The House met at 2:00 p.m.

MR. SPEAKER (Fitzgerald): Order, please!

Admit strangers.

Today, the Chair would like to welcome fourteen Grade 6 students attending Cabot Academy in the District of Trinity-Bay de Verde. The students are accompanied by their teachers, Jackie King and Ed Chafe.

Welcome to the House of Assembly.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The Chair would also like to welcome twenty-eight Grade 7 students attending Tricentia Academy in the District of Bellevue. The students are accompanied by vice-principal, Cathy Bailey-Reid; teacher, Crystal Penney; and bus driver, Vic Romaine.

Welcome to the House of Assembly.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The following members' statements will be heard: the hon. the Member for the District of Fortune Bay-Cape la Hune; the hon. the Member for the District of Kilbride; the hon. the Member for the District of Bellevue; and the hon. the Member for the District of Lewisporte.

The hon. the Member for the District of Fortune Bay-Cape la Hune.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS PERRY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I rise in this hon. House today to recognize the remarkable achievement of Mr. Misel Jeddore, one of our outstanding youth from Conne River.

Misel has been awarded the 2011 Cultural Scholarship from the St. Anne's School for his commitment to the Mi'kmaq culture. He became active in preserving the traditions of his people from a very early age, participating in the school's drumming group and even learning how to make the caribou skin drum. As part of this group, he has travelled around the world representing the school and community at various events.

Today, Misel is attending Memorial University and continues an active role in preserving and promoting the tradition and cultures of the Mi'kmaq people. He is a member of Memorial University's Aboriginal Student Task Force, and serves on the Board of Directors for the Native Friendship Centre in St. John's.

Mr. Speaker, Misel has shown notable leadership at very young age, and I am confident that we will see him achieve much more success in his future. I ask all members of this hon. House to join me in recognizing Misel Jeddore for his contribution to the Mi'kmaq people, and to Newfoundland and Labrador.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for the District of Kilbride.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. DINN: Mr. Speaker, I stand in this hon. House today to inform members and the general public that the Goulds Atom All-Star Team that participated in the Provincial Atom C Tournament in Grand Falls-Windsor from April 28 to April 30, 2011 were successful in winning the gold medal by beating St. John's 5-2 in a very exciting championship game.

The Goulds Pacers team went undefeated in this tournament. The young players made their parents and grandparents, who attended the tournament, very proud. They were the talk of the Goulds Minor Hockey community some 500 kilometres away, as results unfolded daily throughout the three-day event.

Members of the Goulds Pacers Atom winning team are: Eric Parsons, Brandon James, Parker Clements, Tyler Jenkins, Joshua Sloane, Ryan Maher, Adam Martin, Brandon Coady, Ryan Howlett, Ryan Raymond, Justin Croutcher, Jake Herritt, Cameron Forward, Roland Power, Riley Spurrell, Brendan McCarthy, Mathew Templeman, and their coaches.

A very special mention has to go to Grand Falls-Windsor for hosting such an excellent tournament. With the help and support of volunteers in this community, 120 players and coaches who participated were left with lasting memories of friendship and fun. A sense of respect was evident both on and off the ice at every game.

I ask all members of this hon. House to join me in congratulating the Goulds Pacers Atom C team, their players and coaches.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for the District of Bellevue.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. PEACH: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I rise in this hon. House today to recognize five students from Tricentia Academy in Arnold's Cove, and their leaders, in developing a safety program called "Who Wants to Save a Life?" game show.

Mr. Speaker, SAFE Work NL's, "Who Wants to Save a Life?" is an innovative and creative trivia game designed to educate high school students about workplace health and safety. It was developed by the Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Commission in partnership with the Department of Education. It is designed as a game show based on Who Wants to be a Millionaire?

Tricentia Academy in Arnold's Cove had a team involved in the competition at Clarenville, which they won prior to Easter, and then moved on to the competition in Gander on May 19, 2011 at the Joseph R. Smallwood Arts and Culture Centre. Mr. Speaker, Tricentia Academy tied three times in the final question showdown with Templeton Academy of Meadows, and both teams were awarded first place honours. The ten students from both teams took home $1,000 scholarships and $5,000 for their respective schools.

The students from Tricentia who were involved were Kenline Hickey, Kayla Tobin, Kenny Williams, Jody Hickey, and Mitchell Brewer. The team leaders and teachers are Sandi Baker, guidance counsellor; Garry Walsh, technology education, skilled trades; Cathy Bailey-Reid, Vice-Principal; and Russell Peddle, Principal.

I would ask all members of this hon. House to join me in congratulating these students and leaders on their win in Clarenville, and their great success in Gander on May 19, 2011.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for the District of Lewisporte.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. VERGE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Calypso Foundation is a non-profit organization committed to providing valuable work and learning opportunities to adults with developmental delays in Lewisporte and in the surrounding area. One of the many services they offer is the Living Skills Program. This program provides guidance and instruction to individuals with severe disabilities, helping them to gain a greater level of independence. The operation of this program depends heavily on donations and fundraising, and especially the annual Calypso Fantasy Auction. Mr. Speaker, this year's auction took place on Friday, May 6 after hundreds of hours of planning.

I want to express appreciation to the Calypso board, to the many town volunteers, and to the whole Central area for their generous support of this event. This year's auction raised nearly $17,000. The monies raised will help to ensure we have another successful year assisting people with developmental delays so that they can enjoy a better quality of life.

Members of the House, please join with me in recognizing and showing our appreciation to the Calypso Foundation and to the many people who make this organization successful.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: Statements by Ministers.

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Justice and the Attorney General.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. F. COLLINS: Mr. Speaker, I rise today in this House of Assembly to congratulate Chief Superintendent Richard Noble of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police on his recent appointment to the Order of Merit of the Police Forces.

Superintendent Noble, who is sitting in the gallery today, who is the Criminal Operations Officer for the Province, is one of forty-four new appointments to the Order and, of these forty-four members, is the only RCMP member stationed in Newfoundland and Labrador at this time to receive the award.

Mr. Speaker, Chief Superintendent Noble is originally from New Brunswick but has a long history with Newfoundland and Labrador. He joined the RCMP in 1977 and began his career here in this Province. His first posting was in Holyrood as a General Duty Constable, and he also served in the St. John's and Gander Drug Section, Criminal Intelligence Section, Burin Customs and Excise, and the Hopedale and Buchans detachments. In 1995, he was transferred to Ottawa and then in 1998 to New Brunswick before returning to Newfoundland and Labrador in 2010.

The Order of Merit of the Police Forces was created in 2000 to recognize conspicuous merit and exceptional service by members and employees of the Canadian police forces whose contributions extend beyond protection of the community. There are three levels of membership which reflect long-term, outstanding service: commander, officer, and member. Chief Superintendent Noble received the Member of the Order of Merit of the Police Forces and now joins four other current members in Newfoundland and Labrador who have achieved this great honour.

Mr. Speaker, this government is proud to support our police forces in Newfoundland and Labrador and this is proven in the resources we have expended since 2004. We have increased policing budgets by over $46.7 million and there are an additional 144 uniformed police officers on the street. Budget 2011 Standing Strong: For Prosperity. For Our Future. For Newfoundland and Labrador, provided funding for an RCMP crime analyst in the Crime Reduction Strategy to be located in the Trinity-Conception district and an RNC officer for the Child Exploitation Unit in Corner Brook to build on the force's capacity to address the exploitation and harassment of children.

Mr. Speaker, I ask all hon. colleagues to join me in congratulating Chief Superintendent Richard Noble on his recent appointment to the Order of Merit of the Police Forces.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Opposition House Leader.

MR. KELVIN PARSONS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I thank the minister for an advance copy of his statement. We also would like to congratulate Chief Superintendent Noble on being appointed to the Order of Merit of the Police Forces. Chief Superintendent Noble, of course, is a great example of the fine police men and women who serve with our forces throughout Newfoundland and Labrador. We are happy to join in recognizing his exemplary service. He may come from away but after some twenty years of his thirty-four-year service being in this Province, we can all be proud and we agree that Chief Superintendent Noble is indeed an honorary Newfoundlander and Labradorian.

We look to the police, Mr. Speaker, to exemplify some of the highest moral and ethical values in our Province. We expect them to be positive role models in our communities, and I am happy to see Chief Superintendent Noble receiving recognition for his excellent conduct on a national level. I hope Chief Superintendent Noble continues to be involved in policing in our Province, and I hope his exemplary conduct will continue to serve as an example for young officers throughout our Province and our country.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for the District of Signal Hill-Quidi Vidi.

MS MICHAEL: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

I, too, thank the minister for the advance copy of his statement. I am very pleased to join with everybody else in extending congratulations to Chief Superintendent Richard Noble on becoming a member of the Order of Merit which recognizes his exceptional performance of duty over time at the provincial level, most of it here in Newfoundland and Labrador.

This Order of Merit of the Police Forces honours a career of exceptional service or distinctive merit displayed by men and women of Canadian police forces. It is really wonderful when we see that members of police forces here in this Province are also receiving this honour. There is no doubt from what we know with Chief Superintendent Noble that he has an outstanding record which made him very deserving of the honour that he has received today. Everything that we can do - and these honours are one of the things - to support the police forces of the Province in their work in the community is something that is for the good of the people of this Province. Once again, I thank the Chief Superintendent for his duty as he has performed it here in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER: Further statements by ministers?

The hon. the Minister of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS SULLIVAN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, for many years, women in Newfoundland and Labrador have been at the forefront of community and economic development. In more recent times, women are progressing into more senior leadership roles in a variety of sectors in regions throughout the Province.

The fact that the hon. Kathy Dunderdale is Newfoundland and Labrador's first female Premier, and that is she joined by very strong women in the House of Assembly, represents some of the progress that is being made by women in Newfoundland and Labrador.

To borrow a line from Premier Dunderdale, "women are no longer content with knocking on the door for entry into the business community and leadership positions but are knocking the door down. Women are showing degrees of innovation and creativity that were unheard of years ago."

The outstand work of Leslie Galway of the Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Commission and Nora Duke of Fortis Properties led them to being named to Ernst and Young's list of Canada's Most Powerful Women. In Grand Falls-Windsor, Bernice Walker of Corona College is broadening her company's focus to target opportunities in Northern Canada, the United States, and as far away as South Africa.

The success of women is not limited to political circles or the business community. The Province is home to women who are leading unions and women such as Karen McGrath, Vickie Kaminski and Susan Gilliam are leading regional health authorities. Many others have also assumed senior positions with the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary and with the Newfoundland and Labrador Correctional Centre for Women.

While we see progress, women still experience challenges entering and excelling in non-traditional occupations.

To minimize these challenges and open the doors to bigger and better opportunities for women, this Administration is committed to investing in apprenticeship, science and technology programming, as well as training and infrastructure to support females in skilled trades training.

Just last week, I experienced the outcomes of one such investment when I participated in an appreciation dinner for those involved in the Women in Resource Development Corporation's Techsploration program. Techsploration is an innovative initiative where women mentor Grades 9 to 12 students and encourage them to explore careers in trades and technology.

Through initiatives such as Techsploration, we are continuing to support the development of future female leaders and introducing them to the wealth of opportunities that exist for them in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Opposition.

MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I thank the minister for an advance copy of her statement today. We certainly join the government in recognizing and saluting the accomplishments of women all throughout Newfoundland and Labrador. I want to recognize all women in political office in this Province at all levels of government, municipal, provincial, and federal. I also want to recognize the work of Leslie Galway and Nora Duke, as the minister has outlined. These two women are synonymous names in Newfoundland and Labrador and have had very successful and progressive careers leading the way for many women.

Mr. Speaker, I also want to recognize the women who lead our regional health authorities, as the minister recognized in her statement. They have no easy task and we certainly recognize that. It is good to see that they work diligently to try and carry out the responsibilities and the needs of health care in our Province.

