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April 20, 2021

HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS

Vol. L No. 4

The House met at 1:30 p.m.

SPEAKER (Bennett):

Order, please!

Admit strangers.

Statements by Members

SPEAKER:

Today we're going to hear Members' statements from the hon. Members for the

Districts of Ferryland, Torngat Mountains, Exploits, Placentia - St. Mary's and

Humber - Bay of Islands.

The hon. the Member for Ferryland.

O'DRISCOLL:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Today I recognize the passing of a remarkable man and

good friend, Mr. Kenny Williams. Anyone who knew Kenny was aware of his passion

for hockey. Kenny managed the Southern Shore Arena for 30 years, which has now

been renamed in his honour.

Some of his accomplishments in the hockey community

include: founding president of the Southern Shore Minor Hockey Association,

HNL's provincial coordinator for 24 years, provincial director of the female

hockey committee and was instrumental in the revival of senior female hockey at

a provincial level. Kenny was inducted as an honorary lifetime member of the

Hockey NL Hall of Fame in 2015 and received Hockey Canada's Order of Merit in

My involvement with hockey on the Southern Shore as a

player and coach gave me opportunity to work closely with Kenny in his role as

arena manager. This involvement leaves me with many memories of Kenny.

Kenny's greatest accomplishment was his love for his

family. He always made sure his wife, Diane, and his children were included in

his daily life, his hockey life and every aspect of his life.

Please join me in honouring the life of the late Kenny

Williams.

Go, Breakers, go!

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Member for Torngat Mountains.

EVANS:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Today I pay tribute to Levi Nochasak of Nain,

Nunatsiavut. Levi is many things to many people: a father, uncle, teacher,

elder, but most importantly a wise friend who loves to share his knowledge of

the Inuit ways of living off the land.

Levi battles cancer but does not let that define him.

His strength comes from the land and he gets his energy from sharing all his

knowledge and wisdom that he has gathered since he was a young boy.

Levi always possessed the spirit of an elder. He

learned the old ways and shared his knowledge with others. A tremendous gift to

those who could spend time with Levi. Knowledge shared as a successful hunter.

Knowledge shared to know the signs of the land.

When we think of Levi, we think of Hebron and Noah.

Hebron was resettled but Levi keeps his roots there by frequenting his cabin

where he shares his knowledge of seals, polar bears, partridge, char and all

other food sources important to Labrador Inuit. Son, Noah, his proudest legacy,

hunts and shares his traditional knowledge the same way his father has done.

There is no value that can be placed on the

contribution of Levi Nochasak makes each day by sharing his language, culture

and traditions because that is priceless. The cycle of knowledge continues with

each conversation, each story shared. That is Levi Nochasak's legacy to us.

ULLAKUT, all good, Good Tea, Mr. Tetuk, Mr. Tea.

Please join me in applauding Levi Nochasak's

contribution to his people.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Member for Exploits.

FORSEY:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, in conjunction with Volunteer Week, I'd

like to recognize the Leading Tickles Volunteer Fire Department on celebrating

its 46th anniversary.

Since April of 1975, the fire department has been

active in their community. The fire department and its 32 members, under the

leadership of fire chief, John Rowsell, who has been a firefighter for 30 years

himself, are ready 24-7 to respond to all types of emergencies.

Each year, the fire department hosts Leading Tickles

Day, an event in which members of the community donate all the food and prizes.

This event brings a profit of $30,000 to $35,000 annually to support their local

fire department. This group of volunteers is part of the reason I am proud to

say that I came from Leading Tickles, a special place I still call home.

Mr. Speaker, I would like for all Members of this House

of Assembly to join me today in congratulating the Leading Tickles Volunteer

Fire Department on celebrating 46 years of service.

Thank you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Member for Placentia - St. Mary's.

GAMBIN-WALSH:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, Argentia Gold Corporation celebrated their

grand opening yesterday, April 19, as one of the fully licensed cannabis

producers based in Newfoundland and Labrador. This accomplishment was a result

of many forces working together. The company's range of cannabis products was

first launched on the CannabisNL website earlier this month.

Argentia Gold's 80,000 square-foot facility is located

at the former US naval base in Argentia, now the Port of Argentia. The facility

that houses Argentia Gold was built in 1941. The naval base was once the largest

US naval base on non-American soil, housing 20,000 troops and their families.

The facility is dedicated to cultivating and processing

high-quality cannabis flower. Having prepared for years to ensure they meet all

Canadian regulations, their grow team – fully local to Newfoundland and Labrador

– strictly follows good manufacturing practice standards.

Alongside dried cannabis flower, Argentia Gold is also

developing a variety of infused products, including edibles, beverages, medical

creams and beauty and personal care items. The company plans to develop and

release these over time to the local market.

Mr. Speaker, Argentia Gold Corporation is a

Newfoundland and Labrador licensed producer, a local company.

Congratulations Argentia Gold on your grand opening.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Member for Humber - Bay of Islands.

JOYCE:

Mr.

Speaker, I want to recognize an inspiring curler from my district, Mackenzie

Mitchell from the Town of Irishtown-Summerside.

Becoming involved in curling had its challenges for

Mackenzie. For the first couple of years, she was the only girl at the Corner

Brook Curling Club and did not have a team until more girls joined. They began

participating in tournaments, which were not always successful, but it was a

stepping stone for her future successes.

In 2018, Mackenzie skipped her rink to the 2019 Canada

Winter Games. She has won provincial tournaments and has represented

Newfoundland and Labrador on the national stage on multiple occasions.

Since moving to St. John's two years ago to pursue a

business degree at Memorial University, she joined a new ladies' rink and a

mixed doubles' rink.

In 2020, Mackenzie skipped her rink to the province's

under-21 women's title, and last year she and her teammate won the provincial

mixed curling doubles and recently played in the 2021 Canadian Mixed Doubles.

Mr. Speaker, I ask all Members to join me in

congratulating Mackenzie on her achievements, and wish her the continued success

in her future and congratulate her on her courage.

Thank you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

SPEAKER:

Statements by Ministers.

Statements by Ministers

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Minister of Digital Government and Service NL.

STOODLEY:

Mr.

Speaker, April is recognized internationally as Information Management Month. It

was developed to promote the importance of good record-keeping. Records track

the flow of our lives, from registration of our birth through all the services

received over our lifetime. Properly managed government information ensures we

can avail of services and programs when needed.

We all know effective information management supports

good program development. It fosters informed decision-making, facilitates

accountability and preserves our historical record. As we move to more online

services, it is important that we understand the expectation of the citizens of

the province to keep our records accurately and securely.

Mr. Speaker, government manages a vast amount of

information. It is important that everyone understand their roles and

responsibilities. Government staff at all levels are key to managing information

and providing quality programs and services based on that information.

Mr. Speaker, Information Management Month is a great

time to remind everyone of the importance of handling information properly. I

encourage everyone to take a few minutes to familiarize yourselves with

information management best practices on receiving, creating and managing

information on behalf of government and to recognize the good work completed by

our Information Management professionals.

Thank you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Member for Ferryland.

O'DRISCOLL:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I would like to thank the hon. minister for an

advance copy of her statement.

We on this side of the House join with the minister in

celebrating Information Management Month. The people's right to access

government services and information should be paramount in everything we do.

It's unfortunate that government does not practise what

it preaches. Consistently, government departments and agencies have stalled and

obstructed information requests. This is why it's so disappointing to see the

government propose changes to ATIPPA to make it more difficult to get

information.

Our office has a request into the Workplace Health,

Safety and Compensation Commission that dates back to last summer, yet the

agency is requesting yet another extension. Government continues to put up

roadblocks to these individuals and groups who have little recourse.

Thank you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Member for Labrador West.

BROWN:

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

statement.

The protection and management of information is very

important, especially for government as the keepers of vast amounts of

information – management is paramount. As we've seen in the past, like the union

card information leak last year or when personal health information gets out, it

has devastating effects on individuals. So let's all do our part to protect

information that is entrusted to us.

Thank you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

SPEAKER:

Other Ministerial Statements?

The hon. the Minister of Justice and Public Safety.

HOGAN:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, policing in this province can be traced

back to 1729. It was after the British forces at Fort Townshend withdrew, that

in 1871, the Newfoundland Constabulary was born. The Royal designation was added

over 100 years later in 1979 by Queen Elizabeth II, and one year later in 1980,

the first women joined the ranks.

Throughout the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary's

storied history, the duties of a police officer have changed dramatically.

Initially formed to maintain law and order, the Constabulary of today has mobile

mental health crisis response teams, an equine therapy program and a community

support dog. Police officers are leaders in our communities. They are coaches

and role models and they are to be applauded for the important and difficult

jobs they do every day.

Choosing to don the uniform comes with great risk and

responsibility. Today, I recognize our more than 400 RNC officers and all those

who came before them. The sense of security and quality of life we enjoy is

because of the risks they take every day and their dedication and passion for

helping others.

Mr. Speaker, I ask all hon. Members to join me in

celebration of the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary and its 150-year commitment

to our great province.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Member for Harbour Main.

CONWAY OTTENHEIMER:

Mr. Speaker, policing, indeed, has a long history in

our province tracing back to 1729 after the British forces at Fort Townshend

withdrew, the Newfoundland Constabulary was born.

Indeed, the duties of a police officer have changed

dramatically, there's no doubt in that. Initially, it was maintained primarily

for law and order, but even today we see the advances that have been made in

terms of the technology that has been presented.

Police officers are truly leaders. They are responsible

for so many of our important law-and-order functions in our society. Mr.

Speaker, they are role models for all of us and, indeed, we need to applaud them

for the difficult jobs and responsibilities they have in enforcing law in our

communities.

I ask all hon. Members to join with me in celebrating

the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary today and for many days to come. It is a

150-year commitment to our great province that we should recognize and applaud.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Member for St. John's Centre.

DINN:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

statement and join him in recognizing the 150th anniversary of the Royal

Newfoundland Constabulary.

The duties of an RNC officer have grown significantly

from the original mandate of enforcing law and order. If you've met Krista Fagan

and her dog Stella, you will know that.

If we, as a society, demand police officers respond

effectively to mental health and societal issues, then it is important that we

provide the training and the resources, both human and financial, they will need

to perform those duties.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

SPEAKER:

Any

other statements by ministers?

Oral Questions.

Oral Questions

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Leader of the Official Opposition.

BRAZIL:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

In the last two federal budgets and in Monday's Throne

Speech, the Atlantic Loop project continued to be mentioned, yet there are no

details of what the project really entails. We know vague details of how the

project will be an agreement between Atlantic provinces and Quebec, which raises

concerns about how much Quebec stands to benefit from such a project.

I ask the Premier: Can you update the House on the

progress of the Atlantic Loop negotiations? What will Newfoundland and Labrador

have to give up in order to make it happen?

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Premier.

PREMIER A. FUREY:

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

That's an important question and it's one that will be

important for the future of Newfoundland and Labrador. We all know that

Newfoundland and Labrador has an abundance of green, clean energy, and we can be

the battery that powers the northeastern seaboard, but we won't do so in

sacrificing to Quebec. We will make sure that we have our fair share going

forward to ensure that this creates a sustainable future for our families and

also helps our Atlantic partners get to the clean net zero that they are

required to do by 2050, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Leader of the Official Opposition.

BRAZIL:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Yesterday's federal budget contained no mention at all

of the Lower Churchill Project, despite years of negotiations between the

Trudeau and Furey Liberals on this matter.

