are coming together
for the first industry coordinating committee with the skilled trades with their
spring forum.
Mr. Speaker, it is good to see that many of the fifty recommendations that
were put forward are being acted on in different levels and to know that various
trades - we see an increase in the various trades within our Province. As the
minister stated, it is very encouraging to see that 171 female apprentices and
journeymen are included in that database.
Mr. Speaker, we look forward, not only to seeing the increase to date with
registered apprentices up 23 per cent and the Red Seal certification up 19 per
cent, but we look forward to a strong labour force in the skilled trades and
hopefully an increased opportunity for those people to work right here in
Newfoundland and Labrador and we want to wish everyone involved every success
with their spring forum.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for the District of Signal Hill-Quidi
Vidi.
MS MICHAEL: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
I thank the minister for the advanced copy of his statement. There is no
doubt that we have had some success in the development of apprenticeship in the
Province and that we do have some of the recommendations of the 2007 report
being put in place.
I would have liked a little bit more from the minister with regard to some
details. He says, for example, that of the twenty-five items identified for
government, some have been fully implemented. I would like the minister to let
us know here in the House what has been implemented. The eight education items
that are being addressed, I would like to know to what degree they are being
addressed. So maybe I will make a formal request of the minister for that
information.
I am particularly pleased, of course, with what has happened with regard to
female apprentices. Setting up the office to advance women apprentices was an
extremely important step forward, but we have a number of other groups that were
identified in both the 2005 White Paper on Post-Secondary Education and the 2007
report of the Skills Task Force, groups that have many barriers to getting into
trades and technology: Aboriginal people, people with disabilities, low-income
families, and people in rural areas.
I look forward to seeing the government and the other stakeholders starting to
put a focus on those groups as well. They have identified women, and women cross
over some of those groups, but I think we need, as the two reports have stated,
to see a heavy focus on several of the groups that have barriers to getting
involved.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
MR. SPEAKER: Further statements by ministers.
The hon. the Minister of Municipal Affairs.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MS WHALEN: Mr. Speaker, today is Municipal Awareness Day throughout
Newfoundland and Labrador. This annual initiative is supported by our government
in close co-operation with Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador.
All too often, the work of mayors, councillors, municipal administrators and
staff in this Province goes unnoticed by the general public. These individuals
often get things done quietly and efficiently.
Mr. Speaker, it is not always easy for residents to see all the hard work
that leads to efficient and quality services within our cities and towns.
Municipal Awareness Day is all about changing that. It is about giving
recognition and promoting the accomplishments and the importance of local
governance. As September approaches, we know that the face of the local
governance may change with the impending election. It is more important now than
ever for us to acknowledge what Municipal Awareness Day is all about.
Mr. Speaker, this one day throughout the year is supported to educate the
public on the role of municipal government and the services they deliver. It is
a day to encourage residents to become involved, to increase community pride and
understanding. We collectively aim to recognize the many volunteers in our
communities that help them grow; and, Mr. Speaker, during an election year for
the over 280 municipalities throughout our Province, we hope to capture the
public's interest in running for their local council.
Mr. Speaker, to better deliver these objectives, we encouraged municipalities to
plan activities that involve their entire community. Some communities will host
history days, municipal displays, open houses, school activities, essays, story,
trivia and poster contests, community development projects and simulated
councils so persons within the community can appreciate how their city or their
town actually operates.
Mr. Speaker, the Department of Municipal Affairs is proud to support
Municipal Awareness Day through an investment of $15,000 which contributed to a
Province-wide advertising campaign, brochures, posters and mail-outs.
Mr. Speaker, I encourage Newfoundlanders and Labradorians to get involved in
Municipal Awareness Day as it heightens awareness of local governance. I also
encourage all interested men, women and youth to consider running or nominating
someone in the September municipal elections. The more people who answer the
call the more likely we are to sustain our cities and towns for generations to
come.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for the District of Port de Grave.
MR. BUTLER: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I want to thank the minister for a copy of her statement.
The Official Opposition join the minister in congratulating all
municipalities, the municipal leaders and their workers throughout the Province,
with regard to the hard work that they do in each of our towns.
Many of those individuals are volunteers and we really appreciate the work
that they do, and we do not want their work to go unnoticed. Without them, our
towns and cities and local service districts would have very little service in
many towns. We heard loud and clear during the Budget consultations the various
issues that they brought forward, the concerns for their municipalities,
including their fire departments.
We know that municipal elections are coming this fall and we encourage each
and every individual to step forward to offer their service to their towns. We
are hearing that the numbers are down tremendously this year of those who will
seek re-election, but hopefully the government can put a campaign in place
similar to what the Minister of Education announced a little while ago with
regard to the school board elections.
We should never forget the work that they do for us, and I ask all residents
of this Province to congratulate their municipal leaders and workers and to take
part in any activities that they have planned over the next day or so.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for the District of Signal Hill-Quidi
Vidi.
MS MICHAEL: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
I, too, thank the minister for the advance copy of her statement and I am
delighted to join my voice with the minister in congratulating
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
I say to hon. members, the Speaker doesn't mind having private
conversations in a quiet way but members cannot go having shouting matches
across the House while other members are in control of the floor.
I ask members to pay respect to the people who have been identified, and
right now we are listening to the hon. Member for the District of Signal
Hill-Quidi Vidi.
MS MICHAEL: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
I would like to take the time to congratulate those who are in elected
positions in municipalities, as well as the workers, because they have quite a
daunting task, especially in our smaller municipalities.
I was quite pleased this morning to hear the President of Municipalities
Newfoundland and Labrador speaking about the importance of municipalities and
people running in the upcoming elections. I think that should be our message
today. I think government should, more and more, find ways to ease the burden of
the smaller municipalities in particular, so that people will see the benefit of
running and taking a role of leadership in their communities. Many of our
communities are aging and do not have the same income, so the tax base is
becoming smaller.
I urge us, as the House of Assembly, to consider the needs of the smaller
municipalities as we celebrate them today.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
MR. SPEAKER: Further Statements by Ministers.
Oral Questions.
Oral Questions
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Opposition.
MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Before I start my questions today, Mr. Speaker, I certainly went to extend
congratulations to the Province's nurses and to the government.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MS JONES: I congratulate both parties, Mr. Speaker, for reaching a
tentative agreement and securing the health care services in the Province for
the people of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Mr. Speaker, I have a couple of questions, just for clarification, around the
contract negotiations.
We understand that there was a change in the language around the market
adjustment clauses which helped facilitate this agreement, and I would like to
ask what changes were made and if it is a differentiation from what has been
contained in the agreements with the other unions.
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
PREMIER WILLIAMS: Mr. Speaker, as the hon. member opposite knows we
initiated a call last night to the union at around nine o'clock. I made a call
to Ms Forward and she wasn't available on her line, or at least I couldn't
make contact on her cell phone. We spoke with Mr. Vivian and indicated that we
were prepared to talk about the two outstanding issues, the two principles we
will call them. He was appreciative of the call. Myself and the Minister of
Finance had met earlier and had met with our officials and instructed them to go
and have a discussion. That went on throughout the entire night and we finally
finished up at about five-thirty or a quarter to six this morning; a night's
work well spent.
At the end, the principle on the extended leave was dropped by the nurses and
we reached what, I guess, would be considered a compromise position on market
modifier. From government's perspective, government does have the ability,
when there are recruitment issues or recruitment problems within a certain area
of the health care system, to provide a bonus in order to deal with that and in
order to solve the recruitment problem.
That was a solution that is quite satisfactory to the nurses and quite
satisfactory to us. It is a win, win. It wasn't even a hold your nose
situation, I think, for either party. I think it is a win not only for
government and nurses that is not really what it is all about - it is really
a win for the people of the Province, the patients of the Province.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Opposition.
MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I certainly agree with that remark.
Mr. Speaker, the nurses' union is recommending acceptance of this tentative
agreement. So we certainly hope that there will be a deal in the future.
I ask the government today: When will the nurses see the improved wage
benefits, and will this contract be retroactive, and if so, to what particular
date?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Finance and President of Treasury
Board.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. KENNEDY: Yes, Mr. Speaker.
The deal will come into place, of course, once it is signed and the
ratification. So I am not quite certain as to the length of time that will be
required for the ratification vote. I do not expect it will be that long. At
that point, it will also be retroactive to the point and as for when the
nurses' contract ended -
AN HON. MEMBER: (Inaudible) was last year.
MR. KENNEDY: Yes, it was a long time ago, because we have been
negotiating with them, I think, for fifteen or sixteen months. So back to April,
I think. It could be April of last year, but it will be retroactive to that
point.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Opposition.
MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The increased monetary offer that was designed to address the recruitment and
retention issues will hopefully be able to allow us to recruit more nurses into
the Province.
I ask the government today: How many nurses are we currently short in the
system, and how does government plan to launch those recruitment initiatives
outside of the Province in order to promote this new agreement?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Health and Community Services.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. WISEMAN: Each of the four authorities have been aggressively pursuing
their recruitment initiatives during this negotiation process. They were not,
obviously, in a position to wait until successful conclusion, because they have
had recruitment teams in place, attending job fairs and advertising in
publications and journals throughout Canada, and some international recruitment,
I say, Mr. Speaker, as well.
So this particular deal signed yesterday, or agreed upon this morning, will
now make that job a lot easier. Now we are going to be competitive, not only on
a national stage but we are going to be competitive on an international stage.
We are hoping to be able to repatriate some nurses who would have left in the
last couple of years. Now with this attractive offer, we are now one of the best
in the country, I say, Mr. Speaker. So, clearly, this will be a great asset and
will really enhance our ability to be successful in recruiting.
With respect to the first part of the question, I think there are some,
roughly 300 permanent positions that are being recruited external to the
organization now as we speak, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Opposition.
MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
We also know that in anticipation of a strike there were some contingency
plans put in place by the health care corporation that also included cancelling
some appointments and surgeries and so on.
