March 7, 2019
HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS
Vol. XLVIII No. 53
The
House met at 1:30 p.m.
MR. SPEAKER:
Admit strangers, please.
Order,
please!
I'd like
to welcome all the Members back to the House of Assembly on this great Thursday
afternoon. We have several special guests that I'd love to introduce to all of
you.
First of
all, joining us in the Speaker's gallery, I have Dr. Lloydetta Quaicoe, and her
great team from Sharing our Cultures. We have representatives here from Sierra
Leone, Nigeria, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Newfoundland and Labrador – we've heard of
that place – Democratic Republic of Congo, Burkina Faso, Sudan and France. They
will be the subject of a Ministerial Statement today and they were earlier this
week the subject of a Member's statement.
It's a
great pleasure to have you all with us today.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER:
For those joining us at home
and maybe not so sure why that standing ovation, in addition to the great work
of sharing our cultures, Dr. Quaicoe is also a recent recipient of the Order of
Newfoundland and Labrador.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER:
We also will have a Member's
statement today recognizing Mr. Richard Cashin, who is also a recent recipient
of the Order of Newfoundland and Labrador.
In the
public gallery today, I would also like to welcome Mr. Reginald White and, his
wife, Phyllis White. They are joining us this afternoon for a Member's
statement.
Welcome
to you.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
Statements by
Members
MR. SPEAKER:
Today, for Members'
statements, we will hear from the Members for Harbour Main, Ferryland, Harbour
Grace - Port de Grave, St. John's East - Quidi Vidi, and Mount Pearl North.
The hon.
the Member for Harbour Main.
MS. PARSLEY:
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to
congratulate a fierce competitor who demonstrates athletic strength and grace.
Shailynn Snow has proven her strategy as a world champion athlete with sights
set on an Olympic medal.
Hailing
from Clarke's Beach, with her home rink of Bay Roberts Bay Arena, it is no
surprise to see how far this 17 year old has come. With her grandfather's hand
as a toddler, she took to the ice for the first time.
Shailynn
was scouted following a two-week hockey camp in Calgary and received an invite
to play on Team Canada. On January 13 she was part of the team that won the gold
medal in Japan.
Shailynn
now calls Ridley College her home and prep-school has poised her for St.
Lawrence University in Canton, New York with a full athletic scholarship. She is
hoping to pursue physiotherapy. Kudos goes to those who have nurtured this
talent to rise, including her Bantam AAA coach Bo Bennett, extreme hockey
coaches Randy Pearcey and Andrew McKim, and mother and grandfather.
While it
may not be easy to see her go, it's great to watch her achieve her goals for all
of us.
Thank
you, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Member for
Ferryland.
MR. HUTCHINGS:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr.
Speaker, I rise today in this hon. House to congratulate the Bay Bulls to
Bauline Athletic Association on the vital role they play in the annual regional
winter carnival.
I was
fortunate to attend some of the events that were part of the carnival, including
the seniors' outreach dinner at Mobile Central High School. This was the 11th
year for the event, which connects our youth of the region with seniors.
The
students
provided exceptional entertainment with vocals, accordion, guitars and
keyboards. In addition, the local cadet corps did an exceptional job in serving
dinner to over 250 guests.
This event is organized with the help of the staff at
Mobile Central High School, the Bay Bulls Athletic Association, the Town of
Witless Bay, the Town of Bay Bulls and many volunteer community groups and
organizations throughout the area. This annual dinner is one of many that the
carnival offers to the residents and has become a great community event for the
region.
Mr. Speaker, I ask all Members of this House to join me
in congratulating all those involved, and the Bay Bulls to Bauline Athletic
Association
on another successful winter carnival and the
tremendous work they do as a volunteer organization in the region.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR.
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Member for Harbour Grace - Port de Grave.
MS.
P. PARSONS:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The commitment and dedication demonstrated by volunteer
fire fighters throughout the district of Harbour Grace - Port de Grave and
Conception Bay North is indeed outstanding.
Today, I would like to recognize the Bay Roberts
Volunteer Fire Department, in particular volunteers who have served for several
decades: firefighter Newman Parsons for 50 years, who is still an active member;
Eric Norman who is also an active volunteer and has served for 45 years; Trevor
Bowering is currently serving with 30 years; Mr. Chesley Mercer recently retired
after four decades of service; Clarence Mercer retired with 30 years; and, Geoff
Roach retired in 2018 with 30 years of service.
The department was formed in 1942 and currently has 40
members, responding to about 100 calls annually throughout the municipality, as
well as the communities of Bareneed and Port de Grave.
When they're not fighting fire and protecting our
communities, these dedicated first responders fundraise for the Janeway Telethon
and Trinity Conception Placentia Health Foundation.
They also support local charities, such as The Helping
Hand
food bank, school breakfast programs, the
Salvation Army, as well as the Royal Canadian Legion in Bay Roberts.
Mr. Speaker, I am very proud of these volunteers, and I
ask that all colleagues join me in congratulating them.
Thank you.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR.
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Member for the District of St. John's East - Quidi Vidi.
MS.
MICHAEL:
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
I am delighted to congratulate Richard Cashin for being
invested into the Order of Newfoundland and Labrador, recognizing his
significant contributions to this province as a politician, a lawyer and labour
leader.
Richard attended St. Francis Xavier University and
Dalhousie Law School in Nova Scotia. He was elected as the Member of Parliament
for St. John's West in 1962 and re-elected in '63 and '65.
Richard Cashin became the founding president of the
Newfoundland Fishermen, Food and Allied Workers Union in 1971 and served in that
role until his retirement. He also represented Newfoundland and Labrador as the
Atlantic Commissioner of the Task Force on National Unity, and served as well on
the board of directors for
Saltfish Corporation, Petro-Canada and the Export Development Board. In 1989,
Mr. Cashin was appointed an officer of the Order of Canada.
I ask
the hon. Members of this House to join with me in congratulating Richard Cashin
on now receiving the Order of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Thank
you.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Member for Mount
Pearl North.
MR. LESTER:
Mr. Speaker, I rise in this
hon. House today to recognize Mr. Reg. White, who recently received the Senate
150th Medal recognizing his dedicated work on behalf of Habit for Humanity NL.
The
Senate 150th medals were awarded to those who, through generosity and
volunteerism, have made their communities a better place to live. Reg is widely
known throughout our community for his contributions and achievements as a
community builder and leader. Reg's lifetime of volunteerism and community
service is a testament to his true character.
To name
just a few of Reg's other accomplishments, he is also a recipient of the Seniors
of Distinction Award, has been named Mount Pearl Citizen of the Year and was
inducted into the Mount Pearl Sports Hall of Fame. I commend Reg for his decades
of volunteerism and help to our community. His contribution to the community he
lives in can never be overstated.
On
another note, I would like to mention that in his youth Reg was a Page in this
hon. House. His service actually spanned from the Colonial Building to this very
Legislature.
I ask
all hon. Members present to join me in giving thanks to Reg White for his
ongoing contribution to our community and province.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER:
Statements by Ministers.
Statements by
Ministers
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Minister
Responsible for the Status of Women.
MS. HALEY:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr.
Speaker, March 8 is International Women's Day, a day on which we recognize the
insights, expertise, skills, values and talents of women and girls in our
province. Women have traditionally contributed to the growth and development of
our communities, economy and province. The same remains true today.
Our
government is strongly committed to advancing the status of women and girls in
Newfoundland and Labrador. By enhancing the mandate of the Office for the Status
of Women, we are keenly focused on creating a new, collaborative approach to
violence prevention, improving the economic and social well-being of women and
girls through our women's leadership initiatives and strengthening gender-based
analysis across all work of government. These commitments will have a
long-lasting, positive impact.
Mr.
Speaker, we acknowledge the dedication of women's equality-seeking and
anti-violence organizations who work diligently to advance true equality for
women and girls in our province. We look forward to continuing our work together
to reach our common goal – the full and valued participation of women and girls
in all aspects of life.
Members
of this hon. House, let us all work respectfully together to advance true
equality for all women and girls in Newfoundland and Labrador. Let us all
recommit to doing that not just on International Women's Day, Mr. Speaker, but
every day.
Thank
you.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Member for
Fortune Bay - La Hune.
MS. PERRY:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I thank
the minister for an advance copy of her statement. We, too, are pleased to
recognize International Women's Day, which will be officially celebrated
tomorrow across the province, throughout the country and around the world.
International Women's Day is a time to recognize women's accomplishments and
also to acknowledge the challenges that women and girls continue to face. I'm
optimistic that, together, we can overcome these challenges.
I would
also like to extend my sincere appreciation to the many hard-working individuals
and groups for their tireless and steadfast work to support and advance equality
for women and girls. Newfoundland and Labrador has an abundance of strong,
intelligent women and I truly hope that we see more such women come forward in
politics to lead the way for a better future.
We have
many strong international women here in the House today, and hats off to each
and every one of you – ovations to all the strong women making a difference for
the better in the lives of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians and people around
the world.
Thank
you, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Member for St.
John's Centre.
MS. ROGERS:
Mr. Speaker, I thank the
minister. On March 8, we acknowledge women and girls around the globe who have
worked with vision, determination and, at times, with great courage to make this
world a better place.
Many
have dedicated their whole lives to this mission. Tomorrow we celebrate, we
sing, we dance and we share our gratitude, then we get ready again to keep on
working together because there is still so much to do. From Arundhati Roy,
“Another world is not only possible, she is on her way. On a quiet day, I can
hear her breathing.”
Bravo,
sisters!
Thank
you, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER:
Further statements by
ministers?
The hon.
the Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Labour.
MR. DAVIS:
Mr. Speaker, I'm pleased to
rise in this hon. House to congratulate Sharing Our Cultures on 20 years of
celebrating the rich diversity of cultures that call Newfoundland and Labrador
home.
Founded
in 1999 by my friend, Dr. Lloydetta Quaicoe, Sharing our Cultures promotes
inter-cultural understanding and reminds Newfoundlanders and Labradorians of
every background that we all belong.
Today,
we are displaying a gorgeous legacy hooked rug showing a map of the world
featuring 90 countries or cultures of students who have participated in this
program over the past 20 years.
Dr.
Quaicoe's dedication to building connections between Indigenous, non-Indigenous
and newcomer youth has helped a number of generations understand the importance
of respecting and celebrating our differences.
Our
government is proud to support Sharing Our Cultures and provide additional
funding to enable its expansion to Labrador City, Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Corner
Brook and Grand Falls-Windsor.
It is
also my honour to congratulate Dr. Quaicoe on another significant milestone.
Earlier this year, Dr. Quaicoe was invested into the Order of Newfoundland and
Labrador.
This
prestigious honour recognizes her profound contribution to making our province
an even more beautiful, safe, welcoming and inclusive home for all people.
I ask
all my hon. colleagues to join me in congratulating Dr. Lloydetta Quaicoe and
Sharing Our Cultures for the fantastic work that they do.
Thank
you very much.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Member for
Topsail - Paradise.
MR. DINN:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I thank
the minister opposite for an advance copy of his statement. It gives me great
pleasure to rise here today and join the minister and, indeed, all hon. Members
in congratulating Dr. Lloydetta Quaicoe and Sharing Our Cultures.
Mr.
Speaker, originally from Freetown, Sierra Leone, West Africa, Lloydetta Quaicoe
moved here to Newfoundland and Labrador in 1982 and has never looked back. I had
the pleasure of meeting Dr. Quaicoe a number of years ago through the
Association for New Canadians and there was little doubt then of the value that
she would bring to this province.
Since
the inception of Sharing Our Cultures, over 35,000 school children and youth
have participated in the yearly program and events. Mr. Speaker, as the hon.
Member across mentioned, Dr. Quaicoe was recently honoured with the investiture
into the Order of Newfoundland and Labrador. Dr. Quaicoe has distinguished
herself for decades in academia and dedicated herself to the support of a number
of social causes. Her committee work has helped inform public policy initiatives
on culture, law, population growth and immigration integration.
There is
not enough time to truly speak to the accomplishments of Dr. Lloydetta Quaicoe.
Thank you again, Mr. Speaker, for the opportunity to congratulate her and
Sharing Our Cultures.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Member for St.
John's East - Quidi Vidi.
MS. MICHAEL:
Thank you very much, Mr.
Speaker.
I, too,
thank the minister for the advance copy of his statement. I'm so delighted to
join the minister in congratulating Sharing Our Cultures on reaching this
20-year milestone; and Dr. Quaicoe for being invested into the Order of
Newfoundland and Labrador, particularly because of that work.
By all
accounts, this is a very successful program in our schools and I'm delighted to
see this work being expanded to more parts of the province. The more we can have
multiculturalism shared and understood in our province, the better for all.
Thank
you, Mr. Speaker.
MR. SPEAKER:
Further statements by
ministers?
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Minister of
Natural Resources.
MS. COADY:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I rise
today in this hon. House to speak on Newfoundland and Labrador's participation
at the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada – PDAC – conference in
Toronto this week. I had the great privilege of attending and highlighting the
province's resource potential.
It was
an exciting time at PDAC with more than 25,600 participants, representing 135
countries.
Mr.
Speaker, I met with more than a dozen exploration and mining companies, as well
as international leaders, interested in learning more about opportunities in
Newfoundland and Labrador's mining industry.
I also
joined the federal minister of Natural Resources and my provincial and
territorial colleagues to launch the Canadian Minerals and Metals Plan – a plan
to ensure that our country is the leading, globally competitive mining nation.
The
Canadian plan aligns well with our plan –
Mining the Future 2030: A Plan for Growth in the Newfoundland and Labrador
Mining Industry – released last November.
Mining the Future 2030 will grow the
Newfoundland and Labrador mining industry, and in the process, create jobs
throughout the province in collaboration with Indigenous governments, industry
and community stakeholders.
Mining
is a major contributor to the Newfoundland and Labrador economy. In 2019, the
mining sector is forecasted to employ a total of 6,300 people in the province –
an 11 per cent increase from 2018. Also, the gross value of mineral shipments in
Newfoundland and Labrador is forecasted at $4 billion for 2019. That is a 47 per
cent increase since 2016 alone.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MS. COADY:
Mr. Speaker, a world of
possibilities is at our doorstep because our geology positions Newfoundland and
Labrador to be a global supplier of minerals. Through our mining sector, we will
continue to raise our profile globally and continue to create new opportunities
for Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.
Thank
you.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER:
Thank you.
The hon.
the Opposition House Leader.
MR. HUTCHINGS:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I want
to thank the minister for an advance copy of her statement. As the minister
mentioned, the mining industry is a major contributor to our province's economy.
It has been the backbone of communities such as Lab West and other parts in
Central Newfoundland for decades, and it's certainly my hope and our vision that
it will continue to provide economic growth for years to come.
The
forecasted 11 per cent increase in the mining industry for this year is
certainly positive news. It's a testament to those Newfoundlanders and
Labradorians whose hard work in this industry has led to discoveries and again
to production.
I'd also
like to recognize geoscientists, earth scientists, technologists and innovators
who are not only seeking mineral deposits and discoveries, but who are also
developing new and innovative technologies for the industry in the future.
Mr.
Speaker, I'd like to take a moment to mention the Voisey's Bay underground mine.
The last update which has been provided was: First production is expected no
later than April 2021. I certainly encourage the minister in the near future to
provide an update on the construction timeline and the opportunity that lies
ahead.
Thank
you, Mr. Speaker.
MR. SPEAKER:
Thank you.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Member for St.
John's East - Quidi Vidi.
MS. MICHAEL:
Thank you very much, Mr.
Speaker.
I thank
the minister for the advance copy of her statement. It's good to know that
there's been an increase in the gross value of mineral shipments in the province
and also to know that mineral shipments are up this year.
I would
have liked to have some more detail from the minister with regard to how she
sees the creation of new jobs happening in the future, and I do hope that the
forecast for this year is better than our weather forecast is sometimes, Mr.
Speaker.
Once
again, we do have Mining the Future 2030
which is, again, another Liberal government plan without teeth. I do look
forward to learning more.
Thank
you.
MR. SPEAKER:
Thank you.
Further
statements by ministers?
Oral
Questions.
Oral Questions
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Leader of the
Official Opposition.
MR. CROSBIE:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I
suspect the Minister of Natural Resources may have missed a beat in not claiming
credit for all the growth in the mining sector from
The Way Forward.
This
morning, scientists are speaking out, Mr. Speaker –
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Oh, oh!
MR. SPEAKER:
Order, please!
MR. CROSBIE:
– in disappointment at the
information which was shared and not shared about the SeaRose oil spill.
Biologist Ian Jones said that it was shocking that information about the size of
the spill wasn't released in the incident report.
I ask
the Minister of Natural Resources: Were you aware of the size of the area
covered by the oil spill?
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Minister of
Natural Resources.
MS. COADY:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The oil
spill is certainly upsetting for all of us in Newfoundland and Labrador and,
again, it emphasizes the importance that we must place on safety and
environmental protection. Of course, as I've said many times in this House,
safety and environmental protection is paramount.
Mr.
Speaker, within hours, I think, of the oil spill occurring the amount of oil
spilled, 250,000 litres, was known to all. Sea states are continuously moving,
obviously. Mr. Speaker, so the size of the spill and what it would look like
from a flyover from vessels – because as the people of the province know, there
are multiple flights and multiple vessels out there – they change regularly.
So yes,
Mr. Speaker, we did know of 250,000 litres. I know Husky involved many
stakeholders in advising the actual size.
MR. SPEAKER:
Thank you.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Leader of the
Official Opposition.
MR. CROSBIE:
The minister just described
the volume of the oil spill in terms of litres. We are told today that this was
the largest oil spill in the province's history and measured 21 by 8 kilometres,
almost the size of Fogo Island.
Can the
minister explain how she was out of the loop on that and when did she learn the
information she gave the House was incorrect?
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Minister of
Natural Resources.
MS. COADY:
Mr. Speaker, first of all,
the information I gave this House of Assembly and the information I gave the
people of the province was totally correct: 250,000 litres.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MS. COADY:
At one point during the many
days that this occurred – as I've already explained to this House, sea states
change, Mr. Speaker. The size of the sheen on the water changes day by day, hour
by hour. At one point, as the PC Member opposite did say, it was at that size. I
was aware of that size at one point, Mr. Speaker. There were many observers.
I will
say this: C-NLOPB engages with the Canadian Coast Guard, with the Environment
and Climate Change office to make sure that the regulatory oversight is there.
Thank
you, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Leader of the
Official Opposition.
MR. CROSBIE:
Mr. Speaker, I quote the
minister on the first day of questions about this incident – quote – I can
report that today's flyover showed no sheen. That was the information given to
this hon. House, and I ask the minister when she became aware otherwise.
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Minister of
Natural Resources.
MS. COADY:
I'm confused by the question,
Mr. Speaker. I stand by what I told in this House. It was the information that
was related to me by the flyover and by those that were on the sea at the time.
Mr.
Speaker, within a number of days of the spill happening – remember it happened
on a Friday. By the time we were here in the House, I believe the first question
from the Member opposite was on a Tuesday – happened on a Friday; first question
was on a Tuesday, Mr. Speaker. I can say that there was constant monitoring and
there continues to be a lot of information coming forward on this oil spill.
As I
say, it is still constantly being monitored and discussions are happening with
the C-NLOPB and the polluter, and the investigation is currently underway.
Thank
you, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Leader of the
Official Opposition.
MR. CROSBIE:
Mr. Speaker, at some point,
there was a sheen almost the size of Fogo Island and I'm simply asking when the
minister became aware of that.
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Minister of
Natural Resources.
