The House met at 1:30 p.m.

MR. SPEAKER (Wiseman): Order, please!

Admit strangers.

Today, before we start proceedings of the House, I want to welcome some special guests to the Assembly. Today, we are very privileged to be visited by Chief Warrant Officer Terry Hurley. Warrant Officer Hurley retired yesterday after giving forty-one years of service to the Canadian Military.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: He is joined, obviously, by his very supportive wife Roxanne, for being by his side for those forty-one years.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: We are also very glad this afternoon to have with us members of the Immaculate Conception School Council in our galleries.

Welcome to our House of Assembly.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: Today, we have members' statements from: the Member for the District of Port au Port; the Member for the District of Bonavista North; the Member for the District of St. John's West; the Member for the District of Kilbride; the Member for the District of Torngat Mountains; and the Member for the District of Exploits.

The Member for the District of Port au Port.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. CORNECT: Mr. Speaker, I rise today in this hon. House to congratulate two business owners in the District of Port au Port who were recently recognized with awards during the Small Business Week activities sponsored by the Bay St. George Chamber of Commerce.

Jason Chaffey, owner and operator of Pizza Delight received the Leo Bruce Award for Entrepreneurial Excellence.

Mr. Speaker, Jason Chaffey has been with Pizza Delight for twenty-four years. The business employs eighteen full-time employees. Jason received this award not only for his successful business skills, but also for his involvement in the community and his support for other local businesses.

Mr. Speaker, the Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to the Lourdes CO-OP. The Lourdes CO-OP has been serving its community for many, many years and it is great to see this business being recognized during Small Business Week, not only for its long-standing business service but also for its contribution to the community and the region.

Mr. Speaker, I ask all hon. Members of the House of Assembly to join with me in congratulating Pizza Delight and the Lourdes CO-OP for being recognized, and I wish these and all business continued success in our Province.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The Member for Bonavista North.

MR. CROSS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

It is with great pleasure that I stand today and speak about the highlight of my first year as MHA. On September 6, I attended a very special event. The family and friends of Mrs. Emma Hunt gathered at Badger's Quay to celebrate her one hundredth birthday. Mrs. Hunt, a long-time resident of Valleyfield, currently resides at Bonnews Lodge in Badger's Quay.

Aunt Emma greeted family and friends throughout the afternoon, and she was very active in deciding details of her party. When the lunch menu was discussed, she made it clear that fish and brews were to be the main course, and it was.

As friends visited to connect and comment on her birthday, she chatted to those she had not seen for a while. To my father, George, an old friend, she joked and reminded him that he had not dropped off her bake apples yet – a tasty treat that she looked forward to in season.

As I presented her with the customary certificates from dignitaries, she said: Oh, such a fuss. Little did she know that we who were present felt as if we were in the presence of royalty.

I know I felt confident, speaking for you, that with a smile and a hug I proudly said Happy Birthday for all of you.

Thank you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The Member for St. John's West.

MR. CRUMMELL: Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Reverend Canon Doctor Cluett on receiving the Queen's Jubilee Medal. Reverend Cluett has excelled in both the ecclesiastical and academic fields and was presented with this medal in a recent ceremony at Government House.

Reverend Cluett has given over fifty years of distinguished service to his church and community. Over the course of his career, he has served in the parish ministry throughout Newfoundland and also in Hamilton, Ontario. He has a vast volunteer experience and has served on numerous church communities, school boards, as well as the Rotary Club of St. John's.

Mr. Speaker, Reverend Cluett served as a provost of Queen's College at Memorial University from 1979 until his retirement in 1997. He had a tremendous impact on the lives of many students during his years at Memorial and he was also instrumental in re-establishing a Faculty of Theology at the university.

Mr. Speaker, I commend Reverend Cluett for his leadership and dedication to his church and community, and I ask all hon. members to join me in congratulating him on receiving the Queen's Jubilee Medal.

Thank you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. DINN: Mr. Speaker, I stand today to recognize a great Canadian, Chief Warrant Officer Terry Hurley, who has retired after forty-one years of military service. He was born in St. John's, and is one of fifteen children.

Terry joined the Canadian Armed Forces and received his training at Cornwallis and Gagetown before being posted at Petawawa, Ontario. In 1975, Terry was promoted to Corporal, and in 1983 promoted to Sergeant.

In 1993 he was posted to CFB Halifax as Training Warrant Officer, and here he met his wife, Roxanne, who was also serving in the military. In 2004, Chief Warrant Officer Hurley retired from the regular forces and switched over to the Reserve Forces with the Royal Newfoundland Regiment.

Terry has had many tours of duty in Cyprus, Egypt, West Germany, Yugoslavia, and Sierra Leone. Recently, he was awarded the Chief of Defence Staff Commendation from General Hillier.

In 2010, Chief Warrant Officer Hurley was selected to be the male model for the CBS monument of honour, representing a World War I soldier.

Terry and his wife live in the Goulds. They have two children and two grandchildren.

I ask all hon. members to join me in congratulating Terry.

Thank you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Torngat Mountains.

MR. EDMUNDS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I rise in this hon. House today to congratulate Susan "Fran" Williams on receiving the Order of Newfoundland and Labrador, the highest award of recognition in this Province.

Mr. Speaker, Fran was born to Amos and Verona in Hopedale and learned early about the way of life in Labrador. Ms Williams graduated from high school, which was a rare occurrence for Inuit women at the time, and went on to complete nursing studies in 1967, the first Inuit woman from Hopedale to do so.

After serving five years in the nursing field, Fran accepted a position with the Company of Young Canadians in Labrador. She became an Inuit Education Specialist for the provincial Department of Adult Continuing Education and a liaison worker with the Status of Women.

In 1980, Ms Williams was elected as the first and only female president of the then Labrador Inuit Association. Her four-year tenure saw important advances on the path toward Inuit self-government.

Fran help found OKalaKatiget Society in Nain, and continues to play an active volunteer role in the Nain Crisis Response Team.

Mr. Speaker, I ask all hon. members to join me in congratulating Ms Fran Williams on receiving the Order of Newfoundland and Labrador award.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. FORSEY: Mr. Speaker, on June 9, 2012, Hockey Newfoundland and Labrador held their annual general meeting and awards banquet. During the presentations, Brian Tremblett of Bishop's Falls received the Minor Hockey Meritorious Award for his dedication to minor hockey.

Mr. Speaker, Brian not only volunteers on the local level, as President and Coach, but also on the provincial and national levels as well. As a provincial representative, Brian facilitates the Speak Out program in the Central part of our Province, specifically dealing with bullying, harassment and abuse in the minor system. With Hockey Canada, he facilitates the safety training program and this requires all trainers for each team in the minor system to comply with this program.

Mr. Speaker, I ask all members of this House to join me in congratulating Brian Tremblett on receiving this award and his dedication to minor hockey.

Thank you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: Statements by Ministers.

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Transportation and Works; and the Minister Responsible for Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. DAVIS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I rise to share with hon. members today, November 22, National Housing Day, and how Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation's accomplishments in 2012 continue to address the goals of the Provincial Social Housing Plan – Secure Foundations.

Mr. Speaker, Newfoundland and Labrador Housing have made significant progress this past number of years. Our rental housing wait list is down 25 per cent over the past two years and the provincial government has increased and expanded program funding with the aim of making further gains in addressing social housing supply and demand.

We have completed the modernization of approximately 70 per cent of our 5,570 Newfoundland and Labrador Housing rental units, up from 30 per cent just five years ago.

We have tripled annual renovations and modernization funding from our housing units from $4 million to $12 million.

There has been a 25 per cent drop in maintenance calls over the past three years which is certainly indicative of the amount of work completed by Newfoundland and Labrador Housing's skilled workers.

We have quadrupled the Supportive Living Program funding, which creates housing supports for persons with complex needs, from $1.2 million to $4.8 million.

We have doubled the Rent Supplement Program funding from $4 million to $8 million, and currently have 1,732 subsidized rental units in the private market to assist people with low incomes.

We have also doubled the Provincial Home Repair Program funding from $4 million to $8 million for a total of $12 million annually in federal-provincial funding to help people with low incomes make modifications and improvements, enabling them to remain in their own homes.

In addition, Mr. Speaker, we have introduced very successful new programs such as the Provincial Homelessness Fund, which helps non-profits expand to provide services to individuals at risk of homelessness.

The Residential Energy Efficiency Program provides $4 million annually for energy efficiency retrofits, and our Educational Incentive Program for tenant families is one program that has supported the increase in the number of youth studying in school from 48 per cent just four years ago to approximately 75 per cent today.

Mr. Speaker, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador can proudly say we are providing Secure Foundations, and we are continuing to provide more housing solutions for individuals and families in greatest need throughout our Province.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Bay of Islands.

MR. JOYCE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I thank the minister for his advance copy. There is no doubt there has been a lot of money spent on housing in Newfoundland and Labrador Housing and other needs throughout the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Before I go any further on the government, I would just like to recognize the employees who work with Newfoundland and Labrador Housing, because they provide a tremendous support to a lot of the people. I deal with them on the West Coast and I just wanted to recognize the workers who work with Newfoundland and Labrador Housing.

I would say to the minister: A lot of the reason why the numbers are down is because a lot of people are after giving up applying for housing. Even though we have done a lot over a number of years, there is still a lot left to do. We need to be vigilant to the needs of the people. As our economy grows in the Avalon region, so does the need for housing for lower-income people and even sometimes – a lot of times – middle-income people, because of the cost of living. We must remain vigilant.

The other thing is the residential assistance program, which has not been renewed and will not be renewed with the federal government until 2014. We must ensure that the federal government once again gets involved with RRAP, as it is better known in Newfoundland and Labrador, to help out people who can stay in their own homes.

I can say there has been work done with Newfoundland and Labrador Housing. There have been a lot of great initiatives taken and a lot of people have benefited, but we must remain vigilant. We must remain and keep vigilant on issues that are needed and keep improving in any way we can.

Thank you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for St. John's Centre.

MS ROGERS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I, too, thank the minister for an advance copy of his statement, and thank you once again for the re-announcement of existing programs. I commend the non-profit community groups that are working so diligently on issues of homelessness and support services for people with complex needs, and the fine work being done by the staff at Newfoundland and Labrador Housing.

Today I attended a forum on seniors and housing. Research shows that housing is the number one concern among seniors. All of us in this House know that because we get those calls. We are in the middle of a housing crisis that is bigger than social housing.

Seniors, who are among the fastest-growing population in our Province, and people with physical disabilities are perhaps among the most negatively impacted by the skyrocketing cost of housing and the lack of accessible, affordable housing. Young working families having to live with their parents, low- and middle-income earners are spending more than 30 per cent of their income on shelter.

Without, Mr. Speaker, an overall housing policy from this government there is no relief in sight.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: Does the hon. the Member for St. John's South have leave?

AN HON. MEMBER: No leave.

MR. SPEAKER: No leave.

The hon. the Minister of Natural Resources and the Minister Responsible for the Forestry and Agrifoods Agency.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KENNEDY: Yes, Mr. Speaker.

I rise today to inform this hon. House about a symposium that will take place tomorrow, Friday, November 23, in Corner Brook, a symposium that will give academic leaders and agricultural experts from various institutions the opportunity to discuss the current agricultural research that is being conducted in Newfoundland and Labrador.

The event, aptly titled Our Farms, Our Food, Our Future, will identify opportunities to help strengthen agricultural production and lead the Province toward an innovative, profitable, and sustainable agricultural industry that includes more than 600 farms and an estimated 816 farm operators. The industry is vitally important to Newfoundland and Labrador, from the contribution it makes to the economies of our rural communities to the fresh local produce it provides to our residents.

Participants in the symposium will hear about the current agricultural research being conducted in the Province as well as provincial agricultural research priorities. The symposium aims to foster partnerships among various agencies and organizations and will generate next steps and actionable items.

Mr. Speaker, our new agricultural and agrifoods strategy provided the context for this event. Our Farms, Our Food, Our Future lays the groundwork for the continued growth of this industry in Newfoundland and Labrador. This strategy will be used to help those attending the symposium reach the objectives set down for this event, including the establishment of a shared understanding of provincial agricultural research priorities.

It is our pleasure to join with Memorial University Grenfell Campus and the Research and Development Corporation to host this event in Corner Brook.

Our government is committed to continuing its support of the agriculture and agrifoods sector in Newfoundland and Labrador. We recently concluded negotiations on a new five-year multilateral framework agreement to replace Growing Forward, which will expire on March 31.

The new Growing Forward 2 Agreement will commit more money to Newfoundland and Labrador for strategic initiatives, which could include research and development as well as focus more attention on food safety initiatives. We expect all of these initiatives will significantly enhance our ability to grow more of our own food in this Province and will contribute to the food security objectives outlined in our strategy.

Mr. Speaker, this industry creates indirect and direct employment for hundreds of people in communities throughout the Province. Through long-term planning and events like this symposium, we will ensure the industry for further generations.

Thank you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The Leader of the Official Opposition.

MR. BALL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I want to thank the minister for the advance copy of his statement. As you know, I live in one of the agricultural districts in our Province and, of course, we see a lot of activity in the District of Humber Valley.

I am, too, pleased to see that the academic leaders and the agricultural experts are gathering in Corner Brook this week and, of course, hosted by Grenfell Campus and the Research and Development Corporation.

Over this summer I had the privilege, as I went around the Province, to visit a few of the 600 farms and spoke with some of the operators involved in the agriculture industry in the Province. In particular in Central Newfoundland, we met some very interesting and innovative and creative farmers, I will say, that are committed to actually growing many new forms of root crops and some cranberry farms that we are seeing some of the benefits this year.

Some of these were investments that were made over many, many years now, and even through a number of different Administrations. As I said, Mr. Speaker, one of the things when we talked to the people who are involved in the agriculture industry, there are some challenges, especially around access to Crown lands right now. I think if there is anything that we can do to support this industry is to make sure that we can make this land available, as well as support them financially.

It is important too, if there is lesson that we have learned over this summer, is what has happened with food safety through the XL meats in Alberta. It is important that we do cultivate and fertilize, I will say, our agricultural industry so that it can grow and indeed it can be an impact on the economic development in rural Newfoundland.

I look forward to some of the discussion that we get from the Growing Forward 2 Agreement, and I certainly wish all of the participants and organizers a successful weekend in Corner Brook.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The Member for The Straits – White Bay North.

MR. MITCHELMORE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I, too, thank the minister for the advance copy of his statement, and I would like to see the research focused on land use and around food security.

The Nordic Economic Development Board, the REDB in my district, realized opportunities in agriculture because they started inventorying it in the district.

I would like to see the Growing Forward 2 program where you see funds distributed not on a first-come, first-served basis and that the Department of Natural Resources reinstate some of the funding to one of its land use programs that it cut.

I really see in this an opportunity for co-ops and farmers markets to be expanded, and for us to look at providing incentives to work with farmers and local retailers and restaurants to see how we can provide some funding, some incentive, to encourage that partnership to be fostered.

I welcome the food safety initiatives that can be expanded, and I look forward to hearing more about that incentive.

Thank you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. OSBORNE: (Inaudible).

MR. SPEAKER: Does the Member for St. John's South have leave?

AN HON. MEMBER: No leave.

MR. SPEAKER: No leave.

The hon. the Minister of Service Newfoundland and Labrador.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. MCGRATH: Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today in this hon. House to announce that restaurant inspection reports are now available on-line.

Previously, members of the public were required to contact a government service centre in their area to obtain a paper copy of an inspection report for a particular restaurant. This could often take three to five business days. Today, we are announcing a new level of access by making restaurant inspection reports available on-line, twenty-four hours a day.

Mr. Speaker, this new information service demonstrates our government's intent to proactively disclose information that is commonly requested. It illustrates government's willingness to simplify and enhance access to information and it is a good example of why we created the Office of Public Engagement.

Mr. Speaker, our officers inspect thousands of food establishments in the Province annually, under an agreement with the Department of Health and Community Services. During each inspection, all aspects of food safety and facility sanitation are reviewed for compliance. When problems are discovered, our inspectors issue orders to correct any deficiencies and may schedule follow-up inspections to ensure establishments are following the standards under the legislation.

This Web site provides a snapshot of these reports for restaurants and take-outs across the Province, organized alphabetically and by region. Users are able to scroll through inspection reports, dating back to April 1, 2012, and obtain a report which outlines the status of a particular restaurant. The report will indicate whether the establishment is fully compliant with the standards, or whether these are issues which need to be addressed.

Mr. Speaker, the general public has the right to know that the establishment in which they choose to dine is complying with all food safety standards and, as such, we are pleased to announce this exciting initiative.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The Member for Torngat Mountains.

MR. EDMUNDS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I thank the member for the advance notice of his statement. I am pleased to see this government come forward in at least one area of measured transparency, Mr. Speaker. I agree that our restaurants and dining facilities need to be held in the highest standards of health and safety, and agree with the minister's statement.

I know this issue I think was raised about four or five years ago, Mr. Speaker, and it was raised again through the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. I think the response was that if you want information it would cost you thousands of dollars. I am certainly glad to see the government come forward in making this information public.

Mr. Speaker, I think it was just last spring when the former Minister of Service Newfoundland and Labrador referred to these requests for information as frivolous. I am glad to see the government come full circle and make this information available to the public, Mr. Speaker. Once again, it is good to see this government come forward in transparency on this issue, and looking forward to this government to come forward on transparency and accountability on all the people's issues.

Thank you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for St. John's East.

MR. MURPHY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I also would like to thank the minister for the advance copy of his statement. Congrats to the government for making this move. Short and simple, this is a good move by government that ensures food safety. It gives consumers transparency in seeing that cleanliness is also part of their decision making on where to go to eat, so it is kind of important to them. It gives a clear advantage to restaurants as well in their own marketing, showing what they need to be doing in making food safety a part of their daily operations and as well, again to their prospective customers.

I am glad to see they took some of the advice from the Cummings report in releasing these reports and making them open to the public. Perhaps the repeal of Bill 29 is going to be next on the menu.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: Does the hon. the Member for St. John's South have leave?

No leave.

Oral Questions.

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. BALL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Premier is acting as if nothing can stop her from sanctioning Muskrat Falls, even though there are still many outstanding questions. One of these questions is the actual cost of power. Under the old cost estimates, Muskrat Falls power cost 23.9 cents delivered to Soldiers Pond.

I ask the Premier: Since the price tag for this project keeps going up, what is the new cost of Muskrat Falls power delivered to Soldiers Pond?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Natural Resources.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KENNEDY: Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker.

