The House met at 1:30 p.m.

MR. SPEAKER (Snow): Order, please!

The hon. the Government House Leader.

MR. LUSH: Mr. Speaker, by agreement, both sides of the House agreed today that we would elect the Deputy Speaker, since there were Cabinet changes and some changes to the Officers of the House, and also the Deputy Chair of Committees.

Mr. Speaker, I move that Mary Hodder, the Member for the District of Burin-Placentia West, be elected Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly.

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

MR. OTTENHEIMER: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I second this motion.

MR. SPEAKER: It is moved and seconded that the hon. the Member for Burin-Placentia West be elected Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly.

All those in favour, ‘aye'.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Aye.

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

Motion carried.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. LUSH: Mr. Speaker, I move that Roland Butler, the Member for the District of Port de Grave, be elected Deputy Chairperson of Committees of the House of Assembly.

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

MR. OTTENHEIMER: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I second the motion.

MR. SPEAKER: It is moved and seconded that the hon. the Member for the District of Port de Grave be elected Deputy Chair of Committees of the House of Assembly.

All those in favour, ‘aye'.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Aye.

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

Motion carried.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

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

Mr. Speaker leaves the Chair.

His Honour the Lieutenant-Governor takes the Chair.

SERGEANT-AT-ARMS: Ladies and Gentlemen, it is the wish of His Honour the Lieutenant-Governor that all present pleased be seated.

The Fourth Session of the Forty-Fourth General Assembly of this Honourable House is about to be prorogued, but before releasing you from you duties, I wish to thank you for the careful and sympathetic attention given to the important matters brought before you by my Ministers. Your commitment to your work and your diligence deserve our appreciation and acknowledgment.

Twenty-seven pieces of legislation were enacted during this Session. In particular, legislative initiatives were taken in highway safety, the environment, mining, forestry and income and employment support.

In light of the troubling news relating to the cod stocks in certain areas of our Province, this Honourable House adopted a unanimous resolution requesting an historic meeting of representatives of this House, the House of Commons and the Senate to ensure that we work collectively and co-operatively for the best interests of the people and communities of this Province.

Mr. Speaker and Members of the Honourable House of Assembly:

My Government introduced a new Student Financial Assistance Act to improve debt reduction measures, reduce loan defaults and help reduce student debt accumulation, measures to ensure that post-secondary education is more accessible to all who wish to pursue it.

During this Session, in order to ensure that the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act maintains my Government's commitment to a greater level of openness and accountability, an amendment was enacted to provide for the appointment of an information and privacy commissioner to conduct reviews and hear complaints under the Act. This new officer of the House will soon be appointed.

Following reference to the Resource Committee of this House, two major environmental bills were enacted during this Session. They are the Environmental Protection Act and the Water Resources Act. The former Act covers areas of environmental assessment, pesticide control, waste management, waste material disposal and environmental issues generally. These amendments offer better protection to the environment and to the people of the Province. The latter Act is a revision and consolidation of the law respecting the control and management of the water resources of the Province including the legislative provisions in the old Crown Lands Act, the Water Resources Protection Act and the Well Drilling Act.

To eliminate accidents and tragedies caused by persons driving while intoxicated, my Government introduced tough amendments to the Highway Traffic Act which dramatically increased the penalties for drunk driving offences and also introduced a new law which will provide for ignition interlock devices. Concerned about the safety of our citizens on the highways of our Province, my government also introduced an amendment to the Highway Traffic Act which will make it an offence to use a hand-held cellular telephone while driving a motor vehicle. These amendments reflect the government's continued commitment to making our highways as safe as possible.

During this session, my government introduced and this House subsequently passed An Act Respecting the Provision of Income and Employment Support to People of the Province. This progressive legislation was presented to members following an intensive consultation with stakeholders and the public. One of the main purposes of this act is to facilitate the provision of income and employment support to eligible persons and deliver supports and programs that assist individuals to achieve their employment and career goals. As well, a new Interjurisdictional Support Orders Act was passed during this session, improving the process for families obtaining support orders.

My government also introduced a bill to impose taxes on income from mining operations within the Province and on income derived from persons holding rights to mine. This new act will replace the old Mining and Mineral Rights Tax Act which my government had considered to be inappropriate to deal with the recent mining issues in this Province. Those who profit from this Province's resources must fairly and justly recompense the people of Newfoundland and Labrador. Also during this session, An Act to Amend the Forestry Act was enacted to provide for a uniform expiry date of the timber licences held by Abitibi Consolidated Company of Canada. The amendment provides that the expiry dates, which now vary between November 2002 and November 2021, will have a common expiry date on December 31, 2010. This amendment has provided a measure of security for the people of this Province who earn a living in Central Newfoundland with this company.

Upon a request by the City of St. John's Municipal Council, the City of St. John's Act was amended to remove the ability of the Mayor to vote a second time where there is an equality of votes. An equality of votes on a motion is now considered to be the defeat of that motion.

In order to refine further the Adoption Act, adopted by this House in 1999, various amendments were enacted during this session to clarify further and improve the effectiveness of that act. These amendments have been suggested by participants in an extensive consultation and training process over the last two years.

Among the other legislative measures enacted during this session were: An Act To Amend The Fishing Industry Collective Bargaining Act, An Act Regarding an Agreement With The Newfoundland And Labrador Medical Association, An Act To Amend The Public Service Pensions Act, 1991, An Act To Amend The Gasoline Tax Act, An Act To Amend The Tobacco Tax Act and An Act To Amend The Teachers' Pension Act.

I thank you for the large measure of supply you have granted. I assure you that the appropriations that you have granted have been and will be expended by my ministers with care and efficiency.

It is my pleasure that the Fourth Session of the Forty-Fourth General Assembly now be prorogued and is prorogued accordingly.