MS. COADY:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I cannot
tell the Member opposite what hour of the day I became aware of the actual size
of the sheen. I can tell you that I was aware on the Friday of the magnitude of
it, 250,000 litres. I can tell you that I was aware that immediately there was a
'dispersement' of vessels, and then immediately after that the flights started
to occur. It was monitored constantly, and within a number of days the sheen was
no longer seen.
Mr.
Speaker, I can say this: the C-NLOPB, who is the responsible authority for
ensuring they are in contact with Husky on this oil spill, was in constant
contact with the Canadian Coast Guard, with Environment and Climate Change, and
they were working hard to ensure and to minimize the impacts.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER:
Thank you.
The hon.
the Leader of the Official Opposition.
MR. CROSBIE:
Mr. Speaker, I submit to the
minister that the information that's more meaningful to the public than volumes
and litres would be the size of the area covered by the spill.
Would
she request that the format of incident reports be updated to include the area
size of these spills in the event they happen again?
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Minister of
Natural Resources.
MS. COADY:
As I said, Mr. Speaker, the
size – the state of the sea states really does dictate what happens with these
oil spills. It's more accurate to give it in litres. But I certainly will do
this, I know that all aspects of this oil spill are under investigation,
including communications, and I will endeavour to ensure that the Member
opposite's voice is placed before those investigating this to say that they
would like it in terms of reporting as to what the visual viewpoint is from an
hour-to-hour basis.
Thank
you, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Leader of the
Official Opposition.
MR. CROSBIE:
The latest public update on
the SeaRose FPSO was provided by Husky on January 31. At this time, they had
received C-NLOPB approval to plug the flow line and recover the failed
connector; however, they were waiting on a window of good weather.
I ask
the minister: Can she provide a status update on the plan?
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Minister of
Natural Resources.
MS. COADY:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
As the
Member opposite did say, they are waiting for calm weather. They need a four-day
weather window before they can recoup the flow line. Unfortunately, they have
not had that four-day weather window. They are still waiting for that weather
window to occur. They are looking out at 10-day increments, as I understand, Mr.
Speaker. They do need that four-day window. They do have on standby, of course,
everyone that is required to ensure the safe retrieval of that flow line, and we
are continuing to monitor the situation.
Thank
you, Mr. Speaker.
MR. SPEAKER:
Thank you.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Leader of the
Official Opposition.
MR. CROSBIE:
I thank the minister for that information.
Could
she also tell us whether other wells in the central drill centre have yet been
brought on line?
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Minister of
Natural Resources.
MS. COADY:
And there are six drill
centres, Mr. Speaker.
Currently, there is one operational, roughly about 6,000 barrels per day, but
only one of the six is currently operating and that has been operating for some
time.
MR. SPEAKER:
Thank you.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Leader of the
Official Opposition.
MR. CROSBIE:
Thank you to the minister for that information.
A
November storm and subsequent oil spill pushed all offshore production vessels
to shut down production for a period of time, but the SeaRose is still having
trouble.
I would
ask the Minister of Finance: Does he have an update on the impact of this
reduction in production on this year's provincial budget?
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Minister of
Finance and President of Treasury Board.
MR. OSBORNE:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Yes, and
I will say that the revenue is deferred, not lost. Although, we would like to
see it in this year's budget because it does have an impact, that we will
receive the revenue in the future.
The
total impact to date, the latest numbers that I've seen is $70 million.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Leader of the
Official Opposition.
MR. CROSBIE:
I would thank the Minister of Finance for that admirably clear answer.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Oh, oh!
MR. SPEAKER:
Order, please!
MR. CROSBIE:
Mr. Speaker, this morning I attended a rally by former inmates about the
conditions at Her Majesty's Penitentiary.
I would
ask the Minister of Justice: What substantive progress can he report to this
House on discussions with his federal friends on replacement of what is known as
the Pen?
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Minister of
Justice and Public Safety.
MR. A. PARSONS:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I'm
certainly happy to stand up and answer the Member's question. This is a topic
that we've had a number of conversations with our federal counterparts over the
last three years. In fact, I spoke to Minister Ralph Goodale on this in November
when he attended St. John's for the federal-provincial-territorial meetings. I
know it's also a topic that the Premier has discussed with the prime minister,
and we'll continue to work on that.
What I
will say is there's one thing that is certainly clear, is that there is a need
for replacement of Her Majesty's Penitentiary. It's woefully outdated, and
that's something that is certainly a priority for this government.
Thank
you.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER:
Thank you.
The hon.
the Leader of the Official Opposition.
MR. CROSBIE:
I'm glad the minister mentioned priorities, because in July of this year our
federal minister, O'Regan, said: “We work with the province on their priorities
and the priorities right now have been things such as roads [and] education.”
Is the
replacement of HMP on the minister's priority list? Where is it on that list,
and has he informed the minister of this, the federal minister?
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Minister of
Justice and Public Safety.
MR. A. PARSONS:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Certainly, I wasn't privy to the conversation with that federal minister. I have
spoken with the minister of Justice, federally. We've spoken with the minister
of Public Safety, federally, and I know that the Premier has spoken to the prime
minister.
The fact
is we have a lot of priorities when it comes to work that needs to be done in
this province. We talk about roads, we talk about education, but there are also
priorities within Justice. What I would say is infrastructure wise the
replacement of HMP is probably the top Justice-related piece of infrastructure
that needs to be replaced in this province.
Thank
you.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Leader of the
Official Opposition.
MR. CROSBIE:
Mr. Speaker, a few weeks ago
I had the benefit of a tour of a penitentiary facility, which was recently
constructed near New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, and it's actually run by a chief
superintendent from Newfoundland and Labrador. The cost of the facility was $47
million.
After
four years of talking about replacing HMP, could the hon. minister advise of the
latest cost estimate to do so?
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Minister of
Justice and Public Safety.
MR. A. PARSONS:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Again,
this is a topic that has been going on a lot longer than four year. I think, in
fact, the former federal MP back in the '80s had a sign constructed out around
Harbour Grace saying that was going to be the site of the new penitentiary. This
is a conversation had by multiple governments and multiple members.
I am
aware of the prison that the Member referenced. It was over in Pictou. It was
build for $42 million. What I can say is it has half the capacity that will be
needed. It does not have enough room for programing and it had leaks within the
first 30 days.
Thank
you.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Opposition House
Leader.
MR. HUTCHINGS:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr.
Speaker –
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Oh, oh!
MR. SPEAKER:
Order, please!
Order,
please!
MR. HUTCHINGS:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr.
Speaker, $11 million was invested into Halifax airport authority causing the
West Jet presence in St. John's to be lost to Halifax, Nova Scotia.
I ask
the minister: Are you aware if any of this $11 million came from the Atlantic
Canada Opportunities Agency?
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Minister of
Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation.
MR. MITCHELMORE:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
We work
very closely with the Airport Authority here in St. John's on a
project-to-project basis, to attract flights. We have invested in the Dublin
flight with West Jet and we also did in the flight that exists going direct to
London.
Since
2014, we've invested more dollars in partnership with the airport in Destination
St. John's than the former administration did when they cancelled their air
access strategy.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Opposition House
Leader.
MR. HUTCHINGS:
That's great information, Mr.
Speaker. So all of that effort has meant we've lost the West Jet flight from St.
John's with access to Europe. So that's great news. I say your efforts haven't
worked.
Mr.
Speaker, again, I'll ask the minister directly: The $11 million that went into
Halifax airport, do you know if any of that money came from the Atlantic Canada
Opportunities Agency? Straightforward question.
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Minister of
Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation.
MR. MITCHELMORE:
Mr. Speaker, when it came to
the WestJet flight itself – because we had invested in that flight with
Destination St. John's and the Airport Authority to have that flight – it was a
company decision that they made that they saw when they invested in Dreamliners,
larger pieces of aircraft, that they would no longer be able to funnel the
amount of traffic in the St. John's airport to get to continuation, because the
Halifax airport has 10 direct WestJet flights that will be feeding into that
particular airport.
What I
can report is that we're continuing to work with the Airport Authority to ensure
that there are additional opportunities to have a flight restored in Dublin.
We've been having very productive conversations, and we will partner with the
federal government where opportunities exist, just like Halifax.
MR. SPEAKER:
Thank you.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Opposition House
Leader.
MR. HUTCHINGS:
Mr. Speaker, we're not asking
about the restoration of the flight; we're talking about why we lost the flight
and what the minister did or didn't do to secure it.
We
understand that leading up to Halifax being awarded the WestJet Dublin flight
and becoming the Eastern Canadian hub to Europe, Nova Scotia government
officials, including Nova Scotia premier, made many trips to the WestJet head
office in Calgary to advocate for Halifax to be the Atlantic Canadian hub for
Europe.
I ask
the minister: How many meetings did you have with senior WestJet executives and
what advocacy efforts did you perform over the last three years?
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Minister of
Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation.
MR. MITCHELMORE:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Air
access is certainly very critical. I had actually went out to the hospitality
conference and had addressed this issue with the delegates there. We've been
working in partnership to look at how we can expand our opportunities and
committed to working with Hospitality Newfoundland and Labrador. We've actually
highlighted that we would be putting financial assistance into that industry
association to highlight how we can maintain and expand flights.
We saw
where Air Canada has expanded their lounge; the airport has grown in capacity.
We've seen where WestJet has added flights direct to Calgary. We've seen where
Air Canada has added direct flights to Montreal.
We're
seeing these opportunities. I had met with WestJet executives, Air Canada
executives and we continue to have a strong partnership – things that these
Members opposite did not do.
MR. SPEAKER:
Order, please!
Thank
you.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Opposition House
Leader.
MR. HUTCHINGS:
I remind the Member it was
this administration that supported and was able to get that flight from St.
John's to Halifax (inaudible) –
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. HUTCHINGS:
Mr. Speaker, direct flight
from the province to Dublin helps grow our economy. A direct flight facilitates
trade, commerce and business partnerships. The minister has failed to advocate
for our province to be the Atlantic Canadian gateway to Europe and is also the
Minister of Business.
I ask
the minister: What impact will the loss of this flight have on business
opportunities and economic growth, and what is your plan for a gateway to
Europe, which we've now lost?
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Minister of
Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation.
MR. MITCHELMORE:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
We're
always working with our partners when it comes to looking at all the investment
opportunities here in this province. Flights are certainly one thing. When it
came to the Dublin flight itself, you have to look at the business case. The
company made the decision that the business case did not exist because they were
investing in larger aircraft – their Dreamliners. You have to be able to flow
passenger traffic to create the capacity. We were willing to invest and help
them in terms of marketing.
But we
have tremendous opportunities, Mr. Speaker, in our province. That's why we're
working to expand oil and gas, the mining sector, the aquaculture industry and
we're working with partners. We've seen significant Norwegian investment here in
this province. Unfortunately, we don't have the amount of Irish business
partnerships. That PC administration had invested in the Irish partnerships and
it failed.
MR. SPEAKER:
Thank you.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Opposition House
Leader.
MR. HUTCHINGS:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I'll
indicate to the minister, as far as I know, those Dreamliners, they land in
Halifax, but they can also land in St. John's, so that's the point. We've missed
it.
Your
department has a seat on the St. John's airport authority. We are told no
representatives have attended meetings in almost three years.
Why is
that, Minister?
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Minister of
Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation.
MR. MITCHELMORE:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The
Airport Authority has representation from various board members and we work with
and talk to the airport on a regular basis about all the opportunities that
exist. We have been investing – and as I've said, the previous administration
had an Air Access strategy that they cancelled. The PC Party cancelled the Air
Access Strategy in 2013.
Since
that time and our administration had taken over, we have invested more in air
access and support. It's a very globally competitive environment and, as we grow
our economy here in Newfoundland and Labrador, we will continue to see
additional flights and opportunities. I look forward to some very good news as
we expand flights and services here in Newfoundland and Labrador.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Opposition House
Leader.
MR. HUTCHINGS:
The minister talks about some
investment they've done, but obviously investment hasn't worked. We've lost our
gateway to Europe, with Brexit and other things going on that's so important as
we look forward – and the economic agreements with the EU.
So I ask
the minister again, very simply: Why have officials from your department who are
part of the St. John's airport authority been vacant from those meetings over
the last three years?
No
wonder the Airport Authority was blindsided; they knew nothing about it because
the Government of Newfoundland wasn't engaged at all with WestJet about what was
happening.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Minister of
Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation.
MR. MITCHELMORE:
Mr. Speaker, so much
misinformation from the other side. And when it comes to what we've been doing,
we've had very close relationship working with airlines, working with the
airport to promote Newfoundland and Labrador as a destination. We had over
530,000 people, non-residents, come to our province last year. When it comes to
tourism, we're breaking record numbers when it comes to spending and investment
here. We've seen new businesses open on a daily basis. These are opportunities.
As the
oil and gas industry expands and the Minister of Natural Resources continues to
highlight the mineral resources and oil and gas, we will see further
opportunities to bring back a flight to New York. It has to be competitive.
The PC
Party, through Muskrat Falls and all of their spending, created an absolute mess
of this province and no wonder there was (inaudible) –
MR. SPEAKER:
Thank you, your time is over.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Member for
Fortune Bay - Cape La Hune.
MS. PERRY:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Earlier
this year, the Minister of Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation tried to
produce his own tourism video on social media. The video was met with criticism
from viewers who called it unnecessary and uncomfortable.
I ask
the minister: Why did he feel it necessary to post the video and then delete it?
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Minister of
Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Oh, oh!
MR. SPEAKER:
Order, please!
MR. MITCHELMORE:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I'd like
to go back to a question the Member opposite asked about ACOA funding into the
Halifax airport. There was no Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency –
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Oh, oh!
MR. SPEAKER:
Order, please!
MR. MITCHELMORE:
– funding in that $11 million
that was put forward.
And in
response to the tourism introduction that was put forward by myself as minister,
we had launched an ad here in this province – Target Marketing had done –and it
had been the most successfully launched ad and most viewed on YouTube with
680,000 views in just one month.
It's
important, when you look at all of the opportunities, to get our message out
there in terms of promotion of Newfoundland and Labrador. And our ad right now,
A Tangled Tale, is certainly doing just that.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER:
Order, please!
The hon.
the Member for Fortune Bay - Cape La Hune.
MS. PERRY:
I certainly commend the ad
agency for the work they're doing. Our province is known for an award-winning
tourism brand. These advertisements were started under the previous
administration and have resulted in the growth of the tourism sector.
Does the
minister believe it was appropriate to tie his awkward video in with the
award-winning tourism brand?
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Minister of
Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation.
MR. MITCHELMORE:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
There is
no question that the award-winning campaign that we have is certainly something
that we continue to do and we continue to build on that.
But what
the Member opposite didn't listen or didn't hear in my response is that when the
ad, A Tangled Tale, was launched just one month ago, it is the most successfully
viewed and watched ad on our YouTube and social media channels –
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. MITCHELMORE:
– 680,000 views in just one
month. The ad that we did, colours, just three years ago, has only achieved
450,000 views, and anything that was done by the previous administration fails
in comparison.
So, when
you look at how to promote and how to get your message out there, that ad is
reaching new markets and will benefit for years to come.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER:
Thank you.
The hon.
the Member for Fortune Bay - Cape La Hune.
MS. PERRY:
Mr. Speaker, he's not sharing
the count on his video.
Does the
minister now admit that posting his own social media video was a mistake, which
could have hurt the tourism brand of this province?
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Minister of
Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation.
MR. MITCHELMORE:
Mr. Speaker, I was in Gander
at the Hospitality Newfoundland and Labrador conference will all the
stakeholders of the hospitality industry. The Member opposite and all Members of
PC Party were not present. They were nowhere to be seen.
I don't
know where their commitment is to the tourism industry, but our government and
our party is certainly committed, and we are supporting the industry for tourism
here in this province. They certainly see the value of our tourism ads and the
work that's being done by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Industry and
Innovation.
I have
to say, we're in for a banner year. It's exciting, and I'm looking forward to
all the opportunities going forward.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Member for
Fortune Bay - Cape La Hune.
MS. PERRY:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The
mandate letter for the Minister of TCII states that he should be “Focusing
tourism marketing on the province's natural and cultural heritage.”
I ask
the minister: Will you admit your own awkward video took away from featuring the
province's natural culture and heritage?
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Minister of
Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation.
MR. MITCHELMORE:
Mr. Speaker, I mean it speaks
volumes –
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Oh, oh!
MR. SPEAKER:
Order, please!
MR. MITCHELMORE:
– when the Members opposite,
when the Opposition takes personal remarks at how an individual speaks or how
they conduct themselves.
As
minister, I am the spokesperson for the department. We had launched our tourism
ad, and the ad itself has been the most successful launch that we've had in the
province's history.
When we
talk to touring companies, when we talk to hoteliers, their numbers are showing
that we will have a very strong season. We've actually seen where flights are
being added during the summer. Deer Lake airport had its busiest season last
year in August during tourism traffic.
What we
are doing in The Way Forward around
tourism is working, Mr. Speaker, and we will continue to see those numbers grow.
There are 2,800 businesses from 2,600 last year.
MR. SPEAKER:
Order, please!
Your
time is over.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER:
A quick question, please,
from the Member for Fortune Bay - Cape La Hune.
MS. PERRY:
Mr. Speaker, the awkward
terminology was not mine. It is that of marketing experts across the country.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Oh, oh!
MR. SPEAKER:
Order, please!
MS. PERRY:
I ask the minister: Was the
production of his own video, which he removed, a good use of public funds in
your opinion?
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Minister of
Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation for a quick response, please.
MR. MITCHELMORE:
Mr. Speaker, her words or
not, she has no issue with using them in the House of Assembly, so she much
agree with them.
What I
will say, Mr. Speaker, is that cost zero dollars to produce – zero dollars. And
look at the achievement, Mr. Speaker, 680,000 views in a month. Nothing else has
achieved so much success.
It's
about getting the message out there about our tourism ad, and that's what people
are viewing. That's what they're falling in love with, and we will see success
this summer for the 20,000 people who are employed in the tourism industry.
MR. SPEAKER:
Thank you.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Member for St.
John's East - Quidi Vidi.
MS. MICHAEL:
Thank you very much, Mr.
Speaker.
Tomorrow
is International Women's Day, and women are done waiting.
I ask
the Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development: Will he broaden child
care subsidies to make it affordable for all families, not just some, so that
women who need and want to work can afford to do so?
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Minister of
Education and Early Childhood Development.
MR. HAWKINS:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I'd like
to thank the Member opposite for a very good question today. I know that we as a
government on this side have put a lot of emphasis on early childhood
development. As a matter of fact, we signed a bilateral agreement with the
federal government for $22 million for operating grants, which actually worked
in providing an additional thousand more affordable spaces for our residents in
the province, and we continue to work on that.
We've
also looked at areas that we're making significant change with regard to – we've
had capex investments into resources so we can have a play-based environment for
our young people. So we continue to do that. And I know there'll be another
question coming, so I'll –
MR. SPEAKER:
Thank you.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER:
Order, please!
The hon.
the Member for St. John's East - Quidi Vidi.
MS. MICHAEL:
Thank you very much, Mr.
Speaker.
Well,
I'm going to have to look forward to the budget, I suppose, to see if he really
is going to broaden the subsidies.
Women,
as I said, are done waiting.
I ask
the Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Labour: Will he convince his
government to raise the annual increase to the minimum wage significantly in
order to close the gender wage gap and catch up to the rest of the country?
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Minister of
Advanced Education, Skills and Labour.
MR. DAVIS:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank
you for the question. We, as a government, opened a transparent process. We
consulted with stakeholders in the area. We wanted to create an ability to plan
for both the employers and employees, which is what we did. We've committed to
harmonizing, with our Atlantic colleagues, the minimum wage level, the date for
minimum wage at April 1. We've committed to an increase in minimum wage of 25
cents this year, starting April 1, to $11.40 minimum wage.