What we have done when we released the charts and the projected rates, we outlined the numbers in terms of actual dollars and what people would expect to pay. Mr. Speaker, under the Muskrat Falls isolated option it would be 15.2 cents in 2017 going up to 16.6 cents a kilowatt hour in 2030. Compare that, Mr. Speaker, to Holyrood isolated option and it goes up to 19.5 cents in 2030.

Mr. Speaker, the power delivered to Soldiers Pond is only one aspect because the power is then blended into the other power on the Island. To put it in perspective, Mr. Speaker, Holyrood right now costs anywhere from 18.5 to twenty cents a kilowatt hour to produce power at Holyrood.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. BALL: Mr. Speaker, the minister knows that was not my question.

My question was: Based on the cost of construction at the recent DG3 numbers, $7.4 billion at 824 megawatts of power delivered to Soldiers Pond, will someone please tell us how this compares to the 23.9 cents in DG2? What is the new cost, the updated cost?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Natural Resources.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KENNEDY: Mr. Speaker, what we have tried to do is to answer the questions for the public of this Province as to what it is going to cost them. You can talk about kilowatt hours. You can talk about cost of power being delivered to Soldiers Pond. What people want to know is: What is it going to cost us to buy our power?

What we have done, Mr. Speaker, there is a rate calculator that is on-line. We have also outlined, and it is in writing in the paper that we released, Mr. Speaker, the cost to people. What is clear is that the Liberals stated for a long time that power rates will double. The only thing that is clear, Mr. Speaker, is that without Muskrat Falls, the increase in power rates will double.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. BALL: Once again, I will ask the minister. It is obvious you do not want to give the number when we compare it to the 23.9 cents.

Will the minister please tell us why he does not want to share this number with the people of Newfoundland and Labrador? It is 23.9 cents in DG2. What is it in DG3?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Natural Resources.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KENNEDY: Yes, Mr. Speaker, as I have outlined on a number of the previous questions, if you look at the electricity rates – and that is what is important to the people of this Province – it is not how you get to the number, but what is it going to cost us? What is it going to cost seniors? What is it going to cost single mothers? What is it going to cost the average person to heat their houses, Mr. Speaker?

What we know is that rates between 2000 and 2011 for the average ratepayer went up 32 per cent, Mr. Speaker, or $45 dollars a month. Between 2011 and 2016, they will continue to increase. What we will see with Muskrat Falls, Mr. Speaker, is that it will be half the cost of the increase without Muskrat Falls.

The real issue, Mr. Speaker, for the people of this Province is not: What does it cost per kilowatt hour? What does it cost me in my pocketbook? The numbers are out there for everyone to look at, and I have not heard the members opposite at this point outline how those numbers are wrong. That is the real issue, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The Leader of the Official Opposition.

MR. BALL: Well, one of the real issues is that the people of this Province are being forced to pay 100 per cent the cost of construction for Muskrat Falls on their power bills. The CEO of Emera stated that Nova Scotia will have access to power based on the natural gas prices in New England, which we know now have flattened because of the shale gas revolution.

So, I ask the minister: Will you finally commit that all revenue generated by Muskrat Falls power will be used to offset rates for people of Newfoundland and Labrador, the people who are paying for 100 per cent of this project?

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Natural Resources.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KENNEDY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, as pointed out by the CEO of Nalcor on many occasions, what was looked at here in determining the economic viability of this project was whether or not the 40 per cent power required for the Island could pay for the project. The CPW analysis did not include the 20 per cent of the power that will be sold to Nova Scotia. It did not include, Mr. Speaker, the 40 per cent of the power that would be available either for export or for use in the Province.

So, Mr. Speaker, what we have is a situation where we have a very viable project, and people are going to pay electricity bills no matter what we do. Mr. Speaker, the Holyrood option is, as we now speak, $2.4 billion more expensive than the option of Muskrat Falls. Mr. Speaker, we have explored natural gas and wind. One, we need the power; two, Muskrat Falls is the least-cost option.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The Leader of the Official Opposition.

MR. BALL: Mr. Speaker, once again, the minister knows my question; the question was very simple.

The Muskrat Falls project that you are proposing right now will generate money. Why will you not commit your government to include all that revenue into the ratepayer for the people that are actually paying for this power, the people of Newfoundland and Labrador? Why not use that to offset their rates?

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Finance and President of Treasury Board.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. MARSHALL: Mr. Speaker, one big difference between this project and the BRINCO project, for example, is that was owned by the private sector, and that was being built to make money for the owners of BRINCO, for the private shareholders in BRINCO. This project is for the people of Newfoundland and Labrador. Nalcor is owned by the people of Newfoundland and Labrador. When this project is done, the ratepayers will pay their rates, but any profits that are available will come back to the people of Newfoundland and Labrador. That is the difference.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. MARSHALL: Mr. Speaker, that money will be used by the government of the day to lower rates, if they decide to do that. Our government certainly has done that from time to time in the past. We can build hospitals, and we can bring in progressive social programs for the people of this Province.

This is a great project. It will lower people's electricity bills.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

The Leader of the Official Opposition.

MR. BALL: Once again, I will ask the question, and be very clear and simple. We were already building hospitals, I understand; that is the commitment that I heard yesterday. What we are talking about here today are rates for Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.

Will you commit the revenue from the Muskrat Falls project to be used to offset the rates for the ratepayers in Newfoundland and Labrador, the people that are paying for this project?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Natural Resources.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KENNEDY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

As the Premier has indicated on numerous occasions, and the Minister of Finance, my colleague, just outlined, what will happen with the excess monies will be for the government of the day to determine.

The one point that is clear, Mr. Speaker: we are all going to pay electricity bills in 2017. Whether that power is going to come from Holyrood, a refurbished Holyrood, or from Muskrat Falls, we still have to pay power bills. Muskrat Falls, Mr. Speaker, will stabilize and reduce rates.

As I indicated yesterday, I gave an example to the Leader of the NDP – who seems to think our government will proceed to financing without having any revenue projections – for example, in 2020, we know there will be $120 million approximately available for the government of the day to determine what they are going to do with. Will that be to build infrastructure, Mr. Speaker? Will that be to put money back into rates? That will be that for government to determine.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Torngat Mountains.

MR. EDMUNDS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, last year the Minister of Environment and Conservation clearly indicated that the environmental impacts of Muskrat Falls on Lake Melville are not as important to this government's balancing act as Holyrood.

Mr. Speaker, the Aboriginal community sets out 12,000 fathoms of communal subsistence fishing gear in Lake Melville every summer.

I ask the minister: Is this not important enough to warrant an environmental assessment in Lake Melville?

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Environment and Conservation.

MR. HEDDERSON: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

As I pointed out in my response last week, again, we do take any adverse effects very, very seriously. Metal mercury concerns are one of those. Again, Nalcor has consulted with the Aboriginal groups, key stakeholders, and the general public in upper Lake Melville to gain insight into the concerns of the community matters. Feedback from these consultations has been considered throughout the entire environmental assessment process.

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Torngat Mountains.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. EDMUNDS: Mr. Speaker, time is running out on this year's shipping season in Black Tickle in the North Coast of Labrador as winter conditions have set in. A considerable amount of freight remains in Lewisporte and Happy Valley – Goose Bay waiting to be shipped on the Astron.

I ask the Minister of Transportation and Works: Will the government now add a second vessel for the remainder of this shipping season to avoid extreme shipping and unloading conditions?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Transportation and Works.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. DAVIS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, back on September 4 of this year the Northern Ranger sustained a significant mechanical difficulty. Since that time, the motor vessel Astron is providing very good service to the North Coast of Labrador in the delivery of freight.

We made a commitment to the people of Northern Labrador that freight that was delivered to the facilities in Happy Valley-Goose Bay, as well in Lewisporte, before November 16 will be delivered. Mr. Speaker, right now we believe we are going to live up to those obligations, we are going to live up to those commitments, and we are going to deliver the freight as we said we would.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The Member for Bay of Islands.

MR. JOYCE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

On June 1, our office submitted a Freedom of Information request for a job evaluation report on trades in government. First, they asked for over $1,000 in fees. We appealed and brought that cost down to $150. Five months later, we received our information of 150 pages of completely blacked out documents of text, Mr. Speaker.

My question to the minister: Tell me again, Minister, how has Bill 29, the official secrecy act, improved openness and accountability in your government.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. HUTCHINGS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I am not aware of the particulars the gentleman refers to. Our legislation exists, there are parameters that surround that legislation, rules in regard to the privacy of information and the release of information, and how that is done.

The particulars that the hon. member thinks has not been provided or has not gotten due diligence, he can certainly pass it on to me and I will take a look for him and be happy to do that.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The Member for Bay of Islands.

MR. JOYCE: Mr. Speaker, I would love to pass it on to you, but it is all blocked out.

MR. SPEAKER: No props, I remind the speaker.

MR. JOYCE: Mr. Speaker, a five-month tug of war to get the most basic information on government policy is insulting to the people of the Province and these tradespeople. Government claims that Bill 29 was a minor bill with no significant effects on how information is released, yet we have seen major changes in the past in the way government treats Freedom of Information requests. They take far longer, cost far more and, as a result, we get way less information.

My question is to the minister: Will the minister now admit that the Office of Public Engagement is a worthless PR exercise designed to provide cover to the most secretive government in Canada?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. HUTCHINGS: Mr. Speaker, the hon. member may not be aware of it, there is legislation that exists, and there are parameters around the release of information. It is a balance between the protection of privacy and certainly the release of that information. There are protocols in place for that. There are appeals processes to the commissioner; outside of that, there are appeals to the courts.

He brings it here into the House of Assembly, waves around the papers, and wants us to deal with it here. There is a process in place. Why doesn't he find out how it works and deal with it. If there is something outside of that he thinks is not being done, bring it to my attention and I will take a look.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Burgeo – La Poile.

MR. A. PARSONS: Mr. Speaker, when Bill 29 was introduced in June, 2012, both the minister and deputy minister publicly assured the media that the provision of details around remuneration would not change. In fact, it did. The term remuneration was changed to salary range. As they say, the devil is in the details.

I ask the Minister of Justice: How is it that the minister himself did not know his own legislation?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. HUTCHINGS: Mr. Speaker, prior to Bill 29, access to remuneration included the exact amount of a salary of someone in the public service. It did not include any attachment related to bonuses. Since Bill 29 has been enacted here in this House, what now is provided is a range of the public servants working for the Province, unless there is an exact salary amount attached to it.

In addition, what are provided are the calculations that are done to determine what the bonus of that individual would be. Anybody out there could find out what the maximum is for someone who is working in a position anywhere in the public service based on that information that is now in the act, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The Member for Burgeo – La Poile.

MR. A. PARSONS: I say to you, Minister, your government said one thing and it did another. Yesterday in the House, the Minister Responsible for Public Engagement stated that the rationale for not providing total compensation information is that it would breach the employer-employee relationship. I would say, Mr. Speaker, public employees are employees of the public; they are paid for by the taxpayers.

I ask the minister: Would you amend the ATIPPA and make this information available to the public?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. HUTCHINGS: Mr. Speaker, when the statutory review was done by Mr. Cummings, one of the things that he did, he took a jurisdictional look at what was happening in other parts of the country and as well looked at the release of private information related to remuneration.

One of the things he identified was that in releasing information particularly related to the employer-employee relationship related to bonus that is tied to performance of an individual in the workplace. The release of that information, Mr. Cummings indicated, would not be appropriate, and is not released in other jurisdictions as well because it goes specific to the activities of that individual and their performance in the workplace.

We agree; that should not be public. What should be public is what is the maximum amount that person could earn and is earning in the public service. That is now available and it is out there. We will stand by protecting the privacy information of individuals, of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The Member for St. Barbe.

MR. BENNETT: Mr. Speaker, seven years ago this government introduced a Safe and Caring Schools policy to protect our children, like the children in the gallery from Immaculate Conception School. Yet in 2012, 22 per cent of Grade 12 students still admit to being bullied within the last thirty days; 40 per cent are afraid to go on the bus – the government's own figures. Recent incidents of school violence and police involvement further highlight a serious problem.

Will the minister agree that his Safe and Caring Schools Policy has been a complete failure?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Education.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. JACKMAN: Mr. Speaker, I certainly will not.

This hon. member got up a few days ago and called what is happening within the schools fluff around bullying. I would ask him to walk into a school and tell all the students who take part in Pink Shirt Day, and violence awareness activities and so on, tell him to go out and tell them that it is fluff what is happening.

Mr. Speaker, we are addressing it. One of the issues right now that is happening – I did an interview this morning, and we talked about: Is there more of a heightened awareness around bullying? Mr. Speaker, there is. People are reporting it more. People are talking about it more. We are investing with schools and the whole gamut. Mr. Speaker, people are being more aware and they are becoming more proactive.

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for St. Barbe.

MR. BENNETT: Mr. Speaker, last January the minister hired Goss Gilroy to review the Safe and Caring Schools Policy. The study was completed on August 31, and the minister sat on it for two months before releasing it on November 2. Now he is talking about doing another study.

Why won't the minister act on the report that the taxpayers have already bought and paid for to reduce school violence?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Education.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. JACKMAN: Mr. Speaker, maybe the member should think back to some of his voice messages that were left around just a little while ago.

Mr. Speaker, the report was released from Goss Gilroy. Staff and others were engaged to develop a draft bullying policy. A protocol, Mr. Speaker, for intervention and bullying awareness was developed so we can track and monitor these things right now.

As of tomorrow, the Federation of School Councils will be the first group that we will consult with. Those consultations will go on, Mr. Speaker, and then we will end up with a product that will improve, track, monitor, and look at interventions. Mr. Speaker, we end up at a better place than we are today.

It is good news, Mr. Speaker. The member cannot handle it.

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Third Party.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

Mr. Speaker, government's expert economist, Dr. Wade Locke, has predicted a budget deficit this year and deficit budgets for at least the next ten years.

With hundreds of millions set aside for Muskrat Falls, will the Minister of Finance assure this House and the people of this Province that services will not be cut in order to meet financial obligations regarding government's Muskrat Falls Project?

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Finance and President of Treasury Board.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. MARSHALL: I thank the hon. member for her question.

What is happening in the world today is we have an uncertainty in the global world economy. It is leading to a slowdown in demand, and it is caused by what is happening in Europe, it is caused by uncertainty because of the fiscal cliff in the United States. So, companies might be deferring projects that they intended.

That slowdown in demand is leading to lower commodity prices, lower oil prices, and lower mineral prices as well. That affects royalties that governments receive. It also lowers the profits of those companies, which means they pay less tax. So, therefore, in a time of GDP slowdown, we will see lower revenues.

Muskrat Falls is different. Muskrat Falls, the money that goes into Muskrat Falls will not increase our debt –

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Third Party.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS MICHAEL: Mr. Speaker, the minister has not been answering my question.

So, now I ask him: In light of the predicted future budget shortfalls, and in light of the uncertainty that he just talked about, how can we afford to proceed with an unproven multi-billion dollar hydro project?

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Finance and President of Treasury Board.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. MARSHALL: The equity investment and the debt taken up at Muskrat Falls, the revenue generated will pay that back, and it will pay a dividend to the Province to pay off any debt the Province takes out. There will be a return, and the project will pay for itself. What it means, it means lower rates for the people of the Province. We could continue to burn oil at Holyrood, but that is madness. David Suzuki said burning fossil fuels to create electricity is madness.

We are going to shut down Holyrood. We need to replace that power. We need power on the Island. We need power in Labrador for economic development. This is the way to do it without increasing our debt, and the project will pay for itself.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The Leader of the Third Party.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

I invite the minister to bring into this House the cash flow documentation to show us dollar for dollar what he just talked about.

Mr. Speaker, a report from the Harvard Kennedy School suggests a worldwide glut of oil production could drop the price of oil to below $60 a barrel for some time. This downward movement in the price of oil erodes the government's rationale for their Muskrat Falls Project.

Mr. Speaker, I ask the Minister of Natural Resources: What are the implications for the future of this Province's offshore oil and gas industry?

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Natural Resources.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KENNEDY: Mr. Speaker, since I have been the Minister of Natural Resources – almost a year now – I have met with the energy advisors that we use in New York, that we use in Europe, and, Mr. Speaker, the short-term volatility of oil is certainly something that can go up and down very quickly, depending on what happens in the Middle East today. In terms of the long-term forecasting, Mr. Speaker, they are based on fundamental principles of supply and demand.

To give you an example of why we are going to need more oil and why the price will stay up, I saw a chart today, Mr. Speaker: seventy cars per thousand people in China as opposed to 793 cars per thousand people in the United States; twenty cars per thousand people in India, Mr. Speaker. These cars require steel to be built. Eighty million people entering the middle class per year, Mr. Speaker, the price of oil is going to stay around $100 to $105 per barrel.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The Leader of the Third Party.

MS MICHAEL: Mr. Speaker, I hope that the experts that the minister was speaking to were not the ones who told him that the price of oil right now is going to be $124 a barrel.

I ask the Minister of Natural Resources: With things the way they are, what are the implications for the ratepayers of this Province, soon to be chained to this government's Muskrat Falls option for fifty years or more?

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Natural Resources.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KENNEDY: Mr. Speaker, the MHI did a sensitivity analysis in their Decision Gate 3 numbers for the – I know if they want to read it, it is at page 72. They looked at, Mr. Speaker, in terms of the accumulative present worth, the PIRA-predicted prices.

Mr. Speaker, at a base price of $104, Muskrat Falls is $2.4 billion cheaper. If it went to the low of $60 – and there are many reasons why the experts do not expect oil to go to that level – Muskrat Falls is still half a billion dollars cheaper in CPW.

We filed a report, Mr. Speaker – again, I do not know if the Opposition has had an opportunity to read it – an update by PIRA out of New York, where they indicate all the reasons why they do not think the PIRA low will occur, Mr. Speaker. It is quite simple: $85 to produce a barrel of oil in Alberta (inaudible).

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

The Leader of the Third Party.

MS MICHAEL: Mr. Speaker, global energy experts say the foundations of the world's energy markets are shifting and the US is poised to be a leading oil producer by 2017, and all but self sufficient within twenty years. There are profound implications for the rest of us if the world's largest economy no longer needs to import any energy.

I ask the Minister of Natural Resources: What plans is he developing for government to be able to address this profound shift?

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Natural Resources.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KENNEDY: Mr. Speaker, Dr. Schwartz also deals with the PIRA update. He deals with the effect of shale oil going up to 5.5 million to 6 million barrels a day out of North Dakota, Mr. Speaker, and basically the Americans will offset their needs with their own oil.