I ask the minister today: If the health corporation has been able to provide
an update as to when those surgeries and treatments can be rescheduled, and if
those that were cancelled will be given a priority now to have their
appointments rescheduled?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Health and Community Services.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. WISEMAN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
As I indicated in the House in recent days, that the health authority in
preparing for the, what was a potential strike today when they were served
notice by the nurses' union, started a process to gear down basically for what
might be happening today. It is great news. Obviously, it did not. So now they
are in a position to start rescheduling some of those cancelled appointments.
The first order of business was to ensure that those patients scheduled for
today and tomorrow were notified of any cancellations that were necessary. So
they will now start a process, each of the four authorities will now start a
process of contacting those individuals to reschedule those appointments that
were cancelled. The rescheduling piece, Mr. Speaker, as with all appointments
like that, there is a prioritization that takes place based on acuity and
illness. So they will be working with their clinicians to identify those that
need to be rescheduled on a priority basis.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Opposition.
MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
In the last few weeks we have been asking the government in the House to
provide interim compensation payments to AbitibiBowater workers pending the
resolution of the legal action. Yesterday, they certainly agreed to do that and
made that announcement, Mr. Speaker. No coincidence that it was in the middle of
a polling period, I am sure, but nevertheless, it needed to be done, should have
been done, and we are glad it was done, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, my questions today around that particular agreement are just for
clarification and information. First of all, I ask the minister: Will all the
people affected by the closure of the AbitibiBowater mill be compensated,
including all the loggers?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Innovation, Trade and Rural
Development.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SKINNER: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
Had I known it was the middle of a polling period I would have invited the
hon. member out with us.
Mr. Speaker, the answer to the question is, yes.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Opposition.
MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I may have gone but I was rather busy yesterday morning.
Mr. Speaker, compensating the loggers under this particular agreement, does
this mean - of course I would expect all unionized loggers, but are there
non-unionized loggers and loggers with private companies as well included in any
of these compensation packages?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Innovation, Trade and Rural
Development.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SKINNER: Mr. Speaker, the loggers and silviculturists who worked with
and for Abitibi are the ones that we have identified.
We are in the process of putting together a small committee representing some
government people and some union people to work out the intricacies of what
needs to be done. There are some details that need to be worked out. Through
that process we will bring some definition to all of the people affected, but we
have identified five groups which are: the inside union people, the inside
management people, the work reduction program, the early retirement allowances,
and the loggers and silviculturists. Those five groups are the groups that have
been identified and brought forward to the union. They have agreed to that and
we will now work on the details of how each of those groups will be affected by
the announcement yesterday.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Opposition.
MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Although the minister just outlined the five groups that they were dealing
with, I ask him if there has been any analysis done around the loggers that work
for private companies that might have been outside of the unionized agreements
that will be included, and if there are any numbers around the number of them
that would have been impacted with the closure of this mill?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Innovation, Trade and Rural
Development.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SKINNER: Mr. Speaker, the announcement yesterday was for the former
AbitibiBowater employees. So if there were any loggers and silviculturists who
were employed by private contractors they would not be included in yesterday's
announcement. It would be strictly for former AbitibiBowater employees.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Opposition.
MS JONES: Mr. Speaker, I ask the minister as well. There was a group of
workers that were employed by the power plant that once the expropriation
occurred were transferred to Nalcor Energy. Will these workers also be included
in these severance benefit packages?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Innovation, Trade and Rural
Development.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SKINNER: Mr. Speaker, again the Opposition Leader is correct, that
there were a number of employees who left the employee of AbitibiBowater and
were transferred to Nalcor, and being former employees of the company
AbitibiBowater, they would be included in this announcement yesterday.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Opposition.
MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
There were also cases of workers' survivors who have lost their benefits. I
am just wondering if this compensation package will include any of the benefits
to this group of people as well?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Innovation, Trade and Rural
Development.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SKINNER: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, one of the five groups was what we referred to as the Early
Retirement Allowance group, and that group would encompass the group that the
hon. Opposition House Leader just identified, or the hon. Opposition Leader,
sorry, just identified, in terms of the widows who have been highlighted in the
media over the last number of weeks. They are included in the group that we have
identified as the Early Retirement Allowance people.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Opposition.
MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Also, for clarification, maybe if the minister could tell me if the class of
workers who were receiving the $1,200 to $1,400 payments as a means of bridging
them to retirement age, if this compensation package will include the benefits
to those workers as well.
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Innovation, Trade and Rural
Development.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SKINNER: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, the individuals that the hon. Opposition Leader refers to are
the group that we have identified as the Work Force Reduction Program people.
They were receiving an amount - it varied - between $1,200 and $1,400 per month
up until the age of sixty-five, and those people have been identified under the
broad category of Work Force Reduction Program people. They, as well, were
included in yesterday's announcement.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Opposition.
MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
One other question around that piece of it, and that includes the holiday
pay. I am not sure if the compensation included the holiday pay that was due to
the workers or if was just the severance piece that was due to them.
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Innovation, Trade and Rural
Development.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SKINNER: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, the announcement made yesterday referred specifically to the
severances that were owed to the workers by AbitibiBowater. Any other negotiated
benefits - vacation pay, holiday pay, whatever the case may be - are not
included in our announcement. Our announcement specifically referred to
severance benefits.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Opposition.
MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I ask the minister if government has an estimated cost on what this
commitment will be to the Province, and also if they can tell me if there is any
indication that they will be able to recoup that money from the expropriation
deal with Abitibi at some point.
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
The hon. the Minister of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SKINNER: Mr. Speaker, the estimated amount of money - and I stress it
is an estimate because we are still working out details - is approximately $35
million. In terms of any recouping of that money, the process will involve the
workers assigning their claims against Abitibi to the union, the union then
proceeding through the CCAA process, through the court-appointed process, and
should the court rule that there be any monies owed through that process that
will be paid to the union on behalf of the workers, that money would in turn be
paid back to the Province.
The likelihood of that, we understand from our legal representatives, is
probably not very likely, but we are going to go forward with the process.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Opposition.
MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I would also like to ask the minister where the funds are going to come from
up front. Will they be coming from the provincial coffers, from Nalcor, from the
federal government's Community Development Trust program, or from some revenue
stream through the expropriation of the assets or some other form?
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
The hon. the Minister of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SKINNER: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, the funds will come from the general Treasury of the provincial
government. There will be a warrant that we will have to get to receive the
funds, and it will just be general Treasury funds.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Opposition.
MS JONES: Mr. Speaker, I am just wondering if government can indicate to
us today how much revenue they expect to generate from the expropriated assets
that they now have control of?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Natural Resources.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MS DUNDERDALE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
No, Mr. Speaker, we have not put any figures to the amount of money that will
be generated out of electricity in Central. Right now what we are doing, because
Seal Cove is running at its minimum level, water is being stored in Bay d'Espoir.
So basically the energy that is coming from Central is being stored in the
reservoir in Bay d'Espoir because we do not have a particular use for it at
the moment.
Without a doubt, Mr. Speaker, we will, as our energy demands increase over
the summer, but right now water is being stored.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Opposition.
MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Does the minister have any idea when we may have some demand for the use of
that generated power? If we were to be using it today, what would be the revenue
generation from it being accrued to the Province on an annual basis?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Natural Resources.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MS DUNDERDALE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
My alter ego is not Karl Wells, so I cannot really tell you when we are going
to be using that electricity because it depends on the amount of waterfall and
so on that we have in the Province.
In the summertime, as it get warm and we start to use up a bit more
electricity or we have greater industrial demands, we are blessed to have that
electricity available to us. We are hopeful in the long run, Mr. Speaker, that
an industrial user will come forward who has a plan for use of that power in
Central Newfoundland and we will be able, again, to once more use that power in
that region of the Province to generate jobs for the people there. We are
actively working, Mr. Speaker, to see what the possibilities of that might be.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Opposition.
MS JONES: Mr. Speaker, when government made their announcement yesterday,
I think they made a comment that they would work to ensure the disbursement of
these funds as soon as possible. I wonder if the minister can indicate to us
today some time frame around which people can expect to see some cheques in
their mailbox.
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Innovation, Trade and Rural
Development.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SKINNER: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, in the announcement yesterday, when we met with all of the union
local leadership, we did indicate that we wanted to have them serve on the
committee with us, to work through some of these details, and we needed their
support to be able to administer this.
There was a meeting earlier today of my officials and some other officials
within government, whereby we put some parameters around the work we needed to
do. There will be a meeting tomorrow that will include the union leadership, and
based upon that meeting I think we will be able to look at some time frames.
I am reluctant to give any particular time frames right now, simply because I
think tomorrow's meeting will help define that a bit better, but we expect
that some of the groups, the five groups identified, some of those, very, very
quickly, would start to receive cheques very, very soon.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Opposition.
MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Last week, as well, I asked questions about the eighty-seven silviculture
workers in Central Newfoundland who have been waiting to be recalled to work
under an agreement, a five-year agreement that was negotiated between
AbitibiBowater and the Province. That agreement to plant more than 3 million
seedlings on 1,100 hectares of land has been suspended, and these eighty-seven
workers have not been recalled to work.
I ask if you can give me an update today as to when they will be called back
to take their jobs again this year?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister Responsible for the Forestry and
Agrifoods Agency.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MS DUNDERDALE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Yes, Mr. Speaker, since the question was asked in the House last week,
significant progress has been made between the government, and particularly the
Department of Forestry, and the CEP silviculturalists. We are very hopeful to
have people back planting trees under the Abitibi Newfoundland and Labrador
agreement, hopefully by mid-June or the end of June.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Opposition House Leader.
MR. KELVIN PARSONS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I have a number of questions for a number of ministers. I do not think any of
them will bring the government down today, but they need to be followed up on.
Mr. Speaker, our office has received inquires on the condition of the Fort
Amherst site here in St. John's. Although there is widespread acknowledgment
about the historical and cultural importance of the site, particularly with
reference to the remnants of the World War II fortifications, safety concerns
resulted in the area being closed to the public some years ago.
I ask the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, we know that the City
of St. John's has recently petitioned the federal government for assistance
with their planned preservation effort. I ask, have you been involved in any way
in this restoration effort and been asked to commit any funds to that particular
restoration site?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. JACKMAN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Indeed, I have been involved. I have actually visited the site myself, Mr.
