May 21,
2014
HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS
Vol. XLVII No. 30
The
House met at 2:00 p.m.
MR. SPEAKER (Wiseman):
Order, please!
Admit
strangers.
Before
we start today's proceedings, I want to welcome some special guests to our
gallery today. We have with us
Raylene Mackey of the Goulds.
Raylene is one of eight recipients of the URock Volunteer Awards that were
presented last week. I had the
pleasure to be a part of that ceremony actually.
Raylene was also Miss Teen Newfoundland and Labrador in 2013.
Welcome
Raylene, and congratulations.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER:
We are also pleased today to
welcome to our gallery Ms Carol Furlong, President of NAPE.
She is accompanied today by some of her staff, but also some workers from
the group home in the Bay St. George area together from Grand Falls and from
Burin.
Welcome
to our galleries.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
Statements by
Members
MR. SPEAKER:
Today we have members'
statements from the Member for the District of St. John's Centre; the Member for
the District of Lake Melville; the Member for the District of Carbonear
Harbour Grace; the Member for the District of Lewisporte; the Member for the
District of Humber Valley; and the Member for the District of Virginia Waters.
The hon.
the Member for the District of St. John's Centre.
MS ROGERS:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr.
Speaker, I salute the incredible, dedicated workers representing three, Level IV
residential care group homes: the Bay St. George Youth Assessment Home, the T.J.
McDonald Home in Burin, and Pine Heights in Grand Falls-Windsor.
I thank them for the continuity of service they provide to some of the
most vulnerable and challenged youth in our Province.
Each
group home is staffed by highly-trained, experienced public sector workers with
oversight by a volunteer community board.
They provide the youth with stability, expertise, treatment programs
based on relationships and trust, and a safe, supportive home.
They work closely with schools, health care and families to give the
youth the support they need to heal and to be the best that they can.
In a few weeks all these group homes will be closed and the children will
be moved elsewhere. It is a sad time
for the communities that have proudly and generously supported these
well-established homes, a sad time for the staff, and a sad time for the youth
who for some, the group home has been their home for years.
Mr.
Speaker, I thank these workers and their colleagues for the service they have
provided and I ask all members to show their appreciation and gratitude.
Thank
you, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Member for the
District of Lake Melville.
MR. RUSSELL:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I rise
today to recognize Mr. Bob Simms for founding and running the Goose Bay Judo
Club for close to the past forty years, Mr. Speaker.
In 1976
Mr. Simms started the Goose Bay Judo Club and has built it into one of the
largest Judo clubs in the Province not to mention one of the most successful
ones. For almost forty years the
Goose Bay Judo Club has been one of the mainstay sports for many young adults in
the Lake Melville region. The club
is so large that they have a waiting list to accept new members.
Mr.
Simms, unfortunately, is moving away from Goose Bay and will no longer be
teaching Judo in Lake Melville.
However, due to his dedication and hard work, I am sure Judo in Goose Bay will
continue to be one of the most popular sports in the region.
I ask
all hon. members of this House to join me in celebrating the great
accomplishments of Sensei Bob Simms.
Thank
you, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Member for
Carbonear Harbour Grace.
MR. SLADE:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr.
Speaker, I rise in this hon. House today to recognize seventeen-year-old Allison
Somers, a promising young swimmer from Carbonear.
Allison
was one of eighteen members of the Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Swim
Team that attended Hyack Festival Youth Cup in New Westminster, British Columbia
from May 16-18. Allison was the only
swimmer from Carbonear Harbour Grace who joined other members of the team from
St. John's, Mount Pearl, and Corner Brook.
At the
festival, Allison faced off against some of the best swimmers the country has to
offer by competing in six individual events and two relay events.
Her top finishes included ninth in the 200 fly, eleventh in the 400 Free,
and fourteenth in the 100 fly for girls sixteen to eighteen-year-old category.
As a
senior member of the Poseidon Swim Club, Allison has taken top awards at most of
the provincial swim meets she attended during the 2013-2014 season.
This is one of the last events she will participate in as a member of
Poseidon Swim Club as she pursues both her academic and sports career.
Mr.
Speaker, I ask all hon. members to join me in congratulating Allison Somers on
her swimming achievements and wish her success in her future endeavours.
Thank
you, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Member for
Humber Valley.
MR. BALL:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I rise
in this hon. House today to congratulate those who received awards at the
recently held Deer Lake Sea Cadet Annual Inspection.
I had the pleasure of attending the event and was very impressed with the
level of professionalism exhibited by all those who participated.
Mr.
Speaker, I would like to thank the Deer Lake Sea Cadets for the invitation and
recognize the following award recipients: the Brian Morrison Award to Leading
Seaman William Pittman; Best Dressed Junior Cadet is Able Seaman Victoria Power;
Best Dressed Senior Cadet, Samantha Janes; the Esprit de Corps Award to Leading
Seaman Hannah Rubia; the Commanding Officer Award to Chief Petty Officer First
Class Aaron Hiscock; and the Instructor's Award to Chief Petty Officer Second
Class Samantha Janes.
Receiving 5-year Navy League Service Medals were Chief Petty Officer First Class
Aaron Hiscock, and Chief Petty Officer Second Class Samantha Janes.
Petty Officer Second Class Tyler Spracklyn and Petty Officer Second Class
Christopher Cabot both received 4-year service medals.
Mr.
Speaker, I would like to congratulate all members, parents, and leaders of the
Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Corps 73 of Deer Lake.
I ask
all members of this House to join me in congratulating the Deer Lake Sea Cadets
on their Annual Cadet Inspection and wish them all the luck in their future
endeavours.
Thank
you, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Member for
Virginia Waters.
MS C. BENNETT:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I rise
in this hon. House today to recognize the 26th annual St. John's Rotary Music
Festival which was held May 4-14.
This annual non-competitive festival has been organized by a group of dedicated
music educators and supporters. It
is the largest festival in the Province for school bands and choral music.
This
year's festival, like previous years, achieved its objectives to provide a
high-quality educational experience for all its musical participants of all
ages. Perhaps the most memorable
piece for the participants was the opportunity to work with world-class
clinicians from across Canada and the United States.
This year, 4,500 students from this Province participated in either
school and community bands or choirs, totalling 109 groups.
What is
unique about this Rotary Music Festival compared to others is that every
participating group is given the opportunity to perform for their peers, as well
as at one of the nightly concerts scheduled that week where the public are
welcome to attend as well.
Mr.
Speaker, I ask all the hon. members to join me in congratulating the organizers,
our youth and our schools for another successful festival adding rich
educational value and cultural opportunities through the leadership of committed
volunteers.
Thank
you, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER:
Statements by Ministers.
Statements by
Ministers
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Minister
Responsible for the Office of Public Engagement.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. KENT:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I rise
today in this hon. House to acknowledge the recipients of the 2014 URock
Volunteer Awards. The stage was
filled with stars last Thursday night as we honoured this year's award
recipients at a special gala event held in Mount Pearl.
The
URock Volunteer Awards were established in 2010 to recognize the remarkable ways
in which young people are giving back to their communities.
Nominations are accepted in two categories individuals and
organizations.
Mr.
Speaker, this year's URock Awards event was our biggest and best yet.
It was also an example of how technology is uniting us more than ever.
Along
with over 300 people who attended the event at the Glacier, our NLYouth.ca Web
site was viewed over 1,200 times on Thursday evening, with webcast audiences
across Canada and around the world.
One of these viewers included Melissa Thomas, a URock award recipient from Mount
Pearl who was unable to attend the ceremony in person, but was able to follow
the show on Twitter and on the webcast while attending field school in Italy.
Mr.
Speaker, I would like to take a moment to acknowledge the other recipients of
the 2014 URock Volunteer Awards.
They are: Richard Churchill of Clarenville; Raylene Mackey from Goulds; Natasha
Noel from St. John's; Fallon Piercey from Conception Bay South; Donald Slaney
from St. Lawrence; Chanelle Cluett from Wabush; and the Corner Brook Regional
High Pride Alliance.
All
award winners received custom-designed electric guitars designed by students at
College of the North Atlantic and guests enjoyed performances by some of the
Province's top young musical acts.
The event was hosted by Newfoundland and Labrador comedian, Matt Wright.
Mr.
Speaker, having the support of family, friends and mentors and getting
recognition from them inspires young people to continue their volunteer work.
As a
government, we are dedicated to supporting their efforts and we are working hard
to ensure that Newfoundland and Labrador is one of the best places in the world
for young people to receive an education, start a career and build a future.
I ask
all members of this hon. House to join me in congratulating the 2014 URock
Volunteer Awards winners.
Thank
you.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Member for The
Straits White Bay North.
MR. MITCHELMORE:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I thank
the minister for an advance copy of his statement.
Volunteering is the heart of community building.
When a person gives freely of his or her time, knowledge, skills or
financial resources to further a cause, big things can happen.
Our
caucus is very excited and energized by the incredible work done by volunteers,
especially our youth as they take on new roles, responsibilities, and
challenges, become more engaged, and instill positive change on society.
To
Melissa Thomas, Richard Churchill, Raylene Mackey, Natasha Noel, Fallon Piercey,
Donald Slaney, Chanelle Cluett, and Pride Alliance at Corner Brook Regional
High, thank you for being role models and leading by example.
The
Member for Mount Pearl South was in attendance and we certainly applaud the
utilization of technology at such an event, which illustrates that youth are
global citizens pursuing education, volunteering, and gaining life experience
abroad.
In
future years, consideration should be given to a scholarship or bursary to help
further education or make a contribution in which the youth would be involved.
This would allow the gift to continue giving.
Congratulations, URock award winners 2014.
Thank
you.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Member for St.
John's East.
MR. MURPHY:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I would
also like to thank the minister for the advance copy of his statement here
today. According to the award
winners here, we do rock and they do rock as well.
I would like to thank government for their engagement with youth in this
particular case with the URock Awards.
They have been on the go now for a few years.
I can
speak for one young gentlemen who is here on the list and how much he has an
effect on the Burin Peninsula. Just
about a week-and-a-half ago or two weeks ago, I was invited to speak to the
founding meeting of Mothers Against Drunk Driving on the Burin Peninsula.
I speak in the name of Mr. Donald Slaney, who is the founding member down
there. We cannot discount the effect
these youth have on our Province and the effect they are going to have on
everyday lives, and this is just one example.
I would
like to thank again the government for their participation in this and
congratulations to all the winners of the URock Awards this year.
Thank
you very much.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Minister of
Service NL.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. CRUMMELL:
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to
rise in this hon. House to announce we have listened to the residents of
communities in Northern Labrador, and will now provide them with the option to
automatically select a shorter seven-month vehicle registration for passenger
vehicles, light trucks, and vans.
We are
extending this option to permanent residents of the communities of Nain,
Hopedale, Makkovik, Postville, Rigolet, Black Tickle, Williams Harbour, and
Norman Bay.
Mr.
Speaker, these municipalities are located along Labrador's northern coast, where
many residents are unable to use passenger vehicles during the winter months.
The seasonal registration option permits renewal for a seven-month period
at a fee of approximately $82 for most vehicles, as opposed to the standard
twelve-month vehicle registration fee of $140.
The new
automatic option allows vehicle owners in these communities to register a
vehicle from May 1 to November 30, after some of the snow and ice has receded
and when many residents in these northern communities are able to start using
their vehicles. As always, the
option for a year-round registration will still be available if desired.
Mr.
Speaker, this option recognizes that these residents are often unable to use
their vehicles during the winter and as such it is only fair that we extend the
option to conveniently and automatically pay only for the months when they are
able to use their vehicles.
The new
option will also be available to residents of these communities who choose to
renew online at eservices.gov.nl.ca.
Of course, residents may also call the Motor Registration Division toll-free at
1-877-636-6867.
Mr.
Speaker, this initiative will meet the needs of residents on the North Coast of
Labrador. This government remains
committed to making programs and services more accessible and affordable to all
Newfoundlanders and Labradorians and this new offering now responds to the needs
of those Labrador communities in terms of their geographic location and way of
life.
Thank
you, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Member for
Torngat Mountains.
MR. EDMUNDS:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I thank
the minister for an advance copy of his statement.
I would also like to thank my colleague, the Member for Mount Pearl
South, for giving me the opportunity to respond as he is the critic for Service
Newfoundland and Labrador.
Mr.
Speaker, I am very appreciative of this government's decision.
I think it was three ministers ago that I did push the issue.
I think then the Member for Topsail was the minister and he said that he
would check into it. Then the Member
for Labrador West said that it was a work in progress.
I am glad today to stand here and hear the current minister make this
announcement.
It took
three years, Mr. Speaker, and it shows how fast things can get done and how slow
sometimes it takes. In Northern
Labrador and some of the other communities on the Coast of Labrador and maybe on
the Island portion of the Province too, we do have snow for seven months of the
year. Most times in those areas the
roads are not plowed and the only time the vehicles can be used is during the
summer months.
I am
very appreciative of this. I thank
all three members who were ministers on this portfolio for the hard work they
have done over the last three years.
Thank
you, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Member for St.
John's East.
MR. MURPHY:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I would
also like to thank the minister for the advance copy of his statement today.
I was thinking when I was reading the statement earlier, this is a good
move on the part of government in reducing the fees.
I almost said to myself for the kind of winter that all of Newfoundland
and Labrador had, we should all be eligible for the $82 this year anyway.
Mr.
Speaker, it is a good move on the part of government, but there are some things
that they still have to address.
They are looking at $1.56 a litre, for example, up there in Nain right now.
We are looking at high food costs.
While we are thankful about the $82 being down there for the seven months
registration on vehicles, there is plenty more that we should be looking at too
in order to help control costs. We
know this is a good cost-saving measure for consumers up there and the drivers
up there, but there is a whole lot more that we should be looking at too.
Thank
you very much.
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Minister of
Advanced Education and Skills.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. O'BRIEN:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr.
Speaker, I rise today to update my hon. colleagues on the work of the Supportive
Housing Action Team. This group was
established to help address short- and long-term housing needs for displaced
residents of Newman's Boarding Home in Happy Valley-Goose Bay.
It is chaired by Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation.
I wish
to express sincere thanks to all community groups, government agencies and
departments, and the Nunatsiavut Government who came together so quickly and
responded to residents' urgent needs, immediately providing shelter and
necessary supports. Following the
short-term response, the community partners have also expressed their
appreciation of our approach in focusing on long-term solutions, and we cannot
give them enough credit for stepping up in the way they have to help find
housing for those individuals who were displaced.
Today
the majority of tenants are in public or non-profit rental housing or with
family and friends, receiving supports and assistance as necessary, while
long-term solutions are sought.
We
recognize this is a complex problem and finding longer-term solutions requires a
combined effort across multiple organizations and community groups.
The Supportive Housing Action Team includes senior officials from across
a number of provincial government departments Advanced Education and Skills,
Health and Community Services, Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs, as well as
Labrador-Grenfell Health and representation from the Nunatsiavut Government.
Mr.