Thank
you very much, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Member for St.
John's Centre.
MS. ROGERS:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Tomorrow
is International Women's Day and women are done waiting.
I ask
the Minister Responsible for the Status of Women: Where is the promised pay
equity legislation?
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Minister
Responsible for the Status of Women.
MS. HALEY:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I thank
the hon. Member for her question. Women and girls in Newfoundland and Labrador
deserve to have economic and social equality.
Pay
equity is a very complex issue. A Committee has been established, chaired by my
deputy minister, and of course there's a lot of research to be done around pay
equity, and they will have ample opportunity to compile the information.
This is
not about how quickly we can do it. It's about doing the right thing.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Member for St.
John's Centre.
MS. ROGERS:
Mr. Speaker, that research
has been done and pay equity is in effect in a number of places in the country.
Mr. Speaker, women are done waiting.
I ask
the Minister of Justice and Public Safety: Where's the Labrador Domestic
Violence Court that was promised four years ago?
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Minister of
Justice and Public Safety.
MR. A. PARSONS:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
It's
always a pleasure when we can stand up and talk about the great strides we've
made in Justice in just the last three-and-a-half years. The fact is we are
working on expansions to the Family Violence Intervention Court in this
province, including in Labrador. We're also working on a number of initiatives
across this province.
Just
this week, we talked about the success of the sexual violence legal support
service program. It's something that's novel in this country and which has
helped 50 people get free legal advice during times of great trauma in their
life, and I'm looking forward to making more announcements next week on the
things we are doing in the Justice system.
Thank
you.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Member for St.
John's Centre.
MS. ROGERS:
Mr. Speaker, that doesn't
speak to the Labrador Domestic Violence Court.
Mr.
Speaker, women are done waiting.
I ask
the Minister Responsible for the Status of Women: Will she commit to funding the
NorPen Aboriginal Women's Circle's request for a women's centre on the Northern
Peninsula which is so desperately needed?
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Minister
Responsible for the Status of Women.
MS. HALEY:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I thank
the hon. Member for her question.
Mr.
Speaker, as the hon. Member would know, this is a budget question.
Thank
you very much.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Member for St.
John's Centre for quick question, please.
MS. ROGERS:
Mr. Speaker, women are done
waiting.
I ask
the minister: Will she commit to funding a provincial women's conference where
women's centres from around the province set the agenda to get real meaningful
work done on women's issues?
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Minister of
Justice and Public Safety, for a quick response.
MR. A. PARSONS:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I'll
give a quick answer to that. Just three weeks ago we had a meeting of women from
all across this province, advocates. The Member opposite was there, and we
talked about ending violence against women and girls. We talked about the things
we are doing.
One of
the announcements we made that day is that we will be bringing a Claire's Law
into this province that will help make sure that interpersonal violence
situations get known to the people that it involves.
Thank
you.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER:
The time for Oral Questions
has ended.
Presenting Reports by Standing and Select Committees.
Tabling
of Documents.
Notices
of Motion.
Notices of Motion
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Minister of
Finance and President of Treasury Board.
MR. OSBORNE:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I give
notice that I will ask leave to introduce a bill entitled, An Act Respecting The
Pension Plan For Employees Of The Government Of The Province And Others, Bill
56.
MR. SPEAKER:
Thank you very much.
Further
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
Children, Seniors and Social Development.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MS. DEMPSTER:
Mr. Speaker, I'd just like to
read into the record for the purpose of this hon. House that yesterday the
Member for CBS got up and he made 100 per cent false statements on everything
that he said in this House. He talked about us bringing a smaller ferry to the
Strait of Belle Isle.
Mr.
Speaker, 300-passenger capacity up from 240. We are taking 120 vehicles, up from
80 to 90 in the previous. He said that the vessel has been 14 days without
travel. The longest that vessel has gone without travelling this year is six
days, and we put on flights.
I want
to say to the Opposition, you cannot get up and just start spewing numbers out.
It's not only important to have your facts and figures straight; you have a
responsibility to the people of this province to have your facts straight. And
that's why we have seniors that can't sleep when they think about Muskrat Falls,
because they sanctioned the project and they didn't know what they were at.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER:
Order, please!
Petitions.
Petitions
MR. SPEAKER:
I will look to the Minister
of Health and Community Services for a response to a petition from yesterday,
please.
The hon.
the Minister of Health and Community Services.
MR. HAGGIE:
Thank you very much, Mr.
Speaker.
We ran
out of time yesterday with the 3 o'clock deadline for private Members'
resolutions. The Member for Mount Pearl - Southlands was delivering a petition
on behalf of some of the constituents around seniors and those people with
cognitive impairment, suggesting that their care was in some way neglectful or
less than standard.
I think
the first statement I'd like to make is that I really appreciate, both on a
personal and a professional level, the efforts and hard work of long-term health
care providers in this province who actually make these facilities into a home.
In terms
of cognitive impairment, we have actually invested $6 million-plus in Botwood
for a brand new wing for cognitively impaired people with dementia, along with
facilities such as Pleasant View Towers. And again, I'd like to have that record
corrected, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER:
Thank you very much.
The hon.
the Member for Humber - Bay of Islands.
MR. JOYCE:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Again, I
rise on the petition for the hospital in Corner Brook.
WHEREAS
the successful proponents for the new hospital in Corner Brook are scheduled to
be announced this spring with construction anticipated to begin in the fall and,
as this is estimated to be a four-year construction period, and as there are
experienced local tradespeople and labours in the area;
THEREFORE we, the undersigned, petition the hon. House of Assembly as follows:
To urge the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador to encourage companies that
are awarded the contracts for the new hospital to hire local tradespeople and
labourers, at no extra cost to the taxpayers, so that they can work in
their own area, support the local economy and be able to return home to their
families every evening.
Mr. Speaker, I'm going to stand and present these
petitions as long as they keep coming in. Today, we have people from McIver's,
Gillams, Meadows, Summerside, all throughout the Humber - Bay of Islands.
Mr. Speaker, I'm very encouraged by the minister's
comments lately that he's been dealing with Trades NL and the Newfoundland and
Labrador Construction Association to work with the locals. As I mentioned
several times before, when you bring people in, they have to be brought up to
the standards of Newfoundland and Labrador, with the additional work they have
to do, to make sure they're properly trained for these sites for the
Newfoundland standards.
Last year, as I mentioned before, Mr. Speaker, iron
workers were willing to put in $100,000 of their kitty, just to keep the people
home, to make sure that it would be no extra cost to the taxpayers of the
province.
Mr. Speaker, this is very important to the local economy in Corner Brook, very
important to the workers in Corner Brook and the surrounding area: Baie Verte,
Burin Peninsula – out as a far as Baie Verte they said they could have enough
workers.
I'm encouraged by the minister and I ask any other
minister – and I know the Member for Corner Brook definitely agrees with the
petition and see what we can do as a government, all people here, to try to help
out and to ensure that local workers are put there.
Mr. Speaker, I have to add that all the Construction Association workers and
unions are willing to work with government to ensure that there's no extra cost
to the taxpayers of the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador. I thank the
minister for his work into this in the past, because I know there were meetings
in Corner Brook, and I know he'll be working with all of us to try to ensure
that this is done.
Mr. Speaker, I am giving notice here to the minister
that I'm here to help out, whatever I can do also to ensure that local workers
are hired, to keep people at home.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
MR.
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Minister of Transportation and Works for a response, please.
MR.
CROCKER:
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
I thank the hon. Member for the petition. I can assure
the hon. Member that we all support Newfoundland and Labrador workers in the
construction industry or any other industry. I met earlier this week with Trades
NL to discuss this very topic and ways, going forward, that we can actually work
to ensure that the people on these job sites are Newfoundlanders and
Labradorians.
Also, we were in Corner Brook last fall and we hosted a
business session between local Newfoundland and Labrador companies with the two
proponents that are selected to do the bidding on the hospital. I can tell you,
one thing we do have for certain in Newfoundland and Labrador, we have some
great construction companies, Mr. Speaker, and they're staffed with great
workers.
Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the offer from the Member
opposite to work with us, to work with everybody here in this House to ensure
that Newfoundlanders and Labradorians are the primary beneficiaries of this
construction.
Thank
you, Mr. Speaker.
MR. SPEAKER:
Thank you.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Member for Mount
Pearl North.
MR. LESTER:
Mr. Speaker, all Canadian
provinces and territories, except Newfoundland and Labrador, have crime victim
compensation/financial assistance programs for victims of violent or
interpersonal crimes.
Newfoundlanders and Labradorians who are victims and survivors of violent crimes
such as homicide, sexual assault, domestic violence, assault, child sexual abuse
and neglect should be eligible for financial compensation to cover the cost of
expenses resulting from the crime.
Some of
the costs that should be considered include: medical expenses, mental
health/counselling expenses, pain and suffering, support for a child born as a
result of a sexual assault, lost wages for incapacitated or disabled victims,
lost support for dependants of victims, and property loss or damage.
THEREFORE we petition the hon. House of Assembly as follows: We, the
undersigned, call on the House of Assembly to urge the Government of
Newfoundland and Labrador to implement a crime victim compensation/financial
assistance program for victims of violent or interpersonal crimes.
It kind
of really shocked me to find out that someone could be assaulted, be it sexual
or physical, and lying on the sidewalk and when an ambulance comes to pick them
up to transport them to a medical facility, they'll get a bill in the mail.
Mr.
Speaker, we can no longer continue to victimize the victim.
MR. SPEAKER:
Thank you.
The hon.
the Member for Mount Pearl - Southlands.
MR. LANE:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
There
have been numerous concerns raised by family members of seniors in long-term
care throughout Newfoundland and Labrador, particularly those suffering with
dementia, Alzheimer's disease and other cognitive debilitating conditions,
whereby loved ones have experienced injuries, have not been bathed regularly,
not received proper nutrition and/or have been left lying in their own waste for
extended periods of time. We believe this is directly related to government's
failure to ensure adequate staffing at all those facilities.
THEREFORE we petition the hon. House of Assembly as follows: To urge the
Government of Newfoundland and Labrador to instate legislation which includes
the mandatory establishment of an adequate ratio of one staff to three residents
in long-term care and all other applicable regional health facilities housing
persons with dementia, Alzheimer's disease and other cognitive debilitating
conditions in order to ensure appropriate safety, protection from injuries,
proper hygiene care and all other required care. This law would include the
creation of a specific job position in these facilities for monitoring and
intervention as required to ensure the safety of patients.
Mr.
Speaker, I am presenting this again today on behalf of the Advocates for Senior
Citizens' Rights. The minister just spoke to it a few minutes ago. He talked
about the investment that was made in Botwood and somewhere else – I think he
said a new wing in Botwood, and there was some expansion somewhere else.
Mr.
Speaker, nobody is – and he also talked about that staff are doing a good job
and so on. I'm certainly not suggesting that staff are not doing a good job and
doing the best with what they have. I'm also not questioning bricks and mortar.
I'm not questioning the availability of nutritious meals, which is what he said
yesterday or the day before, talking about they have nutritious meals and so on.
No one is saying that.
What is
being asked for here, and what the issue is, is there are concerns amongst a lot
of people who have loved ones in long-term care that there is not enough staff.
Never mind the bricks and mortar; there's not enough staff to take care of the
people the way they should be taken care of.
There
may be nutritious food, but it's useless to have nutritious food laid at the
bedside and three or four hours later a family member comes in and the
nutritious food is there at the bedside because there is nobody there to feed
that person. That's the issue. It's not about food. It's not about the bricks
and mortar. It's not about whether staff care and doing the best they can. It's
about ensuring the appropriate staff there to take care of these people. That's
what's being asked for. They're asking that it be cemented in legislation as
opposed to policy or regulation, which can change either by the health
authorities or can change by the minister as opposed to saying there has to be a
minimum standard for these people.
Thank
you, Mr. Speaker.
MR. SPEAKER:
Thank you.
The hon.
the Minister of Health and Community Services for a response, please.
MR. HAGGIE:
Thank you very much, Mr.
Speaker.
I'm
delighted to stand here and speak once again about the sterling work done by
staff in long-term care facilities across this province.
I think
I would point out that most long-term care facilities have family satisfaction
surveys on a regular interval. The latest results I've seen – and I speak for my
own area again at the moment – would suggest that 92 per cent of families are
satisfied with the level of care that their loved ones receive. That is not, of
course, with compliancy. I think it is simply a number to try and put some
context to the comments from my colleagues over the way.
Again,
if he were to spend any significant time in long-term care facilities, he would
also note the amount of care and attention that goes in to coordinating the
activities of the catering staff and the nursing and care staff, so that meals
are available to people who need assistance, at a time when they are hot and
there are staff to feed them, Mr. Speaker.
MR. SPEAKER:
Thank you.
Further
petitions?
The hon.
the Member for St. John's East - Quidi Vidi.
MS. MICHAEL:
Thank you very much, Mr.
Speaker.
Here are
the reasons for this petition: our licenced child care system is a patchwork of
private-for-profit centres, 70 per cent of all centres, non-profit
community-based centres and family daycare; plus, a small number of education
and workplace-based centres. It is nowhere near meeting the child care needs in
our province. Affordable licenced child care is often in short supply in rural
parts of the province. Even in St. John's there are long wait-lists for quality
child care programs.
Child
care programs have both social and financial benefits for society. Studies show
that high-quality child care and early childhood education programs result in
better cognitive language and numeracy skills. They help economically
disadvantaged children transition to school on the same level as other children.
For every one dollar spent on early childhood education, the benefits range from
$1.50 to $2.78. Many studies show this, including TD Economics.
Investing in child care creates jobs. One million dollars invested in child care
would create 40 jobs, more than in any other sector, and that comes from the
Child Care Human Resources Sector Council. A gender-based analysis of the
provincial budget would have indicated the need for a public child care program
as a key way to close the wage gap between women and men in this province.
THEREFORE we, the undersigned, petition the House of Assembly as follows:
We call
upon the House of Assembly to urge the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador
to take immediate steps to put in place a plan for a gradual transition to a
universal, regulated and publicly funded and fully accessible child care and
after-school care program.
This
petition is signed, I think, totally by people from St. John's. As their
petition points out, this is not just an issue in rural Newfoundland and
Labrador, it may even be a greater issue in the cities of the province than even
in rural.
On the
day before International Women's Day, I think it's important to look at one of
the bullets in this petition, about a gender-based analysis of the provincial
budget.
When the
minister answered questions from me today with regard to child care, there was
no real understanding of the fact that subsidies that we have in place are only
benefiting a small number of people, but we still have thousands who are not
benefiting from these subsidies. What we need is a real plan for using child
care. Number one, to help the need of child care; number two, to help our
economy.
Thank
you very much, Mr. Speaker.
MR. SPEAKER:
Thank you.
The hon.
the Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development for a response,
please.
MR. HAWKINS:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I do
agree with one of the statements she made, that early childhood improves
cognitive thinking and abilities. So at least there's one – one point is
correct.
Mr.
Speaker, our government has made significant advancement in early childhood over
the last three years. As a matter of fact, we have made available an additional
1,000 affordable spaces. In addition to that, we have invested $22 million in a
bilateral agreement between the federal and provincial government. In addition
to that – and she talked about a million dollars – we put in $2 million.
I just
want to bring attention to a couple of items as well, Mr. Speaker. Since 2017,
we have increased the net income threshold from $27,000 to $32,000 to $35,000.
This will provide – get this – this will provide an additional 560 spaces that
will be fully subsidized –
MR. SPEAKER:
Thank you, Sir.
MR. HAWKINS:
– and we're continuing to
work on that.
Thank
you, Mr. Speaker.
MR. SPEAKER:
Your time is over.
Thank
you.
Further
petitions?
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
Newfoundland and Labrador has one of the lowest minimum wages in Canada, and the
minimum wage workers earn poverty incomes; and
WHEREAS
proposals to index the minimum wage to inflation will not address poverty if the
wage is too low to start with; and
WHEREAS
women and youth, and service sector employees, are particularly hurt by the low
minimum wage; and
WHEREAS
the minimum wage only rose only 5 per cent between 2010 and 2016, while many
food items rose more than 20 per cent; and
WHEREAS
other Canadian jurisdictions are implementing or considering a $15 minimum wage
as a step toward a living wage;
Whereupon the undersigned, your petitioners, humbly pray and call upon the House
of Assembly to urge government to legislate a gradual increase in the minimum
wage to $15 by 2021 with an annual adjustment thereafter to reflect provincial
inflation.
And as
in duty bound, your petitioners will ever pray.
Mr.
Speaker, it's particularly poignant to be presenting this petition today on the
eve of International Women's Day. We know that the majority of minimum wage
workers, in fact, are women. We also know that the majority of people who are
living in poverty are single moms, sole support mothers with children. We know
that poverty affects the welfare of children, but it also affects the choices
that a woman can make in her life.
We know
from the research and from the work that all of us do in our own constituencies,
how many women are unable to escape situations of violence because of poverty;
how many women stay in those kinds of positions because they feel they have no
alternative, because they don't the resources they need in order to fend for
their children, in order to live in safe and affordable housing?
Mr.
Speaker, it's incredible that this government doesn't do the right steps to
ensure that the people of Newfoundland and Labrador who are working hard to help
build our economy, who are working full-time, yet living just at the poverty
levels or just above the poverty levels.
Mr.
Speaker, we see that this is being enacted in provinces all across the country
and in other parts of the world. There's no longer a justifiable reason for
government not to do the right thing. At the rate that they're going, without
increasing the basic foundational rate so that when their increases are making a
difference, we won't reach $15 for years and years and years.
Thank
you, Mr. Speaker.
MR. SPEAKER:
Thank you.
The hon.
the Government House Leader.
MR. A. PARSONS:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I call
Orders of the Day.
MR. SPEAKER:
Orders of the Day, Sir.
Orders of the Day
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Government House Leader.
MR. A. PARSONS:
Mr. Speaker, I call from the
Order Paper, Order 3, third reading of Bill 50.
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Government House
Leader.
MR. A. PARSONS:
Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded
by the Minister of Health and Community Services, that Bill 50, An Act To Amend
The Public Bodies Reporting Act, be now read a third time.
MR. SPEAKER:
It is moved and seconded that
the said bill be now read a third time.
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.'
The
motion is carried.
CLERK (Barnes):
A bill, An Act To Amend The
Public Bodies Reporting Act. (Bill 50)
MR. SPEAKER:
This bill has now been read a
third time and it is ordered that the bill do pass and its title be as on the
Order Paper.
On
motion, a bill, “An Act To Amend The Public Bodies Reporting Act,” read a third
time, ordered passed and its title be as on the Order Paper. (Bill 50)
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Government House
Leader.
MR. A. PARSONS:
Mr. Speaker, prior to doing a
first reading, if I would direct my colleagues to look at Motion 2, I've just
been notified that this legislation, which is An Act Respecting The Continuation
Of The Oil And Gas Corporation Of Newfoundland and Labrador, Bill 42, that there
is a typo and an error. It's not “continuation;” it's supposed to be
“establish.” So the bill should actually say, An Act To Establish An Oil And Gas
Corporation For The Province, Bill 42.
I wonder
if I would have leave, from my colleagues, to amend the title of that bill to
respect the same, prior to first reading?
MR. SPEAKER:
Do I see leave?
AN HON. MEMBER:
Leave.
MR. SPEAKER:
Leave.
MR. A. PARSONS:
Thank you, I appreciate the
co-operation of my colleagues over there, including the independent Members.