Mr. Speaker, women across our Province are doing outstanding work and they are a source of inspiration to women everywhere. I want to recognize some of them. Some of them are people like Zita Cobb and Cathy Bennett, who we see as successful businesspeople creating jobs in our Province today. People like Janet Gardiner, who was the first female CA in Newfoundland and Labrador and owned and operated Chester Dawe, a company we are all familiar with. We look at people like Katie Riche and Anastasia Qupee, who were the first chiefs and women leaders in their Aboriginal villages. People like Isabella Payne, who played a huge role in negotiating the first land claim agreement with the Nunatsiavut Government.

Mr. Speaker, people in our judicial system as well, like Debbie Fry and Margaret Cameron, and many others. Our union leaders, past and present, like Joan Marie Aylward, Debbie Forward, Lana Payne and Cathy Furlong. All of these women have made valuable contributions. Women like Professor T.A. Loeffler, who has climbed five of the largest summits in this world, challenging young women in this Province to reach new heights and to dream big.

Mr. Speaker, but what about all of those young women out there who work in non-traditional trades? Today, Mr. Speaker, I want to recognize a couple of them, if I could just have a moment.

MR. SPEAKER: Does the hon. member have leave?

AN HON. MEMBER: By leave.

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. member, by leave.

MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

One of them is a young girl by the name of Jenny Jefferies, who works as a marine engineer with Rolls Royce, and she works all over the world, even though she is based right here in St. John's, Newfoundland. Women like Joy Green, who drives a 300 ton haulage truck in the mines every day in Labrador West. Women like Maryann Turnbull, who is the first woman electrician in Voisey's Bay and now leads the electrical team at the Voisey's Bay mine. Mr. Speaker, last, but not least, I want to recognize today Ms Trina Burden who has just been appointed as the first female publisher of The Western Star in its 111-year history in our Province.

Mr. Speaker, I salute all of the women, many whose names have not been read into this record, for the work they do on behalf of the people of this Province in leading the way for our women. Mr. Speaker, I salute them as they reach new heights for all women in Newfoundland and Labrador.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for the District of Signal Hill-Quidi Vidi.

MS MICHAEL: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

I thank the minister for the advance copy of her statement. I am very pleased to stand here with the minister, with the other female leaders in the House, with all the women in the House to recognize yes, we are strong and we are here in this House, but we still are only 21 per cent of the whole group. We still have a ways to go to get up to that 50 per cent or maybe even 52 per cent, Mr. Speaker, of women here in the House.

We are not into competition today but obviously, the Official Opposition Leader and myself had a similar thought, and I too would like to recognize some other women. The danger of this, of course, as we all know, that the women of Newfoundland and Labrador are wonderful women. The history of our women's institutes, for example, is one of the things which tells us that.

I think it is important to recognize women, such as ones who have already been mentioned. I would like to particularly mention Elaine Price, who was the first female head of the Federation of Labour and now of course we have a second one, Lana Payne. Carol Furlong has been mentioned, Debbie Forward the head of the nurses' union.

I also would like to mention, if I may, Mr. Speaker, the nine women who have been recognized with the national persons award in Canada. I think we should recognize them. Their pictures are on the wall of the West Block of the Confederation Building. They are: Nancy Riche, Joyce Hancock, Dorothy Inglis, Frances Ennis, Phyllis Seymour, Ruth Flowers, Morag O'Brien, Frances Laracy and Ella Manuel; nine women who gave so much to the history and some who continue to give so much to our community here in Newfoundland and Labrador.

With my sisters and brothers here in the House today, Mr. Speaker, I am just happy to recognize the strength and the role of women in this Province.

Thank you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: Further statements by ministers?

Oral Questions.

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Opposition.

MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, recently we heard about a sixty-one-year-old mother who was worried about who will care for her disabled adult son when she is no longer able to. I am currently dealing with another case, almost identical, where the parents are seventy-six years old and eighty-three years old and the daughter is forty-seven. Unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, these situations are becoming more and more common in our Province. People with disabilities do have a right to live in their communities. Mr. Speaker, many families are experiencing mental, emotional, and physical burnout.

I ask the minister today: What is it that your government is doing to address the immediate concerns that are being raised by those families?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Health and Community Services.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KENNEDY: Yes, Mr. Speaker, I certainly have sympathy for individuals who find themselves in these very difficult circumstances. Part of it, Mr. Speaker, is as a result of our aging demographic, but this government has done a lot. Individuals under sixty-five who have intellectual disabilities may access up to $4,000 a month through the Home Support Program. We currently have approximately 3,350 people in this program.

Mr. Speaker, home support for persons with disabilities has grown actually from $50 million to $83.9 million, or a 68 per cent increase. Over the last five years, Mr. Speaker, we have invested as a government over $102 million into the Home Support Program. We also have alternative care homes in this Province. Those care homes total 374 and look after approximately 435 clients.

Are we doing everything that needs to be done? No, Mr. Speaker. Are we trying to serve the needs of our people? Yes, Mr. Speaker. Are we doing it? Yes.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Opposition.

MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

In many of these cases there are no services available in the areas where these people live. They are unable to find alternative care arrangements in many cases, even foster care, and they cannot access the twenty-four hour Home Care Program.

Mr. Speaker, I know that long gone are the days of institutional care; however, the reality for many of these aging parents today is that they will be able to put their son or daughter into a hospital or into a long-term care facility because they have no other options. We know what the wait lists are like in long-term care facilities. We know that our population is aging. We know that demand will become even greater.

I ask the minister: What alternatives can you offer those families for placing their adult children in facilities and in care knowing that they will be well looked after?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Health and Community Services.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KENNEDY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Newfoundland and Labrador, Mr. Speaker, was one of the first provinces in Canada to deinstitutionalize individuals with disabilities and provide options for community living. Other provinces, like Ontario, still have institutions for persons with intellectual disabilities.

Mr. Speaker, I referred to our Home Support Program. The program for individuals under sixty-five with intellectual disabilities amounts to nine hours a day self-managed support.

The alternative care homes, Mr. Speaker, are provided for people with intellectual disabilities. It is a private residence which provides room and board, supervision, personal and social care to an unrelated adult with an intellectual disability. As I indicated, Mr. Speaker, we currently have 374 homes in the Province; there are 237 in Eastern Health. They are throughout the Province and they serve 435 clients.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Opposition.

MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The reality, Minister, is that many of these families are crying out for help. They are looking for somewhere where they can put their adult son or daughter who has intellectual and physical challenges and knowing that they can be looked after.

We know there are fourteen community care homes within Eastern Health that care for about 170 people with severe and persistent mental disabilities. These homes are an integral part to caring for these disabled individuals; however, these homes are suffering financially and they have not received the appropriate government attention. The homes have opened their financial records for the government, yet the government is refusing to meet with them.

I ask the minister, if you will commit to a full review of these community care homes immediately to try and address some of the needs of disabled clients in our Province?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Health and Community Services.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KENNEDY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I am aware of the issue surrounding community care homes. In fact, in this year's Budget we set aside $792,000, Mr. Speaker, which amounted to $2,000 for a small personal care home or a community care home that had less than fifteen residents on average. That amounted to an extra $36,000 – no, excuse me $24,000 a year. We increased the home care subsidy up to approximately $1,800 a month, another $83. So, essentially, Mr. Speaker, those are two ways we are helping community care homes.

Mr. Speaker, the day the Budget came out I spoke to the president of the community care home association. I received an e-mail from her yesterday indicating that she would like to meet. I certainly have no problem meeting with this woman and discussing the situation; however, Mr. Speaker, I do not think it is fair to state that this government is not doing anything. That is a significant increase in one Budget year for these small homes.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Opposition.

MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, when the WikiLeaks documents on Muskrat Falls became public last month it was clear that officials at Emera were worried that the deal they had with Nalcor was too good to be true – imagine, too good to be true. That is partly because of the free power that the government has agreed to give Emera for thirty-five years. The joint review panel looking into the project has ruled the power is free. Nalcor President Ed Martin has admitted to us that there is no revenue attached to that power that Nalcor can take to the bank for financing purposes.

I ask the Premier today: Will you not come straight with the people of the Province and tell them what it is you are giving away to Emera Energy in terms of free Muskrat Falls power?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

PREMIER DUNDERDALE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

We are selling to Emera one terawatt of power for which we will receive $1.2 billion. Now, the Leader of the Opposition continues to try and spin that a dozen different ways into free power, but $1.2 billion for one terawatt of power, Mr. Speaker, does not compute into zero cents or zero dollars for that power.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Opposition.

MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Premier knows the $1.2 billion is to build the link, Mr. Speaker, so Emera can take their 20 per cent free power out of Newfoundland and Labrador that you are giving them from Muskrat Falls.

Another reason Emera could not believe its good luck, Mr. Speaker, was because of the sweetheart deal it was given on transmission rights right here on the Island. Back in the 1990s, the people in this Province fought a very hard campaign to ensure that no more of our hydro assets would be privatized; however, under this deal with Emera the remaining publicly owned transmission assets in this Province are being privatized.

We have asked you before but you would not answer the question, we will ask you again today: How much money will Emera make transmitting Muskrat Falls power to people on the Island of Newfoundland? How much money will they make off us for our own power?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

PREMIER DUNDERDALE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, first of all, the $1.2 billion that we will receive from Emera will be used to build the Maritime Link, over which we have 67 per cent control for thirty-five years. At the end of thirty-five years we will own 100 per cent of that Maritime Link. On top of that value, we have transmission rights through Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and into Maine, only paying a tariff when we are using that transmission, unlike we would have to do in any other circumstance, Mr. Speaker.

Second of all, Mr. Speaker, Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro owns transmission infrastructure in this Province, as does Newfoundland Power. They are paid a rate of return which is regulated by the PUB. Mr. Speaker, Emera has been given an opportunity to also invest in that infrastructure. They are paying $600 million for that right and they will get an 8.2 per cent rate of return.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Opposition.

MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Emera, Mr. Speaker, is getting 29 per cent of our transmission capacity. They are building a line called the Maritime Link to take out the power that we are going to give them, 20 per cent of the power on Muskrat Falls. In addition to that, Mr. Speaker, they are going to own the Maritime Link for thirty-five years, after which time it will almost be obsolete before it comes back to the people of the Province.

Mr. Speaker, I ask the Premier today: Why is it that Emera is going to own this link for thirty-five years but yet we are going to be on the hook for half of the cost overruns that could occur as a result of constructing that link?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

PREMIER DUNDERDALE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, Emera will own the link for thirty-five years. They have the right to transmit one terawatt of power over that link. The rest of the capacity, Mr. Speaker, is controlled by Nalcor. All our excess power, whether it be from Muskrat Falls or other generation sources, can be transmitted via that link, no charge, Mr. Speaker, to markets in Eastern Canada and the Eastern United States. Mr. Speaker, they are the facts.

On top of that value, again, Mr. Speaker, I point out that we have transmission rights, right from Nova Scotia into Maine so we can get to markets in Eastern Canada and the Eastern United States.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Opposition.

MS JONES: Mr. Speaker, Emera is getting a Maritime Link for thirty-five years for their investment. They do not have to pay all the cost overruns on it. We are going to foot the bill if there are cost overruns. In addition to that, we are going to give them 20 per cent of our power to take for free, to sell it to make a profit. In addition to that, we are going to give them 29 per cent of our transmission in the Province.

I ask the Premier today: Why is it that Emera Energy will not be on the hook for any overruns on that 29 per cent of the transmission line if there should be overruns with the construction cost?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

PREMIER DUNDERDALE: Mr. Speaker, why would Emera be building a link for $1.2 billion if it were not for the fact - we could take the $1.2 billion. We could take the $1.2 billion in cash from Emera and build the link ourselves. Now, Mr. Speaker, there is a cost-sharing on overruns on the Maritime Link, shared between Nalcor and Emera. We need to establish that first of all, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, we could take the money and we could build the link, the same way that we will have to pay for or build transmission through Quebec, which is your preferred route to sell the power.

Nobody transmits power for free, Mr. Speaker. There are costs associated with it. Because costs are associated with getting Muskrat Falls power to this Island is one of the reasons why we have to pay 14.3 cents a kilowatt hour here.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Opposition.

MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The truth is Emera cannot believe their good fortune, I say to you, Premier. This is a giveaway in every sense of the word - a giveaway to a private corporation and not to Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. Mr. Speaker, Emera also acknowledged as much in those WikiLeaks documents that government could have gotten a better deal by going through Quebec.