Mr. Speaker, the demand is still growing, according to PIRA. I am looking at a report yesterday, Mr. Speaker, out of Scotiabank, indicating that while we have a GDP in Canada of 2.1 per cent and the United States have 2.1 per cent, China is growing in 2012- 2013 at 7.7 per cent and India, Mr. Speaker, is growing at 5.5 per cent to 6 per cent.

India and China require more oil, Mr. Speaker. The principles of supply and demand will apply. What we see with this shale oil, it means self-sufficiency for the United States; it does not mean self-sufficiency for (inaudible).

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for St. John's Centre.

MS ROGERS: Mr. Speaker, today is National Housing Day. In many parts of the Province, housing costs have risen faster than anywhere else in the country, and rents have increased four times faster than the rate of inflation. Rental vacancies are at historic lows.

In Labrador West, contracting companies are buying apartment buildings to house their workers, evicting long-term tenants. We are in a housing crisis with no comprehensive housing policy from this government to deal with it and no concrete action. This is not just about social housing.

I ask this government: What will it do concretely to help young working families and middle income earners who cannot afford the skyrocketing housing costs or rents?

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister Responsible for Newfoundland and Labrador Housing.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. DAVIS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, as a government and as Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation, the focus and key focus is providing for those people who require assistance in housing the most. They are the people who require these services the most. Mr. Speaker, in doing so, what this government has done – the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation has done – in 2011, created 375 new rent supplements in private accommodations for the people who need the services most, Mr. Speaker. That is now 1,700 rent supplements available in this Province.

As well, Mr. Speaker, I can tell you that since 2006, there have been 1,100 new private accommodations that were built with assistance from the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador and the Government of Canada, which are providing affordable housing to those people who need it –

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for St. John's Centre.

MS ROGERS: Mr. Speaker, research shows that housing is a number one concern for seniors and they want to stay in their homes. The median income for seniors here in Newfoundland is $26,000, just over minimum wage for a lifetime of work. The programs and assistance offered by Newfoundland and Labrador Housing to seniors have long waiting lists and are not meeting their needs. We all know this in this House of Assembly.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

MS ROGERS: Mr. Speaker, I ask the government in the midst of this housing crisis: What concretely are you going to do to help our seniors?

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister Responsible for Newfoundland and Labrador Housing.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. DAVIS: Thank you again, Mr. Speaker.

I wanted to talk a little bit more about the Affordable Housing Initiative that has been in partnership with the Government of Canada and the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, and where since 2006, 1,100 new units have been developed. Mr. Speaker, the people who are living in those 1,100 units are the seniors in the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador; the people who require this most.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. DAVIS: These units are being built for our seniors; they are being built for persons with disabilities. Mr. Speaker, these units and this project has been recognized in Canada as the first in Canada to require a universal design. I tell you, that speaks volumes for the vision of this government and what we are doing for the people of Newfoundland and Labrador.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for St. John's East.

MR. MURPHY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Natural Resources Minister is on record in this House as saying they would put Muskrat Falls' excess power for sale on the spot markets. However, at the briefing for Ziff Energy on natural gas options, we were told that part of the reason why natural gas is not an option is because of the volatility of the spot markets.

Can the minister please tell this House why the natural gas spot market is not an option but the electricity spot market is?

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Natural Resources.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KENNEDY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, in our meetings with the experts, Wood Mackenzie, for example, they indicated that if you had to build transmission now then the spot markets may not provide a good profit. Mr. Speaker, our Maritime Link we get the energy to travel for free. We then pay $5 to $10, Mr. Speaker, to transmit the electricity per megawatt to the US. If we get $50 a megawatt hour, it is only costing us $10 to get there and there is a $40 per megawatt hour profit. The way the spot markets work, as I am sure the member opposite knows, they can range from $25 to $100 per megawatt hour, depending on the time of day, time of year.

Mr. Speaker, it is the deal with Nova Scotia and the Maritime Link which allows us to access the spot markets. That is why, Mr. Speaker, there is a market for electricity.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for St. John's East.

MR. MURPHY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I would say to the minister, there is probably not going to be a spot market if the US is going to be self-sufficient and burning natural gas for electricity.

Mr. Speaker, Muskrat Falls promises a steady supply of power, but it makes this promise at an added cost to the municipalities' bottom line.

I ask the Minister of Municipal Affairs: What representation has the minister made to government to address the extra funding needs that municipalities will require to help keep the lights going?

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Municipal Affairs, time for a quick response.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. O'BRIEN: Yes, Mr. Speaker.

I would ask the hon. member: Does he understand the word budget? Because that is a part of the budget process and I will address that in that process.

MR. SPEAKER: The time for Question Period has expired.

MR. JOYCE: A point of order, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER: The Member for Bay of Islands, on a point of order.

MR. JOYCE: Mr. Speaker, during Question Period the Minister of Innovation, Business and Rural Development challenged me to table the report. I will just let the minister know, here is the report on behalf of the tradespeople in Corner Brook. I hope you are going to do something with it to help out the tradespeople in Corner Brook who cannot get the information from the Member for Humber East.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER: The Minister of Finance, speaking to the point of order.

MR. MARSHALL: Mr. Speaker, the JES is a matter that is being negotiated. It is part of the collective bargaining process. The implementation of JES is something the trade unions and the government have talked about for some time. They are now negotiating the implementation (inaudible) at the table –

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

There is no point of order.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

Presenting Reports by Standing and Select Committees.

Tabling of Documents.

Notices of Motion.

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

MR. BALL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

On the Orders of the Day there is a motion there. Under Motions you will see there is a motion there that I put on the Order Paper in the spring. I hereby withdraw that motion.

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Official Opposition has directed the House to remove the notice of motion that is on the Order Paper in his name. Duly noted and we will do that.

Answers to Questions for which Notice has been Given.

Petitions.

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for St. John's North.

MR. KIRBY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

This is the Immaculate Conception School Petition.

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

WHEREAS our schools are the heart of our communities and we should do what we can to preserve them long into the future; and

WHEREAS the proposal to reconfigure Immaculate Conception School in Colliers as a K-4 school denies students fundamental rights including the right to a healthy, active, safe, and caring school environment; and

WHEREAS government is compelled to give school reconfiguration decisions some consideration as was the case in 2005 when the PC government decided to ensure a continuation of a K-12 system in Bishop's Falls; and

WHEREAS parents of Immaculate Conception School have been lobbying government for a school gymnasium facility since 1999;

We, the undersigned, petition the House of Assembly to urge government to ensure that the Eastern School District is provided with adequate funds to maintain Immaculate Conception School as a K-6 school. We further petition the House of Assembly to urge government to ensure that a new school is constructed to replace the existing inadequate facilities at Immaculate Conception School.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to submit these additional petitions from Immaculate Conception School for the consideration of members of the House. Parents are here in the gallery today and many of those watching the House proceedings on TV or on the Internet have signed this petition.

They want members of the House to know that they want to keep Immaculate Conception School as a K-6 school in Colliers. They want members of the House of Assembly to know that they do not want Grades 5 and 6 children bused to Roncalli Central High School. That was tried before and it did not work out.

They want members of the House to know that they are worried about the safety of their kids if they have to attend a high school that was not designed for smaller children. They want members of the House of Assembly to know that they believe Immaculate Conception School is an excellent school with great teachers. The problem they have, Mr. Speaker, which they have been lobbying officials about since 1999, is that Immaculate Conception needs a gymnasium. They want members of the House to know that when they said they wanted a gymnasium, they did not mean the gymnasium at Roncalli Central High.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KIRBY: Finally, they want you all to know that they want a new school. They believe that their children should have the same opportunities and advantages as every other child in Newfoundland and Labrador, all the other primary and elementary school kids in the Province. Nothing more, nothing less. I hope the members opposite will think about all that and hear the concerns of those petitioners.

Thank you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for St. John's South.

MR. OSBORNE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I have a petition to the hon. House of Assembly for Newfoundland and Labrador in session assembled.

WHEREAS rental rates in the city have increased considerably within the past number of years; and

WHEREAS rental component of the benefits provided to those receiving Income Support has not increased at the same rate; and

WHEREAS the availability of affordable housing is becoming more and more challenging, making it more difficult for those who receive Income Support to rent suitable housing;

THEREFORE, we the residents of St. John's wish to petition the House of Assembly in Legislative Session to review the living allowance portion of Income Support that is used to pay rent.

Mr. Speaker, I know – because I have some involvement with one of the soup kitchens in the city – that two years ago, or three years ago, there were sixty people, every Friday morning, going to that soup kitchen. Now you are looking at almost 200, and some days over 200, people on a Friday morning going to soup kitchen for breakfast. That is a reflection, Mr. Speaker, of people finding it more and more difficult to either pay rent or keep the heat on, or put food in the fridge.

Mr. Speaker, this is a real issue. It is a real issue. The Budget process is coming up, and I will ask Cabinet and the members opposite, the minister responsible, to keep in mind the rental portion of Income Support when they review the Budget this year, because it is a very real issue, and there are people in this city and throughout the Province who are finding it more and more difficult.

I commend government in some ways, because the economy of the city and the Province is very strong, but with a strong economy, Mr. Speaker, comes challenges. One of those challenges is a greater divide between the people who can afford to pay their rent and the people who cannot.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for St. Barbe.

MR. BENNETT: Mr. Speaker, to the hon. House of Assembly of the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador in Parliament assembled, the petition of the undersigned humbly sheweth:

WHEREAS with declining enrolment distance education by Internet is now an accepted way to deliver educational services to students living in small communities; and

WHEREAS students have little to no say in where they or their families reside; and

WHEREAS many families do not have the ability to relocate so that their children can access educational opportunities in larger centres; and

WHEREAS many small businesses rely on the Internet to conduct business; and

WHEREAS high-speed Internet permits a business to be more competitive than the slower dial-up service; and

WHEREAS there are no plans to offer high-speed Internet to the residents of the community of Eddies Cove West; and

Whereupon the undersigned, your petitioners, humbly pray and call upon the House of Assembly to urge the government to partner with the private sector and offer high-speed Internet service to this community.

And as in duty bound, your petitioners will ever pray.

Mr. Speaker, this is a small community, as many small communities, and it is being bypassed for high-speed Internet.

The cost to provide high-speed Internet in a package when the service is going through the area is significantly less than to come back and fill in the spots after the fact.

Mr. Speaker, we see as time goes by and the government closes schools and makes education more difficult for students to access, high-speed Internet will be one of the ways that they will be able to live at home and study, become educated, and to try and catch up with and keep pace with a modern world.

Mr. Speaker, these residents of the Town of Eddies Cove West are petitioning the House of Assembly and this is their petition.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Burgeo – La Poile.

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

I have a petition to the hon. House of Assembly of the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador in Parliament assembled:

WHEREAS hundreds of residents of the South West Coast of the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador, including residents of the communities of Margaree, Fox Roost , Isle aux Morts, Burnt Islands, Rose Blanche-Harbour le Cou, Diamond Cove, and La Poile use Route 470 on a regular basis for work, medical, educational, and social reasons; and

WHEREAS there is no cellphone coverage on Route 470; and

WHEREAS residents and users of Route 470 require cellphone coverage to ensure their safety and communication abilities; and

WHEREAS the Department of Innovation, Business and Rural Development recently announced significant funding to improve broadband services in rural Newfoundland and Labrador; and

WHEREAS the residents and users of Route 470 feel that the Department of Innovation, Business and Rural Development should also invest in cellular phone coverage for rural Newfoundland and Labrador.

WHEREUPON the undersigned, your petitioners, humbly pray and call upon the House of Assembly to urge government to support the users of Route 470 in their request to obtain cellphone coverage along Route 470.

And as in duty bound your petitioners will ever pray.

Mr. Speaker, I had to get up on this petition today because I have two separate roadways in my district that do not have cellphone coverage. A couple of days ago I referenced Route 480 and today I wanted to do Route 470. That is a lot of communities that have no cellphone coverage to cover anything. That is not just to get into the safety needs that they have, driving up and down desolate roadways in poor weather conditions. Let us not talk about the fact they cannot get calls from work if they are working shifts. They cannot get a call on their cellphone. They have to be sitting around in their house waiting for that call.

The fact is, too, it is not just the residents who live here every day, day-in and day-out, who do not have this basic service that should be provided. The fact is we also have a number of tourists who are coming to this Province. I know there was a nice application last year brought by the former Minister of Tourism, an app to be used for tourism purposes. The problem is it cannot be used in a lot of places in this Province.

We need to expand upon our cellphone coverage. We need to make sure that service, which is basic and essential, is provided to all people in this Province, no matter where they live.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER: The Member for St. John's East.

MR. MURPHY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I rise in the House today to present a petition on behalf of the people of Newfoundland and Labrador regarding chemical use and pesticides.

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

WHEREAS Tordon 101 contains the chemicals 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and Picloram; and

WHEREAS the chemical Picloram is a known cancer-causing carcinogen; and

WHEREAS the provincial government has banned the cosmetic use of the pesticide 2,4-D; and

WHEREAS safer alternatives are available to the provincial government for brush clearance such as manual labour, alternative competitive seeding methods, and/or the mechanical removal of brush; and

WHEREAS the provincial government is responsible for ensuring the safety and well-being of its citizens;

WHEREUPON the undersigned, your petitioners, humbly pray and call upon the House of Assembly to urge government to cease the use of chemicals covered under its own cosmetic pesticide ban and begin using safer methods of brush clearance that will not place its citizens in harm's way.

As in duty bound, your petitioners will ever pray.

Mr. Speaker, when the chemical ban was announced in July 2011, people were probably thinking that everybody was going to be included and everybody was going to be following the ban, including government.

This petition is signed by people all over the Province, including Harbour Main, Chance Cove, Conception Harbour, and a lot of rural areas where probably water is pretty important. When it comes to using these chemicals that stay for a long time in water, in particular Picloram which has been known to stay in some water supplies for a very long time, upwards of ten years before it starts to breakdown, the question has to be asked.

We know we have to have a safety mechanism for moose in the clearing of brush on the side of the roads. We know we have to have our snowplow operators be able to throw that snow right back off the road so the brush cannot be there. It has to have a place to go.

In the interest of road safety it is one thing that we clear brush, but to use chemicals – and yes we know that chemicals work and they do a darn good job in turning everything on the side of the road grey. At the same time there are other uses, there are other things that we could be doing rather than using chemicals to clear away brush.

For example, we get a lot of people in this Province, who visit this Province particularly, who comment on how the lupins are growing so nicely along the highways and they look so colourful. A lupin happens to be a pretty important plant and is very competitive against alders which are growing. There are alternative means of doing things. We can do things better and keep our water supplies clear of some of these cancer-causing agents.

I would also like to say, Mr. Speaker, at the same time that government should be leading by example here. It is very important that if government is going to institute a ban on chemicals that it follow its own example and not be using it. There are other ways that are a little bit cheaper and more cost effective.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The Member for The Straits – White Bay North.

MR. MITCHELMORE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I rise today to the hon. the House of Assembly of the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador in Parliament assembled, the petition of the undersigned humbly sheweth:

WHEREAS education is a provincial responsibility; and

WHEREAS students in rural communities do not have the same technological resources as students in urban areas due to their geographical whereabouts and distance from urban centres; and

WHEREAS because of this, students in rural areas have a disadvantage when it comes to school work and overall knowledge of the world around them;

WHEREUPON your petitioners call upon all Members of the House of Assembly to urge government to assist in expanding the coverage of broadband Internet in all areas of the Province in order to ensure equal access to education, current events, and opportunities to residents of the Province.

As in duty bound, your petitioners will ever pray.

Mr. Speaker, right now we have more than 200 communities in Newfoundland and Labrador without access to broadband Internet, and that is significant. When we look at what these students are talking about and when we look at education, it is very critical that we provide an equal access.

A number of our students, especially in Northern climates and in a district like my own there can be snow storms on many occasions. As we have CDLI, distance education and distance learning happening and the instructor may be in the metro area or may be in Central or Western – they are teaching students all over – and if that one school is closed down, then they are missing out on educational opportunities because the class is going ahead. They are not able to be able to take advantage and get their school work done in the same timely manner as others and be able to log-in at home.

That is a concern, Mr. Speaker, about allowing people to be able to go on-line at home, to be able to have access, to be able to do their homework and do it in real time. This is an opportunity for us to expand education across Newfoundland and Labrador. If we look at Telelearning, we look at these centres and we look at how we can partner with Memorial University and the College of the North Atlantic to expand programming so that we can reduce geographical barriers. Technology is key, and we really do need an advanced telecommunication strategy.

I want to say that the people who have signed this are from Torbay, St. John's, Goulds, Portugal Cove – St. Philip's, Castor River South, Dildo, Comfort Cove, and from Conception Bay South. A number of these communities would have access to broadband Internet but they realize that education should be equal and we need to look at expanding into many of the rural areas.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. KING: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I call from the Order Paper, Order 6, second reading of a bill, An Act To Amend Various Acts Of The Province Respecting Annual Reports. (Bill 42)

Motion, second reading of a bill, "An Act To Amend Various Acts Of The Province Respecting Annual Reports". (Bill 42)

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Mount Pearl North.

MR. KENT: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I just want to rise for a couple of minutes to speak in support of Bill 42, An Act To Amend Various Acts Of The Province Respecting Annual Reports.

The reason I want to speak to it, Mr. Speaker, is that this directly relates to the mandate of our new Office of Public Engagement. We have seen now a number of examples this week of proactive and routine disclosure of information. That is something that I know our minister and our Premier, and others in this government certainly support. That is why I have wanted an opportunity to speak to this particular bill.

As part of a new Office of Public Engagement, we are working with departments to proactively identify information that is – sorry, Mr. Speaker, I am being distracted by one of my colleagues, which would not shock those who are gathered around me in this section. He is a distraction on most days, Mr. Speaker. Charming, but distracting.

Again, we are working with departments to proactively identify information that is commonly requested, that is deemed routine in nature, and we are working with departments throughout government to make that information publicly available. We saw a great example with the restaurant inspections through Service Newfoundland and Labrador earlier today.

This bill being brought in by the Minister of Health and Community Services is in that same spirit of openness, of transparency, of proactive and routine disclosure, which is something we certainly advocate and support. Through this process that we are going through with departments we hope to be able to eliminate the need for some routine requests, and that will hopefully reduce required staff time to respond to such inquiries as well.

