April 20, 2021
HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS
Vol. L No. 4
The House met at 1:30 p.m.
SPEAKER (Bennett):
Order, please!
Admit strangers.
Statements by Members
SPEAKER:
Today we're going to hear Members' statements from the hon. Members for the
Districts of Ferryland, Torngat Mountains, Exploits, Placentia - St. Mary's and
Humber - Bay of Islands.
The hon. the Member for Ferryland.
L.
O'DRISCOLL:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Today I recognize the passing of a remarkable man and
good friend, Mr. Kenny Williams. Anyone who knew Kenny was aware of his passion
for hockey. Kenny managed the Southern Shore Arena for 30 years, which has now
been renamed in his honour.
Some of his accomplishments in the hockey community
include: founding president of the Southern Shore Minor Hockey Association,
HNL's provincial coordinator for 24 years, provincial director of the female
hockey committee and was instrumental in the revival of senior female hockey at
a provincial level. Kenny was inducted as an honorary lifetime member of the
Hockey NL Hall of Fame in 2015 and received Hockey Canada's Order of Merit in
2017.
My involvement with hockey on the Southern Shore as a
player and coach gave me opportunity to work closely with Kenny in his role as
arena manager. This involvement leaves me with many memories of Kenny.
Kenny's greatest accomplishment was his love for his
family. He always made sure his wife, Diane, and his children were included in
his daily life, his hockey life and every aspect of his life.
Please join me in honouring the life of the late Kenny
Williams.
Go, Breakers, go!
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Member for Torngat Mountains.
L.
EVANS:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Today I pay tribute to Levi Nochasak of Nain,
Nunatsiavut. Levi is many things to many people: a father, uncle, teacher,
elder, but most importantly a wise friend who loves to share his knowledge of
the Inuit ways of living off the land.
Levi battles cancer but does not let that define him.
His strength comes from the land and he gets his energy from sharing all his
knowledge and wisdom that he has gathered since he was a young boy.
Levi always possessed the spirit of an elder. He
learned the old ways and shared his knowledge with others. A tremendous gift to
those who could spend time with Levi. Knowledge shared as a successful hunter.
Knowledge shared to know the signs of the land.
When we think of Levi, we think of Hebron and Noah.
Hebron was resettled but Levi keeps his roots there by frequenting his cabin
where he shares his knowledge of seals, polar bears, partridge, char and all
other food sources important to Labrador Inuit. Son, Noah, his proudest legacy,
hunts and shares his traditional knowledge the same way his father has done.
There is no value that can be placed on the
contribution of Levi Nochasak makes each day by sharing his language, culture
and traditions because that is priceless. The cycle of knowledge continues with
each conversation, each story shared. That is Levi Nochasak's legacy to us.
ULLAKUT, all good, Good Tea, Mr. Tetuk, Mr. Tea.
Please join me in applauding Levi Nochasak's
contribution to his people.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Member for Exploits.
P.
FORSEY:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, in conjunction with Volunteer Week, I'd
like to recognize the Leading Tickles Volunteer Fire Department on celebrating
its 46th anniversary.
Since April of 1975, the fire department has been
active in their community. The fire department and its 32 members, under the
leadership of fire chief, John Rowsell, who has been a firefighter for 30 years
himself, are ready 24-7 to respond to all types of emergencies.
Each year, the fire department hosts Leading Tickles
Day, an event in which members of the community donate all the food and prizes.
This event brings a profit of $30,000 to $35,000 annually to support their local
fire department. This group of volunteers is part of the reason I am proud to
say that I came from Leading Tickles, a special place I still call home.
Mr. Speaker, I would like for all Members of this House
of Assembly to join me today in congratulating the Leading Tickles Volunteer
Fire Department on celebrating 46 years of service.
Thank you.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Member for Placentia - St. Mary's.
S.
GAMBIN-WALSH:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, Argentia Gold Corporation celebrated their
grand opening yesterday, April 19, as one of the fully licensed cannabis
producers based in Newfoundland and Labrador. This accomplishment was a result
of many forces working together. The company's range of cannabis products was
first launched on the CannabisNL website earlier this month.
Argentia Gold's 80,000 square-foot facility is located
at the former US naval base in Argentia, now the Port of Argentia. The facility
that houses Argentia Gold was built in 1941. The naval base was once the largest
US naval base on non-American soil, housing 20,000 troops and their families.
The facility is dedicated to cultivating and processing
high-quality cannabis flower. Having prepared for years to ensure they meet all
Canadian regulations, their grow team – fully local to Newfoundland and Labrador
– strictly follows good manufacturing practice standards.
Alongside dried cannabis flower, Argentia Gold is also
developing a variety of infused products, including edibles, beverages, medical
creams and beauty and personal care items. The company plans to develop and
release these over time to the local market.
Mr. Speaker, Argentia Gold Corporation is a
Newfoundland and Labrador licensed producer, a local company.
Congratulations Argentia Gold on your grand opening.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Member for Humber - Bay of Islands.
E.
JOYCE:
Mr.
Speaker, I want to recognize an inspiring curler from my district, Mackenzie
Mitchell from the Town of Irishtown-Summerside.
Becoming involved in curling had its challenges for
Mackenzie. For the first couple of years, she was the only girl at the Corner
Brook Curling Club and did not have a team until more girls joined. They began
participating in tournaments, which were not always successful, but it was a
stepping stone for her future successes.
In 2018, Mackenzie skipped her rink to the 2019 Canada
Winter Games. She has won provincial tournaments and has represented
Newfoundland and Labrador on the national stage on multiple occasions.
Since moving to St. John's two years ago to pursue a
business degree at Memorial University, she joined a new ladies' rink and a
mixed doubles' rink.
In 2020, Mackenzie skipped her rink to the province's
under-21 women's title, and last year she and her teammate won the provincial
mixed curling doubles and recently played in the 2021 Canadian Mixed Doubles.
Mr. Speaker, I ask all Members to join me in
congratulating Mackenzie on her achievements, and wish her the continued success
in her future and congratulate her on her courage.
Thank you.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
SPEAKER:
Statements by Ministers.
Statements by Ministers
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Minister of Digital Government and Service NL.
S.
STOODLEY:
Mr.
Speaker, April is recognized internationally as Information Management Month. It
was developed to promote the importance of good record-keeping. Records track
the flow of our lives, from registration of our birth through all the services
received over our lifetime. Properly managed government information ensures we
can avail of services and programs when needed.
We all know effective information management supports
good program development. It fosters informed decision-making, facilitates
accountability and preserves our historical record. As we move to more online
services, it is important that we understand the expectation of the citizens of
the province to keep our records accurately and securely.
Mr. Speaker, government manages a vast amount of
information. It is important that everyone understand their roles and
responsibilities. Government staff at all levels are key to managing information
and providing quality programs and services based on that information.
Mr. Speaker, Information Management Month is a great
time to remind everyone of the importance of handling information properly. I
encourage everyone to take a few minutes to familiarize yourselves with
information management best practices on receiving, creating and managing
information on behalf of government and to recognize the good work completed by
our Information Management professionals.
Thank you.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Member for Ferryland.
L.
O'DRISCOLL:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I would like to thank the hon. minister for an
advance copy of her statement.
We on this side of the House join with the minister in
celebrating Information Management Month. The people's right to access
government services and information should be paramount in everything we do.
It's unfortunate that government does not practise what
it preaches. Consistently, government departments and agencies have stalled and
obstructed information requests. This is why it's so disappointing to see the
government propose changes to ATIPPA to make it more difficult to get
information.
Our office has a request into the Workplace Health,
Safety and Compensation Commission that dates back to last summer, yet the
agency is requesting yet another extension. Government continues to put up
roadblocks to these individuals and groups who have little recourse.