I ask the Premier: Are Atlantic Loop and

rate-mitigation negotiations separate negotiations, or have they been rolled

into one conversation?

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Premier.

PREMIER A. FUREY:

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you for that question; it's an important one

about the Atlantic Loop and Lower Churchill Projects. We all know the Lower

Churchill Projects, created by the Members opposite of course, are a significant

anchor, financial anchor around our collective souls as Newfoundlanders and

Labradorians.

There's a difficult path forward without the help of

the federal government and renegotiating those Lower Churchill Projects. They

may be related, but they're linear in their relationship. Though the loop may be

circular, we need to fix Muskrat Falls before Newfoundland and Labrador

participates even further in the Atlantic Loop discussions. Those are

discussions that are ongoing.

So those are ongoing, Mr. Speaker, and I'm hoping to

have updates and will provide them in a timely fashion when they occur.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Leader of the Official Opposition.

BRAZIL:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I have to remind the Liberal administration that they

can't continuously say that they're environmental stewards and that they're the

champions of clean energy, while at the same time dismissing the value of

Muskrat Falls. You can't have it both ways. Mr. Speaker, I don't have to go into

detail about why there are legitimate reasons to be concerned about the province

entering hydroelectric agreements with Quebec.

I ask the Premier: Is there any potential that the 2041

expiry of the Upper Churchill contract could change as a result of the Atlantic

Loop?

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Premier.

PREMIER A. FUREY:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

First of all, no one is debating the environmental

benefit of Muskrat Falls and the Lower Churchill Projects. It's the financial

benefit and impact as this project went astray.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

PREMIER A. FUREY:

Secondly, the Upper Churchill Project is not being negotiated right now. Of

course not. That would be something that would be done openly in accordance with

Justice LeBlanc's report in creating a 2041 committee, Mr. Speaker.

We're focused right now on fixing the financial mess of

Muskrat Falls so that we can do what we need to do to create sustainable

opportunities for families here in the province, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Leader of the Official Opposition.

BRAZIL:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I again remind the Premier that it was the last six

years of the Liberal government and Nalcor who built Muskrat Falls, Mr. Speaker.

They're responsible for the overruns at this point.

Mr. Speaker, we know that Newfoundland and Labrador is

facing an unprecedented fiscal challenge brought on by low oil prices and the

COVID-19 pandemic. In the federal budget, there's a reference to fiscal

equalization payments being sent to Nova Scotia and not Newfoundland and

Labrador.

I ask the Premier: Why are they other Atlantic

provinces seeing more federal dollars in this budget while our fiscal challenges

remain unaddressed?

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Premier.

PREMIER A. FUREY:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

We continue to argue for our piece of the equalization

puzzle, but as the Member opposite knows, under a Tory administration of Prime

Minister Harper, we were punished for our position in this federation, Mr.

Speaker. We argue all the time for our benefits under the equalization formula.

We know that there is opportunity ahead of us, and that's why a good working

relationship with Ottawa – not ripping down flags, working with Ottawa – will

provide that benefit to Newfoundlanders and Labradorians going forward.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Leader of the Official Opposition.

BRAZIL:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Again, I remind the Premier that it's his friend, Prime

Minister Trudeau, who has extended and changed the equalization formula for the

last two years to the detriment of the people of Newfoundland and Labrador. No

update on rate mitigation, no details on the Atlantic Loop and no money from the

federal government to help address our financial situation.

I ask the Premier: Is this what Newfoundland and

Labrador can expect from this prime minister?

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Premier.

PREMIER A. FUREY:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you for that question.

Perhaps it deserves revisiting what happened in

December, including over $800 million in debt relief with respect to Muskrat

Falls and the Lower Churchill Project. That's the project that the Members

opposite created. That is an anchor around us fiscally, socially and as a

province moving forward.

The federal government took the advanced steps of

helping provide that debt instrument relief for us. That is real money that we

didn't have to come up with in December that's important for the sustainability

of this province, Mr. Speaker. That's the kind of relationship that we can

expect moving forward.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Oh,

oh!

SPEAKER:

Order, please!

PREMIER A. FUREY:

The

discussions between Mr. Paddick and Mr. Dupont continue and will continue in

earnest. We are happy and willing to provide updates when they occur because it

will be in the best interests of the people of this province.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Member for Stephenville - Port au Port.

WAKEHAM:

Mr.

Speaker, I think it's important to remind everybody in this House, and in the

public listening, that the $800 million was by no means a grant; it's to be

repaid. It was just a deferral; it's as simple as that.

Yesterday, the minister said that the government had

not seen a copy of the Moya Greene report and it is expected toward the end of

April.

Is this the interim report or the final report?

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Minister of Finance and President of Treasury Board.

COADY:

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

It's unfortunate that the

preamble of the question that

is put before this House was so inaccurate, Mr. Speaker – so inaccurate. But to

the question of the Moya Greene report, my understanding is we will see that

report towards the end of the month.

It is a fulsome report. The team of very knowledgeable

Newfoundlanders and Labradorians have spoken with multitudes of stakeholders

around the province, Mr. Speaker. They will be bringing forward their report,

their recommendations and their suggestions on how we can make our way through

this financial uncertainty that we have, largely caused by Muskrat Falls.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Member for Stephenville - Port au Port.

WAKEHAM:

Mr.

Speaker, I ask the minister again: Will we see the interim report, or is this

the final report at the end of April? Will the recommendations of the Greene

report be included in this year's budget?

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Minister of Finance and President of Treasury Board.

COADY:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

We'll see the report when we see the report, Mr.

Speaker. I do not have a copy of the Moya Greene report; the government does not

have a copy of the Moya Greene report.

When we see the Premier's Economic Recovery task force

recommendations, we will certainly review those recommendations. The Premier has

been very clear that there will be consultations with people in this province to

discuss the path forward; there will be debates in this House of Assembly to

discuss a path forward.

I will say regarding the budget, the timing of the

report and the timing of the budget, I do not know how quickly we can get to the

recommendations of the Moya Greene report, but I will assure Newfoundlanders and

Labradorians there will be consultations on that report.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Member for Stephenville - Port au Port.

WAKEHAM:

Mr.

Speaker, I still haven't gotten an answer whether we're getting an interim or a

final, but considering that the final report was due the end of April, I would

assume it would be the final one.

Mr. Speaker, the Romaine's River Bridge had the funding

allocated for its replacement of July 2019.

I ask the Minister of Transportation: When will

construction on the bridge start? Will repairs be made in the interim to ensure

the bridge is still safe to use? Will the local community be consulted on its

design?

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure.

LOVELESS:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I thank the hon. Member for the question. Any time we

talk about upgrades to our bridges or roads, it's always an important topic.

At this time, I can't give any information to the

Member, as I don't have the answer to that. But I will go back and have a

discussion with the staff, and be happy to report back to this House or to the

Member, whichever he'd prefer.

Thank you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Member for Terra Nova.

PARROTT:

The

infrastructure falling behind continues to hurt the rest of the province.

Mr. Speaker, the Speech from the Throne says prioritize

the hiring of qualified Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, yet right now there

are 103 workers from outside of the province in isolation at a local hotel

waiting to do work on an offshore drill rig.

I ask the Premier: Why did your government approve

outside workers coming in to take jobs away from Newfoundlanders and

Labradorians?

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure.

LOVELESS:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I thank the Member for the question. I know this is a

question that's been asked many times around local hiring. As the Minister of

Transportation and Infrastructure, anything that I deal with that comes in front

of me, we do prioritize for local hiring no doubt.

Getting 100 per cent is a challenge, no doubt, but

we've had success in projects in this province, where we've seen upwards of 90

per cent or even more and I think that's a good record. We will continue to

fight for Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Member for Terra Nova.

PARROTT:

While our local infrastructure concerns me, I was referring to the offshore, Mr.

Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I understand another 103 workers will be

coming from the United Kingdom to do a shift change on this rig. Again, this has

been approved by the former Premier Roger Grimes, the chair of the C-NLOPB and

the Furey government.

With hundreds of our own experienced, qualified workers

sitting at home, not able to go to work, why are we not putting our own people

first?

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Minister of Industry, Energy and Technology.

PARSONS:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I appreciate the question from the Member opposite. As

we all know, any of these operations work under a benefits agreement that is

signed between the province and the companies. In fact, I have no knowledge put

in front of me that the benefits agreements that were put in place to ensure

Newfoundlanders and Labradorians were getting their fair share and our province

is getting our fair share, there is no evidence whatsoever that the benefits

agreement is not being lived up to.

There are plenty of times where offshore expertise has

to come from outside the province, the same way that there is expertise from

this province that goes to work all over this globe. The reality is right now we

are not seeing that, but again I appreciate the Member's question.

Thank you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Member for Terra Nova.

PARROTT:

I'm

sure the 103 workers that are displaced would disagree, and if you want evidence

just go down to the hotel and look at the people staying there.

Mr. Speaker, uncertainty continues to swirl around the

Come By Chance Refinery after government sat while talks collapsed last year

with Irving Oil. Just a couple months ago, current owner Silverpeak registered a

new company that industry sources say would reduce the refinery to a storage and

distribution terminal.

Can the minister confirm if this is true? I also add:

What is the current status of the refinery?

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Minister of Industry, Energy and Technology.

PARSONS:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I'll just point to the

preamble, again, there is no

evidence – if the evidence is who is sitting at a hotel, I would say bring me

something that shows that there has been a contravention of the benefits

agreements which have been signed by this province. If not, there is no

evidence, just more skepticism and hearsay from the Member.

As it relates to Come By Chance, I am very proud to say

that right now the agreement that we signed with Silverpeak to ensure that the

Come By Chance Refinery would remain in warm idle is functioning right now. The

employment levels are there as well as the investment level and we continue to

work towards a new investment. One of the clauses as a part of that funding

agreement was to ensure that there would be due diligence towards a new buyer.

We continue on there. We have had great conversations

with the union. In fact, I'll be having a conversation with mayors in that area

this evening.

Thank you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Member for Terra Nova.

PARROTT:

Mr.

Speaker.

It is little consolation to the men and women of

Newfoundland that are paying five cents extra on a litre of fuel.

The question was purely about whether or not the tank

farm was separated and the future of the refinery.

Mr. Speaker, government lost three months in caretaker

mode because of the election. How much longer are people going to have to wait

for a long-term plan for this refinery?

SPEAKER:

The hon. the Minister of Industry, Energy and Technology.

PARSONS:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I believe that the original agreement showed that this

will go up to the end of June, so the reality is that even during a caretaker

government of any duration, right now we have workers working out there.

One of the things that I would evidence as to people's

satisfaction with the agreement that we managed to bring together to ensure that

there would not be a closure of the refinery – something happening in all

corners of this world – is the fact that we have had great relations with the

union. I speak to them on a weekly basis. Right now, that's not an issue that's

being brought to us. They are happy with the commitment that was made; they are

happy with the consultation that they get.

We continue to work to a bright future, but the reality

is that this is not a provincial asset that we are able to sell; this is an

asset that is owned by a company that we have a vested interest in.

Thank you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Member for Harbour Main.

CONWAY OTTENHEIMER:

Mr. Speaker, that still basically amounts to vague

information. The people need to have more meaningful, concrete information. I

continue to hear from concerned constituents affected by the closure of the Come

By Chance Refinery.

The workers are worried, Mr. Speaker, about the

uncertainty of their livelihood, and families are fearing for their futures.