I ask the Premier today: Is there anything in the term sheet to prevent Emera from selling its shares to Hydro-Quebec?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

PREMIER DUNDERDALE: Mr. Speaker, the answer to that is yes – absolutely yes. We protect our interests in everything that we do.

Now, Mr. Speaker, she continues to spin and spread misinformation about this project. The truth is: no one is buying it. We have done a number of open houses around this Province. One of the last ones we did was in West St. Modeste in her very own district. One hundred per cent of the evaluations that came out of that open house said their questions were answered, there was good information provided, and that this is a good project for Newfoundland and Labrador.

Mr. Speaker, she cannot even convince her constituents. She is hardly going to convince the rest of the Province.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for the District of The Straits & White Bay North.

MR. DEAN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, it is rather ironic that the Minister of Fisheries was at a luncheon yesterday talking about the brink of change that has taken place in the fishery and practically at the same time out on the West Coast, our fishermen have become so frustrated and angry with changes and cuts in their historic quota sharing arrangement in the Gulf ground fishery that they have taken over the DFO office in Corner Brook in protest.

Mr. Speaker, I ask the Premier today: Given that you have decided to back Stephen Harper and this government, do you see this decision as a slap in the face to our fishermen and a reflection of the new relationship we can expect with this new federal government?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. JACKMAN: Mr. Speaker, one thing I have to say is that I do agree with the stand that the fishermen have taken on the West Coast. Nothing could be clearer than to point to the fact that somewhere in this industry we have to start to have a collective voice that we can go to Ottawa to deal with issues such as this, there is no doubt about it. Mr. Speaker, I have already enacted action on this.

On Friday I heard about this, I have written a letter off to the new minister, I have copied it to Minister Penashue. I have written my Atlantic counterparts, the minister of Quebec, the FFAW, ASP, and SPNL all expressing my concern about this DFO decision. I have also requested a meeting with the new minister to discuss this matter and hopefully have it addressed.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for the District of The Straits & White Bay North.

MR. DEAN: Mr. Speaker, we have heard of collective voices, we have heard of letters and, quite frankly, that is not cutting it. Our fishery continues to be in chaos. Mr. Speaker, when we see fishermen protesting or plant workers protesting, we see fisherpeople taking over plants, offices and so on, we realize that we are in dire straits.

Mr. Speaker, the MOU report that came out in February revealed quite clearly that the West Coast fishery fishermen are the hardest hit in Atlantic Canada. Now they are getting half of the historic quota while the Maritime provinces get handed three or four times more than they have traditionally gotten.

I ask the minister again: How can this injustice be allowed to happen? I realize what he just said but I ask again: What is his government going to do to prevent this from happening and make sure that our quotas are back on a more acceptable level?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. JACKMAN: Mr. Speaker, I do not know if the hon. member ever did come clean with his answer on where we should have moved with the MOU. In fact, it would have been very detrimental to his and the Leader of the Opposition's districts if we had invoked measures that were suggested in the MOU.

Mr. Speaker, I say again if we look at the track record of where government has gone with report after report after report, clearly, government cannot take the sole responsibility of taking leadership in this. It requires that industry - and that means the FFAW and the collective groups of ASP and SPNL - have to come together and we have to collectively decide on where we are going with this, Mr. Speaker. In this particular case, it means that we go to Ottawa with a collective voice to address the issues. I certainly am open to sitting down with those parties to come up with that direction, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for the District of The Straits & White Bay North.

MR. DEAN: Mr. Speaker, it is not a time to sit down. It is a time to stand up. It is a time to be noticed. It is a time to take action. Mr. Speaker, the minister has said to me on several occasions, in asking sincere questions and looking for an answer: What would you do? What is your response to the MOU?

Mr. Speaker, I put it back in his hands again, because he is the Minister of Fisheries, and say: You tell me what you would do with the MOU. Then we, as an Opposition, will give you our ideas to where it should go as well.

Mr. Speaker, I ask the Premier again today, quite sincerely: Will you take this contentious issue of quota sharing directly to the Prime Minister's office on behalf of the people, the fishermen of this Province, who have been slammed badly by this government in Ottawa? Our fishermen need to know today that this government is protecting their interests.

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. JACKMAN: Mr. Speaker, let me be very clear. Let's see where the inaction comes from: the hon. member and his party. A little while ago, I wrote a letter on outside buying to the NDP, to the Liberals –

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

MR. JACKMAN: – to the FFAW, to ASP, to SPNL. Do you know the only group we did not get a response from? The Liberals. That will tell you, Mr. Speaker, it is quite simple to get up here –

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

MR. JACKMAN: –and spout off political manoeuvring, but when it comes to action, they simply do not put their money where there mouth is.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

The hon. the Member for the District of The Straits & White Bay North.

MR. DEAN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I would say the response to the crisis we are talking about this moment is not a letter from the Opposition, but by action by this government. Mr. Speaker, again, when the Minister of Fisheries, on behalf of this government, tells us where they see the fishery going, we will happily jump on board and support their initiatives if we feel they are in the right direction.

In terms of the letter, we thought about writing back and, quite honestly, it was too silly of a letter to respond to.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

MR. DEAN: Yesterday, the Minister of Fisheries spoke at the Rotary Club in St. John's and he stated that the fishery is on the cusp of change. After two years, the minister rejected the MOU that was supposed to be the cusp of change. Now, he is talking about another cusp of change.

So, I ask the minister today: What new plans for the fishery are you referring to when you say the fishery is on the cusp of change?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. JACKMAN: Mr. Speaker, there are going to be a lot of fisherpeople in this Province who will hear the response that the hon. member just gave, because I can assure you that a letter written to parties that they do not even see fit to respond to around an issue such as outside buying, that will tell you, sir, where their mentality is. Mr. Speaker, I have to wonder what their platform is around the fishery in the upcoming election. If that is the kind of response they are going to put out there, Mr. Speaker, I see them as having no sense of direction at all. I have said, and I hope to be proven true to this in the future, that –

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

I ask the hon. minister to conclude his answer.

MR. JACKMAN: Mr. Speaker, it is no trouble to tell when the blood pressure of the hon. Opposition House Leader goes up, he starts to rant.

Mr. Speaker, I contend that the fishery in this Province will be strong well into the future, despite any of the offerings that they seem to make.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

The hon. the Member for the District of The Straits & White Bay North.

MR. DEAN: Mr. Speaker, it is time for this minister to put his offerings on the table. That is what the fisherpeople and the plant workers of this Province are looking for is direction from this government, from this minister, to understand where they want to take this industry.

Mr. Speaker, the minister has asked everyone in the Province to come up with a plan. He asked the FFAW, he asked the ASP, he has asked SPNL, he has asked the Opposition. Yesterday, according to his article in The Telegram it seems as though he is starting to ask the youth of the Province now what they would do.

Mr. Speaker, I ask: Why do you continue to put off your responsibilities as the Minister of Fisheries on these groups? Is it your way of deflecting the attention away from your inability or your unwillingness to make decisions to move our fishing industry forward?

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

The hon. the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. JACKMAN: Now it is the anti-youth, Mr. Speaker. The many youth who we have visiting in the gallery, I contend, would not think too kindly of that.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

The hon. Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture.

MR. JACKMAN: Mr. Speaker, there is one thing about it and I say it again, the fishery of this Province is a renewable resource. I make no apologies or no bones about it, what I said at the Rotary yesterday I will hold true and I certainly hope it will come true. We see a fishery in this Province where plant workers are paid more than $11 an hour for fourteen weeks. We see a fishery where our young people go into boats and will make a wonderful living, and the fishery will continue to be what it has always been to this Province.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

The hon. the Member for the District of The Straits & White Bay North.

MR. DEAN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, seven years after the creation of the Rural Secretariat, rural communities continue to face serious challenges including crumbling infrastructure, health care, and fisheries. While communities in rural areas of the Province struggle, the Rural Secretariat's office expenditures and salaries continue to balloon.

I ask the minister today: When will this government stop paying lip service to investing in rural Newfoundland and Labrador and make some real challenges to sustain communities?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS SULLIVAN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, in terms of making investments into rural Newfoundland and Labrador, this government is prepared to stand on record. Mr. Speaker, 70 per cent of the investments we have made through all of our programs, including RSDF, including through our infrastructure programs, including all of the programs that we support in Innovation, Trade and Rural Development, have been made in rural Newfoundland and Labrador, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for the District of The Straits & White Bay North.

MR. DEAN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker

Mr. Speaker, development groups, economic boards are basically scrounging for resources to develop opportunities in rural Newfoundland and Labrador. Yet, Mr. Speaker, this government has spent to date approximately $10 million on the Rural Secretariat.

I ask the minister: What has the Rural Secretariat accomplished? Can you give us one thing it has accomplished? Because most communities in rural Newfoundland and Labrador do not even know they really exist.

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS SULLIVAN: Mr. Speaker, it was not so very long ago that members opposite saw fit to put $2.6 million into rural Newfoundland and Labrador; $2.6 million in economic development. We are looking at now $130 million.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS SULLIVAN: Mr. Speaker, I could stand here and list out all of the different departments. If we look at what we are doing in terms of health care and infrastructure, if we look at what we are doing in terms of Transportation and Works and infrastructure, if we look at what we are doing in terms of Education and infrastructure monies that are being spent there, if we look at RSDF, the Regional Sectoral Diversification Fund that we are putting into rural Newfoundland and Labrador, then we can stand on that record.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

MS SULLIVAN: We make no apologies for what we are doing in rural Newfoundland and Labrador, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for the District of Signal Hill-Quidi Vidi.

MS MICHAEL: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, ambulance operators did a survey on the number of vacant emergency medical service positions in the Province, indicating we are short approximately 150 paramedics. Unfortunately, because of the lack of quality of life and smaller wages in private or not-for-profit ambulances, we are losing our trained paramedics. Mr. Speaker, without a substantial increase in funding we are continuing to lose paramedics to other provinces.

I ask the Minister of Health and Community Services: What is this government planning to do to retain our paramedics so that we can have more of them in our ambulances?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Health and Community Services.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KENNEDY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

As I outlined yesterday, we have three different types of ambulance providers in this Province. We have the public ambulance operators from the Health Sciences and the regional health authorities, we then have private operators who operate in rural Newfoundland and Labrador, and we have community ambulance operators.

Mr. Speaker, as I again indicated yesterday, the first memorandum of agreement was reached in 2000. Subsequent agreements, Mr. Speaker, have increased the road ambulance budget by more than 300 per cent. We recently reached an agreement with the ambulance operators, the private and community operators, that was for approximately $30 million, and we provided $13 million to the regional health authorities for ambulance services.

Mr. Speaker, our role as a government - and as long as the system is as it is - is to provide money to the private ambulance operators who will hire the qualified personnel. What I take from the comments of the member opposite is that she is saying the people who operate in rural Newfoundland and Labrador are not qualified to do the job.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for the District of Signal Hill-Quidi Vidi.

MS MICHAEL: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

The minister knows quite well that is not what I am saying, Mr. Speaker. He also knows that I understand the three types of ambulance services we have. We have no problem keeping paramedics in the public service sector, Mr. Speaker, because they are adequately resourced. It is people from the private sector who are coming and talking to me and telling me how they cannot offer the same service. The post-secondary schools graduate somewhere between sixty to sixty-five paramedics a year and still we are short paramedics.

Why, Mr. Speaker, are they graduating and not staying here in our Province to work? What the minister is saying is not helping the situation at all. I want to know what government's practical plan is to encourage our newly graduated paramedics to stay. How are they going to stay if all the jobs that are well paid are taken?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Health and Community Services.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KENNEDY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I take from the comments of the member opposite for the last two days, that she is suggesting that private ambulance operators in this Province cannot fulfill the role they are paid to fulfill. If I understand her correctly, Mr. Speaker, and I say this to all of the MHAs in rural Newfoundland and Labrador, you go back to the people who run these ambulances and you say that the Leader of the New Democratic Party wants a review of the ambulance system in this Province. If that is what she wants, Mr. Speaker, I will certainly consider it and we will look at having that review.