Speaker.
Right now, one of the things under the jurisdiction of The Rooms is to ensure
that what we have there is maintained. There are certain things about air
quality and there has to be very much temperature control to make sure that what
is there stays intact. I cannot speak specifically to the plan but I can
certainly provide the House with an update as to where things are progressing.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Opposition House Leader.
MR. KELVIN PARSONS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Just as a follow up to that. We know that a major plan was put in place by
the city in 2002 for the renewal of Fort Amherst. It seems to have gone off the
radar somewhat.
I ask the minister: Why has your department not designated Fort Amherst as a
provincial historic site which would allow it to access the Provincial Historic
Resources Act to get some resources to help in that regard?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. JACKMAN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
As I said, I certainly will provide the House with an update, but this is
progressing through the channels. The Rooms are doing some work on it. As I
said, the key thing at this particular point is to ensure that the integrity of
the site as it stands now is maintained, and I will certainly provide an update
on that.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Opposition House Leader.
MR. KELVIN PARSONS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
My next question is for the Minister of Justice and the Attorney General. The
Clarenville Women's Correctional Facility is currently overcrowded. They have
twenty-two inmates, which is over its twenty inmate capacity. A former inmate
recently indicated as well that at one point inmates were triple-bunked in the
cells. Overcrowding of the correctional facilities directly breaches
section 9
of the United Nations Standard Minimal Rules for the
Treatment of Prisoners .
What is government currently doing to curb the overcrowding problem at the
Clarenville Women's Facility?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Justice and the Attorney General.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. T. MARSHALL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
There are twenty-two single bunk cells at the women's prison in
Clarenville. I understand from time to time that there is some double-bunking
that happens. My understanding is that - I am certainly not aware of any
triple-bunking. My understanding is that there were three cells in which they
were double bunked.
What will happen from time to time when prisons are at excessive capacity,
then federal prisoners are moved over to other federal institutions. I believe
at Clarenville that was in the process of happening. I think on a weekly basis
when a plane arrives, prisoners are moved out to other federal institutions and
that will ultimately solve the problem.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Opposition House Leader.
MR. KELVIN PARSONS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The government received two significant reports on the state of corrections
for women in this Province and committed, based upon those reports, to make
certain changes. Specifically, in the last announcement of government and
included in this year's budget, I do believe, was funding for a full-time
psychologist and funding for a full-time addictions counsellor for female
offenders.
I ask the minister: Where is the department right now in that recruitment
effort for those two professionals?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Justice and the Attorney General.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. T. MARSHALL: Mr. Speaker, if the hon. member will bear with me for a
second, I think I can provide him with a detailed list on what has been
happening and what is happening at Clarenville.
There is now, as a result of the new budget, there is now a psychologist, an
addictions counsellor that will serve the women's prison and also serve HMP.
There are programs taking place in adult basic education. There are programs
under the national employment to help people get the skills they need to obtain
employment. There is what I will do, I will undertake to do is here we
go.
There is a classification officer there. There is a psychiatrist now, a
medical doctor, there is a psychologist, there is a methadone program, there is
a Home of the Heart program offered by the Salvation Army, there is mental
health counselling, there is addictions counselling, there is sexual abuse
counselling, there is adult basic education, the national Employment Skills
Program, regular meetings of AA, a craft program, a pastoral care program, a
Native Friendship centre, and programs offered by the John Howard Society.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for the District of Signal HillQuidi
Vidi.
MS MICHAEL: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
Before I ask you my first question I want to congratulate the government on
doing the right thing and going back to the table with the nurses and sticking
at it until you were able to negotiate and avert a strike.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MS MICHAEL: I think it speaks to the goodwill of both sides. I think that
they stayed, they compromised language and they got to where they got at 5 o'clock
this morning and I think the whole of the Province was smiling because of that.
However, Mr. Speaker, the reality is, as we all know, our health care system
still has considerable problems in spite of the new contract and salaries that
are probably the best east of Ontario.
We have graduate nurse retention rates in the Province that are far from
where they should be. We are short 1,017 nurses and the Province is continually
losing 30 per cent to 40 per cent of the graduating class from the first year
and experiencing losses in the years afterwards.
Mr. Speaker, I ask the Premier: What aggressive plan does government, with
the regional authorities, have to try to keep a greater number of our graduates
in the Province this year?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Health and Community Services.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. WISEMAN: One of the biggest planks in that recruitment platform we
heard announced 5:00 o'clock this morning, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. WISEMAN: We now have a competitive salary package, competitive with
the rest of the country. In fact, we are better than most people in Canada
today. The situation that we have in Newfoundland and Labrador today, with this
announcement early this morning, is that we will have a recruitment package, we
are now second-to-none in the entire country because we are able to offer
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. WISEMAN: We have a competitive wage package - more than competitive,
one of the best in the country. We have tuition at our university the lowest in
the country.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. WISEMAN: We have a student aid program, the best in the country.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. WISEMAN: We have a tax rate, one of the lowest in the country.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. WISEMAN: What better place would you want to come to work but
Newfoundland and Labrador?
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for the District of Signal Hill-Quidi
Vidi.
MS MICHAEL: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
I recognize all of the things that the minister has just outlined.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
MS MICHAEL: However, Mr. Speaker, from January 2007 to February 2008
Eastern Health reported 212,408 hours of nursing overtime and Western Health
reported 64,480 hours of nursing overtime.
Mr. Speaker, this amount of overtime that nurses are working has not
disappeared overnight and will not go away in spite of the package that was
agreed to this morning. It is one thing to have good wages, but nurses are also
still looking at their quality of life.
Mr. Speaker, this is quite a hurdle to get new recruits to come in and to get
graduate students to stay here, knowing how much overtime they will have to
work. What is the government going to do about getting over that hurdle?
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
The hon. the Minister of Health and Community Services.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. WISEMAN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Speaking of hours, it has only been about six hours since we have had this
sweetheart deal. I say, Mr. Speaker, give us a few more hours and we will start
to deal with some of the overtime hours.
She is absolutely right; the member opposite is absolutely right. The
compensation is one piece of it, the quality of work life is another significant
piece, and that is why we announced last week, I think, or the week before
last a new initiative in partnership with the nurses' union out in Central
Newfoundland, a new arrangement. We are looking at a new scheduling arrangement,
a new way to better utilize some of our senior nurses. It was a collaborative
effort between ourselves and the nurses' union and the regional health
authority looking at quality of work life issues.
We have a partnership with the ARNN. They have a program where they are
implementing a number of initiatives in a number of our facilities, working in
partnership again with our department together with the health authority and the
ARNN, looking at quality of work life issues, Mr. Speaker.
There is a whole suite of issues taking place. Compensation is one of them,
and some of these other initiatives are (inaudible).
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
The time allotted for questions and answers has expired.
Presenting Reports by Standing and Special Committees.
Tabling of Documents.
Notices of Motion.
Notices of Motion
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Finance and President of Treasury
Board.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. KENNEDY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I give notice that I will ask leave to introduce a bill
entitled,
An Act To Amend The Liquor Control Act. (Bill 32)
Mr. Speaker, I also give notice that I will move that the House resolve
itself into a Committee of the Whole on Supply to consider a resolution relating
to the granting of Supplementary Supply to Her Majesty. (Bill 34)
MR. SPEAKER: Further notices of motion.
The hon. the Minister of Education.
MR. KING: Mr. Speaker, I give notice that I will ask leave to introduce a
bill entitled,
An Act To Amend The Memorial University Pensions Act. (Bill 33)
MR. SPEAKER: Further notices of motion.
The hon. the Government House Leader.
MS BURKE: Mr. Speaker, I give notice that, under Standing Order 11, I
shall move that the House not adjourn at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 21, 2009.
Further, I give notice, under Standing Order 11, I shall move that the House
not adjourn at 10:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 21, 2009.
MR. SPEAKER: Further notices of motion.
Answers to Questions for Which Notice has been Given.
Petitions.
Petitions
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Opposition House Leader.
MR. KELVIN PARSONS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I appreciate another opportunity to submit a petition on behalf of the
residents of the Southwest Coast of the Province with respect to dialysis
services in that particular area. I think this is the tenth time I have
presented the petition. Every time I go back to the district, every weekend, I
end up with another suitcase full, so there is obviously no shortage yet of the
concern in that particular area for this particular issue.
We have solved a big issue in the Province with health care this morning -
the government and the nurses' union - and hopefully government, particularly
the minister, will find its way clear to solve what is an equally important
issue to the residents of that particular area of the Province out there.
There are different options, of course. There is a dialysis satellite
facility, there is a home dialysis piece, but right now the government is not
giving due attention to considering even what the options are. That is the
purpose of the petition, of course, to bring to the minister's attention and
the people in the Department of Health and the people in Western Health, in
particular, that the issue is not going to go away. People have dialysis needs
at the present time and no doubt those needs will continue. In fact, the
statistics I have been made aware of show that it is on the increase. Instead of
decreasing, there seems to be an increase in the need for this type of
treatment.
Right now, of course, there is a price tag attached to doing all this, number
one, in terms of equipment, and also there is a need for trained personnel to do
it once you have it. In our case, as we pointed out, the people of the area are
prepared to raise the funds to provide the equipment. That is not an issue.
Government normally has provided this equipment, I understand, in Labrador, on
the Burin Peninsula, and in St. Anthony. We people on the South West Coast of
the Province feel this is important enough and urgent enough that, if we have
to, we will raise the funds ourselves. Now, if government treats us like they
would treat everybody else, they would chip in and help out, but it is important
enough that we will raise the funds ourselves.
The other piece of this, of course, is you have to have a place to put it. We
have a place to put it, and that is at the Charles L. Legrow Health Centre in
Port aux Basques. Everybody then, from Grand Bruit, LaPoile, right on up to the
Codroy Valley could access that particular service at that facility. It saves
them traveling three times a week. By the way, if anybody did the math and
figured out what it currently costs government to ship these patients three time
a week, right now, into Corner Brook to get the treatment done, either by taxi
or for gas for their own families, and the cost of feeding them when they are in
there
MR. O'BRIEN: (Inaudible).