I think that in terms of this particular bill and the acts that it impacts, adopting a requirement to make annual reports of health profession regulatory bodies public is going to enhance transparency, it is going to enhance accountability within these health professions. It is also going to enhance the public's knowledge of the work of the health profession regulatory bodies.

Again, Mr. Speaker, these changes are definitely in keeping with the spirit of the new Office of Public Engagement, and they are definitely changes that are in keeping with the new mandate of the new Office of Public Engagement. Our Premier has said several times, as has our minister, the new Office of Public Engagement is going to undertake this process of routine disclosure. It is going to provide a proactive approach to access information that really reflects this government's commitment to openness and to transparency as well.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to make a few more comments on this particular bill, if I could. We are actually amending sixteen health professional statutes. The amendments to each act are going to increase transparency and accountability of the health regulatory bodies. Really, what we are doing here is ensuring that the public has access to those annual reports.

As the minister indicated in her opening comments on this particular bill, we are deeply committed to continuing to build a culture of openness, of transparency, and accountability as well. This commitment, Mr. Speaker, is supported through publishing the annual report of each regulatory body on the Web site of the Department of Health and Community Services. If these regulatory bodies in question have a Web site of their own, then the annual reports will be published there as well.

Easily accessible annual reports will help keep not only members of the various professions, but also the general public well informed about the regulated health professions. It also will enhance their knowledge of the work and mandate of the health profession regulatory bodies. I am sure that members of this House will support these steps to create a culture of openness, transparency, accountability, and I certainly hope that this bill will pass.

Mr. Speaker, to conclude, proactive disclosure of information is what this is all about. I think this step that involves the various health professions really reflects our overall Administration's commitment to openness and to transparency. By adopting this requirement through this particular bill, we are increasing the public's accessibility to important information that relates to these professions.

I look forward to many more examples coming forward, Mr. Speaker, of routine, proactive disclosure of information, which is keeping with the spirit and intent of some of the positive changes we have made in terms of access to information and protection of privacy. With that, Mr. Speaker, I will conclude my remarks.

Thank you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for St. John's Centre.

MS ROGERS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I too would like to speak to this bill. We do see that there is definitely some improvement in making some of this information easily accessible to both the public and to legislators. It is a definite improvement from what has existed.

However, there is a concern that we have. One is why we no longer have these reports tabled in the House of Assembly. We feel that it is important, that the work that these boards do is very, very important, particularly in this time of increased technology in health and also the stress that we have on our health care system. What these reports do will point out some of the challenges and some of the problems that some of these boards might be looking at. It is important that we not miss these reports.

To have the reports tabled in the House of Assembly gives notice to all of us that these reports are now available. That is an important issue. As well, anything that is tabled in this House then goes to the Legislative Library, which then means that these reports are categorized, the information is managed, and the information is easily accessible. When we use Legislative Library staff to help us in our research, they are able to do that.

I think to continue that tradition of tabling in the House is important, not only for the sake of tradition, but also for the sake of formally notifying legislators that in fact these very important reports are ready, reports that reflect the work of the relevant bodies, organizations, and boards that are presenting their annual reports.

I do have a few questions to the minister. I am hoping that the minister will be able to tell us why these particular boards were included in the list to be tabled in the House in the first place, and then why will they not be tabled in the House now? I feel that if it is a matter of paper – I hope it is not just that – well, then, there is a way of passing on that information electronically.

I do feel that it is important to continue in order to respect that commitment to transparency and accountability. It is important to continue to have these reports tabled in the House, again, as a mark that the annual reports are done and are available, and also to follow through on the very efficient work of the Legislative Library in terms of both housing information, formally housing information, but also managing information and playing a role in supporting all of us in the work that they do.

Also by doing so, by tabling in the House, it once again brings into focus the very important work that these boards do, that these organizations do, that the staff of these particular boards play in carrying out the work in our health care system. Again, in this time of particular challenges in the health care field, I think it is more important now than ever.

I look forward to hearing from the minister on those particular issues, and I thank you for this time.

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for the District of Port au Port.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. CORNECT: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I stand today to lend my support for this important bill, Mr. Speaker. It is certainly an honour and a privilege to stand and to participate in this debate on behalf of the constituents of the great and cultural District of Port au Port.

Bill 42, Mr. Speaker, an Act to Amend Various Acts of the Province Respecting Annual Reports – I encourage all my fellow colleague members on both sides of the aisle to support the proposed amendments that we are debating this afternoon.

The changes proposed, Mr. Speaker, through this bill will have significant impact upon the protection of the public. These changes, Mr. Speaker, will reinforce our commitment to ensure openness, transparency, and accountability by amending the statutes governing health professions in this Province to require them, Mr. Speaker, to place their annual reports on-line for public viewing and going worldwide. This will certainly make sure the general public has access to the information regarding the operations and activities of the governing bodies for each of the regulated health professions on a timely, Mr. Speaker, and on a regular basis.

Mr. Speaker, in the case where the governing body does not have a Web site where they can post their annual reports, these reports will be posted on the Web site of the provincial government at www.gov.nl.ca. It is also important to note, Mr. Speaker, that hard copies and/or paper copies will still be accessible for those who request it. All you need to do is contact the board and it will be made available. For the people of the District of Port au Port, you can certainly call my office and I can get a copy of the requested report for you.

Mr. Speaker, as the minister already stated, the Department of Health and Community Services is responsible for seventeen statutes of the twenty-three regulated health professions of this Province. Sixteen of those statutes establish stand-alone boards, councils, and/or colleges that have responsibilities, Mr. Speaker, for regulating specific health professions. These health profession governing boards serve to protect the public through professional regulation. The boards ensure that the applicants for membership in a particular profession meet defining criteria. Only qualified and competent practitioners are permitted to become members of a particular profession and to deliver health care services.

The boards also have the responsibility for disciplining members. Mr. Speaker, when a board receives an allegation that one of its members may be doing something improperly, the board must investigate and deal with the allegation. With recent amendments to the health professional statutes in this Province, discipline hearings must be held in public. Mr. Speaker, we have all seen media reports about these hearings; however, without access to annual reports, we do not know how many complaints health professional governing bodies receive or how many are settled without a formal hearing.

Right now, Mr. Speaker, our current legislation says that the governing body must prepare its annual report and submit it to the Minister of Health and Community Services in a timely fashion. This must be done on a yearly basis. What the amendments of this bill will do now is that the governing body will be required to post their annual report on their own Web site and/or on the site of the Department of Health and Community Services.

Oftentimes, Mr. Speaker, if a member of the public has an issue with a particular health professional or requires information about governance of a profession, he or she will go to the governing body's Web site or, in the absence of a Web site, go directly to the Web site of the Department of Health and Community Services at www.health.gov.nl.ca/health. It is therefore important to note that the annual reports will be made available on these Web sites and made available to the public.

Section 10 of the Transparency and Accountability Act requires all provincial government departments and agencies to make their annual reports public through the House of Assembly or any other method that is effective and accessible. Requiring governing bodies of a regulated health profession is certainly compliance with the act.

Mr. Speaker, I ask all my colleagues in this hon. House of Assembly to approve this valuable bill that will improve access to annual reports, increase availability of information to the public about the important work of the health profession regulatory bodies, and ultimately enhance patient safety.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The Leader of the Third Party.

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

I do want to make just a couple of comments with regard to Bill 42, An Act To Amend Various Acts Of The Province Respecting Annual Reports.

What concerns me is that we really are not being given great rationale for why this change has to happen. We did try to get an explanation around all of this but nothing was that profound, to tell you the truth. I think there is something – I am going to say symbolic, but it is more than symbolic – about annual reports being physically brought into this House and being tabled in this House, because, in actual fact, when it comes to these organizations, they are acting under legislation. This body is the body that is responsible for legislation, not just a minister, but this whole body is responsible for legislation and for the passing of legislation.

When we have legislation that relates specifically to particular groups, their annual report is really an annual report to this House of Assembly, not just to the minister. For that reason, I think it is important that the House of Assembly receive the annual reports and that we actually get them physically.

Another reason, besides what in some ways looks symbolic; we also need to know that the annual reports are finished, that the annual reports exist. I really do not think we have to be continually looking to see: Oh, is this annual report done. Is it there? Has it come out? Is it on-line? It is very easy to forget about a report and about an organization if you are not receiving it and if you do not know that the report exists. I know that happens to me with some of the reports come, I say: Oh yes, I am interested in reading the report for this organization or for this body.

I do think it is important. I do not know why the government is doing it. It does not seem clear to me why it is necessary, so I actually think that I do not really see supporting this act. It is a small thing, I know, but my thing is: why do it, number one; and, number two: I think it needs to continue because I think accountability to the House is what is symbolized by the reports being brought in here and being tabled here.

I think it is really important that we maintain the understanding of what the role of the House is. We have too many times actually, in not the far distant past, where we have experienced in this House where everybody's role is not respected, where we do not understand that everybody in this House has a responsibility for what gets passed in this House. We all have responsibility for information that pertains to this House and to the work of this House.

I get concerned when I see something like this happening because I say: Is this another way of just undermining the role of everybody sitting in this House? I do not see the reason for it. I have not heard a good reason for doing it. Yes, it is paper and that could be a reason that the minister would give to say that we do not need the reports because well, do you need more paper. The reports are important, they are symbolic, and I know from other experiences in my life, and other people have talked to me about this as well, when things are just posted on-line and you do not get any notification that they are there, you also have a sense of forgetting that the actual thing exists or should exist. I have sort of said that before.

I am not going to beat this death, but I am going to say I do not see the need on one level for this to happen. To put it positively, I do think we do need to have the report still coming to the House so the organizations understand where their accountability is, that the accountability is to the House of Assembly, not just to a minister. For that reason, I will not be supporting the bill.

Thank you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The Member for St. John's South, speaking to the bill.

MR. OSBORNE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, this legislation will require boards involved to post their annual reports on a Web site, should they have one. It will also require that the Department of Health and Community Services post to their site the report. That is a good thing because it will make the reports accessible to the average person, to the general public. I see that as a good thing; however, the legislation does now mean that the boards do not have to supply the reports to the House of Assembly. I do have a concern with that; I share the concern of the Leader of the Third Party on that particular point.

Under the legislation it says: The board shall prepare and submit to the minister not later than six months after the end of its financial year a copy of its report. It also indicates that the minister shall publish the annual report on the Health and Community Services Web site.

Mr. Speaker, I will be proposing an amendment to this particular legislation under section 9.(2), for example, of the Chiropractors Act to say that the minister shall supply or table a copy of those reports, one for each of the recognized parties, to the Table of the House of Assembly.

I believe that these reports should be tabled to the House of Assembly, Mr. Speaker. These boards are accountable to the Legislature; they are accountable to government, not just the minister responsible. While I think that this legislation, Bill 42, has merits in the fact that it will provide the information to the general public on a more broad level, I do have concerns that the reports will not be tabled in the House of Assembly.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Health and Community Services, if she speaks now she will close debate.

MS SULLIVAN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, a very interesting debate on this particular bill, more debate actually than I had anticipated. Really and truly, this is a bill about making access larger, broader if we will. I believe that is what this legislation will do.

There were a few questions, Mr. Speaker, that were raised throughout this debate that we had last day and this afternoon. I will try to remember from last day and respond to a couple of questions that were asked then, and then respond to the questions that were asked here this afternoon as well.

There was a question asked, I think, from the other side of the House, from the Member for Burgeo – La Poile, I believe, in response to the imposing of a levy or a fine of $1,000 for colleges or boards that had failed to file an annual report. I am really happy to report to you that we have never had to do that. That everybody in fact has filed a report to the minister's office, and so we have always had that.

Now, with regard to the accountability issue and the business of whether or not these should be tabled here in the House of Assembly and not on-line, or in addition – I am assuming I was hearing in addition to. We should point out; there were only ever five that were tabled here in the House of Assembly. The others were never, ever tabled in here in the House of Assembly.

All documents, I would like to point out, from the Department of Health are subject to the Management of Information Act, which means they will be appropriately archived and recorded by government. It is not that they would never, ever be archived. It is not that they would never be produced in a paper copy, Mr. Speaker. They all have to be produced in a paper copy. They all will be archived, Mr. Speaker. That, again, is complying with the Management of Information Act. That will absolutely happen.

It is not about paper. It is not about any of that. It is about access more than anything. As I said, only five were ever tabled here in the House of Assembly. I have only ever brought in one copy at a time. Frankly, I do not know that anyone – I cannot say that nobody has picked up a copy off the table once I have tabled it, but I have only ever brought in one copy any time that I brought in and tabled one of these documents.

I think the biggest point we want to make around this particular bill, Mr. Speaker, is that the people of Province need to have access, putting them on-line provides better access. Also, the people of the professions who are involved in each of these boards, et cetera, they are the people who need access to these reports as well. If they know they are coming they can get access on-line. The boards themselves will also have paper copies available. So, if anyone is looking for them, it is very easy to have them sent out to them.

With that, Mr. Speaker, I will take my seat and end the debate on this particular bill.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: Is it the pleasure of the House that the said bill be now read a second time?

All those in favour, ‘aye'.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Aye.

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

Motion carried.

CLERK: A bill, An Act To Amend Various Acts Of The Province Respecting Annual Reports. (Bill 42)

MR. SPEAKER: The bill has now been read a second time.

When shall the bill be referred to a Committee of the Whole House?

MR. KING: Now, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER: Now.

On motion, a bill, "An Act To Amend Various Acts Of The Province Respecting Annual Reports", read a second time, ordered referred to a Committee of the Whole House presently, by leave. (Bill 42)

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

MR. KING: Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the Minister of Advanced Education and Skills, that the House resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole to consider Bills 40, 41, and 42.

MR. SPEAKER: It is moved and seconded that I do now leave the Chair for the House to resolve itself into Committee of the Whole to consider the bills referred.

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

All those in favour, ‘aye'.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Aye.

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

Motion carried.

On motion, that the House resolve itself into Committee of the Whole, Mr. Speaker left the Chair.

CHAIR (Littlejohn): Order, please!

We are now considering Bill 40, An Act To Amend The Health Research Ethics Authority Act, The Medical Care Insurance Act, 1999 and The Mental Health Care And Treatment Act.

A bill, "An Act To Amend The Health Research Ethics Authority Act, The Medical Care Insurance Act, 1999 and The Mental Health Care And Treatment Act". (Bill 40)

CLERK: Clause 1.

CHAIR: Shall clause 1 carry?

All those in favour, ‘aye'.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Aye.

CHAIR: All those against, ‘nay'.

Carried.

On motion, clause 1 carried.

CLERK: Clause 2.

CHAIR: Shall clause 2 carry?

All those in favour, ‘aye'.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Aye.

CHAIR: All those against, ‘nay'.

Carried.

On motion, clause 2 carried.

CLERK: Clause 3.

CHAIR: Shall clause 3 carry?

All those in favour, ‘aye'.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Aye.

CHAIR: All those against, ‘nay'.

Carried.

On motion, clause 3 carried.

CLERK: Be it enacted by the Lieutenant-Governor and House of Assembly in Legislative Session convened, as follows.

CHAIR: Shall the enacting clause carry?

All those in favour, ‘aye'.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Aye.

CHAIR: All those against, ‘nay'.

Carried.

On motion, enacting clause carried.

CHAIR: Shall the preamble carry?

All those in favour, ‘aye'.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Aye.

CHAIR: All those against, ‘nay'.

Carried.

On motion, preamble carried

CLERK: A bill, An Act To Amend The Health Research Ethics Authority Act, The Medical Care Insurance Act, 1999 and The Mental Health Care And Treatment Act. (Bill 40)

CHAIR: Shall the title carry?

All those in favour, ‘aye'.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Aye.

CHAIR: All those against, ‘nay'.

Carried.

On motion, title carried.

CHAIR: Shall I report the bill without amendment?

All those in favour, ‘aye'.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Aye.

CHAIR: All those against, ‘nay'.

Carried.

Motion, that the Committee report having passed the bill without amendment, carried.

CHAIR: Order, please!

We are now considering Bill 41, An Act To Amend The Hearing Aid Practitioners Act.

A bill, "An Act To Amend The Hearing Aid Practitioners Act". (Bill 41)

CLERK: Clause 1.

CHAIR: Shall clause 1 carry?

The hon. the Member for Burgeo – La Poile.

MR. A. PARSONS: Yes, Mr. Chair, I have a question for the minister. In some of the commentary referencing, I guess the reports will now be tabled on the Web site, we will say the government Web site, as well as a Web site of the organization.

MS SULLIVAN: (Inaudible).

MR. A. PARSONS: I am ahead of myself, I guess, am I? I thought you were fast there. I apologize. I revoke my question.

CHAIR: Shall clause 1 carry?

All those in favour, ‘aye'.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Aye.

CHAIR: All those against, ‘nay'.

Carried.

On motion, clause 1 carried.

CLERK: Clause 2.

CHAIR: Shall clause 2 carry?

All those in favour, ‘aye'.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Aye.

CHAIR: All those against, ‘nay'.

Carried.

On motion, clause 2 carried.

CLERK: Be it enacted by the Lieutenant-Governor and House of Assembly in Legislative Session convened, as follows.

CHAIR: Shall the enacting clause carry?

All those in favour, ‘aye'.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Aye.

CHAIR: All those against, ‘nay'.

Carried.

On motion, enacting clause carried.

CLERK: A bill, An Act To Amend The Hearing Aid Practitioners Act. (Bill 41)

CHAIR: Shall the title carry?

All those in favour, ‘aye'.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Aye.

CHAIR: All those against, ‘nay'.

Carried.

On motion, title carried.

CHAIR: Shall I report the bill without amendment?

All those in favour, ‘aye'.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Aye.

CHAIR: All those against, ‘nay'.

Carried.

Motion, that the Committee report having passed the bill without amendment, carried.

CHAIR: We are now considering Bill 42, An Act To Amend Various Acts Of The Province Respecting Annual Reports.

A bill, "An Act To Amend Various Acts Of The Province Respecting Annual Reports". (Bill 42)

CLERK: Clause 1.

CHAIR: Shall clause 1 carry?

The hon. the Member for Burgeo – La Poile.

MR. A. PARSONS: I will talk to the proper bill now, Mr. Chair.

CHAIR: Thank you, Sir.

MR. A. PARSONS: My question to the minister, it has been mentioned about the report being referenced on the Web sites and I may have gotten confused after various members referenced that it may be on one or the other. Will it be referenced on both Web sites, both the government Web site as well as the Web Site for the organization?

CHAIR: The hon. the Minister of Health and Community Services.