They need news; they need information. As the months pass by, they need and they

deserve to know what's going on. I hear these concerns.

Can the minister give some meaningful information to

the families that are affected by the Come By Chance Refinery closure?

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Minister of Industry, Energy and Technology.

PARSONS:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

What I can provide is that I speak on a very regular

basis, as do staff, with the union which represents the workers for that

refinery. We speak to them all the time, and they are more than free to disclose

the information to their members of which they are privy to. I'm absolutely

happy to do that. In fact, I'm speaking tonight with the MHA from your side, in

fact, who has lined up a meeting with all the mayors for the communities that

are affected. They asked me on Thursday; the meeting is set up for tonight. I'm

more than willing to speak for these people and I have been doing so.

Right now, we have a contract that brings us until the

end of June. I'm like everybody else: I would have liked to have seen this

solved nine months ago, but we cannot do that. It is not our deal to sign. We

need to rely on investment from outside, but I tell you what, this government

has been doing their part to keep it warm, to keep it alive and to keep the hope

in the air.

Thank you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Member for Harbour Main.

CONWAY OTTENHEIMER:

Mr. Speaker, the people still need to have more

information. I'm hearing that they're not getting the information. Government

has a responsibility, and the minister has a responsibility to provide that

information.

Mr. Speaker, during the election campaign, the red book

was referenced by government, in which they promised to “increase access to

fertility treatments … to enable IVF services in Newfoundland and Labrador.”

I ask the Minister Responsible for Women and Gender

Equality: When will IVF services be available for women and their families in

this province?

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Minister of Health and Community Services.

HAGGIE:

Thank you very much for the question.

Mr. Speaker, an important topic and indeed one we have

committed to improve. We support fertility services to quite a significant

extent through Eastern Health. We are currently in the process of doing a

cross-jurisdictional scan to reflect on best practices from other jurisdictions

in Canada and that will then be used to provide advice as to how we can further

improve fertility services in this province, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Member for Grand Falls-Windsor - Buchans.

TIBBS:

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, the Speech from the Throne read:

Government will invest in important hiring projects and “prioritize hiring of

qualified workers based in Newfoundland and Labrador.”

I ask the Premier: Yes or no, will you finally take our

advice and implement the community benefits agreement policy for all public

infrastructure projects in the province?

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure.

LOVELESS:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for the question.

It is a good question because we talk about work for

Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. Stakeholders are involved in terms of the

conversation piece that I welcome. I haven't had a chance yet to meet with those

that are coming to meet with me. It's an important topic. I look forward to the

discussions and look forward to the results.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Member for Grand Falls-Windsor - Buchans.

TIBBS:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

We've been hearing discussions now for about two years,

it's time to take some action. We've got people over in Corner Brook putting up

drywall while our own people sit at home doing nothing and not getting a

paycheque.

Mr. Speaker, when will the minister finally do the

right thing and implement the community benefits agreement, take the action in

consultation with workforce and our unions? When will this happen?

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure.

LOVELESS:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for the question.

I thank the hon. Member and, as I said, it is a good

question but I'm not here today to put a time frame on an agreement or

agreements. I will confirm that I will be looking forward to, as I said,

discussions.

You made reference that discussions have been ongoing

for more than two years, and more than this administration as well. We'll

continue to have the conversation. As I said, I look forward to the results.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Member for Bonavista.

PARDY:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Many of our towns and businesses that rely on tourism

are struggling. The provincial government is currently running ads in places

such as Ontario that will likely be shut out of the province for this season.

I ask the minister: How much money is being spent on

the ads in these places? Would this money be better spent as direct relief to

our communities and industry?

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Minister of Tourism, Culture, Arts and Recreation.

CROCKER:

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

I can endeavour certainly to get the information on

what the stay curious campaign is for the Member opposite. But I disagree with

the Member opposite. We need to make sure that we're priming those markets for

when the restrictions are lifted and tourists can return to this province. It's

very important.

The Premier and the former minister appointed the

Premier's Advisory Council on Tourism. It was one of the first groups I met

with; we meet with them on a weekly basis – officials in the department.

Our tourism industry is an over $1-billion industry. We

need to be primed and ready to go, that as restrictions are lifted in our

country and as the vaccines are given to the people of our province and the

people of our country, we're ready – we're ready – with open arms to receive

tourists back in this province.

Thank you very much. Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Member for Bonavista.

PARDY:

Mr.

Speaker, the Liberal MP for Labrador is speaking against the lack of fisheries

science, noting that seals continue to destroy our marine ecosystems, including

cod. She goes on to state that no real action means no positive results.

I ask the Minister of Fisheries: Under the lens of

creating sustainable opportunities, as the Premier referenced, does he agree

with MP Jones's statement?

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Minister of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture.

BRAGG:

Mr.

Speaker, if there was ever the best question I got in the House it's this one

today, because if anybody feels strong about the seal fishery for this province,

you're talking to him right here, right now.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

BRAGG:

Whatever we can bring to the floor of this House or the House of Commons to

bring some knowledge to the people of what the seals are causing to our

environment and to our fishery, now is the time to do it. So if you're looking

for someone to spearhead that, Sir, jump on board with me because I'm right

there.

Thank you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Member for Bonavista.

PARDY:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I agree. That seems like a very strong commitment to

look at the seal predation. Keep in mind that in 2012 the Standing Senate

Committee stated that seals consume between 1½ and two tons of fish each year.

It would be nice to see our plan of action.

Mr. Speaker, yesterday again we saw another federal

budget with no investment to enhance fisheries science research in Newfoundland

and Labrador.

I ask the Minister of Fisheries: Has he spoken with the

federal minister of Fisheries regarding this very important issue?

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Minister of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture.

BRAGG:

Thank you very much, and thanks again for the question.

I think this hon. House would be happy to know one of

the first duties I took on after being appointed to this position was to reach

out to the minister of Fisheries and have a conversation. We talked for some

time on the telephone; we're looking forward to more conversations in the

future.

I come from a fishing community, so if you want to talk

fish, you want to talk seals, you're talking to the guy who lives it, breathes

it and believes in it. So I look forward to the federal minister and our

conversation.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Member for Cape St. Francis.

WALL:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

My question is for the Minister of Municipal and

Provincial Affairs. Municipalities across our province are struggling with

increasing tender bids as a result of skyrocketing building materials. Lumber

has tripled in price and contractors are no longer able to honour the quotes

provided pending various approvals.

Mr. Speaker, I ask the minister: Does she have a plan

to help these municipalities move ahead with critical infrastructure projects?

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Minister of Municipal and Provincial Affairs.

HOWELL:

Thank you to the Member opposite for the question – sorry, Mr. Speaker, I'll

address you first.

Thank you to the Member opposite for the question. I

would just like to highlight some of the important work that this department

does do to support municipalities in the acts of operational grants, as well as

special assistance grants. In the event that these things do arise, I'm sure

there are conditions that we can address and look at to see that they are

reached in a manner that's appropriate for communities who need special

assistance.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Member for St. John's Centre.

DINN:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, the federal Liberals campaigned on and

then broke their 2015 campaign promise on electoral reform. Yesterday, during

Question Period, the response to re-establishing the All-Party Committee to

review the Elections Act was, frankly, underwhelming.

I ask the Premier: Is he actually committed to

democratic reform and modernizing the Elections Act, or will he follow in the

footsteps of his federal masters and break that promise?

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Premier.

PREMIER A. FUREY:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

First of all, Newfoundland and Labrador has no master

other than the electorate.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

PREMIER A. FUREY:

are certainly willing to work with the Members opposite –

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Oh,

oh!

SPEAKER:

Order, please!

PREMIER A. FUREY:

We're certainly willing to continue to work with the Members opposite towards

democratic reform. I think it's important, especially in the wake of this

election in particular. This affords us all an opportunity to reflect and to

modernize the Elections Act moving forward, and equally, make good progress in

democracy so that we can be leaders across the country here in Newfoundland and

Labrador, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Member for St. John's Centre.

DINN:

Then I ask the Premier: Wouldn't re-establishing the All-Party Committee on

Democratic Reform be the best place to start the process?

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Government House Leader.

CROCKER:

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

I think a little later this afternoon we will read into

the record here the establishment of the Striking Committee. That Committee will

take some time in the coming days to get the necessary Committees in place that

will be in place for the 50th General Assembly.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Member for Labrador West.

BROWN:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, there is no relief in the federal budget

for Muskrat Falls. The clock is ticking. We can't wait for this boondoggle to

come online; the people of this province will never be able to afford it,

especially residents of the Island.

I ask the Premier: Where is the plan?

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Premier.

PREMIER A. FUREY:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

As mentioned earlier, there are ongoing talks between

Brendan Paddick and Serge Dupont with respect to the Lower Churchill Projects.

Despite the comments earlier, we have made good progress. There is over $850

million in debt forgiveness and $450 million – let me spell it out – in the

COREA payments, that not only do we not have to come up with, so we don't have

to pay it back, we can use that money towards financing this infrastructure

project that has gone awry on the other Members' watch.

We are making good progress, Mr. Speaker. We're not

going to let it go to the 12th or the 11th hour; we're making progress every

day. Again, I'd be willing and happy to provide substantive updates when they

occur.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Member for Humber - Bay of Islands.

JOYCE:

Mr.

Speaker, cellphone coverage is very important to many rural communities in

Newfoundland and Labrador. This coverage will entice new business, safety and

tourism. Lark Harbour and York Harbour, who recently received funding, are

seeing the essential services of cellphone coverage.

There was a request for proposals several months ago

and two towns in Humber - Bay of Islands applied for funding: Cox's Cove and

McIver's.

Can the minister provide this House with an update on

the status of these proposals?

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Minister of Industry, Energy and Technology.

PARSONS:

thank the Member for the question. It's an issue, I think, that many of us in

this House share in the concern to have connectivity all over our province.

We all know it's fundamental to economic development,

to social prosperity. The fact is that I think it's been pronounced, as we saw

with COVID, and the things that we want to do with economic opportunities, with

educational opportunities.

What I can say is that we've built on the 2018 proposal

that was out and we saw awards all across this province. We announced a second

call for proposals in 2020 in Phase II. Right now, Bell is working with these

communities to figure out the funding arrangements, to figure out the technical

specs.

What I can say even on a bigger level is that I've had

conversations with the majority of our Members on this side, and I think

connectivity, broadband coverage and cellphone coverage is something that we as

a province need to move closer to as we move into the future.

Thank you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Member for Humber - Bay of Islands.

JOYCE:

Mr.

Speaker, this province has seen an increase in deaths, serious accidents and

many calls to reform the snowmobile regulations. This commitment was made by the

government in 2018, 2019 and 2020. To date, we have not reformed the snowmobile

regulations.

I ask the minister: With all the serious accidents and

all the people asking for this, will you have a comprehensive review and bring

in new regulations for snowmobiles to protect our residents, which many people

are asking for?

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Minister of Digital Government and Service NL.

STOODLEY:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I thank the Member for the question. ATV safety is

incredibly important to this government and to this province. We have completed

a comprehensive review of the ATV and the snowmobile legislation. We are in the

final consultation stages.

Actually, this morning, I met with SafetyNL, MLN, the

RCMP and the RNC, along with many other community organizations and we're

talking about how to increase the level of education around this province in

terms of changing the culture around ATV and snowmobile safety. I look forward

to bringing legislation to the House when it's ready.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

SPEAKER:

Seeing no other questions – do you have a question?