MR. KELVIN PARSONS: I say to the Member for Gander, maybe this is not
important for him but it is important for the people of my district and I will
stand on my feet when I have the right to stand on my feet and speak for the
District of Burgeo & LaPoile every time I have the right to do so. I won't
take my seat for the likes of you, thank you.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
MR. KELVIN PARSONS: Mr. Speaker, this is my tenth time in saying this,
and I will continue to present the petitions.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
The hon. the Member for Burgeo & LaPoile.
MR. KELVIN PARSONS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I have three minutes. I think I have used my allotment on this
petition, but you can rest assured I will be back again and I will continue to
speak out on behalf of the people of Burgeo & LaPoile, as I have done since
1999, on every issue that is of importance to them. Nobody in this House or
anywhere else is going to tell me to stop doing that.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
MR. SPEAKER: Further petitions.
The hon. the Member for the District of Port de Grave.
MR. BUTLER: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
It is a pleasure today to stand and present another petition on behalf of the
residents of Roberts Arm, Triton, Springdale, Long Island and so on, with
regards to the Long Island causeway.
Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure to stand not only on behalf of the residents
but on behalf of the Long Island causeway and transportation committee and all
those who support those individuals with the issue with regards to
transportation, whether it is by a new ferry or a causeway, but this petition is
asking for a fixed link from Long Island to Pilley's Island.
I have to say to the residents, keep persisting. Even though government says
no, we cannot do it now, but all you have to do is listen to the news yesterday.
When we left this House with regards to the situation that was resolved 5 o'clock
this morning, we know very well they said there is nothing we can do for you
people. That was the expression that was used, but I know the minister is
planning to meet with those people and who knows what can come out of a good
meeting when people come together and consult with each other.
Mr. Speaker, I think those people have a legitimate issue. They have brought
it forward for the simple reason that they were promised a new ferry and then it
was placed on hold and after that they were told no, this would not go ahead.
This is why they are presenting the petitions, and I will stand each and every
day as long as they keep the petitions coming. They do have legitimate concerns,
whether it is with regards to the health care service from time to time, they
find themselves in a difficult position. Whether it is with the transportation
of their students, whether it is the transportation of goods from the fish plant
to market and what have you, Mr. Speaker.
So those people do have major concerns and they are bringing them forward.
All we are doing here with those petitions is asking government to reconsider
the decision that they will not proceed with a fixed link. Hopefully, at the end
of the day, once those people meet with government, they can come to a
successful conclusion so that the services that they have been receiving in the
past will continue in one way or the other. The petition, in particular, is
asking for a fixed link between Long Island and Pilley's Island.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
MR. SPEAKER: Further petitions?
The hon. the Opposition House Leader.
MR. KELVIN PARSONS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
With the indulgence of the Chair and the approval of the Member for Gander, I
would like to present another petition, if I might. This time on behalf of the
residents of the other end of my district, that being the residents of Ramea and
Grey River and Franois, and that of course concerns again, for the tenth time,
the issue of the lack of proper personnel, the numbers of personnel, to provide
the necessary medical services at the Ramea clinic.
As indicated, we are dealing with three isolated communities. These are not
some places that are accessible by roadway. You get to Ramea, Grey River and
Franois by boat or by helicopter. It is not easy in the best of times to gain
access to either of those communities, particularly when you have weather
circumstances, particularly in the winter months.
The problem here is we have a clinic in Ramea that is supposed to have two
nurse practitioners. There is one lady who is a nurse-practitioner. Give due
credence and diligence to the officials of the health care system at the Calder
in Burgeo, they have tried their best. The site facilitator there has tried her
best to try to get someone to fill the spot but we have determined, after months
and months of trying, that it cannot currently be done under the present
situation. It has been suggested that perhaps a way to do it would be to modify
the current recruitment bonus system so that we could attract someone. At the
present time, the current system provides that you can only hire a nurse
practitioner or let them avail of the recruitment benefits and bonuses if that
person is a new graduate or if that person resides or comes in from outside the
Province.
What we are suggesting to the minister, is if we can come up with all kinds
of formulas to deal with unique situations that exist in other places in this
Province, can we at least try to modify the recruitment situation so that if
anyone in the Province, other than a new graduate, is prepared to go there? For
example, we do have some retired nurse practitioners in this Province. It might
even be an RN who is retired, who might, for the right incentives, be prepared
to go to this community and service these communities. Even if it is on a
one-year basis now and someone else is prepared to go there again on another
one-year basis, for example. At least we have to provide the options, because we
know right now, the people of the communities know, the people who work in the
health care system in Burgeo now know, that unless we do something different we
are not going to have an opportunity to fill that spot.
So all we are suggesting to the minister and the department is, would you be
at least agreeable to looking at this, because it cannot even be done now if the
department does not permit it? The Western Health people can try what they want,
and if it is not being done, obviously it will not work.
Now, maybe with the new nurses' situation, hopefully there are some
provisions in that. The minister is indicating to me that maybe we have a deal
now whereby we can do that. If that is the case, and we can do it without any
problems and causing any problems for the nursing union, if the government has
the ability now to deal with these unique situations, this is certainly an
opportunity, an ideal opportunity to do it.
We have one person now who services these three communities, 365 days a year.
You talk about having a home life and the stress that is caused. I mean, the
person can be as diligent as you want, and this lady certainly is and very
competent, but there comes a point when you have to have a day off, just for
your own mental renewal.
So, again, I encourage the minister I am encouraged by his comment that
we can do it now, as he says. So, I am sure that these communities will address
some correspondence to his office now, to say: Where do we go from here? Once it
is ratified, the nurses' deal, hopefully we will be in a position to actually
do something about this.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Orders of the Day
Private Members' Day
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
It being 3 o'clock and this being Private Members' Day, we now call on
the hon. Member for the District of Lewisporte to bring forward his private
member's resolution.
The hon. the Member for the District of Lewisporte.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. VERGE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I am not sure if I am going to need my glasses today or not, Mr. Speaker. I
can almost see that without glasses.
Mr. Speaker, it is certainly a pleasure to speak on this private member's
motion today. The motion itself was read into the record on Thursday of last
week and I will not read in its entirety again today. I will, however, refer to
different sections of the motion throughout my speaking time.
The motion deals with the seal fishery, Mr. Speaker. On April 8 of this year,
just five or six weeks ago, we also debated and passed a motion in this House of
Assembly that dealt with the seal fishery. Some people may ask why it is that we
are talking about the seal fishery again today by means of a private member's
motion.
We are debating it again today, Mr. Speaker, because of the changes that have
occurred since the last debate and also because of the importance of the seal
fishery to all the people of this Province. The seal fishery is culturally
significant to our people. It is part of our history. It is part of our way of
life. It is economically important as well. The seal fishery traditionally over
the years has influenced positively the economic situation of this Province.
Also, we are talking about it again today because our seal fishery is being
decimated by means of false propaganda. Propaganda spread primarily by animal
rights activists with their own specific agenda.
Mr. Speaker, I grew up in a small community, actually a community that
consisted of miners and loggers and also fishermen. As a boy, I saw many seals
brought into the community wharf and the community stage and beachside, and saw
them cleaned on the ice. I cannot say it was a pretty sight, to see seals being
cleaned on the ice because splashed across the white ice there was also red
blood, but it never bothered me as a boy. I understood the significance of it. I
understood why it was being done. I never did witness any cruelty. Although I
never participated in the hunt, I have had many flipper meals and flipper pies.
I had many family members that have participated in the hunt, as well as many
constituents throughout Lewisporte district that rely on the industry on an
annual basis.
On April 8 we passed a Private Members' Motion pertaining to the seal hunt
in this House of Assembly, and at that time we were anticipating a vote would be
taking place in the European Union, a vote to ban the importation of seal
products. We were calling on the House of Assembly at that time to urge the
declaration not to impose any new trade barriers during these times of economic
to proceed with its proposal to ban seal imports as such a trade restriction
would be contrary to international trade rules.
Well, Mr. Speaker, as stated in this motion today, despite our action in this
House, with the unanimous passing of that original motion, on May 5 of this
month members of the European Parliament did conduct a vote, and in a vote with
a result of 550 in favour, 49 against, and 41 absentees, they voted to ban the
commercial trade of seal products in European Union countries.
The countries that participated in this vote did it because of the lobbying
and influence of animal activist groups, groups again, I say, Mr. Speaker, that
have false information and their own specific agenda. Despite the facts and
despite our efforts to educate the EU with its 27 members - I might note, the 27
members of the EU, Mr. Speaker, include Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cypress, the
Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary,
Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland,
Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom -
they voted to ban the importation of seal products. The combined population of
all 27 members as of January of this year is said to be about 500 million
people. It makes you wonder, Mr. Speaker, how so many countries could be duped,
but this is what happened.
I want to talk a little bit about the hypocrisy of that move, because in this
motion it talks about the hypocrisy. It says, "WHEREAS it is the height of
hypocrisy for European Union countries to ban the commercial trade of products
from Canadian seal harvest - which is ecologically sustainable, economically
sustainable, tightly regulated and humane - while permitting the harvests,
culling and hunting of animals within their own jurisdictions and the commercial
trade of products from such activities."
In an
article that came out on Monday from the Globe and Mail - not
everything in the Globe and Mail , Mr. Speaker, I necessarily agree with.
I have seen some articles in the past that I do not agree with, but in this
particular
article a writer from Quebec, Lysiane Gagnon writes - and I am going
to allude to some of her
article - she says, "The position of the European
Parliament on the seal hunt is not only illogical, but hypocritical. In a teary
introduction to the resolution that bans Canadian seal products, it says that
seals are "sentient animals that can experience pain, distress, fear and
other forms of suffering." This is said, Mr. Speaker, "as if seals
were the only creatures that could suffer."
"If the European Parliament were really interested in animal welfare,
then it could look rather more closely at the farming industry that the European
Union so lavishly rewards with subsidies. Pigs, indeed, suffer more than seals
when they are killed on an assembly line, where five pigs can be processed in a
minute. Quoting an activist group, the Economist says that half the sheep in
France are conscious when their throats are slit."