Speaker, the team has been meeting weekly and is fully engaged and working with
Melville Native Housing, the Salvation Army, the Labrador Friendship Centre, the
Town of Happy Valley-Goose Bay, the area MHA for the district and also the
Minister of Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs, and others in the community, to
ensure long-term housing solutions are developed.
As we
consider options and work towards solutions, we are grateful to everyone
involved for the time and effort they have contributed.
The collective response was truly outstanding and is a testament to what
can be accomplished when we all work together, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Member for
Cartwright L'Anse au Clair.
MS DEMPSTER:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I thank
the minister for the advance copy of his statement, and I thank my colleague
from St. John's South for allowing me to respond.
Certainly, housing is something close to the hearts of myself, my
colleague for Torngat, and all of us in the Liberal caucus.
We are pleased to see community groups and Newfoundland and Labrador
Housing coming together to help displaced residents of Newman's Boarding Home.
Losing
your home is a very stressful experience for anyone.
Boarding house residents live on very low incomes and so their options
for relocation are limited. This
situation illustrates just how close homelessness is for some people.
Despite reassurances from government that megaprojects in Labrador will
have minimal impacts on things like housing, we continue to see the gap widen
between the rich and poor as limited housing stock is threatening housing
stability for many.
Mr.
Speaker, we have asked the Minister Responsible for Newfoundland and Labrador
Housing about the future of the Paddon Home, which has sat vacant for four years
now in a community facing a housing crisis.
This is shameful, Mr. Speaker.
The minister responsible maintains that it is too soon to say what the
Paddon Home will be used for. For
those on the brink of homelessness in Lake Melville, I say the decision cannot
come soon enough.
I urge
the government to make a decision on the Paddon Home and to consider developing
a housing plan that addresses the full scope of housing issues in our whole
Province.
Thank
you, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Leader of the
Third Party.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Oh, oh!
MR. SPEAKER:
Order, please!
MS MICHAEL:
Thank you very much, Mr.
Speaker.
I, too,
thank the minister for the advance copy of his statement.
It is good that government departments rose to the occasion in response
to the closure of Newman's Boarding House.
I would expect nothing less.
I know how concerned the departments as well as the other agencies would have
been. It is good to know that all
are being taken care of.
I am
glad to see the mix of people involved with the supportive housing action team
finding long-term housing solutions, as well as supporting the residents in
transition. This collaborative
community-based approach is essential to the planning government must do for
long-term housing solutions across the Province.
I was
pleased, for example, to be at the opening of the new NLHC seniors housing in
Pleasantville today. I would
encourage government to commit to providing affordable, accessible housing at a
faster pace to help the growing number of people who need it.
Thank
you very much, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER:
Oral Questions.
Oral Questions
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Leader of the
Official Opposition.
MR. BALL:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
It has
been reported that technical problems in three or four areas have delayed the
final text of the CETA deal.
Finalization is a long way off, as the federal government and the EU still have
to consult with provinces and the member states.
I ask
the Premier: Where is the process now, and have these consultations started with
the federal government?
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Minister of
Fisheries and Aquaculture.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. HUTCHINGS:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr.
Speaker, indeed, a number of months ago when Canada announced they had reached
an agreement with the EU we were very pleased in terms of the outlook for
Newfoundland and Labrador and what we were able to achieve with Canada through
the CETA agreements. At that time,
it was indicated that sixteen to twenty-four months would be the process to
legalize the text, to make conversions in regard to language and so forth.
That process is underway. We
continue to dialogue with the federal government.
We have
started in relation to the $400 million fund that we were able to negotiate, and
started a process now to be ready.
When the final agreement is signed, that money becomes available.
So over that period of time we will be ready to access those funds and to
build our industry, our seafood industry which is so important to us.
The future looks bright in regard to that fund and our industry.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Leader of the
Official Opposition.
MR. BALL:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
We know
that the $400 million fund of course $120 million of it from our own Province
is determined by finalization of the deal.
The EU trade negotiator said that the technical discussions have proven
to be more difficult than they had originally foreseen.
It appears that CETA is being held up by disagreements in intellectual
property rights by pharmaceuticals and other issues.
I ask
the Premier: What role is your government playing now in this discussion?
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Minister of
Innovation, Business and Rural Development.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MS SULLIVAN:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr.
Speaker, the dealings around the actual text are taking a little bit more time
than we had anticipated. However, my
officials have been actively engaged and are still involved in the project, and
are still actively involved with the negotiators and with those writing the text
in Ottawa as part of the facilitation of this process.
Mr.
Speaker, I would not want to characterize that as being a difficulty, it simply
takes time to get that done. We do
anticipate that will happen sooner rather than later.
We do know that the level of engagement is intense; people are working
furiously to get that piece of work accomplished.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Leader of the
Official Opposition.
MR. BALL:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
It was
not my words talking about it being a difficult negotiation.
These are the words of the EU negotiator.
Mr.
Speaker, Nalcor's business and financial report says that the power purchase
agreement for Muskrat Falls was signed last November.
I have asked for this document many times, but it has never been
available. The former Premier said
last November that when it was finalized it would be made public.
I ask
the Premier: Six months after the power purchase agreement has been signed, will
you now table that agreement?
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Premier.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
PREMIER MARSHALL:
Mr. Speaker, I will certainly
be happy to take the Leader of the Opposition's request to Nalcor and get a copy
of the agreement and the appropriate time assurance that it is tabled here in
the House of Assembly.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Leader of the
Official Opposition.
MR. BALL:
Mr. Speaker, we have been
hearing as we have been asking for the documents to be tabled and made public is
that they would be appropriate. It
has been six months now and that is long past what we expected to be an
appropriate time frame I would say.
Nalcor's
report also states that the generating plants, the transmission assets, and the
distribution systems can continue to run indefinitely with ongoing maintenance.
It says that Nalcor's assets are expected to be used for an indefinite
period with no removal dates to be determined.
I ask
the Premier: What does this mean to the future of Holyrood?
Are you backing away, or are you still committed to closing Holyrood in
2020?
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Premier.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
PREMIER MARSHALL:
Mr. Speaker, the chairman of
Nalcor has certainly made it clear that they put in place a plan.
The first part in the plan was to ensure they had the people there to
develop a world-class organization.
They addressed safety; that was the first issue they had to deal with.
They also put in an asset management plan and looked for a source of
future energy in the future, recognizing that generation was going to keep up
with supply.
The
other thing we did, Mr. Speaker, is that the previous government was withdrawing
dividends, and I understand that. We
are withdrawing dividends from that company.
What we did in order to address these maintenance issues is that in 2007
we left the dividends in the company so they could use that money to double the
cap, which is what they have been doing.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Leader of the
Official Opposition.
MR. BALL:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
My
question is about the Holyrood Generating Station, the generating plant, the
closure, and the commitment to the closure in 2020.
This has been a big piece of the argument for Muskrat Falls.
I ask
the Premier: The closure of Holyrood in 2020 is that still the commitment of
your government?
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Premier.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
PREMIER MARSHALL:
Mr. Speaker, there has been
no change. Nalcor is going to
develop Muskrat Falls, and when Muskrat Falls is commissioned, within a
reasonable time after that, the Holyrood plant will be decommissioned.
We will then have energy for the people of the Province at the least-cost
option, the lowest cost to them, and we will also have surplus energy, which
will be available for the first time to take to market in the US and the
Atlantic Seaboard without having to go through the Province of Quebec.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Leader of the
Official Opposition.
MR. BALL:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
In 2004,
the government announced an agreement with Icewater for the Arnold's Cove fish
plant. At the time, government said,
Our approach ensures that the quotas and the historical rights to this fish
will remain in Newfoundland and Labrador.
That was the quote. Today it
is in the news that a quota owned by the provincial government is being
harvested by Nova Scotians, by a Nova Scotia boat, and it is also being landed
in Nova Scotia, therefore not providing any of the direct employment benefits to
our Province.
I ask
the Premier: Why are you allowing a quota that is owned by the people of this
Province, owned by Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, to be fished and landed in
another province?
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Minister of
Fisheries and Aquaculture.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. HUTCHINGS:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr.
Speaker, in 2004 when High Liner decided to leave the Province and basically the
assets that are here, this government stepped in with $3.5 million knowing the
value of the fishery at the time.
Obviously, we had a downturn in the cod fishery, but knowing it was going to
come back. We did not want to stand
by and make sure we used one of the most mechanized and most modern plants in
the Province let that go down.
What we
did was we stepped in; $3.5 million for Southern Harbour to Clarenville, for
that region.
Today, it employs 120 to 180 unionized employees, and we have seen the result of
our investment, Mr. Speaker.
Now, in regard to the actual quota allocations, those
as well were bought by this government, certainly leased back to the company
with the benefit of allowing them to generate extra revenue to continue their
operations, to grow that operation to where we are today, that we can meet the
needs in the cod fishery when it comes back in the years to come.
MR.
SPEAKER:
Order, please!
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR.
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Leader of the Opposition.
MR.
BALL:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Well, in 2004 the government also said that this deal
would have the highest economic and job impact.
Well, obviously now if you are stepping away by allowing this to be
landed and shipped by Nova Scotians, that is not the highest economic impact.
What the minister is saying is that there is no one in Newfoundland and
Labrador who could actually fish that quota, I take it.
This quota has been landed in Nova Scotia and it is bad
enough, as I said, it is being fished by Nova Scotians.
So why did you not insist that this be landed and fished by
Newfoundlanders and Labradorians?
MR.
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR.
HUTCHINGS:
Mr.
Speaker, these allocations, over 100 foot vessels, it can be transferred to any
entity in Newfoundland and Labrador now.
They are free to negotiate with Icewater in regard to transfer of species
and get access to that.
Is the hon. member suggesting that we are going to pick
between the inshore harvesters and those 180 workers in Arnold's Cove, and we
are going to shut down a very stable cod facility with the cod coming back?
This was a comprehensive agreement to build the industry, not to walk
away from it, but to step in when High Liner stepped out.
We stepped in to make sure it was secured, and we are going to continue
to do that and work with all industry to make sure it continues to move forward,
Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR.
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Leader of the Opposition.
MR.
BALL:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Well, what we are suggesting is that you step in and
step up for Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, not for Nova Scotians.
Get the maximum benefit for our Province.
According to the twenty-year deal struck in 2004,
Icewater pays the provincial government $50,000 a year to lease the quotas for
Newfoundland and Labrador. The
provincial government now estimates that these quotas are worth $16 million to
$20 million that is the total package.
So I ask the minister: Why was there not at least an
escalator clause or some provision in your agreement, your lease, to allow for
Newfoundlanders and Labradorians to enjoy some of this benefit?
MR.
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture.
MR.
HUTCHINGS:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, let alone the investment we made in the
people in Arnold's Cove and the region, I said it is a return we got in terms of
what we paid for that and what it is today.
Mr. Speaker, this is all about the industry, the cod industry, in terms
of that plant, state-of-the-art facility, and where we are moving ahead now with
the return of the cod industry so that we can start that process again.
In regard to the allocations, I say to him again, if
there is any entity in Newfoundland and Labrador that wants to work with
Icewater, in terms of transfer of quota, whether it is other species for cod, or
whatever it is, that is open to do.
They are invited to do it. We would
not stand in the way if it is not in the economic disinterest of Arnold's Cove,
but this is something we invested in, in the cod fishery.
It is important, that plant is extremely important, and we believe in it.
If the hon. member wants to pick and choose in the industry, get up and
say he wants to pick and choose between the industry.
MR.
SPEAKER:
Order, please!
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR.
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Member for Carbonear Harbour Grace.
MR.
SLADE:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, ten years ago government leased the 130
ton halibut quota to Icewater for a twenty-year term.
In 2004 no consideration was given to putting a condition on this lease
or a possible sublease.
I ask the minister: Why did your government fail to
ensure conditions on the lease to Icewater that would guarantee benefits to our
Province?
MR.
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR.
HUTCHINGS:
Yes, Mr. Speaker, what a failure, for ten years we have Arnold's Cove operating.
We have a state-of-the-art facility in Arnold's Cove that is certainly
ready for the opportunities. They
are selling into the UK, they are selling into France, and what an opportunity
they are going to have when the economic agreement comes and we can get cod
right into the EU.
The hon. member, again I say to him on the other side:
Are you going to start picking and choosing between the industry?
This is a viable industry. If
there are other entities out there that want to get access to this quota or
allocation, they can certainly work with Icewater to do it.
If it does not negatively affect Icewater and what they are trying to do
out there, we will not stand in the way, but we encourage them to have
discussions.
Once again, I say to him: Who are you picking and
choosing in the industry?
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Oh,
oh!
MR.
SPEAKER:
Order, please!
The hon. the Member for Carbonear Harbour Grace.
MR.
SLADE:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I would say we are going to stand up and
speak for Newfoundlanders and Labradorians; that is what I would say.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR.
SLADE:
Mr.
Speaker, I ask the minister: How much revenue are we losing through the sublease
of the 130 tons, a quota that could be going back to build up our fishing
industry?
MR.
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR.
HUTCHINGS:
Let's go back, Mr. Speaker. Ten
years ago the plant was going to close, assets were going to be taken away, no
work for Southern Harbour to Clarenville, those workers who were there, no
opportunity; we were going to shut down the cod industry, have no infrastructure
left, have no ability to adapt and to restart the industry when the time has
come, but we did not want to go there.
What we did as a government, $3.5 million we invested; we purchased those
quotas.
Financially, that was certainly a different day then,
but we saw it as so important, the fishing industry, we invested to get those
quotas so that would allow Arnold's Cove collectively, in terms of royalties for
those quotas, be able to build that industry, build that operation to the point
they are at today and then as we go forward in terms of what is happening in the
cod industry, they will have an opportunity.
It is a benefit of all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.
MR.
SPEAKER:
Order, please!
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR.
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Member for The Straits White Bay North.
MR.
MITCHELMORE:
Mr.
Speaker, the Province invested $2 million at a dividend of 3 per cent in the
form of equity a year ago in Icewater Harvesting Inc. for an eight-year period
to provide long-term benefits to Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.
Less than one year after making this risky investment, the vessel has
sunk.
I ask the minister: What returns have been paid to date
by Icewater, given the Province is to receive an annual dividend?
MR.
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR.
HUTCHINGS:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Yes, Mr. Speaker, indeed there was a $2 million loan to
Icewater in regard to Cape Dorset in
regard to actually fishing some of those quota allocations.
It was going quite well.
Unfortunately, they lost that vessel.
We are now going through a process my colleague in IBRD in regard to
the insurance and the payout on that, the terms of our investment, and the
return on that investment. That has
been working through now and I think in the weeks ahead we will be able to
confirm the details of that.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR.
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Member for The Straits White Bay North.
MR.
MITCHELMORE:
Mr.
Speaker, the Department of IBRD in Estimates confirmed this equity investment
was fully secure. Unlike traditional
loans, when an equity investment goes south, the personal assets of the
directors or shareholders are not at risk.
Given no asset remains, I ask the minister: How much of
this $2 million will taxpayers be left footing the bill, given other creditors
have charge on this sunken vessel?
