June 13, 2007 HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS Vol. XLV No. 29


The House met at 2:00 p.m.

MR. SPEAKER (Hodder): Order, please!

Admit strangers.

Statements by Members

MR. SPEAKER: This afternoon we have members' statements as follows: the hon. the Member for Grand Fall-Buchans, the hon. the Member for Port au Port, the hon. the Member for Port de Grave, the hon. the Member for Bonavista North, the hon. the Member for Bellevue and the hon. the Member for Kilbride.

The Chair recognizes the hon. the Member for Grand Falls-Buchans.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS THISTLE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr Speaker, I rise in this House today to acknowledge and congratulate Mr. Ray Goodyear, a young ninety-two-year-old resident of Grand Falls-Windsor who has been playing baseball since the early 1930s and plans to stop no time soon.

Mr. Speaker, like its owner, the old baseball mitt may have a few signs of wear and tear, but it has aged well and still works fine. Baseball was extremely popular in the first half of the last century in Grand Falls-Windsor, with a league comprised of teams from the Church Lads' Brigade, Scouts, Guards and Cadets playing at least twice a week. On game day their baseball diamond located at what is now Church Road Park, was a hotbed of activity.

Ray originally played third base, but his team's manager, Ken Goodyear, suggested he move to the pitcher's mound after noticing his strong arm. Not wanting to pitch, he agreed to it and pitched for three or four years and then played outfield.

Mr. Speaker, Ray gave up playing competitively in 1949, when his job as a papermaker at the Grand Falls mill and family commitments took up his time. He came out of retirement thirty years later. In 1979, at the age of sixty-four, he began playing with an old timers league and he has not stopped since. He was recognized for his contribution to the sport in 1985 when he was inducted into the Newfoundland Baseball Hall of Fame in the player category.

Ray says the game has changed considerably and has become twice as fast as it was eighty years ago. While the game has changed since he took up the diamond, Ray's left hand has not. He still uses the huge, overstuffed mitt with an extremely small pocket he has used since day one. It was his first and only baseball mitt.

Mr. Speaker, I ask all members of this hon. House to join with me in acknowledging and congratulating Mr. Ray Goodyear, a young ninety-two-year-old Grand Falls-Windsor old-timer baseball player and wish him all the best in the upcoming baseball season.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. CORNECT: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in this hon. House today to congratulate the students who participated at the Newfoundland and Labrador Historica Heritage Fair in schools throughout the Province. I want to especially congratulate the over 200 students who attended the Western Newfoundland Historica Heritage Fair held at Sir Wilfred Grenfell College in May, in Corner Brook. Schools from Corner Brook to Humber Valley to Port aux Basques, Stephenville and Port au Port areas had representatives there.

Mr. Speaker, it is worth noting that École Sainte-Anne from La Grand'Terre, a school within the Francophone School Board was also represented. Félicitations!

I am quite sure that students were quite fascinated with the information they sought while researching Canadian-Newfoundland and Labrador culture and history. It was also an opportunity for the public to become aware of the history and culture around them. It was an excellent opportunity to get a better understanding of what makes our people and our Province proud and great.

Mr. Speaker, from these regional fairs, fifteen students from across the Province were selected to participate in a week long National Historica Camp that will be held this year in Lethbridge, Alberta from July 9 to 16. I am proud, Mr. Speaker, to congratulate Aaron Sampson, a Grade 7 student from Stephenville Middle School in Stephenville, on being selected to represent our Province at the national fair. Aaron won a silver medal at his school fair and placed first at the regionals. Aaron researched and displayed the curriculum vitae of each of the Prime Minister's of Canada from MacDonald to Harper. It was well researched, and he certainly knew the historical facts on each and he wore the traditional attire of the late Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau - with a red rose to add colour and culture to display.

Mr. Speaker, I ask all hon. members to join me as I send congratulations to Aaron, and all others who will represent our Province. I also want to congratulate and thank the students who attended their regional fairs and certainly, Mr. Speaker, to thank all students, teachers and volunteers who participated at the school level right across the great Province of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Thank you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Port de Grave.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. BUTLER: Mr. Speaker, I rise in this House today to pay tribute to the captain, crew and coast guard officials involved in the rescue of the crew of the Nautical Legacy, which was engulfed by flames off our coast on Wednesday, May 30.

The Skipper of the Nautical Legacy, Mr. Harold Stokes, likely saved the crew's lives by calling for help instead of donning his own survival suit, according to the Coast Guard officials. Chris Fitzgerald, Marine Search and Rescue Coordinator with the Canadian Coast Guard, took the mayday call. He says the electronic positioning device burned with the boat and without the mayday call, the Coast Guard never would have found the Nautical Legacy.

The sixty-five foot longliner was fishing for crab when it caught on fire 130 kilometres northeast of St. John's. Five of the six men on board managed to get into survival suits. The sixth member of the crew, Michael Petten, who had just come off watch, was not so fortunate. The fire was so intense he had to leave the cabin area through a skylight to reach the rest of the crew on deck. Once there, it was impossible for him to get to his survival suit because of the extent of the fire.

With no time to spare, Michael tied a buoy around his waist and was the first to jump into the frigid waters. His fellow crew members followed suit. Tied to a buoy, the crew circled Michael and collectively helped him keep afloat and conscious during this harrowing experience.

Mr. Speaker, the Coast Guard must be commended for the momentous rescue they performed at sea. All six crew members were rescued, thanks to the professionalism of the Coast Guard.

Mr. Speaker, on Sunday, June 3, I had the pleasure of attending a church service at the Pentecostal Church in Port de Grave to celebrate the survival of the crew of the Nautical Legacy and today I ask all members of this House of Assembly to join with me in celebrating their safe return.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Bonavista North.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. HARDING: Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge the athletic achievements of the Senior Boys Volley team from Phoenix Academy Raiders. The Raiders, hailing from Carmanville, where recently named senior high team of the year by the Newfoundland and Labrador Volleyball Association.

The season accomplishments included a bronze medal, a silver medal and six gold medals. One of the gold medal wins came at the 4A Provincial Championships and this title cemented their position as the most dominant volleyball team in Newfoundland and Labrador

In addition to the team success, the captain of the squad, Paul Easton, was awarded the Robbie West Memorial Award. This award is presented to the male volleyball player of the year in the midget to eighteen and under age group. Paul is the quintessential team player. He is a mentor and a leader. This young man runs practices, initiates fundraising activities, transports teammates to games and is responsible for registering the Raiders for all the events they attended this year. In addition to capturing several MVP titles, Paul is also considered Newfoundland's top recruit for the Memorial University Seahawks Volleyball Team. He has already committed to attending the school and will be playing at the university during the 2007-2008 season.

Mr. Speaker, I ask all members of this hon. House to join with me in congratulating Paul Easton and the Phoenix Academy Raiders on their tremendous accomplishments and wishing them continued success in the future.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. BARRETT: Mr. Speaker, I rise in this House today to extend congratulations to Distinctive Mouldings of Blaketown, Trinity Bay. The company earned the Best Sales Team Award during the Canadian Home Builders Association's 2007 Home Show at Mile One Centre May 4 to May 6.

Mr. Speaker, the determination and innovative marketing skills of the sales team at Distinctive Mouldings has made the company deserving of this distinctive award.

Distinctive Mouldings is a family business, owned and operated by Sterling Russell, that began in 1994 and specializes in the production of Newfoundland manufactured finger-jointed pine mouldings as well as solid birch hardwood flooring from material harvested in this Province.

Mr. Speaker, for the past fourteen years the company's product line, which includes over sixty types of wood mouldings, was marketed and sold primarily to Chester Dawe. When the contract between the two was terminated a few months ago, it meant a devastating loss in sales of 50 per cent for Distinctive Mouldings; however, the sales team was determined not only to recapture but to increase productivity and marketing operations. They managed to take their services and move from wholesale to retail and ended up with twice the profit margin and better than ever sales.

Mr. Speaker, I ask all members of this House to join with me in extending congratulations to Distinctive Mouldings who has earned the Best Sales Team Award during the Canadian Home Builders Association's 2007 Home Show.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. DINN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I stand in this hon. House today to congratulate and wish good luck to the Goulds Hoopsters Under 13 Girls Basketball Team that will travel to Montreal, Quebec, from June 27 to July 2, 2007, to represent Newfoundland and Labrador at the 2007 Eastern Canadian Basketball Championship.

Goulds Hoopsters Basketball Association has been producing exceptional basketball teams for the past ten years, and this Under 13 Girls Team is one of our recent successes.

The cost to send this team to the 2007 Eastern Canadian Basketball tournament is approximately $17,000. With support from the provincial government, the City of St. John's, as well as local businesses, organizations and residents, this team has raised most of the money it needs.

Members of the team are: Cassandra Kieley; Alicia Miller; Alex Vaughn-Jackson; Jessica Powell; Rebecca Ryan; Taylor Hayes; Lindsay Gulliver; Sami Sellars; Kirsten Swantee; Emily Crocker; Erica Yetman; Stacy Collins; Gerard Collins, Coach; and, Sheena Fleming, Assistant Coach.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: Statements by Ministers.

Statements by Ministers

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. WISEMAN: Mr. Speaker, I rise in this House today to recognize Friday, June 15, as the second annual World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. This important day serves to increase the awareness of elder abuse on a global scale so that all can play a role in its prevention.

Elder abuse is a serious and disturbing issue in our society. It involves any physical or emotional abuse, as well as financial abuse and neglect of older adults. All individuals deserve to be treated with respect and dignity, and we must take extra special care with those who are most vulnerable.

Mr. Speaker, our government is committed to the prevention of elder abuse in our Province. Together with my colleague, the Minister of Education and the Minister Responsible for the Status of Women, we are working to eliminate elder abuse through the Violence Prevention Initiative. Currently, both the Department of Health and Community Services and the Women's Policy Office are developing a campaign to raise awareness of violence against older persons in our Province and provide direct access to resources for individuals witnessing or experiencing this type of abuse.

We are also conducting a review of legislation which impacts on vulnerable persons to ensure that we have the legislative authority to adequately protect vulnerable adults in our Province.

Additionally, through the development of a Healthy Aging Policy Framework, we are increasing awareness of seniors issues. Through this, we will create an age-friendly Province that values our seniors, the contribution that they have made to our Province, and the attributes they have to offer.

My colleagues, the Federal-Provincial-Territorial Ministers Responsible for Seniors, developed a poster and resource kit to raise awareness of the issue of violence against older adults. This year, our government partnered with the Newfoundland and Labrador Medical Association to distribute these materials to physicians across our Province to raise the awareness of the issue of violence among older adults and provide their patients with information on accessing community resources.

Mr. Speaker, it is the collective responsibility of society to send the message that elder abuse in any form is wrong, and we are committed to supporting this collective voice in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Thank you, Mr Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Humber Valley.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. BALL: Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the minister for the advance copy.

It is really unfortunate that we actually stand here today and even have to recognize such a day, June 15, as World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. There is no question this is a serious and disturbing issue that we face in society. The physical, emotional and financial abuse concerns certainly all of us. We look for ways that we can influence and prevent this from happening. These are the individuals in our society who have played such a huge role certainly in most of the freedoms that we enjoy today.

What is alarming, Mr. Speaker, is that much of this abuse even occurs in the residents own homes, it occurs in hospitals and seniors homes, no doubt, so we would encourage the government to expedite the review of the legislation and be quick to develop the appropriate legislation that is required here.

In a more immediate role, I would encourage you again to reconsider, at least, the development of a 911 program which would be certainly helpful here, I believe, easy access to home care programs, educating our society, in particular our youth, grandchildren and those.

All of us, I think, can play a huge role in just keeping a watchful eye on those elders in our society, some of whom are the most vulnerable.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

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

I, too, thank the minister for the advance copy of his statement.

This is a very serious issue, and that is why we do have an awareness day set up, because it is a widespread issue and a serious one.

I totally agree with the educational work and the awareness work that is being done, and that is essential, but elders in their homes in particular, people who are dependent totally on others, either paid workers or even their own family members, are really the ones who are at danger of experiencing violence.

I think there are two things that we need to think about. One, we need to have a structure or mechanism in place to protect, because we have people, elderly people, in their homes with no immediate family depending sometimes on workers from whom they are experiencing abuse. We also have them experiencing that from their own family members. Besides a mechanism, or a structure to try to protect them, and that would be something that would have to be developed, I also think we should have an increase in the number of social workers available through community services to go into the homes of the elderly who are there without anybody else to advocate for them, and that these social workers should be trained to recognize the signs of abuse, whether that abuse is mental, whether that abuse is physiological, or whether it is physical.