The hon. Member for Humber - Bay of Islands for a quick

question, no

preamble, please.

JOYCE:

Mr.

Speaker, I was never stuck for asking questions on behalf of the people.

I say to the minister thank you for that. Thank you for

that broad review on the ATV and the snowmobile regulations, but in 2018 there

was a comprehensive review, we were told. In 2019, there was a comprehensive

review. In 2020, there was a comprehensive review.

SPEAKER:

Get

to the question, please.

JOYCE:

When are we going to have the regulations brought to this House of Assembly to

be approved?

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Minister of Digital Government and Service NL for a quick answer,

please.

STOODLEY:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

We have completely finished the review. We are doing

final consultations to make sure that all the appropriate groups are consulted.

I anticipate that legislation coming forward when it's ready; it shouldn't be

too much longer.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

SPEAKER:

The

time for Question Period has expired.

Presenting Reports by Standing and Select Committees.

Presenting Reports by Standing and Select Committees

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Member for Burin - Grand Bank.

PIKE:

Yes, Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Select Committee appointed to draft a reply

to the Speech from Her Honour the Lieutenant-Governor, I am pleased to present

the report of the Select Committee as follows:

To Her Honour the Lieutenant-Governor, the hon. Judy

Foote:

May it please Your Honour, we, the Commons of

Newfoundland and Labrador in legislative session assembled, beg to thank Your

Honour for the Gracious Speech which Your Honour has addressed to this House.

Thank you.

SPEAKER:

Tabling of Documents.

Tabling of Documents

SPEAKER:

do have one.

In accordance with

section 19(5)(

a) of the

House of Assembly Accountability,

Integrity and Administration Act , I hereby table the minutes of the House of

Assembly Management Commission meeting held on February 24, October 16 and

December 7, 2020.

Any other tabling of documents?

Notices of Motion.

Notices of Motion

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Government House Leader.

CROCKER:

Mr.

Speaker, I give notice that I will on tomorrow move the following motion:

That notwithstanding Standing Order 9, this House shall

not adjourn at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, April 21, 2021, but shall continue to sit

and conduct government business and, if not earlier adjourned, the Speaker shall

adjourn the House at midnight.

SPEAKER:

Any

other notices of motion?

The hon. the Government House Leader.

CROCKER:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I give notice that I will on tomorrow move the

following motion:

That under the authority of Standing Order 65, the

Member for Carbonear - Trinity - Bay de Verde, the Member for Cartwright -

L'Anse au Clair, the Member for Conception Bay South, the Member for Harbour

Main and the Member for St. John's Centre shall comprise a committee and, in

accordance with the Standing Orders ,

shall report within the first 20 days of appointment a list of Members to

compose the Standing Committees for the House, referred to in Standing Order

65(1).

SPEAKER:

Other notices of motion?

Answers to Questions for which Notice has been Given.

Petitions.

Petitions

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Member for St. John's Centre.

DINN:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I have in my possession a petition signed by 168

individuals and a further 300 online. It's regarding the minimum wage.

WHEREAS this province has one of the lowest minimum

wages in Canada at $12.15 an hour; and

WHEREAS more than 89 per cent of Canadians live in

jurisdictions with a higher minimum wage; and

WHEREAS almost a quarter of workers in Newfoundland and

Labrador earn $15 an hour or less and 55 per cent of minimum-wage workers are

women; and

WHEREAS having a low minimum wage is a major

contributor to poverty and gender inequality; and

WHEREAS raising the minimum wage will benefit workers,

local businesses and the economy by putting money in worker's pockets to spend

in their local community; and

WHEREAS any increase in the minimum wage rate must be

legislated through the House of Assembly;

Therefore, we petition the hon. House of Assembly as

follows: We, the undersigned, call upon the House of Assembly to urge the

Government of Newfoundland and Labrador to legislate a $15-per-hour minimum wage

by the end of 2021.

Mr. Speaker, the notion that somehow a minimum wage job

is an entry-level job is a fallacy. There are many people who are working, not

one but two and sometimes three jobs just to keep food on the table for their

families. If we are going to address the social determinants of health by making

fresh, healthy food available to all people and accessible, then it has to be

affordable. One way of doing that is to make sure that the people have the money

in their pockets to afford it. Again, when it's cheaper to buy a two litre of

Pepsi than a two litre of milk, it is very hard to put nutritious food on the

table.

The pandemic highlighted many of the problems that

minimum wage workers face. It's time to rectify them.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Minister of Environment and Climate Change.

DAVIS:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I would just like to respond to my learned colleague

from St. John's Centre. I think his research is a little old. It's not $12.15

anymore; it's $12.50 as of the 1st of April.

We have a process in place for increasing minimum wage.

We understand that it's pressures for people all across the country and, truly,

the globe. We have a process in place where we consult with a group that put in

place, each and every couple-of-year period. That process is starting shortly to

put that committee in place that will look at that. We have had four increases,

or will have four increases, by October 1 of this fiscal year.

I look forward to moving towards where the hon. Member

wants, but it has to be a balanced approach: looking at the needs of the

employers and small business, which is such an important piece for our province,

as well as the employees. We want to ensure that we plan for that balanced

approach each and every time we do this.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Member for Grand Falls-Windsor - Buchans.

TIBBS:

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

This is going to be directed towards Education, this

petition, Mr. Speaker. It's very important.

Many of our young residents of Newfoundland and

Labrador have had to deal with intimidation and bullying within our education

system. Students are terrified to go into our schools and this disrupts their

right to a fair education. Many parents are frustrated and they feel they have

very few options as they send their children to school each and every day.

Therefore, we petition the hon. House of Assembly as

follows: We, the undersigned, call upon the House of Assembly to urge the

Government of Newfoundland and Labrador to commit to a comprehensive review of

bullying and intimidation present in our school system and to format a plan to

mitigate this problem so our children can feel safe when receiving an education.

Mr. Speaker, the anxiety that many children face, as

they are bullied or intimidated in school, is unbearable to some children.

Suicides have happened in the past and I am sure that they will happen again. It

can have much to do with one or two students within the school.

We feel as though the parents are at their wits end:

they don't know what to do anymore. Parents have had to move and it's not fair

for them, it's not fair to the children that are looking to get an education.

It's also not fair to the teachers. The teachers feel as though they are pretty

much handcuffed too: they don't have any solutions to this.

I think the department needs to come together and put

in more resources or find a way to mitigate this, to help the children that are

bullying, maybe educate them more, but also help the children that are being

bullied each and every day. It is not fair to them. It's disrupting their lives;

it's disrupting their education. To live in fear like that at such a young age

is going to have problems as they move further down the road.

I would call on the Minister of Education to maybe talk

to me or have a chat sometime, and move forward with this for the betterment of

our children, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you.

SPEAKER:

Further petitions?

The hon. the Member for Torngat Mountains.

EVANS:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

We, the undersigned, are concerned citizens of

Newfoundland and Labrador who call upon the House of Assembly to urge the

Government of Newfoundland and Labrador to ensure that all future provincial

elections have written and verbal instructions on the voting process translated

into all provincial Indigenous languages and their respective dialects.

Providing our Indigenous people with accurate information in their own language

is essential to ensuring that they have the ability to cast a valid and

democratic vote. Inuit, Innu and Mi'kmaq are the Indigenous peoples, the First

Peoples of our province, so we believe that information regarding the democratic

right to vote should be available in the province's first languages.

Therefore, we petition the hon. House of Assembly as

follows: We, the undersigned, call upon the House of Assembly to urge the

Government of Newfoundland and Labrador to ensure all future provincial

elections have written and verbal instruction on the voting process translated

into all provincial Indigenous languages and their respective dialects.

Just looking at this, what happened during the

election, I think it was an oversight. Elections NL weren't really prepared for

only. I use the word “oversight” because I believe it was an unintentional

failure to recognize existing language barriers for our three Indigenous peoples

in the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Just my take on it, it's very important to recognize

that it was unintentional, but we need to be able to identify what happened so

we can learn from it. We need to ensure this doesn't happen again.

When you go to vote in person, you show up and,

basically, you mark an X next to the name of the person you want to represent

you in the House of Assembly. I know from personal experience in my district the

returning officer has always ensured that the six Indigenous communities had

adequate translation services, so it wasn't a question. That's why I say a lot

of it was an oversight. But translation into Indigenous language is about

respect of the First Peoples of this province.

It goes back to the overused word “reconciliation.” A

lot of Indigenous people – the Mi'kmaq, the Innu and the Inuit – really are

starting to be offended by the word “reconciliation,” because without change and

without progress to help Indigenous peoples regain their dignity and regain the

lives that they had before the white man came, there can be no reconciliation.

One of the things is the right to vote. We shouldn't have barriers where people

cannot vote because they don't understand the language that's presented in front

of them. Their Indigenous languages are important.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Minister Responsible for Indigenous Affairs and Reconciliation, and

Labrador Affairs.

DEMPSTER:

Mr.

Speaker, you did tell us we should jump up or something, so maybe I'll try that

next time, get some exercise.

I thank my hon. colleague for the petition on this very

important topic, Mr. Speaker. As this hon. House would know, it was this

particular Premier, under this administration, that put a minister in Cabinet

for the first time in history with the word “reconciliation” in the title.

Reconciliation, Mr. Speaker, is about narrowing that

gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people, about increasing that

understanding. It's about consulting with Indigenous people before we do things,

before we bring in policies in government.

Before I get to the election part, I can tell you, Mr.

Speaker – and I've said it here in this House before – I heard an Indigenous

leader say never before in their history had they had an open door with the

Premier's office like they have here now. I believe that's a positive step. The

Premier and I have weekly calls with Indigenous leaders around this province.

Just today, before coming into this House, we had some very great discussion and

a part of that was the importance of language, language matters, place names

matter.

On the election, we had a different election in a

different time, as we find our way through this first-ever public health

emergency. But, again, our Premier, a simple google will show you that he has

been out on record a number of times saying things like, regardless if there was

a pandemic or not, these ballots should have been translated into Indigenous

languages so people could vote in their mother tongue.

I know that we will certainly support the direction

that the hon. Member wants to go. Our Premier has said that it seems like it's

an easy fix. We don't understand why it wasn't done. We look forward to

debating.

My hon. colleague, the new Minister of Justice, Bill 1

– we're all excited to have some good spirited debate on that important

Elections Act upgrade, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you.

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Member for Ferryland.

O'DRISCOLL:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

These are the reasons for this petition. An extension

was announced to the Robert E. Howlett highway on March 25, 2014:

WHEREAS the environmental assessment, design and

engineering of this project is completed; and

WHEREAS continued residential and commercial growth has

increased traffic on the Southern Avalon;

Therefore, we petition the House of Assembly as

follows: We, the undersigned, call upon the House of Assembly to urge the

Government of Newfoundland and Labrador to continue with this significant piece

of infrastructure to enhance and improve traffic in the Southern Avalon.

Mr. Speaker, I drive this road every day. When you're

driving back and forth with the traffic that's on this road early in the

mornings, midday and in the evenings – it's incredible that this has been passed

since 2014 and no movement has been done. I was on the council in Bay Bulls in

2009 for a year or two. It was always the expectation that it was going to be

done and it hasn't been spoken. It fell by the wayside and no one ever touched

it.

We have a marine base in Bay Bulls, another proposed

one in Fermeuse that would alleviate this kind of traffic from the main highway

there now to get to these sites; also, very big tourism between Bay Bulls right

to Trepassey, including Petty Harbour. When you get in there, you can jump off

the highway. It's very important.