Is our equity sunk like the Cape Dorset?
MR.
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Minister of Innovation, Business and Rural Development.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MS
SULLIVAN:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I never understand why it is that the
glass is always half empty over there on the other side.
What we are trying to do as we are working with Icewater in this is the
same as was done ten years ago, which is to try to ensure that there is
sustainable industry in rural Newfoundland and Labrador.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MS
SULLIVAN:
Yes, Mr. Speaker, there is an insurance policy.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Oh,
oh!
MR.
SPEAKER:
Order, please!
MS
SULLIVAN:
Yes, we are working with all of the proponents.
Mr. Speaker, we hope to have a resolution to that.
Our aim, unlike theirs, is to keep businesses open.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR.
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Member for Burgeo La Poile.
MR.
A. PARSONS:
Mr.
Speaker, every day we are hearing more and more stories of drug-related crime.
It is a common occurrence to hear of break-ins, armed robberies, and even
shootings. Eight years ago,
government committed to a Provincial Substance Use Strategy to prevent and treat
substance abuse.
I ask the minister: Where is the strategy?
MR.
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Minister of Health and Community Services.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR.
DAVIS:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mental health and addictions is a very difficult and
challenging facet of many people's lives.
It affects every family throughout Newfoundland and Labrador.
It is very unfortunate that when people fall into a life involving mental
health and addictions, it quite often as well leads to criminal activity as the
member opposite has referenced.
We have made significant investments in mental health
and addictions. Just recently, after
coming in this department, I had the pleasure of announcing our new anti-stigma
campaign. It is a very important
campaign which is hopefully going to broaden the knowledge and understanding of
mental illness and addictions that affect people throughout Newfoundland and
Labrador. It will broaden the
knowledge and understanding for the people of the Province.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Member for
Burgeo La Poile.
MR. A. PARSONS:
Mr. Speaker, that is a fine
initiative but it is not the one I am talking about, the one that this Province
committed to eight years ago and spent millions of dollars on.
The
strategy was not just a commitment on paper, it was a major undertaking.
A Province-wide committee was formed with representatives from Education,
Justice, RNC, RCMP, health boards, community stakeholders, and individuals in
recovery. The strategy was written,
the documents complete, where is the strategy?
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Minister of
Health and Community Services.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. DAVIS:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I
appreciate the opportunity to discuss further on the importance of mental health
and addictions in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Just before coming to the House of Assembly today I had the opportunity
to meet with the Newfoundland and Labrador Advisory Council, Mental Health
Advisory Council. A very diverse
group of significant backgrounds and areas, and very strong representatives of
the Province; a very important group that are going to work with me, educate me,
and assist me in the development of programs and how we do better.
We
invest over $100 million annually in mental health and addictions in
Newfoundland and Labrador. We have
950 women and men throughout Newfoundland and Labrador who work with people with
mental health and addictions.
Mr.
Speaker, these are significant investments.
We have significant partnerships.
We are investing in people.
We are investing in new facilities for Newfoundland and Labrador, all in the
best interests of mental health and addictions.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Member for the
District of Burgeo La Poile.
MR. A. PARSONS:
Mr. Speaker, this Province
committed to a strategy. They put
millions of dollars into that strategy.
Again, we see nothing. The
minister is walking away from the question.
The
people involved in creating the strategy were committed to completing it and
getting it right. It took over two
years to do the consultations, do the research and consult with stakeholder
groups. It is a needed strategy,
obviously.
I ask
the minister very specifically: Where is this specific strategy?
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Minister of
Health and Community Services.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. DAVIS:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I do not
mind talking about this, I tell the member opposite.
He can calm down and ask his questions and I will provide him with the
answers because I do not mind talking about the investments that we are making
in mental health and addictions. It
was a very informative discussion we had today, as I was just referencing.
One of the things that we talked about today is the investments we are
making in facilities.
We are
building two new youth facilities, Mr. Speaker, that never existed before in
Newfoundland and Labrador. One for
youth who are dealing with addictions in Central Newfoundland, and one for youth
dealing with complex mental health needs being built in Paradise, just outside
of St. John's. We are building a new
adult addictions centre in Harbour Grace.
As well, we have investments this year and work underway to replace the
Waterford Hospital, a very needed facility for Newfoundland and Labrador and
very important work that we are doing, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER:
Order, please!
The hon.
the Member for St. John's North.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. KIRBY:
Mr. Speaker, we continue to
hear from parents, students, and educators who point out that our schools lack
critical mental health support services for our youth.
In its pre-budget submission, the Federation of School Councils called
for youth mental health and addictions counsellors at a ratio of one per 500
students, but government failed to provide the funding need for this.
I ask
the minister: Has his department completed an assessment of the mental health
supports needed in our schools, and if not, when does he plan to make this issue
a priority after all these years of neglect?
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Minister of
Education.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. KING:
Mr. Speaker, it would be very
easy for anyone to stand up in the House and find flaws with a particular
strategy or a particular initiative or a particular part of society, but the
reality is this government has invested millions and millions of dollars in
education in this Province over the years.
I
recognize the issue that the member raised.
I spent twenty-plus years in the education profession, and I recognize
that solving complex problems like that is not solely the responsibility of the
education system, Mr. Speaker. It is
the responsibility of a partnership with parents, and the responsibility of a
partnership with the health care system.
We have resources in the system.
We have guidance counsellors who perform a role a very specific role, I
might add and there comes a point in time when there is a diagnosis of a
particular problem in the education system when it moves to people with more
expertise, such as the health care system.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Member for St.
John's North.
MR. KIRBY:
I am glad the minister is
making that connection, Mr. Speaker, the lack of supports with youth with mental
health needs is one of the most pressing issues in our schools across the
Province today, yet this government still does not have a handle on it.
They are neglecting it.
School guidance staff tell us that students who suffer from mental illness are
increasingly in need of help.
I ask
the minister: When will he commit to improving the guidance counsellor
allocation to reflect the growing need for guidance and counselling supports in
our schools?
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Minister of
Education.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. KING:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
We look
at the resourcing needs of education every single year when we do a budget, and
in between budget periods we are always doing an assessment of the needs.
I will
say to the member that the issue of the mental health challenges in the school
system will not be solved by increasing guidance counsellors, because the
guidance counsellors are not providing the specialized services for the problem
that the member has identified.
There has to be other supports in place to address those needs.
Part of that is working with the home to find the right program, and part
of it is referring at the appropriate time to the health care system, Mr.
Speaker. That is why we also invest
in health care, because we have specialized people who can provide specialized
services. The education system
cannot and will not ever provide every service that every individual needs.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Member for
Virginia Waters.
MS C. BENNETT:
Mr. Speaker, in January the
AG expressed concerns about expensive external consultants carrying out oil
royalty audits. The AG said staff
are paid between $40 and $65 an hour, while consultants are paid between $85 and
$340 an hour, and the department was not properly resourced to complete the
work.
I would
ask the minister: Why are you ignoring the AG's recommendation and continuing to
use expensive external consultants?
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Minister of
Fisheries and Aquaculture.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. HUTCHINGS:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr.
Speaker, we certainly recognize and accepted the original recommendations of the
Auditor General in the 2008 report.
This year, in 2013-2014, there were two new permanent audit positions to assist
with the audit inventory. Certainly,
now we do not use currently consulting services.
So recognizing what the Auditor General suggested we moved on that with
those four new positions and take it very seriously in terms of what the return
is to the Province.
Thank
you, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Leader of the
Third Party.
MS MICHAEL:
Thank you very much, Mr.
Speaker.
The PUB
has noted in its interim report neither extreme weather nor other unusual events
were significant factors in the January 2014 system events and outages, yet the
Minister of Natural Resources suggested otherwise in the media during the
crisis.
I ask
the Minister of Natural Resources: Why did he blame the cold weather when it was
not a factor?
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Premier.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
PREMIER MARSHALL:
Mr. Speaker, we have the
advice and recommendations of the PUB, for which we are very thankful.
We also have the report of Liberty Mutual, the consultant for the PUB.
Nalcor has done its own internal review as has Newfoundland Power.
My understanding is they align with each other and now what is happening
is they are starting to take action.
Nalcor
put in place a number of years ago an asset management plan to deal with a
large, aging asset base. It put in a
plan that is going to expedite the plan.
They have recently purchased a combustion turbine.
They are also assessing a recommendation about getting more resources.
Again, I
always have to mention the fact that the government of 2007 stopped taking
dividends from Hydro and left the money in the corporation so it could have that
for capital expenditures, which have doubled over the last five years.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Leader of the
Third Party.
MS MICHAEL:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The PUB
has expressed doubt that Hydro can install extra generating capacity in time for
next winter.
I ask
the Premier: What plans has government made with municipalities and emergency
service organizations for ensuring that elderly, sick, and vulnerable people are
safe if we find again ourselves without power or heat in the depths of winter?
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Minister of
Fisheries and Aquaculture.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. HUTCHINGS:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr.
Speaker, we certainly value the PUB and the recommendations they make in terms
of hydro, particularly, in terms of the circumstances we have seen over the past
number of months. At the end of the
day, it is important that all are certainly in the right direction in regard to
these issues and the recommendations that were made.
We respect that, and we expect Nalcor and Hydro specifically to follow up
on those to make sure at the end of the day that we have the best possible
service for the people of Newfoundland and Labrador, which they certainly
deserve, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Leader of the
Third Party.
MS MICHAEL:
Thank you very much, Mr.
Speaker.
My
question was about what happens for the people if the service fails.
Mr.
Speaker, government seems to be still committed to hiring a consultant to
examine the Province's power system and its relation to the North American
system when Muskrat comes on stream.
The PUB is proving beyond a doubt they have the confidence and professionalism
to do this work.
I ask
the Premier: Why not ask the PUB to complete this task?
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Premier.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
PREMIER MARSHALL:
Mr. Speaker, the PUB was set
up as a regulator in the electrical industry.
We value the role they play.
We know from time to time they are going to take initiatives and they are going
to carry out their statutory responsibilities to serve the people of the
Province, but so will Nalcor.
Nalcor
is an energy company; it is the people's energy company.
It has been set up to create value and get wealth for the people of the
Province over and above taxes and royalties.
Nalcor has its own responsibility to ensure that as we get ready to
connect to the North American grid for the first time ever, that we do a review
of our management, the operations, and the regulation to ensure that we are
ready for when that very important interconnection takes place.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Member for St.
John's Centre.
MS ROGERS:
Mr. Speaker, 3,800 people
have signed petitions asking the minister to reverse his decision to privatize
the care of our most vulnerable children and youth in group homes in Burin,
Stephenville, and Grand Falls-Windsor.
I ask
the minister: Will he listen to the people of these communities?
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Minister of
Child, Youth and Family Services.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. JACKMAN:
Mr. Speaker, I recognize that
there are people who are in the galleries who are impacted by this decision.
Some of these people I know personally who work in Burin.
Mr.
Speaker, I know of the service that they have provided over the years to the
youth they served. I can say to the
member that the decision will not be reversed.
There was a process that went through, an RFP was put out, and a
framework was developed. Individual
groups then made their submission and they awarded a contract to Blue sky on the
merits of their applications.
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Member for St.
John's Centre.
MS ROGERS:
Mr. Speaker, 3,800 people see
the value of providing high-quality, specialized continuity of care for troubled
youth in their communities who need support and treatment.
I ask
the minister: Is privatizing their care to save a few bucks worth the upheaval
and suffering this move is causing the children in these communities?
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Minister of
Child, Youth and Family Services.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. JACKMAN:
I guess, Mr. Speaker, she has
made the decision that Blue sky is not going to provide a quality service.
I ask her that she submit that to that group.
Mr.
Speaker, again I have said this in education and I will say it in this: We will
leave no child behind and we will do what we can for children.
This is now a provision of a service that is different from what was
provided before. Before, these were
correctional facilities and the children who went there were often issued by the
courts to go there. Now, Mr.
Speaker, what is being provided is more of a residential setting and more of a
provision of that family setting service within the community.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Member for St.
John's Centre.
MS ROGERS:
Mr. Speaker, the deadline to
move the children in the Stephenville group home was May 19.
It is May 21 and children, staff and boards still do not know when the
children are leaving, where they are going.
The staff is laid off as of May 31.
I ask
the minister: Is this the efficiency you hoped privatization would bring?
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Minister of
Child, Youth and Family Services.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. JACKMAN:
Mr. Speaker, it is my
understanding that the service provider continues to see if they can make
inroads with the community of Stephenville so that we can get this service
provided so that these youth can get on with the transition that is taking
place.
We have
indicated to the service provider that if they cannot meet their deadline they
should certainly get in contact with us, and then we will see where we take it
from there, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER:
The time for Question Period
has expired.
Presenting Reports by Standing and Select Committees.
Tabling
of Documents.
Tabling of
Documents
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Minister of
Finance and President of Treasury Board.
MS JOHNSON:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr.
Speaker, pursuant to section 26.(5)(a) of the Financial Administration Act, I am
tabling one Order in Council relating to the funding pre-commitments for the
2015-2016 fiscal year.
Thank
you.
MR. SPEAKER:
Notices of Motion.
Answers
to Questions for Which Notice has been Given.
Answers to
Questions for which Notice has been Given
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Minister of
Finance.
MS JOHNSON:
Mr. Speaker, some questions
came up in Estimates last night and I do have some answers.
Is this the appropriate time to provide them?
MR. SPEAKER:
Yes.
MS JOHNSON:
There was a question by the
Leader of the Third Party around the professional services in the Office of
Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, so I can table that document.
There
was a question around when we go to look for borrowing, how that process is
done. This has been a long-standing
tradition since Confederation, I am told, that there is a management group,
which is made up of the five major banks, as well as a banking group, which is
made up of seven smaller banks. This
is a process where the managing group provides advice as to which day and which
time specifically is best to go to the markets, and then they see out this
process for us. This has been in
place for decades, Mr. Speaker.
There
was also a question around this $5,700 in revenue under Financial
Administration, section 2.4.01; that $5,700 was for revenue that was received as
personal expenses incurred by employees in the 2012-2013 fiscal year, but it was
paid in the 2013-2014 fiscal year.
An example of that would be telephone expenses.
There
was also a question from the Member for Virginia Waters around the director of
brand management, so I have that position description as well as the specific
accountabilities included with that position.
I can table that as well.
Thank
you.
MR. SPEAKER:
Petitions.
Petitions
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Member for St.
John's Centre.
MS ROGERS:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
To the
hon. House of Assembly of the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador in
Parliament assembled, the petition of the undersigned residents humbly sheweth:
WHEREAS
the provincial government recently announced a new framework for staffed
residential care, which included awarding contracts for three group homes in the
Province to the private sector; and
WHEREAS
Pine Heights Group Home in Grand Falls-Windsor is one of the group homes
affected by this decision by government; and
WHEREAS
as a result, forty-five public sector workers lost their jobs in the Province,
including sixteen in Grand Falls-Windsor alone, some with over twenty years of
experience and expertise in the field; and
WHEREAS
the Pine Heights Group Home has been offering high-quality care to children with
complex needs in the community for many years; and
WHEREAS
the transition of the children in care at the home will in some cases split
these children from their friends and group home counsellors, relationships
which have taken years to develop, this transition has the potential to cause
undue stress and harm to the children;
WHEREUPON the undersigned, your petitioners, humbly pray and call upon the House
of Assembly to urge government to reverse its decision to privatize the Pine
Heights Group Home in Grand Falls-Windsor.