Mr. Speaker, those are harsh words but we are dealing with a harsh reality
and we are dealing with people who live sometimes in a fancy world. I refer to
the animal rights groups, Mr. Speaker, who ashamedly proclaim that the seal hunt
is cruel and inhumane.
What about the bull fights, Mr. Speaker? "If the seal hunt is
"inherently inhumane", as the European parliamentarians say, why do
they tolerate bullfights?" The answer, Mr. Speaker, according to this
writer is, "They take place in Europe and banning them would create
political havoc." Granted there are seal hunts in Northern Europe but this
does not bother the European Parliament, not at all. These are acceptable as
long as they are meant to protect fish stocks and do not appear to be done for
profit. The same argument can be said in defence of the Canadian seal hunts,
since seals everywhere within our waters are ferocious fish eaters.
Another writer commenting on that article, a writer by the name of Darcy in
the Signal - that I found in doing some research for this - says something like
this: Ever heard of The Meatrix? It's an artificial reality most of us live in
where we imagine our meat and poultry products come from quaint family farms,
where the animals we eat are happy and cared for. The actual reality is most
often factory farming, where practices that make the seal hunt look like a
petting zoo are carried out daily, all year round. And yet where are the
protestors in these factory farms? Where are the economic sanctions? And, yeah,
where are the celebrities? Animal rights groups put a lot of weight behind the
seal hunt because it's easy marketing, it is easy money. There are plenty of
animals all around the world that indeed need somebody to speak up for their
rights, but they do not look as pretty as the seal hunt.
The hunt is humane, Mr. Speaker. For the European Parliament to pass this
motion is indeed hypocritical, it is illogical, and it does not make any
intellectual sense.
Some facts about the seal hunt from this Province: The Newfoundland and
Labrador sealing industry provides direct employment for over 6,000 people. The
economic value of the seal hunt is significant to this Province. The federal
government says that the landed value of seals exceeded 16.5 million in 2005 and
provided a significant source of income for thousands of sealers. The Department
of Fisheries and Oceans says that the 2005 seal catch ranked fifth in the value
of all species it monitors; that is after snow crab, shrimp, lobster and cod. It
is a catch that is profitable and it is also a hunt that takes place at a time
in the year when most other forms of fishing cannot be conducted.
In 2008 our sealing industry was valued at approximately $30 million. While
value fluctuates according to global supply and according to demand, it has been
as high as $60 million in recent years. Some sealers in this Province say that
25 per cent to 35 per cent of their total income comes from the sealing
industry.
Mr. Speaker, I remember the last motion that we passed here was brought in by
my colleague, the Member for The Isles of Notre Dame. I spoke with him yesterday
and he filled me in on a conversation he had with a sealer in his district. The
person that he was talking to in his district said last year that person made
$4,600 on the seal hunt. This year, that same sealer made $1,400. That is $3,200
for that person to make up, Mr. Speaker, on an annual basis. That is around $240
a month as a deduction in his income. That is significant.
The average price of an A1 beater pelt this year is $14, plus $2.40 for the
blubber. Just a few years ago we saw this number rival $100 a pelt. As of May 19
- that was yesterday, Mr. Speaker - there have been 69,659 pelts taken. That
represents about 25 per cent of the quota, and the current activity is low.
There are very few people out there right now fishing for seals, or hunting for
seals. It is leaving about 225,000 seals in the mix, seals that were allowed to
be caught this year, allowed to be hunted, that are going to be left in the mix
to breed and, yes, to produce for another year. That is going to leave us with a
population surge, seals exploding in our waters, with the full impact yet to be
seen and yet to be felt.
I want to talk about the humaneness of the hunt, Mr. Speaker. Research on the
modern sealing industry by the international veterinary experts concluded seals
are harvested in a humane manner. The Government of Newfoundland, our
government, supports a sustained harvest in the hunting of seals under three
principles: There has to be a sustainable harvest based on a solid science; we
want an industry that is based on the full utilization of the animal; and we
want humane harvesting methods with zero tolerance for inhumane practices.
While the International Fund for Animal Welfare says seals are not killed
humanely, Mr. Speaker, what I would say is: That is lies. That is definitely not
true. A 2002 report in the Canadian Veterinary Journal found that the large
majority of seals taken during the hunt are killed in an acceptably humane
manner. This study found that 98 per cent of hunted seals it examined had been
killed properly. These are facts that these groups leave out when they are doing
their presentations. These are little tidbits of information that are true. They
are factual. However, because they are trying to base their information on
misleading and emotional and sensitive pictures, they leave out the facts, for
their own agenda purposes, I would argue.
Mr. Speaker, there are several other points that
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
I remind the hon. member that his speaking time has expired.
MR. VERGE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
MR. SPEAKER: Does the hon. member have leave?
AN HON. MEMBER: By leave.
MR. VERGE: I understand there are some other speakers, and I do have some
other points I want to make, but maybe I will get to make them during my closing
remarks.
As for now, Mr. Speaker, I will take my seat and listen to my colleagues
render their remarks.
Thank you.
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Port de Grave.
MR. BUTLER: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
I want to say it is a pleasure today to be able to stand and have a few
comments with regard to the Private Member's Motion put forward by the hon.
Member for Lewisporte and seconded by the Member for Bellevue.
There are a few comments I want to make, but in general I am supporting his
Private Member's Motion.
It was very interesting to note some of the comments he made with regard to
some people who were involved in the sealing industry last year, the numbers of
dollars they made last year versus this year, and to know that only 25 per cent
of the quota has been taken to date. We all know that it is a major issue with
regard to our fishermen in the Province. We know they are involved in other
types of fisheries, but the sealing industry lends to take care of some of the
concerns they have at that particular time of the year by being involved in the
fishery.
I want to note that the comments I am making are going to be made by a
private member as well, because they are the comments I believe in and hopefully
they will add some credence to the Private Member's Motion.
Mr. Speaker, the motion calls for a letter by the Speaker or the government
to be sent to the government of each European Union to direct their
representatives on the council to vote against the ban. If a letter should go to
each of those countries we have to remind them of several things. We have to
remind them, that the men and women who served in two world wars are the same
flesh and blood we are dealing with here in this fishery. They have to be
reminded of that, because our men and women went overseas and fought for their
freedom. We have been called by those individuals in various countries as
barbarians, and I want to say that if we are barbarians now we were always
barbarians, but I do not believe in that. Those men and women who went overseas,
I would venture to say should never have been called barbarians.
To listen to Paul Watson only recently say that now there is a ban or a
possible ban being put in place when it comes to the sealing industry, he said:
Now maybe those people will be able to get a good job for themselves. Mr.
Speaker, I take offence to that, because the people who are involved in the
fishing industry, regardless if it is a sealing industry or what type of fishery
that they are involved in, those people are far from lazy individuals. They have
lived by the sea for some 500 years, and the sealing industry has been a part of
their livelihood.
We have to remind them that by banning the seal hunt they are doing another
greater injustice, not only to the people of this Province but to the people of
their own countries, because by not taking control of the seals that are in our
oceans, the 5 million or 6 million, however many that is there, and we hear
different numbers, we are also eliminating the recovery of the cod fishery
around the shores of our Province. Back years ago, when there was a major seal
hunt, the numbers were kept to a level where it did not get involved and destroy
the cod fishery to what it is today. We hear so many stories right throughout
our Province of Newfoundland and Labrador, in various communities, about how the
seals are coming in closer to shore, how they are even going up freshwater
streams and brooks. So we can only imagine what they are doing to the recovery
of the cod.
Also, Mr. Speaker, we know that those countries - and we heard recently about
two of those countries that were, I guess, caught outside the 200-mile limit,
and possibly inside the 200-mile limit, that were doing things that were not
proper with regards to the cod fishery. Those countries have come here for many
years, and there is nothing wrong with that, but here they are, they came, they
raped the bottoms of the ocean, they destroyed the feeding grounds for the cod
fishery, and now here they are, they want to ban another industry that we have
in this Province that has been ongoing for many years.
Also, in the "BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the House calls on the
persistently before the World Trade Organization if such a ban is finally
imposed." I believe that we have to act now and act swiftly, as the motion
states.
With all due respect to the ministers of this government who have travelled
to Ottawa and they have gone and held meetings with whoever they could get a
meeting with, but what has to be done, I honestly believe that our Premier and
the Prime Minister, the only two that I believe can sit down, decide what has to
be done and then the Prime Minister has to deal properly with those countries.
They have already come out and said that they are not going to deal with us as a
Province; they are not going to deal with our Premier. So I believe that both of
them, even though they may have their differences on other issues, this is a
very critical situation and they have to come together to make sure this is what
will take place.
We are going to see, Mr. Speaker, in rural Newfoundland - and it all hinges
on the seal fishery, as well as other factors, but I can assure you it is going
to be very crucial to rural communities in our Province. If the cod does not
recover - I mean, we hear news from if you listen to the fishers, they are
saying the cod is recovering in great numbers. If you listen to the scientists
you get a different picture, but hopefully the day will come when our people
throughout this Province will be able to once again make a decent living through
the cod fishery in conjunction with other species.
We have to sit down, and Ottawa has to be firm with those EU countries. The
time for writing letters and sending postcards and phone calls is over. We have
to take more decisive action. I believe we have travelled to Europe, our
officials in this government and the Premier travelled to Europe, we have
travelled to Ottawa but it is not working, Mr. Speaker, and other action has to
be taken. It comes down, as I said earlier, I really believe that it comes down
to our Premier sitting down with the Prime Minister and putting a plan of action
in place.
All too often we have heard stories about Mr. Watson, Paul Watson, Heather
Mills and Paul McCartney and so on. They put on a major campaign to bring an end
to our sealing industry here in this Province of Newfoundland and Labrador. They
came here and all you can see is Heather Mills and Paul McCartney rolling around
on the ice with the little white coats, the baby seals, something that we have
not killed for years and they send those pictures around the world, and what do
we get? Millions of dollars, they are raising millions of dollars on the backs
of our industry.
Mr. Speaker, I know this might be a prop, but I have to show this. Where is
Paul Watson and Heather Mills when this is happening in our world today, in one
of the EU countries? That is happening right in Denmark. The oceans are filled
with blood and here we are losing an industry because of a bit of red blood on a
snow surface, on the very coast that we live in.