Thank you.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Member for Labrador West.
J.
BROWN:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I thank the minister for an advance copy of her
statement.
The protection and management of information is very
important, especially for government as the keepers of vast amounts of
information – management is paramount. As we've seen in the past, like the union
card information leak last year or when personal health information gets out, it
has devastating effects on individuals. So let's all do our part to protect
information that is entrusted to us.
Thank you.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
SPEAKER:
Other Ministerial Statements?
The hon. the Minister of Justice and Public Safety.
J.
HOGAN:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, policing in this province can be traced
back to 1729. It was after the British forces at Fort Townshend withdrew, that
in 1871, the Newfoundland Constabulary was born. The Royal designation was added
over 100 years later in 1979 by Queen Elizabeth II, and one year later in 1980,
the first women joined the ranks.
Throughout the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary's
storied history, the duties of a police officer have changed dramatically.
Initially formed to maintain law and order, the Constabulary of today has mobile
mental health crisis response teams, an equine therapy program and a community
support dog. Police officers are leaders in our communities. They are coaches
and role models and they are to be applauded for the important and difficult
jobs they do every day.
Choosing to don the uniform comes with great risk and
responsibility. Today, I recognize our more than 400 RNC officers and all those
who came before them. The sense of security and quality of life we enjoy is
because of the risks they take every day and their dedication and passion for
helping others.
Mr. Speaker, I ask all hon. Members to join me in
celebration of the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary and its 150-year commitment
to our great province.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Member for Harbour Main.
H.
CONWAY OTTENHEIMER:
Mr. Speaker, policing, indeed, has a long history in
our province tracing back to 1729 after the British forces at Fort Townshend
withdrew, the Newfoundland Constabulary was born.
Indeed, the duties of a police officer have changed
dramatically, there's no doubt in that. Initially, it was maintained primarily
for law and order, but even today we see the advances that have been made in
terms of the technology that has been presented.
Police officers are truly leaders. They are responsible
for so many of our important law-and-order functions in our society. Mr.
Speaker, they are role models for all of us and, indeed, we need to applaud them
for the difficult jobs and responsibilities they have in enforcing law in our
communities.
I ask all hon. Members to join with me in celebrating
the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary today and for many days to come. It is a
150-year commitment to our great province that we should recognize and applaud.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Member for St. John's Centre.
J.
DINN:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I, too, thank the minister for an advance copy of his
statement and join him in recognizing the 150th anniversary of the Royal
Newfoundland Constabulary.
The duties of an RNC officer have grown significantly
from the original mandate of enforcing law and order. If you've met Krista Fagan
and her dog Stella, you will know that.
If we, as a society, demand police officers respond
effectively to mental health and societal issues, then it is important that we
provide the training and the resources, both human and financial, they will need
to perform those duties.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
SPEAKER:
Any
other statements by ministers?
Oral Questions.
Oral Questions
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Leader of the Official Opposition.
D.
BRAZIL:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
In the last two federal budgets and in Monday's Throne
Speech, the Atlantic Loop project continued to be mentioned, yet there are no
details of what the project really entails. We know vague details of how the
project will be an agreement between Atlantic provinces and Quebec, which raises
concerns about how much Quebec stands to benefit from such a project.
I ask the Premier: Can you update the House on the
progress of the Atlantic Loop negotiations? What will Newfoundland and Labrador
have to give up in order to make it happen?
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Premier.
PREMIER A. FUREY:
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker, and thank you to the Member for that question.
That's an important question and it's one that will be
important for the future of Newfoundland and Labrador. We all know that
Newfoundland and Labrador has an abundance of green, clean energy, and we can be
the battery that powers the northeastern seaboard, but we won't do so in
sacrificing to Quebec. We will make sure that we have our fair share going
forward to ensure that this creates a sustainable future for our families and
also helps our Atlantic partners get to the clean net zero that they are
required to do by 2050, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Leader of the Official Opposition.
D.
BRAZIL:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Yesterday's federal budget contained no mention at all
of the Lower Churchill Project, despite years of negotiations between the
Trudeau and Furey Liberals on this matter.
I ask the Premier: Are Atlantic Loop and
rate-mitigation negotiations separate negotiations, or have they been rolled
into one conversation?
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Premier.
PREMIER A. FUREY:
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you for that question; it's an important one
about the Atlantic Loop and Lower Churchill Projects. We all know the Lower
Churchill Projects, created by the Members opposite of course, are a significant
anchor, financial anchor around our collective souls as Newfoundlanders and
Labradorians.
There's a difficult path forward without the help of
the federal government and renegotiating those Lower Churchill Projects. They
may be related, but they're linear in their relationship. Though the loop may be
circular, we need to fix Muskrat Falls before Newfoundland and Labrador
participates even further in the Atlantic Loop discussions. Those are
discussions that are ongoing.
So those are ongoing, Mr. Speaker, and I'm hoping to
have updates and will provide them in a timely fashion when they occur.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Leader of the Official Opposition.
D.
BRAZIL:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I have to remind the Liberal administration that they
can't continuously say that they're environmental stewards and that they're the
champions of clean energy, while at the same time dismissing the value of
Muskrat Falls. You can't have it both ways. Mr. Speaker, I don't have to go into
detail about why there are legitimate reasons to be concerned about the province
entering hydroelectric agreements with Quebec.
I ask the Premier: Is there any potential that the 2041
expiry of the Upper Churchill contract could change as a result of the Atlantic
Loop?
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Premier.
PREMIER A. FUREY:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
First of all, no one is debating the environmental
benefit of Muskrat Falls and the Lower Churchill Projects. It's the financial
benefit and impact as this project went astray.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
PREMIER A. FUREY:
Secondly, the Upper Churchill Project is not being negotiated right now. Of
course not. That would be something that would be done openly in accordance with
Justice LeBlanc's report in creating a 2041 committee, Mr. Speaker.
We're focused right now on fixing the financial mess of
Muskrat Falls so that we can do what we need to do to create sustainable
opportunities for families here in the province, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Leader of the Official Opposition.
D.
BRAZIL:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I again remind the Premier that it was the last six
years of the Liberal government and Nalcor who built Muskrat Falls, Mr. Speaker.
They're responsible for the overruns at this point.
Mr. Speaker, we know that Newfoundland and Labrador is
facing an unprecedented fiscal challenge brought on by low oil prices and the
COVID-19 pandemic. In the federal budget, there's a reference to fiscal
equalization payments being sent to Nova Scotia and not Newfoundland and
Labrador.
I ask the Premier: Why are they other Atlantic
provinces seeing more federal dollars in this budget while our fiscal challenges
remain unaddressed?
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Premier.
PREMIER A. FUREY:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
We continue to argue for our piece of the equalization
puzzle, but as the Member opposite knows, under a Tory administration of Prime
Minister Harper, we were punished for our position in this federation, Mr.
Speaker. We argue all the time for our benefits under the equalization formula.
We know that there is opportunity ahead of us, and that's why a good working
relationship with Ottawa – not ripping down flags, working with Ottawa – will
provide that benefit to Newfoundlanders and Labradorians going forward.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Leader of the Official Opposition.
D.
BRAZIL:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Again, I remind the Premier that it's his friend, Prime
Minister Trudeau, who has extended and changed the equalization formula for the
last two years to the detriment of the people of Newfoundland and Labrador. No
update on rate mitigation, no details on the Atlantic Loop and no money from the
federal government to help address our financial situation.
I ask the Premier: Is this what Newfoundland and
Labrador can expect from this prime minister?
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Premier.
PREMIER A. FUREY:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you for that question.