MS SULLIVAN: Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The answer to your question is they will certainly be on the Department of Health and Community Services Web site. If they have a Web site, it will also be on their Web site. So, both places if there is a Web site for the particular board or group, but certainly always on the Department of Health and Community Services Web site.

CHAIR: Shall clause 1 carry?

All those in favour, ‘aye'.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Aye.

CHAIR: All those against, ‘nay'.

Carried.

On motion, clause 1 carried.

CLERK: Clauses 2 through 17 inclusive.

CHAIR: Shall clauses 2 through 17 inclusive carry?

The hon. the Member for Burgeo – La Poile.

MR. A. PARSONS: Just a question for the minister here. We talked about the fact that it is not going to be tabled in the House. Will notice be provided of when the reports are done, via e-mail – I know they will not be tabled, but will there still be a notice provided to concerned individuals?

CHAIR: The hon. the Minister of Health and Community Services.

MS SULLIVAN: Mr. Chair, they will be published; they will be put on Web sites. In terms of whether or not notice will be given to the concerned individuals, I am assuming that all boards have direct contact with the members of their professions at all times. Without asking that question directly to them, I am fairly comfortable in making the assumption that they would inform the members of their profession that their annual reports are ready.

CHAIR: The hon. the Member for Burgeo – La Poile.

MR. A. PARSONS: Will the Department of Health and Community Services, which also tables all these reports, be sending out an advisory perhaps similar to what you do in other departments, just to ensure that if you are not a member of that organization but you might be interested, so that anybody who gets government e-mails will get notice that they are reported?

CHAIR: The hon. the Minister of Health and Community Services.

MS SULLIVAN: That is not planned, Mr. Chair. These are public documents; they are available on-line for people who need them. Access to them is in no way prohibited; people will be able to have access to them whenever they need them. So, if somebody is looking for the document, it will not be very difficult to find them.

CHAIR: The hon. the Member for St. John's Centre.

MS ROGERS: Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

I would like to ask the minister again, perhaps a little more directly: What is the rationale for actually discontinuing tabling them in the House?

CHAIR: The hon. the Minister of Health and Community Services.

MS SULLIVAN: Mr. Chair, in discussions that people in my department have had with these various boards and so on, I think it is felt that the people who most want these reports are the people who are involved in the professions. These are discussed at their AGMs, as an example; they are available to them through the AGMs. Tabling them here in the House has really not served very much purpose that we are able to see.

What we are concerned about is accessibility, making them available to anybody who wants them. That really has been the broader concern: how do we make them more accessible to people? It is not about restricting accessibility. Our concern in this paper is: how do we make them more accessible? For us, putting them on-line was the way to make them more accessible.

CHAIR: Order, please!

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

MS ROGERS: Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Once again I would like to applaud this movement to make them more accessible to basically anybody who does have an interest. I think that is an admirable thing. Also, what it does is highlight and focus the work that all these boards are doing, and that is really important. I can applaud that.

I do not see, however, why continuing to table them in the House has anything to do with the action of making them more public to everyone else. Because these boards do come under the coverage of the House, I do not understand how one has anything to do with the other. I would like some clarification on that.

CHAIR: The hon. the Member for Burgeo – La Poile.

MR. A. PARSONS: Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I understand what the minister is saying. I do not believe that you are restricting access by putting them on-line. I think plenty of people have access. What I am concerned about is that as a member, when they are tabled, you are notified that they are there; it is up to you then whether you look at them or go through them or not. If they are not going to be tabled now, then you would not know that they are available unless you chose to look for it or were a member.

I am just wondering why the government could not make part of the procedure a standard e-mail sent out from that department saying the annual report and audited financial statement of group A is now available for viewing at this Web site. I do not think that would be hard; I think it still serves the purpose, it still provides accessibility, but it provides notice that it is there.

CHAIR: The hon. the Minister of Health and Community Services.

MS SULLIVAN: Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Mr. Chair, the other option on that is that you could ask the boards themselves to provide notification that they have already posted them on their Web site.

Mr. Chair, this is not meant to be difficult at all; this is simply meant to be more open, to provide more access to these reports. That is the entire intent of this particular bill.

CHAIR: The hon. the Member for St. John's Centre.

MS ROGERS: Mr. Chair, again I applaud this action to make things more accessible. I still do not understand in terms of the problem with tabling them in the House. I do not think that has been adequately addressed. I would ask the minister to speak to that.

I do appreciate making information more broadly available to everyone. We know how great it is to have information given to us electronically and then it is accessible all the time, but the fact that these boards do come under – report to the Legislature, I think it is a good thing to continue to do that.

I am not happy with just simply having a group notifying us. To have the formalized process and to continue that formalized process of tabling in the House so that the House is A, aware that the annual reports are done, but also it is part of acknowledging the work that is being done by these particular boards.

CHAIR: The hon. the Member for Burgeo – La Poile.

MR. A. PARSONS: I have two more quick questions to ask. Number one, I am hoping for, on the record – I think you stated this when you were speaking to the bill – the audited financial statement is a part of the annual report; I am just hoping that I can get that on the record. The second part, and I think you may have answered this as well: there will be a hard copy available somewhere of this information, if you could just confirm on the record.

CHAIR: The hon. the Minister of Health and Community Services.

MS SULLIVAN: Yes, Mr. Chair, the audited reports will also be made available.

Mr. Chair, these are self-regulated bodies that we are talking about here and the Administration is, our department is responsible for those self-regulated bodies. I will have copies in my office if anyone needs a copy of the report. They will be available to people who need these reports.

CHAIR: The hon. the Member for Signal Hill- Quidi Vidi.

MS MICHAEL: Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I just want to get clarification of that last point the minister made. I think it should be incumbent on these bodies and also on the department that if there are people who do not have access to Internet – and we know we have thousands of people who do not have access to Internet – if they make a request, that there are enough hard copies, that there will be multiple hard copies, not just one or two that can be sent out to the public if requested. I just want to get clarification.

CHAIR: The hon. the Minister of Health and Community Services.

MS SULLIVAN: Thank you, Mr. Chair.

There absolutely will be. As I said, whenever I came to the House before and tabled one of these, that was all I tabled; it was one. Other copies are in my office if people want them. Copies will still be in the offices of these boards if anybody wants them. It is a matter of making a phone call, sending an E-mail, or checking with your any of your MHAs, any of your elected officials. Access to these will be improved, Mr. Chair.

CHAIR: The hon. the Member for The Straits – White Bay North.

MR. MITCHELMORE: Mr. Chair, I would like to ask the Minister of Health and Community Services, just for clarification around these boards and professional associations, the times of when they table their report. They are not done on a specific day of the year. They can range throughout the year. Is that correct?

CHAIR: The hon. the Minister of Health and Community Services.

MS SULLIVAN: Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The answer is, yes.

CHAIR: The hon. the Member for The Straits – White Bay North.

MR. MITCHELMORE: Mr. Chair, I ask the Minister of Health and Community Services, with all of these boards and now associations tabling their reports at varying times of the year without any type of notice or tabling, then we would have no idea when the reports are actually tabled without being given any type of notice. This could lead to a significant waste of time to the general public and to the members.

I think there would need to be something to make sure that people are aware that these reports are available and when. Is there going to be something to provide that (inaudible) notice, Mr. Chair?

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

CHAIR: Order, please!

The hon. the Member for St. John's East.

MR. MURPHY: Thank you, Mr. Chair.

This is really important. It sounds like it is only minor, but I think it is important that a lot of these associations that are listed here probably in some way are recipients of the taxpayers' money too, at the same time.

The second point I would like to make as well, is that you are talking about posting them on the Internet, which is great, but there are a lot of people who are out there watching this programming from the House and they depend sometimes on the appropriate minister to stand up in the House and let them – notify those same people too, at the same time, that these annual reports are ready, be it if they are from the Finance Minister or from the Minister of Health. There are some people out there who watch the House and watch for the announcement that this is being done.

I would like to point that out to the Minister, too, to reconsider about the tabling of these particular changes in the House.

CHAIR: The hon. the Member for St. John's South.

MR. OSBORNE: Mr. Chair, I would like to make an amendment to the act and the amendment will affect several parts of the act. It is the same amendment, but it will affect several parts of the act.

To be inserted after section 9(2) of the Chiropractors Act, 2009; section 3(2) of the Dental Act, 2008; section 7(2) of the Denturists Act; section 9(2) of the Dispensing Opticians Act, 2005; the Health Professions Act section 7(2); the Hearing Aid Practitioners Act section 6(2); the Licensed Practical Nurses Act, 2005 section 9(3); the Massage Therapy Act, 2005 section 8(2); the Medical Act, 2011 section 11(5); the Occupational Therapists Act, 2005 section 7(2); the Optometry Act, 2012 section 13(2); Physiotherapy Act, 2006 section 14(5); the Psychologists Act, 2005 section 7(2); the Registered Nurses Act, 2008 section 16(4); the Social Workers Act section 16(2); the following: The minister shall table copies of the report in the House of Assembly.

CHAIR: Thank you.

The House will consider a recess.

MR. OSBORNE: That is seconded by the Member for St. John's Centre.

CHAIR: Seconded by the Member for St. John's Centre.

The House will take a short recess to consider the amendment.

CHAIR: Order, please!

The proposed amendment is not in order.

Shall clauses 2 to 17 inclusive carry?

All those in favour, ‘aye'.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Aye.

CHAIR: All those against, ‘nay'.

Carried.

On motion, clauses 2 through 17 carried.

CLERK: Be it enacted by the Lieutenant-Governor and House of Assembly in Legislative Session convened, as follows.

CHAIR: Shall the enacting clause carry?

All those in favour, ‘aye'.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Aye.

CHAIR: All those against, ‘nay'.

Carried.

On motion, enacting clause carried.

CLERK: A bill, An Act To Amend Various Acts Of The Province Respecting Annual Reports. (Bill 42)

CHAIR: Shall the title carry?

All those in favour, ‘aye'.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Aye.

CHAIR: All those against, ‘nay'.

AN HON. MEMBER: Nay.

CHAIR: Carried.

On motion, title carried.

CHAIR: Shall I report Bill 42 without amendment?

All those in favour, ‘aye'.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Aye.

CHAIR: All those against, ‘nay'.

AN HON. MEMBER: Nay.

CHAIR: Carried.

Motion, that the Committee report having passed the bill without amendment, carried.

CHAIR: The hon. the Deputy Government House Leader.

MR. HUTCHINGS: Mr. Chair, I move that the Committee rise and report Bills 40, 41, and 42 and ask leave to sit again.

CHAIR: The motion is that the Committee rise and report Bills 40, 41 and 42 and ask leave to sit again.

All those in favour, ‘aye'.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Aye.

CHAIR: All those against, ‘nay'.

Carried.

On motion, that the Committee rise, report progress and ask leave to sit again, Mr. Speaker returned to the Chair.

MR. SPEAKER (Verge): The hon. the Member for Port de Grave and the Deputy Chair of Committees.

MR. LITTLEJOHN: Mr. Speaker, the Committee of the Whole have considered the matters to them referred and have directed me to report Bills 40, 41 and 42 without amendment.

MR. SPEAKER: The Chair of Committee of the Whole reports that the Committee have considered the matters to them referred and have directed him to report Bills 40, 41 and 42 carried without amendment.

When shall the report be received?

MR. HUTCHINGS: Tomorrow.

MR. SPEAKER: Tomorrow.

The Deputy Government House Leader.

MR. HUTCHINGS: Mr. Speaker, I call from the Order Paper, Bill 46, An Act To Amend The Motorized Snow Vehicles And All-Terrain Vehicles Act.

MR. SPEAKER: We are now considering Bill 46.

The hon. the Minister of Service Newfoundland and Labrador .

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. MCGRATH: Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation that Bill 46, An Act To Amend The Motorized Snow Vehicles And All-Terrain Vehicles Act, be now read a second time.

MR. SPEAKER: It is seconded by?

MR. MCGRATH: It is seconded by the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation.

MR. SPEAKER: It has been moved and seconded that Bill 46 be now read a second time.

Motion, second reading of a bill, "An Act To Amend The Motorized Snow Vehicles And All-Terrain Vehicles Act."

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Service Newfoundland and Labrador

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. MCGRATH: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

As many of you are aware, groomed trail development in Newfoundland and Labrador began about thirty years ago. Many of you here, I am sure, own snowmobiles and use them as a mode of transportation or for a recreational sport; for many of us here it is also a mode of transportation in different parts of the Province where the roadways are not accessible.

Our groomed trail network now encompasses about 5,500 kilometres of groomed trail throughout the Province. That is on the Island portion of the Province as well as in the Labrador portion.

Both the federal and provincial governments have invested heavily in the development of the industry in recent years by establishing and also improving on the infrastructure and equipment that is being used by volunteer clubs and their umbrella associations. The two main snowmobile associations in the Province: on the Island portion of the Province we have the Newfoundland and Labrador Snowmobile Federation, and in the Labrador portion of the Province we have Labrador Winter Trails.

It is important at the outset to remember that snowmobile operators are responsible for the safe operation of their vehicles on trails and other areas. It is very important that I point out, that it is the operator, the rider of the machine who makes it safe. A lot of the problems with snowmobiling can be avoided through using common sense. An example of that, they are only permitted to cross a road within a community at right angles. In order to do that, the driver of the snowmobile has to have a valid driver's licence and the snowmobile has to be insured and registered.

My department, Service Newfoundland and Labrador, works with the Newfoundland and Labrador Snowmobile Federation and Labrador Winter Trails to ensure the regulations are met with expectations of the snowmobile community. We seek their input and want to make sure that the regulations are kept current and the industry grows over time.

I think it is very important that we realize the snowmobiling industry within our Province is a huge component of the Tourism Department within the Province. Snowmobiling generates a lot of tourism dollars, and a lot of those dollars within the snowmobiling industry are new dollars coming into the Province. It is that input that brings us here today to propose amendments to the act, which will benefit the snowmobile industry for all riders.

Under the Motorized Snow Vehicles and All-Terrain Vehicles regulations, snowmobile users are required to purchase trail-use permits in order to ride on managed trails. The way a trail permit works, basically, is you purchase a trail pass. There is a regime price set on the trail permit.

Permits are distributed through the Department of Service Newfoundland and Labrador. Those permits are given to the Newfoundland and Labrador Snowmobile Federation here on the Island, as well as the Labrador Winter Trails association for distribution in the different regions. All of the revenue from the sale of the permits goes back into the associations and their umbrella associations to maintain the trails and maintain the equipment.

There is a big cost involved with the equipment for the snowmobile trails. On average, one of the groomers would cost anywhere from $200,000 to $400,000, depending on the size of the groomer. I know in my district we have three groomers, and they range between $225,000 and about $375,000. Of course, like any other motorized piece of equipment, you have to have your maintenance equipment there. Hydraulic hoses – we all know the cost of hydraulic hoses – belts for these pieces of equipment, the skids on the sleds themselves, then of course your oil, your fuel. It all adds up very quickly.

All the money, the revenue that we get through the sale of passes, of course, goes back into the associations for maintenance. Right now, these associations are self-sufficient. They are not government funded. It is important that we educate the general public of how important it is to purchase your trail pass, number one, and then of course, supporting your club.

Right now, regulations do not allow for spot checks on the trails. Some of our officials, through the RNC or the RCMP, for example, or peace officers, can, at certain areas, stop and do a spot check, but it has to be next to a roadway. They cannot actually go onto the groomed trail and stop and do a spot check. The whole purpose of a spot check – and that is what this new amendment would give us. It would allow us to go onto the trails and actually set up spot checks. I know in my area there were different ways we would try and do this, just through an education and a promotion where we would be on the trails and we would politely let people know the benefits of having a groomed trail.

When you go out today – years ago you went out and bought an Elan or you brought a Bravo and you had a small piece of equipment. A small snowmobile today probably has an 800cc motor under the hood. The equipment is much faster and, needless to say, much more expensive. I know the last snowmobile that I had, it was $16,000. So, to take a $16,000 piece of equipment you want to have some luxury in riding it.

When you are on a groomed trail, the revenues that come from the groomed trail, you are out there and you have warm-up shacks for example. Along the trail system, there are huts that are eight feet by ten feet and they have a small stove in them. It gives you an opportunity to get in and get a warm-up. There are picnic tables and there are barbeque pits. The amenities are going back into the system. Again, I mentioned earlier the benefits of this to the tourism industry.

So, you are getting snowmobilers. I know in the Labrador region we get a lot of snowmobilers from New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, especially from Quebec is a big market of people coming in through the Labrador trough, and the Eastern Seaboard of the United States because they are looking for somewhere different to sled. There is quite a bit of groomed trail in Labrador that they can do; it is interconnected. You can get on a groomed trail now in Western Labrador and at certain times of the year you can go all the way to Happy Valley-Goose Bay, which gives you a straight run of about 700 kilometres of groomed trail. Along the groomed trail, as I said, there are amenities there.

Without allowing these setups and spot checks on the trails, then we are losing the opportunity to collect that revenue. The trail pass is only one part of it. The trail pass brings in direct revenue to the snowmobile federations, but there are also spinoffs. If we have these spot checks set up, we are making sure that the vehicles are insured.

A lot of people who have these snowmobiles, they do not carry insurance on them, and a lot of them are not registered. The education and awareness piece of making sure that people actually get out and register their machines, insure their machines. Then you get the spinoff from fuel. You get the spinoff from what I talked about in buying extra belts.

Safety awareness – being able to invest in teaching safety courses on snowmobiles is a very important thing. I remember yesterday I spoke at the weigh scales about highway safety. Snowmobile safety in a lot of parts of our Province is just as important. A simple thing like wearing a helmet on a snowmobile, these are all safety awareness and education things that cost money to get those programs out there. Through the snowmobile trail pass program, we can invest in that and make snowmobiling much safer within the Province.

Right now, as I said, in the legislation it does not specify that the peace officers or our law enforcement officers can go in and regulate what happens on the groomed trails. With this amendment brought forward, if we accept this amendment, what it will do is allow the peace officers and allow our law enforcement officers to go in. We are checking, number one, for safety. We are checking to make sure the trail passes are being purchased and creating that revenue to go back. Also, we are checking for safe driving.

For example, speeding is a big issue on the trails, not just on groomed trails but on the off-trails. They are speeding with the size of the equipment today. My last machine, for example, I had an RX-1, and it was not a problem for that machine to do 140 miles an hour. That is pretty fast on a snowmobile. I am not speaking from experience there, but it was capable of doing 140 miles an hour. The machinery is pretty powerful.