Mr. Speaker, those people have to be challenged. Probably they have been
challenged to a certain degree, but I believe the government of Ottawa has to be
stronger in what they do. I mean there are pictures here where it shows the full
ocean red in Denmark where whales are being killed, but I can tell you one
thing, Paul Watson's boat is not in the background. Heather Mills and Paul
McCartney are not rolling around on the backs of the whales, but that is what is
happening. We have to start a major campaign to see that those issues in the
countries that are voting against us are dealt with.
Mr. Speaker, maybe what it has to come to, maybe we as a Province and as a
country have to boycott products coming from those countries, there is
twenty-seven of them. I do not know what they send to our Province or to our
country, but something has to be done.
Just in conclusion, I will mention the cod fishery. I believe that Canada, as
a country, has to take control through custodial management of the Nose and Tail
of the Grand Banks and the Flemish Cap, because what is happening there today,
and as we speak, the cod, the masses are being destroyed. They are being
destroyed by those very countries that are gloating and trying to put an end to
a seal fishery here in this Province. This can be done. I do not know why we are
waiting, why Canada is waiting, not to intercede, to go ahead with custodial
management.
From people that I have spoken to, and I do not have any background when it
comes to law, but lawyers will tell you that the law of the sea, the clauses are
there for our country, if they wanted to, to protect those fishing grounds. As I
said, I believe we have to boycott and do whatever has to be done. I firmly
believe, and this is no disrespect to this government or the Premier, I think it
is the Premier who has to sit down with the Prime Minister and the powers that
be to send this message, because Ottawa at the present time is not doing it, and
they do not care. All they mind is the trade agreements they have with some
other provinces, and we are being left out on the hook once more.
So, having said that, Mr. Speaker, I totally agree with the private member's
motion that is put forward by the Member for Lewisporte, and I look forward to
listening to the comments of other speakers.
Thank you.
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Bellevue.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. PEACH: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
It gives me great pleasure to rise in this hon. House in my place as the MHA
for the great District of Bellevue and represent my constituents.
Mr. Speaker, I want to second this motion presented by my colleague, the MHA
for the District of Lewisporte. It is also a great pleasure to speak on such an
important motion which will affect the future of the seal hunt.
Just a couple of weeks ago I had the privilege to speak on a similar motion,
Mr. Speaker, a motion to lobby the European Union Parliament asking them not to
vote in favour to ban the seal products in the European Union.
Mr. Speaker, this motion put forward by my colleague, the MHA for the Isles
of Notre Dame, on April 8, 2009, was also a very important motion, but the
members opposite did not think so, or it seemed that way. Mr. Speaker, on that
day only one member out of the four members opposite spoke on this important
issue. I wonder how Joe and Martha Chesterfield would analyze this, Mr. Speaker.
I anticipate that today all members opposite will speak on this very important
issue of the seal hunt.
This is an important motion that will set the precedent to revive our seal
hunt for the year 2010 and the future. Mr. Speaker, this is a motion that will
call on the European Union to direct their representatives on the Council of the
Federation to vote against the ban on seal products. Mr. Speaker, this motion
and persistently, before the World Trade Organization.
Mr. Speaker, the sealing industry is significant to the people of my
district, and many of my colleagues' districts across the Province of
Newfoundland and Labrador. It is imperative to the small boat fishermen who hunt
seals in the bays. It is imperative to the crews that go to the ice to hunt
seals. It is very important to the seal plant workers of the South Dildo area.
This plant is the largest seal tannery plant in the world and its operation is
in the District of Bellevue, my district.
Mr. Speaker, the sealing industry provides full-time and part-time jobs at
this seal plant in my district. When workers finish up the season at the seal
plant they move into the near pelagic species plant for work at the New Harbour
and Long Cove plants in the areas. This year, Mr. Speaker, what happened?
Mr. Speaker, the European Union Parliament voted in May to ban seal products
and they did not care about, nor did they consider, the consequences to fish
plant workers, the seal hunters and their families.
Mr. Speaker, despite the representation through letters to our Prime
Minister, and the lobbying efforts of our Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture
and our Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs to the Ambassadors of the European
Union, they, the European Union, voted against our request. The vote was 550 in
favour and only 49 against. The vote was not to buy seal products, the day the
European Union voted in favour of the activists.
One lady from the European Union Parliament stated they voted in favour of
their constituents. Their vote, no doubt, was influenced by an upcoming election
this fall. This lady also stated that most of the activists were from the
European Union.
Mr. Speaker, despite all the regulations that are in place to make this seal
hunt the most humane hunt in the world, despite the scientific information,
despite the veterinarian photos and displays showing a well organized and humane
hunt, the European Union Parliament played politics with the historical seal
hunt, with the lives of our Newfoundland and Labrador families, with our
livelihood and with our culture. Mr. Speaker, the total ban on seal exports in
the European Union is devastating to the seal hunters and their families not
only in my district but throughout the Province as a whole. For thousands of
years families in small coastal communities have relied on responsible seal
hunting for their survival. Voting to ban the sale or transportation of seal
products will significantly harm the way of life in these communities, carrying
with it severe consequences.
The vote to ban seal products in the European markets, what did it mean to
our seal hunt? This meant markets dropped. It meant that sealers who this year
on the Northeast Coast were affected because of ice conditions could not hunt
seal as an incentive. Mr. Speaker, ice problems that affected the crab fishery,
the lobster fishery - in April and May of this year - around the Island always
brings hardships to families. The seal fishery has always been an incentive for
fishermen who hunt seals annually. This year has been different than previous
years, Mr. Speaker. Low markets, the cutbacks in prices of pelts, has made it
impossible for these fishermen who rely on the hunt to hunt seals and make a
profit to be a source of revenue to provide for their families. It is
devastating, Mr. Speaker. One-third of the seal hunters' income comes from the
seal hunt. Six thousand fisherpersons hunt seals each year. This leads to
approximately $55 million into the provincial economy, and about $30 million in
landed value.
Seals are an important and valuable natural resource to many Newfoundland and
Labrador families. Harp seals rank fifth of the total landed volume in our
Province. Seals are part of our culture and vital to our economy. Most of all,
Mr. Speaker, the seal hunt plays an important
part in controlling the growth of
cod stocks.
I want to refer to another part of the
article that was alluded to by my
colleague earlier, which was in the Globe and Mail . I want to read this
as quoted, "Granted, there are seal hunts in northern Europe. But does this
bother the European Parliament? Not at all. These are acceptable,
Strasbourg-ruled, as long as they are meant to protect fish stocks and do not
appear to be done for profit. The same argument could be made in defence of the
Canadian seal hunts, since seals everywhere are ferocious fish eaters. But the
Europeans are not concerned with Canadian cod, they eat the cabillaud ,'
which comes from European waters, and they don't want to be deprived of this
fine fish. There's more. The European resolution magnanimously allows the
Inuit to hunt seals, since it is one of their age-old cultural practices."
Now, I want to read that again, "allows the Inuit to hunt seals,
since it is one of their age-old cultural practices."
Just listen to this, Mr. Speaker, "Isn't killing seals supposed to be
barbaric? If so, why would the Inuit be encouraged to do so? And if an inherently
inhumane' practice is to be condoned for the simple reason that it has existed
for a very long time, what about the fishermen in Newfoundland" and
Labrador "and the Magdalen Islands, who have been hunting seals for 400
years?"
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. PEACH: Seals are an important and valuable natural resource, Mr.
Speaker. Harp seals rank fifth of the total landed volume in our Province, and
seals are part of our culture and vital to our economy.
Mr. Speaker, what other problems did these seal hunters have to face this
year because of the seal hunt being down? Mr. Speaker, they had no unemployment
insurance benefits, and when they asked for extensions on Employment Insurance
benefits because of the ice conditions, what happened then?
I will tell you what happened. The Deputy Minister of Fisheries and Oceans
said there was no ice on the Northeast Coast of Newfoundland, and there was no
need for extensions to Employment Insurance benefits. My, aren't they well
informed, Mr. Speaker?
These are the same people who we had lobbying on our behalf for our seal
hunt, lobbying on our behalf to the European Union asking them not to ban seal
products. They, our federal government, Mr. Speaker, need to get in tune. They
need to educate themselves on the fact that ice disrupts the fishery around this
Province of Newfoundland and Labrador every year.
Having said all of this, Mr. Speaker, there are other options. We have the
Council of the Federation. They, Mr. Speaker, can vote against this ban, a vote
to take place in June 2009. This will allow our seal hunt to revive itself and
encourage future growth. We have our federal government, Mr. Speaker, our Prime
Minister who can play an important role in this decision. He can take a stand, I
say, Mr. Speaker, to challenge the ban, to fight vigorously and persistently
before the World Trade Organization, and ask them to vote against such a ban.
Mr. Speaker, if all else fails, we will not be dead in the water. The seal
hunt can rebound. Our processors, our federal government, can open doors. They
can do research, explore new opportunities, and explore new markets in China,
Asia, Russia, Korea and India.
Mr. Speaker, we should find a way to utilize the whole seal carcass. There
are so many people around the world with very little food and we have so many
seals that could be a good food source for all other countries. The sealing
industry has always been an historic hunt, a tradition of Newfoundland
communities, and most of all a means of providing for families in small outport
communities. That is why it is so important to vote in favour of this motion.
I feel optimistic that when our world economy bounces back, Mr. Speaker, our
seal hunt will come back. Mr. Speaker, the dignity, pride and self-reliance will
be with the people of our great Province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Our
government remains committed to a future harvest and continues to provide an
important economic benefit to our coastal and other communities.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for the District of Baie Verte
Springdale.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. POLLARD: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
First of all, I cannot resist the urge to congratulate and thank our Premier
and the Minister of Finance and their team of officials for reaching a tentative
agreement with the nurses, and I applaud our government as well for addressing
the needs of the workers in Central Newfoundland. It is a great day for the
Province, so thank you again. I am proud of our government. It is a great day
once again.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. POLLARD: I am delighted to have a few words on this Private Member's
motion today, Mr. Speaker.