Also, the Gushue Highway, which they have completed a

portion of, came to Mount Pearl. I drive that every day coming in here, which is

great, but it doesn't join in. It's supposed to join in to the Robert E.

Howlett, then continue on and an extension to that as well. It's something that

supposedly in the works. Now it's stalled and it doesn't seem to be gone

anywhere. We're trying to bring attention to it.

Also, on that highway as well, when you're driving

right now, you're going through a residential community that the speed limit is

50 kilometres an hour. To get a road to bypass this, the same as you have in

Torbay that bypasses that's been very significant and helped the areas. This

would help our area extremely and it's something that we look forward to. I

would love to look at the government and look at the ministers, to be able to

sit down and speak to this.

Thank you so much.

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Member for Lake Melville.

TRIMPER:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

It's nice to have some competition on the petition

world today. I'm reading this for a second time to a new minister.

In 2020, government announced that Route 520, the

highway between Happy Valley-Goose Bay and the communities of North West River

and Sheshatshiu, was now a priority under the Five-Year Provincial Roads Plan.

Although a tender call was issued during late summer to complete upgrades and

pave some sections, the submitted bids far exceeded the allocated budget. In

September and again in December of 2020 in the House of Assembly, the minister

of Transportation and Infrastructure stated government will expand the scope of

the contract to find better value for next year's construction season; i.e., in

2021, which is where we are now. Since these commitments were made, the current

state of this highway has further deteriorated to what we describe as an

appalling condition.

Therefore we, the undersigned, call upon the House of

Assembly to urge the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador to issue the tender

as committed to the people of Lake Melville for expanded work on Route 520 as

soon as possible so that the expanded contract can be awarded and work started

immediately at the beginning of this 2021 construction season.

Mr. Speaker, as I alluded to this yesterday, the

highway has really suffered. It's been on the radar for attention for some time.

I was pleased to see it finally get on the Roads Plan. We've been throwing our

apples in the basket of the Trans-Labrador Highway. It is really time to fix

this very important linkage between North West River, Sheshatshiu and Happy

Valley-Goose Bay and elsewhere, and far beyond, by the way.

As I said, we have names on these holes and these dips

that we call a roller coaster of a highway. Just during the campaign, the safety

pylons that we're using to designate potholes, areas that have caved in, given

way on the side, I'm thinking we're going to run out of safety pylons before we

run out of opportunities to repair it.

I would like to say that we appreciate the efforts of

the contractor, but it's now well beyond patches and repairs. The entire highway

needs to be addressed. There are major sections that need an elevation change to

get out of the water table and provide a safe and stable transportation

connection between these very important communities. I look forward to hearing

an update from the minister.

I thank you very much, Mr. Speaker, for this

opportunity.

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Member for Stephenville - Port au Port.

WAKEHAM:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Like my previous colleague, I do have a petition about

roads, but I think it's more than the second time I've presented this one. As a

matter of fact, I'm on my third minister.

I would like to start again and simply say: The

maintenance and upkeep of the roadway through the community of Cold Brook is the

responsibility of the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure. Sections

of the roadway have been in deplorable condition for the last five years and

need repairs and resurfacing. Children are required to ride school buses twice

daily over roadways where sections of the paved road are missing. There have

been a number of close calls where vehicles have to swerve in order to avoid

driving over a

section of the roadway where the pavement is totally missing. The

residents of Cold Brook deserve better.

Therefore we petition the hon. House of Assembly as

follows: We, the undersigned, call upon the House of Assembly to urge the

Government of Newfoundland and Labrador to consider repairing, upgrading and

maintaining the paved road through the community of Cold Brook in the Province

of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Mr. Speaker, I'm talking about a kilometre – one

kilometre of road that has not been looked at for more than five years. The

local transportation officials have it on their radar for more than five years.

Former Member Reid, when he represented the area, had it on his agenda and we

still are waiting for that

section of road to be repaired.

This past summer there was supposed to have been work

done on Route 460. Cuts were made in the road; three months later the cuts were

repaired because the local contractor who was supposed to do some paving in the

area, there were some challenges with him that the department ran into so those

cuts were paved over. I would imagine that they will be back this summer on

Route 460. When they come back, it would be an appropriate time, and

strategically, to be able to take advantage of the fact that the equipment is in

the area to actually get this

section of road done.

I ask the minister: Will you take that under advisement

and finally get the kilometre of road in Cold Brook repaired?

Thank you.

SPEAKER:

Orders of the Day.

Orders of the Day

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Government House Leader.

CROCKER:

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

I call from the Order Paper, Motion 10.

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Government House Leader.

CROCKER:

Mr.

Speaker, I move, seconded by the Deputy Government House Leader, that under

Standing Order 11(1) this House not adjourn at 5:30 today, Tuesday, April 20,

SPEAKER:

The

motion is that we do not adjourn at 5:30 today.

All those in favour, 'aye.'

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Aye.

SPEAKER:

All

those against, 'nay.'

Carried.

The hon. the Government House Leader.

CROCKER:

Mr.

Speaker, I call from the Order Paper, first reading of Motion 4, Bill 9.

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Minister of Industry, Energy and Technology.

PARSONS:

Yes, Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the Government House Leader, for leave to

introduce a bill entitled,

An Act To Amend The Energy Corporation Act And The

Hydro Corporation Act, 2007, Bill 9, and I further move that the said bill be

now read a first time.

SPEAKER:

is moved and seconded that the hon. the Minister of Industry, Energy and

Technology shall have leave to introduce a bill entitled,

An Act To Amend The

Energy Corporation Act And The Hydro Corporation Act, 2007, and that the said

bill shall be read for a first time.

Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?

All those in favour, 'aye.'

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Aye.

SPEAKER:

All

those against, 'nay.'

Carried.

Motion, the hon. the Minister of Industry, Energy and

Technology to introduce a bill, “An Act To Amend The Energy Corporation Act And

The Hydro Corporation Act, 2007,” carried. (Bill 9)

CLERK (Barnes):

bill,

An Act To Amend The Energy Corporation Act And The Hydro Corporation Act,

2007. (Bill 9)

SPEAKER:

This bill has now been read a first time.

When shall the said bill be read a second time?

CROCKER:

Tomorrow.

SPEAKER:

Tomorrow.

On motion, Bill 9 read a first time, ordered read a

second time on tomorrow.

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Government House Leader.

CROCKER:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I call from the Order Paper: Motion 5, Bill 10.

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Government House Leader.

CROCKER:

Mr.

Speaker, I move, seconded by the Minister of Justice and Public Safety, for

leave to introduce a bill entitled,

An Act To Amend The House Of Assembly

Accountability, Integrity and Administration Act, Bill 10, and I further move

that the said bill be now read a first time.

SPEAKER:

is moved and seconded that the hon. the Government House Leader shall have leave

to introduce a bill entitled,

An Act To Amend The House Of Assembly

Accountability, Integrity and Administration Act, Bill 10, and that the said

bill shall now be read a first time.

Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?

All those in favour, 'aye.'

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Aye.

SPEAKER:

All

those against, 'nay.'

Carried.

Motion, the hon. the Government House Leader to

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

Integrity and Administration Act,” carried. (Bill 10)

CLERK:

bill,

An Act To Amend The House Of Assembly Accountability, Integrity and

Administration Act. (Bill 10)

SPEAKER:

This bill has now been read a first time.

When shall the said bill be read a second time?

CROCKER:

Tomorrow.

SPEAKER:

Tomorrow.

On motion, Bill 10 read a first time, ordered read a

second time on tomorrow.

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Government House Leader.

CROCKER:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I call from the Order Paper: Motion 6, Bill 11.

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Minister Responsible for Indigenous Affairs and Reconciliation, and

Labrador Affairs.

DEMPSTER:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I move, seconded by the Government House Leader, for

leave to introduce a bill entitled,

An Act To Amend the Children, Youth and

Families Act, Bill 11, and I further move that the said bill be now read a first

time.

SPEAKER:

is moved and seconded that the hon. the Minister of Indigenous Affairs and

Reconciliation, and Labrador Affairs shall now have leave to introduce a bill

entitled,

An Act To Amend The Children, Youth And Families Act, Bill 11, and

that the said bill now be read a first time.

Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt this motion?

All those in favour, 'aye.'

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Aye.

MR.

SPEAKER:

All those against, 'nay.'

Carried.

Motion, the hon. the Minister Responsible for

Indigenous Affairs and Reconciliation and Minister Responsible for Labrador

Affairs to introduce a bill, “An Act To Amend The Children, Youth And Families

Act,” carried. (Bill 11)

CLERK:

bill,

An Act To Amend The Children, Youth And Families Act. (Bill 11)

SPEAKER:

This bill has now been read a first time.

When shall the said bill be read a second time?

HON. MEMBER:

Tomorrow.

SPEAKER:

Tomorrow.

On motion, Bill 11 read a first time, ordered read a

second time on tomorrow.

SPEAKER:

The

Government House Leader.

CROCKER:

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

I call from the Order Paper, Motion 8.

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Minister of Education.

OSBORNE:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I will read out the resolution at the start, Mr.

Speaker.

WHEREAS

section 4 of the

Auditor General Act provides that the Auditor General is to be

appointed by the Lieutenant-Governor in Council on resolution of the House of

Assembly;

NOW THEREFORE

BE IT RESOLVED that Ms. Denise Hanrahan

be appointed as the Auditor General effective April 22, 2021.

Mr. Speaker, just to give a little bit of background on

Denise Hanrahan: I think most Members in the Legislature would be familiar with

her.

SPEAKER:

Order, please!

We didn't have a seconder for that motion.

OSBORNE:

Sorry, Mr. Speaker; seconded by the Government House Leader.

SPEAKER:

Thank you.

The hon. the Minister of Education.

OSBORNE:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I think most people here would be familiar

with Denise Hanrahan, having been most recently the deputy minister of Finance,

then the secretary to Treasury Board. Mr. Speaker, I know she entered the public

service in 2002, so she has 18 or 19 years of service to the people of

Newfoundland and Labrador.

I'll read out a bit of a bio on her, Mr. Speaker, for

those in the House who do not know her as well as some of us who have been here

a little longer, or the general public.

She served as the secretary to Treasury Board, a

position that she's held since 2017. She has previously held positions within

the public service, including the deputy minister of Finance; assistant deputy

minister of Financial Planning and Benefits Administration with the Department

of Finance; assistant deputy minister of Strategic and Corporate Services with

the former department of Transportation and Works. She also held several

director level positions within the public service, Mr. Speaker, including the

pension joint sponsorship, the audit committee as a director with the

Newfoundland and Labrador Liquor Corporation and OilCo.

Mr. Speaker, in 2006 she was awarded a Public Service

Award of Excellence, and before joining the public service in 2002, Ms. Hanrahan

held numerous senior leadership positions within the retail, wholesale and

not-for-profit sectors. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Co-op) and master of

business administration degrees from Memorial University. She's a chartered

professional accountant. She has completed a master's certificate in project

management through York University, the director's education program through the

University of Toronto and obtained her director designation from the Institute

of Corporate Directors.