Mr.
Speaker, I move, seconded by the Minister of Health and Community Services for
leave to introduce a bill entitled, An Act To Establish An Oil And Gas
Corporation For The Province, Bill 42 and I further move that the said bill be
now read a first time.
MR. SPEAKER:
It is moved and seconded that
the hon. the Government House Leader shall have leave to introduce a bill
entitled, An Act To Establish An Oil And Gas Corporation For The Province, Bill
42, and that the said bill be now read a first time.
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.'
The
motion is carried.
Motion,
the hon. the Minister of Natural Resources to introduce a bill, “An Act To
Establish An Oil And Gas Corporation For The Province, carried.” (Bill 42)
CLERK:
A bill, An Act To Establish An Oil And Gas Corporation For The Province. (Bill
42)
MR. SPEAKER:
This bill has now been read a
first time?
When
shall the said bill be read a second time?
MR. A. PARSONS:
Tomorrow.
MR. SPEAKER:
Tomorrow.
On
motion, Bill 42 read a first time, ordered read a second time on tomorrow.
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Minister of
Finance.
MR. OSBORNE:
Mr. Speaker, I wish to inform
the House that I received a message from Her Honour the Lieutenant-Governor.
MR. SPEAKER:
I would ask all to rise,
please.
I am in
receipt of a letter from Government House dated the 3rd of March, 2019 and it
states:
As
Lieutenant-Governor of the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador, I transmit a
request to appropriate sums required for the Public Service of the province for
the year ending 31 March 2020, by way of Interim Supply, and in accordance with
the provisions of sections 54 and 90 of the
Constitution Act, 1867, I recommend
this request to the House of Assembly.
Sgd.:
_______________________
Judy M.
Foote
Lieutenant-Governor
Please
be seated.
The hon.
the Minister of Finance and President of Treasury Board.
MR. OSBORNE:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I move,
seconded by the hon. Minister of Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation, that
the message, together with a bill, be referred to a Committee of Supply.
MR. SPEAKER:
The motion is that the
message, together with a bill, be referred to a Committee of Supply and that I
do now leave the Chair.
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.'
The
motion is carried.
On
motion, that the House resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole, the Speaker
left the Chair.
Committee of the
Whole
CHAIR (Warr):
Order, please!
We are
considering the related resolution and Bill 55, An Act Granting To Her Majesty
Certain Sums Of Money For Defraying Certain Expenses Of The Public Service For
The Financial Year Ending March 31, 2020 And For Other Purposes Relating To The
Public Service.
Resolution
“Be it resolved by the House of Assembly in
Legislative Session convened, as follows:
“That it is expedient to introduce a
measure to provide for the granting to Her Majesty for defraying certain
expenses of the public service for the financial year ending March 31, 2020 the
sum of $2,864,878,600.”
CHAIR:
Shall the resolution carry?
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Aye.
CHAIR:
The Chair recognizes the hon.
the Minister of Finance and President of Treasury Board.
MR. OSBORNE:
Mr. Chair, I didn't hear any
nays, I figured we had Interim Supply then.
Mr.
Chair, it's a pleasure to rise in the House today and speak to Interim Supply.
This is an annual bill that we must pass in the House to allow for the financial
administration of ongoing government operations during interim period while
budget 2019 is being introduced, debated and approved by the Legislature.
When we
introduce the budget, we will be seeking approval for funding to spend the
entire fiscal year, Mr. Chair, but it normally takes time to allow for the
debate and approval of that, so during the interim period we need to provide
funding so that government departments can do their ongoing work of the core
public service and continue without disruption. This is the purpose of what
we're debating today, which is known as Interim Supply.
Mr.
Chair, we're seeking approval in Interim Supply for a sum of approximately $2.86
billion. While Interim Supply is based on 2018-19 budget figures, in some cases
allowances are made for anticipated increases in the coming year. Increases in
some areas are a normal part of government business. The primary reason for the
increase is that the Department of Natural Resources will require an increase of
$43 million over last year for Nalcor's equity payment. But, it should be noted,
this is just a timing issue; and, in fact, Nalcor's equity payment is less in
2019-20 than it was in 2018-19.
Mr.
Chair, Interim Supply will provide departments and public bodies with the
necessary cash flow to manage expenditures for the period April 1 to June 30,
2019, or essentially the first quarter of the fiscal year. This includes ongoing
housekeeping expenditures, including funding for upcoming pay periods, ongoing
project and funding requirements applicable to the 2019-20 fiscal year.
This
Interim Supply bill makes provision for a transfer of funds from the Department
of Finance to other departments for expenditures for compensation, benefits and
associated adjustments; transfers from the Consolidated Fund Services accounts
to other departments for special retirement and other payments, should they be
necessary; transfers to and from various heads of expenditure to facilitate
expenditures to financial assistance, as may be approved from time to time by
Treasury Board; a contingency clause to overcome any unforeseen expenses.
Interim
Supply, Mr. Chair, is an important bill that is intended to provide for the
continuation of ongoing government programs, services and projects. The bill
needs to be passed to continue routine and ongoing operations while budget 2019
is going through the Legislature for debate and approval.
As we
approach budget 2019, the province continues to face fiscal challenges; however,
these challenges are not insurmountable. We, together, as the people of
Newfoundland and Labrador, are making positive strides in the right direction.
Our government continues to take a balanced approach to fiscal management. Our
focus as a government is on the delivery of programs and services that are
important to the public in smarter and more efficient ways.
We are
seeing very real improvements in economic indicators that people are feeling in
their everyday lives. The unemployment rate has declined from 2017, and is
expected to decline further in 2019. Retail sales declined somewhat in 2018;
however, we project growth in 2019, and that growth will continue from 2019 to
2022. Household income is expected to trend upwards in line with wage gains and
the economy. Capital investment is rebounding. This year we see West White Rose
and Voisey's Bay underground mines ramping up development.
In
addition, we have been able to keep our spending steady by maintaining spending
on health care which has been critical in our approach. After health care
budgets swelled by almost 70 per cent in the mid-2000s to 2015, we've been able
to hold spending steady for the last three years while creating capacity and
bringing services throughout the community.
We've
achieved $2.9 million in annual savings by reducing leased space throughout
government. We expect further reductions in leased space this year and in 2020,
as leases come up for renewal. Through measures such as reducing the size of the
public service through attrition, zero-based budgeting and implementing a
risk-based approach to estimating revenues, our government continues to look at
creative ways to correct the course without significant fiscal pain.
So, Mr.
Chair, I know this is a procedural motion, but it is nonetheless important in
order to continue with the business of government. The funds allocated under
this bill go towards the work of our departments who are moving forward with our
balanced approach.
Just a
few of their successes, Mr. Chair, includes the investment in new and improved
health care infrastructure to ensure we're meeting the province's health care
needs. These include two new 60-bed, long-term care homes, one in Gander and one
in Grand Falls-Windsor; a new 145-bed, long-term care home in Corner Brook, as
well as a new 164-bed hospital in Corner Brook; the opening of 28 long-term care
beds, and a new ambulatory care space in Carbonear.
Implementation of the education action plan which was developed as part of the
Premier's Task Force on Improving
Educational Outcomes saw the creation of teaching and learning assistants, a
total of 200 over three years; the creation of 21.5 reading specialists, which
will increase to 104 over the next three years; the creation of additional
teacher librarians, which will see an additional 39 over the next three years;
and, an increase in the allocation of learning resource teachers.
We have
also provided support for the establishment of a 500-person inbound contact
centre in St. John's. Over the next five years it is expected that S&P Data will
generate up to $131 million in economic activity.
Our
approach to economic development has also led to boosting new employment
opportunities in such industries as oil and gas, mining, aerospace and defense.
We've seen an agreement with Husky Energy to develop the West White Rose
Project. That resulted in employment of approximately 1,700 jobs to date,
largely in Argentia and Marystown.
In
November of 2018, we saw $1.39 billion in bids for exploration licences
received, as the most recent call for bids in Eastern Newfoundland region and
the Jeanne d'Arc Basin. It's the largest, single year number for bids in the
province.
Vale's
expansion of the Voisey's Bay underground mine will create 1,600-person years of
direct and indirect employment during the five-year construction period, peaking
at 4,800 in 2020. Once operational, the underground mine and Long Harbour
processing plant will contribute to 1,700 jobs.
The
provincial government's partnership with Grieg is positioned in Newfoundland and
Labrador as a leader in Canada's aquaculture industry. We've provided a
repayable loan to leverage another $220 million and will create 830 jobs for the
construction process, as well as 380 in related sectors.
We've
established a Canadian agricultural partnership with the federal government.
It's a $3 billion, five-year investment to help Canada's agricultural sector.
This partnership will provide $37 million in strategic investments for
agricultural and programming in Newfoundland and Labrador.
We have
introduced policy changes to support the province's fast growing craft brewage
industry, including increasing discounts to markups that craft brewage
facilities remit to government on the production of beer, spirits, cider and
non-grape wine. These are, no doubt, helping to create jobs and successful
businesses and strengthening communities. These are just a few of the numerous
ways that our government has helped diversify the economy and create employment.
Up as
far as yesterday, Mr. Chair, I have been saying that we've had six consecutive
months of year-over-year employment increases in this province. I can proudly
say that as of today, we've had seven consecutive months of year-over-year
employment increases. So things are turning around. All of our economic
indicators are showing that our economy is rebounding, strengthening and
growing.
There
can be no doubt that helping to create new jobs and successful businesses is
essential to strengthening communities throughout our province, Mr. Chair. So,
too, is investing in infrastructure projects that support the delivery of public
services and maximizing potential to encourage greater economic activity.
I'm sure
that there are other examples within our government – there are several, in
fact, that I know of. I'm sure that my colleagues on this side of the House, Mr.
Chair, will take the opportunity to speak to this bill and highlight some of the
other initiatives that we've had success with over the past three years.
With
that in mind, Mr. Chair, I look forward to comments and remarks by all Members
of the House as we debate Interim Supply.
CHAIR:
Thank you.
The
Chair recognizes the hon. the Member for Mount Pearl North.
MR. LESTER:
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
It gives
me pleasure to rise to speak today, speaking as part of this process that we're
going through right now. Mr. Chair, I have a story that's kind of been on my
mind now for the past couple of days. It's an issue that we're all familiar
with, and that's the plight of our seniors in our health care system.
I have a
constituent whose mother is in a long-term care home and she was transported to
the Health Sciences Centre. This story is not unique; I'm sure we've all heard
them. Basically, the constituent's mother was assessed and diagnosed with an
issue.
My
constituent said to the nurse or the doctor who was present: Okay, her normal
doctor would do this. And the doctor in the emergency room said: Well, we
wouldn't normally do that to an 84-year-old women. My constituent said: Why?
This will save her life. And she goes: We wouldn't normally do that to an
84-year-old women. After my constituent pressed why she wouldn't do that –
because she has to explain to Eastern Health why she would invest money in the
treatment of an 84-year-old women.
Now, how
can we sit here and look up and not hang our heads in shame when we've come to
valuing a senior's life over money that treatment would cost?
I've got
a constituent in my district who has made several appeals to Eastern Health and
to the Ministry. She's going to go blind because she cannot afford a further
injection that will save her sight. This is a perfectly functioning women who
lives independently in her own rented apartment, taking care of herself, is now
going to become blind and a complete and utter dependant of the state, of the
province.
So, for
the sake of a couple of thousand dollars to enable her to stay independent and
looking after herself, she's now going to become a ward of the state and cost us
thousands and thousands of dollars a week, let alone the humanitarian side of
it.
Mr.
Chair, another issue that I'd like to bring forth – which I have on several
occasions – being the discontinuation of the seniors and low-income dental
program. Over the past three years, our seniors, who everybody knows are largely
on fixed incomes, have been subjected to an increased cost of living, largely
due to the administration's efforts to increase revenue through taxation, an
increase of fees and other costs mandatory for life: driver's licence,
insurance, increase in HST. All of those costs are taking more money out of our
seniors' pockets. And now, many of those seniors who had a little bit of a nest
egg, a little bit of a rainy-day fund saved up, that rainy-day fund is gone.
I'm
hearing every day from seniors who are in homes – yes, they get the rental
subsidy, but that rental subsidy is not enough to cover their full rent and
their housing for the month. So now they have no money. They have no money to
top up that rental subsidy. Now they're in the position of having to leave what
they would consider their home and move into a publicly funded unit or –
demoralizingly enough – having to become homeless.
There's
something fundamentally wrong when we, as government and as legislators, cannot
see our way to find the funds to keep our seniors independent and not only
keeping them independent, but keep them as being a further cost to the system.
By
discontinuing the Dental Program, seniors who cannot afford to go to the
dentist, it's not like you or I who can say we'll go get a loan and we'll pay
that off over the course of our lifetime. Why don't you ask a senior if they
could go get a loan to pay for their teeth? Ninety-five per cent would say they
wouldn't even be considered.
So these
seniors are letting their dental problems go on and on, they're manifesting into
something so much larger and they're showing up in our emergency departments and
costing us more money again. It horrible for me to even say costing money,
seniors' health – why are those two things connected? Why should that even be a
concern? Seniors are human just like the rest of us. Why are we treating them
less than human because of the stage of life that they're in?
I just
listened to the Finance Minister talk about the unemployment rate. The
unemployment rate, yes, has gone down but so has our population. We've had 9,000
people leave our province, the majority of them being able-bodied workers. And,
why have they left? They've left looking for work. That's 9,000 people that
represent an investment of everybody else in this province.
We've
housed them. We've looked after their medical care. We've largely educated them,
even if it's only to grade 12. And if they've gone on to secondary education
through one of the trades colleges or Memorial, we've continued to fund them.
They're big investments. They're lost investments. Those 9,000 people that have
left our province are people that will generate a tax base for us. But guess
what? We've invested in a business, being those people, and now that business is
going to turn rewards for other jurisdictions throughout North America and the
world. I wish them all the best, and I hope that we can change things around,
that they see a future back here in Newfoundland and Labrador.
We've
gone from what was the most attractive place, taxation-wise and program-wise, to
live in in Atlantic Canada, to one of the least favoured. In confirmation of
that fact is those 9,000 people. Our population is predicted to continue to
decline, continue to decline while our population gets demographically older.
That means more cost on the system, less revenue for our provincial coffers.
When it
comes to an environment for business, governments, time and time again – and
this government is no exception to the rule – they think it is their job to
create jobs, and it is not. Government does a very poor job of creating jobs.
Government's job is to create an environment for business to prosper.
We often
hear of the advancements in mining, the advancements in oil, the establishment
of different businesses throughout our province, but most particularly when it
comes to non-renewable resources. The success of a non-renewable resource has
little or nothing to do with the current government; it has everything to do
with commodity prices, which are driven by world demand.
We have
to look at how we can increase the amount of businesses that are set up in our
province. We have to maximize the value of both non-renewable and renewable
resources. We're looking at a timber allocation on the Northern Peninsula right
now. While I'm sure I'll be corrected on some of my understanding, and I look
forward to that, we're taking valuable sawlogs, which could replace material
that's coming in from elsewhere, being produced elsewhere, and we're going to
turn them into pellets. And while I stand to be corrected on this, pellets is an
even lower value product than paper.
Why
can't we turn that saw log capacity into employment? Why can't we turn them into
materials for construction? Why can't we turn those saw logs into sawmills
operating throughout Newfoundland and Labrador? And, most particularly, on the
Northern Peninsula where that resource exists and where there are sawmills
sitting idle?
I'm
actually aware of a provincially-invested asset that's sitting there idle. No
matter who set that asset there, that's the people's money that put that there;
that's the people's asset, and it's a shame that sits there idle. Instead, we're
looking at going and building a similar functioning plant just across the
peninsula; yet, we have almost $20 million of public funds sitting idle,
withering away.
Regardless of who set the project up, regardless of when this government fades
into Opposition and a new government comes in place, we have to – as a potential
government, we have to look at capitalizing on the investments they have made,
while limited they may be.
I often
hear – I don't want to say political theatre – political theatre: we've done
this, we've done that. Well, guess what? No, it's not. It's the people on the
ground. It's the people in businesses that are willing to stick their necks out,
willing to put everything on the line for the creation of an enterprise that
will employ people, that will use resources, that will maximize the return for
our resources for the people of the province.
It's not
government's job to create jobs. It is government's job to create an environment
for business to flourish, and business will create jobs. In order to do that, we
have to make it a more attractive place for people to come and live so that they
won't just come and pull out our raw product. They are pulling out our raw
product to employ people in other jurisdictions in North America, and that's
where true economy is. When you can take a raw product and create it and pass it
through hands around the community before it's sold, that's where economy is and
that's where sustainability is.
By
increasing the amount of resources we take out of our province, we're only
taking away potential from our future. I often hear as well, how much money has
been spent on different projects and initiatives. As far as I know, and as far
as confirmed today, we are still in a deficit position. So every dollar we spend
extra today is a dollar – when you go home and look at your children or your
grandchildren, they will hopefully be able to pay back. They will be responsible
for paying that back.
If we
continue to overspend, we are going to soon see that interest will overtake the
top three expenses of our provincial budget, and that is something that's not
sustainable. Yes, government has been given challenges, governments are all
given challenges, but guess what? If you can't deal with the challenge, step
aside and let someone else do it.
AN HON. MEMBER:
(Inaudible) Muskrat Falls
(inaudible).
CHAIR:
Order, please!
MR. LESTER:
Well, considering Muskrat
Falls has been in government's hands for the past 3½ years, I think we should
all look at that.
AN HON. MEMBER:
Come on, b'y.
CHAIR:
Order, please!
MR. LESTER:
Muskrat Falls is what it is,
and instead of using it as a political game piece we have to start using it as a
potential asset of the province. We have to change the conversation.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. LESTER:
The money that's owing on
that is going to be a lot easier to pay back if we all work in the one
direction.
AN HON. MEMBER:
(Inaudible.)
CHAIR:
Order, please!
I remind
the hon. Member to direct his comments towards the Chair, please.
Thank
you.
MR. LESTER:
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
We're
listening: where's your plan; where's your plan? But I have yet to see a plan
from the opposite side. We're still hearing projections of this, projections of
that. But guess what? The people of this province need to see things happening.
They're tired of political theatre, and that's not just this administration.
That's happened, I guess, since time immemorial, and it has cost the people of
this province to the tune of $15 billion in provincial debt. It's time we put
the political theatre apart from the practical solutions that are right in front
of us.
We need
to spend our money wisely. Look, whether we like it or not, we have to reduce
the amount of spending. The only difference that has happened in the past 2½ or
three years is the price of oil has gone up, and we've increased the tax burden
on our people. That's what's driven up revenue; that's what's driven down our
deficit.
It has
not increased economic activity. We need to look at that. We need to increase
economic activity. Stop putting the burden on people's pockets, because that
nest egg, that rainy-day fund that people had in their pockets, that's no longer
there. That's gone. That's why we're seeing an increased demand in our social
housing. We're seeing an increased demand on our correctional systems. People
are desperate.
Bankruptcy is through the roof. Marriage break up is also through the roof.
There is another very, very startling statistic, and I will not mention it here
on this floor, but everybody I'm sure has heard it. We now have the highest rate
of self-harm in Canada, and that can be directly related to the economic
pressures on individuals and families.
Mr.
Chair, on a go-forward basis, I'd like to remind everybody, money we spend today
is money we cannot afford; therefore, we have to be super vigilant in making
sure it's money well spent. Look after our seniors, they're humans. They're
humans just like the rest of our demographics. So why don't we revisit the
policies of our health care system to make sure the ones who are most often to
sit silent are not the ones who are most often neglected?