Perhaps it deserves revisiting what happened in
December, including over $800 million in debt relief with respect to Muskrat
Falls and the Lower Churchill Project. That's the project that the Members
opposite created. That is an anchor around us fiscally, socially and as a
province moving forward.
The federal government took the advanced steps of
helping provide that debt instrument relief for us. That is real money that we
didn't have to come up with in December that's important for the sustainability
of this province, Mr. Speaker. That's the kind of relationship that we can
expect moving forward.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Oh,
oh!
SPEAKER:
Order, please!
PREMIER A. FUREY:
The
discussions between Mr. Paddick and Mr. Dupont continue and will continue in
earnest. We are happy and willing to provide updates when they occur because it
will be in the best interests of the people of this province.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Member for Stephenville - Port au Port.
T.
WAKEHAM:
Mr.
Speaker, I think it's important to remind everybody in this House, and in the
public listening, that the $800 million was by no means a grant; it's to be
repaid. It was just a deferral; it's as simple as that.
Yesterday, the minister said that the government had
not seen a copy of the Moya Greene report and it is expected toward the end of
April.
Is this the interim report or the final report?
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Minister of Finance and President of Treasury Board.
S.
COADY:
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
It's unfortunate that the preamble of the question that
is put before this House was so inaccurate, Mr. Speaker – so inaccurate. But to
the question of the Moya Greene report, my understanding is we will see that
report towards the end of the month.
It is a fulsome report. The team of very knowledgeable
Newfoundlanders and Labradorians have spoken with multitudes of stakeholders
around the province, Mr. Speaker. They will be bringing forward their report,
their recommendations and their suggestions on how we can make our way through
this financial uncertainty that we have, largely caused by Muskrat Falls.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Member for Stephenville - Port au Port.
T.
WAKEHAM:
Mr.
Speaker, I ask the minister again: Will we see the interim report, or is this
the final report at the end of April? Will the recommendations of the Greene
report be included in this year's budget?
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Minister of Finance and President of Treasury Board.
S.
COADY:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
We'll see the report when we see the report, Mr.
Speaker. I do not have a copy of the Moya Greene report; the government does not
have a copy of the Moya Greene report.
When we see the Premier's Economic Recovery task force
recommendations, we will certainly review those recommendations. The Premier has
been very clear that there will be consultations with people in this province to
discuss the path forward; there will be debates in this House of Assembly to
discuss a path forward.
I will say regarding the budget, the timing of the
report and the timing of the budget, I do not know how quickly we can get to the
recommendations of the Moya Greene report, but I will assure Newfoundlanders and
Labradorians there will be consultations on that report.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Member for Stephenville - Port au Port.
T.
WAKEHAM:
Mr.
Speaker, I still haven't gotten an answer whether we're getting an interim or a
final, but considering that the final report was due the end of April, I would
assume it would be the final one.
Mr. Speaker, the Romaine's River Bridge had the funding
allocated for its replacement of July 2019.
I ask the Minister of Transportation: When will
construction on the bridge start? Will repairs be made in the interim to ensure
the bridge is still safe to use? Will the local community be consulted on its
design?
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure.
E.
LOVELESS:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I thank the hon. Member for the question. Any time we
talk about upgrades to our bridges or roads, it's always an important topic.
At this time, I can't give any information to the
Member, as I don't have the answer to that. But I will go back and have a
discussion with the staff, and be happy to report back to this House or to the
Member, whichever he'd prefer.
Thank you.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Member for Terra Nova.
L.
PARROTT:
The
infrastructure falling behind continues to hurt the rest of the province.
Mr. Speaker, the Speech from the Throne says prioritize
the hiring of qualified Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, yet right now there
are 103 workers from outside of the province in isolation at a local hotel
waiting to do work on an offshore drill rig.
I ask the Premier: Why did your government approve
outside workers coming in to take jobs away from Newfoundlanders and
Labradorians?
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure.
E.
LOVELESS:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I thank the Member for the question. I know this is a
question that's been asked many times around local hiring. As the Minister of
Transportation and Infrastructure, anything that I deal with that comes in front
of me, we do prioritize for local hiring no doubt.
Getting 100 per cent is a challenge, no doubt, but
we've had success in projects in this province, where we've seen upwards of 90
per cent or even more and I think that's a good record. We will continue to
fight for Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Member for Terra Nova.
L.
PARROTT:
While our local infrastructure concerns me, I was referring to the offshore, Mr.
Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I understand another 103 workers will be
coming from the United Kingdom to do a shift change on this rig. Again, this has
been approved by the former Premier Roger Grimes, the chair of the C-NLOPB and
the Furey government.
With hundreds of our own experienced, qualified workers
sitting at home, not able to go to work, why are we not putting our own people
first?
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Minister of Industry, Energy and Technology.
A.
PARSONS:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I appreciate the question from the Member opposite. As
we all know, any of these operations work under a benefits agreement that is
signed between the province and the companies. In fact, I have no knowledge put
in front of me that the benefits agreements that were put in place to ensure
Newfoundlanders and Labradorians were getting their fair share and our province
is getting our fair share, there is no evidence whatsoever that the benefits
agreement is not being lived up to.
There are plenty of times where offshore expertise has
to come from outside the province, the same way that there is expertise from
this province that goes to work all over this globe. The reality is right now we
are not seeing that, but again I appreciate the Member's question.
Thank you.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Member for Terra Nova.
L.
PARROTT:
I'm
sure the 103 workers that are displaced would disagree, and if you want evidence
just go down to the hotel and look at the people staying there.
Mr. Speaker, uncertainty continues to swirl around the
Come By Chance Refinery after government sat while talks collapsed last year
with Irving Oil. Just a couple months ago, current owner Silverpeak registered a
new company that industry sources say would reduce the refinery to a storage and
distribution terminal.
Can the minister confirm if this is true? I also add:
What is the current status of the refinery?
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Minister of Industry, Energy and Technology.
A.
PARSONS:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I'll just point to the preamble, again, there is no
evidence – if the evidence is who is sitting at a hotel, I would say bring me
something that shows that there has been a contravention of the benefits
agreements which have been signed by this province. If not, there is no
evidence, just more skepticism and hearsay from the Member.
As it relates to Come By Chance, I am very proud to say
that right now the agreement that we signed with Silverpeak to ensure that the
Come By Chance Refinery would remain in warm idle is functioning right now. The
employment levels are there as well as the investment level and we continue to
work towards a new investment. One of the clauses as a part of that funding
agreement was to ensure that there would be due diligence towards a new buyer.
We continue on there. We have had great conversations
with the union. In fact, I'll be having a conversation with mayors in that area
this evening.
Thank you.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Member for Terra Nova.
L.
PARROTT:
Mr.
Speaker.
It is little consolation to the men and women of
Newfoundland that are paying five cents extra on a litre of fuel.
The question was purely about whether or not the tank
farm was separated and the future of the refinery.
Mr. Speaker, government lost three months in caretaker
mode because of the election. How much longer are people going to have to wait
for a long-term plan for this refinery?
SPEAKER:
The hon. the Minister of Industry, Energy and Technology.
A.
PARSONS:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I believe that the original agreement showed that this
will go up to the end of June, so the reality is that even during a caretaker
government of any duration, right now we have workers working out there.
One of the things that I would evidence as to people's
satisfaction with the agreement that we managed to bring together to ensure that
there would not be a closure of the refinery – something happening in all
corners of this world – is the fact that we have had great relations with the
union. I speak to them on a weekly basis. Right now, that's not an issue that's
being brought to us. They are happy with the commitment that was made; they are
happy with the consultation that they get.
We continue to work to a bright future, but the reality
is that this is not a provincial asset that we are able to sell; this is an
asset that is owned by a company that we have a vested interest in.