Mr. Speaker, to impugn that these people cannot do their job I think is reprehensible and is consistent though with the attitude of this member when she stated in her reply to the Throne Speech that Newfoundland and Labrador was in the dark ages or backwards. I forget the exact term she used.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

The time allotted for questions and answers has expired.

Presenting Reports by Standing and Select Committees.

Tabling of Documents.

Notices of Motion.

Answers to Questions for which Notice has been Given.

Petitions.

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Opposition House Leader.

MR. KELVIN PARSONS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I rise today to present a petition on behalf of the residents of Cape Ray in the District of Burgeo & La Poile and, of course, this is another petition further to what I have already entered here concerning the road that leads from the community of Cape Ray to the provincial park. The provincial park is operated by this provincial government and maintained by it. The petition reads:

WHEREAS the Department of Transportation and Works of the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is responsible for the funding and maintenance of roads in the community of Cape Ray, in the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador; and

WHEREAS the roads at Cape Ray are in deplorable condition, including the road leading from the community of Cape Ray to the J.T. Cheeseman Provincial Park; and

WHEREAS the citizens of Cape Ray demand that the roads be upgraded;

WHERUPON the undersigned, your petitioners, humbly pray and call upon the House of Assembly to urge government to provide sufficient funding to complete the necessary repairs to the roads at Cape Ray.

Mr. Speaker, as indicated, this is not a lengthy piece of road but it is a very valuable piece of road, very functional piece of road, that is utilized not only the citizens in Cape Ray but also by the very Department of Transportation and Works which this minister operates his equipment on that road. Part of the reason that it is in the deplorable condition that it is, is because of the equipment that his department is utilizing on the road.

The citizens certainly feel, quite rightly, that if the department are going to use the road, they ought to maintain the road. You cannot expect the people to have this deplorable condition when part of the condition is, in fact, caused by the department that is suppose to maintain it.

As I say, it would not be an expensive proposition; we are talking approximately one point five kilometres. Albeit it is only a fairly short piece of road - it is a gravel road - they are not asking for pavement, they are asking that a few dumps of fill be put on there and graded. The equipment is in the area. The fill that they would have to put on the road is actually within the community, yet the minister will not allow the department that is out in the area that maintains the adjacent park road to put fill on this one point five kilometre stretch of road. It is absolutely incomprehensible as to why this would be in such a deplorable condition.

Mr. Speaker, as I said earlier, I have no problem bringing these petitions here. The minister needs to be made aware of it, maybe he does not communicate with the department on the West Coast. We have certainly written the letters, we have certainly had the petitions here, and hopefully we will get a response from the minister. This is not a big humungous project that we are asking for here, yet some of these little things as they would appear in the big picture are so important to the residents who live there. Also, to the tourists who visit this area; they pull travel trailers. We want them to come here, yet we expect them to use roads that are not fit to drive on. It is just inconsistent.

I am sure the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, if he were to look at this, would say: How can we expect anybody who comes here and spend their hard-earned dollars to travel on such a stretch of road in the condition it is in?

Again, we implore the minister: Please take it under hand, talk to someone, and get this done. It is not moving mountains; it is a matter of grading a road with a few loads of fill.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER: Further petitions?

The hon. Member for the District of The Straits & White Bay North.

MR. DEAN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I am pleased today to be able to stand and present a petition on behalf of the residents of Topsail and the school. They have asked that we present this petition in the House of Assembly. It says:

To the hon. House of Assembly of the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador in Parliament assembled, the petition of the undersigned residents humbly sheweth:

WHEREAS Paradise Elementary is the newly constructed K-6 school located at 60 Karwood Drive, Paradise, Newfoundland; and

WHEREAS the current enrolment is over 600 students; and

WHEREAS there are approximately only fifteen parking spots remaining on the school property once teachers park their vehicles; and

WHEREAS there are insufficient parking spots for parents to drop off and pick up their children from school; and

WHEREAS at pick-up times the roads around Paradise Elementary are blocked as there are often thirty or forty vehicles parked on Karwood Drive, on both sides of the road and behind the school; and

WHEREAS there is a safety concern with all of the children crossing over the parking lot and on Karwood Drive;

WHEREUPON the undersigned, your petitioners, humbly pray and call upon the House of Assembly to urge government to put in more parking spaces.

As in duty bound your petitioners will ever pray.

Mr. Speaker, this is a brand new school as the petition suggests. It has been sent with several hundred signatures of parents and so on who are concerned that there are only a few parking spots in this school. Basically, the reason or the justification behind the shortage of parking spots is the fact that it has LEED certification which, I understand, is meant to be for a school that is in walking distance. In this case, the school is not in walking distance. Most of the students have to be bused or driven in by their parents. We have kids all over the place when school is out. There basically needs to be a better system for safety.

Mr. Speaker, I think back to all of the announcements made in this House of Assembly over the past year in terms of last year's Budget which was entitled The Right Investments For Our Children and Our Future. Mr. Speaker, our children are our number one priority. There is a situation there that the parents feel is unsafe and I would urge government to look into it and do something before we have an accident or something that none of us today would want to see.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER: This being Private Members' Day and it being 3:00 o'clock in the afternoon, I now call on the hon. Member for the District of Baie Verte-Springdale to put forward his private member's resolution.

The hon. Member for the District of Baie Verte-Springdale.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. POLLARD: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

It is pleasure to move the private member's resolution and initiate the debate related to mental illness and addictions, which was seconded by colleague, the Member for St. John's South.

Given that I read all the WHEREAS clauses yesterday which highlighted our government's numerous investments on mental illness, I will, for the record, just read the BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED clause today.

BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that this hon. House supports the significant actions this government has taken and is continuing to take to advance mental health and addictions services throughout Newfoundland and Labrador.

Mr. Speaker, just allow me to have a few general comments in the beginning about the topic. Mr. Speaker, the mere fact that this motion is brought to the floor of the House of Assembly today indicates how important the subject matter really is to society and how important it is to our government. It is of very, very high priority. It is a very complex issue and it is a very serious issue indeed, Mr. Speaker. Just listen to some of the staggering, quick facts or statistics on mental illness.

One in five Canadians will experience mental illness in their lifetime. The remaining four will have a friend, family member or colleague who will. By 2020, it is estimated that depression will be the second leading cause of disability in the world. About 20 per cent of people with a mental disorder have a co-occurring substance use problem. Everyday, 500,000 Canadians are absent from work –

MR. KELVIN PARSONS: A point of order, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Opposition House Leader, on a point of order.

MR. KELVIN PARSONS: Mr. Speaker, it has been brought to my attention, I understand it was a ruling of the House on an earlier occasion. On a private member's resolution, as in petitions, it was a requirement that the actual resolution be read into the record as part of Private Members' Day. I am just wondering if the member intends to do that.

MR. SPEAKER: The Chair does not recall making any ruling or being present when any ruling was being made where a private member's resolution - it has already been read into the record. It has already been printed on the Order Paper. The Chair does not recall making any ruling or being present when a ruling was made that it has to be completely read into the record again. It is at the disposal of the House in a printed matter that is on every member's desk, but if the hon. member wants to read the resolution and put forward the complete resolution as stated, I will leave that to the hon. member.

MR. POLLARD: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I will continue. By 2020, according to the WHO, the World Health Organization, depression will be the single biggest medical burden on our health system. No doubt, this will pose a major problem, Mr. Speaker, not only to society in general but also to our government as well.

Out government is not reactive, our government is proactive in addressing this very serious issue, Mr. Speaker. As we all know, mental illness and addictions can include and take many forms, such as bipolar disorders, eating disorders, anxiety disorders, personality disorders, depression, and the list goes on. All of these illnesses or disorders will certainly impact how we feel, how we think, how we behave, how we interact with each other, and how we behave in our communities. It is a complex issue, because most mental disorders cannot be diagnosed definitively with an objective medical test. We usually rely on subjectivity, such as observation or the actions of the individual, or self-reporting of the individual, and we rely on professional judgements of psychiatrists, psychologists, or other professional people.

That process, Mr. Speaker, is very long. It takes time to assess because it involves everybody and it leads to a little bit of frustration. It is not like a person having a broken ankle where you just look at it, assess it and put a cast on, and in two, three, four, five weeks it is cured. Coupled with that, Mr. Speaker, with our lack of understanding from a general point of view, from our society point of view, mental illness and addictions do pose a very serious problem.

Now, having said that, our government has been very proactive and we are not reactive in dealing with this situation. Having said that, we are making huge advances on health care in general, Mr. Speaker. It is a top priority with our government, health in general. That is the reason why we pumped $2.9 billion in the Budget this year.

In fact, Mr. Speaker, if we look over the past six or seven years or so, our government has made some key investments amounting to approximately $25.1 million on mental care issues and addictions only. Of course, we have been focusing on initiatives that improve access, we have been enhancing long-term care services, we have been expanding infrastructure, but our focus today, Mr. Speaker, is no doubt on mental illness and addictions.

Mr. Speaker, mental illness and addictions impacts everybody. There is no respecter of persons. We could come from an urban background, a rural background, male, female, rich, poor, educated or the uneducated, tall, short, young and old, it does not matter, everybody is impacted and affected in some way. It impacts families, it impacts individuals, it impacts communities, and it impacts all societies, no matter where we are from, Mr. Speaker. Indeed, our government considers this a very, very serious complex issue and that is why we are debating this today because mental illness does disrupt our daily living.

To combat and to confront this very serious issue, Mr. Speaker, our government has taken a three-pronged approach. In other words, in our view we are taking three progressive steps to combat this issue. What are these steps, Mr. Speaker? They are: number one, we are investing in mental health infrastructure; number two, we are enhancing public awareness and access to mental health services; and, number three, we are increasing rural capacity.

Mr. Speaker, I will deal with each one of these in turn. Let's talk about number one, investing in mental health infrastructure. In our 2011 Budget this year, we put in $4.5 million just to initiate or begin the start of replacing the Waterford Hospital in St. John's with a new state-of-the-art facility, a new specialized facility for people who are suffering from mental illness. On top of that, Mr. Speaker, in previous years we have invested in residential treatment centres in Grand Falls-Windsor for children and youth with addictions. That is an ongoing piece of work. We have invested in an adult residential addictions treatment centre in Harbour Grace; that is ongoing. We have invested in a new residential treatment centre in St. John's for children and youth with complex mental health issues.

Mr. Speaker, one might ask: Well, what are these advantages? Why should we invest in mental health infrastructure? Well, infrastructure is very important, Mr. Speaker. Just listen to what a new facility would do. It would promote recovery, it would reduce stress, it would reduce depression, it would support independence, it would support a more modern approach to treatment, it would provide a more functional floor plan, it would reduce maintenance costs, it would better meet the program needs, and it would allow for future growth. All of these advantages combined would certainly lead to better outcomes pertaining to this severe problem, Mr. Speaker.

Step number two, our government is trying to enhance awareness and enhance access to mental health and addictions services, Mr. Speaker. No doubt, this is a huge challenge. We are determined as a government to demystify mental illness, create public awareness, and promote understanding by the public.

As we all know, Mr. Speaker, there is a stigma attached to mental illness and addictions. Would you believe, Mr. Speaker, that 50 per cent of Canadians will tell their friends or their co-workers that they have a family member suffering from mental illness, compared to cancer which is 72 per cent, or diabetes which is 68 per cent? That magnifies or highlights the problem or the effect of stigma attached to mental illness and addictions.

What are the effects of this stigma? Number one, it leads to exclusion. The person or the individual feels left out of social activities. That will lead to a person unable to get a job or difficulty in getting a job, difficulty in maintaining a job, difficulty in getting timely access to health, difficulty in getting a safe place to live, or really finding it very difficult to be accepted by their family, by their friends, and by society in general.

Number two, another effect, Mr. Speaker, is that the individual would internalize these negative effects or negative feelings they get from society, from their family, or from their friends in general, which leads to a lower self-esteem, a lower self-concept. They will believe the negative things they will hear about themselves. They will internalize them.