Thank
you.
CHAIR:
Thank you.
The
Chair recognizes the hon. the Minister of Children, Seniors and Social
Development.
MS. DEMPSTER:
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
It's a
privilege this – my first time in the spring sitting of the House. My
grandmother had an expression that time and tide waits for no man. When we
walked in, I just could not believe – it was like yesterday it was December and
we were walking out and here we are back in to the House again.
Mr.
Chair, it's always a little bit challenging when you're a minister and you get
20 minutes to speak, as to whether you're going to talk about the wonderful
work, the positive things that are happening in your department or whether you
want to talk about your district issues.
So, Mr.
Chair, we have a great staff in Children, Seniors and Social Development, and in
Housing; 10 lines of business in CSSD. They work hard. I'm not going to talk
about that today, but I will have ample opportunity down the road to talk about
it. I want to talk about some of the really wonderful things that have been
happening in my district since we formed government, in particular, in 2015.
Mr.
Chair, you come with a few collective thoughts on things you want to talk about,
and then you hear a Member opposite get up and you listen for 20 minutes, like
we just did, and I would be remiss if I didn't respond to that. There are not a
lot of things that leave me speechless, but I am left speechless day after day
after day in this hon. House when Members opposite get up and they talk about
the raised taxes, the increased revenue. They talk about the difficulties that
seniors are going through; why don't we care about seniors.
Mr.
Chair, the seniors they talk about, they're not only our constituents they're
our family. The one thing they do not talk about is the bill of goods that was
sold to this province for $6.6 billion, and here we are now grappling with a
project dealing with rate mitigation issues over $12 billion. That's the
reality. That is why there are seniors struggling. That is why there are seniors
worried about, how are we going to pay our bill. That is why there are people
concerned about the extra taxes and things like that.
Mr.
Chair, we have had a very difficult road since we formed government. Coming in,
high expectations from our constituents that elected us, and we thought we had a
$1 billion deficit. The truth of the matter is, Mr. Chair, it turned out to be
$2.7 billion. Nobody forgets budget '16, it was difficult, but I'll tell you
what's happening now when we go out in our districts. People are saying: B'y,
you guys didn't have lot to work with, but it's showing; you're turning things
around. Confidence is up; confidence is growing.
Mr.
Chair, the things that they talk about, the struggles, no, it's not acceptable
but, at the end of the day, you only have so much money to work with. The former
administration, they were in power for 12 years, the PC government, they had
surpluses year after year, they had $25 billion in oil and their policy was to
do less with more. I am very thankful that under this Premier and this
government we have found a way – it was not easy – to do more with less.
So, Mr.
Chair, I represent a district where we had many, many issues. We were weighed in
the balance and found wanting with lots of big-ticket items. I wondered: How are
we going to deliver on some of these?
I'll
speak about the roads. Sometimes people don't understand that many of the things
I was fighting for – and I remember when I was in Opposition – are things that
the rest of the province have had for a long, long time. I remember – I can say
his name now – Clyde Jackman, when I would stand in petitions day after day and
say I had to stick to the high points this weekend when I drove home in my
district, especially if it was spring or fall, trenching through to the top of
my tires in mud. Yes, we needed pavement.
Well,
Mr. Chair, I wondered about that pavement when we formed government because we
didn't have a lot of money to work with, but I'm delighted to say that this
government has found a way to work 50-cent dollars with Ottawa and we have been
able to accomplish a lot in Labrador.
I think
it was August 19 in the summer of '17, I happened to be there when the first
load of asphalt, the first bucket was coming out, being dropped on the road
north of Red Bay. Since that time, Mr. Chair – and I have to say it never gets
old for me. I'll be driving it again this weekend if the weather co-operates,
which it hasn't a lot this winter, but these are things out of our control. It
never gets old when I turn my vehicle to go north of Red Bay and we are now up,
under this government, for the residents of Cartwright - L'Anse au Clair, 122.5
kilometres of new pavement on that road.
Yes,
it's in my district, but I remind the people of Newfoundland and Labrador that
it is the Trans-Labrador Highway. So, this pavement that we're getting – which
my constituents are benefiting from, thanks to this government – is also for the
provincial population, Mr. Chair.
Also,
Route 510 in the Labrador Straits, that road was paved; it was almost 40 years
ago. The road was absolutely terrible, Mr. Chair. Sometimes, in petitions, I
would call out it the Dalmatian highway, because there was far more potholes
than there was pavement. Basically, what had happened on Route 510 – and I know
there are roadwork needs all across the province, but what had happened on Route
510, the road was left without any upgrades for so long it was basically being
reconstructed with cold patch. So you can imagine what we were dealing with
there, Mr. Chair.
Last
year, 22 kilometres of new pavement went in the Labrador Straits – very proud of
that. Thanks to another commitment of our government to get tenders out early,
the tender is out and awarded we will see another 22 kilometres of new pavement
in the Labrador Straits, Mr. Chair. We are on track. One of the things that our
Premier did shortly after we formed government and recognizing the fiscal
realities in this province is that – I'm not sure if the clock is right, Mr.
Chair; I was looking at the time I had left –
AN HON. MEMBER:
(Inaudible.)
MS. DEMPSTER:
It is right? Okay, time goes
fast when you're up. I thought I had more time.
One of
the things that our Premier did was he flew to Ottawa and he met with the prime
minister and new criteria was put in place for the Trans-Labrador Highway so
that we could have federal-provincial agreements and all of the cost would not
be borne by the province.
Yes, Mr.
Chair, we've been talking about the ferry for the last couple of days. I'll tell
you, when I was in Opposition, and Members here that were around at that time
know how frustrated we were when new ferries like the
Hazel McIsaac, the Grace
Sparkes were announced – not saying those communities didn't need a ferry,
but once again Strait of Belle Isle, the people of Labrador, we were left at the
bottom of the barrel. They went out eventually with an RFP, they cancelled the
RFP, then they struck a committee, then they wrote a
What We Heard document. Mr. Chair, what they heard was what we
already knew, so it delayed, it delayed, it pushed out.
One of
the things in the What We Heard
document – I was looking at it earlier today – was that they needed a vessel
with around a 300-passenger capacity. We have that, Mr. Chair. This government
delivered on another big-ticket item for the people of Labrador with increased
commercial traffic, which was a big issue. We've gone from six to eight in
commercial tractor-trailers. We have increased our passenger capacity not only
from 240 up to 300, but I understand that potentially we could go to 400
passengers and increase vehicles.
Mr.
Chair, Cartwright - L'Anse au Clair is a beautiful district. It is a gem in this
province's crown. We have three national historic sites. We have Point Amour,
the tallest lighthouse in Atlantic Canada, the second tallest in the country. We
have Red Bay, a World Heritage Site, and we have Battle Harbour.
These
are some of the reasons – in addition to the people that live and work and call
Cartwright - L'Anse au Clair home and Labrador home – we have people who want to
come in bigger numbers than ever before. We're seeing growth in tourism, Mr.
Chair, in our sites. We need to increase our accommodation capacity. That's why
we need to invest in our roads. That's why we needed a newer, bigger ship. We've
had capacity issues with our vessel the last several summers.
Mr.
Chair, broadband – hotels could not go on and check their email to see who was
booking to come there. The rest of this House – I would get up day after day –
knew nothing about that. As a result of years of hard work, last January myself
and the MP – this project is coming to fruition now, communities are coming
online. The single largest investment in Atlantic Canada for broadband.
Recently, we were able to go up with the Premier in November and in partnership
with groups like NunatuKavut, who are doing fantastic work in the area, the
Labrador Fishermen's Union Shrimp Company, we all partnered – six communities in
my district, Mr. Chair, are going to have cellular.
Mr.
Chair, my focus going forward, now that we've dealt with some of the tremendous
infrastructure needs, is going to be on the well-being of the people, around
mental health and others –
CHAIR:
Order, please!
I remind
the hon. Member that her speaking time has expired.
MS. DEMPSTER:
Mr. Chair, I have so many
good things to talk about, but I see by the clock I'm out of time and I will
have another opportunity.
Thank
you very much.
CHAIR:
The Chair recognizes the hon.
the Member for Humber - Bay of Islands.
MR. JOYCE:
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I'll
just stand for a second to speak on Interim Supply, and I can see a few Members
from the Opposition are upset that I'm up standing and speaking. I don't know
why. I have the right to speak in this House as anybody else. If the Member from
– I forget where he's from –
AN HON. MEMBER:
You wouldn't know that; I don't want you to know that.
MR. JOYCE:
You don't want me to know
that. Well, I just let you know I have every right here to stand in this House,
and I find very disconcerting that a Member from the Opposition haven't got the
intestinal fortitude to stand up and say I shouldn't be speaking instead of just
down yapping.
Mr.
Chair, I just want to talk about the Humber - Bay of Island a bit and talk about
the Interim Supply and talk about the Bay of Islands itself. We know the budget
is coming out and everybody in this province knows the fiscal reality of the
province. It was a concern in 2015, a concern in 2016 and I understand that, but
I just want to raise a few concerns in the District of Humber - Bay of Islands
and, of course, the biggest one is the hospital.
We're
very confident that hospital is going to be announced this year. Hopefully,
construction started late this fall, and construction in 2023 will be the
completion, and that will be a radiation unit and also the PET scanner or the
newest technology available.
Mr.
Chair, I know when we were in Opposition we raised this on many occasions about
this hospital, and one person who never got enough recognition in this here, and
I can't say the names of people, the person in the Premier's staff that helped
out a lot, but she knows who she is. The other person who is behind the scenes,
and I got to say because we're getting closer to it, is the Member for Corner
Brook.
The
Member for Corner Brook, Mr. Chair, was with the federal government at the time,
he was an MP at the time. We worked well together to ensure all the facts got
out there. So I just have to recognize that, because this is going to be a great
– one of the greatest achievements, if not the greatest achievement I've been
involved in since first elected in 1989 – one of the greatest things I'm going
to be proud of is in 2023 the first patient from the West Coast won't have to
travel to St. John's for radiation treatment. I can assure you of that.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. JOYCE:
That's going to be a proud
day.
Mr.
Chair, I can assure you everybody who helped out, from the staff in Corner Brook
to the Opposition – I already gave credit to Tom Marshall for taking the
initiative to calling people. So this is not just one person or two people, this
was a collective – I know in the Opposition, and that person in the Premier's
office helped out, and I know the Premier at the time when he was in Opposition,
allowed me the freedom to continue to ask questions and raise it.
There's
another person by the name of Dr. David Saltman – he used to be a radiologist
here in St. John's. He moved out to Victoria, BC. I tracked Dr. David Saltman
down in Victoria, BC and got some information off him, and that started the ball
rolling. Dr. Scott in Corner Brook was also very instrumental to us. So that's
one of the big things that I'm looking forward to in the budget, and later the
fall is the hospital.
Mr.
Chair, as I go throughout the district and I look out in Lark Harbour, there are
a lot of people in Lark Harbour who still haven't got water and sewer in Lark
Harbour. Now, part of the problem is that years ago when they had funding they
had a plebiscite and they didn't accept the funding they had, and that's fine,
but now there's funding rolling. So that's going to be one of the priorities for
myself for Lark Harbour.
I know
the people opposite are over there now – I see the Minister of Transportation
and Works putting his thumbs up to me and saying good job. Because he was out
there last when we had the floods, and that was brought to his attention. I
thank the Minister of Transportation and Works for bringing that up and putting
his thumbs up saying good job to it.
Mr.
Chair, the other thing –
AN HON. MEMBER:
(Inaudible.)
MR. JOYCE:
One of the Members just said,
who paid for the chicken? Well, I could tell you one thing, Mr. Chair, if you
had the work that those volunteers did from all the vote councils, the fire
departments and all the individuals who jumped in to help, I'll bring out the
chicken any day to anybody who helped out that much.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. JOYCE:
I can assure you that, Mr.
Chair.
If you
want to see how two communities came together – they are separate communities,
but when there's a disaster – if you had to see how those two mayors, the
council, the clerks, the town clerks, the fire departments, people hauled out
their boats and put the boats out in the water to get across the brook, Mr.
Chair. That's what Newfoundlanders and Labradorians are all about, and I'm proud
of how – when myself and the Minister of Transportation and Works went out and
met with them and just showed them the courtesy of going out and sitting down
and thanked them all, Mr. Chair, that was a good day.
In Lark
Harbour there is water and sewer. When you come up in Humber Arm South they had
a few problems last year from the flood. There was one there, and there's a lift
station that was affected last year by the flood. So I'll be looking to the
Minister of Municipal Affairs for that funding.
So, Mr.
Chair, then when you get up to Mount Moriah, there are some roads that need to
be done. Hopefully, in this budget there'll be money through a capital works
program, or through the new Green Fund, or through the Infrastructure Canada
fund that we can help out.
In
Corner Brook, I know there is one priority. Myself and the Member for Corner
Brook – if I can mention that – the two of us have been working on for the last
year, and one of the priorities that both of us have been working on, is the
baseball field in Corner Brook, to redo the baseball field. So that's something
we're going to be pushing. I know the Member for Corner Brook has been a big
advocate of that, and I'm confident we'll be working at a lot of that. This is
the kind of thing we need to work together on to ensure the betterment of all of
our residents.
Mr.
Chair, when I go out to Cox's Cove, they have a few issues also that we're going
to be working on for the roads. There's a water and sewer program in McIvers.
They are looking for money for sewer. Also, some money for roadwork in the town,
and I'll be speaking to the town to see what their priority is.
Then we
come up to Gillams, the same thing. Gillams has such a small population and is
spread out. They have a sewer problem. It's not the only issue in Newfoundland
and Labrador, but Gillams does have a sewer problem and we'll see what we can do
there to help out Gillams.
Then
when it comes up to Meadows, Mr. Chair, Meadows will be asking in their request
for proposals for capital works of 100-and-something to finish the stadium they
had last year. I know the minister was out and looked at it and visited. I don't
know if you visited, but I know you got all the shots of all the – to the
Minister of Municipal Affairs – of the arena. We'll be looking forward to
finishing that off, because that's great for the whole North Shore.
I know
when NTV were out there with the cameras, you could see the ice and you could
see – in the summertime then, they use that for ball hockey, they use it for –
this is not just a winter sport. With this roof on, Mr. Chair, then they can use
this a lot more. It'd be a lot less maintenance to it for cleaning the ice and a
longer period of time. If you seen the amount of people – there are even teens
from Corner Brook; teens from Corner Brook come over and practice on that ice
surface because there is not enough time in Corner Brook. So it's a big thing
for recreation.
Also, I
know the Meadows town council is looking forward to the money they received last
year to build a warehouse for their equipment for the town. Irishtown, also they
have some sewer problems. They have some water problems.
So
that's all the issues I'll be raising in the House of Assembly. I know up in
Hughes Brook, they will be looking for some money for roads. So I'll be sitting
down with the minister and going through all these concerns.
I know
the Minister of Transportation and Works is very aware of the floods we had last
year, as he visited the floods. There's some work that's going to be done from
the contract that was let last year to carry over; I know Frenchman's Cove hill.
The John's Beach brook has been – the flow has been changed. So that's a big,
big project that is already tendered out. There are some areas that have been
washed out throughout that we're hoping to get fixed during the year, some
smaller that have been washed out on the side of the roads.
Mr.
Chair, it would be remiss of me if I didn't thank all the councils, all the
staff at Transportation and Works, the executive also who had to put up with me
for all that storm, and for a little while after. Because sometimes I'm noted to
be a bit of a hound dog when we need something done to help people out.
I just
got to thank the minister, the executive of Transportation and Works, all the
local staff out in Western Newfoundland that came to the rescue of a lot of
people and helped them through the catastrophe we had, this flood. I want to
thank all the town councils that chipped in, all the residents that chipped in,
and all the individuals that brought food and helped out. There were a few times
that there was one or two people that were in severe danger and people came into
their houses and got them out.
So, I
just want to thank the fire departments, the first responders, and all the
people that helped out, all the residents in the Bay of Islands, the Corner
Brook and the Humber region. I know it was down in another district, but for our
district I just want to recognize the work that Transportation and Works did,
the council and staff. Thank you on behalf of all the residents that you helped
out, and I look forward to dealing with Transportation and Works to finish –
CHAIR:
Order, please!
I remind
the hon. Member that his speaking time is expired.
MR. JOYCE:
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
CHAIR:
The hon. the Member for
Harbour Grace - Port de Grave.
MS. P. PARSONS:
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
It
certainly is an honour to stand in my place today. It's our first time back here
in the winter and the spring session – so many good things to talk about. A lot
of Members, of course, alluded to the economic times that we're in and that
we're surfacing through or swimming through, if you would, but we're getting
there.
I can
speak for the great things that are happening in the District of Harbour Grace -
Port de Grave – I know I've got a lot of great support from my colleague in
here, of course, and from the departments, Transportation and Works, Education
and whatnot, the Premier – and that's an update now on Coley's Point Primary
school.
We
talked about this for some time and I am happy to say, Mr. Chair, that we have
now awarded the official contract to replace Coley's Point Primary school.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MS. P. PARSONS:
Absolutely, $16.2 million has
been awarded to JMJ Holdings, and it's been a long time coming. As we know, this
building is over 60 years old. We know that there was money on the books with
the previous administration with a promise to replace Coley's Point Primary, but
it did not happen – it did not happen.
As we
know, Mr. Chair, when we see big items happening, big projects moving forward,
it takes a lot of political will. It takes a lot of hard work from the people,
of course, who highlight the concerns to the representative and, of course, it
takes a lot of work from that particular MHA, for that political will to get
things happening. This is a perfect example of what we can expect and what will
happen when people work together.
So
having said that, I want to certainly throw a bouquet out to the people, the
residents of the region in my district in Harbour Grace - Port de Grave, Coley's
Point, Bareneed, Port de Grave, Shearstown, Butlerville, also the municipality
of Bay Roberts, of course, they've been very vocal on this topic.
We've
had numerous meetings. I've had them come in and visit with the ministers and
the department. I'm happy to say the Premier and I made a great visit out there
last spring when we were doing an announcement at the Carbonear hospital, of
course, a big funding announcement there, to increase infrastructure and
staffing and whatnot and those sorts of initiatives to improve and to enhance
the care at Carbonear hospital.
I said:
Premier, you're here in Conception Bay North; can you please make time to come
and to visit Coley's Point Primary school? And we did. We went over and we met
with the principal, Principal Blair Hurley, who was very excited as well to hear
that this project is moving forward and Vice-Principal Lois Petten, who lives in
Port de Grave as well. We took the time, we took the afternoon, and we went
through the school – I really wanted the Premier to walk through the building to
take in the ambiance and the atmosphere, in particular, the air, the smell of
the air, the feeling of the air in there. Because, for years, the airflow, the
staff and the school community have had to work with what they've had.
I'm told
that they had to open up windows as opposed to having the proper air circulation
and ventilation throughout that building. So you imagine these are our youngest,
school-aged children, our primary-aged kids from kindergarten to grade 3. Having
to have clean air blow through the building, they had to open the windows.
That's what they were told.
We do
know currently in the building that those children are eating at their desks.
They don't have the luxury to have to enjoy their lunch and to socialize as they
should in a healthy school environment in a cafeteria. The school population out
there – the student population is on the 350 mark, give or take. We have
students who utilize this building, kids from Port de Grave, from Bareneed, from
Shearstown, Butlerville, Coley's Point, Bay Roberts and some kids from Clarke's
Beach also attend school at Coley's Point Primary.
To say
that I'm excited this is finally moving forward is an understatement. The people
have been promised this for years. We had the previous administration – I mean,
it's painful to go there but, in the 12 years, the promise was there for the
money but nothing materialized. I'm happy to say it's happening. It's this
government that's going to be delivering that school for that school community
and they're very deserving.