When you get on those groom trails – I have ridden the groomed trails – it is the same as riding on a highway. The trails are marked. From a tourism perspective, or from our own residents, when the residents get out on a trail and they are not familiar with an area, the trails are marked. They have cardinal signage on them so you know if you are going north, east, south, or west. They tell you the area you are in so that if you do run into problems, you can get in touch with somebody and tell them where you are in the district and get your help easily.

One of the other things is impaired driving. Unfortunately, a lot of people feel that if you are on a snowmobile, you are out in the woods and you are on a trail, that you are inaccessible and they cannot touch me out here. We need to cut down on our impaired driving on our snowmobiles and the ATVs on these trails. By allowing this amendment to the act, we will cut down on the amount of impaired driving. Through an awareness campaign and through an education campaign, we will be able to cut down on that and have better control.

There are some concerns. One of the concerns that I have heard when I talked to some people, the local residents about this amendment, is: Well, I have been using the trails around here for thirty years, I have my cottage or my cabin off in the woods, and you now have a groomed trail system going through trails I used before. The difference is that the groomed trail – and I have seen it when you ride a machine on a trail that is not groomed and compare it to riding on a trail that is groomed – is much safer. The groomed trails provide a safety stipulation there.

You are still quite welcome; if you choose not to use the groomed trails and not to participate in the trail path, you can ride to the sides of it. The trails in the woods are still there. These trails are designed to make it more pleasurable, to make it safer, and to provide us with an opportunity off the road in a trailing system to be more accessible throughout the country and cottage areas in our Province.

I think it is a good thing here that we are trying to put in. It is all about safety. If the amendment goes through, we get an opportunity with the enforcement officers. For example, a fine; if you are riding on a trail today, a groomed trail, and you are stopped on a groomed trail and you do not have your trail pass, then the fine can start at $500, or it could start at $200 and go as high as $500.

Right now, we are not getting an opportunity to enforce this because we cannot stop people on the trails, but by allowing the spot checks, we can enforce that. Again, that money all goes back into the safety and education of snowmobilers.

With that, I would ask that you support the amendment that I am putting forward and give us an opportunity to improve the recreation, number one; for many parts of our Province, the trail system is also part of our transportation system that a lot of people will use, that trail system, if they do not have roadways.

Another point that I should make with a lot of our land claim agreements; the question has been brought up with the land claim agreements, for example, on the North Coast of Labrador. The North Coast of Labrador use and rely upon this snowmobile trail system as their mode of transportation in many months of the year. For seven and eight months of the year, they are depending on the trail system for their mode of transportation. Through our land claims agreements, they are not required to purchase a trail pass. There are certain areas within the Province, also in a couple of our agreements either with the Nunatsiavut government or in the Innu Land Claims Agreement; they are not required to purchase a trail pass. That is something that was agreed within the agreements that we have with them in their land settlement agreements. Again, it is their mode of transportation. They do not have a road system in many parts of Labrador, so the trail pass in the winter time is excluded to them because that is their roadway.

I think it is important that we make this amendment. Number one, I think the important thing is safety and secondly, the education of promoting safe snowmobiling.

With that I ask you to support the amendment, and I will take my seat.

Thank you very much.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. BALL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I thank the minister for his opening comments to Bill 46, An Act to Amend the Motorized Snow Vehicles and All-Terrain Vehicles Act.

As a snowmobiler and someone who has actually been snowmobiling for many, many years, I would say the concept of the amendment is certainly one that I can support, especially coming from a community that considers itself and calls itself the snowmobile hub of Newfoundland. I do, and it is certainly something that we have seen as a community, as an area, and as a region: that we have been able to generate some economic benefits from it, especially in the winter season, which is very difficult, yet we rely on it quite heavily, especially in Western Newfoundland.

I do support, of course, the safe operations of a snowmobile, as obviously it is extremely important. Addressing the issue around permits, however: when you look at the trail permitting right now, the responsibility for that lies squarely with the federation. Then, of course, that money is supposed to be spent strictly into maintenance and grooming. Then the clubs on the other hand, the various clubs across the Province, they would then make investments into a few of the amenities that we see on the trail and groomed system.

What we found in the past is that there has been very inconsistent grooming across the Island. I think it is really the appropriate time, and we have come to a point in our time of developing our winter tourism, and indeed, the snowmobiling for the Province; it is time now that the Province would actually step up to the plate and not just rely on the trail permitting to become the source of revenue.

The reason why I say that is over the last number of years, we have seen a very significant decline in the number of trail permits that have been sold through the federation. We all know that at very crucial times of the year we have seen the groomers actually pulled off the trails, and therefore we have led to, as a matter of fact, some of the best snowmobiling times of the year when we have not had groomed trails available to us. This really has led to, as a purchaser, as a customer of a trail permit, next year it leaves many of those operators questioning if indeed they should even purchase a snowmobile permit, because you really cannot get a full season out of it.

I think we have reached a point, and because of what has happened over the last number of years, I think it is time for the provincial government to invest into the grooming and take this over. It is no different than you would in some of the other tourism operations that we see across the Island.

If you were to go out, as the minister said, and take a day with your family or with a bunch of your friends and have a day where you could actually use – I know in my own district, we use the groomed trail system to get to the back country, and to get into areas like Gros Morne, and get into areas like – no matter where it is, really. The location is really not the important factor, but the groomed trail gives you a variety of opportunities when it comes to snowmobiling, not just the groomed trail system.

It is important as a snowmobiler, that what you do get is a consistency, so that when you leave and you plan to spend your day, that you know on that particular Saturday or that particular Friday or that particular Thursday, whatever day it is, that you will know and you will have confidence to some degree, that the system will be ready and there will be a service in place that you would expect. That is what operators, and snowmobile operators expect when they buy a trail permit. They expect to see the system groomed and ready for snowmobilers.

That is not what has been happening for a number of years now. I know, for instance, in our own club, we could have the trail not groomed at all, and the adjacent club would have it done. That is not what, I believe, the customer or the snowmobiler is expecting right now. When you buy a permit you are expecting to see the trail groomed and ready for winter activity. Just using the money that is generated from the trail permit is typically not enough, I do not believe, to maintain the trail system right now.

Right now, with this particular bill, this speaks more about peace officers having the authority to stop a snowmobiler or a group of snowmobilers to check for permits and safe operations. That is a concept that I know the federation has been looking for for a number of years now, and it is important. I believe giving the authority to peace officers to do that is the right thing to do.

Now, I am not a lawyer, and I have a feeling that somewhere this afternoon we might get an opinion on whether the regulations fits the act or how the two pieces of legislation actually tie together. The concept we are trying to do here, having the peace officer in a position to be able to check for permitting and check for safe operations of a snowmobile, is the right approach. That I do support.

As I said, we have seen declining sales in trail permits. I do not think the trail permitting itself and the revenue at the current prices will support the grooming of a trail system. That is important, too, for people in the Province. One of the fears about trail permits for a number of people is actually pricing. What they want to be able to do is to make sure that the permit itself is cost-effective. I know last year we had some issues about selling trail passes and trail permits early. There was legislation that needed to be changed for that.

I think what we need to do, first and foremost, is make sure that we are consistent with the price, that it is affordable, and that it maintains affordability. I know the federation come to the provincial government on an annual basis setting trail permit prices. I know that needs approval from the government. We would expect, and what I would be suggesting is that we keep those permits at an affordable level; therefore, families and snowmobilers will continue to be able to afford that.

One other thing the minister did mention, and that was about some exclusive rights when it comes to agreements. I would say that you need to proceed there with caution. I know primarily what you were discussing was Labrador. We have had the experience on the West Coast through Gros Morne in the 1970s when the park was first put in place, that there was a provision made in the agreement by the federal government at the time that would allow for snowmobiling in the park. It was a unique situation, but it was part of the design of what was happening in Gros Morne. There were a number of conditions put in that local people could actually use Gros Morne National Park as a place to snowmobile.

What we have seen, however, in the last number of years is an erosion of those benefits for local people. Right now they are restricted to a very narrow corridor. There are certainly times of the year when there are restrictions on when snowmobilers could actually use Gros Morne National Park. That becomes a problem, because this was in an agreement that was signed in the 1970s and now that benefit is no longer available to snowmobilers in Newfoundland and Labrador.

I would caution the minister when you rely on those agreements to keep in mind that they can be changed. Quite frankly, we would love to see that benefit back, as a snowmobiler. People have used Gros Morne for many years. That was actually just taken away in the last couple of years. It has had a negative effect, I will say, as you develop the tourism industry in Western Newfoundland in particular. In those agreements, I think we need to proceed with caution.

I will finish up by saying that it is a provincial-wide system. I do believe that we need some further investment by the Province to make sure that we are able to explore and take advantage of all the economic opportunities that we see within snowmobiling. The idea to have peace officers checking for permits and checking for safe operations is a good one, but there are other areas that we would need to consider to generate revenue so that the snowmobiling industry can survive.

Mr. Speaker, I will finish up my remarks right now. To conclude, the concept of what we are talking about here is something that I can support, but I would say that we need to proceed with caution with this amendment.

MR. SPEAKER: The Member for Lake Melville.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. RUSSELL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I am pleased to stand in the House today and speak to this bill. It gives me a chance to once again get up here and brag a little bit about my district in Central Labrador, Lake Melville of course. We have a beautiful area where we can go to cabins; we have a lot of recreation around fishing and hunting. We see a large Aboriginal population where people like to supplement their diet by having those smelts, those trout, get out and get a few partridges, and even hunt the caribou from time to time.

There is also a significant amount of activity in terms of people actually touring throughout the region, sightseeing, getting out and seeing what the land has to offer. If you see the actual trail diagrams of what exists in and around Lake Melville by the Grand River Snowmobile Club, Mr. Speaker, you will see hundreds of kilometres of trails that extend through the different roads like Churchill Road, up through Grand Lake Road, Goose River Road.

You see these trails being used more and more because the reality of what we are facing in today's changing times, Mr. Speaker, is that development is always moving forward in our communities. I mean that in terms of the residential areas opening up, new subdivisions, Mr. Speaker. There are still old trail systems there, but more and more what we are seeing is that development is pushing the traffic onto the groomed trail system.

We have a lot of travel, Mr. Speaker, where people go out to the cabins; they do hunting and fishing, a little bit of recreation. They go out just for the day to spend time with their families and have the traditional boil up, if you will. We also see a lot of travel, Mr. Speaker, in between the communities within my district. Whether you are on your way to Mud Lake or you are leaving Goose Bay and you are heading down towards Sheshatshiu and North West River, you certainly do see a lot of traffic.

When it comes to the economics of what is involved here, I would like to stress the importance of getting out and getting that trail pass, Mr. Speaker. When it comes to the maintenance of the groomers and it comes to the rest stops where people can have a warm-up, all of those things, these are very important, but I would like to stress one more thing here and it comes down to the signage, about what you are going to see on these trails.

We have heard our minister and we have heard the people from across the way talking about safety and that certainly is a priority, Mr. Speaker. When you have a lot of twists, you have a lot of turns in these trails, and you have these machines, as the minister referred to, that are capable of excessive speed, it is nice to know that the traffic is going to be controlled as best that it can on these trails.

When it comes to the maintenance of these trail systems, these rest stops, these groomers, the gasoline, everything that it takes to make this happen, it certainly is important that the associations, these clubs, have the ability to cover the costs and have the best quality trail system that we can have.

When it specifically comes to the signage, as I just mentioned, and it comes to waterways and crossing waterways, like for example when you are crossing Wilburn Bay in my district and you are heading up towards Grand Lake, it is very, very good to see that the trails are groomed and that the trails are safe in terms of a safe passage across these waterways being marked.

Like the minister said, we have several thousand kilometres of trails on the Island and in Labrador and we have different clubs, if you will, maintaining their own regions. I think it is just important to know that people, if they want to be using these trails and they want to use them regularly and make them part of their recreational life in and about town, that it is very important that you do go out and you support these clubs, you get out, you get your trail sticker, and you abide by the rules, and keep your speed down as best you can.

Another concern that I would have, I guess, about people actually getting out and supporting these clubs, Mr. Speaker, would be the fact that we have a lot more youth nowadays who are actually out making use of these trail systems. The traditional trail systems that had existed in past generations are not as prevalent as they once were. These new riders, these new people who are getting out there learning how to operate a snowmobile, these young people maybe around the age of sixteen through maybe nineteen, it is very important that these groomed trails become the only thing that they know, as far as the trails, to get from one community to the other and to get out and do a bit of fishing and do these things. It is very important that these are well maintained and safe and they have adequate signage, Mr. Speaker.

In terms of the connectivity of the trails, I cannot stress the importance of everybody taking part in this and supporting this amendment as well in order to keep safety as a priority, Mr. Speaker, because in Central Labrador, and in the District of Lake Melville, we are certainly seeing a lot more traffic out and about during the winter months. We are certainly seeing a lot more trails being extended up to the North Coast and we have a lot of travel happening in and between the communities.

In terms of the economics, we are certainly open and willing to work with people who want to share new ideas about how we can change the dynamic of the way that we are going to have these clubs maintain their groomers and keep the trail system safe.

Safety being a priority, I certainly would like to use this opportunity to encourage everybody to get out there. Get that trail passed. Be supportive of what these clubs are doing on our trails and make sure that our kids and the people who want to enjoy the winter recreational aspect of this are safe and have a great time.

With that, Mr. Speaker, I will end my comments there and turn it over to those across the way.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for St. Barbe.

MR. BENNETT: Mr. Speaker, you can put as much lipstick as you want on a pig and it will still be a pig, and this bill is a pig. Let me explain to you why I say this bill is a pig. In fact, on two occasions in the past half-a-dozen years, I have embarked on a legal case to challenge this very legislation. On both occasions, the government has used the resources of the people not to fight the case, but to back down and crawl away instead of having the legislation challenged in court.

The regulation that is underneath this statute, Mr. Speaker, is ultra vires to statute and it is unconstitutional.

A half-a-dozen years ago, some people came to me because they were angry over the legislation that would take away all of their traditional trails. This legislation takes away the traditional trails because it wraps all of them up into the trail network, into the trail system, so people who fifty or sixty years ago cut trails so they could haul firework, they could haul lumber, they could have their horses and oxen even before snowmobiles, they had their trails gobbled up into this system.

If you had some older person barely getting by who wanted to go haul a load of firewood, go catch a few rabbits and cross the trail, this person needed a trail sticker. Their rights, their property rights, their right to use was taken away because it was gobbled up in this trail system that they saw just for the benefit of the high-end sports and recreation individuals. It totally diminished and took away the rights of the average person in practically everybody – outside any of the urban centres, people have always used these trails, and those trails today are part of the trail sticker system.

Initially, on reviewing the legislation – and I met with a number of individuals to review the legislation. This is a regulatory statute without doubt; however, the regulation underneath it charges a tax.

The trail sticker fee is not a fee. The Supreme Court of Canada established more than a dozen years ago in the Eurig case that you cannot charge a tax and call it a fee. A trail sticker fee has all the hallmarks of a tax. It is punitive. It is imposed from above. The person has no choice but pay it; otherwise you are fined, so it is a punitive measure put in place by the government to force people to pay what they call a fee, which is in fact a tax.

Initially the group of people that I represented, we filed an application to the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador to challenge the legislation. The word that we heard earlier today is that the government came back, the Department of Justice came back and said: we think that this case can go nowhere; it is a frivolous and vexatious case, and we insist that you file security for costs. Quite a number of people were interested in knowing the outcome.

Instead of challenging the legislation, instead of challenging the case, the application for security for costs came in and the individuals attempting to oppose this legislation in the courts – where they should have had every right to do so – were ordered to pay $30,000 just to have their day in court. Obviously they folded; they did not want to challenge it and cost them that much. My recommendation to them was: wait until somebody is charged under the regulation. When somebody is charged under the regulation, you have every right to go to court and defend yourself.

Lo and behold, five years later an individual from Stephenville and his son, they were charged under this regulation. They came to me; we discussed the issue. I said, look, most of the work is done. It was done years ago. You will get a very good deal and we will go off to court and challenge this ticket that you have.

We waited for our day in court. We progressed along. Mr. Speaker, a week before the court date, what did the government do? They withdrew the charge. They withdrew the charge because they knew that it could not withstand the scrutiny of the courts.

We are being asked today to amend a piece of legislation that has a regulation attached to it that the government has no confidence in. This amendment will not make any difference. All this amendment will do is further diminish people's rights, because now they are going to put check stops along these trails so that peace officers will be able to issue tickets that they have no faith in.

Anybody in the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador can go to court, challenge the ticket, use the same legal brief. In fact, Mr. Speaker, the government in their panic a year-and-a-half ago in September withdrew three tickets. I was provided the information: we have withdrawn all three charges. In fact, Mr. Speaker, they were so panicked that only two of them were my clients. The third one, not only was she was not my client, she had already paid the ticket and the government withdrew the charge. So, this is a piece of bad legislation followed up with a bad regulation, and I was looking forward to maybe the government introducing a better piece of legislation.

It is an important issue. It is important Province-wide. What the government is really doing here is they are abdicating their responsibility to govern. They are saying that we are willing to let the Newfoundland and Labrador Snowmobile Federation fight with the poor fellow who cuts a load of firewood or catches a few rabbits, we want to stand back and have the law make him be able to pay a fine if he does not buy a trail sticker.

Mr. Speaker, I think that the government should take this piece of legislation back. They should bury it and introduce a piece of legislation that considers everybody's rights and is workable and will stand up to the scrutiny of the law. The government, if it wishes to defend such legislation, should not withdraw such legislation. Let it stand the test of time, if they have the courage of their convictions. If not, the piece of legislation should be defeated.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER: The Member for Cape St. Francis.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. K. PARSONS: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

I would like to thank the minister for giving me the opportunity today to speak on this bill, Bill 46, and I would also like to thank his staff for the briefing that they gave us on the bill, An Act to Amend the Motorized Snow Vehicles and All-Terrain Vehicles Act.

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member who just got up and spoke from St. Barbe, obviously he and his leader are not on the same agreement, because his leader was up earlier and thought this was a great piece of legislation. That does not surprise me because that is the same member the other day that disagreed with his party about aquaculture in the Province and wanted to close down everything.

Mr. Speaker, he called the bill a pig. Now, I do not know what he considers a pig; I like a piece of pork, myself. Anyway, this is a very, very important bill. I look at this amendment that we are doing here today, and any time we can put any enforcement at all on any trail in the Province and have a spot check, not matter what it is, and use peace officers to be on the trails, it makes them safer. So, what I would like to speak today is about safety on these trails.