Mr. Speaker, I worked directly with Ms. Hanrahan when

she became deputy minister of Finance for almost three years. I was there for

over three years; she was almost three years. I can say that she is absolutely a

dedicated public servant. I'm sure that other Members in the Legislature who've

had an opportunity to work with her and get to know her would agree that she's

dedicated, that she's dedicated to the public service in this province, and I'm

honoured, as somebody who's most recently worked with her for about three years,

to be putting forward this motion in the Legislature today.

On a personal side, Mr. Speaker, I can say that coming

into the department budget time, as most people know, public servants burn the

midnight oil. They spend a number of hours – public servants within Finance and

the budgeting division. I came in one evening, we were working on the budget

about 11 o'clock and you'd swear there was a rock concert down the hallways of

the Department of Finance. She was taking a break eating a Dairy Queen banana

split and blaring out Pearl Jam, which I believe is her favourite band. She's

also been known to hum; I've heard her singing Tina Turner's “Better Be Good To

Me.” I'm not sure, it's a wide array. All I can think now as a Minister of the

Crown is: you better be good to me. I'm sure most Members of the Legislature

would think that.

Mr. Speaker, I guess I'll end it with a verse from her

favourite band, and while she's independent and I know she'll do due diligence

in keeping government's feet to the fire: You don't have to stray two oceans

away.

I'm sure the friendships that you've maintained in this

House will go beyond, even though you'll perform your functions and keep us

accountable.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Member for Stephenville - Port au Port.

WAKEHAM:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I, too, am honoured on behalf of the Official

Opposition to support this motion. I think the hon. minister has taken many of

the bullets that were written here for me, about Denise, Ms. Hanrahan, and

certainly has acknowledged the tremendous role she has played in the last number

of years in working in government as well.

I think she's lead government through seven budget

processes; two pension reform processes; has been part of teams that actually

have been charged with federal government negotiations. She is well qualified.

She has worked, as the minister has said, in several senior public sector

management roles. For me, I think, I've been privy now to a couple of Estimates

Committees, and as a former public servant I can attest to the amount of work

that officials in the Department of Finance put in and the hours and hours and

hours they spend getting the budgets ready and the Estimates ready.

I guess, Ms. Hanrahan is a well-balanced and qualified

professional. She has worked with many MHAs directly through a wide range of

interactions and, of course, as I mentioned particularly the annual budget

processes and the Estimate processes. She is known for her honesty and, what I

would call, truth to power – that style; a deep knowledge of government

operations at many levels; and, certainly, problem-solving skills.

Again, I'm deeply honoured to be able to support the

motion.

Thank you.

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Member for Humber - Bay of Islands.

JOYCE:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I just want to concur with the minister and the Member

for Stephenville - Port au Port. My dealings with Denise since 2016-2017 and

other stuff in between – I, like the minister, have been around for a while and

dealing with Denise. I can tell you, when we were going through a few difficult

times in 2016-2017, the style of work of the group was Denise. She'd come in

early in the morning, she'd leave late at night and she'd have everything so

professional. She was such a great person to deal with.

I agree with both the minister and the Member for

Stephenville - Port au Port, you couldn't get a more qualified person to be

Auditor General of this province; a more honest, upfront, truthful, present the

facts the way they are. When there were times when there was tension, she knew

how to bring levity to the situation so that we all get back.

I just want to congratulate Denise. I remember in

2016-2017 one of the things that she missed the most about the turbulent times

that she had getting the budget ready for us was missing her family. I hope now

she has time to make up for that because the service that she gave to the

Province of Newfoundland and Labrador and put her family behind – that she has

time now to spend with her family.

I'm just so pleased that this motion was brought forth

for such a great lady, for a great worker, a great person and someone who is

going to serve this province well in the future. Congratulations, Denise.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Minister of Finance and President of Treasury Board.

COADY:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I'd like to add to the chorus of congratulations and

speak to the qualifications of Ms. Denise Hanrahan. She is not just

knowledgeable, but her integrity, her work ethic and her enthusiastic demeanour,

I think it's all been noted well here this afternoon. Her dedication to this

province and her deep and profound love of this province, I think, make her an

ideal candidate as Auditor General. I think this province will be very well

served.

I had the honour to work with her in her role for a few

months as Minister of Finance, and I can say that she understands and knows more

about the construct of this government over multiple years. I think she will

serve us very well as Auditor General and she will make this province proud.

Thank you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Member for Labrador West.

BROWN:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

On behalf of myself and my colleague here, we would

like to also support this motion for Ms. Hanrahan. From the sounds of my fellow

colleagues here, she has had a very impactful career, especially in the

Department of Finance. She seems like she has made a lot of good friends over

there in that. It's good to hear that she has also guided us through seven

budgets and many other negotiations and different changes in our province.

Myself and my colleague here also do support this

motion. We congratulate Ms. Hanrahan.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Minister Responsible for Women and Gender Equality.

PARSONS:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I want to add my voice to this. Of course, I want to

applaud this motion and congratulate Ms. Hanrahan on this very prestigious

opportunity. As we all know, arguably we're facing our most challenging fiscal

times here in the history of Newfoundland and Labrador.

On behalf of the proud department of Women and Gender

Equality, I want to congratulate this very well-deserving recipient for this. We

look forward to collaborating and working with her. I have great confidence in

her.

Thank you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Member for Topsail - Paradise.

DINN:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

If I didn't speak up on this I would probably get a

call from Denise later on saying I didn't support her appointment. For those who

know Denise, she would do that.

I had the pleasure of working with Denise many years

ago when she first came to government. As the Member opposite said, it's not

unlike to see her working hard at her job, but then having some levity to relax

and play some music loud.

I'm sure – I'm totally 110 per cent confident – that

she is the right person for this job. She has all the tools to make this job

work and to do the best for the province. She's a person of integrity and a hard

worker, but she also has some levity. She can keep things real, and as the

Member for Humber said over here, sometimes she brings a bit of humour to her

job that takes the stress away from the staff that are working around her. She

does that quite easily.

I just want to say I congratulate her. I think she's

fabulous for the job and no need to give me a call tonight.

Thank you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Member for Mount Pearl - Southlands.

LANE:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker; I was waiting for the light to come on.

I'm not going to make this long, but as has been my

past practice, any time there's any bill or any motion that comes before the

House, as I am an independent Member, I'd like to speak for myself and give my

point of view on it.

I just want to say that I don't really know Denise very

well, as some others would know. I've obviously met her a few times through

briefings with the Department of Finance, through the Estimates process and so

on, but her reputation precedes her and I've heard a lot of good things about

her.

Any dealings that I did have with her were positive.

Looking at her résumé that's been presented to us, she's obviously very

qualified, both from an educational point of view and from the perspective of

experience, knowing government and how government operates. I have no problems

supporting this motion.

I certainly want to congratulate her. I just also want

to give her a heads-up that in her new role now, she can expect a visit from me

very soon to discuss the audit of Nalcor.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SPEAKER:

Seeing no other speakers, if the Minister of Education speaks now, he will close

debate on this resolution.

The hon. the Minister of Education.

OSBORNE:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I think Members in the House spoke very eloquently and

very positively. I know that Denise is probably sitting in her office listening,

to have the vote of confidence of Members of the House of Assembly.

It's an Independent Appointments Commission

appointment, Mr. Speaker, unlike the old days. But if it were the old days, her

name would probably come forward anyway because she is very capable and very

qualified. She earned this, was chosen by the Independent Appointments

Commission. I know that tonight, her and her family will probably celebrate this

and tomorrow she gets to work.

Mr. Speaker, it's a pleasure and an honour to see this

motion passed.

Thank you.

SPEAKER:

the House ready for the question?

Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt this motion?

All those in favour, 'aye.'

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Aye.

SPEAKER:

All

those against, 'nay.'

Carried.

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Government House Leader.

CROCKER:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I call from the Order Paper, Order 3, Bill 5.

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Minister of Justice and Public Safety.

HOGAN:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I move, seconded by the Minister of Industry, Energy

and Technology, that Bill 5,

An Act To Amend The Access To Information And

Protection Of Privacy Act, 2015, be now read a second time.

SPEAKER:

is moved and seconded that a bill entitled,

An Act To Amend The Access To

Information And Protection of Privacy Act, 2015, Bill 5, be now read a second

time.

Motion, second reading of a bill, “An Act To Amend The

Access To Information And Protection Of Privacy Act, 2015.” (Bill 5)

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Minister of Justice and Public Safety.

HOGAN:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you for the first opportunity in my time here, a

very short time, obviously, to speak to a bill and speak to an amendment of this

piece of legislation. I know all the Members of the House of Assembly are

familiar with the Access to Information

and Protection of Privacy Act, 2015 . It's a very important piece of

legislation.

As everybody knows, the work that we do here as Members

of the House of Assembly and in our various departments is all in the interest

of the public. The public should and do have the ability to make requests about

the documents that we work on, the documents that we send back and forth to each

other, so that we do the work in a public manner and that information is

accessible to the public if they make requests.

Of course, there are exceptions to that. Not every

piece of information that passes through our hands is public. One example of

something that wasn't public information was documents that were provided to the

commissioner of the Muskrat Falls inquiry. For Members who were here at that

time, they might remember that

Schedule B of the legislation provided an

exemption to the Commission of Inquiry Respecting Muskrat Falls where the ATIPPA

would not apply.

As everyone knows, as well, there has been an Inquiry

into Ground Search and Rescue for Lost and Missing Persons in Newfoundland and

Labrador that has been established. There is work ongoing in that. I think we'd

all agree that's a very important piece of work that's being done, headed up by

former Provincial Court judge, James Igloliorte. He's carrying out that work

right now.

To that end, he has made a request that the House of

Assembly provide an exemption to ATIPPA for that inquiry. The judge has

indicated he believes the work of the inquiry may be prejudiced if the inquiry

is not exempted from the operation of this act. The commissioner believes that

the requirements of the ATIPPA could potentially interfere with the work of the

inquiry and impose unnecessary demands on the staff of the inquiry.

Of course, I know no one in this House wants that to

happen. It's very important that the work he is doing move forward as quickly as

possible. It's very important work. He is examining the adequacy of search and

rescue in Newfoundland and Labrador. Once his inquiry is done, as soon as he is

able to – and this will help him move faster to complete his work – he will

report back with any recommendations that he has to improve search and rescue in

this province, to help improve the safety of everyone here.

This amendment is consistent, as I said, with an

exemption that was provided to the Muskrat Falls inquiry. We all know

Commissioner LeBlanc provided numerous recommendations following his completion

of the inquiry. One of the recommendations he did make was that future inquiries

should be exempt from ATIPPA.

This is the first inquiry since the Muskrat Falls

inquiry was completed. In line with his recommendations, as this government is

doing with numerous of his recommendations, we're agreeing to it. We're bringing

this amendment forward to comply with the recommendation made by Commissioner

LeBlanc.

I do want to stress – this is the most important part

of what I say today – that the amendment is not frustrating anyone's ability to

access public government records. Any government record that can be – and I

guess this is a verb now – 'ATIPP-able,' will remain 'ATIPP-able.' If anybody

wants a document from the Department of Justice and Public Safety, they can

still make that request under the current legislation; however, they cannot make

that request directly to the Inquiry into Ground Search and Rescue.

It does not change the public's ability to access any

information that is public right now; it will simply allow the commissioner to

do his work without the burden of having to comply with ATIPP legislation. The

scope of this amendment is extremely narrow. I can't imagine anything that would

be more narrow than exempting this one inquiry from the applicability of ATIPP

legislation.