We see
great schools popping up around the province and that's wonderful, because every
child deserves to learn and to grow in a healthy, modern facility. I'm happy to
say that's finally going to happen for those children in Coley's Point Primary.
Prior to
becoming elected, it was made clear to me by the residents out there, they said:
Pam, this is very important; it's a top priority. Not only is it a top priority
for the people in the Bay Roberts area and in those surrounding communities, but
other residents from other parts of the district recognize the need. We would
hear a lot of teachers who taught there over the years from Harbour Grace and
throughout the region. It's something that everybody is excited to see and I'm
happy to say that it's happening.
I'm told
that the latest information today by the department, by the minister, that
conversations are ongoing as we speak today on the progress and the schedule. So
fingers crossed, if we get the good mother nature to co-operate with us and give
us somewhat of an easy winter, let us have spring – we're keeping our fingers
crossed Sheila's Brush won't be too harsh because, as soon as that weather
breaks and allows, we'll see physical work begin on that school.
Mr.
Chair, let me tell you, I can't wait. I'm going to be there. I'm going to be
there with my hard hat on or whatnot and a shovel, and I will be there to
witness that, to help, and I can't wait to see that first sod being turned. I
invite all hon. Members who've supported this to come and be part of that,
because it's something that I'm very, very proud, very relieved and satisfied
this is finally happening.
But
there are other good things happening the District of Harbour Grace - Port de
Grave. For the first time in our history, Bay Roberts is going to host the
Newfoundland and Labrador 2020 Summer Games. This has never happened. Bay
Roberts is a hub in Conception Bay North. Arguably, it is the hub of Conception
Bay North and we've got a great business community there, our population is
expanding. I live in the Town of Bay Roberts. I'm from Spaniard's Bay
originally, but I currently live in Bay Roberts – beautiful municipality. We're
getting to host the games.
This is
something that they have applied for years and years, putting forth a great
application. The recreation director, Ian Flynn, is a big sports fan and they've
put forth a strong application year after year, again. It didn't materialize,
but I'm happy to say it's happening now. Better late than never, I say, Mr.
Chair.
Now,
there are other priorities that I want to touch on such as Harvey Street in
Harbour Grace. I want to tell the people at home and the people throughout the
Harbour Grace - Port de Grave District who are watching that those meetings are
ongoing. It's a process where all levels of government must be working together
to make this happen. The underground infrastructure needs to be replaced before
new blacktop can go on there, Mr. Chair, as we know. So, the water and sewer
infrastructure beneath the ground, that needs to be replaced by the town, of
course. That has to be a capital works project, has to be a priority for the
municipality.
I am
aware that those wheels are turning and in motion and, as soon as we get that
infrastructure replaced, I want to get out there and we want to get new pavement
for Harvey Street. There are a lot of great things happening in the economic
community in Harbour Grace.
Harbour
Grace was a very bustling place, especially years ago. It was rumored that it
was supposed to be the capital of the province. Imagine, Harbour Grace being the
capital of Newfoundland and Labrador. I certainly would have loved to see that
happen, but apparently it was destroyed by fire back some years ago and we see
St. John's as the capital. Having said that, beautiful historic Harbour Grace,
it's a project we're working on.
I also
want to mention in Port de Grave, the peninsula of Port de Grave, we're working
with the federal government. As well, we had a huge funding announcement at the
beautiful festival of lights for the Boat Lighting
out in Port de Grave
in December. Myself and my colleague, MP Ken McDonald, together we announced
over $154,000 to develop Green Point Light Station in Port de Grave, to make it
a tourism destination.
As we
know, tourism is a leading industry in Newfoundland and Labrador. We have a lot
to be proud of here throughout our province, the natural beauty. Let me tell
you, there is no shortage of beauty in Harbour Grace - Port de Grave, history
and the beautiful natural landscape, and the people of course. Our best
resource, Mr. Chair, as you know, are our people and I'm happy to say that this
is being developed: $154,000.
Let me
tell you, we're working with the volunteers, a group of dedicated volunteers.
They're called the Port de Grave Peninsula Heritage committee – a bunch of
volunteers: Roland Andrews is a member of that; Dr. Adrian Lear, a great friend
of mind; a number of people from the community are a member of that committee.
They're lobbying and they're taking that initiative and we're working together.
There's
actually a meeting, I think, next Monday on the progression of this. They're
working with a consultant to make things happen, but the goal is to have Green
Point Light Station to be a worldwide tourism destination.
We're
also told the Boat Lighting and the Christmas Boat Lighting brings thousands of
people to Port de Grave during the winter months, during the Christmas season to
see the spectacle. It's absolutely gorgeous. I have to give proper recognition,
of course, to Ms. Joyce Morgan of Port de Grave. Some people refer to her as the
unofficial mayor in Port de Grave. She's been the leader on the boat lighting,
and she takes a lot of pride.
It takes
a lot of organization. It started with one boat years ago. We just celebrated, I
think it was the 20-year anniversary. I will check that, but it's about the
20-year anniversary on that boat lighting. I think it is 20 years this past
December. It started with one boat by the Lear family, and now it has expanded.
We have boats that berth in Port de Grave from as far away as from Charlottetown
up in Labrador. So it's a spectacle to see. I invite everybody to come out, take
in the great things that are happening.
I also
want to throw a big bouquet to all the volunteer firefighters and our first
responders in Harbour Grace - Port de Grave. Upper Island Cove got their new
medical rescue unit fire truck, Mr. Chair, and I am so excited. That's another
big project that they have been lobbying for, for some time. It's valued at
about $300,000.
So,
we're making things happen. I look forward to speaking in the future, and I will
now take my place, Mr. Chair.
Thank
you.
CHAIR:
Thank you.
The hon.
the Member for St. John's East - Quidi Vidi.
MS. MICHAEL:
Thank you very much, Mr.
Chair.
I'm
happy to get a chance to speak today to Bill 55, the Interim Supply bill. For
people watching from outside of the Legislature, basically what the bill is
about is approving expenditures of money beginning on April 1, because our
budget will not be in place and we have to make sure the work of the province
continues after the end of the fiscal year, which is March 31.
It's
important I think to use this time to speak to issues that really affect the
lives of our people, and today I'm going to talk about child care. I'm not going
to talk about it from the perspective of the weaknesses in our child care
system, because those weaknesses are there and at various times I do stand and
speak to them. I spoke to those today when I presented a petition from people in
St. John's, and some of them from my district, actually.
What I
want to do is look at what the economic and financial benefits of a real child
care program are, and also to look at what has been done in other places. We
have here in Newfoundland and Labrador a bit of a patchwork quilt. We have some
private for-profit centres. In actual fact, 70 per cent of all centres are
private for-profit centres. We have non-profit community-based centres, and we
have family daycare, plus a small number of education and workplace-based
centres.
For
example, the House of Assembly has a child care centre. There's a child care
centre at the College of the North Atlantic. There's one connected to the
university here in St. John's, but there are other places who had the same type
of system that we have, and who changed. So I want to talk about that as well.
One
place I'll look at in particular is PEI. I think when we talk about, or when I
stand and talk about a child care program that's a public child care program, a
child care program that has public money in it and a child care program that's
fully regulated by government, people think it's impossible. That we can't have
that here in Newfoundland and Labrador. That we have to continue with the system
we have, a system which is not meeting the needs of the majority of families and
children in this province. The thing is we don't have to continue like that.
So what
I'd like to do today is to be a bit proactive, a bit positive in terms of
looking at what the economic benefits are and how we can move towards a
different system here in the province, because we can. People very often, and
I'm afraid government very often thinks that social programs are nothing else
but an expenditure. In actual fact, when it comes to child care, investing in
universal, affordable child care will actually boost our economy. It will
increase tax revenue, it will help families with the rising cost of daycare, and
it will raise program quality and improve early childhood educators' working
conditions.
These
aren't just statements that I'm making. These are realities that have been
proven where there are child care programs in place, public child care programs
in place; as in Quebec, for example. We also have real strides being made in
PEI. We have good programs in Manitoba. So it can be done.
Parents,
mostly mothers, when you have a good, solid, child care program, you get mothers
being able to go back to work. Also, you will have fathers who are not able to
work because of inadequate child care. They too can go back to work. Very often
you'll get women who've been at home, who train for better jobs. You get
families moving out of poverty when you have a solid child care program.
A study
of apprentices in 2003 – this was done here in Newfoundland and Labrador for our
Department of Education at the time – found that 28 per cent of the women who
quit their training did so for family reasons. So women who were in training,
hoping to train to get into good jobs, who were mothers, ended up having to quit
training for family reasons; whereas, only 8 per cent of men apprentices had to
quit their training for family reasons.
Now,
that's quite a startling statistic. Because that statistic for the women means
that those women, instead of being able to move into high-paying jobs as
apprentices, these women had to stay at home, not work, and we don't have
statistics on this, but I would assume some of those women having to get income
support.
Women
who would benefit from a universal program by being able to return to the
workforce or transition from part-time to full-time work would cover a large
share of the cost of the program through the taxes they pay directly to
government. That's a point that gets missed when we think of a social program,
like child care, as only being an expenditure.
In
actual fact, the more people we have working, the more men and women we have
working, the more taxes are being paid to government. When you have higher
incomes as families, you also have higher consumer spending power. Higher
consumer spending power benefits local businesses, and it also benefits local
employment.
The
financial and economic benefits of having a full child care program, quality
care, regulated, publicly funded programing, it benefits the whole community and
the whole economy.
Some of
you have heard me use this statistic before, but it's such an exciting statistic
that I always love using it. Quebec started a child care program. It's very
successful, and they experienced a 25 per cent boost to the economy between 1997
and 2013 as a result of its affordable child care program. That's an amazing
statistic. It's a statistic that is founded in economic analysis in Quebec.
Household income rose, women's employment rate went from 69.7 per cent to 80.4
per cent, a higher rate of increase than in other provinces during this time.
It's an
amazing statistic, and it's one that should inspire our government to look at
putting a plan in place. It can't be done just in one year or just in one
budget, but if you set your goal that, yes, we want to use child care, both as
something that is a social benefit, but also as something that's going to
benefit our economy and increase our economy, then you start the planning now
and do a five-year plan to get there. But if a plan never starts, then we'll
never get there. I always feel like I'm speaking to a wall. When I try to talk
about this to government, nobody seems to actually understand the benefit.
This is
an important quote, actually, from a University of Toronto economist; his name
is Gord Cleveland. He said: “The net cost of government child care assistance is
substantially lower than its gross cost, because increases in parental
employment cause increases in tax revenue and reductions in social assistance
and other benefits.” Now, that's quite a statement from this economist at U of
T.
He also
says: “There may also be increased growth and productivity, multiplying the
revenue effects.” I think that was what they experienced in Quebec, was the
multiplier effects of having more people employed, more people working and
larger incomes on a family basis.
There
are also social benefits, and these social benefits also have an economic part
to them because studies show that high-quality child care and early childhood
education programs result in better cogitative language and numeracy skills. If
we have children coming in on an equal footing into primary school, and we have
more kids staying in school, and we have disadvantaged children doing much
better because of child care, then they are going to become working members of
our economy down the road when they finish school.
So, I
leave it at that for the moment –
CHAIR (P. Parsons):
Order, please!
I remind
the hon. Member her time has expired.
MS. MICHAEL:
– Madam Chair. I have more to
say. I hope I'll get another chance to speak.
Thank
you.
CHAIR:
The hon. the Minister of
Transportation and Works.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. CROCKER:
Thank you, Madam Chair.
It's a
pleasure this afternoon to stand and have a few words on Interim Supply and take
an opportunity actually to highlight some of the investments in my District of
Carbonear - Trinity - Bay de Verde, and it's always a pleasure to have this
opportunity.
Madam
Chair, if you look at some of the investments in the District of Carbonear -
Trinity - Bay de Verde, over the last year there has been some strong signs from
this government to the people in my contingency and in the entire region. I know
you referenced earlier today the new school in Coley's Point; the work we were
able to do last year on the Veterans Memorial Highway, work that continues there
for safety purposes. We all know some of the challenges that the Veterans
highway has presented to people in our region.
Just
last year, as a government, we announced almost $6 million to renovate the third
floor of the Carbonear hospital. This will bring that floor up to standards that
would be some of the highest in the province. Health care is an issue that quite
regularly in the district, I hear about.
It was
earlier this week, actually, myself and the Minister of Health had an
opportunity to meet with the Town of Carbonear and discuss some of the things we
see in opportunities for the Carbonear General Hospital, including the addition
of two new nurse practitioners, the fourth anesthesiologist. Just last year we
opened the final floor of the new long-term care centre, and I know we're going
to be also expanding the internal medicine at Carbonear General Hospital as
well. Obviously, Carbonear General Hospital is the primary health care facility
for the entire Bay de Verde Peninsula, and expanding.
Also,
last year we were able, through our Roads Plan, to put new on- and off-ramps in
Carbonear on the Valley Road interchange. This was extremely important to a lot
of people in the region because our two schools are located on that road and
this is now going to give us an opportunity so that there'll be no left-turning
traffic. This will benefit children from both the neighbouring district and
children from the Trinity Bay area, as well as the children from the Carbonear
area.
So, that
was just some of the investments that we've made in my particular district over
the last year. We'll continue, and I'll continue to work with the councils in
the area and any other local groups that we can to make sure we're getting the
necessary infrastructure funding that's required. It's always a pleasure to work
with fire departments and town councils in any of our districts.
I'm
going to switch hats just for a few moments and talk a little bit about the
province and Transportation and Works and my role as minister a little deeper,
and look at some of the investments we've been making as a department and as a
government; tremendous investments, actually, when you think about the times
that we find ourselves in, but we still have the ability and we're still
committed to a very strong infrastructure program.
As I
mentioned minutes ago, our commitment to Coley's Point school, our commitment to
a new school in St. Alban's, our commitment to improvement of Bishop Feild, and
I know there are some struggles in the Bishop Feild community but we're getting
there. The tender is out right now to get the kids back into that school as
quickly as possible.
A couple
of weeks ago I had the opportunity to tour the new long-term care facility in
Corner Brook, and that facility is coming along. It was ironic, the day that
myself and the Minister of Health and the MHAs for the region were there, it was
ironic in the way that – the clock on the wall said 365 days until this facility
is turned over to government. So that partnership is working really well.
In the
coming weeks, we'll be in Central Newfoundland to announce the successful
proponents for the new long-term care centres in Grand Falls-Windsor and Gander.
Work continues in Botwood with the protective care beds. Also, our commitment to
a new mental health facility.
That was
a commitment that our Premier, when he was Leader of the Opposition, was very
clear on. I'm very pleased to be in a department and have a Premier who
supported and seen the needs for mental health care in our province. Far too
long there has been a stigma around mental health that's not warranted, that's
not needed anymore; mental health and physical health are health. It's
important. I'm very pleased with where we're going with the new mental health
facility here in St. John's.
This
spring, we will announce the successful proponent for the new acute care
facility in Corner Brook, and that's a major project. I know all the MHAs from
that region have long, long fought for this new facility. Again, we're
delivering on it. The people of the West Coast deserve this facility; the people
of the West Coast need this facility.
We've
also continued, this coming construction season, with our Roads Plan. We're
going to be investing some $130 million in the province's roads this year. It's
a huge task. The needs throughout the province are great. Our Roads Plan is
working. We've met recently again with the Heavy Civil Association. They tell us
it's working. We're getting better value for our money and we're getting more
work done.
That is
some of the things; this year we're going to be introducing two new ferries in
Labrador. Something that's long been needed. These are great boats. I had the
opportunity to tour the Qajaq when it
was here in St. John's before it went into service. This is a seven-year-old
vessel, and when you look at a vessel seven years old that's replacing a
50-year-old vessel, it's really like going to a car lot and buying a demo for
seven years for a vessel.
Madam
Chair, we've made substantial investments in infrastructure over the last three
years in difficult times, and we'll continue to make those investments.
As I
conclude, yesterday afternoon in Question Period the Member for Conception Bay
South raised a question on some circumstances or some incidents we had this
winter with ambulance services in the province. I want to take a minute just to
address that, because it was a good question. Anytime there's public safety
involved, it's important for us to make sure that we're doing everything we can.
Some of
the things we've done this year and continue to do, because safety is ever
evolving and we will never get to a point where safety is done. Safety continues
all the time. What we've done now is we've actually broken down a silo that
existed with Eastern Health, Health and Community Services.
They
know where their ambulances are, so we now have access to their vehicle locating
devices. What we can see now, if we're going to close a road, for example, or if
we have a road that's in poor, poor condition, we can actually go on to Health
and Community Services website and actually see where ambulances are. So that's
something we do now before we close a road.
We've
committed to modernize our dispatch centre. Dispatch centre, from Transportation
and Works perspective, is in need of some modernization, and we've committed to
modernizing the dispatch centre as well. As well, we want to continue to work
with Eastern Health. I've met with ambulance operators; we want to keep that
commitment. The reality is our first responders are very important to us. They
do great work. They're out there when most of us actually in bed in the evening.
I want
to give a shout-out as well to our staff at TW – the over 700 women and men who
actually are out there day in and day out driving our snow plows and doing that
work, lots of times, in tough conditions. So I really thank them for the work
that they do day in and day out for us as a province.
Some of
the snowfall amounts – I get daily weather updates and conditions. We have
situations in this province right now where we're over double the snowfall
amounts that we've seen a year ago on the West Coast and primarily in Labrador
and the Northern Peninsula. I know the MHA for St. Barbe District has been
working with us to make sure that we're getting the extra equipment in that
region because of the awful winter we've had and roads having to be closed.
So
again, I just want to thank our workers and it was great to have the opportunity
this afternoon to highlight some of the investments that we're making as a
department, some of the investments in my own constituency, and look forward
through this debate and through the budget debate in the coming weeks to have an
opportunity to stand and raise some more of the important issues that are
happening in my region.
So thank
you very much, Madam Chair.
CHAIR:
Thank you.
The
Chair recognizes the hon. the Member for Conception Bay South.
MR. PETTEN:
Thank you, Madam Chair.
It's a
pleasure to get up on Interim Supply. It's always nice to get up and speak.
Interim Supply gives you more leeway to talk about some other things that are
important. Everything is important, obviously, but it's nice to have a bit of
flexibility to be able to talk about important things to you or to your
district, or to us as critics in the Official Opposition.
So I
just want to quickly – the Minister of Transportation and Works just made
some commentary, and I do commend the staff at TW as well. I think we have some
of the best snow plow operators in the country. I've always
felt that and I've always stated that publicly. I criticize policy, not the
staff. Whether it be snow clearing, whether it be road maintenance, what have
you, I'm more critical of our processes we need to improve upon, never the
staff. I think we have some of the finest staff out there.
They go
on our roads; it's not easy roads. Newfoundland is not an easy to place to
navigate through. There are a lot hills, turns, and I fully respect them. So, I
do join with the minister in taking my hat off to all TW staff.
On the
stuff that, I guess, is of importance, there are lots of things I could talk
about. I heard them mentioning about seniors' issues, they're mentioning about
the Strait of Belle Isle ferry, factual and not so factual, and they all get
animated. You can play semantics with numbers. The bottom line is you talk about
a ferry – I questioned, yesterday, the ferry; it's tied up. The Straits are full
of ice. This is not a new thing, it's happened, but this is happening a lot this
year. It's a new vessel.
I'll
just point out something. There may be sensitive nerves on the other side
sometimes, but us, as Opposition Members, as critics, if we don't question
government and ask the tough question, ask the questions that no one is going to
ask government, unless we do – the public may, but we have the forum to do it.