At the moment, we do not have adequate services through social workers. They do not have the time to make regular visits. That could be one way of cutting down on the abuse that is happening to elders in their own home.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER: Further Statements by Ministers?

Oral Questions.

Oral Questions

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

MR. PARSONS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

A few questions today to follow up on some issues that have been left outstanding throughout this session. My first question is for the Premier.

Mr. Speaker, last week the Premier confirmed that he had been in contact with a potential commissioner concerning the judicial inquiry into the hormone receptor tests issue.

I ask the Premier: Have you now had an opportunity to confirm the name of the commissioner and when we might see the Terms of Reference for this inquiry? We are going onto three weeks now since the inquiry was announced. I am just wondering when we are going to get about seeing this information?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

PREMIER WILLIAMS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

We were actually hoping to announce today, but there has been a technicality. So I would say definitely by the end of the week, and maybe as early as tomorrow.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. PARSONS: Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, my next question is for the Minister of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development.

The minister stated in this House that there were several terms and conditions that would have to be met before the $15 million of taxpayers' money would flow into the fibre optic deal. This past weekend I noticed, it appears that there is a new pole line actually being constructed near the highway or adjacent to the highway on the Avalon Peninsula here, which is in regards to this fibre optic project as well.

I ask the minister: Have the terms and conditions set out by government been met at this point? Has any money flowed yet to the proponents in the fibre optic deal, and when and if the people of the Province might expect to see the final deal, the terms and conditions of the agreement between the proponents and government on this fibre optic deal?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. TAYLOR: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I say to the Opposition House Leader, we have not finalized the final binding contract with the consortium on the build of the fibre optic line. I can confirm that no money has flown, nor will any monies flow until the final contract has been signed by all parties. The work that is being done right now is being financed entirely by the consortium. They know, in this year, if the binding contract subject to is arrived at along the lines of the direction that we were given by Cabinet back late last fall, if and when that contract is arrived at, there will be $10 million flown later in this fiscal year and the remainder will be flown in the next fiscal year, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. PARSONS: Just a final question of the minister, as a follow up supplementary to that.

Again, I did not hear your answer with respect to: Will the public see the final deal, the contract that is inked between government and the proponents?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. TAYLOR: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I do not believe there would be any problem, that I am aware of, in providing at least most of the contract, certainly the parts that are pertinent to the direction that we were given and the parts that would be pertinent to the public interest.

If there is information in it that is sensitive from a proprietary perspective, Mr. Speaker, obviously, that would not be released, but I would expect that the vast majority of it, certainly, would be able to be released and maybe even all of it.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. PARSONS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

My next question is for the Minister of Environment and Conservation.

I asked, last week, a question concerning salmon licences sold in the Province through the minister's department and the need for a government issued photo ID. The minister indicated, at that time, that the problem would be resolved. However, I can advise the minister that the problem still does exist and I will give you an example.

Anyone who is disabled in this Province, for example, maybe a disabled person who cannot get a driver's licence, which is the normally accepted government photo ID, but yet they are still very functional in a lot of other aspects of their lives. A disabled person, or, for example, someone who lives in Grand Bruit where there are no cars, or lives in Grey River where there are no cars and they are not likely to have a photo ID, they cannot get a salmon licence in this Province right now without a government photo ID. That problem still exists today as we speak.

So I ask you again: Do you think it is fair that anyone, in order to get a salmon licence, must go through the expense of paying $25 to get a government issued photo ID licence in order to get a salmon licence? I mean, isn't this a bit ridiculous?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. JACKMAN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

In particular, the issue that was raised last week around the age requirement, that is something that we have indicated to vendors that these children can come under a family plan so that if an adult goes into the vendor, then they can vouch for their chid and they will get a licence in that regard.

Secondly, around the issue of somebody with a disability, we are not about impeding people to get on the rivers. If there is anything that we can do to accommodate these individuals, we will. I will certainly take that back to my officials and we will address that. I can assure him that.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. PARSONS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I say to the minister, so there is absolutely no confusion here, the gentleman I am referring to is thirty-three years of age. His name is Joe Elms. The matter has been brought to the attention of your officials. He is disabled. He does not have a driver's licence and Canadian Tire in Port aux Basques, Newfoundland and Labrador, will not issue a licence to him unless he goes and pays $25 for a photo ID. That is the example. Your department officials are aware of it. I mentioned it last week here in the House when I gave you the example.

I say, again, to the minister: How many times do we have to ask under these circumstances, are you prepared for this year - until your department irons out what the rules are going to be and considers these examples - are you prepared, if only for this year, to suspend the photo ID requirement?

We have a similar incident in my colleague's District in L'Anse au Clair, where people who come into this Province for tourist reasons, for example, non-residents, they might not have a photo ID. Either make something reasonable or will you suspend it? We have newly issued MCP cards this year.

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

I ask the member now to finish his question.

MR. PARSONS: Can't we have some reasonable system, or else suspend?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. JACKMAN: Mr. Speaker, one of the things that we are attempting to do with this entire process is to attempt to find out how many people are availing of hunting, how many people are availing of fishing, so on and so forth. As I have said to the member, we will not do anything that will impede someone with a disability. We are attempting to encourage our youth to take part more in these types of outdoor activities.

Mr. Speaker, I can assure the minister that we have looked at this and we are making final determinations that this situation will be taken care of. I can assure him that, with the utmost certainty, it will be dealt with and it will meet the needs of this particular individual.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Humber Valley.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. BALL: Mr. Speaker, we, on this side of the House, have had numerous complaints about long waiting times at emergency rooms in hospitals throughout the Province. Recently, we have heard reports of wait times of up to ten hours to see a physician. Seven to eight hours is not unusual.

So, I ask the minister: Is he and his department concerned about these long wait times and in his view, what are the contributing factors to these unacceptable wait times?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. WISEMAN: Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, wait times in emergency departments is not an unusual event. One of the unfortunate things about emergency department visits is that if you look at data from across this country, you will find in any jurisdiction that a very small percentage of the visits to emergency departments are actually true emergencies that require the attention of an emergency room physician, and the back up and support positions that support that department.

So, what this jurisdiction, together with many across the country are finding, is that many individuals are going to emergency departments for what is non-emergent and non-urgent cases. You will find in most cases, if you walk into most emergency rooms in this Province, you will find somewhere posted in that emergency department a mechanism that identifies how -

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

I ask the minister to complete his answer.

MR. WISEMAN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

- identifies a mechanism of how the emergency department prioritizes the people that they see. The very emergent and the very urgent cases get in right away, obviously, but those that are less severe can afford to wait. They may be there for quite some time, I say, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The Chair recognizes the Member for Humber Valley.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. BALL: Mr. Speaker, the minister referred to some federal initiatives about wait times, and we have heard much about the wait time reductions by the federal and provincial government in our health care system. These wait times are usually measured after people enter the system, sometimes it is about the time they have to wait to see a specialist.

In light of the fact that these emergency rooms - the situation currently exists, as you said. Some of them are not always emergencies, they can be urgent, but what does the he and his department feel is the acceptable time for these people to be serviced?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. WISEMAN: Mr. Speaker, emergency departments throughout Newfoundland and Labrador - I would expect that anyone who comes through a door who is a true emergency, someone who has just been involved in a major motor vehicle accident, someone experiencing severe chest pain, maybe in cardiac arrest, those individuals will be seen immediately. I suspect, Mr. Speaker, if you surveyed any emergency department in this Province, you will find that those types of individuals are seen immediately because they are, in fact, the true emergencies.

Someone who may have had a high fever, been running a high fewer for several day, it may not be that critical, serious for the person involved, no question, but that individual may not get in quite as fast as someone who is experiencing chest pains. So, those individuals who are true emergencies, I say, Mr. Speaker, are in fact getting into emergency rooms -

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

I ask the minister to complete his answer.

MR. WISEMAN: - immediately upon entering the emergency department.

So, I suspect, Mr. Speaker, in the true definition of emergency response, our emergency departments are responding to the true emergencies immediately.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Humber Valley.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. BALL: Mr. Speaker, part of that question was about the urgent requirement, I did not hear the answer for that.

The health boards in this Province have an accumulated debt of around $119 million. The government seems to be content to allow these health boards in the Province to deal with this accumulated debt on their own.

In light of the serious health care professional shortage, I ask the minister: Does he feel the money currently used for debt servicing could be better used spent on front line health care professionals?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. WISEMAN: Mr. Speaker, it is a similar question that the member opposite asked during the Estimates debate, and at that time I had the benefit of having the data in front of me, but I recall just vaguely the answer I gave him at that time was that most of the health authorities - I think Eastern Health was the one that had the largest accumulated debt, and if you look at their debt servicing charges last year they were very minimal, I say, Mr. Speaker. They are able to manage their debt without a significant cost to them.

If you look at the overall debt load carried by health authorities in this Province, I think, other than the northern region, all of the other regions are managing within their current budgets. They have the ability to continue to provide a quality program, quality service, to their residents while at the same time reducing the accumulated debt that they have -

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

I ask the minister now to complete his answer.

MR. WISEMAN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

- while operating within a balanced budget situation.

I suspect, Mr Speaker, that kind of information, that kind of profile, would suggest that they are able to manage the budget that they have, service their debt, and provide quality patient care at the same time.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The Chair recognizes the Member for Cartwright-L'Anse au Clair.

MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

My questions are for the Minister of Health and Community Services.

The changes to the medical travel program recently announced by government is definitely a step closer to having a very effective program, but my concern is still for those who have to drive hundreds of kilometres to access medical services simply because they are not provided for in their own regions.

People from my district are having to drive over 1,000 kilometres each way for important medical procedures, with no compensation under the program. This option would be cheaper to government instead of flying.

I ask the minister: Will government consider a rebate program for those who have to drive at least over 500 kilometres to and from a hospital for treatments that are not provided in their area?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. WISEMAN: Mr. Speaker, this past week government announced some major enhancements in our Medical Transportation Assistance Program. It is the second year in a row, I say, Mr. Speaker, that we have announced enhancements to that program. We have seen that program grow, since we formed government, to some $1.7 million. We have made enhancements, as I said, each of the last two years, this year being the second.

I say to the member opposite that we will continue to evaluate the program, as we do other programs, and where there is an opportunity and where we have the fiscal capacity then we will continue to enhance the program on a go-forward basis.

I thank the member for her suggestion and recommendation, and we look forward to future evaluations of the programs, and we commit to that continued evaluation.

That is the commitment we will make, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Cartwright-L'Anse au Clair.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS JONES: Mr. Speaker, many patients who are hospitalized have escorts to attend with them and to be by their side through surgical procedures, tests and treatments. In the past, these patients and escorts could choose the comfort of staying with a friend or relative and claim personal accommodations, meals and taxis under that program. Now they cannot.

I have to ask the minister: Is the department considering reinstating the private accommodation allowances that were originally afforded to individuals?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. WISEMAN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

We, too, appreciate the real value of having escorts with patients. Many times they need the support of family and friends, not only just for the moral support but to help with the care. We recognize that. That is the reason, I say, Mr. Speaker, that this year we have increased the allowances made for those escorts for their meal allowance, both on a daily and a weekly basis, as well as the accommodation rates have gone up on a daily and weekly basis, to provide for financial support for those very valuable escorts who accompany, sometimes, family and friends for medical appointments.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Cartwright-L'Anse au Clair.

MS JONES: Mr. Speaker, those allowances and reimbursements are only available if the escort or the patient is staying in a hostel or a hotel accommodation. For those people who cannot afford that type of accommodation but would prefer to stay with a private individual if they could compensate them in some way, I think the program should apply.

I will give the minister one example, and I have many that I can give him. Just this past year I had an individual call me. Her husband was critically ill in the hospital. She slept for six weeks on the floor of his hospital room because she could not afford to have a hostel, nor could she afford the taxis back and forth from someone she knew to the hospital. I went to the Department of Health to try and get the meal allowance for this individual, because at least she would have something, and it was rejected based on the fact that she was not staying in a hostel.

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

I ask the hon. member now to finish her question.

MS JONES: Minister, my question to you today is to take this under consideration, to look at reinstating allowances to these escorts and patients who find themselves in this difficult situation.