As in
duty bound, your petitioners will ever pray.
Mr.
Speaker, I have 3,800 signatures in total with more coming.
This is a very serious issue.
It is not just about the loss of jobs.
It is about the privatization of the care of our most vulnerable youth
who are in care, youth who have been entrusted into the care of Child, Youth and
Family Services, entrusted into the care of the state.
We have a moral and a legal obligation not to simply warehouse these
children, but to give them comprehensive rehabilitative care.
Their
care has been privatized to a company whose sole purpose is for a profit.
These group homes were overseen by community boards that had the best
interests of children. I am not
against profit, Mr. Speaker, but this is not where for-profit companies,
corporations should be wading in.
The
government, Mr. Speaker, the minister has abdicated its moral and legal
responsibility to ensure that these children are safely taken care of, that
these children have opportunities for rehabilitation.
This is not about simply providing a homey atmosphere.
These are children who need rehabilitation, who need treatment.
It is not about providing simply a homey atmosphere.
We need
staff who are fully trained, who are fully experienced.
This is not going to happen with a for-profit corporation that is hiring
staff with no experience at $13 an hour.
Mr. Speaker, it is incumbent on this minister to do the right thing, to
stand up to their moral and legal obligation.
MR. SPEAKER:
Order, please!
MS ROGERS:
Thank you.
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Member for St.
Barbe.
MR. J. BENNETT:
Mr. Speaker, a petition to
the hon. House of Assembly of the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador in
Parliament assembled, the petition of the undersigned humbly sheweth:
WHEREAS
there is no cellphone service in the Town of Trout River, which is an enclave
community in Gros Morne National Park; and
WHEREAS
visitors to Gros Morne National Park, more than 100,000 annually, expect to
communicate by cellphone when they visit the park; and
WHEREAS
cellphone service has become a very important aspect of everyday living for
residents; and
WHEREAS
cellphone service is an essential safety tool for visitors and residents; and
WHEREAS
cellphone service is essential for business development;
WHEREUPON the undersigned, your petitioners, humbly pray and call upon the House
of Assembly to urge the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador to partner with
the private sector to extend cellphone coverage throughout Gros Morne National
Park and the enclave community of Trout River.
As in
duty bound, your petitioners will ever pray.
Mr.
Speaker, believe it or not, the Minister of Municipal Affairs yesterday appeared
to have although he did not have a very good grasp on how cellphones would
work with somebody on a cliff in Trout River, he did make that commentary, he
did invite the Opposition and anybody who was interested to partner with him to
approach the federal government.
That is exactly what I would like to be doing today on behalf of the people of
Trout River and the other areas of Gros Morne National Park.
The
major cellphone carriers have an opportunity to advance cellphone service
throughout Canada. They also have an
obligation because they are getting a very special deal with the federal
government to promote cellphone coverage throughout Canada.
MR. SPEAKER:
Order, please!
Orders of the Day
Private Members'
Day
MR. SPEAKER:
Today being Private Members'
Day and it is now 3:00 o'clock, according to our Standing Orders we now need to
go to the Member for Fortune Bay Cape La Hune to introduce the motion that is
on the Order Paper in her name.
MS PERRY:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I move,
seconded by the Member for Harbour Main, the following private member's
resolution:
BE IT
RESOLVED that the House of Assembly supports the provincial government in its
efforts to position Newfoundland and Labrador for leadership in Arctic
development, which will be amplified in 2016 as our Province hosts the annual
international Arctic Technology Conference.
Mr.
Speaker, it is certainly a pleasure for me to rise in this hon. House today and
introduce a motion that recognizes the provincial government's leadership in
Arctic development which will, as I just said, be amplified in 2016 as our
Province hosts the annual international Arctic Technology Conference.
Nearly
every aspect of life in Newfoundland and Labrador is shaped in some way by the
ocean. It is not just our history,
it is our nature. It is who we are.
From our early ancestors on the water catching cod to our ocean
technology companies who are today leaders in a wide range of fields, from
satellite-based monitoring to working with developing sophisticated autonomous
underwater vehicles, this Province and our people have been on the leading edge
when it comes to ocean opportunities.
Our
deeply rooted culture in ocean innovation has turned what many view as
challenges into opportunities and competitive advantages.
When you think about it, Newfoundland and Labrador has extensive
experience working in harsh and cold climates.
This experience has perfectly situated us as the ideal path to the
Arctic.
With our
rich heritage rooted in the Arctic, we have long recognized the potential that
the Arctic has. While not
geographically located in the Arctic, the water surrounding us here in the
Province is colder than anywhere else south of sixty degrees.
It is even colder than the waters near Norway, parts of Alaska, Greenland
and Iceland. Surrounded by cold
water and extreme weather conditions, our experts are successfully developing
cutting edge technology and world renowned solutions to operational challenges
in the Arctic.
The
Province's extensive expertise and untapped potential means that we play an
integral role in Arctic development.
This is the motivation behind the Arctic Opportunities Initiative.
Through this initiative, our goal is to bolster economic development by
positioning the Province as the ideal staging ground for Arctic activities.
We want,
Mr. Speaker, to create an environment in which local stakeholders can benefit
from emerging opportunities, northern communities can thrive, and an environment
that will further attract global industry leaders.
In recent years, Newfoundland and Labrador has become synonymous with oil
and gas and the offshore. We know
this industry and we have helped change how to explore, and ultimately thrive in
demanding environments.
Our
ocean technology innovators have experienced the gambit of what the ocean can
offer; drifting sea ice, towering ice bergs, and immense North Atlantic waves.
Together, we have learned to operate successfully and safely in the
Arctic and sub-Arctic.
Newfoundland and Labrador's seasoned shipping and offshore supply and service
experience has led to the development of a strong, highly capable sector of over
500 companies, Mr. Speaker. This
sector can meet operational requirements and possesses some of the world's top
ice-classed offshore supply vessels.
Our
expertise in ocean observation, oil spill response, remote sensing, ice
management, telecommunications and navigational systems, underwater vehicles and
marine simulation is recognized globally and has positioned us as a world leader
in ocean technology. It is clear
that Newfoundland and Labrador is well positioned for future growth.
Positioning the Province as the path, building local capacity and
fostering economic development and business opportunities will remain important
priorities, Mr. Speaker, as we continue to develop, refine and implement the
Arctic Opportunities Initiative.
Recognizing the potential that exists in Newfoundland and Labrador for Arctic
exploration and development and building on the world-class industry and
academic expertise in this Province, we have been chosen to host the prestigious
Arctic Technology Conference in 2016.
This conference was created by the organizers of the Offshore Technology
Conference held annually in Houston, Texas at which Newfoundland and Labrador is
regularly featured.
Recognizing the Arctic as an area of growing interest and opportunity, the OTC
created the Arctic Technology Conference.
Modelled after the OTCs multidisciplinary approach, the Arctic Technology
Conference focuses on cutting edge technologies and innovative practices needed
for the exploration and production of natural resources in harsh and cold
climates, while emphasizing respect for Northern peoples and the environment.
Since
the inaugural conference in February, 2011, the ATC has quickly become known as
one of the world's most comprehensive Arctic events, attracting over 1,000
delegates and roughly 100 exhibitors from around the world.
The ATC is an important event for many local
stakeholders and provides the provincial government with an excellent platform
from which to advance the goals of the Arctic Opportunities Initiative.
With an international and targeted audience in
attendance, the ATC is an opportune venue to profile the Province's many
Arctic-related capabilities and network with industry and academia from around
the world, thereby happening to strengthen the Province's position as a key
Arctic player. Our government has
participated in all three ATC events held to date, and along with ACOA and the
City of St. John's, we have demonstrated a very keen interest in bringing the
prestigious conference to St. John's since 2011.
ATC is not the only world-class prominent conference
that will be taking place in this Province, Mr. Speaker, over the next several
months. From September 14-19, St.
John's will proudly host the prestigious OCEANS'14 conference with more than
1,200 delegates and 150 exhibitors from around the world expected to be in
attendance. OCEANS'14 will be the
largest oceans conference ever held in Newfoundland and Labrador.
This high-profile event will provide the Province's
ocean technology sector with an international platform to showcase its research
and development initiatives, extraordinary marine infrastructure, and foremost
education and training capabilities.
To date, nearly 130 booths have been sold, twenty-three of which are from our
local ocean technology (inaudible).
That is quite impressive, Mr. Speaker.
The businesses and companies we have in this Province are phenomenal.
With OCEANS'14 on the horizon and as we eagerly look
forward to the Arctic Technology Conference in 2016, we also look ahead to
hosting the annual international conference on Ocean, Offshore and Arctic
Engineering in June 2015. This
conference will showcase the diverse range of engineering activities related to
challenging marine and Arctic environments, from exploration and production of
oil and gas in challenging deep waters, developing technologies in the ocean
renewable energy sectors, deep-sea mining, protecting marine habitat, to
developing structures for extreme ice loading.
That is just a small sample, Mr. Speaker.
Last year's conference was held in France, with this
year's taking place in California before coming to St. John's, Newfoundland and
Labrador next year. It is not a
coincidence, Mr. Speaker, that all these conferences are converging on our
Province. The world has taken notice
that Newfoundland and Labrador is on the leading edge of ocean and Arctic
development. The world is coming to
us, to listen to our experts, to see what we have to offer as we continue to
demonstrate our leadership in Arctic development.
In addition to these three major conferences I have
outlined, there are many other important oceans and Arctic events taking place
right here in Newfoundland and Labrador, including the annual NOIA Conference,
Maritime & Arctic Safety & Security 2014, Arctic Oil & Gas North America, and
Arctic Shipping North America Forum.
So, Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to be introducing
this motion here today, and I look forward to support from my hon. colleagues in
this House as we continue to develop our potential and continue to shine the
light on Newfoundland and Labrador.
I invite my colleagues here in this hon. House to join us as ambassadors for
this Province's abundant ocean technology and Arctic-related capabilities, with
some phenomenal entrepreneurs, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR.
SPEAKER:
Order, please!
The hon. the Member for The Straits White Bay North.
MR.
MITCHELMORE:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker for the opportunity to speak to the member's private
member's motion pertaining to wanting Newfoundland and Labrador to be a leader
in Arctic development, and to also highlight the conference that will happen in
2016 around Arctic technology.
The conference itself is quite significant in the fact
that when we look at what is going to happen around the knowledge sharing, the
research, and the technology of bringing stakeholders together around the
world's harshest climates to bring all these academics, to bring business, to
bring community, you have more than 1,000 delegates and exhibitors from all
around the world. This is where you
can look at facilitating and creating really meaningful projects and strong
partnerships moving forward.
We have had some discussions about things like this in
Estimates when we talk about the Arctic Opportunities Initiative and the value
of what a conference can bring to a region.
So when this is hosted in 2016 in St. John's, this will have significant
spinoff for the local business community and for us to shine a light on our best
assets; whether it be looking at the Marine Institute, looking at Memorial
University, the College of the North Atlantic; research institutions that we
have, like the work that is happening with Dr. George Rose and other areas, the
Research and Development Corporation; and to highlight the industries that we do
have, whether it be in the oil and gas in the offshore sector, or whether it be
looking at the mining opportunities or the potential in our fisheries sector;
and where we take this forward, and the opportunity to look at where business
and where local business can benefit from being able to be leaders and look at
pursuing the opportunities that are there in the Arctic.
That is what this is ultimately about.
We want to make sure that business is engaged, that they want to be
involved in the Arctic, that they know the opportunities, and that government is
facilitating that initiative, providing the guidance it needs, and playing its
role because the business community must be engaged in this whole process.
If we go back a little while, there was the Arctic
initiative launched. I believe it
was in 2010, maybe 2011, this initiative was launched.
In it there were stakeholder sessions that happened throughout the
Province. I had the opportunity, or
my office did, to take in the one that was hosted in St. Anthony.
We saw these stakeholder sessions happen a while ago, but we have not
necessarily seen much come from that point.
I would like to see where the follow-up is, where that engagement has
led, and what kind of plan the minister, through her department, is carving out
for Arctic opportunities and initiatives because surely there is a lot of work
to be done, not only leading up to this conference but tapping into the
opportunities when it comes to Arctic investment.
This type of private member's resolution, we had one
very similar introduced in November 2012.
I spoke to it then about the Arctic Opportunities Initiative and
developing a plan. At that time, the
Prime Minister of Canada was talking about the Arctic, Arctic sovereignty, and
the investments the federal government would be making in these initiatives.
Since then, we have seen a little bit of a step back from the federal
government. I am wondering what that
changes at the provincial level, what that means for our local business and
local entities, and where we are going as we move forward.
Certainly, our opportunities depend on investment and
we need to have that investment. We
have seen it in oil and gas, we have seen it in mining, and there are more
opportunities to expand that, whether it is on the Island or in Labrador.
I think there is a real role here, too, for the Minister of Fisheries to
play a critical role when we are looking at the Arctic, when we look at the
change in climate, and when we look at the impacts that is having on our
fishery, the differing technologies, and what that is actually meaning to
biomass and species that are there.
We are certainly seeing and we are hearing a resurgence of codfish and other
ground fish, pelagic, moving into our waters.
We have seen that. We need to
see a plan as to how we can capitalize on those opportunities and that
transition.
When we
look at the tourism potential that will come from Arctic opportunities and
investment, we look at ecotourism where people could be looking at taking people
out on the waters, we look at the cruise ship ports and the destinations that we
are creating, whether it be on Fogo Island or whether it be in northern parts of
Labrador in the Torngat Mountains, or looking the UNESCO status that Red Bay
just recently achieved. There are
opportunities to have this fully developed, but there are gaps we see where
items like federal custom officers may need to be put in place to expand the
capacity, expand that trade and how we are going to get and facilitate when we
look at international agreements like CETA and how that can bridge into where we
get further economic development.
Arctic
research is a key piece. We should
be looking at specifically creating a centre of excellence around Arctic
research and that piece of technology.
Utilizing how we apply technology, how we look at ecosystem research, and
to have that located in a place of the north, whether it be in Labrador or
whether it be on the Northern Peninsula.
I think they would be strategic areas to look at the high-risk
environment, potentially high reward that would come from looking at doing
business in the Arctic.
There is
potential for hundreds of millions, if not billions of dollars in this, and I
have already talked about the institutions.
We have very strong business here in Newfoundland and Labrador, strong
communities. We need to find that
collaboration where there seems to be a disconnect between the provincial
government and community and what is actually happening around this initiative.
You have
the one stakeholder session, and that does not mean there is a real plan as to
where you are going forward with port development and infrastructure.