It's our responsibility – not just this Official Opposition but all of us on
this side of the House. It's our duty to do that and we'll do it to the best of
our abilities.
There
may be times you may not be totally 100 per cent on the mark with your
information, but most times you're pretty close. I think the ultimate goal is to
get the issues out, get the answers because people do want to hear those
answers. Everyone out there is not in agreement with everything government says.
Any government wants to think everyone supports them and they agree with
everything they say. That's not the case and we all know that. On that note, I
just want to clarify that as well.
I want
to go to something else. We always talk about – I know I talk a lot about and my
colleagues, we talk a lot about the 1.6-kilometre busing issue. Media coverage
comes and goes. We talk about it here in the House. We do petitions. We ask
questions. The minister comes back with his commentary, and that's all part of
the game.
Last
week, I was troubled when I heard the report about the cost of school busing in
the province.
AN HON. MEMBER:
(Inaudible.)
CHAIR:
Order, please!
The
Chair recognizes the hon. the Minister Responsible for the Newfoundland and
Labrador Housing Corporation on a point of order.
MS. DEMPSTER:
Thank you, Madam Chair.
Just for
the purpose for the record of this House –
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Oh, oh!
CHAIR:
Order, please!
MS. DEMPSTER:
– we welcome when the
Opposition asks us questions. That's a part of democracy; lively spirited debate
is good. But when the information that they come with is 100 per cent false, we
have an obligation to the people of the province to correct it, Madam Chair.
Thank
you.
CHAIR:
Sorry, there's no point of
order.
The
Chair recognizes the hon. the Member for Conception Bay South.
MR. PETTEN:
Thank you, Madam Chair.
It
interesting, you get a response like that. I was just stating a case. I was not
disagreeing with anyone on the other side. I was stating an obvious fact that
the Member for Cartwright - L'Anse au Clair, the minister, understands what I'm
saying. She was undecided one time. There is nothing outrageous what I'm getting
on with here now.
I get my
10 minutes. She will get her 10 minutes and I'll listen to everything – I'll
listen to her criticisms.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. PETTEN:
I listened to her criticize
me twice and guess what, I never heckled her, I never interrupted her, I
listened to her intently and I expect the same respect back.
Thank
you.
The
1.6-kilometre rule, as I was saying, the minister will get up and last week we
heard in the news it's $8 million maximum cost to get busing for all children.
That number, I'd like to see that analysis because there are parts of this
province that don't need busing. They don't need more busing. There are only
certain areas where there are growth areas you're probably going to need it. I'd
like to see the analysis done on that.
In
saying that, the minister will get up and say well, the cost. We're going to
have to take this out of the classroom, less teachers, less this, less that. All
the while, in the backdrop of every decision government is making, we have this
Canopy deal, a $40 million deal. But you can't find $8 million – we'll take $3
million, probably. We'll solve it with $3 million. Maybe we'll get over it with
$3 million or $4 million. That's what the public are talking about.
I'm
standing here as the Member, I can talk about this all day, but the public are
talking about that. Everything is prefaced by: They can give $40 million to
Canopy.
I was
with a crowd a couple of weeks ago, if you want to talk about the real
bread-and-butter stuff, and they were talking about potholes. They said
government can spend $40 million on the Canopy, but they can't fix a pothole. I
never said it. That was said to me. Just to let them know, government know,
outside the bubble, people do talk about this stuff. It's not just us here in
this House; the public are talking about it.
So, you
can have your head in the sand, you can refuse to hear the stories –
AN HON. MEMBER:
(Inaudible.)
CHAIR:
Order, please!
The
Chair recognizes the hon. the Minister of TCII on a point of order.
What
point of order, Minister?
MR. MITCHELMORE:
Madam Chair, I have to say
that I said yesterday under section 49 of the Standing Orders to the Member for
Fortune Bay - Cape La Hune and now we have the Member for CBS, there has never
been any $40 million given in taxpayer money to any entity –
CHAIR:
Order, please!
MR. MITCHELMORE:
– related to Canopy.
CHAIR:
Order, please!
It's not
a point of order.
The
Chair recognizes the hon. the Member –
MR. PETTEN:
Obviously –
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Oh, oh!
CHAIR:
Order, please!
MR. PETTEN:
Thank you.
CHAIR:
Order, please!
I know
this is Interim Supply and we're all excited to talk about these things but
just, please, if we can just keep in mind that not everybody can hear the
conversations and the debate, so I ask that we please keep that in mind.
Thank
you.
The
Chair recognizes the hon. the Member for Conception Bay South.
MR. PETTEN:
Thank you, Madam Chair.
I'm
going to try again. I got about 20 topics; I might get through two, with all
these points of order. But that just shows, though, Madam Chair, the
sensitivities. You say it and they're getting up on points or order. The truth
sometimes will do that.
The
reality is it's easy for us to get up here and say what the public are saying.
So if you got an issue with it, go talk to the general public, because I only
repeated what the public are telling me.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. PETTEN:
Forget about me, the public
are telling me this. The minister should go out and talk to some of his own
constituents.
People
are not happy, Minister, they're not happy. You're giving a grow-up $40 million
but you can't put a school bus on the road. They're not happy. It's not me
talking; the public are talking. So get up on another point of order. Get up
again and question that. Question the people in your district. Why don't you all
question people in your own districts? Get on with your nonsense here today.
Madam
Chair, they preface everything. I'd say when they go home and they ask what
we're having for supper, Muskrat Falls comes out before their choice of food.
That's the preamble to everything they discuss.
I'm
going to talk about stuff that's important to the people in the province, people
in my district, actually.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Oh, oh!
MR. PETTEN:
I got a couple of minutes
left. With all of the interruptions, I'll probably get one more comment in.
We talk
about our population and the population growth strategies, and my colleague, our
newly elected Member for Topsail - Paradise – who's doing quite well, I might
add – mentioned about immigration the other day. So we're talking about
retention. We're talking about our population growing and shrinking. Young
people are leaving this province. They're leaving it because they don't see a
future. We've said this before, we'll say it again.
I got a
young family. They're questioning where their future is. I'd like them to stay;
we all would. That's one of the biggest challenges to our population, our young
people, whether they're going to move or stay. There is stress on a lot of
families in this province because people are worried. We want our youngest and
brightest to stay here, but we have to give them an opportunity. There has to be
a sense of open optimism in this province for people who want to stay here.
I heard
the Premier comment yesterday, The Way
Forward is resonating with the people. Well, not the people I associate
with. Obviously, there are some people around, not the ones I associate with.
Your youth are leaving this province. If that was resonating, we wouldn't have
the problem we have.
We have
population decline. We have real estate being sold. That's not changing. Half
the restaurants in St. John's – lately, every time you turn on the news, one
after another after another, they're closing. Why are they closing? Because
people are not spending money. Why aren't they spending money? Because they got
no confidence in the economy. It's pretty simple. This is not difficult stuff to
understand.
I know
Members opposite in government might feel that everything is rosy, but trust me
– I got 30 seconds left and I'll point it out. The Member for Bonavista was up
the other day, and he said the economy is great. He actually said the economy is
great. And I'm like, what? Where, where, where? Can you tell me? You must be
talking about Ontario or out West somewhere. It's not here. Our economy is not
great.
Members
get up and to make those comments, go talk to the people they represent. Go talk
to the average person. Come out of your bubble. Because people got to remember,
you need to come outside the bubble and listen to the people in this province.
Thank
you very much.
CHAIR:
Order, please!
The
Chair recognizes the hon. the Member for Humber - Bay of Islands.
AN HON. MEMBER:
(Inaudible.)
CHAIR:
I saw him first.
MR. JOYCE:
Madam Chair, I'm just going
to sit here for a few minutes.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Oh, oh!
CHAIR:
Order, please.
MR. JOYCE:
I guess that four-day
training didn't work very well.
Madam
Chair, I just got to say, of course I'm an independent. Absolutely, no doubt,
I'm an independent, but I heard the Member for Cartwright - L'Anse au Clair
yesterday talking about the ferry, and I heard the Member from CBS up talking
about how bad.
I got to
say, and I'm not here to defend the government one bit, but I remember being in
the Opposition when we were trying to get a bit of pavement here and there and
we were criticized left, right and centre, and I was here when we stood up for a
lot of the ferries. Just by luck, the person now who has all the answers, the
Member for CBS, was executive assistant to the Minister of Transportation and
Works. Did he ever stand up for anybody? Did he ever stand up when they
cancelled the contract out in Humber - Bay of Islands, when there was life in
danger when they wouldn't go up Summerside Hill? The executive assistant never
even spoke up.
So
please, please, let's try to be – now, if you had the opportunity, you didn't do
the things. Let's just recognize that, because I know what was done in
Transportation and Works since, and this idea of politics – and I got to give
the Minister of Transportation and Works, both, the former minister also, for
when they were doing pavement. Instead of doing a hundred feet to get some on
political, they'll do five or six, seven, eight kilometres. By bunching them
together you get more done at a better price; 33 per cent more pavement with the
same amount of money. Because of the bundling, and the early tenders also. There
were a lot of opportunities the Member for CBS could've had to help out but he
didn't, but he got all the answers now. So I'm just not the one to stand for
that.
I have
to apologize to my colleague in front of me here for Mount Pearl - Southlands.
When I was in government, and I admit it, when looking at all the officials over
here, all the PC Members, when we got in government, came back and said, why
didn't you stand up for Muskrat Falls? I know the Member for Mount Pearl -
Southlands, sometimes I said to him you should've stood up and you should've
spoke, but I can honestly say, from what I re-read and see now, they didn't have
all the information, I can honestly say. So to the Member for Mount Pearl -
Southlands, there were times that I said it. Now I realize that the backbenchers
there in the government did not have the information.
I just
want to recognize and say that when I was making those statements, and I'm sure
other were making those statements, we assumed things were discussed in Cabinet
or in caucus at least, giving people full information of what was happening. But
you can see from the Inquiry that the backbenchers weren't given – the caucus of
the PC Party – now, I'm not sure about Cabinet, I can't say, but I want to
recognize that all the information that has been given out is they did not have
the information. I just want to recognize that and put that on the record.
Madam
Chair, I'm just going to speak again about the district, and we all talk about
the improvements. I know I was a small part of it and other people have been
also, but the amount of Crown lands that has been opened up for agriculture. I
know there are some people here who are very much into agriculture. Maybe it's
not going as fast as we'd like, maybe it's not going as good as we'd like, but
it is moving along. Crown lands is opening up and there are more people – I know
people out on the West Coast are very happy about it.
Should
it move quicker? Probably it can, but when you start and you make this big
67,000 hectares of land opened up, everybody wants it and you have to make sure
the new entrants get some. You have to understand the policy now because it's
new land.
One of
the policies – and I have to give the minister credit for it, and the Member for
Corner Brook is the – before, if you were a new entrant you could only get up to
$5,000 for equipment. That has been increased up to, I think it is $15,000 or
$20,000. So, new entrants; you need the tractors to clear the land.
That's
some good improvements. It may not be done this year, but in the next year or
two we'll gradually see the increase. That's the kind of improvements, just to
open up that Crown lands to agriculture is a big thing for the West Coast. I
know a lot of young entrants who are into it; young entrepreneurs who are very
happy with it. We know, and I know personally, it's going to take time, but it
is good improvements.
I also
look out on the West Coast, Madam Chair. Out on the West Coast there are – and
you look at what government has done. I look at the Member for Lab West, and one
of the things we did out in Corner Brook is the pension for the workers out at
Kruger. What we did, we worked out a deal with Kruger, the unions out there,
that if the power plant is sold the money would be put back into the pension
plan, the deficit. That's saving $18 million if that plan went under – $18
million.
I look
at the Member for Lab West, and I remember it was a sad day that the two of us
had to go up to Wabush and meet with all the workers and talk about their
pension, how their pension had to be diminished. We had to shut it down, if not
they may be getting less and less. I can tell you, it's a proud day, and I'm
proud of the Member for Lab West. This is the kind of thing that goes unnoticed,
how hard he worked to go through the courts, how he stuck with the workers in
Lab West, all through Lab West, how he stuck with it and how he convinced
Cabinet and convinced caucus to stick with it, and they got a lot of money put
back in their pension plan, Madam Chair.
So when
people stand here and say that Members aren't doing anything, I think we're all
doing our job in our own way, and I understand the role of the Opposition. I've
been there. Sometimes I was a bit quiet, and I shouldn't have been as quiet as I
was in Opposition. I was a bit quiet, but I understand the role of the
Opposition, even Opposition Members. I know a bit of time that I was in
government, in Cabinet, even the government before, when we get up here and
banter in the House of Assembly, and we do on the issues and policies, many
times we still work together. This idea that we get up and banter and that we're
not working together for the province, we are – we are.
I know a
lot of times when there's a situation that arises, an emergency, we all forget
the political stripes and we all jump in to help out. That's just normal, but
when we stand up we do have differences of opinions. We do have different views,
and this is where to express them.
There
are a lot of things that happen in Newfoundland and Labrador, a lot of good
things. I know in 2015, 2016 with the deficit, it was a major time. It was a
tough time for everybody, it definitely was. There is absolutely no doubt, when
you speak to the Opposition, the Opposition Members, the PC Party, quietly, they
know it was a tough time. They'll tell you privately it was a tough time. They
know what we had to do. They say that privately. They definitely do, they know.
They
can't put their heads in the sand and say everything was rosy. When you speak to
them privately – and we understand, I understand. I'm in an Opposition role now,
I understand the role of government, but also you have to understand the role of
people in an Opposition, which we're in now as an independent. I'm going to
speak on behalf of the District of Humber - Bay of Islands. I'm going to speak
on behalf of the workers at the mill. I'm going to speak on behalf of the people
in Corner Brook who need me to raise my voice.
A prime
example is the work for the hospital in Corner Brook; just a prime example. Last
year, we thought we had a deal that local workers were going to be hired. It
fell through, but I guarantee you – and I told the workers that and I told the
iron workers, and I told the labourers. I went up and I faced them and I told
them what happened. There was a misunderstanding there that I was put in the
middle of, but I said everybody is going to know about that this year. Every
opportunity I get in this House with a petition, I am presenting it.
I know
the Minister of Transportation and Works already said he's moving with them,
he's dealing with all the associations, all the unions and a lot of the
companies to try to hire local workers. I guarantee you one thing, every
opportunity I get to stand on a petition to present that, I will present it,
Madam Chair, because that is my role. That is what people elect you to do.
I'm not
going to stand and say everybody in Corner Brook or everybody in Stephenville or
everybody in Baie Verte, everybody on the Northern Peninsula should be hired,
but where possible, I honestly feel that we – and I can tell you, I spoke to
construction Newfoundland and Labrador and I spoke to a lot of the unions,
they're willing to sit down and work it out and say, what can we do? What can we
do to make this viable for our local workers? What can we do to make sure that
people are staying home in their homes for four years? It's a big project. It's
going to $600 million, $700 million. That's a big project.
So, that
is my role. I know the Opposition, we all banter back and forth and all that,
but I can say to the government, if we all got what we asked for there wouldn't
be enough money in Canada to do it. There wouldn't be enough money, because I
know all the demands are on people. When you go all across Canada, the demands
across Canada, wouldn't be able to keep up with the demands that are in the
federal government, and when you come to Newfoundland, the same thing. If we
want to make all the demands here, we just could not make it.
So what
I would say, and I'm in an independent role and I'm in the Opposition, is that
when we stand up let's try to be a bit constructive, because we are going to
have to work with the people, and we are going to work with the people of
Newfoundland and Labrador.
CHAIR:
Order, please!
The hon.
the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Environment.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. LETTO:
Thank you, Madam Chair.
It's a
pleasure for me to rise today to speak on Interim Supply. First of all, I'm
going to address something the previous, or the second previous speaker said,
the Member for Conception Bay South, about there's a lot of nonsense in this
House. He's right, he's right. And you know the way to stop it? The easy way to
stop the nonsense in this House is stick to the facts.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. LETTO:
A perfect example was
yesterday when the hon. Member got up and started talking about the ferry across
the Straits, how it was a lower capacity. Well, first of all, I'm going to say
that the Apollo served us very well.
The Apollo served us very well. But
when he gets up in the House and says that it's less capacity than the
Apollo, he's so wrong, and the Member
for Cartwright - L'Anse au Clair corrected a lot of that today.
When you
go from one deck to two decks, from a capacity of 80 vehicles to 120, a capacity
of six tractor-trailers to 12 tractor-trailers per trip, passengers from 250 to
300, how is that less capacity. So I don't know where they're getting their
information, but to me that's total nonsense. The way to stop that is stick to
the facts and tell the truth. That's very simple to do.
Madam
Chair, I just want to highlight some of the great things that are happening in
the Department of Municipal Affairs and Environment because we're doing a lot of
great things. The first thing I'd like to talk about, and I did a Ministerial
Statement on this on Monday, was the new program for fire trucks and fire
emergency vehicles.
We've
made a great move by putting in three possible streams of funding for
firefighting equipment. The first one is the traditional one that was always
there, based on 80-20 for new vehicles. The second one is we're allowing
municipalities to purchase, and fire departments to purchase used vehicles. This
government will finance up to $100,000 on a used vehicle at 90-10. This has been
asked for by municipalities, and many municipalities are doing it and it works.
The third stream, of course, is for new vehicles. If a municipality so wishes,
and they feel they can afford it, they can accept $100,000 and go and purchase a
new vehicle and they will pay the rest.
Madam
Chair, we have limited budgets but we feel this program will allow that budget
to stretch much further and provide good firefighting equipment to
municipalities in this province that need it, and the fire departments that need
it to protect their citizens.
I can
honestly say, Madam Chair, the fire services in this province, we need to
applaud all the first responders in this province because they do a great job.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. LETTO:
They do a great job, and we
need to be able to provide the resources they need to do that job, and that's
what we're doing. That's the number one fact, Madam Chair.
The
second fact I want to talk about is the infrastructure program. As you know, and
people in this House know, that last year the Premier signed with the federal
government a $555.9 million agreement for 10 years for the Investing in Canada
Infrastructure Program. That, combined with the same contribution from the
province, will be in excess of $1 billion of infrastructure for municipalities
in Newfoundland and Labrador. The largest infrastructure program ever, ever
announced in this province.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. LETTO:
Madam Chair, fact number two.
In that
program, there are four components within that: green infrastructure, which is
the largest component which will take care of water and sewer projects. And I
will add that water and sewer projects remain as our number one priority, as it
should. We still have too many boil-water advisories. We still have too much raw
sewage going into our ponds and our oceans. That has to be our number one
priority, and it will be.
Then, we
have the public transit. We know that there are two cities in this province that
can use that, St. John's and Corner Brook, and we will help them with that. The
third one is the community culture and recreation, which will allow
municipalities and us to cost share with municipalities, recreation centres and
so on. The fourth and final is the rural and northern community fund which will
allow for us to help municipalities with their streets and road reconstruction.
So,
Madam Chair, we went out to our first call last fall on this. The deadline was
December 21. Our total application when the deadline closed, we had in excess of
500 applications with a value of $888 million. We know we can't do everything in
the first year. We have to remember this is a 10-year agreement, and the
agreement meaning that we have to have all the money spent within 10 years.
This
year, to make sure that municipalities have time to do the work that they need
to do, we are going out, starting this year in 2019, our next call for projects
will be July and we shall close in September. We will then do our rankings, get
our approvals in place, get our approvals from Ottawa and, hopefully, be in a
position to roll out the 2020 projects by the end of this year, certainly early
next year. From there on, we will be on track to do that each and every year.