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. WISEMAN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I just want to remind the member opposite - she makes a valid point, but I want to remind the member opposite - that we are the only jurisdiction in the country who provide a medical transportation system that is not means tested, it is open to anybody; but, at the same time, for those individuals who find themselves in a very difficult financial circumstance, the Department of Human Resources, Labour and Employment has a program where they can, on an individual basis, do a financial assessment where it can be determined on a needs basis that special consideration could be provided to those individuals through the Department of Human Resources, Labour and Employment, which is an augmentation, a separate program all together but an augmentation, to what it is we are doing under our medical transportation system, which is a non-means tested process, so those individuals in the Province who are in dire financial straits will not be disadvantaged as a result of the -

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

I ask the minister now to complete his answer.

MR. WISEMAN: - circumstance they may find themselves in, I say, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Cartwright-L'Anse au Clair.

MS JONES: Mr. Speaker, if these individuals are old-age pensioners they would not be eligible for that.

My next question is for the Minister of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development.

In the last few weeks I presented a number of petitions to the House of Assembly from residents in my district, asking government to provide for cellphone services in the southern Labrador region, especially on the section of highway from L'Anse-au-Loup to Cartwright. There is no cellphone access, and private communications companies are not prepared to provide the service, saying the investments would not be profitable for them.

Mr. Speaker, the minister knows that there are hundreds of kilometres of gravel road. They, in winter, have severe snow and storm conditions, and really we are putting people's safety at risk. I ask him if his government is prepared to look at a program whereby they can partner with private companies to provide for cellular services in rural remote areas like this?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. TAYLOR: Mr. Speaker, I agree with the member opposite that the provision for cell coverage in Labrador is a significant issue and one that needs to be evaluated and, if possible, addressed.

Subsequent to our Cabinet meeting in Churchill Falls and Goose Bay, I guess it was last fall, between myself and the Minister Responsible for Labrador Affairs, Transportation and Works, we directed our officials to begin the process of evaluating the cost, essentially, of doing this, to try to identify options for government.

Mr. Speaker, I can say that review is ongoing and we look forward to a satisfactory report in the future.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Cartwright-L'Anse au Clair.

MS JONES: Mr. Speaker, my final question is for the Minister of Government Services and Lands, and it is again dealing with the photo ID to obtain a salmon fishing licence.

I do not know if your colleague is aware of it, but in districts like mine people can only get a photo ID when driver examiners visit the area to take the picture on behalf of your department. The next scheduled visits are not until late July or August, which means that the prime salmon fishing time will have passed and those people will not be able to get a licence.

I have to ask: Are you prepared to send your officials into districts like mine immediately to provide this service if the minister chooses not to scrap the program?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. JACKMAN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

That is a situation that has been identified. Mr. Speaker, I will tell the member that as early as by the end of next week we will have that situation resolved for them.

Thank you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

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

My questions today are for the Minister of Health and Community Services.

This week, the Minister Responsible for Labrador stated publicly that before construction begins on the new hospital in Labrador West there will be consultations with the hospital board, town councils, medical staff, the Chamber of Commerce and "other stakeholders" about what should be in the hospital plan.

Mr. Speaker, numerous community groups that lobbied for the new hospital say they have had no response to their previous request to be consulted, and they are wondering if they will be consulted now.

My question for the minister is: Will the minister provide a list of stakeholders that are to be consulted about the hospital plan, and ensure that all concerned groups in Labrador West are consulted?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. WISEMAN: Mr. Speaker, the design consultants have been appointed for that new facility. Work is underway as we speak. There have been a couple of meetings already with the consulting group to talk about the design concept.

The functional program for the hospital has already been developed as an earlier piece of work, and that piece of information will be incorporated in, together with discussions with the community in terms of the future of that health facility in Labrador West.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MS MICHAEL: Mr. Speaker, then the minister is not willing to tell me what stakeholders are going to be consulted from the community. This is the point of my question, and there are community groups who are concerned that their requests in the past to be consulted are being ignored. I wanted to know: Are they going to be consulted?

I will push a little bit further, Mr. Speaker. Plans for the new health facility will be shaped by the services that the hospital will require, both in terms of size and design.

My question for the minister is: Will the consultation that the Minister Responsible for Labrador spoke about take place prior to any further architectural plans being put in place?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. WISEMAN: Mr. Speaker, what I can assure the member opposite, and I can assure more particularly the individuals living in Labrador West, is that this new health facility that is being built in Labrador West will reflect the ongoing health needs of the people in that region. They will reflect, they will respond, an appropriate response, to the population that lives in those communities and the health needs that are there now, with a view that obviously we need to provide for the flexibility and the design consideration to reflect that kind of flexibility that will allow us to respond to future and changing needs of changing community populations, I say, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: A final supplementary, the hon. the Member for Signal Hill-Quidi Vidi.

MS MICHAEL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Well, some of the needs that are being identified by people in the community are things that are not in the current hospital, such as CAT scan equipment, more advanced testing equipment for high-risk diseases such as diabetes and cancer, facilities for high-risk pregnancies, better treatment for back injuries, among other things, and people must travel to Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Quebec and Newfoundland to get those services.

My question for the minister is: Since these have been identified by the community, what assurances can he give that the new facility will have additional needed services, including CAT scans, high-risk pregnancy facilities, and more diagnostic services, so that people do not have to travel so far and so often out of their region?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. WISEMAN: Mr. Speaker, just let me repeat what I said a moment ago. The new health facility in Labrador West will reflect the needs of the community, will reflect the demand for services in that region, will reflect the ability to be able to provide those services with the human resources that will be available to us in that region, and will reflect the flexibility that will be required in the design to respond to future needs of that region, I say, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Grand Bank.

MS FOOTE: Mr. Speaker, the negotiations surrounding the sale of FPI included the government's right of first refusal should Ocean Choice International decide to sell the plant in Marystown.

I ask the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture: Why didn't the government insist on the same condition for the secondary processing plant in Burin?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. TAYLOR: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, we have every confidence that the deal that we have reached with OCI and with High Liner on the sale of the FPI assets will result in long-term stability for the communities that currently have FPI operations in them.

We are very confident, Mr. Speaker, with the commitments that have been made by High Liner on the movement of more product through the facility at Burin, that the facility will have a great future.

Mr. Speaker, I have to say this: In the situation with Marystown, if OCI defaults on their obligations under processing in Newfoundland and Labrador and we end up in a situation where we have access to the quotas, Mr. Speaker, there is not much point of having quotas if you do not have a fish plant to put them through, which is why we insisted on the right of first refusal on the operation in Marystown.

MR. SPEAKER: I ask the hon. minister to complete his answer.

MR. TAYLOR: If, Mr. Speaker, something should, unfortunately - after five years time - happen with the operation at Burin, we do not have that raw material source, obviously, to go through the plant and we do not have their marketing expertise to be able to market it.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The Chair recognizes the hon. the Member for Grand Bank.

MS FOOTE: Mr. Speaker, people who are connected with the Burin plant feel that this is an oversight by the government. In fact, if you were looking out for their best interests, you would have done the same with respect to the secondary processing plant in Burin as you have done with the plant in Marystown.

I ask the minister: Given the concerns being expressed by those individuals, will you go back to FPI and High Liner and see if it isn't possible for you to include the government's right of first refusal, should High Liner go down that path?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. TAYLOR: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, as we have said on a number of occasions here, it is not the intention of the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador to get ourselves back into the fish business.

Our reason for wanting the Marystown operation or the right of first refusal on the Marystown operation, was if we found ourselves in a situation where OCI defaulted on their obligations for processing fish in Newfoundland and Labrador, then we would have access to the quotas, potentially. If we had access to the quotas, we would have a plant to process it in.

Similarly, Mr. Speaker, I understand the concern of the member and the people, but governments have not done a very good job of running fishing enterprises in Newfoundland and Labrador and I suspect that any future government would probably have the same level of success as the previous governments.

So, Mr. Speaker, it is not a business that we want to get into. We believe that if the unfortunate were to happen, Mr. Speaker, if there is an opportunity in the market place and there is a raw material supply available, that there is probably somebody else who would take it over, but, Mr. Speaker, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador are not in the business of competing -

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

I ask the minister to compete his answer.

MR. TAYLOR: - with the fishing industry in Newfoundland and Labrador.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Grand Bank.

MS FOOTE: Mr. Speaker, people throughout the Province cannot understand why they have to make reservations for a site at a provincial park through a call centre in Quebec.

I ask the Minister of Environment and Conservation: Why did the government choose to go this route instead of hiring students in our Province to do the job, and will you tell us how long this contact is for?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. JACKMAN: Mr. Speaker, this was a system that was put out for a Request for Proposals. We had one interested party, they were awarded the contract.

Mr. Speaker, the parks have been open for three weeks. To date, we have 3,400 bookings. I went on the West Coast this weekend. I visited two parks just to check out the system. The system is being received extremely well, being received positively.

Secondly, Mr. Speaker, what we have encouraged people of the Province to do, if they have concerns, that they would submit them because this is the first year of this new system and if, at the end of the year, we need to make some revisions, we certainly will, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Grand Bank.

MS FOOTE: Mr. Speaker, the question for the minister was: Why did you choose to go this route instead of hiring students who are needing these jobs out there, especially our post-secondary students? Not the fact that you have done it, it was why you chose to go this route and how long the contract is for?

When people make a reservation they have to pay $10.60 and can only make a reservation for one week. If for some reason they have to cancel that reservation, it will cost them another $9.

I ask the minister: Why is it that people cannot book for more than one week, and who decided on the various fees?

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

MR. JACKMAN: Mr. Speaker, as I have said, this is the first year of the system. The fee simply pays for the service that is provided.

Mr. Speaker, if someone goes into a park - I will use this as an example. They go into a park and they have booked for a week. If they want to book for another night, they can march up to the gatehouse and they can book that site, but if they are looking to go for an extended period, if they want to stay for another week, well, then they will have to go back on-line to book. This is about equal access to all peoples of the Province, to all of our provincial parks, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

The time for Question Period has expired.

Presenting Reports by Standing and Select Committees.

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

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

A point of order has been called by the Opposition House Leader.

MR. PARSONS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Just a point of order before we get into the business of the day. I would not raise it earlier during members' statements or ministerial statements or Question Period.

Yesterday afternoon when we were in committee, and the committee was being Chaired by the Member for Placentia & St. Mary's, there was an issue arose when the Member for Bay of Islands was speaking and there were comments coming from the Minister of Health and Community Services. It was brought to the attention, verbally, of the Chair, that the minister had used unparliamentary language and there was nothing done about it. It was not raised officially. I understand, in fact - and I do not wish to single out the Chair of the Committee because I understand he probably did not legitimately hear it because of a hearing disability. That is my understanding, I have been told.

In any case, it was raised with him verbally over here. Anyway, I noticed today from Hansard that it is actually recorded on page 1589, the minister's comments. He used the word liar, which is definitely unparliamentary in any system that I am aware of, and it is recorded in Hansard. I think, for the record, we would ask that the minister do the honourable thing and withdraw those remarks.

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

MR. WISEMAN: Mr. Speaker, I withdraw the comment.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: Tabling of Documents.

Tabling of Documents

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Government Services.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS WHALEN: Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to stand today and table the 2006 Activity Report for the Embalmers and Funeral Directors Board of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: Further tabling of documents?

Notices of Motions.

Answers to Questions for Which Notice has been Given.

Petitions.

Petitions

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Port de Grave.

MR. BUTLER: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

 

I want to rise today and present a petition. No need of reading the prayer of the petition, it is similar to what I have done over the last couple of weeks with regards to the shortage of doctors to service the medical needs of the people in many areas of this Province.

Mr. Speaker, I guess since the first time I raised this particular petition on behalf of the residents, we have seen many things come to light. We have seen articles in the various papers where the doctors are even coming out and saying there is a concern about waiting too long to see a doctor. I guess the issue that I am speaking on goes beyond waiting to see a doctor, even when you have one, you have a general practitioner, but in the area where I come from today - and I know we are blessed to have so many doctors there - but many, many people do not have a general practitioner to call, regardless of how serious the need might be. This coming summer, two more general practitioners will be leaving that particular area and just increase the numbers of people who do not have a general practitioner.

Mr. Speaker, we hear the Member for Humber Valley day in and day out asking questions and it seems there are no answers that come from the Minister of Health on those particular issues. Here we have residents who are willing to sign petitions and complain about this. We have specialists and doctors throughout this Province who are willing to put their pictures and their names in the various papers referencing the wait list, but the minister does not seem to think there is much of a problem with all those issues. When it comes to health care, there are several things that really stand out; and the doctors are so overworked in those areas, they cannot take any more patients.