Thank you.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Member for Harbour Main.
H.
CONWAY OTTENHEIMER:
Mr. Speaker, that still basically amounts to vague
information. The people need to have more meaningful, concrete information. I
continue to hear from concerned constituents affected by the closure of the Come
By Chance Refinery.
The workers are worried, Mr. Speaker, about the
uncertainty of their livelihood, and families are fearing for their futures.
They need news; they need information. As the months pass by, they need and they
deserve to know what's going on. I hear these concerns.
Can the minister give some meaningful information to
the families that are affected by the Come By Chance Refinery closure?
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Minister of Industry, Energy and Technology.
A.
PARSONS:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
What I can provide is that I speak on a very regular
basis, as do staff, with the union which represents the workers for that
refinery. We speak to them all the time, and they are more than free to disclose
the information to their members of which they are privy to. I'm absolutely
happy to do that. In fact, I'm speaking tonight with the MHA from your side, in
fact, who has lined up a meeting with all the mayors for the communities that
are affected. They asked me on Thursday; the meeting is set up for tonight. I'm
more than willing to speak for these people and I have been doing so.
Right now, we have a contract that brings us until the
end of June. I'm like everybody else: I would have liked to have seen this
solved nine months ago, but we cannot do that. It is not our deal to sign. We
need to rely on investment from outside, but I tell you what, this government
has been doing their part to keep it warm, to keep it alive and to keep the hope
in the air.
Thank you.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Member for Harbour Main.
H.
CONWAY OTTENHEIMER:
Mr. Speaker, the people still need to have more
information. I'm hearing that they're not getting the information. Government
has a responsibility, and the minister has a responsibility to provide that
information.
Mr. Speaker, during the election campaign, the red book
was referenced by government, in which they promised to “increase access to
fertility treatments … to enable IVF services in Newfoundland and Labrador.”
I ask the Minister Responsible for Women and Gender
Equality: When will IVF services be available for women and their families in
this province?
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Minister of Health and Community Services.
J.
HAGGIE:
Thank you very much for the question.
Mr. Speaker, an important topic and indeed one we have
committed to improve. We support fertility services to quite a significant
extent through Eastern Health. We are currently in the process of doing a
cross-jurisdictional scan to reflect on best practices from other jurisdictions
in Canada and that will then be used to provide advice as to how we can further
improve fertility services in this province, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Member for Grand Falls-Windsor - Buchans.
C.
TIBBS:
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, the Speech from the Throne read:
Government will invest in important hiring projects and “prioritize hiring of
qualified workers based in Newfoundland and Labrador.”
I ask the Premier: Yes or no, will you finally take our
advice and implement the community benefits agreement policy for all public
infrastructure projects in the province?
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure.
E.
LOVELESS:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for the question.
It is a good question because we talk about work for
Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. Stakeholders are involved in terms of the
conversation piece that I welcome. I haven't had a chance yet to meet with those
that are coming to meet with me. It's an important topic. I look forward to the
discussions and look forward to the results.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Member for Grand Falls-Windsor - Buchans.
C.
TIBBS:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
We've been hearing discussions now for about two years,
it's time to take some action. We've got people over in Corner Brook putting up
drywall while our own people sit at home doing nothing and not getting a
paycheque.
Mr. Speaker, when will the minister finally do the
right thing and implement the community benefits agreement, take the action in
consultation with workforce and our unions? When will this happen?
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure.
E.
LOVELESS:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for the question.
I thank the hon. Member and, as I said, it is a good
question but I'm not here today to put a time frame on an agreement or
agreements. I will confirm that I will be looking forward to, as I said,
discussions.
You made reference that discussions have been ongoing
for more than two years, and more than this administration as well. We'll
continue to have the conversation. As I said, I look forward to the results.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Member for Bonavista.
C.
PARDY:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Many of our towns and businesses that rely on tourism
are struggling. The provincial government is currently running ads in places
such as Ontario that will likely be shut out of the province for this season.
I ask the minister: How much money is being spent on
the ads in these places? Would this money be better spent as direct relief to
our communities and industry?
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Minister of Tourism, Culture, Arts and Recreation.
S.
CROCKER:
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
I can endeavour certainly to get the information on
what the stay curious campaign is for the Member opposite. But I disagree with
the Member opposite. We need to make sure that we're priming those markets for
when the restrictions are lifted and tourists can return to this province. It's
very important.
The Premier and the former minister appointed the
Premier's Advisory Council on Tourism. It was one of the first groups I met
with; we meet with them on a weekly basis – officials in the department.
Our tourism industry is an over $1-billion industry. We
need to be primed and ready to go, that as restrictions are lifted in our
country and as the vaccines are given to the people of our province and the
people of our country, we're ready – we're ready – with open arms to receive
tourists back in this province.
Thank you very much. Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Member for Bonavista.
C.
PARDY:
Mr.
Speaker, the Liberal MP for Labrador is speaking against the lack of fisheries
science, noting that seals continue to destroy our marine ecosystems, including
cod. She goes on to state that no real action means no positive results.
I ask the Minister of Fisheries: Under the lens of
creating sustainable opportunities, as the Premier referenced, does he agree
with MP Jones's statement?
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Minister of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture.
D.
BRAGG:
Mr.
Speaker, if there was ever the best question I got in the House it's this one
today, because if anybody feels strong about the seal fishery for this province,
you're talking to him right here, right now.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
D.
BRAGG:
Whatever we can bring to the floor of this House or the House of Commons to
bring some knowledge to the people of what the seals are causing to our
environment and to our fishery, now is the time to do it. So if you're looking
for someone to spearhead that, Sir, jump on board with me because I'm right
there.
Thank you.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Member for Bonavista.
C.
PARDY:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I agree. That seems like a very strong commitment to
look at the seal predation. Keep in mind that in 2012 the Standing Senate
Committee stated that seals consume between 1½ and two tons of fish each year.
It would be nice to see our plan of action.
Mr. Speaker, yesterday again we saw another federal
budget with no investment to enhance fisheries science research in Newfoundland
and Labrador.
I ask the Minister of Fisheries: Has he spoken with the
federal minister of Fisheries regarding this very important issue?
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Minister of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture.
D.
BRAGG:
Thank you very much, and thanks again for the question.
I think this hon. House would be happy to know one of
the first duties I took on after being appointed to this position was to reach
out to the minister of Fisheries and have a conversation. We talked for some
time on the telephone; we're looking forward to more conversations in the
future.
I come from a fishing community, so if you want to talk
fish, you want to talk seals, you're talking to the guy who lives it, breathes
it and believes in it. So I look forward to the federal minister and our
conversation.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Member for Cape St. Francis.
J.
WALL:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
My question is for the Minister of Municipal and
Provincial Affairs. Municipalities across our province are struggling with
increasing tender bids as a result of skyrocketing building materials. Lumber
has tripled in price and contractors are no longer able to honour the quotes
provided pending various approvals.
Mr. Speaker, I ask the minister: Does she have a plan
to help these municipalities move ahead with critical infrastructure projects?
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Minister of Municipal and Provincial Affairs.
K.
HOWELL:
Thank you to the Member opposite for the question – sorry, Mr. Speaker, I'll
address you first.
Thank you to the Member opposite for the question. I
would just like to highlight some of the important work that this department
does do to support municipalities in the acts of operational grants, as well as
special assistance grants. In the event that these things do arise, I'm sure
there are conditions that we can address and look at to see that they are
reached in a manner that's appropriate for communities who need special
assistance.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Member for St. John's Centre.
J.