Looking at the transportation links that are needed to truly capitalize,
what is the provincial government prepared to do to make that investment?
Whether the investment is in key port infrastructure for Arctic shipping,
whether that would be in places like St. Anthony or whether that be in
Cartwright or whether it be somewhere else, St. John's, to look at: Where do we
make that investment, and how do we engage the municipalities and the business
community around that so those areas have strategic ports?
We see
in St. Anthony, where it has the second containerized port for shipping
internationally in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Eimskip comes biweekly and does shipping into Iceland and into Europe.
Could that be expanded further? Are
there other companies that could be involved in these types of investments?
Surely that has to be part of the plan as we look at the free flow of
goods and services and how we get things to Arctic areas.
It is something that members on this side of the House have brought up
several times, when we looked at the investment in our deepwater ports and when
we look at the flow of goods and services, transportation links.
I know
the Member for Cartwright L'Anse au Clair has raised moving past a
pre-feasibility study and to looking at the feasibility of a fixed link and what
that actually means for the free flow of goods and services to be able to get
through North America, to get to the Island, and to flow goods and services
through Labrador as well and into Quebec.
It creates a world of opportunity.
If we do not do that feasibility study, then we are certainly not able to
move forward in a dynamic economy and in a global world to be more competitive.
Advanced
transportation links are needed, not less.
When we signed the Atlantic Gateway agreements we had stated that we were
in a brilliant geographical position, just like the Arctic, but every other
province and every other territory is racing for that piece of the Arctic as
well.
When we
look at the Atlantic Gateway, there were seventeen projects in 2011 underway
totalling $229.2 million. Our
Province's share? None.
We did not get any of that from the federal government.
If we are not active and we are not creating those partnerships with
business, with municipalities, with our academia, then we are not really going
to capitalize if there are federal funding initiatives and infrastructure
projects that are needed to move our Province forward.
We have
missed other opportunities when it came to national shipbuilding and the
shipbuilding procurement that will see multi-billions of dollars going to other
provinces, but not in Newfoundland and Labrador.
This all went to Nova Scotia and British Columbia.
Those are dollars that we are not going to receive.
We need to be able to look at the cross-departmental opportunities and
focus on the things that we can do to change, develop, and invest in the Arctic.
We have
seen significant cutbacks in jobs at the federal level, whether it be in the
Coast Guard where we have seen several Coast Guard radio stations slated for
closure in St. Anthony, on the South Coast, and in St. John's.
We have seen a downgrade in services when we look at search and rescue
and the critical role they need to play.
That needs to be expanded.
We also
need to look at, if you are going to be leaders, we are certainly laggards right
now when it comes to telecommunications, when it comes to when we talk about
it, we are twenty years behind the times of basic 911.
We have more areas of the Province that do not have access to broadband
Internet and slower speeds than other places in the country, most other
jurisdictions.
We are
at a real disadvantage when it comes to the fact that only 66 per cent of the
population has a speed at greater than ten megabits per second.
Most of the people have the absolute bare minimum.
It puts us at a competitive disadvantage when we are looking at all the
technology offerings that are out there and expanding cellphone coverage.
I think
the Minister of Municipal Affairs talked about it in debate, when we talked
about the 911 and how important it is to put in more cellular infrastructure and
work with the providers. I think
that ability is there, especially when the provider is willing and puts forward
proposals to put that investment there, to put those investments in key
infrastructure. The Province is
ready to partner, because that will truly build stronger communities, stronger
rural communities and partnerships when we look at moving forward.
We also
see federally, there is a broadband Canada program that is put in place.
We (inaudible) happening to those dollars, we truly do.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Oh, oh!
MR. SPEAKER:
Order, please!
MR. MITCHELMORE:
We need to accelerate the
growth and move past. We need more
fibre strands happening, going through the North, in Northern communities of
Labrador, on the Northern Peninsula, and in many other rural communities across
the Province. We need to see a
multitude of different technologies deployed, whether it is Wi-Fi mesh networks,
whether it is looking at cellular, whether it is looking at non-wireless
technology. There is lots of
potential there.
Where is
the plan, a strategy if you are not looking at tangible goals?
We have not seen that plan put forward as to what the Arctic initiatives
are. What is the actual plan put in
place for key areas of the Province to capitalize on any investment in the
Arctic? Are there going to be
dollars associated with it? Is this
going to come from the Department of IBRD, or is the Department of Finance going
to play a role in that plan? Because
we have seen in many instances where there have been strategies announced, and
we have seen time and time again a year or two later after the fact, there has
not been a whole lot of movement and they end up getting cut or rolled into some
other program.
We want
to see where the dollars are going to match up to make sure that local regions,
local areas of the Province are really in a key investment to be able to
capitalize on new technology and new investments.
I certainly believe, and I feel this government obviously believes, that
we can excel in the Arctic but we need to see a real commitment from government.
We need to see the kind of energy put into the plan that is tangible.
We need to see real measured initiatives that can be based on the real
world and can really put our Province forward.
Like I
said in the past, the Atlantic Gateway, we should have been strategically
located. We are saying it again for
the Arctic, we are in a great geographical position.
We talk about export and we talk about our great geographical position
when it comes to markets to Europe, but in many cases we have not capitalized on
the opportunity that is there at our doorstep, and some of that responsibility
falls upon government to create those plans and live up to its commitments to
making sure business and community can capitalize on the real opportunities that
are there. We need to, where
possible, put forward open, accountable, transparent best practices so we can
develop and expand the opportunities that exist in the North.
I
certainly have no problem in supporting this initiative, as long as a plan is
developed. I think the conference
I hope I am able to attend in 2016, this type of initiative, because there
really is a lot of good work that is done here in the Province and there is a
lot of potential where we can capitalize on that, but like I said, we need to
see that concrete plan. I look
forward to other speakers addressing some of those issues, maybe, that I raised.
I
certainly will support this resolution that is put forward before the House.
Thank
you, Mr. Speaker.
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Minister of
Innovation, Business and Rural Development.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MS SULLIVAN:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I thank
the member opposite for his comments, as well, and certainly for his support of
this initiative because it truly is a wonderful initiative.
As my colleague the Member for Fortune Bay Cape La Hune said, we are
bringing the world to Newfoundland and Labrador as a result of this particular
initiative, and so we should, Mr. Speaker, because we have so much to offer in
this area of Arctic opportunities.
The member opposite asked some very good questions and I hope I will be able to
answer those questions as I proceed through some of what I had hoped to be able
to say here this afternoon around the Arctic development.
Mr.
Speaker, we have been working diligently as a government, and certainly through
the Department of Innovation, Business and Rural Development, to develop and
implement this Arctic Opportunities Initiative.
As the member opposite just alluded to, we have been doing that through
stakeholder engagements. They were a
very vital part because we had to hear where the stakeholders were, how they
wanted to contribute, and what they wanted to contribute to this particular
initiative.
We also
had to ensure they were onside and we had a vision that was common, so that took
a little work. We were really happy
to have had that opportunity to engage.
When I get further into this text, we will be able to show how we
actually have engaged them in putting together an implementation plan now for
what we heard from those stakeholder agreements.
Mr.
Speaker, we also met with the Nunatsiavut Government, and that was an extremely
important piece of work for us, again, as we came to understand the Aboriginal
culture and as we came to understand what it is the Aboriginal peoples can offer
to this particular program and to the initiatives we are launching.
It was a real eye-opening piece of work that happened there as part of
the stakeholders meetings that were held.
The
business community, Mr. Speaker, were also exceptionally engaged in this
process. One of the things that I
was delighted to learn in coming to the department is that we have over 500
companies in the Province right now that are anxious and active and have the
capabilities and the capacities to get involved in the initiatives that we hope
to see happen as a result of implementing this strategy.
So, that was really heartening, and I think the networking and the
relationship building that we did with the business partners also proved to them
that we are serious about making sure that Newfoundland and Labrador is the path
to the Arctic, and I have no doubt that we can do that with the help of all of
the people that are involved.
Academic
institutions, Mr. Speaker talk about a centre for excellence, as the member
opposite just reflected. I believe
we have them in Newfoundland and Labrador, Mr. Speaker.
The work that is happening at this Marine Institute is second to none.
AN HON. MEMBER:
Awesome.
MS SULLIVAN:
As one of my colleagues
behind is saying, it is awesome.
Whenever
I have gone there and I have seen some of the simulation work that they are able
to do, it is truly inspirational and inspiring.
Whenever I have gone to C-CORE and looked at what they are doing there
Dr. Claude Daley, and the work that he is doing around exploring, around ice
conditions, and how we can actually function within these really harsh
environments, particularly in Arctic ice, and through C-CORE as well.
I think that we have some centres of excellence that the world itself
would love to be able to emulate, Mr. Speaker.
So, that
is sort of the direction that we took in starting to get a framework in place
and putting a foundation down, and we have been, as I said, very diligent about
taking a look at that.
Now, Mr.
Speaker, we could ask the question, as well, as to: Why are we interested in
doing this? Why do we think that
this is a good niche for us? Well,
there are so many advantages that we in Newfoundland and Labrador have as we
position ourselves to take advantage of the opportunities.
Certainly, we are very strategically located on the international
shipping lanes and the northern sea routes.
So that is an obvious advantage to us.
We are home to Arctic communities and Aboriginal peoples, and my
colleague will speak to that later on this afternoon and broaden that out for us
so we understand just how with working with the Nunatsiavut Government and with
NunatuKavut and the Innu Nation that we can make inroads there.
In terms
of transportation and logistical expertise in remote locations in Arctic-like
conditions, the Woodward Group of Companies certainly have amazing skill in that
area, PF Collins, A. Harvey; we know that we understand that part of the
industry.
Experience in safe and sustainable development of natural resources: We only
need to mention Suncor and Chevron, and ExxonMobil and Husky Energy, and all of
the work that those companies are doing in those very cold, harsh and ice
infested environments, Mr. Speaker.
They already can help us understand how it is that we can proceed there.
The
mining sector: When we look at that and we look at the diverse and
environmentally sustainable northern mining sector, then we understand from the
work that Vale are doing, we understand from the work that the Iron Ore Company
of Canada is doing, Rio Tinto, past work as well that is happening, just how to
function there.
The
speaker opposite also referred to the industrial infrastructure that would need
to be put in place. I believe we
have support and a growing support in our sectors, particularly around
accessible ports, Mr. Speaker. I
make reference to St. John's, Lewisporte, Corner Brook, Happy Valley-Goose Bay,
and St. Anthony where, with ACOA, we actually did some dredging work not very
long ago to make that port even more accessible.
I look
at the work that we are doing industrially at Bull Arm Fabrication, at Bay Bulls
Marine Terminal, Cow Head Fabrication and so on.
We have expertise, Mr. Speaker, make no doubt about it.
Our job now is to ensure that we mobilize all of that, put it into the
package that helps us grab the attention.
Because make no doubt about it, the eyes of the world are on the Arctic
right now, and we very clearly have our gaze pointed in that direction and with
all the resources that are needed to make this possible.
We have
a world-renowned technology sector with oceans, Mr. Speaker.
Again, I reference the Marine Institute which is second to none.
The simulation, the tow tank, the flume tank, all of those if you have
not had opportunity to go and check those out, I really suggest that you go up
there and take a look. The National
Research Council, again in terms of offshore engineering, in terms of the ice
tank and the tow tank, it is amazing the work that is happening over there, and
of course C-CORE with the centrifuge.
Mr.
Speaker, I could use up all of my fifteen minutes just giving examples of what
we know already that we are able to do here in Newfoundland and Labrador.
I think we need to make reference as well that the global industry has
made Newfoundland and Labrador their Northern Atlantic base of operation.
Now, that tells us something, Mr. Speaker.
When the world is coming here to set up because they too have a vision of the
North, they too have a vision of the Arctic, then we know we are doing things
right and we know that we are strategically positioned.
Talk about Rolls-Royce, for example, Schlumberger,
Statoil, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, Technip, we can go on and on with the people
who have set up here. They know how
well positioned we are, and that we are at the forefront of developing
innovative technologies and solutions, Mr. Speaker.
Look at C-CORE and how it is applying its
locally-developed solutions and experience to leading the European Space
Agency's Polar View project. Look
North, Mr. Speaker, at a national centre of excellence where researchers are
able to identify potential transportation corridors.
We have it all right here, Mr. Speaker, and we need to use that and use
it to our advantage.
Our goal, of course, is to ensure economic development
for Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.
It is to continue to diversify the economy here in Newfoundland and
Labrador, and it is to create an environment where our local companies and other
stakeholders, other subsidiaries, can benefit from the emerging opportunities
that present themselves to us as a result of Arctic operations.
I believe, Mr. Speaker, that our stakeholder input
therefore has been very valuable. We
heard what the stakeholders had to say and we listened.
As a result of that now we are learning to develop those relationships,
to sustain them, and to brand our Province as the place, as the path to the
Arctic. We are, I believe, bringing
the world to our home here in Newfoundland and Labrador.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MS
SULLIVAN:
We
are doing that, Mr. Speaker, through the three conferences that we have been
able to attract here. We are the
envy of many places around this continent because they wanted those three
conferences and we have all three of them coming here.
We have OCEANS'14 coming here in September 14-19, I
believe are the dates; 1,200 to 1,300 people from around the world coming here.
What opportunity that presents for us.
We are selling out in terms of the booths.
We also have ATC that is coming here, Mr. Speaker, in 2016.
We have OMAE which is coming here in 2015, the oceans mechanics
engineering association and so many others that want to come.
They want to see what we are doing here.
AN
HON. MEMBER:
We
are open for business.
MS
SULLIVAN:
That is a really good point. One of
my colleagues just said, We are open for business.
We certainly are. Business
has been ongoing on this file for many, many years.
As I said, the 500 or more companies that are already in place have shown
us proof of that. We have a very
comprehensive approach, I believe, as we move forward and we are putting
together that formal action plan that the Member for The Straits asked about.
Our overall plan then will identify three strategic
directions and he did ask about what we were going to do.
One is positioning ourselves as the path by developing better
communications so that everybody knows what we offer here, Mr. Speaker, and
positioning our strategy such that we are reaching out to all of those areas and
bringing in all of the people within Newfoundland and Labrador who
want to be part of this, and can be.
We are participating and sponsoring key Arctic-themed events.
We are continuing to work with our stakeholders in building those
relationships, and we are establishing partnerships with other northern
jurisdictions. That is so important,
Mr. Speaker. We cannot do this in
isolation. Our northern
jurisdictions are so important to us.
Apart from that, our second step is to build local
capacity, and we are doing that by developing a provincial inventory, by
increasing outreach on how to do business and working with local partners.
We are identifying the gaps, Mr. Speaker, and we are filling them in.
Thirdly, we are fostering economic development and business opportunities
right here in Newfoundland and Labrador.
I was at Common Ground a little while ago during
Innovation Week and somebody there came to me and spoke about the Arctic
opportunities, and some ideas that he had around how to foster that development
here. It was really exciting to see
that. People understand that they
have a place to come, they have a place to be supported, and that we are there
to help them.