A couple of other issues, Mr. Speaker, with regard to health care in the areas. I mentioned last week, and I spoke since that time to a resident in my area; a lady who depends on oxygen, day in and day out, who walks around her house with a lifeline to the oxygen tank over forty feet long. It is the cost of the oxygen, and this was brought to the attention of those here during Question Period from time to time. The cost of the oxygen - she has to stay in her own home. It costs so much to get the smaller tanks that she just cannot afford to go out to the malls and even to visit a doctor from time to time.

Mr. Speaker, when it comes to the general practitioners, the burden, what happens when people get sick, regardless of how serious it is? They call the clinic and they are passed from one clinic to the other because there is nobody on duty or they do not have a doctor. Where do they go? Everybody calls the emergency unit. Many people do not even call; they just get in their car or have their family or friends take them to the emergency unit. That is why there is a backlog.

The hon. Member for Humber Valley today talked about the wait lists in the emergency units, and much of it is caused for this reason, Mr. Speaker. People go there regardless of what the complaint is. It is serious to them.

The people at the Carbonear Hospital, in the emergency unit, are overburdened with the work that is there, Mr. Speaker. It is caused through a lack of general practitioners which would look after many of their needs.

I just call upon government again, and the minister, to look into the situation -

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

The time allotted to the hon. member has expired.

MR. BUTLER: - to see that general practitioners are trained and stay in our Province.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER: Further petitions?

Orders of the Day.

Orders of the Day

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

MR. OTTENHEIMER: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

We have a matter, Mr. Speaker, of two first readings, and I have advised my colleagues on the opposite side that we would be doing this, this afternoon.

We seek leave, Mr. Speaker, to introduce a bill entitled, An Act To Amend The Electrical Power Control Act, 1994. (Bill 32)

MR. SPEAKER: It is moved and seconded that the hon. the Minister of Natural Resources shall have leave to introduce a bill entitled, An Act To Amend The Electrical Power Control Act, 1994. (Bill 32)

Is it the pleasure of the House that the hon. the Minister of Natural Resources shall have leave to introduce Bill 32?

All those in favour, ‘aye'.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Aye.

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

The motion is carried.

Motion, the hon. the Minister of Natural Resources to introduce a bill, "An Act To Amend The Electrical Power Control Act, 1994," carried. (Bill 32)

MR. SPEAKER: It is moved and seconded that Bill 32 be now read a first time.

Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion that Bill 32 be now read a first time?

All those in favour, ‘aye'.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Aye.

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

The motion is carried.

CLERK: A bill, An Act To Amend The Electrical Power Control Act, 1994. (Bill 32)

MR. SPEAKER: Bill 32, An Act To Amend The Electrical Power Control Act, 1994, has now been read a first time.

When shall this bill be read a second time?

MR. OTTENHEIMER: Today, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER: Later today.

On motion, Bill 32 read a first time, ordered read a second time presently, by leave.

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

MR. OTTENHEIMER: The second bill for first reading, Mr. Speaker, to ask leave to introduce a bill entitled, An Act Respecting The Effective Administration Of The House Of Assembly, The Standards Of Conduct Of Elected Members, And Their Ethical And Accountable Behaviour. (Bill 33)

MR. SPEAKER: It is moved and seconded that the hon. the Government House Leader shall have leave to introduce a bill entitled, An Act Respecting The Effective Administration Of The House Of Assembly, The Standards Of Conduct Of Elected Members, And Their Ethical And Accountable Behaviour. (Bill 33)

Is it the pleasure of the House that the hon. the Government House Leader shall have leave to introduce Bill 33?

All those in favour, ‘aye'.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Aye.

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

The motion is carried.

Motion, the hon. the Government House Leader to introduce a bill, "An Act Respecting The Effective Administration Of The House Of Assembly, The Standards Of Conduct Of Elected Members, And Their Ethical And Accountable Behaviour," carried. (Bill 33)

MR. SPEAKER: It is moved and seconded that Bill 33 be now read a first time.

Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion that Bill 33 be read a first time?

All those in favour, ‘aye'.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Aye.

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

The motion is carried.

CLERK: A bill, An Act Respecting The Effective Administration Of The House Of Assembly, The Standards Of Conduct Of Elected Members, And Their Ethical And Accountable Behaviour. (Bill 33)

MR. SPEAKER: Bill 33, An Act Respecting The Effective Administration Of The House Of Assembly, The Standards Of Conduct Of Elected Members, And Their Ethical And Accountable Behaviour, has now been read a first time.

When shall this bill be read a second time?

MR. OTTENHEIMER: On tomorrow, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER: On tomorrow.

On motion, Bill 33 read a first time, ordered read a second time on tomorrow.

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

MR. OTTENHEIMER: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I now call second reading of a bill - and again this is with the understanding and concurrence of my colleagues opposite - to be introduced by my colleague, the Minister of Natural Resources, An Act To Amend The Electrical Power Control Act, 1994. (Bill 32)

MR. SPEAKER: I do understand that there have been arrangements made between the House leadership that we proceed to this stage on today.

The Chair has received acknowledgment from the Opposition House Leader.

The motion is that Bill 32, An Act To Amend The Electrical Power Control Act, 1994, be now read a second time.

Motion, second reading of a bill, "An Act To Amend The Electrical Power Control Act, 1994." (Bill 32)

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS DUNDERDALE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I am pleased to stand in the House today to speak to this bill, An Act To Amend The Electrical Power Control Act, 1994.

The Electrical Power Control Act, Mr. Speaker, sets out provincial policy with regard to the setting of electric power rates, the management and operation of facilities for the production and distribution of power, and for the general management of the electricity sector. It also outlines the role of the Public Utilities Board in regulating the electricity industry.

With this amendment to the Electrical Power Control Act we are moving to regulate the co-ordination of water management on provincial rivers. We believe the PUB is the appropriate body to do this, given its mandate under the act already under regulation in regulating the electricity industry.

We are bringing in this amendment to ensure that hydroelectric facilities operating on the same river work together to optimize the value of this resource and therefore the benefit to the Province and to the power generators. We want to optimize production on a river to ensure maximum benefits to all parties. We do this, for example, by avoiding spills of water and enabling production sharing between facilities.

The amendment provides a framework for the PUB to regulate the co-ordination of water management agreements between two or more parties on the same river. Under this amendment, the parties must enter into an agreement for the water management of the river, which will be referred to the PUB. The PUB will be able to approve the agreement, approve it with changes, or reject it. If the parties cannot reach an agreement in a reasonable time, one can apply to the PUB to establish an agreement that is binding on both of them. The PUB will also have the authority to monitor and enforce agreements.

Mr. Speaker, this is about moving forward with the legislative framework that is appropriate to provide hydroelectric operators sharing a river system, as will be the case on the Churchill River with the Lower Churchill project, with certainty over the co-ordination of water flow.

The amendment applies to any provincial river where more than one hydroelectric development could occur. Other rivers where the amendment could apply include the Exploits River and Hinds Lake and Deer Lake.

The amendment will ensure the delivery commitments under existing contracts are honoured, including the 1969 power contract for the Upper Churchill. This protection is explicitly written into the amendment.

Water management agreements are a standard on rivers with more than one operator. This is good business, to ensure any development maximizes the value of the resource for the people of the Province and for the power generators.

Through this amendment, the needs of both the Churchill Falls facility and the Lower Churchill project will be accommodated, as will the needs of any other hydroelectric developments in the Province.

The provincial government is ensuring that operators on the same water course work together to reach an agreement that is in the best interests of both facilities and the Province.

We believe that a legislative framework is appropriate to provide a process for all hydroelectric operators and developers in this Province as it relates to water management.

This amendment is about moving forward in the development of our resources for the benefit of the people of the Province, which is consistent with this government's approach since taking office. This is about ensuring we have the appropriate tools to get the most out of our energy developments.

These rivers belong to the people of the Province. As government, we are stewards of these resources and it is our responsibility to ensure we maintain control of these valuable resources.

The changes we are making today, Mr. Speaker, will provide certainty of power production to hydro-electric operators that share a water course in this Province. We are moving to optimize production and benefits for all parties and mitigate negative impacts through co-operation by the parties on the same water course.

Although we are giving the PUB the authority to regulate the coordination of water management agreements, the parties will have an opportunity to reach an agreement on their own. This type of legislation gives the financiers and potential customers of hydro-electric developments that share a river system, the certainty they need to finance projects and enter into power purchase agreements.

We believe the amendment is good provincial policy that ensures fairness for all operators. It will provide optimum production on our water courses and will result in the most efficient production, transmission and distribution of power. We need to get the most from our resources, Mr. Speaker, for the long-term benefit of all sectors of our economy, for all people of the Province, and for the continued sustainable development of our industry.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Cartwright-L'Anse au Clair.

MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I am just going to have a few brief words on Bill 32.

Now, Mr. Speaker, we did have an opportunity to have a briefing this morning as it relates to this bill, because as you know, the legislation was only tabled in the House of Assembly very late yesterday afternoon. So that was our only opportunity to be able to be briefed and to gain some insight into what this bill is actually doing. The amendments to the Electrical Power Control Act are, no doubt, coming about at this particular time as a result of the developments that are happening on the Lower Churchill file.

Mr. Speaker, what this particular bill, as the minister has just outlined, is to do, is to have agreements between those users of hydroelectric power that is on one particular river or waterway. In this case, that would have been the situation, definitely, with the development of the Lower Churchill because, as you know, the Upper Churchill project is also on the Churchill River and operated under CF(L)Co. So, any new developments, which I am assuming would be part of the Lower Churchill development or power corporation, whatever Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro identifies that corporation as these days. So, you would have to have some agreement in terms of the use of the river, and that is to allow for certain things. One is to maximize the opportunity and the potential of the river to be able to develop power, but also, Mr. Speaker, as the minister outlined, to ensure that you do not have things like spillages on that river, where you have excess water overflowing and running out and not being used. In order to get those agreements, it is not always going to be as simple as having two Crown corporations that are going to negotiate. So to alleviate any concerns that might be there, I can understand why this is being referred to the Public Utilities Board.

I understand, Mr. Speaker, from the briefing we had this morning, that in other provinces in Canada they do have water management boards that actually looks at and negotiates between the parties - I should not say negotiates, but works with the parties to achieve an agreement. It was felt, I think, by government that this was not necessary in Newfoundland and Labrador. Being somewhat familiar with how the Public Utilities Board works, having gone before them on several occasions regarding petroleum pricing and hydro rates and all the rest of it, I do have some knowledge of how they work, and they are there to give a very balanced perspective in terms of how things should be regulated in the Province. So I have no problem with the Public Utilities Board being the actual management body that will be intervening with the parties to negotiate or work out agreements that are acceptable to both.

Mr. Speaker, I think that government, in bringing forward this legislation, is no doubt preparing themselves for new developments on the Churchill River, although this would apply to other rivers in the Province that might already have existing hydro power development projects or have potential for hydro development projects in the future.

Mr. Speaker, we also have to look at - and this is something that government will want to give consideration to. That is when you look at developing hydro projects on any rivers - and I speak, in particular, now for the Churchill River - that there are also going to be other users of that river who will need to have agreements as well. I refer to the Aboriginal peoples of Labrador who have been traditional users of that river, both the Innu and the Metis and the settlers.

Actually, it was only recently that I had a call from an individual in Happy Valley-Goose Bay who runs his trap grounds up on that side of the river and was not able to access his trapping tilt or his hunting grounds for the last little while because government had blocked the bridge going across the Churchill River where they are building the road there. I tried to work out the problem through the Department of Transportation and Works but we were unsuccessful and, as a result, those six trappers still are not permitted to be able to cross over into that particular area, which is unfortunate.

People see development sometimes as an impediment to the lifestyles that they have, and it is an impediment; not that they see it, it is an impediment. So, I would have to encourage government to look very carefully to see if there are processes and procedures in place within government to also negotiate agreements with other users on the river, not just users of hydro electric facilities.

I know, for example, that the Labrador Metis Nation have not been engaged in any productive way in negotiations or discussions with the government around the Lower Churchill Development Project. That is not acceptable, because whether they have a land claim or whether they do not, they are traditional users of that river. They have legitimate concerns that need to be addressed. Government also needs to look at their other legislative pieces, whether it is under their water rights management act or under another act to ensure that processes are there and are in place to allow for them to have meaningful agreements with other users as well. So, I would encourage them to look at that.