DINN:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, the federal Liberals campaigned on and
then broke their 2015 campaign promise on electoral reform. Yesterday, during
Question Period, the response to re-establishing the All-Party Committee to
review the Elections Act was, frankly, underwhelming.
I ask the Premier: Is he actually committed to
democratic reform and modernizing the Elections Act, or will he follow in the
footsteps of his federal masters and break that promise?
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Premier.
PREMIER A. FUREY:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
First of all, Newfoundland and Labrador has no master
other than the electorate.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
PREMIER A. FUREY:
We
are certainly willing to work with the Members opposite –
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Oh,
oh!
SPEAKER:
Order, please!
PREMIER A. FUREY:
We're certainly willing to continue to work with the Members opposite towards
democratic reform. I think it's important, especially in the wake of this
election in particular. This affords us all an opportunity to reflect and to
modernize the Elections Act moving forward, and equally, make good progress in
democracy so that we can be leaders across the country here in Newfoundland and
Labrador, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Member for St. John's Centre.
J.
DINN:
Then I ask the Premier: Wouldn't re-establishing the All-Party Committee on
Democratic Reform be the best place to start the process?
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Government House Leader.
S.
CROCKER:
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
I think a little later this afternoon we will read into
the record here the establishment of the Striking Committee. That Committee will
take some time in the coming days to get the necessary Committees in place that
will be in place for the 50th General Assembly.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Member for Labrador West.
J.
BROWN:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, there is no relief in the federal budget
for Muskrat Falls. The clock is ticking. We can't wait for this boondoggle to
come online; the people of this province will never be able to afford it,
especially residents of the Island.
I ask the Premier: Where is the plan?
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Premier.
PREMIER A. FUREY:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
As mentioned earlier, there are ongoing talks between
Brendan Paddick and Serge Dupont with respect to the Lower Churchill Projects.
Despite the comments earlier, we have made good progress. There is over $850
million in debt forgiveness and $450 million – let me spell it out – in the
COREA payments, that not only do we not have to come up with, so we don't have
to pay it back, we can use that money towards financing this infrastructure
project that has gone awry on the other Members' watch.
We are making good progress, Mr. Speaker. We're not
going to let it go to the 12th or the 11th hour; we're making progress every
day. Again, I'd be willing and happy to provide substantive updates when they
occur.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Member for Humber - Bay of Islands.
E.
JOYCE:
Mr.
Speaker, cellphone coverage is very important to many rural communities in
Newfoundland and Labrador. This coverage will entice new business, safety and
tourism. Lark Harbour and York Harbour, who recently received funding, are
seeing the essential services of cellphone coverage.
There was a request for proposals several months ago
and two towns in Humber - Bay of Islands applied for funding: Cox's Cove and
McIver's.
Can the minister provide this House with an update on
the status of these proposals?
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Minister of Industry, Energy and Technology.
A.
PARSONS:
I
thank the Member for the question. It's an issue, I think, that many of us in
this House share in the concern to have connectivity all over our province.
We all know it's fundamental to economic development,
to social prosperity. The fact is that I think it's been pronounced, as we saw
with COVID, and the things that we want to do with economic opportunities, with
educational opportunities.
What I can say is that we've built on the 2018 proposal
that was out and we saw awards all across this province. We announced a second
call for proposals in 2020 in Phase II. Right now, Bell is working with these
communities to figure out the funding arrangements, to figure out the technical
specs.
What I can say even on a bigger level is that I've had
conversations with the majority of our Members on this side, and I think
connectivity, broadband coverage and cellphone coverage is something that we as
a province need to move closer to as we move into the future.
Thank you.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Member for Humber - Bay of Islands.
E.
JOYCE:
Mr.
Speaker, this province has seen an increase in deaths, serious accidents and
many calls to reform the snowmobile regulations. This commitment was made by the
government in 2018, 2019 and 2020. To date, we have not reformed the snowmobile
regulations.
I ask the minister: With all the serious accidents and
all the people asking for this, will you have a comprehensive review and bring
in new regulations for snowmobiles to protect our residents, which many people
are asking for?
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Minister of Digital Government and Service NL.
S.
STOODLEY:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I thank the Member for the question. ATV safety is
incredibly important to this government and to this province. We have completed
a comprehensive review of the ATV and the snowmobile legislation. We are in the
final consultation stages.
Actually, this morning, I met with SafetyNL, MLN, the
RCMP and the RNC, along with many other community organizations and we're
talking about how to increase the level of education around this province in
terms of changing the culture around ATV and snowmobile safety. I look forward
to bringing legislation to the House when it's ready.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
SPEAKER:
Seeing no other questions – do you have a question?
The hon. Member for Humber - Bay of Islands for a quick
question, no preamble, please.
E.
JOYCE:
Mr.
Speaker, I was never stuck for asking questions on behalf of the people.
I say to the minister thank you for that. Thank you for
that broad review on the ATV and the snowmobile regulations, but in 2018 there
was a comprehensive review, we were told. In 2019, there was a comprehensive
review. In 2020, there was a comprehensive review.
SPEAKER:
Get
to the question, please.
E.
JOYCE:
When are we going to have the regulations brought to this House of Assembly to
be approved?
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Minister of Digital Government and Service NL for a quick answer,
please.
S.
STOODLEY:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
We have completely finished the review. We are doing
final consultations to make sure that all the appropriate groups are consulted.
I anticipate that legislation coming forward when it's ready; it shouldn't be
too much longer.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
SPEAKER:
The
time for Question Period has expired.
Presenting Reports by Standing and Select Committees.
Presenting Reports by Standing and Select Committees
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Member for Burin - Grand Bank.
P.
PIKE:
Yes, Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Select Committee appointed to draft a reply
to the Speech from Her Honour the Lieutenant-Governor, I am pleased to present
the report of the Select Committee as follows:
To Her Honour the Lieutenant-Governor, the hon. Judy
Foote:
May it please Your Honour, we, the Commons of
Newfoundland and Labrador in legislative session assembled, beg to thank Your
Honour for the Gracious Speech which Your Honour has addressed to this House.
Thank you.
SPEAKER:
Tabling of Documents.
Tabling of Documents
SPEAKER:
I
do have one.
In accordance with section 19(5)(a) of the
House of Assembly Accountability,
Integrity and Administration Act, I hereby table the minutes of the House of
Assembly Management Commission meeting held on February 24, October 16 and
December 7, 2020.
Any other tabling of documents?
Notices of Motion.
Notices of Motion
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Government House Leader.
S.
CROCKER:
Mr.
Speaker, I give notice that I will on tomorrow move the following motion:
That notwithstanding Standing Order 9, this House shall
not adjourn at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, April 21, 2021, but shall continue to sit
and conduct government business and, if not earlier adjourned, the Speaker shall
adjourn the House at midnight.
SPEAKER:
Any
other notices of motion?
The hon. the Government House Leader.
S.
CROCKER:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I give notice that I will on tomorrow move the
following motion:
That under the authority of Standing Order 65, the
Member for Carbonear - Trinity - Bay de Verde, the Member for Cartwright -
L'Anse au Clair, the Member for Conception Bay South, the Member for Harbour
Main and the Member for St. John's Centre shall comprise a committee and, in
accordance with the Standing Orders,
shall report within the first 20 days of appointment a list of Members to
compose the Standing Committees for the House, referred to in Standing Order
65(1).
SPEAKER:
Other notices of motion?
Answers to Questions for which Notice has been Given.
Petitions.
Petitions
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Member for St. John's Centre.
J.
DINN:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I have in my possession a petition signed by 168
individuals and a further 300 online. It's regarding the minimum wage.