The third problem with this stigma attached to mental illness, Mr. Speaker, is people will keep the problems to themselves. They will keep it a secret. They will not ask for help because of the stigma. So this compounds the problem, this magnifies the problem.

In addressing that stigma issue or the public awareness issue, Mr. Speaker, our government, through an investment of $1 million, will implement three new initiatives for this purpose to create awareness and promote understanding by the public. What are these new initiatives? Well, I will name them. Number one: development of an interactive, web-based e-mental health service, which is an innovative and engaging method that creates greater access and service delivery of mental health services in areas that are geographically isolated; number two: enhancement to tele-mental health services to increase rural and remote access to mental health and addictions counselling; number three: creation of a provincial public awareness campaign to decrease the stigma and discrimination attached to mental illness and addictions, and increase understanding of how and when to seek help. Mr. Speaker, we believe these three initiatives will certainly make an impact on people who are suffering from mental illness and addictions.

The third step, the progressive step that our government is doing to address mental illness, is to increase the rural capacity – $3.2 million invested this year for this initiative. What will that $3.2 million do? They will hire five, full-time mental health and addiction counsellors in Nain, Hopedale, Makkovik, and Natuashish. These five, full-time mental health addiction counsellors will live in the communities. That will provide greater access for people who are suffering from the disease or the illness which will, in turn, reduce wait times. That is significant, Mr. Speaker, because this government is trying to grapple with the problem of wait times as well.

Mr. Speaker, I am going to come back later on. I am going to look forward to listen to my other colleagues make some comments on this very important motion that we are debating today. With that, I will take my seat for now.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER (Kelly): The Chair recognizes the hon. Member for Burgeo & La Poile.

MR. KELVIN PARSONS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I appreciate an opportunity to have a few words with respect to this private member's motion. Just for the record – and I would like to set the record clear – this member will, with reservation, be voting in favour of the resolution. I will explain the reservation piece as I go along here.

Mental health, of course, and how we deal with mental health in our communities and in our Province is something that has impacted everybody. Probably everyone in this House of Assembly has had a family member or a friend who has been impacted in some way or other with some form of mental illness. It is out there, a lot of times people do not recognize it, cannot recognize it and for a lot of good reasons sometimes. Now, the member used the word demystify, I hope I can demystify some of the commentary or statistical information and put it in a proper perspective.

There is no doubt government is doing something for mental health issues in this Province. That is why, ultimately, I will be voting in favour of the motion. The difficulty I have is with the word significant that is mentioned in the final clause there, the resolution clause: the significant actions. You can get into filing amendments, trying to take out the word significant and so on. That does not get us anywhere because the issue itself is so important you do not want to detract from the issue by trying to play Wordsy with a particular resolution. I will explain, if I may in my limited time, why I feel the word significant is somewhat misleading here. It is misleading in the sense of how do you quantify significant.

I went back and I went through the resolution and all the statistics are here as to what this government has spent since 2004, all the Budgets are outlined: 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011. The government outlined very specifically what it was doing with regard to mental health issues and facilities in this Province for each of those years.

Now, Mr. Speaker, I took all of those figures and that covers an eight-year span. If you total up every one of the figures that is in the private member's resolution, that totals, over eight years, $2,952,000,071. Mr. Speaker, that is not a lot of money that is over eight years. That works out to be, in neither of those eight years, was there ever at least 1 per cent of our Budget being given to mental health initiatives - never in any one year. The best we did, back in 2004-2005, for example, it was 0.06. Not a percentage point, 0.06 of a percentage point. The following year it was 0.19 of a percentage point. This year it is 0.29; last year it was 0.39. So that will give you some idea of - the $8 billion in this year's Budget, for example, we are putting 0.29 into mental health issues. Compare that to the commentary of the member who introduced the resolution talking about how rampant and how urgent it is to deal with mental health issues and facilities in our Province. It is not a very, quote, significant contribution in terms of an overall Budget, not at all. It is a very small portion actually.

In fact, I did some checking to see how we compared with other provinces. In 2008, Mr. Speaker, it was reported that Newfoundland and Labrador was spending the second lowest per capita on mental health services, the second lowest in the country. Now, how do we call ours significant? Do we compare it to what portion it is of our provincial Budget? It is very small. It has never been a half of a percentage point even. So, if you use that benchmark, it is not significant. If you want to use the benchmark of how do we compare with other provinces in Canada? We do not; we are the second lowest in the country.

It is fine to give a recitation of everything that we have done – and nobody is saying the government is not trying. You have to give a positive for trying, but to try to suggest that it is significant in terms of the rest of the country or in what proportion it is of our Budget, it is somewhat misleading, Mr. Speaker. There are some concerns there but we would applaud the government for at least trying.

Also, when you look at this, I pointed out, Mr. Speaker, that the highest amount was in the 2010-2011 Budget. Not this year's Budget, last year's Budget, and even then it reached 0.39 per cent of our Budget. There were three facilities that were being talked about in these documents here. We are talking about the facility for youth with complex needs, which was announced back in 2009; they talk about an addiction treatment facility, which was announced to be placed in Grand Falls-Windsor back in 2009; and we talk about an addictions centre to be built at Harbour Grace. Those totalled in those announcements is $10.4 million, Mr. Speaker. The interesting thing is that $6.4 million of that $10.4 million commitment was for three of the facilities. Neither of them has been started yet, when we talk about facilities. Just those three alone were $6.4 million of what was going to be spent for facilities.

For example, $5 million was committed for the facility for youth with complex needs in 2009. They have settled, I do understand, to put that facility in Paradise. They plan to build it after they demolish the Paradise Elementary school. So far, Mr. Speaker, there has not been a shovel in the ground on that particular facility.

Now, move on to the addictions treatment facility that was announced to be placed in Grand Falls-Windsor back in 2009, Mr. Speaker. The site is still undetermined. We do not know where we are going to build it. No designs or programs have been announced by this government with respect to that facility. Meanwhile, the facility was announced back in 2009. It was supposed to be completed next year, Mr. Speaker. It was supposed to be completed in 2012, yet there is no shovel in the ground, no site selected, no programs done, and no designs done. This was a commitment that came from two years ago supposed to be done and operative come next year. That was another major announcement that this government has been trading itself on.

By the way, when it comes to the Grand Falls-Windsor one, I would be remiss if I did not say – I was not at the Estimates hearings myself for Health and Community Services, but the Health critic who was there relayed back the information and our researchers, that based on the comments of the minister, these facilities issues, particularly the one in Grand Falls-Windsor, has to go back to Cabinet again. Not only do we not have a shovel in the ground, no designs done, and no site selected, Mr. Speaker, the minister acknowledges that it has to go back to Cabinet again.

Now, of course, the Health critic, the Leader of the Official Opposition, the Member for Cartwright-L'Anse au Clair, probed the minister a bit and said: Could you give us some information, Minister, as to what is going on here and why this is going back? The minister would not elaborate. Maybe the minister will take an opportunity today since we are specifically here in the public view, on cameras talking about that facility. Tell us where we are with the Grand Falls-Windsor piece that is going back to priority. Apparently, he said it is still proceeding, but it does not indicate this is a priority with the government. We have been since 2009 and it has not been done.

Now, the Harbour Grace addictions centre is another big piece in terms of the facility piece in treating mental health issues and addictions in this Province. According to our information, government cancelled its call for proposals to design the treatment program for that centre. Again, maybe the minister can elaborate for us: Where do we sit on this?

Maybe the member who introduced this, the Member for Baie Verte-Springdale, was not aware of these things, because he proposed this as a private member's motion and, no doubt, he took his information, I am sure, and put it into this package to form his private member's motion. That is factual; I am not suggesting anything here that is not factual. So, I would like for the member, when he responds and clues up, which he will have an opportunity to do, maybe he can tell us what his thoughts are on that issue.

Everybody acknowledges that we have issues in this Province, as everywhere, when it comes to mental illness, how we deal with it, how we demystify it, how we treat it, and what facilities we have to treat it. Maybe the member can elaborate a bit based upon that fact. Where are we with the Harbour Grace addictions centre? Did he know about that? What are his thoughts on the fact that we announced the Grand Falls-Windsor one, which is pretty close to his district, back three years ago? Not a shovel in the ground yet. What about the facility for youth with complex needs, as I referred to, going to go on the site of the old Paradise Elementary? Not a shovel in the ground yet. So, maybe the member would like to elaborate on that, and where he feels that is going.

Everybody on the Opposition side, I do believe, wishes to have a few words, so I will not take my full fifteen minutes today. I have made my point, I will be supportive of the resolution, but I have a serious concern as to why the word significant is in there. Now, I guess you can say $2.9 billion is always significant. There are not a lot of us who have $2.9 billion in their bank account. It is certainly significant in terms of a sum of money, but when you look at it as being spent to deal with very serious issues in our Province over a period of eight years and what percentage it is of our overall budget, it is not significant at all. It is certainly not significant enough when we compare to the rest of Canada. Now, maybe there are new statistics, the last statistics we had was from 2008 saying we are the second lowest in Canada when it comes to spending, per capita, on our mental health services in this Province.

So, that is just my point I wanted to take. I have some concerns with that. I give the government kudos for at least dealing with the issues. I give this minister kudos, by the way. We do not often see Opposition members patting somebody on the back. We are usually Opposition and you are critical. I have to say, in any issues that I have had in dealing with the current minister, no problem. He has been punctual, he has been accessible, and he has dealt with it. I believe he is dealing with the mental health issues in the same manner. It is great to see that the government is being proactive on this, but I just question whether - maybe we cannot afford to put more into this, maybe there are very legitimate reasons why these facilities are not continuing with the rapidity that we had hoped that they would be and that they would be up and running. Maybe there are very legitimate reasons.

Again, people in this society are asking about this. The minister has always been forthright, maybe he can take an opportunity to clarify some of this unknown, shall we say, so that the people out there get some idea. A lot of people are wondering: When are these facilities going to actually be built? Maybe there are very legitimate reasons. The minister has usually been very forthright in telling us, and if he can find it in himself to do so today, we would certainly appreciate it because it would bring some clarity to these issues that are out there right now.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER: The Chair recognizes the hon. the Minister of Health and Community Services.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KENNEDY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, myself and the Opposition House Leader are both lawyers, so we spend our lives dealing with words. The word significant, I guess, is one that you can look at from a number of different ways. Whatever you cut it, Mr. Speaker, the replacement of the Waterford Hospital at a cost of $250 million is a significant investment.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KENNEDY: In fact, Mr. Speaker, I would challenge the member opposite to go anywhere else in this country and find any province that is investing $250 million in mental health and in a new facility. Mr. Speaker, secondly, the Mental Health Commission of Canada, who I will be referring to shortly, has, in their recent newsletter, indicated that Newfoundland and Labrador is leading the way in relation to our approach towards mental health and addictions.

I will touch briefly on our e-mental health, but when we do this we will be the first in the country to have a system in place that reaches out to young people through a media in which they speak, reaches out to rural Newfoundland and Labrador, allows new ways of obtaining help, a type of tele-mental health, Web-based mental health; again, we are leading the way. I am not going to get into the issue of what is significant in terms of money, our investments are significant.

Mr. Speaker, do you know what is also very significant? That this government is tackling the issues that affect our society. I became the Minister of Health in October 2009 and I indicated at that time that mental health and addictions would be a major priority for me, along with five other priorities that I identified.

The first thing I did was read Senator Michael Kirby's report, Out of the Shadows at Last, which was written in 2006. Mr. Speaker, the complexity of mental health issues and addictions issues is not something to be underestimated. We have, Mr. Speaker, issues of lack of education, poverty, issues related to housing, family issues. What none of us can ignore is the significant impact that untreated mental health and addictions has on our society in terms of its effect on the family, the lost workplace performance and an economic cost to our society.

Mr. Speaker, what all of us in this House have to realize is that not everyone has the same chance that we have had. What all of us have to realize, Mr. Speaker, is that oftentimes it is a matter of luck what distinguishes me from that individual who is on the street corner begging for that dollar. You approach people's lives in terms of trying to offer help from that perspective and you put yourself in their position. Mr. Speaker, one of the things we realize is that there is a real stigma and discrimination - again, which I will touch on shortly - that relates to mental health and addictions.