Mr. Speaker, each year we hear too often of people being killed with snowmobiles and all-terrain vehicles. It does not necessarily have to be on groomed trails; it can be anywhere. In my district in Cape St. Francis we do not have any groomed trails. Like the hon. minister said, the snowmobiles today are a lot faster – and I will talk a little bit about that later on. The snowmobiles today are a lot faster and you have to be a lot more careful, and you have to be a lot more vigilant when you are on the trails.

Mr. Speaker, these snowmobiles can go very, very fast. Any time we have any kind of legislation brought in that puts people on the trails to make sure people are driving with the care they should be driving and the respect they should have for these vehicles because they are fast, they are quick, and they are a whole lot faster than they ever were, it is very important that we do have legislation brought in. I know this legislation is spot checks mainly for groomed trails, but like I said, any kind of enforcement we can bring in would make it safer for everyone.

It is a right of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians to get out, and I think we all enjoy it, to do a little bit of snowmobiling, get on our all-terrain vehicles, and do a bit of hunting, which I enjoy. Each year I go to Millertown twice a year and, to tell you the truth, I would rather go to Millertown fishing and hunting than go anywhere else in the world. You can give me Mexico or you could give me whatever you want on a trail, but I would rather be up on the side of Red Indian Lake with my pole out, flicking it out and trying to catch a trout because we have the most beautiful piece of country in the world.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. K. PARSONS: Mr. Speaker, I recently purchased a vehicle myself, an all-terrain vehicle. I used to have an old bike, the 300 Honda, that used to get me from point A to point B, but recently I bought a new side by side.

AN HON. MEMBER: What kind is it?

MR. K. PARSONS: Oh, I bought a Rhino. It is a beautiful piece of equipment, Mr. Speaker. The thing about it I like, talking about safety – and I think the manufacturers are doing a lot more with safety – is that vehicle has seatbelts in them. It has a governor on it, too, so the fastest I can go is sixty-five on it, and that is quite fast enough for me, to tell you the truth.

Mr. Speaker, it is the part that it is safe and there are seatbelts in it. With all these vehicles we use today, you could be retrieving a moose up in the country or whatever, wherever you have to go, you have to be as safe as you can on these vehicles. It is very important.

Like I said, we hear too often that there are people getting injured. There are young people getting killed, and there are old people even getting killed. It does not make any difference how old you are on a snowmobile or an all-terrain vehicle. We have to make sure safety comes first. As a government, that is a big responsibility for us to make sure that whatever we bring in and everything we do is to make sure it is safe for the people who use it.

Mr. Speaker, even in my district, it is not the point of there being no groomed trails down there. You could be driving along on a Ski-Doo in the middle of the country, and there are people every day who enjoy walking, they go in with their sticks and they are walking through the country, and you come around the turn on one of these Ski-Doos that are going seventy or eighty miles an hour or someone is impaired on a Ski-Doo and there is someone walking, you have to be able to react in time. It is not only the drivers; it is the people who use the trails, and use those trails to get out and relax. Like I said earlier, I enjoy hunting and fishing, and most Newfoundlanders and Labradorians do.

Mr. Speaker, over the years things have changed so much when it comes to what we use for our recreational vehicles. I remember the first recreation vehicle that we had, my father bought it, was an Olympic 250, and she was fast. I am telling you, when I went up Moon Pond she could fly. Now, compared to today, she was not that fast.

That was the first Ski-Doo my father bought, but the first Ski-Doo I bought was an Elan. Now I am not sure if it was one cylinder or a two cylinder

AN HON. MEMBER: Twelve horsepower.

MR. K. PARSONS: Twelve horsepower; yes, twelve horsepower. The dog used to pass me by when I was going in the trail if I had her flattened out.

AN HON. MEMBER: You and Bubbles.

MR. K. PARSONS: Me and Bubbles, yes.

Today, Mr. Speaker, the Ski-Doos, like the minister said already, is 700 and 800. My son has a Ski-Doo and I think it is an 800. I am frightened to death to get on it. He will not lend it to me anyway, but I am frightened to death to get on it. I came out one day and I was walking across the yard, he got on his Ski-Doo and just gave her a shot of gas and he buried me in snow.

Mr. Speaker, the speed of these machines today is just unbelievable. So, we do have to do what we can to make sure that people respect them, and to respect the people who are using them. Mr. Speaker, like I said, we have these officers who go to the trails to do spot checks, and they are doing spot checks for a reason.

The minister talked about the importance – the hon. member does not think so – of groomed trails and maintaining these groomed trails, and where the people get the revenue from is the trail passes to make sure that – I know my brother goes to the West Coast every year Ski-Dooing. They get on the trails and go up to the Northern Peninsula and they come down. It's huge for people. I know a lot of people on the East Coast go to Western Newfoundland just to enjoy it. The revenue that this brings to areas like the St. Barbe district, I know a lot of people out there with gas and hotels and everything else that they do along the road, it is huge.

So, anything we can do to make the people who are using these trails – because we all love the Newfoundland outdoors. Anything we can do to make these trails safer is what we have to do. That is what the minister is introducing here today.

All-Terrain Vehicles, too; this summer we left a cabin up at the top of Red Indian Lake and we drove into Epigumby in Trolley. To go in there was 127 kilometres on a bike. I tell you, it was breathtaking just to be able to do it. It is the nicest thing, I love doing it.

I had a gentleman, like I told you, who had a side by side. I talked the other day about a gentleman who played hockey with the Buchans Miners and he won the Herder, Mr. Tony Walsh. He was the fellow alongside of me, eighty years old; myself and him were together. He won the Herder. I forgot the year the other day, but it was in 1954-1955.

The day that we had, we drove in through, left early in the morning, went in and got in by the side, did a bit of fishing, hauled down the tailgate, and put out the Coleman stoves. We had three Coleman stoves going. We had moose, we had fish, we had chicken, and we had it all. It was the enjoyment of being able to do it all. It was the enjoyment to be able to enjoy Newfoundland outdoors. That is something that all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, you can talk to anyone, everybody loves the outdoors here in Newfoundland. So anything we can do to make it – it is huge tourism. It is what we do for ourselves. It is not for the people who come from away, it is for ourselves.

Like I said, the groomed trails that we are using are an asset to everyone in this Province. They might be only on the West Coast, but a lot of people on the East Coast enjoy using the groomed trails.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

AN HON. MEMBER: It's a big trip across.

MR. K. PARSONS: It's a big trip across. I know that everyone looks forward to it.

Mr. Speaker, it is so important. I hate to stress it so much, but safety is a very important part of it because too often we are hearing it. We hear it everyday, that someone – especially on Ski-Doos because of the speed, that people are getting hurt and people are getting killed. If spot checks can eliminate one of those deaths or injuries, it is what we should be doing.

Again, Mr. Speaker, it is important that the revenue we get from the money they put into those trails, they make the trails safer. Everyone knows that if you are going out on a trail you could be cutting in and out all over the place, and there are trees and rocks, and gorges and everything else that people could go down over. When you are on a groomed trail you are on a safe trail. You are on a trail that people can use and they know that it is safe.

Mr. Speaker, I am just going to conclude my statements here by saying that it is very important because, like I said, Newfoundlanders and Labradorians use our outdoors. We love our outdoors, and it is important that while we are using it, we make it as safe as possible.

I know everyone uses their vehicles for all kinds of things: wood, recreation. I was at a conference in New Brunswick with the hon. Member for Cartwright. She did a presentation there and talked about campaigning on her snowmobile. We use everything. We use our snowmobiles for everything. The Member for Cartwright did a great presentation that day. She showed some pictures of how she was on a Ski-Doo campaigning.

Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, we use our vehicles for everything. When we do use them, we have to be as safe as possible. It is important that safety is a big thing with this.

Again, Mr. Speaker, I hope everybody supports this. I do not know if the Member for St. Barbe is going to support it, but I hope all other members support it. Anything we do to make our trails safer is a positive thing in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

The hon. the Member for St. John's East.

MR. MURPHY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I must say, listening to the members across the way talking about snowmobiles and quads, the last time I threatened to even go for a ride on the snowmobile, I think the snowmobile got scared and drove itself away when it saw the size of me. I have not taken the opportunity to be able to avail of the outdoors. One of these days, maybe if I find a friendly snowmobile with extra-strong suspension, maybe I will be able to do it.

I want to first of all thank the Minister of Service Newfoundland and Labrador for the briefing from his staff this morning; in particular, Donna Kelland, I think, was there, and the gentleman – Dave, is it? Very good staff, and one of your communications people were there. You had an excellent briefing on this particular issue. I thought that they were pretty forthright. I just figured that I would send a bouquet of flowers and give the shout out to them. Thank you very much, Mr. Minister, on that.

AN HON. MEMBER: (Inaudible).

MR. MURPHY: Yes. At the same time, a couple of things came out of this meeting that were very surprising, and I think that I have to probably bring these forward first.

The trail passage permits were kind of interesting when we were talking about them for a short time. When you realize the importance of grooming, and if we go back through the various news stories that we have heard about over the years, one particular story really stands out.

I do not know if the minister can remember it as well, but there was a medical association in Alberta, I think it was, that came out last year, talking about speeds for snowmobiles and terrain. The other issue that they dealt with happened to be with the age of some of the operators on snowmobiles, but they talked about spinal cord injuries particularly and the injuries that young people were receiving on non-groomed trails. It is interesting to note; I am trying to remember if that is exactly what it was about, but something is flicking in my memory on that. You might want to check on that one. I will have to check on that one again myself.

At the same time, the importance of the groomed trail cannot be discounted when it comes to preventing injuries. I think that is probably one of the good reasons to have enforcement of the permit regulations on these trails. I do not think that we could discount that fact.

I wanted to bring that point out first. The second point that I wanted to bring out was along the same lines of the topic when it comes to enforcement. This might be a bit of a sidetrack from the issue.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

MR. MURPHY: I wanted to bring up the issue to the minister too, that helmets are not mandatory for snowmobilers; can that be right? I am –

AN HON. MEMBER: They are.

MR. MURPHY: They are mandatory for snowmobilers now, are they? Okay, because we were not sure in the briefing if that was true or not. I just wanted to bring it forward, and thank you for answering that one.

At the same time, I am glad to see that there is an enforcement measure here that is going to be improved a little bit when it comes not only to the permitting – because I think it is quite an important point to note that we have other offenders out there that do anything from driving in over the bog to impaired driving; speaking on the impaired driving issue, I know that this is a very important time in the year. It should never be done, and to extend the powers to the various people that they are talking about under this piece of legislation, including the idea of a peace officer as being somebody from Natural Resources, I think, is a good move that they are making, and also to be setting up and establishing the check stations to ensure compliance with the act and the regulations.

I cannot see how this could be a negative to anybody out there. I think that the small fee that anybody would pay would be something that would actually help to promote the industry. I look at that as being positive. I know this morning they dealt with the people that are living in land claims areas, that they are going to be exempted, so that is still a good thing for those people that might have worried there.

At the same time, safety and compliance again, being able to check on the safety of the equipment, snowmobiles, ATVs that are out there; I think that we cannot be safe enough sometimes in ensuring the security and the safety of the people that are out there using the trails.

Mr. Speaker, I do not have too much more that I can add to this other than that it would be a very positive move. I will commend the government again for coming out with these changes, and again, the effects that this would have on tourism and the effect of adding more revenue to some of the groups that are out there responsible for maintaining the trails; sometimes they have faced a difficult and uphill struggle when it comes to getting funding, but we wish them all the best. Hopefully they will continue on with their good work in supporting some of these initiatives.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

The Chair recognizes the Member for Bonavista South.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. LITTLE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and hon. colleagues.

I am delighted to have the opportunity to speak to Bill 46, An Act to Amend the Motorized Snow Vehicles and All-Terrain Vehicles Act. I listened to the Member for St. John's East and it is good to see that he is in full agreement with this piece of legislation. I am delighted to definitely speak on this because it is important for all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians and people who visit this great Province of Newfoundland and Labrador.

It certainly leaves a good impression to know that we have our trails groomed to the degree that everybody can go out, enjoy the outdoors, see our beautiful scenery, and that is what this Province is all about. I am certainly delighted to be able to speak on this particular piece of legislation.

Many residents throughout the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador are owners and operators of these vehicles. The use of them is continually on the rise. That is something that we need to consider here, be it for recreational use, transportation or for the convenience that they provide. For example, it is common practice to use snowmobiles or all-terrain vehicles to transport logs from the forest, especially in my district. They are used for a number of good reasons. We do need to consider the safety of those types of vehicles, especially in places where, to this point, enforcement would be a great initiative to put forward as well.

We are also seeing an increase in people visiting our Province for the explicit purpose of recreational riding, not to mention the people of our own Province. Can you blame them to want to come to a beautiful place, a unique way to explore the breathtaking Province that we have – Newfoundland and Labrador that I am so proud of. I am honoured to be able to get up in this House and speak about the beautiful Province of Newfoundland and Labrador from time to time.

I, myself, am like my fellow colleague, the Member for Cape St. Francis. I enjoy going out and participating in outdoor activities from time to time. I like to moose hunt and rabbit hunt. I like to go on fishing trips. I like to go to the cabin. It is great to be living in a Province like Newfoundland and Labrador and have those great opportunities, but it is important that we would include enforcement and safety as well when we provide those great opportunities in the outdoors.

Of course, our groomed trails are found throughout the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador, and I was really amazed when the Minister of Service Newfoundland and Labrador actually talked about the number of trailways we have and the amount of kilometres of trailways throughout Newfoundland and Labrador – 5,500 kilometres of trailways – amazing. An initiative that was put forward by the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador in collaboration with the federal government, it is definitely breathtaking to know that we have that many trails out there for everybody to enjoy the outdoors of the great Province of Newfoundland and Labrador.

I am sure in the future trailways will be expanded. As we expand the trailways, it is important to keep safety in mind. Safety for the people on these trailways is a priority and that is why today's proposed amendment to the Motorized Snow Vehicles and All-Terrain Vehicles Act is so important. We need to provide law enforcement agencies with additional tools to use in relation to the enforcement on snowmobile trail systems throughout the Province, just as it is important on our highways. We have high-powered machines, as some of the previous members talked about, and we need to have enforcement there as well. It is very important.

The goal of today's proposed amendment is to increase the ability of enforcement personnel to more effectively monitor safety and other legal requirements by using checkpoints on trailways. Enforcement officials will be granted specific powers to establish check stations to ensure off-road vehicles are in compliance with the legislation we are about to put forward today. This includes requirements for safety, registration, insurance, and possession of trail-use permits. This will also allow law enforcement to ensure a safer trail experience for all riders.

When I have talked to people I know, who actually travelled on those groomed trails, most people agree it is important to have enforcement for our own safety and for others' safety. The awareness of safety is a very important part of this piece of legislation as well. It is so great to see the continued commitment of the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador that we make to the people to ensure their well-being is the first and foremost priority, our well-being and safety on the experience we do when we are adventuring out into the wilderness and along our trailways.

The Department of Service Newfoundland and Labrador, the Newfoundland and Labrador Snowmobile Federation, and Labrador Winter Trails – the commitment is being met to make sure we continue to have enforcement and safety on our trailways.

I would wrap up by saying that the other aspect of this particular piece of legislation, from an economic perspective: there is a growing tourism industry, and I am sure the groomed trails are a very important aspect of the future economic industry. It helps small business in different parts of rural parts of Newfoundland and Labrador to grow as well. This is certainly a great piece of legislation that helps us from an economic perspective as well. Like I said earlier, there are many groups throughout the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador who are in favour of this particular piece of legislation.

I am honoured to be able to rise in this House today to support the amendments to the bill that is put forward in front of us here today: Bill 46, An Act to Amend the Motorized Snow Vehicles and All-Terrain Vehicles Act. I am honoured to have the privilege to actually go to committee meetings and have discussions around this particular piece of legislation. I have been enlightened by the type of information that I received from the Department of Service Newfoundland and Labrador, and I certainly hope that my colleagues across the way, as well as my colleagues on this side of the House, will definitely support this very important piece of legislation.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

The hon. the Member for Bay of Islands.

MR. JOYCE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I am not sure what the Member for Cape St. Francis just said –

AN HON. MEMBER: (Inaudible).

MR. JOYCE: Well, I can tell you one thing, Mr. Speaker; the Member for Cape St. Francis, are you going to support the member from his digs that he was getting when he was standing up? I can guarantee you one thing: the Member for St. Barbe can speak his mind. He does not have to phone and apologize like a lot of members across the opposite did, I guarantee you that. So, he is a member who could speak his own mind.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

MR. JOYCE: He does not have to put up with any mumbo-jumbo.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

The member has been recognized to speak to the bill.

MR. JOYCE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I just got sidetracked by this. It is not like the Member for St. John's West, who got Peter Penashue his –

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

I would ask the member to make his comments relevant to the bill, or I will not recognize him to speak any longer.

MR. JOYCE: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

I am sorry about that again, Mr. Speaker. It is just that I need protection.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. JOYCE: Mr. Speaker, this bill here is something that we all should take very seriously, because it is a very serious issue. Every year, every one of us in this House and everybody in Newfoundland and Labrador hears about some of the tragic injuries and deaths caused by snowmobile accidents all throughout Newfoundland and Labrador.

One of the things that we must do as parliamentarians is try to keep all the people in Newfoundland and Labrador safe, however we can do it. It is very important for all of us. We all know. I know a lot of speakers before me on both sides of the House and also from the Third Party also mentioned the need for our economy and how much in some areas of this Province snowmobiling is a very economically based industry that brings a lot of employment, brings a lot of people all across the Province and people from outside the Province to the Province.

One thing we must do is ensure safety on these trails. Mr. Speaker, I know the minister is bringing in this bill today, and we need some way to ensure that there are going to be people, peace officers, going to ensure the speed, the safety. The stickers are one thing, Mr. Speaker, to ensure that people who are using the trails would ensure that we have groomed trails and promote safety. These individual groups have some funding to ensure that they can promote all of these things. It is very important for all of us to ensure that.

I go way back when this was brought in. This is no reflection on this minister whatsoever, absolutely none; I just want to explain this. Back when this legislation first came in, the minister at the time was the minister from Baie Verte. He committed at the time, Mr. Speaker, to go out and have public meetings. This is no reflection on this minister; he committed to go out and have public consultations on this whole sticker proposal. It was never done, Mr. Speaker. It was never done.