In particular, Mr. Speaker, getting back to the act that we are debating here today under Bill 32, these are necessary changes and amendments that will have to be done in order to allow projects like this to continue to move forward. I certainly have no problem with the legislation which has been presented. As I said, it was only this morning that I had an opportunity to be briefed on the legislation. So the research that I have been able to do into it has been minimal, I would say, at best. At this particular time, looking at the amendments that are being brought forward, looking at the reasons that this needs to done and looking at what the result is going to be in terms of mitigating any improper use of the river between hydro development projects in the future, I certainly do not have any problems at this time in supporting that legislation.

So, Mr. Speaker, I do not really have any other comments that I would like to make, other than to say to government that they also need to look at their water management act to ensure that there are going to be agreements and allow for agreements with other users of those rivers as well.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

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

I do not have a lot of comments to make, but I do have a couple and one point that I would like to ask the minister to think about.

I do thank the minister for arranging for the briefing by her officials this morning. It was helpful, having them walk through the amendments with us.

I think it is important that the government is asking us to agree to this act today. It shows foresight on their part, obviously. They recognize the gap in the current act, and a gap that would be really pretty important once the time comes to look at the possibilities around the Lower Churchill. If we are to have the Lower Churchill developed in any way at all, co-operation between the Lower Churchill and the Upper Churchill will be absolutely essential.

It was confirmed, of course, this morning by the officials and by the minister as well, I think, that this is sort of the driver for this act right now, the discussion that is going on with regard to the Lower Churchill, but it is something that I think should definitely be in the act: the recognition that, if one waterway is being shared by more than one operation, one company, then you do have a problem if you want to assure that you have, I would say, responsible use of the resources on that waterway.

Of course, this particular act is only dealing with the use of the water for the production of power, which is, of course, one of the things that makes it logical that it is the PUB that would be the overseeing body with regard to this act.

I would like to speak a little bit to the fact that when the Upper Churchill was developed we were not at a moment in time in this Province where we were recognizing the rights of Aboriginal peoples in Labrador. There were assumptions at that time - it happened all over the place in our Province at that time and at earlier times - that the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador just had the right to make decisions around the lands in Newfoundland and Labrador without recognition of the fact that there were Aboriginal rights to those lands. Consequently, we have the Upper Churchill and we have other major developments as well, in Labrador and elsewhere, where the rights, for example, the water rights, are just assumed. It will be, undoubtedly, a different issue when we talk about the Lower Churchill, and the water rights that will want to be assumed with regard to the Lower Churchill will obviously have to be negotiated also with Aboriginal peoples who have land claim, in particular the Innu Nation.

I know that the government is aware of that and the minister is aware of that, so it could be that even language might change once we get into those negotiations with regard to water rights. Use of the water, right to use the water, does not imply ownership of the water, and I know the government does not mean that. The right to the use of the water is not the same as owning the water, but there may be language, subtleties, that may have to be looked at once we get into that stage, which I am sure is down the road. That is just one point I wanted to make.

Another is that the officials this morning also indicated that this gap became identified as the government is working on the Energy Plan. I mean, one of the positives is, that is an indication to me of the detail that is being looked at in respect to the Energy Plan, which says that plan must be pretty far into discussion.

I just want to use this opportunity to say that I do regret that plan has not been put before us in this sitting of the House. I have been looking forward to it for a long time, and really would have wished that we could have had that to discuss. It looks like - well, we know that we are not going to get it in this sitting of the House, and I doubt that we are going to get it before there is a new government in order for that to be put before us. I do regret that.

On the one hand, I am glad to see government is really dealing with some very interesting issues in putting that plan together, but I am sorry that it is not going to be a plan of this House of Assembly when it gets presented to the people in this Province. I do need to make that point.

The one thing I would ask the minister to consider, and I know she will speak to this when she stands, is in section 5.6 (2) and 5.6 (3). I am uncomfortable with the fact that the word "may" is used instead of the word "shall". "The public utilities board may require reporting commitments, and impose monitoring requirements, as it considers appropriate, to ensure that the persons to an agreement approved by the public utilities board..." - or established under the relative section - "...comply with the terms and conditions of the agreement."

I really wonder why it does not say, "shall". It would seem to me that it would be the role of the board to definitely require reports.

AN HON. MEMBER: In what section?

MS MICHAEL: The section is 5.6 (2) on page 4. "The public utilities board may require...." - is what is there, and I am questioning why it would not say "shall". It seems to me that it should be a requirement that the board monitor; because, if the board does not monitor, who would monitor?

Then, in the next section, Minister, the very next subsection, it says, "(3) Where the public utilities board believes that one or more of the persons to an agreement approved by the board under subsection 5.4(3) or established under subsection 5.5(2) has failed to comply with the terms and conditions of the agreement, the public utilities board may...."

To me, it shall; it shall look for retribution. So, I would like the minister to consider changing the "may" language in both of those subsections to requirement language.

With that, Mr. Speaker, I think these were the main points that I wanted to make.

Thank you very much.

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Humber Valley.

MR. BALL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker,

I will be brief. I just want to repeat, I guess, what I have heard already from the Member for Cartwright-L'Anse au Clair and the Member for Signal Hill-Quidi Vidi. I certainly did attend the briefing meeting this morning. I did find it very informative, I must say, so thank you, Minister, for that.

As it was explained to us in the briefing this morning, it was explained as this being on a go-forward basis, and I completely understand that, and understand the impetus for this happening. In actual fact, we have Hinds Lake developed (inaudible) the one in Deer Lake, in my own district, so I appreciate the fact that this is on a go-forward basis, but there was one thing, I guess, that I noticed when I was reading through the amendments, and that was the fact that when we get to the Public Utilities Board, when they get involved, we find ourselves in the situation where the companies, let's just say company one or company two, are given a reasonable period of time to actually come to an agreement. I understand that some negotiations would be more complex than others, so it would be very tough to put a time frame on how these parties could come to an agreement.

I do understand that the Public Utilities Board do have a right to, I guess, intervene, but there was one thing that I thought might need to be considered, since this is on a go-forward basis and given that at some point the Public Utilities Board may be getting involved to actually impose a particular agreement on the two parties, or it could be even three parties. Who knows what could be here? Because this is a management of water flow, I guess, so that people could actually have the opportunity to satisfy their customers and so on.

One thing that I would like to see considered here is actually some type of time frame that the Public Utilities Board would have to put the agreement in place. Given the fact that we could have - for instance, they may not be Crown corporations. They could be investors of some sort that may have finances arranged. They could have periods of time, or limitations on it. I would like to see that the Public Utilities Board would have a time frame on which they would have to respond to actually put this agreement in place.

That is just one consideration I would like for the minister to take into review. Mr. Speaker, with that said, that is probably the only point I would like to make, but I would like to thank the minister for the opportunity this morning to attend the briefing session.

Thank you.

MR. SPEAKER (Fitzgerald): Order, please!

If the hon. the Minister of Natural Resources speaks now she will close the debate on Bill 32, An Act To Amend The Electrical Power Control Act, 1994.

The hon. the Minister of Natural Resources.

MS DUNDERDALE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I want to thank my colleagues for their comments and the suggestions that they have put forward. I certainly will take them under full consideration.

As I said earlier, Mr. Speaker, we believe this to be a matter of good public policy, of good management of our resources, and legislation and a policy that ensures that those resources are maximized to the benefit of the people here in the Province and to the people who are operating on these rivers. It is a very open process, a very transparent and accountable process, and we are pleased to put this legislation in place that allows for orderly and comprehensive development.

With that, Mr. Speaker, I close debate.

Thank you very much.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

Is it the pleasure of the House that Bill 32 be now read a second time?

All those in favour, ‘aye'.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Aye.

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

Carried

CLERK: A bill, An Act To Amend The Electrical Power Control Act, 1994. (Bill 32)

MR. SPEAKER: Bill 32 has now been read a second time.

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

MR. OTTENHEIMER: On tomorrow, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER: On tomorrow.

On motion, a bill, "An Act To Amend The Electrical Power Control Act, 1994," read a second time, ordered referred to a Committee of the Whole House on tomorrow. (Bill 32)

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

MR. OTTENHEIMER: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

At this time, Mr. Speaker, we are going to depart from our routine proceedings for the remainder of the day.

It being Wednesday, of course, we will be adjourning the House on or before 5:00 o'clock, but it is certainly the understanding of members on both sides, and by agreement of members on both sides of this House, Mr. Speaker, that a number of hon. members wish to make some particular statements by members.

At this time, Mr. Speaker, as I say, we will be departing from usual proceedings, and with the understanding of members of both sides, the members may begin to give their addresses.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. BARRETT: Today, Mr. Speaker, I rise with mixed emotions as the MHA for Bellevue District.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to share a story with you and Members of the House of Assembly that touched me deeply some time ago. A story that impacted me then and continues to influence me today in everything I do.

Mr. Speaker, the story goes: He almost did not see the old lady stranded on the side of the road, but even in the dim light of the day he could see that she needed help. So he pulled up in front of her Mercedes and got out. His Pontiac was still sputtering when he approached her. Even with the smile on his face, she was worried. No one had stopped to help her for the last hour or so. Was he going to hurt her? He did not look safe. He looked poor and hungry. He could see that she was frightened standing out there in the cold. He knew how she felt. It was then that the chill - which only fear could put in you.

I said: I am here to help you Ma'am. Why don't you wait in the car where it is warm? By the way, my name is Brian Andersen. All she had was a flat tire, but for an old lady that was bad enough. Brian crawled under the car, looked for a place to put the jack, skinning his knuckles a time or two. Soon he was able to change that tire, but he had to get dirty and his hands hurt. As he was tightening up the lug nuts, she rolled down the window and began to talk to him. She told him she was from St. Louis, and was only just passing through, and she could not thank him enough for coming to her aid. Brian just smiled as he closed her trunk.

The lady asked how much she owned him. Any amount would have been all right with her. She already imagined all the awful things that could have happened, had he not stopped. Brian never through twice about being paid. This was not a job to him, this was helping someone in need and God knew there was plenty who had given him a hand in the past. He had lived his whole life that way and it never occurred to him to act in any other way. He told her that if she really wanted to pay him back, the next time she saw someone who needed help, she would give that person the assistance they needed. Brian added, and think of me. He waited until she started her car and drove off. It had been a cold and depressing day but he felt good as he headed for home disappearing into the twilight.

A few miles down the road the lady saw a small café. She went in to grab a bite to eat and take the chill off before she made the last leg of her trip home. It was a dingy looking restaurant. Outside were two old gas pumps. The whole scene was unfamiliar to her. The waitress came and brought a clean towel to wipe her wet hair. She had a sweet smile, one that even being on her feet for the whole day could not erase. The lady noticed the waitress was nearly eight months pregnant, but she never let the strain and aches change her attitude. The old lady wondered how someone who had so little could be so giving to a stranger, and then she remembered Brian.

After the lady finished her meal she paid with $100 bill. The waitress quickly went to get change for her $100 bill, but the old lady had slipped right out the door. She was gone by the time the waitress came back. The waitress wondered where the lady could be and then she noticed something written on the napkin. There were tears in her eyes when she read what the lady wrote. You do not owe me anything. I have been there, too. Somebody once helped me out the way I am helping you. If you really want to pay me back, here is what you do, don't let this chain of love end with you. Under the napkin were four more $100 bills.

Well, there are tables to clear and sugar bowls to fill and people to serve but the waitress made it through another day. That night when she got home from work and climbed into bed, she was thinking about the money and what the lady had written. How could the lady have known how much she and her husband needed it? With the baby due next month, it was going to be hard. She knew how worried her husband was. As he lay sleeping next to her, she gave him a soft kiss and whispered soft and low: Everything is going to be all right. I love you, Brian Andersen.

There is an old saying: What goes around, comes around. Today, I share you this story. Good friends are like stars, you do not always see them, but you know they are always there.

Mr. Speaker, following my recent setback, my recent health setback and numerous discussions with family and doctors, today I stand here to say farewell to my hon. colleagues and to the constituents of Bellevue District.

April 20 marked my eighteenth year serving my constituents with conviction and dedication.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. BARRETT: As in the story I just related, Brian Andersen did his job everyday helping others in need. This year, Mr. Speaker, also marks forty years, for me, of public service.

Today, as I announce that I will not be seeking reelection as an MHA in this hon. House, I remember back to 1989 and my first election button. That button read: B for Bellevue, B for Barrett, he will be for you.