Mr. Speaker, as individuals we are formed by our life experience. Our approach to life is based oftentimes on what we have learned from our parents, what we have learned as children, and with me there is the experience of twenty years in a courtroom where I watched people who suffered from mental health and addictions issues. Oftentimes, these people did not have a whole lot of a chance. I look at the person sitting behind me in that docket and oftentimes I ask myself what is the difference between me and him or her? Oftentimes, Mr. Speaker, it is the opportunity to receive help.

Mr. Speaker, I have estimated in the past, and this is just anecdotal, it is not empirical, that up to 80 per cent of what I have seen go through the courtrooms was alcohol, drug related and mental illness. A lot of times if we can address mental health and addictions issues, we address the crime aspect that affects our society. Also, Mr. Speaker, I realize that mental health and addictions does not only affect people in the court system. It affects all of us sitting in this House of Assembly. It affects all of our viewers, Mr. Speaker. Who has not been affected either from a personal perspective, from a family perspective or from a friend's perspective, by someone who has had difficulty? The statistics are unnerving but it is not something that we have to shy away from. It is not something that we have to not deal with.

Mr. Speaker, people need help, and as a government one of our obligations is to provide that help. Yes, Mr. Speaker, as I indicated in the Estimates, those two youth centres, I am not pleased with how long it is taking but they are going to proceed and they will proceed as we have indicated. The planning is taking longer than we expected but when you are dealing with youth with complex needs it is a complex issue. We have identified our sites and we will be moving ahead there.

The centre in Harbour Grace, Mr. Speaker, as the member opposite is aware, it was announced a year ago. It takes a lot of planning. You have to look at various aspects of what you are doing. Again, that is a much needed facility that will proceed and will complement the Humberwood facility in Corner Brook.

Mr. Speaker, one of the things that I know, and all of us in this House know, mental health and addictions knows no boundaries in terms of who it affects. It does not matter how much money you have. It does matter what education you have, we can all be affected by this.

Mr. Speaker, there is, however, a cost to our society that is a very significant issue. I am talking about more the cost to our families, the effect on our children. What we have to do as a government, Mr. Speaker, is offer the hope people need, that there is a hope they can recover, they can get better, there is counselling available, there is medication necessary if there is mental illness, and we can hold out a chance of living a normal life. Do you know something, Mr. Speaker? One of the first things I did as the minister was to go to the community groups out there, like the Consumers' Health Awareness Network of Newfoundland and Labrador, the Canadian Mental Health Association, Stella Burry, Turnings, and the eating disorders. I brought all of those people together and I said: What can I do to help you help us?

Mr. Speaker, this is the concept of peer support. These are people out in the community who have gone through and lived the experience and who know what others are feeling and experiencing. We put I think it was $400,000 or $500,000 out into those groups. That is money well spent, Mr. Speaker, let me tell you that.

The next step, Mr. Speaker, we then funded an anti-stigma program within the school system. The Canadian Mental Health Association - I forget the numbers, but hundreds of students - have gone to and talked to high school students in terms of education, making people aware. Do not be afraid of this issue. If you have a problem, talk about it and deal with your issue.

Mr. Speaker, we also commissioned a one-man play by Joel Hynes, a local writer, artist –

MR. HUTCHINGS: Actor.

MR. KENNEDY: – and actor, yes, the Member for Ferryland says.

Mr. Hynes, who is a brilliant writer and actor, went to the schools. He did his one-man play called Incinerator Road. He went around this Province and the reports I have heard back are nothing short of amazing, Mr. Speaker. Students were sitting there enthralled as Mr. Hynes mixed autobiography with fiction and produced a very powerful play. People started talking about it. The kids, the teenagers started talking about what they heard. Mr. Speaker, that is how we get our message across.

What we are doing now in terms of battling stigma, if you look at the Mental Health Commission of Canada and Senator Kirby's report, he estimates that 15 per cent of teenagers, our children, our youth are affected at any given time. It may be some sort of depression, Mr. Speaker. There is a continuum, and there are other issues. It could be attention deficit, it could be addiction; 15 per cent of our children.

Let's speak to our teenagers, to our children, in the language that they speak, Mr. Speaker. That is social media. That is Facebook. It is Web-based services. Mr. Speaker, there is this group in New Zealand that have put forward this e-mental health and awareness program in their country and they are assisting us in putting forward our platform here.

Mr. Speaker, if you are a teenager, or if you are an adult, if you are a senior with questions about how do I access services, you will go into this Web site, it will all be there for you. If you have basic questions: am I sad, am I depressed? Then the signs of depression will be listed for you. Do I have a problem with alcohol or drugs? Mr. Speaker, again it is pointed out by Senator Kirby, in terms of the addictions, in any given year 8 per cent of all hospitalizations and 10 per cent of the number of days in hospital are attributable to substance abuse. Mr. Speaker, very significantly, the abuse of legal substances, including tobacco, accounts for $11.8 billion of annual productivity lost in Canada - $11.8 billion.

As I have indicated on other occasions, I happened to have the opportunity last year to attend at the World Health Organization meetings in Geneva as the co-chair of the federal-provincial-territorial task force. Mr. Speaker, the biggest drugs they were talking about there were alcohol and tobacco in terms of the effect worldwide. So, we have problems with alcohol, tobacco, illegal drugs of course, and the other one that is very pressing in our society is prescription pill use. Not to underestimate, Mr. Speaker, the impact of illegal drugs, not for one second. We have all of these drugs, alcohol and tobacco included, which contributes significantly, and that has a significant economic impact on our society.

Mr. Speaker, if people need help, you are in a workplace and you need help, we have to encourage you to speak out so there are not consequences. This is what Senator Kirby has to say about the difference between how we deal with physical illness versus mental illness, "People living with mental illness and addiction have faced, and continue to face, stigma and many forms of discrimination that compound the effects of their illnesses." So they do not want to come forward, they are afraid of the impact on their lives, how people will see them or potential economic impact on them in terms of loss of job.

Mr. Speaker, how often in our society have we heard people talk about their public fights with - it can be cancer, it can be other drugs. How often do you hear people talk about their public fights with addiction or depression or schizophrenia? As a society, we are not there yet where people are encouraged. I do not know if people are even aware of the impact we have or the stigma that attaches. What Senator Kirby says is the commission was repeatedly told that the factors such as income and adequate housing affect people's ability to recover. By treating mental illness like physical illness, it is best understood to mean that both types of illness must be treated with equal seriousness by providers. People who are living with mental illness and addiction must be accorded respect and consideration equal to those given to people affected by physical illnesses. Now, Mr. Speaker, we are not there, but as a government what we are trying to do is encourage discussion. So, when you use the word significant in terms of the steps we are taking, that we have a government, Mr. Speaker, that is tackling this issue head on, that is working with community groups, a government which appoints a mental health advisory council, including stakeholders out there in the community.

If the member opposite wants to talk about the significant impact or whether or not we are having a significant impact, talk to Vince Withers who is the chair of that committee; talk to Dr. Nizar Ladha who has been a psychiatrist in this Province for forty years; talk to Jocelyn Greene from Stella Burry; talk to Ron Fitzpatrick from Turnings; talk to Peter Ralph from CHANNAL. These people will tell that what we are doing is significant, not only in terms of the monetary aspect, Mr. Speaker, but the fact that we have a government that cares enough about people who are suffering from mental health and addictions to work with them and to offer them the support that they need, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KENNEDY: Mr. Speaker, as we continue to move through this Budget, let's also look at what we did. We all know the issues we have in Labrador, the problems that are faced in Labrador. What did we do? I talked to the people. They said: We need people in our communities on the ground. We need people in Natuashish, we need people in Hopedale, and we need people in Nain. Mr. Speaker, it is not enough to simply say here is a job, we are providing money so that there can be living accommodations there, so that there can be transportation. That $2.4 million, again, is not only a very significant investment in terms of monetary; it is a significant investment, in fact, of a government that cares what is happening to our Aboriginal people.

Mr. Speaker, as I have indicated, $250 million for the Waterford Hospital is significant by any standard. The one issue that I am very pleased with is that we are moving with the times into the e-mental health, into the Web-based mental health, into tele-mental health, where we are recognizing the vast geography that we have here, that people in rural Newfoundland and Labrador need to be able to reach out.

Mr. Speaker, again, we can never forget there are people out there who do recover. What Senator Kirby says on page 45 of his report, is: Recovery is about hope. On page 37 he says: What is needed is a genuine system that puts people living with mental illness at its centre, with a clear focus on their ability to recover.

So, Mr. Speaker, what we are doing: we are investing money, we are investing money in facilities, recognizing that there are people who need a different level of treatment. What we are trying to say, and what we are saying clearly with these investments, to people out there is: We are there to help you, and we care.

Mr. Speaker, what more is a government to say to its people than we care and we want to help? That, Mr. Speaker, is exactly what we are doing.

Thank you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The Chair recognizes the hon. Member for The Straits & White Bay North.

MR. DEAN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

It is good to be able to stand this afternoon to speak to this private member's resolution. It is certainly an important one, and one that, in terms of the implementation and delivery of mental health care in the Province, impacts all of us in one way or another.

Statistics tell us that one in five people in Canada experience mental health in some shape or form. That would suggest, I am sure, that would bring it to all of our doorsteps at some point or another. So, it is very important that we understand it. It is very important that we as a Province, and more importantly as a government, offer the appropriate services and funding and so on to the implementation of same.

Mr. Speaker, again, the resolution that is put forward is lengthy. It is certainly intent on detailing all of the financial pieces of the commitment of this government since it has been in place. I guess that is fine, if that is what you want to do, but more importantly I believe it is really to determine just exactly how we are doing and how we have done and so on.

My colleague, the Member for Burgeo & La Poile, made note of the percentages of the investments in terms of mental health care as it relates to the total health care budget for our Province. While the numbers at times may seem significant, certainly in terms of the percentage of the overall budget, it does not seem to be very significant at all. When we talk millions of dollars, sometimes it sounds like a lot of money; but, of course, we understand that in terms of delivering programs and covering the cost of programs and the building of institutions and so on, and the replacement of facilities, obviously those kinds of funds do not go all that far.

Mr. Speaker, the minister said that in terms of mental health care, it knows no boundaries. That certainly is true. As I said, sometimes it may seem to have a greater impact on those who are less fortunate in society, probably, than others. Yet, Mr. Speaker, it always seems to find a way to edge to one's doorstep in terms of our circle of family, friends, acquaintances and so on.

Often, Mr. Speaker, we have lived and seen the unfortunate results of people who have suffered with mental health issues and have not been able to, for whatever reason, get the appropriate health care attention that they have needed and so on. Certainly in terms of the investments of the government, I am sure it is one of their priorities to ensure that people are able to get attention and to get the medications and so on they need.

Mr. Speaker, mental health care is a crucial dimension of the overall health of an individual. Mr. Speaker, when you go through times in your life when you are stressed from work or whatever the case may be, or a little stress from a family situation, or just things you do not have under your control, it affects you mentally. There are so many things that can impact us.

Mental health is basically an essential resource for living, really. It influences how we think, it influences how we feel, it influences how we perceive things, it influences our moods, and it influences how we communicate and how we understand. So being very clear mentally, so to speak, certainly allows us to enjoy an overall well-being as a person. So it is more than just the absence of an illness, Mr. Speaker; it is really the presence of good health generally speaking.

Mr. Speaker, mental illness comes in all kinds of disorders, as we know, whether it is depression, bipolar disorders, schizophrenia, and many others that we are well aware of. They are all real diseases that you cannot just will away, wish away, or just hope one day it will not be there. Mr. Speaker, they are a real part of our life, unfortunately.

The good news is that they are often very treatable. When people with mental illness get to see their doctors, are diagnosed properly, and get the attention they need, whether it is through medications or whether it is through some type of therapy, Mr. Speaker, when a person is going through the proper stage, channel, and medical treatment, the result often is that the person's life improves tremendously and they are able to function in somewhat of a very normal fashion and enjoy a normal life that otherwise would be very disruptive and would be very unfortunate in those situations. Mr. Speaker, without mental health we could say there really is no health because it affects all the other things that we do in our lives.