The reason there was a lot of controversy around here is because what happens in some areas, Mr. Speaker, is some associations go in, they take over a trail with the groomer, then people who have been using it for thirty-five, forty years all of a sudden have to pay some kind of fee, when they built the trail themselves. That was one concern that I would bring up, and this is no reflection on the minister, because this was back in 2004 when this was first brought in; there were some concerns there with it. That is behind us, that is done, that is over with. Now we have to speak about the future and the trails that are coming forth.

Mr. Speaker, I know the Member for Cape St. Francis said it: the machines today are very powerful. They are very powerful. A snowmobile machine today, Mr. Speaker, has a bigger impact than a lot of cars at the speed that they can go on some of those trails. It is almost frightening, Mr. Speaker, sometimes when you get some of them snowmobiles passing you if you are out in the woods. It is actually frightening, Mr. Speaker, some of the speeds.

If there is anything we can do as a bunch in the House of Assembly and help out a lot of volunteers, is to ensure that they have the mechanism to keep our trails safe. This is one way that we can do it, is to keep the trails safe. Mr. Speaker, you do not have to have a group stopped every five minutes, just the knowledge that it can happen, there are going to be spot checks. It is almost like roadside checking with the Breathalyzer, Mr. Speaker.

We know it is there, we do not know when, but we know that it is going to happen. That itself would deter a lot of people. It would ensure that their machines are up to standards, that they are high quality in the maintenance, and that their speed is kept down. I am not sure if this includes people drinking alcohol. If it is, Mr. Speaker, that is something that is a bit of a grey area. Can peace officers charge someone for being impaired or is it just the Constabulary? That is a little grey area.

Overall, that is something I am sure that the minister can work out, but that is a little grey area. Can peace officers now charge people for being impaired? That is something that is a bit of a grey area. I know the Constabulary can or the RCMP can, but I am not sure if peace officers can. I will let the minister explain that later for the general public.

Mr. Speaker, this is legislation that even if we can go further, if we could find some way to help out a lot of these snowmobile clubs to help promote education, help promote awareness. This is something that if the government can find some way – and I know it is going to take time. This is all evolving over time, the snowmobile association and the trail system all across Newfoundland and Labrador. It is evolving. I ask the government if there is any way to help out some of the snowmobile associations to help promote their trails, help to keep the trails up to a certain standard before the snow even gets on it, before it is even groomed, Mr. Speaker, it is something that we can do and keep it.

I know a lot of people on the West Coast who use the trails and are glad to have the trails. There is absolutely no doubt. They are glad to have the trails, Mr. Speaker. There are some who are not. There are some who feel that we do not need the trails because there was never a system that was put in place to say here are the trails we are going to groom. That is something I do not know if the minister could look at with some of the snowmobilers' associations to say: Here are the systems we are going to be funding to help you groom. Once you go off that, you are on your own. A lot of the times that happens, that causes a bit of controversy for some people.

I will give you an example. Out in Hughes Brook there is a certain trail that these people put in going to their cabins. They use the snowmobile trail to go up now just to turn around and use it. They are charged just for that little area going up to their cabin. They never, ever use the trail, but they are charged. They might go up once or twice in the wintertime. There are just small things we can iron out so we can ensure everybody is on the same track. We can make goodwill with that, Mr. Speaker, to ensure that everybody agrees with the snowmobile associations that we need groomed trails. It is safer.

Mr. Speaker, there is something that has not been mentioned here today with the groomed trails. I am willing to bet for the people I spoke to who use snowmobiles, Mr. Speaker, on the West Coast a fair bit, the use of groomed trails actually saves the ski-dooers money for equipment, the breakdown of equipment, and with their skis. There is a lot less wear and tear and a lot less damage to their snowmobiles. In the long run, the $80, $90, or $100 they have to pay in the run of a year would save them money because of the lack of damage to their machines. A lot of the times, Mr. Speaker, when you are off a trail you do not have the same control that you do have.

Mr. Speaker, I say to the minister: Bringing enforcement officers in to ensure the trails are safe, ensure the trails and the people are kept up to a certain standard and keep the speeds down is nothing but positive for all the people in Newfoundland and Labrador. Mr. Speaker, it is like I say to the fire departments around Newfoundland and Labrador: If there is ever a time you can save one life or save one injury, it is worth it. If we can do something in this Legislature to ensure people are going to slow down their speeds, ensure the maintenance of their vehicles are kept up –

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER (Wiseman): Order, please!

MR. JOYCE: – and ensure that we are providing a safe environment for tourists who are going to come in and people from all parts of the Province going to different trails. If we can ensure a safe environment, if we can ensure them that things are going to be well protected and there are going to be some people who are going to monitor these trails and to ensure the machines and the safety is in place, I think we have done our job as parliamentarians.

Mr. Speaker, I think this bill is a good piece of legislation to bring in because I know a lot of people on the West Coast see those machines zip by. We all wish that, my God, we could see a police officer now to ensure we can give that person a ticket or tell that person to slow down or get off the trail.

Mr. Speaker, I will be supporting this piece of legislation because I think if we can bring safety to our woods, safety to our trails, I think we are doing our job as parliamentarians.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Municipal Affairs.

MR. O'BRIEN: Yes, Mr. Speaker, I am happy to stand in my place today and speak to a bill, An Act to Amend the Motorized Snow Vehicles and All-Terrain Vehicles Act, Bill 46.

I remember back in my time as the Minister of Government Services, now called Service Newfoundland and Labrador, there were a number of amendments that came through in my tenure, in regard to this act – all important, Mr. Speaker, because that is a growing industry, not only a growing sport, but a growing industry in Newfoundland and Labrador.

I have to say, as well, this bill is all about safety and enforcement of the act and all its regulations. There are various aspects to that, not only in regard to speed and that kind of stuff, it is in regard to compliance to the act in its fullest. They have to have stickers. They have to buy stickers. If they do not have a sticker to travel the trails in Newfoundland and Labrador, well then they are doing so illegally.

A peace officer will be able to go out on our trails, right across Newfoundland and Labrador, and enforce the law; thus making the industry more viable. Because it is all about – I have to say this too, Mr. Speaker, and I do not know if anybody mentioned it in this House, that, yes, we brought forward the legislation way back in 2004-2005 enabling the Snowmobile Association of Newfoundland and Labrador to issue stickers to travel the trails, but also derive a monetary amount from the sale of those stickers, which supported the overall operational requirements and maintenance of those trails.

Mr. Speaker, those trails right across Newfoundland and Labrador have been built by volunteers. Newfoundlanders and Labradorians who were interested in the industry itself, interested in the sport itself, got out there and manually blazed the trails themselves. That is exactly what happened in this. Now, we supported them from time to time with various grants and those kinds of things. That is the kinds of things we do on a daily basis with this government, and we built the trails as it is today.

I just have to mention Central Newfoundland, as well, Mr. Speaker. Right now, the group from Gander and a group from New-Wes-Valley are opening up a direct trail from New-Wes-Valley, right from Valleyfield into Gander. They have been at that for a number of years. A lot of hard work has gone into it. It will open up that whole region to each other.

People from Gander and the Gander region can now snowmobile, take the trails in Gander and go right on to Valleyfield. They can do whatever they want down in the Valleyfield area for the day; spend some money down in my hon. colleague's district. As well, the people from New-Wes-Valley can come into Gander, park their machines and then avail of any of the services, avail of any of the shopping that is in the Gander area.

Sometimes when we talk about the trails and travel – yes, we have to keep it safe, Mr. Speaker, to grow that economy and to grow that industry, but, as well, there are benefits to Newfoundlanders and Labradorians in general, there are benefits to retail outlets, there are benefits to the business world of the Province. I would not be able to pinpoint exactly now what it generates to the economy in Newfoundland and Labrador but I would assume that it is a lot, millions of dollars. It is not just thousands of dollars; it is actually millions of dollars into the local economy and into the different regions of the Province.

Mr. Speaker, I just wanted to get up and highlight that too, that the safety issue is really important and we have to keep our people on the trails safe. Certainly, we have to grow the economy and grow the industry as we move forward. I just wanted to get up because I was not sure if anybody mentioned that it was volunteers, volunteers of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, Labradorians in general, who really developed the trails in Newfoundland and Labrador, with the help of the provincial government, with the help of this government because we were the ones that brought in the legislation in the first place, back in about 2004, I believe, 2005. It has grown to what it is today, and it will continue to grow all over Newfoundland and Labrador.

There are places that I have snowmobiled and places that I would like to snowmobile; sometimes up on the Northern Peninsula, up in the Lewis Hills over in the hon. member's district from the Bay of Islands. I have snowmobiled all over Central Newfoundland and Labrador. I am telling you right now, there is no better sport, there is no better thing in Newfoundland and Labrador than having access to the outdoors but also we have to be safe in doing so.

Mr. Speaker, I am going to take my place in the House. I just wanted to have a few words in regard to this important piece of legislation. I commend the volunteers in this Province for their participation in growing the industry.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for The Straits – White Bay North.

MR. MITCHELMORE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for the opportunity to speak to Bill 46, An Act to Amend the Motorized Snow Vehicles and All-Terrain Vehicles Act.

I will echo the comment; certainly the intent of the bill is to improve safety by adding peace officers. I thank the Minister of Municipal Affairs for making comments towards that.

We do have to look at that balance when we look at what we are doing when it comes to safety and when it comes to development, when it comes to expanding an industry, a trail system, and the traditional users of that trail. I recognize in my district how significant the industry is when it comes to snowmobiling and what it means to the local economy.

In 2003, the biggest ride in the world – 1,500 people participated in the Grenfell Ride, Mr. Speaker. It was a fifty-kilometre ride from St. Anthony to the Main Brook intersection. It was the longest continuous line of moving snowmobiles. Of 739 snowmobiles participating, at the end there were 320 that crossed that line. They broke a Guinness World Record. It is quite significant knowing that they did this in 2003; in 2004, when the legislation came forward and introduced the stickers and the fees and all of these things, it had an impact.

When we look at our trail system and we look at grooming and doing it in an appropriate manner, the fee system is obviously a deterrent. Since 2003, we have seen quite a decline in the Grenfell Ride and the number of users. We need to find that balance when we are looking at advancing tourism and sport and recreation in Newfoundland and Labrador, and when we look at groomed trails, the trails are well groomed and there is the incentive to either purchase the fee or there would be no fee; the by-product to the local economy would be to the businesses that are there, to the accommodators and to the gas stations. We look at those types of things; these are all matters that we need to look at.

Maybe in partnership, what we would do then – this could have been an initiative for Regional Economic Development Boards to work with. I think we have chambers of commerce and institutions on the ground that we need to really look at or build with the snowmobile clubs to make sure that through government there are the appropriate –

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

MR. MITCHELMORE: – incentives in place to allow our industry to really grow where it needs to, but not adversely impact through regulations people who are using the traditional trails that are in play. We have to make sure that when we are looking at economic development and tourism, there is a balance.

What are we going to do when it comes to this piece of legislation, for safety? When we have this trail system that is in play, how are we to ensure that it is properly groomed and that it works with the appropriate Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, that we are extending the shoulder seasons, and that we are really expanding in areas, tourism?

I am a little bit cautious about how we are utilizing public resources and what the cost is. I would like to know what the Minister of Service Newfoundland and Labrador has when it comes to implementing these peace officers and the checkpoints. How often, how frequent would that be? Will there be additional resources hired? Does this impact the duties of other departments, the workload and things like that? Was there a cost associated with establishing checkpoints? Will there need to be additional snowmobiles purchased?

For the safety of these individuals as well, where they could be in situations where – as the Member for the Bay of Islands had stated – if there is somebody who is drinking and driving, would they have the ability to do things like a breathalyser? What type of confrontation could maybe occur between a peace officer, so what type of training is being provided to the appropriate cross departments there?

In some of these areas of the wilderness on the groomed trail there may not be adequate cellular coverage to make appropriate calls for emergency and for 911 services and things like that; if we are establishing checkpoints, maybe the most appropriate places would be where there is cellular coverage so that calls, or a pager system, or satellite phones would be in play to ensure that we do have that safety.

That is something that I would like to know in terms of implementing. I think it is absolutely a good piece of legislation that has great intent when we look at safety. We need to make sure that everyone is as safe as they can be, making sure that the resources are there. Maybe that will come in the regulations should this legislation be passed.

Those are some of my concerns that I have. Maybe we do need to look at the fee structure that is associated. Maybe there are other means where we can generate the revenues needed, whether it is through corporate sponsorship or it is through other initiatives, so that people who are truly the non-residents are not necessarily paying the high amount of fees or paying a fee to use the trails, that it can be absorbed in another way. There have been times when the trails are not groomed appropriately, and people are not wanting to pay for something that they are not getting good service for. I think that is something that needs to be taken under advisement.

The legislation as it is, I think it is a good piece to put forward checkpoints. With that I will take my seat and thank the minister.

MR. SPEAKER: If the minister speaks now he will adjourn debate.

The hon. the Minister of Service Newfoundland and Labrador.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. MCGRATH: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the members here who spoke to the amendment today. I am very proud to say that what I heard was 99.9 per cent in favour of making these amendments to the bill. I will note that the Member for St. Barbe, although what he said made absolutely no sense to me and seemed irrelevant, obviously he is not in favour of safety on snowmobile trails in Newfoundland and Labrador. That was the message made clear to me.

MR. BENNETT: A point of order, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER: The Member for St. Barbe, on a point of order.

MR. BENNETT: (Inaudible) point on snowmobile trails. The minister is mischaracterizing something I said.

MR. SPEAKER: Are there any further comments to the point of order?

The hon. the Minister of Service Newfoundland and Labrador.

MR. MCGRATH: Mr. Speaker, when someone stands up and calls an amendment and an act belonging to the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador a pig, I think that is irrelevant.

MR. SPEAKER: The member was phrasing a point of order in respect to the characterization of his comments. I think the member is suggesting he was misquoted, and that his comments have been misrepresented and misquoted.

I will have to review Hansard to understand exactly what you said and provide a comment at the next sitting day. As I understood your point of order, it was your comments had been misrepresented and misquoted. I will review Hansard and comment the next parliamentary day.

The hon. the Minister of Service Newfoundland and Labrador.

MR. MCGRATH: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Again, I am not going to take long. I am going to close the bill quickly. It has been recognized that bringing this amendment into the act certainly strengthens the opportunity for enforcement in our snowmobile trails here throughout the Province.

There were some very good points brought up. I will not belabour them. There are a couple I would like to clarify. One question was asked about helmets on snowmobiles. It is not mandatory to wear a helmet on a snowmobile. It is mandatory to wear it on an ATV. The snowmobile is separate. The rationale behind that was that in many parts of the Province, especially in Labrador, when you get extreme cold temperatures, when the act was brought forward you will notice a lot of people wear certain types of clothing, such as the fur hat. It is for warmth protection more than a safety protection. That was one of the rationales of not having to wear a helmet.

A point made and noticed by one of my colleagues on this side was that very rarely, and I do not think I have ever seen it on the groomed trail system, where somebody does not wear a helmet. The helmets that are produced today – many of us talked about the equipment and the size of the equipment. Helmets are no different. The accessories that go with that equipment are also much more durable today.

The other one thing that I would like to make clarification on that I heard several members speak to was the authority of a peace officer versus a police officer. A peace officer cannot charge somebody for impaired driving; however, they can detain the person until a police officer arrives. So it is a grey area there, and that is something that we will certainly look at – but just to clarify that.

So, with that, Mr. Speaker, I thank everybody again for their comments on the amendment, and I will sit down.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: Is it the pleasure of the House that the said bill be now read a second time?

All those in favour, ‘aye'.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Aye.

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

Motion carried.

CLERK: A bill, An Act To Amend The Motorized Snow Vehicles And All-Terrain Vehicles Act. (Bill 46)

MR. SPEAKER: This bill has now been read a second time.

When shall the bill be referred to a Committee of the Whole House?

MR. KING: On tomorrow.

MR. SPEAKER: On tomorrow.

On motion, a bill, "An Act To Amend The Motorized Snow Vehicles And All-Terrain Vehicles Act", read a second time, ordered referred to a Committee of the Whole House on tomorrow. (Bill 46)

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

MR. KING: Mr. Speaker, Order 2, third reading of Bill 40.

MR. SPEAKER: The current Order 2 is the Committee of the Whole, but you are calling Bill 40 in third reading.

MR. KING: Sorry, for third reading, yes.

MR. SPEAKER: Okay.

The hon. the Government House Leader.

MR. KING: Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the Minister of Health and Community Services, that Bill 40, An Act To Amend The Health Research Ethics Authority Act, The Medical Care Insurance Act, 1999 And The Mental Health Care And Treatment Act, be now read a third time.

MR. SPEAKER: It is moved and seconded that the bill now be read a third time.

Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion that Bill 40 be read a third time?

All those in favour, ‘aye'.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Aye.

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

Motion carried.

CLERK: A bill, An Act To Amend The Health Research Ethics Authority Act, The Medical Care Insurance Act, 1999 And The Mental Health Care And Treatment Act. (Bill 40)

MR. SPEAKER: This bill has now been read a third time and it is ordered that the bill do pass and its title be as on the Order Paper.

On motion, a bill, "An Act To Amend The Health Research Ethics Authority Act, The Medical Care Insurance Act, 1999 And The Mental Health Care And Treatment Act", read a third time, ordered passed and its title be as on the Order Paper. (Bill 40)

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

MR. KING: Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the Minister of Health and Community Services, that Bill 41, An Act To Amend The Hearing Aid Practitioners Act, be now read a third time.

MR. SPEAKER: It has been moved and seconded that the bill be read a third time.

Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion that Bill 41 be read a third time?

All those in favour, ‘aye'.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Aye.

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

Motion carried.

CLERK: A bill, An Act To Amend The Hearing Aid Practitioners Act. (Bill 41)

MR. SPEAKER: This bill is now read a third time and it is ordered that the bill do pass and its title be as on the Order Paper.

On motion, a bill, "An Act To Amend The Hearing Aid Practitioners Act", read a third time, ordered passed and its title be as on the Order Paper. (Bill 41)

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

MR. KING: Mr. Speaker, given the hour of the day I move that the House do now adjourn, seconded by the Minister of Advanced Education and Skills.

MR. SPEAKER: It has been moved that the House do now adjourn.

All those in favour, ‘aye'.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Aye.

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

Motion carried.

The House stands adjourned until 1:30 on Monday afternoon.

On motion, the House at its rising adjourned until tomorrow, Monday, at 1:30 p.m.