March 17,

HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS

Vol. XLIII No. 55

The House met at 2:00 p.m.

MR. SPEAKER (Snow): Order, please!

SERGEANT-AT-ARMS: Mr. Speaker, His Honour the Lieutenant-Governor has

arrived.

MR. SPEAKER: Admit His Honour the Lieutenant-Governor.

Mr. Speaker leaves the Chair.

His Honour, the Lieutenant-Governor takes the Chair.

SERGEANT-AT-ARMS: Ladies and Gentlemen, it is the wish of His Honour the

Lieutenant-Governor that all present be seated.

HIS HONOUR THE LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR (A. M. House, C.M., M.D., FRCPC):

MR. SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE HONOURABLE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY:

The Second Session of the Forty-Third General Assembly of this Honourable

House of Assembly is about to be prorogued, but before releasing you from your

duties, I wish to thank you for the careful and sympathetic attention given to

the important matters brought before you by My Ministers. Your commitment to

your work and diligence in these difficult times deserve our appreciation and

acknowledgement.

During this Session Resolutions respecting the Calgary Declaration, the

Manitoba Flood and Anti-personnel Landmines were passed by this Honourable House

of Assembly. Endorsing the principles of national unity, the Calgary Declaration

demonstrated a commitment to our country. Members of this Assembly also

expressed concern for the families who suffered hardship during the Manitoba

flood. Finally, it is worth remembering My Government's support for C-CORE in

its endeavour to develop anti-personnel landmine technology that will assist in

ending the horror of landmines.

MR. SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE HONOURABLE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY:

Fifty pieces of legislation were enacted during this Session of the

Honourable House of Assembly. In particular, legislative initiatives were taken

in education, finance, health, government services, justice and labour during

When I opened this Session, My Ministers thought the first stage of the

educational reform process would have been in place by the Summer of 1997. Such

was not the case. In a Second Referendum held on September 2nd, by an

overwhelming majority, the people of this Province gave their support to the

elimination of the denominational school system. Following the passage of the

Resolution to further amend Term 17 of the Terms of Union in this Assembly and

the Parliament of Canada, a new revised Schools Act was enacted. It is the

sincerest wish of My Ministers that all our citizens will speak with one voice

in striving to provide the best possible education for our children during the

years ahead.

MR. SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE HONOURABLE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY:

My Ministers introduced reforms to two health professionals Acts. The

Registered Nurses Act was amended to provide for the licensing of nurse

practitioners while the Nursing Assistants Act was amended to change the

professional designation from registered nursing assistants to licensed

practical nurses. These changes to the law reflect the expansion of the

professional role and scope of new duties and responsibilities in the medical

field.

The Public Health Act was amended to provide that Government may delegate to

community health boards responsibility for child, youth and family services.

Community health boards have broadened their mandate to offer services which

have been provided by the Department of Human Resources and Employment. This

shift from institutions to the community sector will result in an increased

coordinated service delivery system for the public.

MR. SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE HONOURABLE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY:

As stated in My Address opening this Session, My Government wishes to improve

the quality of life in Labrador.

An Act To Establish the Labrador Transportation

Initiative Fund was enacted. This separate fund will channel money to finance

specifically the construction of the Trans Labrador Highway and marine service

along the coast of Labrador. By linking coastal communities, the highway will

integrate Labrador into Canada's national highway system. This will eliminate

the isolation of many Labrador communities and provide a major economic

development stimulus by creating job opportunities in the area.

MR. SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE HONOURABLE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY:

During this Session, two Bills to amend the Labour Relations Act were

enacted. One Bill enacted in December added provisions to improve the

application of our labour relations law with respect to offshore petroleum

production platforms. The other amendment permits My Government to declare an

undertaking involving the fabrication of works planned to require three years or

less, to be a special project under the Act. My Ministers wish to thank Members

from both sides of the House for their efforts in making these important changes

to the Labour Relations Act meaningful to our citizens.

As part of My Government's effort to revitalize and improve the Workers'

Compensation Act, a Bill was enacted to provide for an increase in benefits paid

to injured workers from seventy-five to eighty per cent of earnings for the

first thirty-nine weeks of earnings loss.

MR. SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE HONOURABLE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY:

An amendment to expand the service area of the Unified Family Court to

include the Avalon and Bonavista Peninsulas was enacted during this Session.

This change will see an additional judge assigned to the Unified Family Court.

As well, improvements were enacted to the Family Law Act in order to reflect

changes in the child support rules.

In an effort to provide more efficient services to the citizens of our

Province, the Residential Tenancies Act, the Direct Sellers Act and the

Collections Act were amended.

The Human Rights Code was amended to add sexual orientation as a prohibited

ground of discrimination.

Among the amendments to the Income Tax Act enacted during this Session was a

provision, as announced in the 1997 Budget Speech, to provide for harmonized

sales tax low income credits. During this Session,

An Act Respecting the Good

Food Donation and Distribution of Food was also enacted.

Many other significant legislative measures were also enacted during this

Session.

MR. SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE HONOURABLE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY:

I thank you for the large measure of supply you have granted. I assure you

that the appropriations that you have granted have been and will be expended by

My Ministers with care and efficiency.

MR. SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE HONOURABLE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY:

It is my pleasure that the Second Session of the Forty-Third General Assembly

now be prorogued and is prorogued accordingly.

His Honour the Lieutenant-Governor leaves the Chamber.

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

Pursuant to His Honour's Speech, this House now stands prorogued.