Mr. Speaker, I can go on about a variety of other
activities. The member opposite also
asked about who we might be partnering with to ensure this implementation
strategy. Well, the Research &
Development Corporation, the Marine Institute, the Nunatsiavut Government, and
other groups. We also have a
ministerial steering committee in place, a deputy minister steering committee in
place. I think, as we raised our
national profile, one of the best things that we are doing is that we are
connecting with the Arctic Council, which is chaired by Minister Leona Aglukkaq.
I have had the privilege of working with her.
She is the Chair of the Arctic Council.
I worked with her as well when she was the Minister of Health for the
country, so we had many interactions.
We will continue to work with her to ensure that the message on
Newfoundland and Labrador is getting out.
We are continuing with Noia and we are continuing our
work with NATI. Mr. Speaker, one of
the other ways that we know we get our message out is when we go to events and
sponsor events like Northern Lights, like the ATC that my predecessor went to,
like the Offshore Technology Conference, like Arctic Oil & Gas North America,
Arctic Shipping North America, ISO Plenary, the Expo Labrador, Northern
Exposure, and so many more.
Our goal, as I said, is to promote economic development
and activity in Newfoundland and Labrador by creating the right environment, by
ensuring we have engaged everyone here in the Province, and by ensuring we have
done the outreach that is going to get us noticed and that is going to affirm
that we are the place to be, that we truly are the path to the North.
Mr. Speaker, I believe that with the eyes of the world
now looking northward, Newfoundland and Labrador is ready to lead the way.
I am so happy to be part of that.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR.
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Member for Torngat Mountains.
MR.
EDMUNDS:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I would like to thank the minister and the Member for
Fortune Bay Cape La Hune for an advance copy of their notes because I heard
the same thing on November 21, 2012 when the Member for Lake Melville spoke to
it, Mr. Speaker. The only problem is
what has happened from back then until now is very little.
Industry has taken the lead, Mr. Speaker, in leaps and
bounds. I remember attending the
Noia Conference and they were talking about pushing Newfoundland and Labrador
forward, and I support that. What
they did not know is the state of the infrastructure, so I told them.
They were shocked.
A little while after, I asked the minister, the Member
for Labrador West, when he announced the ferries: Are you going to upgrade
infrastructure? The answer was no.
This is a government that is poised to go North?
I do not think so, Mr. Speaker; I think there is a lot of work that has
to be done. I will support this PMR,
but I realize from living in the North that there is a lot of work that has to
be done.
We have organizations, like the St. John's Board of
Trade, that have gone forward. They
even recruited a senior government member to get on board their Labrador and
Arctic working group. I would have
thought it would have been the other way around, Mr. Speaker.
The PMR that was presented in 2012 by the Member for
Lake Melville was much more elaborate than what I heard today.
I had faith that this would go.
It is too bad that
the Member for Lake Melville
just spoke to it, because nothing happened after.
Nothing happened after.
We talk
about the world is coming to us. I
heard the Member for Fortune Bay Cape La Hune say the world is coming to us.
I heard the minister talk about the world is coming to us.
Mr. Speaker, we have to go out and get the world.
Nova Scotia is poised and ready.
I
listened with much dissatisfaction and watched the MP for Labrador put $500,000
into a port in Quebec. We could have
had those resources. We could have
opened up, but there was nothing from the government, Mr. Speaker, to support a
railway to a port in Labrador. So,
Quebec is ready to go.
Churchill, Manitoba looks at their community as a gateway to the Arctic.
Mr. Speaker, we have organizations that have taken the initiative,
companies that have taken the initiative.
We have companies like Woodward's Oil that could not wait for this
government. They have gone on and
they are delivering supplies right across the North.
We have tourism companies like Adventure Canada that do tours from
Greenland to Iqaluit to Baffin Island and down the Coast of Labrador to St.
John's. They could not wait, they
took the initiative.
We talk
about having the resources and to be strategically placed.
I agree with all of that, Mr. Speaker.
The resource is over 500 years of marine industry in our Province.
We have the best. The
minister referenced the Marine Institute and other companies.
I fully agree, Mr. Speaker, in the offshore technology when it comes to
oil and gas. We are the best.
We are the best, Mr. Speaker.
We have a lot to present and we are strategically located.
The Coast of Labrador is longer than circumnavigating the Island portion
of our Province.
Mr.
Speaker, this government cannot even get an icebreaker to help the
Apollo out.
We are talking about marine shipping and ferry passage to Northern
Labrador. I talked about this
earlier in this session. The
Northern Ranger that provides tourism
services went dead in the water. I
am a marine navigator by trade, Mr. Speaker, and the term dead in the water is
the last thing you want to hear when you are onboard a vessel.
This is how this government is poised to go forward in the Arctic?
Mr. Speaker, it leaves a lot to be said.
I
certainly look forward to 2016 for us to host an Arctic conference.
An international conference that will bring hundreds and thousands of
people to talk about how to open up ourselves, how to sell ourselves as the
gateway to the Arctic, and how to sell our resources that we have to offer to
benefit from the Arctic.
I heard
the minister say that all eyes are on the Arctic.
That is so true. Living in
the subarctic if you may, Mr. Speaker, because we live just south of the Arctic
Circle line. If we look at Voisey's
Bay, if we look at Muskrat Falls, if we look at Strange Lake, if we look at the
tourism potential, this whole Province is strategically placed.
It is strategically placed, it has a lot to offer, but it is lacking in
initiative.
At the
NOIA conference, Mr. Speaker, there were a number of presenters there.
I remember one industry official talked about Newfoundland and Labrador's
expertise. I will quote this: In
working in a harsh environment, combined with its proximity to the Arctic, makes
it a natural centre of excellence when considering developments in Arctic
environments.
Mr.
Speaker, truer words were never said.
The only thing is once you look at harsh environments you have to look at
a safety factor. Just to give you
some example of what it is like I may have stood in this House before and
unfolded this story, but it is relevant.
I took part in a search and rescue just south of Makkovik a few years
ago. The search and rescue was a
total success, Mr. Speaker. The
cormorant helicopter lifted off from the nearest base in Gander and it took them
five hours to travel south of a community and do a successful rescue.
Five hours, and that is the closest point.
Mr.
Speaker, if you are going up to the Arctic, until you get to Baffin Island,
Gander is the only cormorant on the East Coast that can go North.
We do have the 444 Squadron in Goose Bay but they are not as equipped.
If you get in trouble and when we are talking about Arctic development,
tourism fits right into that category.
We have
sailing ships, we have cruise ships that are continuously going up and down the
coast. I just made reference to
Arctic Adventures. Mr. Speaker, in
the event of an accident somewhere between Cape Chidley on the tip of Labrador
and Baffin Island, which is some 390 miles of ocean, what do we do for mass
rescue? How equipped are we?
Tourists are going to look at that.
I worked in the tourist industry, Mr. Speaker.
I did it for ten years. I
totally understand how much of a factor safety is and having the safeguards in
place.
Mr.
Speaker, I talked about the Apollo and
there are so many people travelling on it.
Time and time again I have heard my colleague from Cartwright L'Anse au
Clair talk about, question where this government cannot access an icebreaker.
I know it is a federal issue but it is a service, it is this government's
mandate to go after that service, Mr. Speaker, they could not do it.
We talk
about a sea route and I think traditionally you think of the sea route as the
gateway but, Mr. Speaker, the Inuit from Nunatsiavut and from Nunivik have
traditionally integrated the Nunatsiavut Government as part of their circumpolar
conference, part of the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami have always had discussions all
over the North in Labrador. They are
poised, they are ready to go. They
have their communications.
It
seems, Mr. Speaker, everyone has their ducks lined up except for this
government. The reason I say that is
because I heard this presentation or this PMR two years ago, and I am hearing
the exact same thing again. The
notes that were provided for the minister and for the mover of the motion, Mr.
Speaker, I pretty much have them in my hand.
It is the same thing; the only difference is this time we do have
something to look forward to, and that is the conference that is coming up in
2016. Everyone is ready to go.
There is an old saying that if you build it, they will come.
Well, sometimes you have to go after it and, Mr. Speaker, that is where
this government is lacking, what can be done between now and 2016, I am fully
supportive of it. I will fully
endorse it, but just to say that it has to be done.
Mr.
Speaker, I could read the same notes I did two years ago because they are still
relevant. If it has come to
representing PMRs, I would like to talk about a PMR that was submitted, and
actually submitted by our side, on search and rescue.
It is the same thing in this category when you look at going north into
the Arctic. In the North, they
supported that PMR. The only thing
is they gave it lip service and we have not seen anything since.
As a matter of fact, what we have seen is the closure of the marine
search and rescue sub-centre in St. John's.
We have seen closing down and cutbacks in coast guard presence.
That is not how we go forward to present ourselves to the Arctic as a
gateway.
Mr.
Speaker, I think there is a lot more that has to be done but in the meantime, as
I have said, before I take my place, I supported this PMR two years ago and I
will gladly support this PMR again today.
Thank
you.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Member for Lake
Melville.
MR. RUSSELL:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
As I
always do when I rise in my place in this hon. House, I would like to thank the
people of Lake Melville for their continued support.
I would like to say it is an honour and a privilege to speak to this
private member's resolution here today.
I
commend the Member for Torngat Mountains across the way for his passion.
It is all appreciated, Mr. Speaker.
I am glad he remembered that this was discussed before and there have
been stuff that has happened, but the bottom line here now is I am so depressed
I do not know if I am going to be able to continue.
My goodness, to turn everything into a talk about search and rescue, ice
breakers, and all that and to try to look at the people who are out at home
watching and to try to have them convinced that the federal responsibilities are
on this government right here during a private member's resolution that should
be celebrating our educational institutions, our youth who are in those
institutions, our business sector, and our innovation as a people and a Province
in order to take advantage of what is coming from the opportunities in the
North.
With
that being said, I would just like to say he did make some positive reference, I
will give him that, about the fact that we are positioned well.
We certainly are. You can
talk about our academic and research development facilities, infrastructure, and
our technology, Mr. Speaker; we are certainly well positioned in taking
advantage of all of those opportunities.
Mr.
Speaker, what inspires us to do these things the way we do, to develop our
industries, to get our educational institutions in-line, and to make sure that
we position ourselves and take advantage of that?
It is the legacy of our Province's explorers, our elders, and our
traditional knowledge passed down from generation to generation.
I will
just say very quickly, as I do many times in this House, as it is on the Island
it is up in Labrador, Mr. Speaker.
Knowledge and tradition are passed down from elders to the youth in our
communities, father to son, mother to daughter, and whatever the case may be.
That is what leads us to be the type of people that we are, which is to
keep pushing the boundaries when it comes to technology, exploration, and
opportunity, Mr. Speaker.
Again, I
will give the member from across the way a little bit of kudos, too, because he
did talk about our expertise in operating in a harsh environment.
If you talk about Labrador, if you talk about Newfoundland, and if you
talk about our great legacy of fishermen, hunters, and trappers, Mr. Speaker, we
certainly know how to survive and make do in terms of living in a harsh climate
to support our families and our communities.
Everything from development in the middle of Iceberg Alley, unmanned
vehicle technology, and we have gone so far as to get involved in monitoring
icebergs with satellites. We are
certainly doing a lot.
Again,
not to go off topic, Mr. Speaker, I am just going to say I talked a little bit
about our industry side of things and I talked a little bit about our
educational side of things, but in terms of what we are doing, Mr. Speaker, as a
government it is great to say you talk about tuition freezes, you talk about
elimination of student loans, you talk about continuous continuous
dedication to our students and infrastructure developments on the campuses
across this great Province, Mr. Speaker.
We are certainly serious about what we do.
One
thing that has happened since this was brought up last time, I will say to the
member from across the way, is simply this: we have stepped it up in terms of
our partnering, Mr. Speaker. I would
like to give a little bit of mention here to our partnering in specific with the
Nunatsiavut Government as we implement our Arctic Opportunities Initiative.
I will go back a little bit in time and take you back to even before I
was actually a member of the Nunatsiavut Government.
I had worked for a development corporation and we had partnerships with
companies, Aboriginal groups, and Nunavut itself, if you will, in terms of
delivering supplies and partnering up in terms of fishing quota and vessels, if
you will.
The
Nunatsiavut Government has the personnel.
They certainly have the youth who are taking advantage of post-secondary
student support programs to get involved in opportunities that will take place
further north. They have the
government; they have the members in place who want to see our youth thrive.
You have to look a little further than just behind your doorstep, Mr.
Speaker. You have to see what is out
there for the kids and you have to dream a little bigger, if you will, in order
to truly grow and to be able to develop as a society and as a people.
Mr.
Speaker, I will say something about the Nunatsiavut Group of Companies as well,
which is a part and parcel with the government that we are partnering with.
They are certainly ambitious in terms of acquiring infrastructure,
construction companies, heavy equipment operations, and all of those things that
will allow us through a mutually beneficial partnership to get out there and to
get into a position where we can seize an opportunity.
Whether it becomes research and development, whether it becomes bidding
on a project, whether it becomes starting a new industry, or whatever it happens
to be, they are ready to go and so are we.
It is
not as if this was talked about before and nothing happened.
I believe the member from across the way said the Member for Lake
Melville spoke about it and then he did nothing.
Well, Mr. Speaker, it takes more than one member on any one given side of
this House to make something like an Arctic Opportunities Initiative take place.
You simply just do not say hey, let's go do this, bang, we go up to
Nunavut and say here we are, and let's go.
It does not work that way.
You have
to have your ducks in a row; you have to have your partners in place, which we
are doing. You have to get out there
and see what those opportunities are.
You have to strategically pick where you are going to put your investment
and then you have to go after it, as the member said.
This is not a government that simply talks and walks away, Mr. Speaker.
We get it done. When it comes
to this, we are going to be moving towards getting it done up there too.
Like I
said, Mr. Speaker, with the partnerships and the collaboration that takes place,
what you are going to see is the enabling of success inside of Northern
communities. You are going to see
growth and prosperity, just as we are seeing in Newfoundland and Labrador right
now, but further up North in Labrador and up into the Northern regions of
Canada, up into Nunavut.
What you
are going to see are entrepreneurs.
You are going to see students, like I said before.
You are going to see beneficiaries of land claim agreements take
advantage of post-secondary student support programs.
They are going to get out; they are going to get job opportunities.
Local businesses and entrepreneurs are going to get the ability to get
involved and everybody is going to benefit from this.
It is not just about one particular group, one government benefiting from
this, but it is everybody involved, and that is where partnerships come into
place, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, just to talk about some of our northern
communities, we have a wealth of traditional knowledge.
You talk about the unique experience that it is living in Northern
Labrador, I can only imagine now going way, way up above the treeline and being
born and raised in Nunavut, Mr. Speaker, a totally new experience again.
It is probably similar in terms of the cold, but other than that
definitely a different situation altogether.
It is these decision makers who have been leaders in
these northern communities all this time.
These are the people that we need in partnership and side by side with
us, Mr. Speaker, in order to make the right decisions about how to proceed when
we are talking about just that opportunities that happen in the North and in
the Arctic.