Mr. Speaker, my colleague from Burgeo & La Poile did a comparison of what is spent across the country from one province or Territory to another in terms of mental health and the dollar amount that is being spent per capita. We recognize that just two or three short years ago, in 2008 the survey show us as a Province, that we were the second lowest in Canada in terms of what we were spending on mental health services per capita. It was roughly $143 or so, I believe it was, compared to some provinces like British Columbia that were spending upwards of $230 per capita into the prevention of mental health and the treatment of mental health.

Mr. Speaker, it is significant to understand as well that if we are able to prevent mental health and provide a good life for people who otherwise would have mental health issues, then obviously from an economic and a financial perspective we are improving and really creating efficiency in the delivery of our health system in our Province. It is not to be dismissed or to be underscored, the importance of supporting the mental health programs in our Province with the finances that it takes to do it properly.

As I said, Mr. Speaker, one in every five Canadians, statistics tell us, will have a mental health problem at some point in their lives. We do not know when necessarily and we do not always know why, but, Mr. Speaker, experiences that I have seen within my own family, in my own circle of people who have experienced mental health issues, they come at times in their life when things seem to be fine, things seem to be normal so to speak; yet, they have developed issues that really affected them mentally, that affected them physically, and the outcome at times has not been all that great.

In 2002, Commissioner Roy Romanow stated that mental health is the orphan child of health care. As a result, he proposed several key recommendations that if implemented would offer hope to those with serious mental illnesses.

Mr. Speaker, one of the challenges of mental health in a Province like Newfoundland and Labrador, in terms of our geography, is the delivery of the program. It is always good to hear of investments in our larger urban centres but again when you get into rural Newfoundland and you get distance from those facilities, when you get distance from medical expertise, it is very easy and much easier to go without proper treatment, without proper diagnosing. You basically get to the point where unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, people can go on for years and not get the treatments that are there for them, were they in another centre.

Certainly, as we expand our mental treatment capacities in the Province, Mr. Speaker, it is important that we look at all of our different geographies, all of our different communities, community-based services, so that we are able to offer as much of these programs as possible. While some mental health services are funded by the provinces or even at a community level, the access to them can vary tremendously. Sometimes there are things that are not covered by insurance; it is a lot easier to get things in terms of medications especially.

If you have an insurance program or an insurance plan that will cover the medications for you, then obviously it is a lot easier for that individual to be treated and to have the medications it takes to sustain a healthy life. That is not always the case. There are lots who do not have the riches of others and there are lots who are always deprived of the ability to pay for medications, to take advantage of treatments, to be able to travel. Whether it is to leave your own hometown and go to a larger centre where a particular therapy might be available or particular medical advice or treatment might be available. It is not always possible for everyone and I think that is one of the things that at times it is easy to take for granted. We assume people can do this or that, or they can afford this, they can access that, but that is not always the case.

Again, it is important that when we – I mentioned yesterday about the health travel subsidy that was cut from 5,000 kilometres to 2,500 kilometres. Mr. Speaker, eliminating it would be the proper thing to do so that people can travel. Whether it is from St. Anthony to Corner Brook, or from Twillingate to Gander, wherever the case might be that someone needs to get to a larger centre to get the attention they need from a specialist. There should be no one today in our Province who is prohibited from doing that because they do not have the finances and the necessary resources to do so.

Providing people living with mental illness with access to a full range of services and supports in addition to those by physicians in hospitals and so on is very important. Certainly, it is different options for them, ones they can select freely, something they prefer to be involved with in terms of a program, Mr. Speaker, and requires really just an adequate range of services being made available, and made available to not only those who have the funds to pay for them but those who do not have the funds to pay for them as well.

So, Mr. Speaker, those are some of the comments I would bring forward. I certainly want to say that I, too, would support the motion. I would question the word significant, but I do not believe it is important that we debate that here this afternoon necessarily. Certainly, we want to see greater emphasis on mental illness. It is great to see that there is a plan for the Waterford Hospital to be replaced in our capital city. We know it is overdue. We know that obviously it is going to be a tremendous improvement in our mental health program. Mr. Speaker, quite frankly, the sooner we see that shovel into the ground, so to speak, the better.

I am happy this afternoon to be able to stand for a few moments, speak to this private member's resolution, and say that at the end of the day I will be standing to support the same.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER: The Chair recognizes the hon. Member for St. John's South and Deputy Speaker.

MR. T. OSBORNE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, just hearing some of the comments from members opposite saying that the actions that this government has taken since we have formed government are not significant, or to say what we are doing is not significant, is a little bit disheartening. We have had a great relationship with the stakeholder groups that deal with mental health patients, the Canadian Mental Health Association, Choices for Youth, and others. Mr. Speaker, to ask any of those groups the relationship they have with government and the work that we are, as a government, doing to promote better mental health and to make better mental health services available to those most in need and those who need them, they would, I am sure, tell you that the advances since we have taken government have been significant.

The Member for Burgeo & La Poile points out that the numbers in the private member's resolution are very low numbers: 0.03 per cent of the total Budget. This is not the total budget being spent on mental health, Mr. Speaker. These are the new announcements and the new investments that have been forward by this government in addition to the sustainable funding, the funding that has been spent on mental health issues and addictions issues on an annual basis.

When we formed government in 2003, I remember sitting around the Cabinet table, Mr. Speaker, and we had some tough choices to make, we had very tough choices to make. Some of you will remember those tough choices. We had a public service strike that year, we had very difficult decisions to make. One of the decisions that we made was to put $1 million of new funding into mental health and addictions issues. We understood the importance of addressing those issues, we understood the importance of that funding. Even though we had tough choices to make, we felt it important enough to put that new funding in to deal with some long-standing gaps that we recognized.

Now, we understood that was not going to solve all the issues. Even today, after the millions and millions of dollars that this government has put forward in addressing mental health and addictions issues, have we solved the issues? Have we solved all of the issues? Absolutely not, but we are doing the best we can, and we are making great strides. The measures that we have taken are significant.

Mr. Speaker, some of the issues that individuals with mental health and addictions are dealing with is the stigma. We have taken steps, as a government, to reduce that stigma. A number of steps: public relations campaigns and so on. The minister, when he spoke, talked about a play and getting into the high schools and educating young people about the stigma attached. It is not only the stigma that the general public place on patients with mental health or addictions issues, it is the stigma that the patients and those who are in the most need of help place upon themselves, because of how society has seen mental health and addictions patients over the years.

Mr. Speaker, it is the stigma that is often associated with mental health issues that makes it more difficult for individuals to recover or to deal with those issues, because they are not only battling mental health or addictions issues, they are battling that stigma that goes with it. They are battling how they feel the general public see them, and how they see themselves. So, it is a very important part of mental health or addictions issues in dealing with that stigma, in educating the general public and making more services available to those most in need, and reaching out and helping to advise them of how and when to seek help and reducing that stigma or the way the general public see it.

We understand that one of the biggest challenges in advancing mental health and addictions is how not only the patients see themselves but how the general public see the patients. So it is important to change that, Mr. Speaker.

It is also important to work with the stakeholder groups, as I have said, the client groups such as the Canadian Mental Health Association, the Consumer Health Awareness Network, Choices for Youth, and the group advancing eating disorders. All of those very important stakeholders work closely with government, and government work closely with those stakeholders to advance the issues of mental health and addictions and to ensure that – because sometimes in government it is easy to think that we are addressing issues. By bringing in the stakeholder groups, and dealing with stakeholder groups, we get their perspective and we have a better understanding of the clients who need help, their needs, the people who most need the help, and how to address their issues.

Mr. Speaker, talking about the stigma, it is not only people dealing with mental health or addictions issues who have to deal with the stigma, but oftentimes those individuals - and I represent a large part of the downtown area where we have boarding homes and bedsitting units - because individuals have faced challenges with their employment because of their mental health or addictions issues, they often face economic issues as well. So they are battling not only the mental health issue, the stigma, but the economic issue. That is something that we as a society and as a government - and each and every member of this House, I am sure, understands - the help that we have provided, absolutely it has not solved every issue, but look at where we have come from 2003, when we first formed government, to 2011, today, in some of the services and some of the benefits that we have provided as a government, and to say that it is not significant….

Now, I would never advocate that we have solved all of the issues. It is like any illness. You can put money into trying to prevent any illness, or trying to solve the issues that people with an illness have, but no matter how much money you put in it, you will never make the illness go away; but we have made great strides. We have come a long way in helping to deal with the issues and in understanding the issues.

You look at the new electronic methods that government is now investing in, to get into the most rural and remote areas and to deal with younger people who use social media more than anybody else. In a rural community or an isolated community where they cannot access the bricks and mortar where services are provided, some of the new methods and the innovative ways we are reaching out to individuals with mental health issues will get into those areas within the Province and help address some of those issues. Again, I am not saying that we are going to solve all of the issues, but to get in and address some of those issues.

Mr. Speaker, mental illness affects people of all ages. It does not discriminate against your cultural background, your social background, where you are from, your education, or where you work. It does not see any of those boundaries. Each and every member of this House, I am sure, knows of somebody, a family or a friend, who has dealt with a mental illness. Yes, the statistics say that one in five people in their lifetime will have to battle a mental illness. So it is time that we as a society and as a government start to change the focus, how we see individuals who suffer from mental illness. That has to change as we move forward.

Mr. Speaker, there are many ways we can help people who are living with mental illness and addictions issues. Our government is trying to provide funding and supports that are needed, which is very important, and we have come a long way in that, and much has been done by this government, and much money has been invested by this government.

I will touch on some of the other things we have done as a government in a couple of moments, but much of what we can do to support those who are suffering from mental illness or addictions is to develop an increased understanding, which is why our government has created the public awareness campaign that the minister has spoken about and my colleague has spoken about, and why we are getting into high schools, and why we are trying to develop new and innovative ways of helping patients with mental illness or addictions issues, decreasing the discrimination or the stigma, demystifying, as some of us have phrased it today, and to promote that greater understanding.

Government has also reached out to increase the understanding for those who suffer, on how and when they can seek help, where to seek help, and providing access to help, even to those who do not have access directly to the buildings and where the services are housed.

Mr. Speaker, as a government we have put a focus on enhancing mental health and home and community supports. We have enhanced services for addictions, both substance addictions and gambling addictions. During my time as Minister of Health, our government enhanced primary mental health services throughout the Province. We announced the new Humberwood addictions centre in Corner Brook which is designed to enhance the treatment of persons with addictions, including non-medical detox. We introduced a new Mental Health Care and Treatment Act. We started the process of establishing a new Eating Disorder Program, which is now up and running.

We also carried out public awareness campaigns on gambling awareness. As well, under other Ministers of Health, my colleague, our government has enhanced the prevention and treatment services for gambling addictions. We have enhanced services to help prevent and treat substance use and addictions. We focused on youth addictions, and we have provided funding for a treatment centre for youth with complex mental needs.

Our government has planned for an adult treatment center in Harbour Grace. We have enhanced the child psychiatry services available at the Janeway, and we have provided funding for a new residential treatment centre for children and youth with complex mental health needs here in St. John's. We have provided funding for a new residential treatment centre in Grand Falls-Windsor, and we have funded new community-based projects focused on mental health and addictions. We have also increased rural capacity to address mental health and addictions issues.

Mr. Speaker, in St. John's, we have also announced the replacement of the Waterford Hospital and in this year's Budget have provided an investment of $4.5 million to begin the process for the replacement of the Waterford Hospital. We have increased the rural programming and staffing for mental health and addictions issues. We funded the development of an interactive e-mental health service, that I have spoken about a little earlier, to enhance services for people in rural and remote areas, and the younger people in our Province who take advantage of social medias.

Mr. Speaker, we have made strategic investments in infrastructure. We have made investments in community groups, in programs, staff and new and innovative ways of dealing and providing services. Improving our focus and making the investments that we have made in the area of mental health and addictions will provide both immediate and long-term benefits.