The proposed ban is not based on factual information. It is not based on
solid scientific information. In fact, it is inconsistent with the World Trade
Organization obligations. It is also disrespectful of international trade
agreements. It is also incongruent with the G-20 summit leaders who met on April
2, 2009 and agreed that they would not impose any more trade barriers in light
of the tough economic situation globally.
Neither will this ban achieve the goals of the animal rights lobbyists, Mr.
Speaker, nor will it foster or enhance a more sustainable or humane hunt. In
fact, in my opinion it will pose a greater danger for fish stocks in the future.
I have concluded, Mr. Speaker, that there is absolutely no justification, no
reasonable rationale, for this ban. This ban is based solely on distortion of
the truth, and based on misinformation by animal rights groups who are out to
make a profit at the expense of people's emotions; a forty-year propaganda
campaign by celebrities whose sincerity I really question. I really question
their agenda, Mr. Speaker.
Let's get the facts straight about the seal hunt. First of all, it is
indeed sustainable. It is economically viable. Our seal hunt does not receive
government subsidies. It is ecologically viable. The seal hunt has thrived for
100 years or more in this great Province of ours. It has shaped our culture. It
has shaped our history. The species is certainly not at risk, Mr. Speaker,
thanks to Canada's sound conservation and management practices. The current
harvest poses absolutely no apparent threat to the long-term health of the
species.
The seal hunt is also humane, Mr. Speaker. It is heavily regulated, it is
heavily monitored, and it is strictly enforced. In fact, they say the sealing
industry is one of the most regulated industries in the whole wide world, to
ensure that there is no cruelty to the animal. In fact, the experts have
concluded that seals are harvested in a humane manner. Furthermore, Mr. Speaker,
there is absolutely zero tolerance, as alluded to earlier by my colleagues, for
any inhumane practices or methods to occur. If so, there will be heavy fines and
heavy penalties imposed upon those who make such infractions.
Our government supports a sealing industry, a sealing harvest, based on three
cornerstone principles, again alluded to earlier by my colleague: Number one,
sustainability, which is based on solid science; number two, the utilization of
the whole animal; and number three, based upon humane harvesting methods. The
seal hunt is also economically sound. It is of great economic importance to
rural Newfoundland and Labrador, especially the coastal communities. The seal
hunt makes up about 25 per cent to 35 per cent of their annual income, it
provides part-time employment for 6,000 or more people, and it generated in
2008, to the provincial economy, around $30 million, and in 2006, I believe, it
went up as high as $60 million.
This ban is a serious threat to the industry and to the livelihood of people
in my District of Baie Verte-Springdale. Of course the Ray Wimbletons, the Leo
Seymours, the George Walshs and the Mark Smalls who live in my district can get
up here today and do a lot better job than me in articulating the importance of
the seal industry to the District of Baie Verte-Springdale, because for their
entire lives they were immersed in the sealing industry and the fishery as a
whole.
In fact, I believe in Nippers Harbour, back in the early 1900s or late 1800s,
I am not really sure, I understand that there was a canning factory in Nippers
Harbour back in those years. So the sealing industry has carved and shaped our
District of Baie Verte-Springdale. It has a great history.
The seal hunt is also of great commercial value, Mr. Speaker. You say: Why is
that? Number one, because of its seal meat. Do you realize that the seal meat is
rich in protein, iron, magnesium and calcium? It is of great nutritional value.
Number two, it is of great commercial value because of its seal oil. The seal
oil plays a vital role in preventing and treating hypertension, arthritis,
diabetes, some types of cancer, and other diseases. In fact, it also reduces
cholesterol levels. These positive health effects create a marketing edge for
the seal oil industry compared to other fish oils.
In addition, the seal fur is also of high demand and is a valued commodity.
Furthermore, it is a known fact that seal pelts make good quality leather that
is used to make various items such as coverings for furniture, clothing, boots,
mitts, hats, coats, you name it, because the leather is durable and it is of
high tensile strength that wears well and ages well. In fact, these chairs in
the House of Assembly are made up of leather pelts, leather sealskin.
Mr. Speaker, our government realizes the importance of the hunt and is aware
of certain facts. Fact number one, it is indeed economically viable. Fact number
two, it is a humane hunt. Fact number three, the seal quotas are healthy and it
is not endangered. In the past thirty years it has tripled. Fact number four,
the sealing industry, the seal hunt, is part of our culture. It has shaped our
history. Fact number five, the sealing industry is respectful of the
environment. It is respectful of the species and it is also respectful of the
animal. Fact number six, Newfoundland and Labradorians are not barbarians as the
animal rights activists would like to portray us to be. Fact number seven, that
Newfoundland and Labradorians are not engaged in animal cruelty. Fact number
eight, Newfoundland and Labrador are hardworking people who are trying to make
an honest day's living, a decent living for their families. Fact number nine,
those who participate in the hunt are brave, courageous individuals who risk
their lives on a daily basis every time they go out on the ice floes. Those
people who go to the front and participate in the hunt should be applauded and
held in the highest esteem for their courage, for their bravery and for
accepting risk in order to feed their families, in order to put food on their
table. Fact number ten, if seals are not harvested they will impede the recovery
of other fish stocks. As far as I know, it is not a crime against humanity or
against society to feed one's family by harvesting seals in a humane,
sustainable manner.
Our government has demonstrated our resolve in advocating for the industry.
Just listen to the steps that our government has taken just before the EU vote.
One: in six languages our government provided information to international
audiences. Two: our government worked with the industry to promote training
sessions. Three: in the past four years we have spent $100,000 per year for
advocacy. Four: our government has worked hard to inform the EU parliamentarians
to consider the real facts. Five: our government has worked with the provinces
and territories. Six: our Premier has written letters to the ambassadors of a
number of EU member states to make them aware of the facts pertaining to the
Province's seal industry.
Again, Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture went to Ottawa
and met with various number of ambassadors or senior diplomats from the EU and
other European countries, including Denmark, Sweden, Iceland, Finland, Norway,
and representatives of the EU.
In fact, Mr. Speaker, I was rather thrilled to see our Premier on Larry
King Live when our Premier educated not only Paul McCartney and Heather
Mills, but also educated Larry King about our seal hunt. I was proud that night
when I saw our Premier get up and stand up for our industry at that particular
time.
Mr. Speaker, our government, we have done our part, but it seems like it has
government, to step up to the plate and lobby strongly on our behalf. I am not
pleased with their indifference, with our federal government's laissez-faire
type of attitude, nonchalantly approaching this issue with a half heart, with
lip service only, approaching the issue on a casual basis. I would like to see
our federal government making this issue a priority for Newfoundlanders and
Labradorians. I would like for our federal government to expose the hypocrisy
and the double standard of the EU.
Mr. Speaker, the seal hunt is more than just a mere irritant. The seal hunt
is, in the words of animal rights lobbyists, victory for seals. I have news to
say. I say it is a defeat for the cod, the capelin and other species, and it is
certainly a defeat for the families who depend on the hunt for basic survival,
for families, especially in my area, to have a little bit of money extra from
the sealing industry to carry them over for the cod fishery. I am sick and tired
of misinformation, manipulation of the facts, distortion of the facts, depicting
Newfoundlanders and Labradorians as barbarians who are cruel to animals, who
kill whitecoats inhumanely.
Mr. Speaker, did we realize that killing whitecoats was banned ever since
1987, despite what the animal rights activists would portray or would lead us to
believe? What lies the animal groups would spread in the name of sustainability,
in the name of humaneness, just to advance their cause. So I am questioning
their real agenda. I am questioning the real sincerity of these animal rights
activists who are motivated by profit. Driven by profit, Mr. Speaker, with
absolutely no regard to the livelihood of Canadians and Newfoundlanders and
Labradorians.
In conclusion, Mr. Speaker, I endorse the motion put forward by the Member
for Lewisporte, and seconded by the Member for Bellevue. We call upon the
government of each European Union country to direct their representatives on the
council to vigorously oppose this ban.
ban immediately. Put it before the World Trade Organization. Do it vigorously,
do it with passion, do it with pride, and do it with wholeheartedness.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for the District of Signal Hill-Quidi
Vidi.
MS MICHAEL: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
I am quite pleased to be able to stand this afternoon and speak to this
private member's bill with regard to the EU seal ban.
The last time the issue of the seal harvest was on the floor of the House, I
was unable, because of my other duties to not be here. As a matter of fact, I
rushed back into the House and everybody was walking out. So I missed my
opportunity to speak on the issue. I was quite ready to speak on the issue that
day, but as I said, because of the lack of speakers I did not get back into the
House in time.
So I am very happy today to have something to say about this, because if
there is anything that makes my blood boil, I have to say it is this issue of
the self-righteous people in the European Union, the politicians and the people
who vote for them, who think that they know everything when it comes to the seal
harvest here in Newfoundland and Labrador.
It is so hard to believe that intelligent people, thinking people, can pick
on one harvest and say that it is wrong, pick on the killing of one animal that
gets used for food, for medicinal purposes, and for clothing, and say that that
one particular harvest is wrong and needs to be banned. Like I said, it makes my
blood boil, it really does, because who do they think they are? That is what
always comes to my mind: Who do they think they are? It is something that was
made an issue by bleeding-heart people who fell in love with the eyes of baby
seals, pups who no longer get killed in the seal harvest, and yet that lie goes
on and on and on. It is a lie, and yet it continues to go on and people
perpetuate it, and the politicians of the European Union have perpetuated it by
voting so overwhelmingly in favour of the ban, the ban that they are asking for.
We only had what, ninety yes, only ninety - people either voting against or
abstaining, and 550 voting for the ban of commercial trade of seal products in
European Union countries.
What really annoys me is that so many attempts have been made to educate
those politicians. It is not as if attempts have not been made. Everything has
been done to show those politicians that they do not know what they are talking
about, but I guess what they are doing is something that maybe all politicians
do at one time or another. I do not think it is the way to go, but they are
bowing so much to public pressure instead of fighting back and saying: Look, let's
be logical. Let's think about what happens in our own countries with regard to
animals, and animals in some cases which are wild animals, certainly - they have
that in their countries - but then also there are the tame animals, the animals
that are raised for no other reason but to be eaten.