We talk about Qalipu Nation, the Innu, the Inuit, the
Metis of NunatuKavut, we certainly have our share in this great Province and
not to leave Miawpukek out of that as well; I better include them all.
When you are talking about traditional knowledge and I will just give
you one example. If you were to go
up through Torngat National Park, which is a little bit north of the hon. Member
for Torngat Mountains, his district, what you see is a base camp with an
electrified bear fence and you have bear monitors who are Inuit born and raised
people there who are trained experts marksmen with these rifles.
Not only that, if you were to get stuck out somewhere while you were out
fishing I nearly was eaten by a bear myself one time.
I thought it was my good friend Johannes Lampe creeping up behind me.
No, it was a black bear looking for a nice, juicy meal.
With that being said, Mr. Speaker, they know what to do
when they are out on the land. So
you can imagine whether you are talking about drilling on a remote site, maybe
we are looking for ore, maybe that is the opportunity.
Maybe we are doing seismic testing or something and you have to have a
base camp where people are going to be able to lodged, fed, kept safe.
Maybe you are just stopping here on your way somewhere else, but it is a
very, very harsh environment, Mr. Speaker.
So survival is priority number one safety for all the
people involved. I guess if
something went wrong, if a vehicle was to break down, maybe it is a chopper,
maybe it is a speedboat, or what have you, it is that traditional knowledge and
the unique experiences that have given these people their immediate culture in
these northern communities that will benefit that part of the expedition, that
part of the research and development initiative, whatever it happens to be.
So all I am trying to say here, Mr. Speaker, is we, on
this side of the House, recognize what people with that local knowledge, the
traditional knowledge, the culture, the expertise, we know what they have to
offer, and we know they can contribute.
Hence, the partnership with Nunatsiavut Government and a focus on
pursuing these opportunities in the Arctic together, walking side by side.
That all comes to our ancestry, both on the Island, and in Labrador as
well, Mr. Speaker, how we survived I already mentioned that hunting,
fishing, trapping up in Labrador, primarily; some fishing, too, but I guess not
as much as the fishery was the mainstay here on the Island portion of the
Province.
It is the challenges, Mr. Speaker, that we have all
faced as a people which makes us ready to go.
It makes us the right people to partner together with different people in
the industry, different verticals if you will, and march towards linking up with
the people in the far North in order to secure some of those opportunities and
again further diversify our revenue streams as a Province, which is something we
are proud of doing over here.
Moving on, I would be remiss if I did not talk about
what we are doing here on the ground.
Like I said, the previous speakers got up and said: Oh yes, you spoke
about it in the House and then the Member for Lake Melville did not do anything.
Mr. Speaker, you do not do these things overnight; it takes time.
You have to have a purpose; you have to have a vector.
We have to know where we are going and that takes investment here on the
ground, investment in our own people, investment in our industries, and
investment in MUN, Mr. Speaker.
It is the Marine Institute; they are partners at the
National Research Council the industry partners.
We are positioned perfectly and I know it has been said over and over
and over, but it is a perfect fit; it fits like a glove, if you will, Mr.
Speaker. These institutions are
essential partners in the ocean technology sector.
They are going to be integral to whatever success we have with developing
those opportunities that are going to happen in the North.
Not only are they going to be integral but they are
going to strengthen what we have to offer, so you bring in people from different
areas, get them to a point where they are going to contribute in one aspect and
we will contribute in another, bringing in our resources, bringing in our kids,
our young adults, bringing in our professionals.
Eventually we will have the right mix to be able to do something
effective, and that is mutually beneficial for everybody.
Again, Mr. Speaker, it has already been mentioned here
and I see my time is running short but I also would like to talk about just
the location: Newfoundland and Labrador, in general.
We are poised and it was said across the way and it was said on our
side as well. You take that straight
route right up to the North, Mr. Speaker.
I mean, that is the way. If
you talk about shipping, receiving, hauling a lot of gear, obviously it is
inaccessible by road. The sea is
going to be there. Who has that
expertise? We do, Mr. Speaker.
We have the expertise not only in the harsh climates such as ice and we
are famous for being able to work around the ice, whether you are talking about
oil platforms, or you are talking about running a subsea cable, drilling through
the rock, missing the ice that scrapes along the bottom, going to the deep
water. We already have all that
stuff.
Like I said, we are positioned perfectly.
We have the people involved; we have the industry.
We may as well reach out to those people, to those parts of industry that
we do not have, partner up, and start to head up towards the North to get the
maximum benefit for everybody involved.
Again, our location is key.
We have businesses, Mr. Speaker, technologies, and services that better
equip us to simulate and even do test (inaudible) right off our shores.
If you talk about real life Arctic-like laboratories we have our shores
to get people prepped for what is to come when you are in the high Arctic
because if you have ever known anybody I, myself, have not been up that far.
If you have even you known anybody who has worked in places like
Resolute, you are gone past Iqaluit and you are gone past Rankin Inlet; you are
in the North where the only people up there are the few brave enough to fuel up
the planes that happen to drop off supplies to mostly scientists who are up
there shining lasers into the night sky and doing what they do.
Having said that, it is a harsh climate, one where minutes and seconds
count, where it is live or die, when you are out there exposed to the elements.
With that, I am running short, Mr. Speaker.
I cannot stress enough about the benefits that northern communities,
northern residents, and Aboriginal people will derive from opportunities we are
seeking. We recognize the
opportunities these partnerships with the various Aboriginal groups and
governments will present.
Again, it goes back to developing careers along the way
for our youth, fulfilling careers, high-tech careers, and high-paying careers as
well. That is the focus of what we
do on this side of the House, Mr. Speaker.
I have talked about post-secondary education, I have talked about
industry, I have talked about our youth, I have talked about our elders, and I
have talked about making the most of the traditional knowledge that is out there
and the unique experiences that Aboriginal communities, their people, and their
culture have to offer. We have
talked about the partnerships we are undergoing.
We have talked about what we have done as a government.
To conclude, in my last few seconds I will just say it
is a partnership that is going to make this a reality.
In the spirit of that partnership with the Nunatsiavut Government and
with the other Aboriginal groups, I will say to my Inuit friends out there,
nakkumek, to my Innu friends, tshinashkumitin, and to you, Mr. Speaker, thank
you for allowing me a few minutes to speak on this private member's resolution.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR.
SPEAKER (Littlejohn):
The hon. the Member for St. John's East.
MR.
MURPHY:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I am rising this afternoon to express our views on this
particular motion. In this
particular case, if there is one common word we are hearing today, Mr. Speaker,
it is the word Arctic. Of course, in
this particular case I guess we could say we are washing and rinsing again, and
we are recycling this motion. I
think we talked about this one, as my friend from Torngat Mountains said, back
in November 2012. So it is washed,
rinsed, and recycled,
and I guess we are using a little bit of Arctic Power to do this one now today.
Mr.
Speaker, we will support the motion again.
I figure they were kind of critical issues that would be brought out in
the House of Assembly like health care issues or issues having to do with
seniors. We know we have a
population growth problem, an aging population in this Province.
I would have figured that government would have liked to have heard other
party's inputs on this rather than a detergent to be used in talking about a
motion that we already talked about two years ago.
You talk about a waste of resources here, a waste of thought, and a waste
of input.
Having
said that, I will carry on and I will talk about this motion in a different
context again, as we did in 2012. At
the same time it gives a chance to give new views to something.
I figured I would go back in the past.
The
previous member who just stood up from Lake Melville, talked about partnerships.
One of the things I will remind the government across the way of is how
much of a partnership does not exist with the federal government in the
promotion of the Atlantic Gateway.
This Province has been grossly left behind when it comes to the investments the
federal government have made in this Province in giving us a hand to promote
ourselves at the same time.
It is
great to see government coming out and amplifying what the Province has to offer
when it comes to the Arctic Technology Conference and the other conferences that
are going to be happening in the future.
We have to go out and we have to do this ourselves.
That is the disgusting part of it.
What has federal government done with us?
I am
looking at a list of projects that involve the Atlantic Gateway as of January
24, Mr. Speaker. I flip it open and
I am looking at all these projects.
Here are some from New Brunswick.
You talk about strategic investments in provinces, maybe when you look at a list
like this it makes you wonder if Fabian Manning was not right.
Have a
listen to these projects: Fredericton International Airport runway upgrade,
$10.4 million; Greater Moncton International Airport runway extension, $24
million; Route 1, Trans-Canada Highway twinning and rehabilitation, $210
million. If Newfoundlanders and
Labradorians had that invested into the Trans-Canada Highway in this Province we
would be a pretty happy bunch I would tell you.
Saint
John Harbour Bridge rehabilitation, $36.17 million; Port of Saint John Cruise
Gateway Project, $14 million I will come back down $368.9 million for New
Brunswick alone; Nova Scotia, $137.3 million investment into airports here
throughout Nova Scotia. The link
between New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island was another strategic investment
of $2.68 million. Prince Edward
Island had $20.8 million worth.
Newfoundland and Labrador, $40.8 million $40.8 million, that is all.
Investments in the Gander International Airport runway upgrade of $10
million; St. John's International Airport category 3 instrument landing system,
$25.8 million; and a Marine Institute SmartBay project expansion.
That is to enhance traffic management systems and maintain safe
operations in the high-traffic area we have.
What
else did they not do? At $40.8
million, as this program started, we did not see strategic investment,
obviously, in Coast Guard as we heard other members say.
We have Coast Guard ships that are parked, left rusting, if you will,
tied up to the wharves, and crews laid off.
We do not know what is going to be happening in the future with Coast
Guard boats. We know we have radio
stations that are closed up. We have
lost the ability for search and rescue monitoring, for example, out of Southside
Road over there.
It is
great to get up and talk to a nice, warm, fuzzy motion here and, by golly, I
tell you this is a nice, warm, fuzzy motion, but the reality speaks differently.
AN HON. MEMBER:
It is actually a pretty cold
motion. It is about the Arctic.
It is not very warm and fuzzy at all.
MR. MURPHY:
Some of us are old enough to
remember government trumpeting this bold initiative, and like I said, it is
great, where the federal government was going to be spending money to improve
all this infrastructure, but the reality is completely different, is it not?
Reality is completely different when you are seeing $368 million going to
New Brunswick for the gateway opportunities.
At the same time, $368 million and you are seeing $40 million come to
Newfoundland and Labrador.
In 2007,
this government's Minister of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development signed an
agreement with the three other Atlantic Provinces and the federal government to
develop the roads, the railways, and the ports necessary to make the region the
hub of international trade. Great,
fine and dandy, sign your name to the bottom line it is great.
I am pretty sure the intentions were all there, but Newfoundland's
federal representative in the Harper Cabinet, Mr. Peter MacKay of Nova Scotia
remember him? I have not seen him
for a long time. Of course, salmon
season is coming up so maybe we will see him again.
He said
at that time, All four Atlantic provinces are working together, pulling
together and moving in the same direction with the federal government.
Six years later, let me give you the financial reality of pulling
together and moving in the same direction.
Let me remind my hon. colleagues in government a few of the unpleasant
financial truths.
As of
2013, the breakdown already went through: $368.9 million to New Brunswick,
$137.3 million to Nova Scotia, and $40.8 million to Newfoundland and Labrador.
Our hopes and dreams are resting on federal money sometimes when it comes
to this, but we need to see provincial initiatives happen too.
We got a pittance in comparison to the other provinces.
It is
great, like I said, for the groups that received it: St. John's Airport, Gander
Airport, and the Marine Institute. I
cannot think of any better place to invest the monies but we need a whole lot
more investment done if we are going to become that gateway to the North like we
want to be. We need federal
participation in this, too, if we are going to be able to make it.
So far they have not responded.
The conference is all good, but we need more.
Let's
look at infrastructure. I can think
of several pieces of infrastructure right away that my previous friends here in
the House have already talked about.
An operating ferry system, for example, would be great.
Other people in Newfoundland and Labrador, for example, are also talking
about the potential for a tunnel to connect the Island of Newfoundland to
Labrador through Blanc-Sablon to somewhere along the coast, as long as there is
a connection there. They are talking
about the development, for example, of Plan Nord which would probably help out
the Coastal Labrador regions a whole lot in opening up Coastal Labrador to have
more opportunities to become gateways to the North.
Let's
not forget that Labrador is also a part of this Province, a very valuable part
of this Province. Just because of
their geographical placement closer to the North, they deserve to see just as
much of an investment opportunity happen there as much as anywhere else.
So if we are going to pursue a role in the development of the Arctic,
like I said, which we are in support of, we should first make sure that we have
basic infrastructure in our own northern regions.
I have been told the Province is a natural fit for Arctic development
because of its strategic position in the North Atlantic.
Of course, if you look at a map we know it is true.
Currently, the response time I want to talk a little bit about search and
rescue here because if we are going to have people travelling in the North for
development, we need the support services too, at the same time, to help support
them. Let's not forget that when it
comes to the development of the North.
The
response time for a cormorant helicopter this, again, is a federal issue.
We have been trying to get the feds to address this for a long time.
The response time right now for a cormorant helicopter, they are working
between 9:00 and 4:00 o'clock p.m. Monday to Friday; wheels up response time for
a cormorant, thirty minutes. After
4:00 p.m. and on weekdays and during holidays the wheels up response time is up
to two hours.
Needless
to say, the response time has cost mariners their lives.
If we are going to be sending people up North, we cannot find that is
going to be an acceptable response time for the people of this Province, or for
anybody who wants to do some sort of business up there, if they are fishing or
what have you. We need the support
services that the federal government are responsible for that we are not
getting.
I want
to talk a little bit about environment, too, because if you are talking about
development of the North you have to talk about environment.
It is a harsh environment, too, at the same time, one of the principal
reasons we hear all the time. We do
not necessarily hear about fishing a lot that is happening there or that could
potentially happen, and that needs to be explored.
We know shrimp fishing happens, of course, in zones 0, 1, 2, and 3 up
there, albeit in a limited way.
There are limited catches.
What we
hear most about, particularly in the media, is oil companies heading north.
This is probably where there is going to be a very important role for the
Marine Institute, their Marine Studies branch, and the development of technology
that could be happening here in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Another good reason why this conference should be coming here is to find
out what our role is going to be.
Let us
look at the development of the North particularly when it comes to oil and gas
infrastructure. You are talking
about a very hostile environment there, number one; but number two, the
capabilities.
I ask everybody to think about this, too, at the same time in the House when it
comes to the responsibility we have towards our environment because it is ours.
The Coast of Labrador, if we have a spill in deep water in coastal
Labrador, how do we clean it up?
Look where it flows: the Labrador Current, right down the Coast of Labrador and
right off the Coast of the Island portion of the Province.
It is going to be a massive thing to have to deal with.
We know
that if development is going to happen where we should have as many regulations
at the same time, that is going to be controlling that mode of development, but
at the same time we should be able to be there and be able to respond in a
second, a split second. We should be
able to get out there and be able to have the resources to tend to it, and tend
to an environmental disaster if it happens.