WHEREAS this province has one of the lowest minimum
wages in Canada at $12.15 an hour; and
WHEREAS more than 89 per cent of Canadians live in
jurisdictions with a higher minimum wage; and
WHEREAS almost a quarter of workers in Newfoundland and
Labrador earn $15 an hour or less and 55 per cent of minimum-wage workers are
women; and
WHEREAS having a low minimum wage is a major
contributor to poverty and gender inequality; and
WHEREAS raising the minimum wage will benefit workers,
local businesses and the economy by putting money in worker's pockets to spend
in their local community; and
WHEREAS any increase in the minimum wage rate must be
legislated through the House of Assembly;
Therefore, we petition the hon. House of Assembly as
follows: We, the undersigned, call upon the House of Assembly to urge the
Government of Newfoundland and Labrador to legislate a $15-per-hour minimum wage
by the end of 2021.
Mr. Speaker, the notion that somehow a minimum wage job
is an entry-level job is a fallacy. There are many people who are working, not
one but two and sometimes three jobs just to keep food on the table for their
families. If we are going to address the social determinants of health by making
fresh, healthy food available to all people and accessible, then it has to be
affordable. One way of doing that is to make sure that the people have the money
in their pockets to afford it. Again, when it's cheaper to buy a two litre of
Pepsi than a two litre of milk, it is very hard to put nutritious food on the
table.
The pandemic highlighted many of the problems that
minimum wage workers face. It's time to rectify them.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Minister of Environment and Climate Change.
B.
DAVIS:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I would just like to respond to my learned colleague
from St. John's Centre. I think his research is a little old. It's not $12.15
anymore; it's $12.50 as of the 1st of April.
We have a process in place for increasing minimum wage.
We understand that it's pressures for people all across the country and, truly,
the globe. We have a process in place where we consult with a group that put in
place, each and every couple-of-year period. That process is starting shortly to
put that committee in place that will look at that. We have had four increases,
or will have four increases, by October 1 of this fiscal year.
I look forward to moving towards where the hon. Member
wants, but it has to be a balanced approach: looking at the needs of the
employers and small business, which is such an important piece for our province,
as well as the employees. We want to ensure that we plan for that balanced
approach each and every time we do this.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Member for Grand Falls-Windsor - Buchans.
C.
TIBBS:
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
This is going to be directed towards Education, this
petition, Mr. Speaker. It's very important.
Many of our young residents of Newfoundland and
Labrador have had to deal with intimidation and bullying within our education
system. Students are terrified to go into our schools and this disrupts their
right to a fair education. Many parents are frustrated and they feel they have
very few options as they send their children to school each and every day.
Therefore, we petition the hon. House of Assembly as
follows: We, the undersigned, call upon the House of Assembly to urge the
Government of Newfoundland and Labrador to commit to a comprehensive review of
bullying and intimidation present in our school system and to format a plan to
mitigate this problem so our children can feel safe when receiving an education.
Mr. Speaker, the anxiety that many children face, as
they are bullied or intimidated in school, is unbearable to some children.
Suicides have happened in the past and I am sure that they will happen again. It
can have much to do with one or two students within the school.
We feel as though the parents are at their wits end:
they don't know what to do anymore. Parents have had to move and it's not fair
for them, it's not fair to the children that are looking to get an education.
It's also not fair to the teachers. The teachers feel as though they are pretty
much handcuffed too: they don't have any solutions to this.
I think the department needs to come together and put
in more resources or find a way to mitigate this, to help the children that are
bullying, maybe educate them more, but also help the children that are being
bullied each and every day. It is not fair to them. It's disrupting their lives;
it's disrupting their education. To live in fear like that at such a young age
is going to have problems as they move further down the road.
I would call on the Minister of Education to maybe talk
to me or have a chat sometime, and move forward with this for the betterment of
our children, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you.
SPEAKER:
Further petitions?
The hon. the Member for Torngat Mountains.
L.
EVANS:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
We, the undersigned, are concerned citizens of
Newfoundland and Labrador who call upon the House of Assembly to urge the
Government of Newfoundland and Labrador to ensure that all future provincial
elections have written and verbal instructions on the voting process translated
into all provincial Indigenous languages and their respective dialects.
Providing our Indigenous people with accurate information in their own language
is essential to ensuring that they have the ability to cast a valid and
democratic vote. Inuit, Innu and Mi'kmaq are the Indigenous peoples, the First
Peoples of our province, so we believe that information regarding the democratic
right to vote should be available in the province's first languages.
Therefore, we petition the hon. House of Assembly as
follows: We, the undersigned, call upon the House of Assembly to urge the
Government of Newfoundland and Labrador to ensure all future provincial
elections have written and verbal instruction on the voting process translated
into all provincial Indigenous languages and their respective dialects.
Just looking at this, what happened during the
election, I think it was an oversight. Elections NL weren't really prepared for
language barriers that were created when all their communication was in English
only. I use the word “oversight” because I believe it was an unintentional
failure to recognize existing language barriers for our three Indigenous peoples
in the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Just my take on it, it's very important to recognize
that it was unintentional, but we need to be able to identify what happened so
we can learn from it. We need to ensure this doesn't happen again.
When you go to vote in person, you show up and,
basically, you mark an X next to the name of the person you want to represent
you in the House of Assembly. I know from personal experience in my district the
returning officer has always ensured that the six Indigenous communities had
adequate translation services, so it wasn't a question. That's why I say a lot
of it was an oversight. But translation into Indigenous language is about
respect of the First Peoples of this province.
It goes back to the overused word “reconciliation.” A
lot of Indigenous people – the Mi'kmaq, the Innu and the Inuit – really are
starting to be offended by the word “reconciliation,” because without change and
without progress to help Indigenous peoples regain their dignity and regain the
lives that they had before the white man came, there can be no reconciliation.
One of the things is the right to vote. We shouldn't have barriers where people
cannot vote because they don't understand the language that's presented in front
of them. Their Indigenous languages are important.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Minister Responsible for Indigenous Affairs and Reconciliation, and
Labrador Affairs.
L.
DEMPSTER:
Mr.
Speaker, you did tell us we should jump up or something, so maybe I'll try that
next time, get some exercise.
I thank my hon. colleague for the petition on this very
important topic, Mr. Speaker. As this hon. House would know, it was this
particular Premier, under this administration, that put a minister in Cabinet
for the first time in history with the word “reconciliation” in the title.
Reconciliation, Mr. Speaker, is about narrowing that
gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people, about increasing that
understanding. It's about consulting with Indigenous people before we do things,
before we bring in policies in government.
Before I get to the election part, I can tell you, Mr.
Speaker – and I've said it here in this House before – I heard an Indigenous
leader say never before in their history had they had an open door with the
Premier's office like they have here now. I believe that's a positive step. The
Premier and I have weekly calls with Indigenous leaders around this province.
Just today, before coming into this House, we had some very great discussion and
a part of that was the importance of language, language matters, place names
matter.
On the election, we had a different election in a
different time, as we find our way through this first-ever public health
emergency. But, again, our Premier, a simple google will show you that he has
been out on record a number of times saying things like, regardless if there was
a pandemic or not, these ballots should have been translated into Indigenous
languages so people could vote in their mother tongue.
I know that we will certainly support the direction
that the hon. Member wants to go. Our Premier has said that it seems like it's
an easy fix. We don't understand why it wasn't done. We look forward to
debating.
My hon. colleague, the new Minister of Justice, Bill 1
– we're all excited to have some good spirited debate on that important
Elections Act upgrade, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you.
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Member for Ferryland.
L.