As I said, it's very important work. It's investigating

a very sad event in Labrador and it's about time this moves forward. In order

for it to move forward as quickly as possible, I ask that the House grant this

amendment at the request of the commissioner, so he can move forward with his

work in an expedited manner.

Thank you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Member for Harbour Main.

CONWAY OTTENHEIMER:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, first of all, I can say with respect to

this bill, as the Minister of Justice and Public Safety has stated, it is a very

important piece of legislation. Bill 5,

An Act to Amend the Access to

Information and Protection of Privacy Act, 2015 – this legislation plays an

important place in the public forum.

For example, when we look at this legislation, we see

that the purpose of the legislation – it has been stated in the act – is to,

first of all, facilitate democracy. One of the more important functions of this

legislation is to safeguard the values of transparency and accountability.

The legislation, in its nature, is there to ensure that

citizens have information, that they're able to participate meaningfully in the

democratic process. I'm sure we'll all agree how important that is. We need to

increase transparency in government and public bodies. We need to increase

transparency so as to ensure accountability of elected officials, of MHAs, of

people who are employees and officers of public bodies.

The legislation is quite lengthy. When we look at it,

it's a very detailed document. The amendment that is the subject of today is

just one

section of this very detailed act, which is there for the people of

this province.

It is important to note, as well, that this legislation

not only is there to facilitate democracy, it's to ensure transparency. It's

also there to protect the privacy of individuals – the privacy of individuals,

with respect to their personal information about themselves, which is in

possession of public bodies. This legislation, for all of us, is very important

because it does protect our privacy, it does protect personal information that

public bodies have in their possession.

One other interesting thing that I think we need to

note about this legislation – the actual act in itself – is that the purpose

there is to be achieved by giving the public the right of access to records and

public information. That's really what this act is all about. ATIPPA is there to

give people in our province the right to access their records, the right to

access their personal information.

I think it's important to set that background, just to

summarize what the fundamental purpose of the legislation is and what the

rationale for the purpose is, which is to increase transparency and to hold

government accountable. Those are some of the important things that we need to

make sure are evident. This is all about facilitating democracy.

This specific bill, Bill 5, as the Minister of Justice

and Public Safety has indicated, is really just a simple exemption – one

exemption for the commissioner of the Inquiry into Ground Search and Rescue for

Lost and Missing Persons in Newfoundland and Labrador. It provides an exemption

to the commissioner so that the inquiry and the commissioner will not be

subjected to ATIPPA. I do find comfort in hearing that the Minister of Justice

and Public Safety say, and he recognizes, that this is a very narrow-scope

amendment. It is very specific as to the inquiry and it certainly will not –

what we're hearing is that it will not at all affect people from being able to

access their information. It's not, in other words, a block of information

becoming public. So that's really important to know and that's really important

to hear.

It's really, I would say, a procedural kind of an

amendment, if you will, to allow the commissioner the ultimate, I guess,

discretion to access, for example, which exhibits will be made public and which

will be confidential. The commissioner will make that determination. I think

it's safe to say that that determination will be made by the commissioner in the

public interest.

As has been referenced by the Minister of Justice and

Public Safety with respect to the Muskrat Falls inquiry, that was just a

narrow-scope exemption as well. It only applied to that inquiry. When the

inquiry was over, the documents became the Government of Newfoundland and

Labrador's property, and thus were subject to ATIPPA and could be accessed by

people. It is my understanding that will be the same with respect to this

legislation.

With respect to that, Mr. Speaker, I can say that the

Opposition Party is in support of this amendment. As has been stated, the work

that will be taking place in this inquiry is very important to the people of the

province and to the families that were involved, so we really want to support

the efficient functioning of the inquiry so that they can do the important work

that needs to be done and that the commissioner is not hindered, burdened or

inundated by ATTIPA requests that are not necessary.

In conclusion, Mr. Speaker, we, the Opposition, do

support Bill 5.

Thank you very much.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Minister Responsible for Indigenous Affairs and Reconciliation, and

Labrador Affairs.

DEMPSTER:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Just waiting on the clock.

CROCKER:

You

are only given 20 minutes anyway.

DEMPSTER:

am only going to take five, I say to the Government House Leader.

Mr. Speaker, I am really pleased to see this amendment

come before the House. I want to thank my colleague, he is pretty new in the

department but it is nice to see some papers moving through quickly. As has

already been discussed this is just a brief amendment to

An Act to Amend the

Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act .

Mr. Speaker, what this is really about, if we go back

to the Muskrat Falls inquiry, where we saw that Commissioner LeBlanc, he stated

that: “A Commission should be exempted from the

Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act legislation so

that its investigations can be conducted fully and without potential

interference or influence.”

Really, that's what this amendment is about; moving

this inquiry forward that we have been waiting a long, long time for. I go back

to 2012, when I was then a deputy mayor in my community, Mr. Speaker, and if

there was one thing that galvanized Labradorians, it was the call for

improvements for search and rescue when young Burton Winters went missing.

That very difficult time in Labrador's history that we

all went through, really, stays fresh in your memory. We were also very honoured

that Judge Igloliorte from Hopedale, from a neighbouring community of that boy,

when he was appointed the commissioner into the inquiry, and it was Judge

Igloliorte that said: “I hope that I can honour Burton Winters' memory by

identifying steps that can be taken to prevent similar tragedies in the future

….”

Mr. Speaker, be it on the Coast of Labrador, or

anywhere in the province for that matter, as we know there was a ground search

underway at that time, but it was two days before a military aircraft would be

dispatched and the outcome was very tragic: we have to learn from those events.

Mr. Speaker, search and rescue continues to be an issue

of provincial and national importance and one that we take quite seriously; so I

am really pleased to support this amendment today to Bill 5.

I'm sure the family is very anxious for this inquiry to

be up and running. There will be one hearing of this inquiry dedicated solely to

Burton Winters. Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with the family.

Again, I commend my colleague, the Minister of Justice,

for moving forward on this rather quickly since he's been in the portfolio.

Thank you.

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Member for Labrador West.

BROWN:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I'll speak briefly to this as well.

We understand the importance of this kind of an

amendment to the protection of information, especially from the last inquiry's

request for such a thing. It's important that we do – this is a good sign that

this is the first step actually towards the inquiry finally taking place after a

number of years.

We do support this housekeeping amendment, more or less

than anything, to allow the commission and the inquiry to function correctly in

the most expedient ways possible, but also, at the same time, protecting

people's information and allowing the flow because we also have to protect

whatever information we take in. It goes back to the minister's statement today

about protecting people's information but also allowing access to it when it is

relevant.

I just want to briefly say that and that we do support

this motion.

Thank you.

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Member for Lake Melville.

TRIMPER:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I think I could say without any doubt that those of us

who can remember back nine years and certainly those of us who are very lucky to

live in Labrador, will recall the emotions at that time and what happened with

this tragedy of this young man. Many of us knew him, knew his family, we knew

the people involved in the search. We knew the efforts that were being expended.

We knew a lot of frustration that went on at that time.

It is good to see this inquiry move forward. As the

sponsoring minister has said, and with his experience in working with inquires,

if this is what is needed to proceed, then let's get on with it. I think it's

extremely important that we do whatever it takes to get to the bottom of what

did happen and what didn't go well.

I have quite a bit of familiarity with this, I've spent

10 years myself working on the Happy Valley-Goose Bay Search and Rescue team. I

can tell you when you're watching people respond, it's often 2 o'clock in the

morning, your phone rings or a pager rings and off you go. Now, you and your

colleagues, you're putting yourselves at risk.

I want the outcome of this inquiry to be such that the

tremendous contribution that so many volunteers across our province put forward

each time that they are called out, they are really putting their own lives at

risk. When I think back on those days – and some of them are very vivid for

myself – I can only think that the communications breakdown that occurred here,

the potential indecision, I'm not sure, but I do look forward to seeing an

outcome that will allow us, will allow Labrador, will allow this family and

everyone else around this tragedy and others to feel that we'll make some

progress in responding to future situations such as this.

I wish Mr. Igloliorte all the best. I first met Judge

Jim, as we all know him, as we knew him back in 1987 at Susie's Boarding House.

I've had a long time that I've known this man. I don't think we could've found a

better person to lead the inquiry. If Judge Jim is looking for this

accommodation, I think we should give it to him.

I'm fully in support of that, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you.

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Member for Cape St. Francis.

WALL:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

It's certainly a privilege to speak in this hon. House.

I appreciate the opportunity to speak to this bill, Bill 5,

An Act to Amend the

Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, 2015.

Mr. Speaker, before I go any further, I want to pay

tribute to all the families that are affected by this. For those who have lost

and are missing loved ones, we remember them here in this House of Assembly

today and always.

Mr. Speaker, I'd also like to take this opportunity to

acknowledge the crucial work that's done by the members of the ground search and

rescue team all around our province. They are called upon in stressful times and

their work is very difficult. I'm sure that each Member of the House will agree

with me today that their efforts are held in high regard and we appreciate all

the work that they do.

Mr. Speaker, the purpose of any inquiry is to answer

what has happened and why it happened. This particular amendment to the bill is

necessary. This amendment won't be hiding anything, it won't block any

information coming to the public. By the very nature of the commission of

inquiry, information through exhibits and testimony will all be made public. The

commissioner will assess the exhibits that can be made public and those that

will remain confidential. I'm sure the commissioner will act in the public

interest by virtue of his position alone, and make such a determination with

public interest in mind.

Mr. Speaker, such instances being handled under this

bill are very personal for family and friends of those who have died or are

missing. They don't want or need the added worry as to what information will be

made public while the ordeal is ongoing. This amendment to Bill 5 will allow the

process not to get bogged down with information requests and, Mr. Speaker,

there's really no need to play politics here at all.

In addition, there are a number of volunteer

organizations who may provide documents to an ongoing inquiry and, of course,

these documents are not eligible for ATIPPA requests as they are not from a

public body. This proposed exemption for the inquiry will allow the commissioner

to make the decision regarding if they to be made public or not.

Mr. Speaker, this inquiry is personal in nature and

will rely on the testimony of family members and volunteers, and their personal

information must be treated very carefully and with respect. I believe this

amendment will do exactly that.

Mr. Speaker, I applaud Bill 5,

An Act to Amend the

Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, 2015. We are not

reinventing the wheel here and we are not playing politics, as I said. This will

be a benefit for everyone going forward who is involved in such an instance.

Our work here in the House of Assembly is for all

Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. Mr. Speaker, I support this bill and I support

the government on this amendment to Bill 5.

Thank you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Member for Mount Pearl - Southlands.

LANE:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I'm not going to take long, but, again, just this past

practice, as an independent Member of the House, I like my vote to be recorded

in Hansard so it's quite clear where I

stand on any given issue.

As it relates to this bill, I'm not going to get into

repeating all that has been said, I think it's pretty clear what's happening

here. We're just simply going to exclude this particular inquiry from the access

to information act, basically on a temporary basis, if you will. Once the

inquiry is over and everything returns to the government, if there are any

documents that could normally be ATIPPed from government, that will still occur.

As has been said, the justice is just looking for – he

doesn't want anything that's going to interfere with this very important inquiry

and he doesn't want to be bogged down in ATIPP requests and so on. As it is sort

of a one-off, if you will, the only other time it happened was with the Muskrat

Falls inquiry.

Given the fact that the information will eventually

become 'ATIPP-able' after the inquiry is over and as it allows for the inquiry

to go through smoothly without problems so that we can get to the bottom of

everything that went wrong, I will support it wholeheartedly.