This is the danger here.
We do
not have the supports right now in our Province to handle it if it happens.
We do not have a spill response.
Right now, in the Gulf of Mexico they are still dealing with the after
effects of a spill in the Gulf of Mexico and we do not know, with the hostile
environment we have, how we are going to be able to handle it.
Simply using Corexit on it to disperse a patch of oil simply is not going
to do it, Mr. Speaker. We have to be
careful in an environment that we know very little about.
The National Energy Board, again, is going to have a role in that, too,
at the same time.
The last
thing I will address when it comes to environment, and like I said, we have to
be cautious but we have the resources to learn around here, so I would advise
government to keep those investments happening with our Maritime education
sector and keep in touch there. I
love the whole idea of having opportunities in the Arctic, but it has to done
with trepidation.
The last
thing we need to look out for if we are going to have people in the North, and I
touched on this earlier when it came to the Statements by Ministers earlier
today, it is okay to be growing a population, but a growing population in the
North is fine and dandy. It has to
have all the supports, but you also have to feed them at the same time.
We have to make sure we are dealing with affordability options as well
here when it comes to that.
The
price of food right now in coastal Labrador is out of this world out of this
world. I do not know how they do it,
sometimes. The price of milk, even;
I have heard prices $6 and $7 for a two litre of milk.
How do we maintain a population if we want to have an opportunity here in
the North at the same time in getting supplies up there?
It is
bad enough we do not have a boat to do it right.
Right now, we have boats that are causing us problems and we are not
looking after our own transportation infrastructure.
That is the other thing I wanted to touch on.
When it comes to having the ability to deliver goods and services, you
have to have the transportation infrastructure to deal with that.
If we are going to have people in the North, we are going to have to have
the health infrastructure there, in case somebody gets sick.
We have an awful lot of challenges here.
Do we
believe in it? Darn right we do, but
again, Mr. Speaker, as I have said before, we have talked about all these things
and the role we have in developing the North at the same time.
The opportunities we do know are immense, but we have to look after the
environment. Most of all, we have to
look after our people.
The last
thing I will say about it, Mr. Speaker, in the time that is running out, is we
have to have the participation of the federal government that has not been there
and has not been here in the last five or six years since we have been trying to
pursue this ideal.
I thank
you very much for the time.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Member for
Harbour Main.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. HEDDERSON:
Thank you very much, Mr.
Speaker.
Unlike
some of my colleagues, I am really delighted absolutely delighted today to
stand in this House and report progress on a very important initiative.
It is an initiative that fits so well with this Province of Newfoundland
and Labrador. This Province is so
strategically located for this type of initiative, and I do not think anyone
disagreed. From what I heard from my
colleagues on both sides of the House, nobody disagrees with the fact that this
Province is strategically located and that it will allow us to play a big part
in the Arctic exploration and development in the years to come.
Of
course, it is not unusual, and I am sure the Speaker has reminded us many times,
that people who stand up to talk about what is in the motion do not always stick
to the intent of that particular motion.
We heard all sorts of things, but what we mostly heard is not what we are
not doing; it is what the federal government are not doing, the icebreaking that
my colleague from the North Coast talked about and how difficult it is sometimes
to avail of that service. My
colleague from St. John's East went off on a tangent about what the feds are not
doing here in this Province.
I will
remind him that the federal government and we as a Province never give up, I say
to the Member for St. John's East.
We never give up on this side of the House with regard to lobbying the federal
government to get our share of their revenues.
We are not always successful and I would be the first to admit it, but we
do have some degree of success. You
already mentioned them: the airport in Gander and our own international airport
here in St. John's. They are very
much excited about making sure they can put in a system to allow landings of a
greater number.
I am
reminded of the Member for Exploits telling me about the Bond Bridge, I think
$25 million.
MR. FORSEY:
Yes, close to it.
MR. HEDDERSON:
The close to $25 million that
was absolutely necessary for transportation.
Mr.
Speaker, I could go on and on, but I, too, want to get back to the main motion,
if you want to call it that, and talk about, and I think both sides of the House
again talked about, how we must diversify and how we must build on the success
we as a government over the last decade or so have been able to garner from this
Province of ours. There have been
some tremendous successes. This is
an opportunity to look at one of those successes.
It is
interesting because when we look at Newfoundland and Labrador and nobody who
stood up today argued with the fact that Newfoundland and Labrador is truly I
say, truly the path to the Arctic.
That is not to say we are not in competition with other jurisdictions right
across this nation from coast to coast to coast.
We are in a dogfight to get our piece of the action.
Guess
what? We are getting it.
Not only are we getting it, but the people who are interested in the
Arctic exploration and development, guess what?
They are getting it as well, and they are
getting it because they are going to be here in 2016, for an example.
We have carried off a coup.
If you want to talk about success and where we have advanced in the last couple
of years, that conference is the be-all and end-all as the Nation, and not only
the Nation, but companies and other countries are so interested.
We have pulled off a coup, and there are other jurisdictions not far from
us that cannot figure out how we did it and why they did not get it.
We did get it and we are going to take advantage of it.
Again we ask: Why is Newfoundland and Labrador so
poised to take advantage of the changing conditions in the Arctic that are
opening up and allowing for exploration and development?
Of course, you would have to look at where we are strategically located,
and not only strategically located, but we have something that no other
jurisdiction has, not even Iceland, not even Norway, and not even Alaska.
We have some of the coldest waters that mirror the
waters in the Arctic. It is the
strangest kind of location and that is something we do not always brag about,
but the colder the water makes this jurisdiction, Labrador and the Island of
Newfoundland, that perfect incubator for any type of research, experimentation,
or whatever under controlled conditions that can help put together better ways
in which we can safely not only personal safety, but environmental safety and
other safety make sure that exploration that takes place and develops in the
Arctic will be done in a manner that is in the best interests of everyone.
We are surrounded by cold water, we have extreme
weather conditions, and of course necessity is always the mother of invention.
There has been a tremendous amount of research done, in the oil industry
in particular with the exploration that has taken place off our coast, dealing
with how people can work in these harsh environments.
We can in some ways manipulate the environments with regard to icebergs,
ice, and so on. We can build upon
this success because Newfoundland and Labrador is looked upon with regard to oil
exploration and development as forerunners.
In concert with other companies, with other organizations, and so on, we
have put together an expertise in this Province that is second to none.
We can use that expertise now as the expansion begins up in the Arctic.
Again, we are there.
Of course, I am very proud to represent my District of
Harbour Main, and I do not think there is anyone in this Chamber that does not
realize that Arctic exploration is nothing new for Newfoundland and Labrador.
The one name that I would mention, that you would all know, is our
Captain Bob Bartlett who sailed out of Brigus, one of my communities.
I think it was forty or fifty expeditions to the Arctic, and it was he
that Peary chose to basically lead the expedition where they established the
North Pole.
During the conference, I think at Battle Harbour, for
example, that is where they all conjugated and one of the jump off points to the
Arctic it was there that the press release was done but Captain Bob Bartlett
is up there with any of the major explorers in our world from Armstrong who went
to the moon to Peary himself who went to the North Pole, and everything in
between; but again, a long tradition of exploration in the Arctic.
It is nothing new to us as Newfoundlanders, as Labradorians.
When we look at Labrador, my colleague has already
pointed out the great connections between the various Aboriginal groups and
governments there. I can tell you,
Bob Bartlett knew where to go to get the expertise, and it was through the Inuit
and the Aboriginal people in Labrador that he depended upon to teach him the
ways in which to deal with the Arctic.
I digress again, Mr. Speaker, but to get back, we
recognize past successes, but past successes are past successes and we must look
to the future, and the future is in the Arctic.
We, as a jurisdiction, must be part of it.
It is not only IBRD by the way that is putting this motion forward.
It is not one department; it is all of government that has to be involved
here, from education with our Marine Institute and I do not have to tell you
about the Marine Institute. We get,
lately, that we are the bottom of the barrel here in Newfoundland and Labrador
the bottom of the barrel that we are leading in nothing.
What was it someone said?
AN
HON. MEMBER:
Last, worst and least.
MR.
HEDDERSON:
Last, worst and least. It is almost
insulting. I do not know if it was a
political statement or who said it, but the people of Newfoundland and Labrador
have to take exception to that because we are leaders, absolute leaders, and we
are proving it by what we have done in the oil exploration and development
offshore. We are proving it in
forestry. We are proving it in
mining. There are things happening
in Newfoundland and Labrador that people are standing up and taking notice of.
I read in the newspaper the other day, and I think the
Minister of Finance alluded to it, we are one of three with the best economy in
all of so, what we are saying is that this is a jurisdiction that people are
looking at who know, as the minister is always pointing out, we are open for
business.
We need to come into this House every now and then and
put a motion forward. I know, as the
Member for St. John's East, that yes, there are all sorts of issues that we can
bring forward. The issue that we are
bringing forward right now is that we need support in this Chamber; we need
support of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians to make sure that people coming in
here, whether they are business or otherwise, are getting the welcome that they
need, that they are coming in here and poising themselves and this Province to
be the best in Canada and indeed the world.
I do not go for second, or third, or last, or least, or
worst, or whatever. I go for nothing
but the best, and I believe in the people of Newfoundland and Labrador.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR.
HEDDERSON:
I
believe in the education system of Newfoundland and Labrador.
I believe that we are doing what we can as a government to give the
opportunity and this is what this motion is all about: to make sure that
people understand that there is tremendous opportunity.
Because listening to some parties, it is
just as well as I said one day in here, I was afraid that the dome was going
to come down on me because the sky was falling.
It is far from falling.
I am very, very proud as an MHA.
My district, in the fifteen years I have gone from a situation where we
had some of the most skilled workers in this Province who built not only bridges
here in Newfoundland and Labrador, they were on the Twin Towers, they were on
the bridges in New York, coming to me and saying: Tom, I am really in a hard
spot. I cannot get any work.
Is there a government program or something where I can get a few weeks'
work? They were embarrassed.
I was embarrassed. That was
fifteen years ago.
Do you know something right now?
I am very proud to say that those same people today are in Bull Arm, they
are in Long Harbour, they are on Muskrat Falls, and guess what
they are telling me? Tom, I can't
believe the good luck and the good fortune.
I don't have to travel. I am
living in my own backyard of my parent's house and land.
This is where we have come.
Those same resilient people, those same hard-working people are ready to tackle
another frontier and it is not new to them.
We just
had a death I think of a gentleman up in Chapel's Cove who worked in Greenland
during the war. Not only that, but
many Newfoundlanders worked up North at all the radar sites and that.
They know what it is like to work in the Arctic.
When people and companies come here, guess who they are looking for?
They are looking for those hard-working Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.
It is
not only about location, it is not only about government support and basic
companies and that, it is about people.
The people of Newfoundland and Labrador, I have great faith in them.
I know they will take advantage of any opportunity to make this a better
Province for themselves, for their children, and for the future.
That is why I am very confident Muskrat Falls is going to be built, and
on time and hopefully on budget. I
believe very, very much in the ability of us to move ahead in new ways.
The
frontier right now is the Arctic. I
fully support this private member's motion that was laid down.
I am very confident in our ability as a government to carry forth.
The invitation is out to all, and I have already heard from some of the
members who said they are going to be there in 2016, we are going to be there in
2016. That conference is going to
again allow us to showcase what I believe is the best Province in Canada,
Newfoundland and Labrador.
Thank
you very much, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Member for
Fortune Bay Cape La Hune to close debate.
MS PERRY:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I
certainly would like to commend my colleague from Harbour Main for his great
presentation. We are indeed very
passionate about Newfoundland and Labrador.
Mr.
Speaker, some of our hon. colleagues in the House may remember our discussing
this in the House a few years ago.
We are back here again today to reinforce where we are, to show how far we have
come in our commitment towards developing potential of the Arctic, and to
indicate how far we can really go if we continue on this great path.
This course that has been set for us by our government, the fantastic
entrepreneurs, and people we have right here in Newfoundland and Labrador.
I would
like to thank the Member for Lake Melville, and the Members for St. John's East,
The Straits White Bay North, and Torngat Mountains for their comments here
today; and, in particular, the hon. Minister Susan Sullivan who has done a
fantastic job, has great enthusiasm for this Province, Mr. Speaker, and I am
absolutely delighted to be working closely with her as we continue to build this
great Province that we call home.
Throughout the debate, Mr. Speaker, this afternoon, we have heard that our
Province is truly the path to the Arctic.
We are perfectly positioned to be the ideal staging ground for
Arctic-related activities. We are
located strategically on international shipping lanes and northern sea routes.
We are home to Arctic communities and Aboriginal people with traditional
knowledge and unique experiences, and our immense transportation and logistical
expertise in remote locations and Arctic-like conditions, Mr. Speaker.
Our
Province has had considerable experience working in harsh and cold environments.
I am going to reinforce some of the points that have talked about today,
just to emphasize how far we have come and what great opportunity is there for
us to take advantage of.
Surrounded by cold water and extreme weather conditions, our experts are
successfully developing cutting edge technology and world-renown solutions to
operational challenges in the Arctic.
The Province's extensive expertise and untapped potential means we play
already an integral role in Arctic development.
That is why it is no surprise the world is coming to Newfoundland and
Labrador to discuss exploration and development.
This is a very exciting time for us.
We are
poised to host three major world-class oceans and Arctic conferences, each
bringing with them over 1,000 delegates from around the globe.
As I have said here earlier today, and as some of my colleagues have
discussed, in September, 2014, we are hosting the Oceans'14 conference with more
1,200 delegates, and 150 exhibitors from around the world expected to be in
attendance. It is going to be the
largest Oceans conference ever held by this Province.
Then,
closely behind that, in June, 2015, we welcome the world once again at the
Annual International Conference on Ocean Offshore and Arctic Engineering.
Followed by that, in 2016, incrementally building our great potential, we
will host the world at the prestigious Arctic Technology Conference in 2016.
This conference focuses on leading technologies and innovative practices
needed for exploration and production of natural resources in harsh and cold
environments, while emphasizing respect for northern peoples and the
environment.
Our
approach to the Arctic is clearly working.
Our approach to diversification of the economy in Newfoundland and
Labrador is clearly working. We are
taking a holistic, sustainable, responsible and respectful approach to
developing opportunities in the Arctic.
With a long history based in the Arctic and with a strong academic and
industry presence right here in this Province, we already are leaders in Arctic
development, Mr. Speaker.
I, for
one, am so very, very proud of our people, our potential, our skills, our
expertise, and the efforts of this government, Mr. Speaker, to continue to grow
the economy, to continue to diversify the economy, and to ensure that the future
of Newfoundland and Labrador continues to be better and better.
I ask
all hon. members in this House to join me in supporting today's motion.
Thank
you, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER:
Is it the pleasure of the
House to adopt the motion?
All
those in favour, aye'.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Aye.
MR. SPEAKER:
All those against, nay'.
Carried.
This
being Wednesday, in accordance with Standing Order 9, the House stands adjourned
until tomorrow, Thursday, at 1:30 p.m.