Today, Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the people of the great District of Bellevue for their support for the past eighteen years. It has been an honour to serve these people and to act on their behalf in his hon. House. As the MHA for Bellevue for the past eighteen years, that time, without a doubt, has given me lots of memories to last a lifetime.

As I close this chapter in my public life and start a new chapter in my personal life, as some of you are aware, I will be getting married on July 5.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. BARRETT: With the recent arrival of my first grandchild, I feel that after forty years of public service it is now time for me to give more time to my family. To my grandson who is four months old today, who is sitting in front of a television watching his pop, in his rocker: Hi, Adrian. Pop loves you.

In closing, I would again like to thank the great people of the Bellevue District for their support over the past eighteen years.

I would like also to take this time to thank my political assistant, Nancy Loveless, for the past eighteen years. I couldn't have done it without you, Nancy. You have been a very dedicated and loyal individual. You have been a Brian Andersen too.

I wish my successor years serving the great District of Bellevue, whoever you may be.

To each member in this House of Assembly, I wish you great success in your future endeavours, and I hope that you will all be Brian Andersens.

Thank you very much.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. and long-time friend of mine, the Member for Fortune Bay-Cape la Hune.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. LANGDON: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

It is like Percy said today, there are many mixed emotions for me.

First of all, I would like to thank my wife, Margaret, and family, for the support over the years. I couldn't have done it without it. Margaret has been my biggest supporter, but also my biggest critic. She told me the way it is and I really appreciated that.

My mom and my dad, both in their eighties, are watching on t.v. today. I owe a lot to them. Without them, I would not have been where I am because they sacrificed so that I might go to university first and then political life afterwards.

I want to thank, as Percy has already done for his, the residents of the district for their support in the last eighteen years. It has been an incredible experience, going to an area where you are a total stranger and now having tremendous friendships made.

For the first two terms I represented the district as it was known, Fortune-Hermitage. It took in communities from Gaultois to St. Bernard's and everywhere in between. The last three times the district's name had been changed to Fortune Bay-Cape la Hune and it has gone from Ramea to Rencontre East.

As I look back, Mr. Speaker, in those eighteen years, an incredible journey, gone very fast, I want to look back and see some of the accomplishments that have been happening in the district. Because I sit in the House, and I am sure that all forty-eight of us here would think the same way, we are here for one purpose and that is to improve the quality of life for the people we represent.

There are some major things. I think about the old cottage hospital in Harbour Breton. I sit here in the House, and I remember one time being there and a young child, about eight years of age, next to a person who was having his last breath, so to speak, and just a curtain dividing them. That is not the way it should be, and we were lucky to get some dollars to build a new centre, a new health care centre, on the Connaigre Peninsula.

I saw the extension of the clinic in Harbour Breton; two new arenas, one in Harbour Breton and one in St. Alban's; paved roads to every community, through federal and provincial dollars; a new water treatment plant for Ramea. I remember the first time going there and drinking the water. It was salt, because the salt water used to come in over the pond. People needed that, so we finally got it. Water and sewer in so many communities, from Harbour Breton, Seal Cove, Hermitage, Sandyville, Rencontre, Gaultois, Pool's Cove, Milltown, Head of the Bay, Bay L'Argent, Jacques Fontaine, Terrenceville; fire trucks in many communities; fire equipment in probably every one; new schools; a youth centre in Harbour Breton; millions of dollars in job creation; millions for aquaculture; money for seniors and student groups.

They were not all pleasant. There were difficult times. I think probably the most difficult time for me as a politician being here a number of years, and for people that you represent, was the closing of the Harbour Breton fish plant. I remember when we had the march that day in Harbour Breton. We started from the school and went to the fish plant, and speeches were made. It was a death that everybody experienced in that makeshift casket that was there. Since that particular time, it has been very, very difficult for the community. Hopefully, things will improve. The closure of the Ramea fish plant, and trying to get it reopened with the groundfish licence, trying to get improvement for the operating of the Gaultois plant. Hermitage is a bright spot, no doubt about that, and hopefully will continue.

Mr. Speaker, as important as all of these things are to the region, there are the thousands of little things that you do, whether it is student aid, social services, EI, workers' comp, housing needs, they are so important to the people that you represent. It could never, in my case, have been done without an effective staff.

When I was Minister of Municipal Affairs we had a young lady from our district who worked with us, Deanne Jensen Piercey, a great person. Then there are the two other people that I had, Ken Carter and Elvis Loveless.

Ken has been with me for years. As an assistant, his demeanor, his work ethic and his dedication has made my work so much easier. A thank you would never suffice but, Ken, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart. I know your success will be there after you leave in October and do other future things. You will be successful because of the kind of person that you are. You have touched the lives of people in my area who have worked with me, and they are better and I am better and you are better for the dedication.

Then there is Elvis, who worked for me and then went to work in the Premier's office with Roger and in the Opposition with Gerry. Elvis is an incredible person, no doubt about it, with a tremendous personality and dedication to his work. Elvis, there is no doubt about it, over the last year, had a tremendous battle to overcome with Hodgkin's lymphoma, but fight it he did.

I remember one time seeing him, and he said to me: I am not sure if I can take the next treatment. With encouragement, he did, and he has overcome that battle and is a survivor like so many others. Elvis, I thank you, too, for all of the things that you have done for me and for others and for people in the district.

Then, as all of us realize, when you go into politics, there are people who really are there for you as a part of the organization, and encouragement. You know, when I came here in 1989, I came here in Opposition. I stemmed the Clyde Wells tide. My last term here, as I stem the blue tide, I am part of Opposition here again; but, do you know what? All of these years and everything in between has been a tremendous experience.

The thing about it, the thing that I like, is the camaraderie of the people who are here. Sometimes, you know, we rancor and do the things that we do, but that is part of the political system.

Getting back to my first time into politics, and going to Harbour Breton, I remember, I knew very little of the people who were there, even though I was from Seal Cove, but I had taught for twenty years in Point Leamington, and being involved with municipal life there.

I cannot help but mention Churence Rogers. When I ran for the nomination in the first instance he did not support me. He was supporting another guy, Joe Price, who was a Member of Parliament at the time. I ran for the nomination and, looking back at it now, I probably should have had my head examined because I probably should never had won but I did. It was people like Churence, when I did, who came to my aid. John Herritt, Everett Allen, John Vallis, Ernie Drake, Delia Parrott, Eric Day, Fanny Kealey, Max Taylor, Gord Kearly, Stewart May, Joe Strowbridge, Berkley Loveless, Howard Loveless, Ward Hollett, Doug Rose, Carrie Crewe, Jack Sheppard, Tom Caines, Gary Wells, Simeon Savory of Simani, Stewart May, Melvin and Alice Parrott, Leonard and Juainta Hynes, Alice and Walter Simpson, the late Freeman Smith and Vivian Smith, Roy Thornhill, Charlie Hackett Jr., and the late Charlie Hackett Sr., George Fizzard and Willoughby Bolt, and the list goes on, these are people who put faith in you as an individual. They looked at you and saw in you, in me, like in all of you, a situation where they knew your word was your bond, that they trusted you.

I guess in the House here I have not been so verbose as some of the people who are here but that is just the way, I guess, of doing it, but do you know what? I have had about forty years of service, like Percy said, from municipal council. We got elected the first time in a by-election in Point Leamington, him and me. Two people resigned in the community, they had a by-election, there were four or five people who ran, and Percy and I ended up in the two seats; but, do you know what? There is a lot of vigour in this person yet, a lot of determination and a lot of energy. Even though Percy says that his political life is probably at an end, I am not sure about mine. I will probably make an announcement about that tomorrow.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. LANGDON: The thing about it is, it does not matter who you are or what your age is, it depends on a number of things. It depends on your ability and your willingness to help and to succeed and have the courage and the audacity to do it on their behalf.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank all of my constituents in my former District of Fortune-Hermitage and the current constituents in the District of Fortune Bay-Cape la Hune. Who knows, if all goes well, they might see this particular person again to continue to work on their behalf, but that will be up to them.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member of Grand Bank, whom I have known as a parent and as a colleague for a long time. The opportunity to speak is now yours.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS FOOTE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

As I listen to my two colleagues, a lot of memories keep flooding back, just in terms of what it means to be a MHA for any district in this Province. The memories are tremendous, but more than anything else, it has been the privilege, the incredible privilege, to serve in this capacity. I think all of us in this House of Assembly would recognize that we are really part of a very small group of people and it is a tremendous opportunity that we are given by people who put their faith and trust in us.

It is to the people in the District of Grand Bank that I want to say a sincere thank you today, a sincere thank you for giving me that honour to be in this House of Assembly to act on your behalf and to represent your interests.

I guess, we can all think about the differences we have made in the lives of those we represent and the differences they have made in our lives, because if it was not for them we would not be here.

We can talk about our accomplishments, and I know in my case probably accomplishments to numerous to mention, but they are accomplishments I have been able to make because of others, because of my colleagues in this House of Assembly who I have worked with day in and day out, whether it has been as a member of the government or whether it has been as a member of the Opposition. Any accomplishments that I have been able to make have been as a result of a lot of other people, and to them I say a sincere thank you.

I guess, too, I could mention numerous people who have played a major role in my life in terms of helping me get elected, but again they are too numerous to mention. In fear of missing someone's name I choose not to do that, but they know who they are.

Of course, I served as a Minister of the Crown when, in fact, we were the government. In addition to being an MHA for the District of Grand Bank, and as a Minister of the Crown, when you are the only minister on the Burin Peninsula then you serve as a regional minister. Not only do you have a lot to do with the people in your own district, but certainly in the entire region, and the entire region of the Burin Peninsula in particular.

It has been quite an enjoyable task for me, and for anyone, I think, who has this opportunity to serve as an MHA, we would all have to say that it is a privilege and that it is an opportunity that we would not have missed for anything in the world.

In terms of who we have to say a special thank you to, certainly to my family. They have been there through thick and thin.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS FOOTE: I think all of us know what I refer to when I talk about the thick part of this. It was a difficult time and, yes, my family got me through it, my husband Howard and my three children, Carla, Jason and Heidi, but more than that, those of you in this House got me through it. You would not believe the flowers, the messages, the cards, the well wishes, the novenas. It is absolutely incredible how people in this Province come to your assistance when they think you need it.

Yes, that was a difficult period in my life, but I got through it and it is all about a positive attitude. Now, when people who are experiencing the same difficult time and they call, it is my pleasure to work with them, to talk to them and to explain to them how I got through the serious episode in my life.

There are others in this House who have gone through a difficult time, whether it is with cancer or no matter what it is. You know, we have all been there for each other which is really an important part of this family that we have in the House of Assembly, but certainly, in terms of my district, wonderful individuals who were there when I needed them, just as I have been there when they needed me.

I guess, when you are in the Opposition you are very much a family, a bit apart from when you are in government, because when you are in government, of course, government is a very large machine and there are so many departments involved. I guess you become families in your own departments, but when you serve in the Opposition you are very much a family. While I can single out some individuals - and I will mention one - all of Opposition, all of us, our colleagues, our staff, we all work very much as a team. To them, I say a very sincere thank you; to each and every one of you for understanding what it means to be in Opposition and for still being positive and for still being there to know that, hey, one day we can take this government again. They hang in there with us, and I think that is really important.

My assistant has been with me for years and years and years. I have had several assistants, but the one constant in the help that I have had is Joan King. I can tell you, everybody in my district knows who Joan King is, just as everybody in Opposition knows who Joan King is. Joan is a tremendous individual and she is the person at the other end of the phone when someone calls. No matter what the issue, she tackles it with fervor and she will do her utmost to make sure that whatever the issue is it gets dealt with in a responsible and timely manner. Yes, she will make sure that I am kept aware of whatever the solution is that we have decided, or whatever path we go down. Ultimately, Joan picks up that phone when it rings and makes sure that people know that whatever the issue is it is an important one.

I listened to my colleague from Fortune Bay-Cape la Hune, and while he doesn't yet know what he is going to be doing, I think all of you know that I am sure of what I am doing. I am going to be seeking the Liberal nomination in Random-Burin-St. George's. I have made the announcement and I am looking forward to carrying on this opportunity, and I am looking forward to being able to do even more for the people, not only in my district this time but throughout Random-Burin-St. George's. I have a lot to offer. I enjoy what I do, and it is a privilege to be able to serve people and to make a difference in their lives. That is what this is all about, it is about making a difference in the lives of people who need you when they sometimes don't know where to go.