O'DRISCOLL:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
These are the reasons for this petition. An extension
was announced to the Robert E. Howlett highway on March 25, 2014:
WHEREAS the environmental assessment, design and
engineering of this project is completed; and
WHEREAS continued residential and commercial growth has
increased traffic on the Southern Avalon;
Therefore, we petition the House of Assembly as
follows: We, the undersigned, call upon the House of Assembly to urge the
Government of Newfoundland and Labrador to continue with this significant piece
of infrastructure to enhance and improve traffic in the Southern Avalon.
Mr. Speaker, I drive this road every day. When you're
driving back and forth with the traffic that's on this road early in the
mornings, midday and in the evenings – it's incredible that this has been passed
since 2014 and no movement has been done. I was on the council in Bay Bulls in
2009 for a year or two. It was always the expectation that it was going to be
done and it hasn't been spoken. It fell by the wayside and no one ever touched
it.
We have a marine base in Bay Bulls, another proposed
one in Fermeuse that would alleviate this kind of traffic from the main highway
there now to get to these sites; also, very big tourism between Bay Bulls right
to Trepassey, including Petty Harbour. When you get in there, you can jump off
the highway. It's very important.
Also, the Gushue Highway, which they have completed a
portion of, came to Mount Pearl. I drive that every day coming in here, which is
great, but it doesn't join in. It's supposed to join in to the Robert E.
Howlett, then continue on and an extension to that as well. It's something that
supposedly in the works. Now it's stalled and it doesn't seem to be gone
anywhere. We're trying to bring attention to it.
Also, on that highway as well, when you're driving
right now, you're going through a residential community that the speed limit is
50 kilometres an hour. To get a road to bypass this, the same as you have in
Torbay that bypasses that's been very significant and helped the areas. This
would help our area extremely and it's something that we look forward to. I
would love to look at the government and look at the ministers, to be able to
sit down and speak to this.
Thank you so much.
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Member for Lake Melville.
P.
TRIMPER:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
It's nice to have some competition on the petition
world today. I'm reading this for a second time to a new minister.
In 2020, government announced that Route 520, the
highway between Happy Valley-Goose Bay and the communities of North West River
and Sheshatshiu, was now a priority under the Five-Year Provincial Roads Plan.
Although a tender call was issued during late summer to complete upgrades and
pave some sections, the submitted bids far exceeded the allocated budget. In
September and again in December of 2020 in the House of Assembly, the minister
of Transportation and Infrastructure stated government will expand the scope of
the contract to find better value for next year's construction season; i.e., in
2021, which is where we are now. Since these commitments were made, the current
state of this highway has further deteriorated to what we describe as an
appalling condition.
Therefore we, the undersigned, call upon the House of
Assembly to urge the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador to issue the tender
as committed to the people of Lake Melville for expanded work on Route 520 as
soon as possible so that the expanded contract can be awarded and work started
immediately at the beginning of this 2021 construction season.
Mr. Speaker, as I alluded to this yesterday, the
highway has really suffered. It's been on the radar for attention for some time.
I was pleased to see it finally get on the Roads Plan. We've been throwing our
apples in the basket of the Trans-Labrador Highway. It is really time to fix
this very important linkage between North West River, Sheshatshiu and Happy
Valley-Goose Bay and elsewhere, and far beyond, by the way.
As I said, we have names on these holes and these dips
that we call a roller coaster of a highway. Just during the campaign, the safety
pylons that we're using to designate potholes, areas that have caved in, given
way on the side, I'm thinking we're going to run out of safety pylons before we
run out of opportunities to repair it.
I would like to say that we appreciate the efforts of
the contractor, but it's now well beyond patches and repairs. The entire highway
needs to be addressed. There are major sections that need an elevation change to
get out of the water table and provide a safe and stable transportation
connection between these very important communities. I look forward to hearing
an update from the minister.
I thank you very much, Mr. Speaker, for this
opportunity.
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Member for Stephenville - Port au Port.
T.
WAKEHAM:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Like my previous colleague, I do have a petition about
roads, but I think it's more than the second time I've presented this one. As a
matter of fact, I'm on my third minister.
I would like to start again and simply say: The
maintenance and upkeep of the roadway through the community of Cold Brook is the
responsibility of the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure. Sections
of the roadway have been in deplorable condition for the last five years and
need repairs and resurfacing. Children are required to ride school buses twice
daily over roadways where sections of the paved road are missing. There have
been a number of close calls where vehicles have to swerve in order to avoid
driving over a section of the roadway where the pavement is totally missing. The
residents of Cold Brook deserve better.
Therefore we petition the hon. House of Assembly as
follows: We, the undersigned, call upon the House of Assembly to urge the
Government of Newfoundland and Labrador to consider repairing, upgrading and
maintaining the paved road through the community of Cold Brook in the Province
of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Mr. Speaker, I'm talking about a kilometre – one
kilometre of road that has not been looked at for more than five years. The
local transportation officials have it on their radar for more than five years.
Former Member Reid, when he represented the area, had it on his agenda and we
still are waiting for that section of road to be repaired.
This past summer there was supposed to have been work
done on Route 460. Cuts were made in the road; three months later the cuts were
repaired because the local contractor who was supposed to do some paving in the
area, there were some challenges with him that the department ran into so those
cuts were paved over. I would imagine that they will be back this summer on
Route 460. When they come back, it would be an appropriate time, and
strategically, to be able to take advantage of the fact that the equipment is in
the area to actually get this section of road done.
I ask the minister: Will you take that under advisement
and finally get the kilometre of road in Cold Brook repaired?
Thank you.
SPEAKER:
Orders of the Day.
Orders of the Day
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Government House Leader.
S.
CROCKER:
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
I call from the Order Paper, Motion 10.
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Government House Leader.
S.
CROCKER:
Mr.
Speaker, I move, seconded by the Deputy Government House Leader, that under
Standing Order 11(1) this House not adjourn at 5:30 today, Tuesday, April 20,
2021.
SPEAKER:
The
motion is that we do not adjourn at 5:30 today.
All those in favour, 'aye.'
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Aye.
SPEAKER:
All
those against, 'nay.'
Carried.
The hon. the Government House Leader.
S.
CROCKER:
Mr.
Speaker, I call from the Order Paper, first reading of Motion 4, Bill 9.
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Minister of Industry, Energy and Technology.
A.
PARSONS:
Yes, Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the Government House Leader, for leave to
introduce a bill entitled, An Act To Amend The Energy Corporation Act And The
Hydro Corporation Act, 2007, Bill 9, and I further move that the said bill be
now read a first time.
SPEAKER:
It
is moved and seconded that the hon. the Minister of Industry, Energy and
Technology shall have leave to introduce a bill entitled, An Act To Amend The
Energy Corporation Act And The Hydro Corporation Act, 2007, and that the said
bill shall be read for a first time.
Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?
All those in favour, 'aye.'
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Aye.
SPEAKER:
All
those against, 'nay.'
Carried.
Motion, the hon. the Minister of Industry, Energy and
Technology to introduce a bill, “An Act To Amend The Energy Corporation Act And
The Hydro Corporation Act, 2007,” carried. (Bill 9)
CLERK (Barnes):
A
bill, An Act To Amend The Energy Corporation Act And The Hydro Corporation Act,
2007. (Bill 9)
SPEAKER:
This bill has now been read a first time.
When shall the said bill be read a second time?
S.
CROCKER:
Tomorrow.
SPEAKER:
Tomorrow.
On motion, Bill 9 read a first time, ordered read a
second time on tomorrow.
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Government House Leader.
S.
CROCKER:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I call from the Order Paper: Motion 5, Bill 10.
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Government House Leader.
S.
CROCKER:
Mr.
Speaker, I move, seconded by the Minister of Justice and Public Safety, for
leave to introduce a bill entitled, An Act To Amend The House Of Assembly
Accountability, Integrity and Administration Act, Bill 10, and I further move
that the said bill be now read a first time.