Thank you.

SPEAKER:

Seeing no other speakers to the bill, if the Minister of Justice and Public

Safety speaks now he will close the debate.

The hon. the Minister of Justice and Public Safety.

HOGAN:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

First, before I make some comments, I note that this

was seconded by the Minister of Industry, Energy and Technology who was not the

House when I first spoke. He is here now, if I can just note that he will second

this motion.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

I want to thank all Members who spoke to this today,

for contributing and supporting this motion. As everybody noted, it is something

very important, something that obviously deals with a very serious situation in

Labrador that happened. People spoke about the families and how this was, and

continues to be, a difficult time for them. This will, hopefully, be part of the

process of moving forward and healing, if that is possible for those family

members.

I also acknowledge the Members opposite did recognize

that the right to the public to access their records does remain in place, which

is obviously very important; something we all want to ensure.

With that, Mr. Speaker, I'll end my comments.

SPEAKER:

the House ready for the question?

The motion is that Bill 5 now be read a second time.

Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?

All those in favour, 'aye.'

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Aye.

SPEAKER:

All

those against, 'nay.'

Carried.

CLERK:

bill,

An Act To Amend The Access To Information And Protection Of Privacy Act,

2015. (Bill 5)

SPEAKER:

This bill has now been read a second time.

When shall the said bill be referred to a Committee of

the Whole?

CROCKER:

Now.

SPEAKER:

Now.

On motion, a bill, “An Act To Amend The Access To

Information And Protection Of Privacy Act, 2015,” read a second time, ordered

referred to a Committee of the Whole House presently, by leave. (Bill 5)

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Government House Leader.

CROCKER:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the Minister of

Justice and Public Safety, that the House resolve itself into a Committee of the

Whole to consider Bill 5.

SPEAKER:

is moved and seconded that I do now leave the Chair for the House to resolve

itself into a Committee of the Whole to consider Bill 5.

Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?

All those in favour, 'aye.'

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Aye.

SPEAKER:

All

those against, 'nay.'

Carried.

On motion, that the House resolve itself into a

Committee of the Whole, the Speaker left the Chair.

Committee of the Whole

CHAIR (Warr):

Order, please!

We are now considering Bill 5,

An Act To Amend The

Access To Information And Protection Of Privacy Act, 2015.

A bill, “An Act To Amend The Access To Information And

Protection Of Privacy Act, 2015.” (Bill 5)

CLERK:

Clause 1.

CHAIR:

Shall clause 1 carry?

The Chair recognizes the hon. the Member for Harbour

Main.

CONWAY OTTENHEIMER:

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The first question is: Has the minister spoken to Judge

Igloliorte, the commissioner? Just for clarification, are you aware if he

intends to publicly make available the exhibits, which he is going to rely on

throughout the inquiry?

CHAIR:

The

Chair recognizes the hon. the Minister of Justice and Public Safety.

HOGAN:

Thank you very much and thank you for the question, Mr. Chair.

I have not spoken to the commissioner; I've actually

never met him. I've heard great things about him and I've heard things about him

in the House this afternoon as well. We're very pleased that he agreed to be the

commissioner of this inquiry. Obviously, a very important inquiry to all

Newfoundlanders and especially to Labradorians.

Any decision to make public records will be his and his

alone. Certainly, I won't, and no one from the Department of Justice and Public

Safety will dictate to him what he feels that needs to be disclosed to the

public in relation to any investigations he makes in the course of his inquiry.

I certainly know that's my experience when I was counsel at the Muskrat Falls

inquiry. There was no discussion between counsel and the commissioner, and I

highly doubt the commissioner discussed anything with the Department of Justice

at the time about what should and should not be public. He will decide and he

will alone decide what he needs to disclose so that he can do the full

investigation.

I certainly expect that he will come across some

information that is very private to individuals. It could be health records that

he may feel do not need to be disclosed and maybe partially can be disclosed. He

can redact things if he sees necessary. I think that concisely and fairly

answers the question that the Member opposite had.

CHAIR:

The

hon. the Member for Harbour Main.

CONWAY OTTENHEIMER:

Has the Privacy Commissioner given an opinion on this

amendment? If so, what was his opinion? If he did provide an opinion, can you

table it?

CHAIR:

The

hon. the Minister of Justice and Public Safety.

HOGAN:

Thank you for the question, Mr. Chair.

It is my understanding that the Privacy Commissioner is

satisfied with this amendment, but I can't confirm that right now as a definite.

I will certainly check with the department and see the exact conversations that

were had with the Commissioner. If there is an opinion, we will look at

disclosing it.

CHAIR:

The

hon. the Member for Harbour Main.

CONWAY OTTENHEIMER:

This inquiry, as we've already acknowledged, is very

personal in nature and will rely on the testimony of family members and

volunteers. How will their personal information be treated by the inquiry? Is

there going to be any support made available to these people, to the volunteers

and family members, throughout the inquiry?

CHAIR:

The

hon. the Minister of Justice and Public Safety.

HOGAN:

Thank you for the question, Mr. Chair.

Again, that's a question that will go to how the

commission operates. I'm sure that's part of the work that the commissioner is

doing right now, making decisions about witnesses, who they will be and where

this will take place.

Obviously, with the ongoing global pandemic, that

changes everything in terms of how courts, commissions of inquiry and even the

House of Assembly operate. Those sorts of decisions will be made by the

commissioner. The funding will be provided and has been provided by the

Department of Justice. We will keep an eye on that and any decisions or issues

he needs in relation to that specific matter we'll happily talk to him about it.

But, again, how the inquiry will be conducted is entirely in the realm of the

commissioner's decision-making.

In terms of information that may be private and the

families may not want to disclose, again, it's a very sensitive matter that the

commissioner is dealing with. I'm sure he can have discussions with council for

the family, that if they want things to remain private, they can discuss that.

That's between them and not for the Department of Justice and Public Safety to

opine on.

Thank you.

CHAIR:

Shall the motion carry?

All those in favour, 'aye.'

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Aye.

CHAIR:

All

those against, 'nay.'

Carried.

On motion, clause 1 carried.

CLERK:

it enacted by the Lieutenant-Governor and House of Assembly in Legislative

Session convened, as follows.

CHAIR:

Shall the enacting clause carry?

All those in favour, 'aye.'

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Aye.

CHAIR:

All

those against, 'nay.'

Carried.

On motion, enacting clause carried.

CLERK:

Act To Amend The Access To Information And Protection Of Privacy Act, 2015.

CHAIR:

Shall the title carry?

All those in favour, 'aye.'

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Aye.

CHAIR:

All

those against, 'nay.'

Carried.

On motion, title carried.

CHAIR:

Shall I report the bill without amendment?

All those in favour, 'aye.'

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Aye.

CHAIR:

All

those against, 'nay.'

Carried.

Motion, that the Committee report having passed the

bill without amendment, carried.

CHAIR:

The

hon. the Government House Leader.

CROCKER:

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I move that the Committee rise and report Bill 5.

CHAIR:

The

motion is that the Committee rise and report Bill 5.

Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?

All those in favour, 'aye.'

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Aye.

CHAIR:

All

those against, 'nay.'

Carried.

On motion, that the Committee rise, report progress and

ask leave to sit again, the Speaker returned to the Chair.

SPEAKER (Bennett):

The

hon. the Member for Baie Verte - Green Bay.

WARR:

Mr.

Speaker, the Committee of the Whole have considered the matters to them referred

and have directed me to report Bill 5 without amendment.

SPEAKER:

The

Chair of Committee of the Whole reports that the Committee have considered the

matters to them referred and have directed him to report Bill 5 without

amendment.

When shall the report be received?

CROCKER:

Now.

SPEAKER:

Now.

When shall the bill be read a third time?

CROCKER:

That's tomorrow, Mr. Speaker.

SPEAKER:

Tomorrow.

On motion, report received. Bill ordered read a third

time on tomorrow.

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Government House Leader.

CROCKER:

Thank you again, Mr. Speaker.

I call from the Order Paper, Motion 3, Bill 4.

SPEAKER:

The

hon. the Minister of Finance and President of Treasury Board.

COADY:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I move, seconded by the hon. Minister of Industry,

Energy and Technology, that the House resolve itself into a Committee of the

Whole on Ways and Means to consider a certain resolution and a bill relating to

the advancing or guaranteeing of certain loans made under the

Loan and Guarantee Act, 1957 , Bill 4.

SPEAKER:

The

motion is that I do now leave the Chair for the House to resolve itself into a

Committee of the Whole on Ways and Means.

Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?

All those in favour, 'aye.'

SOME HON. MEMBERS:

Aye.

SPEAKER:

All

those against, 'nay.'

On motion, that the House resolve itself into a

Committee of the Whole, the Speaker left the Chair.

Committee of the Whole

CHAIR (Warr):

Order, please!

We are now debating the related resolution and Bill 4,

An Act To Amend The Loan and Guarantee Act, 1957.

Resolution

Be it resolved

by the House of Assembly in Legislative Session convened, as follows:

“That it is expedient to bring in a measure further to

amend The Loan and Guarantee Act, 1957 ,

to provide for the advance of loans to and the guarantee of the repayment of

bonds or debentures issued by or loans advanced to certain corporations.”

CHAIR:

Shall the resolution carry?

The Chair recognizes the hon. Minister of Industry,

Energy and Technology.

PARSONS:

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I would just like to speak for a couple moments on this

resolution that's been brought here, which even though it is quite miniscule in

the size of the paper that it's printed on, it's actually a very important paper

that we're dealing with here today and one that we, as a Legislature, have been

dealing with now for over a decade.

To anybody that might be watching here, what we are

doing is essentially changing the wording, changing the date on a loan guarantee

that we provide to the Stephenville Airport Corporation. Just to speak about the

air industry in general, we all note the difficult times that have been present

over the last year when it comes to this industry. Not just the industry as it

relates to the flights coming in and out, but the airports that receive them. It

is global in nature; it is not just as a province. We need to determine what the

future is of air travel, passenger traffic and commercial activity. What does

that hold for us?

I was very happy to see federal funding announced

recently, which I know was much appreciated by the airport corporations. That's

a group that we have had a number of meetings with over the last number of

months. No matter where they are in the province, we have a number of hubs and

we meet with them and try to work with them. A lot of it, obviously, is based on

passenger restrictions, which we won't get into now, but we realize it's a lot

of the issue that they face.

The Stephenville Airport itself prior to the pandemic

had about 7,200 passengers. It has two runways, a fuel farm and operations

terminal. As someone that has used it fairly frequently over the last number of

years of my life, even before politics, we realize its charm and we realize its

importance strategically as well. It is an important backup: you only have to

talk to the airlines to see where they – if you have to divert there.

Again, I say to the Member opposite: he's going to be

in agreement, as well as my colleague who – this is an airport that we're all

very familiar with. The reality is that it has gone through tough times over the

last two decades; this is not a new issue. The fact is we are here every year,

on an annual basis, dealing with this loan guarantee and the renewal of it.

I did want to point out, though, some positivity and

that is that last year the Stephenville Airport Corporation and the Town of

Stephenville embarked upon a partnership with Winnipeg Airport Services

Corporation. They're known as WASCO. They provide airport management and they

deal with a lot of rural airports all throughout the country. Their goal is to

enhance airport operations for the benefit of the community and the region.

One thing I would point out – and this comes directly

from meeting with Mayor Rose on a number of occasions – this is not about

competing with other airports we have in the province, about diverting a finit