That's
something that municipalities have asked for because, up to this point, all too
often, we've been losing construction seasons because we haven't been able to
get the tenders out the door and the approvals out the door in time to make it
happen. Hopefully, Madam Chair, once this gets in place and after this year,
we'll be able to get ahead of that game and start moving projects out the door.
One of
the things that we just completed, Madam Chair, as well is our climate change
plan. We released that just last week in Corner Brook. I have to say that it was
well received by the public and certainly the different organizations that would
be interested in that.
There
are a number of actions in that plan. In that plan, there are 33 actions that
need to be done with regard to greenhouse gas emissions. There are also actions
there to address the climate change reality that we're facing, Madam Chair.
Because climate change is real and we're seeing it in our municipalities, and I
may add that a lot of the infrastructure requests that are coming in now are to
ask for help in addressing coastal erosion, which is happening in many of our
coastal communities, our fishing communities around the province. We're seeing
more and more of it every day. It's showing up more in their application process
for assistance with municipal capital works. So, this is something that has to
be addressed and we're certainly working very hard to make sure that happens.
Within
that, of course, just a couple of weeks ago the Premier along with the federal
government announced an $89.4-million program called the Low Carbon Economy
Leadership Fund. Within that fund, there are going to be a number of programs
rolled out in regard to improving efficiency in homes and whatnot, to make sure
that we close the gap on our greenhouse target emissions. Because we need to do
that and we need to do that for the sake of our generation and generations that
come behind us.
So, all
in all, it's a lot of good things happening within the department. I will end by
saying that we are working towards a ban on plastic bags, which would be more
than needed. I may add that we have gone for consultations because the
organizations and the stakeholders involved that would be affected by this asked
for that. They asked for it back in September that we needed more consultations.
We're doing that.
I may
add there's a survey online that can be filled out. Today, just over 24 hours
later, we have almost 1,200 surveys completed. No other survey completed or put
online by this province has gained the response that this survey has had.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. LETTO:
So we've broken all records,
Madam Chair. We know it's an important issue, and it's one that we're going to
address but we're going to address it the right way.
Thank
you, Madam Chair.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
CHAIR:
Order, please!
The
Chair recognizes the hon. the Member for the beautiful District of Cape St.
Francis.
MR. K. PARSONS:
Thank you very much, Madam
Chair, and you know it, too. It is a beautiful district.
It's
indeed a privilege to get up here today and talk a little bit about my district.
But first of all I got to today – I had the opportunity last night to attend a
function. It wasn't in my district, it was down at Club One actually and it was
for a good friend of mine. I'm sure there are a lot of people in the province
because this gentleman has done a lot for a lot of people in the province – when
I explain to you what his job was over the years you may say okay, how did he do
that and then I'll explain that also. He's also the brother-in-law of the Member
for Baie Verte - Green Bay. My colleague from Conception Bay East - Bell Island
had a chance to go there also.
Last
night, we went to a retirement party for a gentleman named Gerry Manning. Gerry
is a well-known name, especially in the Avalon area and I'm sure right across
the province. He's actually known right across Canada.
Gerry
started off with Labatt 38 years ago. I can remember – Gerry is around the same
age I am, not that I'm going to tell Gerry's age or my age. Gerry started off
and he started on a beer truck with Gene McGrath, lifting beer out, like you see
the boys on the beer trucks. He moved through the ranks. He went through sales
and he even moved up as high as general manager of Labatt right here in
Newfoundland and Labrador, which is a great feat for this guy. But if anybody
knew Gerry or knows Gerry, they know what kind of dedication he has and what a
hard worker he is.
I have
to say that you might say how does recognizing a beer rep – well, I can tell you
that when you're from small communities and everything else, we all go to
different fundraisers. And, if you go a fundraiser, it could be someone raising
money for a local church, it could somebody that needs a piece of equipment to
make their home more accessible or whatever, Gerry Manning stepped up all the
time and was there for everyone. If anyone, like I said, had a need and went to
Gerry, he went over and above. I just felt today that it would be nice to
recognize him here in the House of Assembly after 38 years.
Like I
said, he could tell you lots of stories. I guess most beer reps and everything
else can tell you a lot of stories but I can only tell you about the good that
this man did for people in my community and for people around. Sometimes we need
those people to step forward and do the little things. He's done it. It was a
great time last night. I was down there with his mom, Rita, his wife and his
family and it was a good time. Everybody there recognized what contribution he's
made to Newfoundland and Labrador. Like I said, we need people out there that do
step forward when we do have donations and whatnot.
Now,
Madam Chair, I'm getting up today and I'm going to be very positive today in my
speech. I'm going to be very good –
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. K. PARSONS:
No, it's easy to do the doom
and gloom. As a matter of fact, I'm going to have about 20 speeches this session
so I'll half 10, half and half (inaudible).
The
Member for Cartwright - L'Anse au Clair got up earlier and spoke and she talked
about her district. I have to say, I had the opportunity last year to go over in
your district, and I have to say, going to Red Bay was – I've heard tell of Red
Bay, I never knew a lot about it, but I got over to see what was over there and
to just see the – it was unbelievable, actually. I went in and heard the story
of the rocks, how they brought them over across and then saw the boat inside and
everything else. I'd recommend to anybody in this province, if they ever get a
chance to go visit that part of the province because it is an absolutely
beautiful part of the province. And so is all our province. We all got great
areas in our province.
We all
come here to the House of Assembly, and I'm hoping we'll do our best for our
districts. Sometimes it's easier to do your best for your district when you are
in government, because it's easy to get the ear of the ministers and be able to
– you're in a caucus room with them, be able to talk to them a lot easier. I
have say, I'm pleased with the ministers that give me their ear and let me have
a conversation with them and do (inaudible).
I know
the Minister of Municipal Affairs had a couple of towns in to meet with him. The
Minister of Tourism, I had my town in – Bauline came in. We had a great meeting.
Actually, I invited the minister to Bauline. Some day we'll take that up and
we'll have a look. They were talking about cellphone coverage.
That in
itself is – people think that cellphone coverage – it's only out around the bay,
it's only on the Northern Peninsula, it's only on the South Coast, but the total
distance of my district from St. John's to the end is 26 kilometres. So right in
the St. John's area, here's an area of a community – partial, some parts of it
have cellphone service and other parts don't, but I'm sure the minister is going
to do his best and we'll probably see – we just went through a pilot project
that we're doing down in Marine Drive park, and I thanked him for that.
Again,
that's a little thing. Like I said, we're all here to do the best we can. While
we'll disagree – we will definitely disagree on probably the direction of the
province and what way it's going, and we'll have a different version and
different vision of what we want to see in the province, but it's 40 people here
that hopefully are here for the right reasons, to represent their districts.
We talk
about – and people will look at this on TV and say: Well, how do they ever get
along? How do they – obviously, if you're in Opposition you can't get anything
for your district. That's not true, because we got to be able to go talk to
people, put in grants and put in whatever and roadwork.
I
commend the Minister of Transportation and Works. Last year I went to him, and I
had no roads on the five-year plan and had no areas that were going to be paved,
but the Minister of Transportation and Works, I told him about a specific area
that was down in Juniper Ridge school and he, I think on a Sunday, one Sunday he
went down and actually drove the area that I spoke to him about and came back.
The result was we got some paving in that district, and that got done. So I
thank the minister for that.
Again,
those are the things we have to do here in the House of Assembly. We have to be
able to work together, but we will disagree, and there are times I know that
there are ministers over there, when I get up and make statements they shake
their head and shake their fists and shake everything else at me at say: Stop
it, stop it. But at the end of the day, I'm here to represent the people from
Cape St. Francis, and in order to represent the people from Cape St. Francis we
have to have good rapport with people on the other side. I just want to let
people know that, and that's important.
Now,
when it comes to budget time, and this year being an election year, it's going
to be interesting. Because my experience here over the years is that the first
couple of budgets that come in after a government gets elected, they're hard
budgets sometimes. This time, when it came in in 2016, it was probably the
hardest budget I've seen in 11 years.
Now,
it's going to be interesting to see this year what the budget will bring to the
people of the province. I know it's – and that's just the nature of the way
politics works. In four years' time, people across the way want to get
re-elected and we want to get elected here, and hopefully we will and form
government, but that's just part of what's done. So it's going to interesting.
I know
there are a lot of people out there looking and wondering what's going to happen
in this budget. I'm just looking at perhaps the biggest thing that can happen
for people in this province is tax relief. I talk to a lot of people in my
district, and I want to say to government that I hope they're listening to the
people out there because the biggest issue I have in my district is people are
finding they have less money to do anything with.
It's the
reason why we're seeing people do less renovations, improvements on their
properties. Even homes, housing starts, where housing starts are down, and the
main thing is that people need – you have to have income to be able to do this.
I'd say the majority of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians live from paycheque to
paycheque, and when you take a little extra out of that paycheque, you'll see
they don't have the means to spend any money.
I
believe it's better to give incentives than it is to take away. I think if
people buy new cars or they go out to restaurants or they do renovations, our
whole economy benefits from that because it's a snowball effect. It's the person
that you hire to do your electrical, it's the person that you hire to do the
plumbing or whatever it is on your house when you're doing a renovation, and
they spend money. Everybody spends money, but when there's no money in the
economy – and that's what people are telling me today, they're finding it
difficult because of the high taxes we pay.
An
example, we're the only province in Canada that pays taxes on car insurance. If
you took the 12 – or 13 per cent it is right now, I believe, Minister of
Finance. If you took that away from – and that would put a lot of money back in
people's pockets. There is the levy that was imposed on people. Now, I'm
thinking a lot of this is going to be taken care of when we do a budget, but
those are things that affect people.
What I
want government to do when the budget comes up, I want them to be able to look
at the people in this province and figure out how we can get them to spend some
money and make our economy work, because that's the way our province has to go
and that's the way we'll be successful. I want to see our province be
successful, whether I'm on this side of the House or that side of the House.
CHAIR (Warr):
Thank you.
MR. K. PARSONS:
Thank you very much.
CHAIR:
The hon. the Government House
Leader.
MR. A. PARSONS:
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I'm very
happy to stand today and speak to this bill, Interim Supply, which, to those who
may be watching or listening out there, is an opportunity for us to debate the
interim provision of funds which ensures that government's work gets done until
the budget is passed.
I look
forward to that debate. It's one of the highlights every year, obviously, is the
provincial budget and the process that goes into it, and I anxiously await the
opportunity. Perhaps my favourite part, being a bit of a legislative nerd, is I
enjoy the Estimates process, which is a great chance – whether you're in
government or Opposition, it's a chance to sit down and ask substantive
questions over a lengthy period of time to get answers to how money is spent in
each department on a line-by-line basis. I enjoyed it when I was in Opposition,
and I actually enjoy it very much being in government. So I look forward to
that.
Today we
discuss Interim Supply, and it's going to give me an opportunity – I'm going to
discuss a range of things in the little bit of time I have, try my best to get
the information out, and perhaps correct some of the information I've heard in
the debate thus far.
One
thing I want to talk about, obviously, from the Justice perspective is there
were questions asked today about Her Majesty's Penitentiary, about measures we
are taking there. And there's no doubt, there's no doubt that we need a
replacement of Her Majesty's Penitentiary. It's not even from the last century,
it's from the century before. Everybody gets that. There's no debate on the need
for a new facility. Obviously, the issue is coming up with the money for a
facility of that nature, of that magnitude when we do have fiscal challenges
that have been left to us. Everybody is aware of that.
It was
not that long ago that I sat and watched, when I was in Opposition, a Minister
of Finance stand up and talk about the issue he had is that he was flush with
cash. There are times I question, why didn't we get some stuff like that done
then? But I digress, the fact is you take the situation as you find it, here's
where we are. But that's something we're working on, and I'm very excited.
Next
week I think is going to be a good week for justice in this province. We have a
number of policies and things that we're going to talk about that I think will
make the situation better in this province. And it's not just a Newfoundland and
Labrador issue, it's a Canada-wide issue, it's a North American issue when we
talk about incarceration, when we talk about corrections.
A lot of
it's not just money, a lot of it's not just financial, but it's the change of
mindset. A sea change has to happen when we talk about the evolution of thinking
when it comes to incarceration and penal institutions, so next week is going to
be an opportunity to talk about that. And again, the fact that today is perhaps
my first chance, actually, to get up and speak to any piece of legislation, to
any bill, and being a money bill, as they call it, it's an opportunity to speak
to just about anything.
One of
the things I'm very excited – we actually had our first meeting – yesterday I
think it was – of the All-Party Committee on Democratic Reform. That's something
we've talked about and everybody's interested in it. So, we had our first
meeting yesterday. We've already put out in the terms of reference that one
thing we were going to discuss is campaign finance, which is an issue that I
think has some traction out there in the public amongst certain sectors. But
there's also the reality that elections require funding. So how do we come up
with that funding? Is it from the public purse or is it from private entities?
But these are discussions we'll have as legislators and lawmakers, and again
with our experience sitting here, and looking to the outside to individuals that
may wish to give their take on this.
We will
be setting up an online portal, similar to what we did when we had cannabis
legalization, where people from all over this province and outside had a chance
to give their thoughts to government on what should we do going forward. So, I
obviously look very much forward to that. I think it's going to be an
interesting process. At yesterday's meeting we had Members from all sides
bringing forward ideas, concepts, things we want to see research on, and I look
forward to our next meeting next week.
Again,
that wasn't the only meeting of that sort we had this week. Just this week, we
also had another Standing Orders Committee meeting where we discussed that
hopefully, during this session of the House, we are going to have for the first
time in more than two decades, a legislative committee do a review of a piece of
legislation. It's not something that we've seen in this House since back in the
Clyde Wells, Brian Tobin days. It has not been done. There have been calls for
that. So we're working through that process, and I thank the Members on the
Standing Orders Committee. It's a true example of bipartisan collaboration to
make this institution better.
We all
know by watching the Muskrat Falls Inquiry that we've had some deficits when it
comes to review of legislation, we all get that, but it's not as simple as
saying we're going to review it. It does require significant commitment, just
from the House of Assembly staff, to make this work.
We are
working on that, there's a lot of co-operation, and that's something that I
think once we get through this test phase – again, the Standing Orders allow for
it. Once we get through the practical application of it, making it happen, I
think it's something that we can apply going forward to important pieces of
legislation going into this House.
As I
have less than five minutes left now to speak, what I want to do is talk a
little bit about some of the comments I heard, and not that the Member for
Bonavista needs any defending, but one of the things – he stood up and he had a
chance to talk about his area, Bonavista, beautiful spot, and he talked about
how the economy was booming. One of the Members on the other side, I think it
was the Member for CBS, stood up and said: What are you talking about? That's
not the case, look around you.
So,
thankfully, again, I always like to – I did this once before when myself and the
Member for Conception Bay East - Bell Island had this type of debate where he
made a claim and I stood up. What I look to do – there's a great news site out
there called: allNewfoundlandLabrador.
They're only available online. I have a subscription. It's a great spot to get
news.
I have
to refer to it here. The actual title of the article is: Booming Bonavista. And
it says the community on the Bonavista Peninsula, about 300 kilometres from St.
John's, has undergone a recent transformation as new businesses are drawn to the
area. In a recent interview, Mayor John Norman said 31 new businesses have
opened in the last couple of years. He said dozens of new residents have
arrived, including millennials eager to run their own businesses. Our
residential real estate market is up on average between 57 and 61 per cent.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. A. PARSONS:
I want to say two things. To
the Member for Bonavista: Keep up the great work.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. A. PARSONS:
And to everybody in this
House what I would say is: Facts matter – facts matter. But I shouldn't be
surprised because it was the same Member that recently put out a press release
in which he called my hometown, the town in which I reside, the town where I
will be going back home tomorrow to see my family and my friends, he called it a
struggling community.
That was
actually in a PC press release put out a few weeks back. Do you know what? It's
funny because I had them join us here yesterday in the House, they came in for
meetings, and I could tell you what, the town council for Port aux Basques was
not too thrilled when a Member of the PCs said they were struggling.
I would
invite all Members to come to Port aux Basques to look at the brand new daycare
that we have open and operating. Thank you to the minister and the department.
Again, now we finally see child care opportunities for people wanting to get
back out in the workforce. It's the first of its kind – first one. And it was a
true partnership. Again, I have to give a shout-out to the Leading Edge Credit
Union, a co-operative that formed this, worked the department, worked with the
federal government and we have this new daycare.
We have
the Bruce II Sports Centre
which, due to recent upgrades, I'm going to put it up there against anywhere in
Canada in terms of a facility for a small community. Again, that's something
that draws people. There's constantly activity at that place. Or we could talk
about the tourism businesses that have popped up just in the last couple of
years. You just go online and you see their presence there, people coming,
spending their money, getting out and enjoying, whether they're local residents
or residents from away.
I'm only
talking about the facts here. So what I would suggest is stick to the facts and
when you call my community struggling, that's very insulting. But I'm not
surprised sometimes at those comments that come out from certain Members when
they talk about that.
In
closing off what I will say, I'm not surprised because when we look at the
disconnect that currently exists between the Members of the last administration,
the PCs and some of the questions – for instance, one Member, it might have been
the same Member, said something about people don't care about Muskrat Falls.
However,
when I go home this weekend and I'm up watching the Port aux Basques Mariners
beat the Corner Brook Royals in the senior finals, do you know what topic is
going to be on all their minds? They're going to say: Where do you get the $350
million to $740 million we need to ensure that seniors can pay their heat bills?
That's what they are asking. It's not just in Port aux Basques, it's in St.
John's, it's in Labrador and it's everywhere in between. I'd say, Mr. Chair,
you're going to have the same questions too.
Again,
where does that fall to? It falls to the crowd on the other side. When I talk
about the Member for Cape St. Francis, who I consider a friend and I respect,
and he talks about tax relief, I get it. I do get it. I understand it, but the
fact is we are dealing with a financial mess left to us. When we had to come up
with $700 million so that our grandparents and our parents and our seniors can
keep the heat on, I would say you've got to look at the fact that you created
this mess and we are left to clean it up.
On that
note, Mr. Chair, I would move that this Committee rise and report progress and
ask leave to sit again.
Thank
you.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
CHAIR:
Order, please!
The
motion is that the Committee rise, report progress and ask leave to sit again.
Is it
the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?
All
those in favour, 'aye.'
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Aye.
CHAIR:
All those against, 'nay.'
Carried.
On
motion, that the Committee rise, report progress and ask leave to sit again, the
Speaker returned to the Chair.
MR. SPEAKER (Trimper):
The hon. the Member for
Baie Verte - Green Bay and Chair of the Committee of the Whole on Supply.
MR. WARR:
Mr. Speaker, the Committee of
the Whole on Supply has considered the matters to them referred and have
directed me to report progress and ask leave to sit again.
MR. SPEAKER:
The Chair of the Committee of
the Whole on Supply has reported progress and ask leave to sit again.
When
shall the report be received?
MR. A. PARSONS:
Now.
MR. SPEAKER:
Now.
When
shall the Committee have leave to sit again?
MR. A. PARSONS:
Tomorrow.
MR. SPEAKER:
Tomorrow.
On
motion, report received and adopted. Committee ordered to sit again on tomorrow.
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Government House
Leader.
MR. A. PARSONS:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I would
move, seconded by the Minister Responsible for the Status of Women, that the
House do now adjourn.
MR. SPEAKER:
It has been moved and seconded that this House do now adjourn.
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 House does stand adjourned until
tomorrow, Monday, the 11th day of March 2019, at 1:30 o'clock.
Thank you.
On motion, the House at its rising
adjourned until tomorrow, Monday, at 1:30 p.m.