You know, as we hear so often, we hear it in the public and we say it
ourselves, and I want to say it here again: How would we like it if we went into
abattoirs and saw the killing of animals? We would not like it.
I remember one time when I was doing some work down in Nicaragua. It was
after the revolution down there and they did not have much, and the people I was
staying with were all excited because they were getting a cow for the big
celebration on December 8. December 8 is a big celebration in the country. Every
family, anybody who could afford one, could only get one a year. They actually
had to have a passport to get. I remember going up into the mountains in
Nicaragua with the man of the family I was staying with, to get the cow. Now,
you know what I had in my mind, don't you? That we were not getting a live
cow; the cow was going to be dead. Well, I got to meet the cow and I got to be
invited to be there as the cow was slaughtered and as the guts were taken out. I
got to be there for the whole thing. I have pictures of it, too, if anybody ever
wants to see my pictures of seeing a cow slaughtered in the mountains of
Nicaragua. It was humane. The throat was cut quickly. That is how it is done,
just as humane as the killing of the seals on our ice, the same thing. It is
blood and it is guts. That is what it is, and every time we eat meat that has
happened to an animal that we have eaten.
Now, I have to admit that sometimes I get torn when I think about it and I
say maybe I should become a vegetarian, but I have never done it because I am a
carnivore. I know that, and I have to have meat.
It is so hypocritical of people in countries in Europe to be looking askance
at something like the seal fishery when eating meat is so big in those
countries. They are not known for their vegetarianism in any big way. They have
to know that animals are killed in the same fashion as I saw that cow killed in
the mountains of Nicaragua, which is no different from how the seals are killed
on the ice.
We all know that the problem with the seal harvest and the killing of the
seals is that it has become so public. It is out there and nobody is stopping it
from being public; and that is fine, it should not be stopped, but neither
should this industry in Canada, and particularly here in Newfoundland and
Labrador, be stopped, for all kinds of reasons.
The hypocrisy of the European Union is even more than the hypocrisy around
the fact that they do not look at what they eat and where those animals are
killed or how they are killed. There is also hypocrisy with regard to the
exemption that they are giving to Aboriginal people, and this is not lost on
Aboriginal people because there is a bit of condescension there, a bit of
condescension and racism on the part of the European Union with regard to that
exemption, and I know that is not lost on the Inuit people. They are well aware
of it, so this is a further part of the hypocrisy of people in the European
Union and the politicians who voted for the ban, that the killing of seals, the
harvesting of seals and the use of seals, is meant for the broader culture,
number one. Yes, in the north the Aboriginal peoples were there first, but
people who went to settle in the north also became dependent upon the seal.
People who settled in the north and lived with Inuit people and became part of
the communities in the north also are dependent on the seal. They may not be
Inuit but they are part of the culture and they, too, in the winter in
particular, needed the seal to eat, they needed wild animals to eat, because in
the north that is all that they have in the winter. Life is changing a bit now,
we know, but we still have a major group of people in the north whose diet is
based on the seal.
My colleagues in the House have pointed out as well that the medicinal use of
products from seals is well known internationally. This medicinal use is now
being stopped as well. We have a group of people in the European Union,
politicians who are just not using their heads, who are just not thinking, or if
they are thinking they are thinking based on wrong information and they are
thinking based on values that put our economy in jeopardy, the economy of the
fishing people who also harvest seals in jeopardy.
I really get upset when I hear people talk about: Oh, it is only a small
amount of the money that they make. Well, if your income for a year is $20,000,
another $4,000 or $5,000 is an awful lot of money. It is an awful lot of money.
We cannot underestimate the impact on people who do seal harvesting by having
this taken away from them. It is going to create further hardship and it is more
than problematic. I think it is immoral, actually, what has been done, because
it has been done without any real basis in fact. That is the problem.
The seal hunt is humane. The seal harvest is needed from a lot of
perspectives. It is needed even medicinally. We need what comes from seal. It is
also needed to help keep the balance in the waters with regard to the fishery.
We all know that. This is going to become even more problematic. If the seal
hunt in our waters becomes completely banned then we are going to have a major
problem with regard to the balance in our oceans, with regard to the fish and
the seals. We all know that.
We support the seal hunt for the same reason that everybody else here
supports a seal harvest. We are committed to its further development. We want it
to grow, not to get smaller. First of all, a sustainable harvest is required,
and we can produce a sustainable harvest based on solid science. That is
something that I know our Party is committed to, I know the government is
committed to, and I am sure that the Official Opposition is committed to. We
also need an industry that will be based on the full utilization of the animal,
and we are there. We know how to utilize all of the animal. That has already
happened, and why not continue. There is no wastage going on with the animals.
A third thing, humane harvesting methods with zero tolerance for any inhumane
practices, we are all committed to that.
These three principles are extremely important. We have regulations on a
provincial level, and we have regulations on a federal level, with regard to the
regulation of the harvest of the resource so that the resource is harvested in a
humane way and that it is harvested in a way that there is no wastage. This is
extremely important.
We know that we can harvest, based on solid science. We know, because of
today's technology, how many seals should be harvested. We know the principles
of conservation. We know that we can do it in a way that is good for the seals
and good for the economy. The seal harvest provides direct annual employment for
over 6,000 people on a part-time basis in Newfoundland and Labrador. That is a
lot of people in a population our size. They are a significant source of income
for thousands of families in remote coastal communities in Newfoundland and
Labrador.
The harvest comes at a time when employment opportunities are extremely
limited. Because of the ice, the fishing people are not fishing up in the North
at this time. Having the seal harvest at this point in time comes in the part of
the year just when they are getting ready to go fishing, and getting to the end
of using the resources that they were able to make in the previous year. The
timing is just extremely important for people who are involved in the harvest.
I was not here unfortunately for all the discussion and I do not know if some
of this information was put out, but it does not hurt to hear it again. In 2006,
the seal harvest generated approximately $30 million in landed value and
approximately $55 million to the provincial economy. That is nothing to be
sneezed at. Now, unfortunately, we know we certainly did not get that value this
year because the numbers of boats that went out were so low because of what has
happened, and that cannot continue. We have to get this decision reversed. We
have to make sure it does not go the whole way.
If this goes to the World Trade Organization, we have to fight it. This
government has to fight it. This government has to enlist with the federal
government in fighting it. We have to use Mr. Loyola Sullivan in Ottawa, the
ambassador. We have to enlist Dr. Fitzgerald, who is there representing this
government and being a liaison in Ottawa. We have to make sure that all the
resources are used to fight this ban if it goes to the World Trade Organization.
We have got to show how this is a just part of trade, that it is viable, that it
is humane, and that the harvesting of seals is no more or no less than the
harvesting of any other wild animal that is not an endangered species, which the
Lord knows, the seals are not, and that it is no more or no less than the
killing for food of animals who are raised to be killed.
I put all that before you, Mr. Speaker, and I am really glad that I had an
opportunity to speak to this bill, and I will be very happy to vote for it.
MR. SPEAKER (Collins): The hon. the Minister of Intergovernmental
Affairs.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. DENINE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I thought your eyesight was going when you had to try to find out who was
going to speak.
Anyhow, Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to be here to be able to support this
resolution.
I had the chance to go to Ottawa four or five weeks ago and talk to some of
the ambassadors in Ottawa who represent the EU.
Mr. Speaker, what is happening here, and I have to tell the people who are
watching this they think because I am from Mount Pearl that I do not have
any respect for the sealers in this Province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Let
me tell you, I have watched a lot of sealing shows, I have watched people go out
on the ice, and when they go out on the ice, Mr. Speaker, they put their lives
in the hands of Mother Nature. Let me tell you, that is not just a sport that we
have to laugh at. That is a very serious issue. If I had to go to work everyday
and go out on a pan of ice, that would be awfully strange for me, let me tell
you, because I will never go. I do not have the courage that those sealers have.
I do not have the courage.
to challenge the ban immediately, vigorously, and persistently before the World
Trade Organization, if such a ban is imposed. Now, there was a vote taken not
too long ago and that vote was in early April, but there is going to be another
vote, Mr. Speaker, taken in June. The tentative date is around June 24, June 25.
It is not unlike this House of Assembly here today when a motion is passed,
because what happens is that when that vote is passed on June 24 or June 25 then
it is like our gazetting, it is gazetted into a journal and then nine months
after that it becomes law. By the spring of 2010 that ban will become law in the
EU common market.
If there is any change in that by the council ministers then we can get some
changes to that in the second reading, similar to what we do here, no
difference. To say that our fight is over, Mr. Speaker, is not right. We will
fight this as vigorously and persistently as possible, to make sure that the
people of the EU common market understand exactly what they are talking about.
Mr. Speaker, let me go back to the vote. The vote on May 5 was 550 in favour,
forty-nine against and forty-one in abstinentia. That is a significant defeat
for us to get the ban through. The problem with that is that they did not look
at the real facts. They did not really look at the facts of what the seal hunt
is all encompassing, because in my discussions with some of the ambassadors the
first thing they said to me was: What about the white coats? What about them? I
said: Mr. Ambassador, do you realize that the killing of white coats was banned
over twenty years ago. That has not been done since 1987. We have not done that.
He did not know that. He said: Oh!
The other part, Mr. Speaker, that became quite prevalent in our discussions
is that they were - I do not know if the word is parliamentary. I think they
were sucked in. Is that parliamentary? I am not sure. They were sucked in - I
will say it anyhow and you can correct me if that is unparliamentary - by the
animal rights. They believe everything that they have been given. They were
hook, line and sinker, hoodwinked; no question about it. They did not
understand.
The hon. Member for Signal Hill-Quidi Vidi mentioned about how you cannot
make this look nice, the killing of animals. My colleague back there said: How
do you make the killing of an animal look nice? It is not. Someone mentioned
about the abattoirs. The abattoir is for a pig or a cow or chickens or hens or
cattle, whatever. Animals that kill
AN HON. MEMBER: (Inaudible).
MR. DENINE: No, cattle. Any type of animals t