In rural Newfoundland and Labrador, of course, that is very much the case and it is different than when you live in St. John's. In rural Newfoundland and Labrador, people need their MHA and their MP much more than people who live in the larger urban centres. I want to continue in that role. I want to continue to be able to make a difference in the lives of people in Newfoundland and Labrador, but particularly in Random-Burin-St. George's. That is why I am offering myself for the Liberal nomination. It is an honour and it is a privilege. I think all of you would agree, that to have this opportunity is one that none of us would have missed.

I am not ready to hang up my skates or to go off into the sunset. I want to continue in a role. I have been active in political life for seventeen years. I started out with Clyde Wells in 1989. Active in elected politics for eleven years. Some of you will remember that I ran in 1993 against then Bill Matthews, who was a Conservative at the time. I lost the election to Bill. He was a Minister of the Crown when I ran against him, but we could not have Bill running and no one taking him on. So I said to Premier Wells at the time: Well, I will go down and do it - one week into the election. I guess it is called taking one for the party because I did that then, and I would do it again, but that is not what I intend to do this time. This time I intend to be there to take on whoever runs for the Conservative government in Random-Burin-St. George's.

I thank the House of Assembly for this opportunity to say farewell, on a district level, to the residents of the District of Grand Bank and to my colleagues here in the House of Assembly. It has been a pleasure to serve with all of you, certainly with my family on this side. I thank you for the times we have shared, the many memories we have made and I look forward to having contact with all of you as the years progress, no matter what capacity I serve in.

There are good times and there are bad times, but through it all we persevere, and we do so for those who mean a lot to us and for those who really depend on us and rely on us. I remember one of my colleagues, when I was going through my personal crisis back seven years ago, giving me a saying, and it said: Mind over body. You can make the body do anything that the mind tells you to do. So, even though you may be tired, if you have convinced yourself that you are not tired, you can keep going, and that is what I do everyday now. My mind controls my body. I have a lot of energy and I have a lot to offer and I look forward to doing that on behalf of the people of Random-Burin-St. George's.

Thank you again, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Grand Falls-Buchans, and the member who holds the record and will continue to hold the record probably forever for the longest speech in the House, thirteen hours and sixteen minutes.

The hon. the Member.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS THISTLE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

It is almost as hard to make your exit from politics as make your entrance. Did you ever think about it? It is a big decision to enter politics and it is also a big decision to leave. How do you condense twelve years into ten minutes? But, I will do my best.

Today, I was looking at a few scrapbooks and I came across the very first Christmas card that I send out. It said: As the last days of 1996 unfold - well, as the last few days in our House of Assembly unfold - I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to the people of Grand Falls-Buchans District for granting me the privilege of being their representative in the House of Assembly. Now, that is true today. That is very true today.

Oh, yes. I also gave a newspaper clipping today, when I came into the House, to the Member for Mount Pearl. He and I were at an event in Mount Pearl several years ago. Even though we spar across the House from time to time, we are really all the same here. We all came here for the same reason, to do the best we could for the people that we represent.

When I look back, I was the most unlikely person to end up in this place. When I look back, Gerry Reid, our Leader - I hope you do not mind me saying that today. I think the Speaker might allow it. Gerry Reid, our Leader, said he grew up on the back road of Carbonear. Well, actually, I grew up on the Valley Road, very near to the back road of Carbonear. I came from a family of twelve children. I was number eleven of twelve. I think the life skills that you acquire growing up in big family really serve you well, no matter what you decide to do with the rest of your life. Of course, we were always in the survival mode, and when you are in this House of Assembly you are definitely in the survival mode all the time.

My father, although he did not have much education, he only had Grade 4 in school, he was a brilliant man. He could work out any mathematical question or problem that anybody could bring home from school. Later, as the boys got into business, he could answer any engineering problem.

When I decided to be the Member for Grand Falls-Buchans, I was up in Buchans one time in the union hall and the men came along to me, and they said: I know who your father is. He operated a small garage in Carbonear. I remember during the war times when you could not get a part to put on a car he would actually make the part on a steel lade. So, he was really one of those people who could improvise. My mother is the same way. She made bread every second day, fourteen pounds of flour.

You raise twelve children and you never think when you are raising twelve children how they will end up. I never, for once in my entire lifetime when I was growing up, ever talked about politics. In fact, even though we were a big family, my father always bought The Evening Telegram for the weekend. He absorbed that telegram paper. I do not know if anybody here in the House is old enough to remember the Family Herald. The Speaker remembers the Family Herald.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS THISTLE: My father used to always have the Family Herald and the weekend edition of The Evening Telegram and always listened to the news. He used to drive us up the wall because we always wanted to have Elvis Presley on and listen to all the songs and everything, and all he wanted to do was listen to the news. He was a big Joey fan, of course, and so was my mother. He never lived to see me get into politics, unfortunately, but my mother was around for a couple of those first years that I was in politics. She was so proud to have her picture taken with me and Brian Tobin when he was the Premier.

Yes, it has been a long road, I suppose. It has been hard, the past twelve years. Nobody can tell me, who are sitting here in this House, that politics is easy. It is not easy. You are constantly on the move and you are trying to do the best you can for everybody concerned. There is no such thing as a job description when you come here; no such thing as a job description.

I remember one of my colleagues, in fact, who was in Cabinet, immediately when they came to the House of Assembly in 1996, saying, where is the job description, and there was no such thing. Politics is the school of hard knocks, no matter how you cut it. The worse thing you can do is get on the wrong side of an issue. Sometimes that is difficult when you are in the government and you are trying to be part of a balancing act, trying to satisfy your party and trying to satisfy your constituents. I have learned over the years that it is always wise to stay on the side of your constituents.

I remember the very first thing I did was offside from government when I got elected. I was offside on an issue about the headquarters moving to Stephenville, that was the College of the North Atlantic in Grand Falls-Windsor. I came out against my government at that time. That was my first little issue I had to deal with, but I wasn't thrown out at that time. A few times after that I did have to stand out on issues that were for my constituents and be offside with the government. Thank goodness, I was part of a government that didn't throw me out.

You know, it has always been the constituency issues that I remember. It is not the big infrastructure things that we do in a district. A lot of us have had success bringing different things to our districts, and I am no different than anybody else. I don't want to stand up here today and toot my horn about those things, because we all know what they are. It was the personal things, from a personal point of view, from a constituent who needed something special done. Through myself and many who helped me, we were able to make it happen. A few of those stand out in my lifetime in politics.

It was only this weekend that I ran into Russell Rogers. He came up to me and said: Anna, I got my moose license again this year. I said: Russell, that is grand. Russell, of course, was legally blind. While I was on the backbenches I worked with a lot of people in getting legislation brought in, so Russell and many like him could actually apply for a big game hunting license and they could experience that sport. That made a huge difference in his life.

I also remember autism. Autism was kind of an unknown disease in this Province and it was never funded by any former government. A girl came along to me by the name of Carolyn Forsey from Grand Falls-Windsor. She had an autistic son and she was a speech language pathologist herself. She impressed upon myself and everybody in Cabinet at the time - she actually brought a whole case of files of children with autism. She wept in front of Brian Tobin around his office table on the eight floor, and anyone who in Cabinet knows where this is. She put a human face to the fact that there was never any funding for autistic children. Her request was so compelling that nobody could deny her request, and for the first time ever in this Province we were able to provide funding for autistic children and that has become a regular program now. That was something that I was really glad to be a part of.

Of course, a young man came to me by the name of Brian Quigley who needed kidney dialysis. He sat in my office and made us realize how important it was to have kidney dialysis outside of St. John's. He was going back and forth from Grand Falls-Windsor to St. John's three times a week. It was such an inconvenience and the loss of his family support and everything. Through all of that, we managed to come up with kidney dialysis for Grand Falls-Windsor. Now kidney dialysis is pretty much all around the bigger centres in the Province, and it is making such a wonderful change to people's lives. I was glad to be part of that.

There were times when I didn't know if I was in the right job or the wrong job. Remember when we were going through school reform. Well, I remember one night in Badger when I almost got killed. I called Eileen Hurley and I said, arrange a meeting because of this back and forth with the school reform. I said: I do not now how many you can round up in a half an hour, Eileen, but I will be there in about a half an hour. When I got there, the hall was jam-packed full. I never expected it. Everybody lined up to the microphone and they were ready to lynch me. I did not know if I was going to get out of the hall alive, but I stood my ground and I came back two or three times after and we held more meetings.

After that, Roger Grimes and myself said, we have to do something, so we brought in this small schools, necessary schools act, so that they could not close a small school like Badger. This is what they were afraid of because the heartbeat of every community is a small school, or their school. When they came out with that legislation, we brought it in here in this House, they were relieved, and the woman who was leading the charge to chain me to the school bus in Badger so I could not get away, ended up to work on my campaign. That is how things can turn around.

Of course, I had an awful fight on my hands with the cancer clinic. I think that was probably one of the most disturbing things in my career. You know, it is very hard to get your Cabinet colleagues to see your plight, whatever you are doing, because when you sitting around the Cabinet table everyone wants something for their particular district. Those in Cabinet are over there nodding about the same thing. To get your voice heard and get all the support of your Cabinet colleagues and your caucus colleagues and then go out and actually announce it was going to happen, and then for the new government to come in and shelf it, that was hard. That was really hard. A lot of people helped me out through that. We did get it. This new government finally came to their senses and they did make sure that we got it, so that was good.

It is a wonderful experience being a MHA. I think, even though I had a full professional career, banking career, I will still look at this as being the most important part of my career in my entire lifetime. Not too many people will have an opportunity to experience this. I mean, look at the things we go to every day of the week. I know we eat a lot of roast beef suppers and it is hard to get our suits buttoned up, but we still have the opportunity to attend these annual firemen's ball events and then the graduations and the festivals and the birthdays. I even had the opportunity to see a fairytale wedding on board The Matthew in Botwood. Now, how often is that ever going to happen? With all the garden parties and everything that goes with it, it has been a wonderful experience, I can tell you that.

I want to thank a lot of people and one of them is up in the gallery here today. It is Dianne Randell, my political assistant. She has been with me for about six years. She herself has gone through cancer and bounced back. She is in perfect health now and she has been such a help to me and all my constituents. I only had one other political assistant and that was Anette Power. She started with me in 1996 and left in 2003 when we changed government; and, of course, my executive assistant, Bruce Morris, who always made me laugh through it all. These are the people who worked with me.

Of course, I want to thank the Speaker. You have been extremely fair, in my opinion. It is hard managing a House of Assembly when you have people back and forth asking questions, answering questions. I think the Speaker has done, in my opinion, a very fair and reasonable and balanced job. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you to all of the House of Assembly staff. You know, I do think there is something lacking in our House of Assembly. When we come here there should be somebody as a mentor, who tells you from day one what you are expected do, what you should do and so on. That is sorely lacking. No doubt that might be changed in the future.

I want to thank all of the people. You do not get to be an MHA by yourself. There are hundreds of volunteers who actually work for you in every campaign, and get you where you are in here in this House of Assembly, and I want to thank all of those volunteers.

I do want to thank the District Liberal Association of Grand Falls-Buchans, and I want to thank the people. You know, Grand Falls was always Tory, as long as I can remember, prior to me going there. People had to kind of hold their noses and give me that X the first time around. I did not win the first election. When Len Simms retired and I ran in 1995, June, I did not win that election. I lost it to Mike Mackey, but I had an opportunity in February 1996 and I went for it. Then I won. There is something in us all, if we lose, that we want to try to win back, and I am glad I did because that was a trial run and it made me work all the harder to get elected the next time.

You know, the most important people in anybody's lives are their families. Since I got into politics almost twelve years ago, a lot of things have changed in my family. Our two children have now been married and they have children. We have four grandchildren. They are wonderful, and I am not going to be able to miss a concert any more, or miss that little something that is going on at school that lots of times I really did not get a chance to do over the past few years. Our oldest grandchild is seven and our youngest is two, so four grandchildren are going to be able to have their nanny at lots of events in the future, and that is going to be wonderful.

I do not think anybody can come to this House of Assembly without a supporting spouse. You know, lots of times we do not give our spouses the credit, particularly when you are in Cabinet and you will run home and say: Look, I have to be here, I have to be there, get this ready, or whatever. That is the person who is keeping the pot boiling, keeping your meals ready, picking up the groceries and doing countless other things that need to be done and you cannot do them. That is the person who is down to the supermarket when you are not in your district, you are here in the House of Assembly, and they are helping out for you all of the time.