So, we have come a long way, we have provided significant investments and significant thought on how to help the people most in need. We have a long way to go, we will all admit that, but what we have provided, Mr. Speaker, is significant. I am proud to stand today and to support the private member's motion as put forward by my colleague.

Thank you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The Chair recognizes the hon. the Member for Signal Hill-Quidi Vidi.

MS MICHAEL: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

I am pleased to stand today and to speak to the private member's motion that has been raised by the Member for Burgeo & La Poile. I am sorry, that is a mistake. The Member for Baie Verte-Springdale, I apologize to him. I was reading from the wrong page of the Orders of the Day, but I do know the difference between these two members, so thank you.

There is no doubt, Mr. Speaker, that this motion and the numerous WHEREASes in the motion certainly does paint a good picture of what government has been doing since 2006 really, since I have been in the House, with regard to mental health and treatment and care of those with mental health problems. I say going back to 2006, even though I think the first WHEREAS in the motion – well it does go back to 2005, it talks about 2005. When it comes to the Budget, yes, it goes back to 2005, so it is quite a picture that is presented here.

I remember very clearly myself when I came into the House; I came in the by-election in 2006. One of the very first pieces of legislation that I dealt with was the Mental Health Care and Treatment Act, which we assented to in December of 2006. It was an excellent piece of legislation. Actually the Member for St. John's South, who just spoke, was the Minister of Health and Community Services at the time and I remember bringing to him an issue that was a concern. It had to do with what would happen to people who are released from the hospital and there was a whole section on the releasing of people into the community. I pointed out that there was one little piece of weakness in the legislation, in that it did not state that people being released into the community must be shown there are supports in the community for them. The minister and I met about that, and in actual fact the minister agreed. The act got amended and that piece went into the act.

I think it was extremely important because at that time – and everybody who has spoken is pointing this out and I want to point it out as well, and I do agree with the Member for Baie Verte-Springdale and the Member for St. John's South, that government has consulted with the stakeholders all the way along in the work they have done on the issues of mental health care and treatment. There is no doubt about that. I remember at the time when we working on the bill that resulted in the Mental Health Care and Treatment Act, all the stakeholders who should have been consulted within the Province were consulted with.

It was one of their concerns, actually, that the clause about having community supports in place if somebody was going to be released into the community did not make it into the legislation. It was something they were concerned about. They were quite pleased that the minister did listen when I went to the minister and pointed out this was missing, this important piece was missing. They were quite pleased that the amendment was made.

I can attest to the fact that when it comes to this issue, the issue of mental health care and treatment, and when it comes to the piece of legislation, the extremely important piece of legislation that we passed in this House in December 2006, that indeed the government did consult. I know the government continues to consult because of the advisory committee that the current Minister of Health and Community Services has put in place with people on the committee who have a lot of experience in the community and in representing the community around issues of mental health and of the effects of mental health disorders, Mr. Speaker. So, there is no doubt that this government is concerned about this issue. There is no doubt that it consults on this issue. I certainly am very pleased to stand here today and to recognize that.

As I pointed out, the amendment that we made here in this House to the bill in December 2006 was an amendment that recognized something very important. It was that people with mental health disorders require community support, they require good housing, and they require social supports. Good housing and social supports will help keep people who have mental health disorders and who have been in hospital, it will help keep them out of hospital because having the housing, having social supports helps them remain stable. They have to have other things. They have to have medications; they have to have treatment of all kinds, from counselling right through to medications sometimes. Not all of them have to have medication but sometimes medication heavier or lighter. All of that is helped by the community supports that are there to help a person not have to be hospitalized or re-hospitalized. That is recognized by this government. We recognized it in the House when we made that amendment to the bill which became the current act.

It is important to recognize this because as has been said by the Health Council of Canada, which is an extremely important body, as we know, there are many determinants of health. Whether we are talking about physical health or mental health, these determinants of health are definite factors. These include income, which the Member for St. John's South talked about when he spoke. Determinants include the education level, early childhood experience, social networks, living environment, and part of that is housing of course.

As the Health Council of Canada says, Canadians with lowest incomes are more likely to suffer from mental distress and physical chronic conditions such as arthritis and diabetes. It is very important that we remember this, whether we are talking about mental health or physical health, that our economic situation is a major determinant with regard to good health. It does not mean people who have more money do not get sick, but stress is a major issue when it comes to mental and physical health. Good diet is a major issue when it comes to mental and physical health. Part of the lack of stress is being able to care for oneself, to have a healthy environment, to be able to enjoy life. All are part of having good health, whether it is physical or mental.

The Health Council of Canada says that if we do not address the needs of poorer and socially disadvantaged members of our society we will continue to spend large amounts of money on health care, and that is both money on mental health care and physical health care. We have to also recognize that we are all responsible for health. It is not just the Department of Health, it is governments and it is society as a whole.

One of the things that concerned me - not that government does not know that, because I think it does - but that these issues around determinants of health were not included in the WHEREASes. It is not something to make me say I cannot vote for the motion, but it would have been good if the WHEREASes had more attention paid to the determinants of health. They are in there in a small way, but not in as big a way as I would like them to be. I think partially because of the attention that was given to showing where money was spent on things that were very, very directly related to health care and health treatment. I think, for example, we have to take very seriously income and housing, and understand income and housing as needs, yes, but as needs that are key determinants of health, that influence how well a person with a mental illness can manage their illness and keep from becoming sicker. When somebody does not have adequate money, if they do not have a good living space, they are more likely to return to hospital.

Mr. Speaker, one of the ways in which we have seen that is when people come out of hospital and they do not have adequate income and they have to go to boarding houses to live. We still have that situation here in this Province – not only in this Province, I am not just blaming us in this Province, it exists everywhere in the country – that very often, people who have mental disorders, very often are on disability income. They do not often have families with money to take care of them. Sometimes, yes, of course there are people who have mental disorders and who have partners and who have income, but there are a large number of those with mental disorders who do not have adequate income.

One of the things that we have not recognized yet in this Province, and this is a serious one, Mr. Speaker, is that a single person with a mental illness who cannot work and who is on disability assistance from the government receives $485 per month - $485 per month - and a maximum shelter allowance of $472. It is an extremely small amount of money; less than $1,000 a month to pay their rent, to clothe themselves, to eat, to have a normal existence. It is a very small amount of money. It is well below the poverty line, well below poverty income. Even though they do have a drug card, and even though, for some travel, they can get taxis covered - not for very much, believe me - and they can get a bus pass, their income is so low that they are living in substandard housing.

For example, here in St. John's, for sure, $472 per month is not enough to pay for a bachelor apartment. I suspect it is not enough in Corner Brook either and with the way things are going in Labrador West, I think we can probably say it is true there as well. I know it for sure; it is true here in St. John's. Yet, too many people here in St. John's and in other places are living with mental illness and are living in boarding houses that are substandard and unsafe. They are in very, very stressful situations, Mr. Speaker.

I would like to think that the situation that existed twenty years ago and twenty-five years ago does not exist today with regard to boarding houses. I happen to know from personal experience from going and seeing some of them, to seeing where some people are living, that it still exists. We have boarding houses that are almost always filled with people who are either suffering from addictions or suffering from mental health disorders, many of whom are in and out of the Waterford Hospital.

Mr. Speaker, we really do have to take very seriously the needs of people with mental illness and with addictions when it comes to their housing situation. Agencies such as Stella Burry have built some wonderful housing and government is supporting them, there is no doubt. Government has set aside rent subsidies for people with complex needs, but the number is way too low. We have, I think, 100 rent supplements for people with complex needs. Many people fall through the cracks simply because – it is not just they fall through the cracks, the number is inadequate, Mr. Speaker.

If we really are serious about – and we are, I am not saying we are not. If we want to really up the ante when it comes to taking care of people with mental health disorders and addictions, then we have to look at those two major determinants of health, and that is good, safe, adequate, affordable housing and increased income. Without those, we are not going to get recoveries. We are going to get people who are constantly in and out of hospital; we are going to get people who are in and out of their addictions. If we are going to build communities, Mr. Speaker, that are safe, not just for people who are sick but safe for everybody, then we have to look at those two determinants of adequate income and good housing.

I am disappointed. I was disappointed three or four years ago when the amount of income assistance went up, because it did not go up adequately. Even though we built in a cost of living clause so that every year it goes up a little bit, the base was so low that it is not helpful.

Mr. Speaker, I think my time is almost up. I think I have made my point, which is that we do need to look at the determinants. When we look at how we are taking care of issues around mental health care and treatment, we do have to look at the insufficient income that people on support have and the poor housing they have to live in because of that.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER (T. Osborne): If the hon. the Member for Baie Verte-Springdale speaks now he will close debate.

The hon. the Member for Baie Verte-Springdale.

MR. POLLARD: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I have no problem in using the word significant in describing this government's investments in mental health issues. To me, the word significant means something meaningful, a noticeable difference, important, or having or likely to have a major effect.

Mr. Speaker, in the 2005 Budget, $3.4 million; in Budget 2006, $3.2 million; in Budget 2007, $2.4 million; in Budget 2008, $1.7 million; in Budget 2009, $1.8 million; in Budget 2010, $7.1 million; in Budget 2011, approximately $8.43 million. That is significant, Mr. Speaker. That is significant in my books and according to my dictionary.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. POLLARD: In terms of policy and legislation, Mr. Speaker, in 2005 the provincial government released the provincial policy framework which was the first for mental health in Newfoundland and Labrador, which set out a comprehensive strategy which encompasses all age groups. That is significant, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. POLLARD: Furthermore, the Mental Health Care and Treatment Act, which came into effect on August 1, 2007, represents a new approach in providing interventions and services for people with severe and persistent mental illness. That is significant, Mr. Speaker. Is there more to do? Yes. Have we arrived? No, but we have accomplished a lot, Mr. Speaker, in such a short amount of time.

Mr. Speaker, supporting community groups that are on the ground dealing firsthand with issues of mental illness and trying to implement mental illness initiatives, creating a provincial advisory council, all of these are very significant steps that this government is doing. Steps in Budget 2011, such as investing in infrastructure, enhancing awareness and access, and building a rural capacity are significant. It is very meaningful, Mr. Speaker, it is very important, it is a noticeable difference. It is likely to make a difference, according to my dictionary.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to build upon what our Minister of Health said earlier. You cannot put a monetary figure on the hope that this government provides to people who are suffering from mental illness. You cannot put a monetary value. You have to give them access, you have to give them an opportunity, and you have to give them hope. The school, the church, the community, and community groups, and their friends and family all working together will create hope for individuals who are suffering from mental illness. Money is an issue, yes, and we have put lots of money into it, but number two, more importantly, is the hope that we have created for every Newfoundlander and Labradorian, every senior, every teenager, everyone in between, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. POLLARD: No matter what their background is, we have created hope, Mr. Speaker. A proverb that comes to my mind is: Hope deferred makes the heart sick. So, Mr. Speaker, we are helping people in need and we are giving quality care.

First of all, in conclusion, I would like to thank the hon. Member for Burgeo & La Poile, the Opposition House Leader, for his reluctant and reserved support of the motion, albeit, he still supports it, so thank you very much. I appreciate it. I would like to thank the Member for The Straits & White Bay North for his support and his comments. I would also like to thank the Member for St. John's South, and the Minister of Health, the Member for Carbonear-Harbour Grace, for his outstanding leadership that he is providing in the Department of Health and Community Services, and for his passion and for his heart.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. POLLARD: Mr. Speaker, the leadership that is provided by this government is unparalleled, and I am proud to be part of this government.

In conclusion, Mr. Speaker, in terms of mental illness, our government is unwavering in its commitment. We are resolute in our stance, we are caring in our approach, and we are strategic in our investments, especially to mental illness.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER (Fitzgerald): Order, please!

Is the House ready for the question?

Shall the resolution as put forward by the hon. the Member for the District of Baie Verte-Springdale carry?

All those in favour, ‘aye'.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Aye.

MR. SPEAKER: All those against, ‘nay'.

The motion is carried.

Motion carried.

MR. SPEAKER: This being Wednesday, Private Members' Day, and the business of the House being concluded, this House now stands adjourned until 1:30 of the clock tomorrow, being Thursday.

This House is now adjourned.