I want to say a special thank you to my husband, Alex. It was he, you know, who convinced me to go into politics. I went into politics on a whim, actually, into municipal politics. There were all of these people running for municipal politics in Grand Falls - we were Grand Falls then - and Alex said: Why don't you put your hat in the ring to be a councillor? I said: Don't be so foolish, I'm not going to do that.

I thought about it for ten minutes and I did it, and the rest is history. It is natural, when you are in municipal politics, to want to go on to the provincial level.

Mr. Speaker, this has been a wonderful opportunity, and I had no interruptions when I got up to speak today. Thank you to all of you colleagues in the House of Assembly. Thank you to the people of Grand Falls-Buchans District. It has been a wonderful experience, and I thank each and every one for the privilege.

Thank you very much.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

The Chair was anxiously waiting to see if any other members were standing. There have been several people who have gotten partly up but then they sat right down again. This afternoon, I would like to make a few comments as well.

Since, in all probability, tomorrow will be the last occasion when I will have the honour and the privilege to sit as a Member of the House of Assembly, I, like others before me who have spoken, would be remiss if I did not take the opportunity to make a comment.

Nearly thirty-eight years ago, in 1969, as a young twenty-six-year-old teacher in the Town of Mount Pearl, I began a journey in public life. With the encouragement of my teaching colleagues, my family and friends, I offered myself as a candidate in the municipal election in the young town. Since then, it has been my privilege to serve my community as a councillor, a Deputy-Mayor, a Mayor for four terms, and since 1993 as a member of the House of Assembly for the Districts of Waterford-Kenmount and Waterford Valley.

It is hard to believe that in 1969, the Town of Mount Pearl was far more rural in focus than urban, with a population of just 3,600. There was not one foot of curb and gutter, the town had no sidewalks and very, very little by way of recreational facilities. The young municipality struggled to provide basic services to its residents. In those years, just 4 per cent of the municipal revenue came from business or industrial taxes.

It has been an honour to participate in public life and to see so many changes. Mount Pearl, today, is a well-planned municipality with a strong tax base and a population of nearly 27,000. It is noted for its vibrant community spirit. It is a wonderful place to live and to raise a family. For those of us who are in the sixty-plus age group it is a great place to call home during our retirement years.

My thanks must be extended first to my family, especially a wonderful lady I met in my first year at MUN in 1960. She has been my partner, my best friend and my wife for nearly forty-five years. Pearl's support has been consistent and, as many of my campaign team participants would attest, very crucial in my ten election victories, even though she has never knocked on a door and she has never made one single phone call on my behalf in all of those campaigns. Behind the scenes she was the power and the force.

However, it is to the ordinary citizens in the City of Mount Pearl and the City of St. John's, the rank and file voters in the constituencies of Waterford-Kenmount and Waterford Valley that I owe so much for the opportunity to serve for so long. My thanks go to them, to all those who believed in my candidacy. To all of my campaign workers over all those year, I say a sincere thank you.

The citizens who elected me have always been my focus in public life. Many years ago, during one of my campaigns, an older lady on Park Avenue offered me advise by reminding me to "always dance with them that brung you." Although she has now passed on, I acknowledge her impact on my political career.

Public life is an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others, to help them understand and to help them cope with the ordinary and the not-so-ordinary challenges of life, and even though an elected official cannot solve all the problems, he or she can and should seek to stay near his or her roots to offer comfort, to offer support, to offer a vision and to offer absolute honesty.

While political life for me is not reflected in statements of regrets, if I were to make a comment thereto it would center around the fact that I wish there was more I could have done to assist ordinary citizens, especially the more vulnerable and the less fortunate, including my desire to assure all children in our society have equality of opportunity. Much has been accomplished; however, there remains significant challenges in making the world a better and a fairer place for all, especially our children.

Members of this House have been under great stress in recent months and, while members neither look for nor expect undue gratitude or applause for their public service, I hold the firm belief and conviction that public service as an elected person is an honourable commitment. Members know before they enter political life that democracy, as we know it, functions in a world of skepticism. Members of this House are as idealistic, outreaching and caring as those in other public-focused professions.

Errors and mistakes do occur in public life and to paraphrase the thoughts of Kipling in his poem, "If" which he published in 1910: There are occasions when you have to trust yourself in a world of skepticism but at the same time be able to make allowance for the viewpoints of others.

Abraham Lincoln's phrase at his famous Gettysburg address on November 19, 1863 that democracy is "of the people, by the people and for the people" resonates today in today's world as strongly as it did during his presidency. All of us must be accountable directly to those who elected us, but we must also acknowledge our responsibilities to society at large.

Members get whatever comfort they can out of the belief that their efforts are sincere, that their efforts are honourable, that they are responsible and straightforward people. Moreover, in a collectivity of parliamentarians such as we have in the House of Assembly where diverse viewpoints are encouraged and appreciated, each of us must faithfully believe that our work is constructive in focus and in purpose.

Openness, transparency and accountability are hallmarks of my political philosophy and my approach to public life. I spoke of these principles during my days as Mayor of the City of Mount Pearl and later as a member sitting in Opposition. I reaffirm them this afternoon without question or equivocation. While there have been bumps, political bruises, unexpected challenges along the way to a more open and transparent system of political governance and while the process of greater openness and transparency has had its share of political, in some instances personal sadness, all of us remind ourselves that democracy in the twenty-first century must be co-operative, interactive and credible. Anything less diminishes not just the institution but the very basis of our parliamentary model.

I thank the members for the opportunity to serve as their first elected Speaker of this Assembly. I have always enjoyed being in the House, listening to the various speeches. As members will know, very often I am sitting on one side or the other because I just love being in this place. When I am not here, all members know I am watching on television, always, consistently. I enjoy sharing the various viewpoints on public policy initiatives. In more than fourteen years, I have missed just two days, which attests perhaps to not just my good health nor my family but also to, I guess, a sense of dedication.

As members will know, my time as Speaker has seen significant changes in the way Parliament functions. There have been modifications to the Standing Orders, especially with regard to time limits for speeches and I have attempted to impose more stringent guidelines on time limits during Question Period. I have operated on the assumption that there are always more questions to be asked than there is time allocated to give responses. With the co-operation of all members, we have seen a 40 per cent increase in the number of questions asked and the number of replies thereto. This is commendable; however, members should consider adopting a forty-five second time limit on both the placement of the question and on the reply. Any longer than forty-five seconds tends to provide too great an opportunity for preambles on both sides of the House. And the Speaker should not be the time keeper in these matters. Leave that to the Table; however, we should reprogram the clocks on the wall or buy new ones that let the time limit be known to the House. If we can program crosswalks in St. John's to show the maximum time allocation for crossing the street, then surely goodness we can program the clocks to tell us how much time is left in our speeches. It makes good sense, rather than have the Speaker have this stopwatch going all of the time.

I understand there are variations in the way this is done. In Ottawa, they have thirty-five seconds. That is it. Get your question asked. Get a response in. The most distant view of that was when I was in the Parliament in Melbourne, Australia. The member on the government side - I should remind members that questions can come from any hon. member, except in the executive. In Melbourne, the policy is, there are forty-five minutes and there are ten questions; five come from the Opposition and five come from the back benchers on the government side. While I was there - it was a very noisy Parliament, ours is very moderate by comparison - one lady stood on the backbench on the government side and she made a thirty second question. The response went on for eight minutes and forty seconds. Our rules are much better and I commend these changes to the members.

Other changes I include would be the adoption of an 11:00 p.m. time limit when the House operates under Standing Order 47, on the closure motion. That has been done in Ottawa. I recommend that for consideration of our House. The original intent was to provide - also, I should mention, we should also change the time limits for ministers introducing bills and members giving a response. Now ministers get three times the ordinary member. It was intended that would only be twice, but we changed one part of the rule, we did not change the other part.

My final suggestion to the members on House operations, make private members resolutions truly a private members resolution and amending the Standing Orders to that effect. Under current practices, private members resolutions are amended to facilitate political agendas of one side of the House or the other. This makes the process often very contradictory in process. The word oxymoron might even apply. Members who sat with me on the Opposition benches will remember my comments on this issue. The correct way to amend a private member's motion is by a friendly amendment acceptable to the member making the resolution or, if members disagree with the resolution, they can amend it by simply voting against it.

When we do amendments to private member resolutions, they cease being private member resolutions. They either become government resolutions or they become the Opposition party's resolution. Every member who sits in this House, if not a member of the executive, has the right to bring forward a statement and have it considered by the House on its own merits. That is what, in theory, a private member's resolution is supposed to do.

In closing, I would like to thank my secretary, Linda Buckler; my executive assistant, Doug Wells; the House leadership; the Deputy Speaker; the Deputy Chair of Committees, the Clerk, the Assistant Clerk, the Law Clerks; the staff of Hansard; the Broadcast Centre; the Library; the Chief Financial Officer; the Sergeant-at-Arms. I have to stop there because I am going to tell you a story.

One night we worked very, very, late here, and in the afternoon the Sergeant-at-Arms, even though she went through a struggle that is familiar to all of us, she said to me: I have to go to the Health Sciences. I have to have some testing, because tomorrow I am going to have surgery. I said to her: Go ahead. Go on now. She said: No, no, I don't need to go until late in the afternoon.

At about 4:00 o'clock this wonderful lady left, and she was gone for an hour or so. I didn't expect her back. Around 6:30 p.m., when we were coming back after supper, in she walks. I said: Why are you here? She said: I had to come back. This is my job.

We sat all evening, and at 10:00 o'clock I went to her and said: Go home. Go home. Tomorrow you have a busy and difficult day.

This lady stayed here all evening, and at 3:00 o'clock in the morning - in fact, it was more like 3:45 a.m. - this House closed.

This lady, your Sergeant-at-Arms, left here, did not call her husband but had one of our Table Officers drop her at the Health Sciences, checked herself in, and that morning at 8:00 o'clock she had major surgery for cancer.

[Applause]

MR. SPEAKER: These are the kind of people who make up this House.

The Member for Grand Bank mentioned, we are all here as one family. In my fourteen years, I have seen members go through many, many stressful events. It is the sense of outreach that you get when you are going through these events. All members know I have been through a major event of my own. It is the help you get from your colleagues and your friends that helps you get through it all.

All of us here, we are all here and we have seen some people go through terrible times. We lost a colleague, Bob French, in our time here. We know that some of our friends who sat with us - Pat Cowan is gone. These are painful moments in all of our lives.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Rick Woodford.

MR. SPEAKER: Rick Woodford, yes. I acknowledge Rick Woodford was here when I came here.

All of us have had our trials and tribulations, but through it all the strength of this House lies always in its membership, lies always with all of us. It lies in our hearts, in the goodness that we share, the respect that we have for each other. For all of us, in our own strengths, we give strength to democracy as well.

I want to thank the Corps of Commissionaires. I want to thank the media. I want, as well, to say that I wish you well in the election.

A little bit of trivia to end my speech. We have had three occasions in our parliamentary history when members who were running in an election ran in two districts. That is called hedging your bets. One of those Speakers on the wall here, in 1873, ran in two districts. He ran in the District of Harbour Grace and he ran in the District of Twillingate & Fogo. Frederick Carter got elected in both. You could do that back in those years. It happened on two other occasions, in 1836 and I think it was 1840.

AN HON. MEMBER: (Inaudible) double-dipping.

MR. SPEAKER: That puts a whole new meaning, my colleague said, to the issue of double-dipping.

I want to thank you all. It is an honour to be your servant. It is an honour for me to represent the people I have represented.

I want to say, finally, I do not know what I am going to be doing. I have had three successful careers, but I am still a very young sixty-four. There may be a future yet.

Thank you so much.

[Applause]

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

MR. OTTENHEIMER: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I simply want to say, on behalf of government and on behalf of all members of this side of the House, that we obviously wish Mr. Speaker well, and our colleagues in the Opposition benches, the best for their future endeavours. Their commentary today, Mr. Speaker, from all of you, your commentary was most moving and genuine. Again, on behalf of government, we wish all of you well.

However, the reality is, Mr. Speaker, we are back tomorrow. Therefore, on that note, I simply move adjournment of the House at this time, Mr. Speaker, until 1:30 tomorrow, Thursday, in the afternoon.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER: The motion is that this House adjourn until tomorrow at 1:30 of the clock in the afternoon.

All those in favour, ‘aye'.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Aye.

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

The motion is carried.

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