SPEAKER:
It
is moved and seconded that the hon. the Government House Leader shall have leave
to introduce a bill entitled, An Act To Amend The House Of Assembly
Accountability, Integrity and Administration Act, Bill 10, and that the said
bill shall now be read a first time.
Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?
All those in favour, 'aye.'
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Aye.
SPEAKER:
All
those against, 'nay.'
Carried.
Motion, the hon. the Government House Leader to
introduce a bill, “An Act To Amend The House Of Assembly Accountability,
Integrity and Administration Act,” carried. (Bill 10)
CLERK:
A
bill, An Act To Amend The House Of Assembly Accountability, Integrity and
Administration Act. (Bill 10)
SPEAKER:
This bill has now been read a first time.
When shall the said bill be read a second time?
S.
CROCKER:
Tomorrow.
SPEAKER:
Tomorrow.
On motion, Bill 10 read a first time, ordered read a
second time on tomorrow.
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Government House Leader.
S.
CROCKER:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I call from the Order Paper: Motion 6, Bill 11.
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Minister Responsible for Indigenous Affairs and Reconciliation, and
Labrador Affairs.
L.
DEMPSTER:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I move, seconded by the Government House Leader, for
leave to introduce a bill entitled, An Act To Amend the Children, Youth and
Families Act, Bill 11, and I further move that the said bill be now read a first
time.
SPEAKER:
It
is moved and seconded that the hon. the Minister of Indigenous Affairs and
Reconciliation, and Labrador Affairs shall now have leave to introduce a bill
entitled, An Act To Amend The Children, Youth And Families Act, Bill 11, and
that the said bill now be read a first time.
Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt this motion?
All those in favour, 'aye.'
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Aye.
MR.
SPEAKER:
All those against, 'nay.'
Carried.
Motion, the hon. the Minister Responsible for
Indigenous Affairs and Reconciliation and Minister Responsible for Labrador
Affairs to introduce a bill, “An Act To Amend The Children, Youth And Families
Act,” carried. (Bill 11)
CLERK:
A
bill, An Act To Amend The Children, Youth And Families Act. (Bill 11)
SPEAKER:
This bill has now been read a first time.
When shall the said bill be read a second time?
AN
HON. MEMBER:
Tomorrow.
SPEAKER:
Tomorrow.
On motion, Bill 11 read a first time, ordered read a
second time on tomorrow.
SPEAKER:
The
Government House Leader.
S.
CROCKER:
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
I call from the Order Paper, Motion 8.
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Minister of Education.
T.
OSBORNE:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I will read out the resolution at the start, Mr.
Speaker.
WHEREAS section 4 of the
Auditor General Act provides that the Auditor General is to be
appointed by the Lieutenant-Governor in Council on resolution of the House of
Assembly;
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Ms. Denise Hanrahan
be appointed as the Auditor General effective April 22, 2021.
Mr. Speaker, just to give a little bit of background on
Denise Hanrahan: I think most Members in the Legislature would be familiar with
her.
SPEAKER:
Order, please!
We didn't have a seconder for that motion.
T.
OSBORNE:
Sorry, Mr. Speaker; seconded by the Government House Leader.
SPEAKER:
Thank you.
The hon. the Minister of Education.
T.
OSBORNE:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I think most people here would be familiar
with Denise Hanrahan, having been most recently the deputy minister of Finance,
then the secretary to Treasury Board. Mr. Speaker, I know she entered the public
service in 2002, so she has 18 or 19 years of service to the people of
Newfoundland and Labrador.
I'll read out a bit of a bio on her, Mr. Speaker, for
those in the House who do not know her as well as some of us who have been here
a little longer, or the general public.
She served as the secretary to Treasury Board, a
position that she's held since 2017. She has previously held positions within
the public service, including the deputy minister of Finance; assistant deputy
minister of Financial Planning and Benefits Administration with the Department
of Finance; assistant deputy minister of Strategic and Corporate Services with
the former department of Transportation and Works. She also held several
director level positions within the public service, Mr. Speaker, including the
pension joint sponsorship, the audit committee as a director with the
Newfoundland and Labrador Liquor Corporation and OilCo.
Mr. Speaker, in 2006 she was awarded a Public Service
Award of Excellence, and before joining the public service in 2002, Ms. Hanrahan
held numerous senior leadership positions within the retail, wholesale and
not-for-profit sectors. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Co-op) and master of
business administration degrees from Memorial University. She's a chartered
professional accountant. She has completed a master's certificate in project
management through York University, the director's education program through the
University of Toronto and obtained her director designation from the Institute
of Corporate Directors.
Mr. Speaker, I worked directly with Ms. Hanrahan when
she became deputy minister of Finance for almost three years. I was there for
over three years; she was almost three years. I can say that she is absolutely a
dedicated public servant. I'm sure that other Members in the Legislature who've
had an opportunity to work with her and get to know her would agree that she's
dedicated, that she's dedicated to the public service in this province, and I'm
honoured, as somebody who's most recently worked with her for about three years,
to be putting forward this motion in the Legislature today.
On a personal side, Mr. Speaker, I can say that coming
into the department budget time, as most people know, public servants burn the
midnight oil. They spend a number of hours – public servants within Finance and
the budgeting division. I came in one evening, we were working on the budget
about 11 o'clock and you'd swear there was a rock concert down the hallways of
the Department of Finance. She was taking a break eating a Dairy Queen banana
split and blaring out Pearl Jam, which I believe is her favourite band. She's
also been known to hum; I've heard her singing Tina Turner's “Better Be Good To
Me.” I'm not sure, it's a wide array. All I can think now as a Minister of the
Crown is: you better be good to me. I'm sure most Members of the Legislature
would think that.
Mr. Speaker, I guess I'll end it with a verse from her
favourite band, and while she's independent and I know she'll do due diligence
in keeping government's feet to the fire: You don't have to stray two oceans
away.
I'm sure the friendships that you've maintained in this
House will go beyond, even though you'll perform your functions and keep us
accountable.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Member for Stephenville - Port au Port.
T.
WAKEHAM:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I, too, am honoured on behalf of the Official
Opposition to support this motion. I think the hon. minister has taken many of
the bullets that were written here for me, about Denise, Ms. Hanrahan, and
certainly has acknowledged the tremendous role she has played in the last number
of years in working in government as well.
I think she's lead government through seven budget
processes; two pension reform processes; has been part of teams that actually
have been charged with federal government negotiations. She is well qualified.
She has worked, as the minister has said, in several senior public sector
management roles. For me, I think, I've been privy now to a couple of Estimates
Committees, and as a former public servant I can attest to the amount of work
that officials in the Department of Finance put in and the hours and hours and
hours they spend getting the budgets ready and the Estimates ready.
I guess, Ms. Hanrahan is a well-balanced and qualified
professional. She has worked with many MHAs directly through a wide range of
interactions and, of course, as I mentioned particularly the annual budget
processes and the Estimate processes. She is known for her honesty and, what I
would call, truth to power – that style; a deep knowledge of government
operations at many levels; and, certainly, problem-solving skills.
Again, I'm deeply honoured to be able to support the
motion.
Thank you.
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Member for Humber - Bay of Islands.
E.
JOYCE:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I just want to concur with the minister and the Member
for Stephenville - Port au Port. My dealings with Denise since 2016-2017 and
other stuff in between – I, like the minister, have been around for a while and
dealing with Denise. I can tell you, when we were going through a few difficult
times in 2016-2017, the style of work of the group was Denise. She'd come in
early in the morning, she'd leave late at night and she'd have everything so
professional. She was such a great person to deal with.
I agree with both the minister and the Member for
Stephenville - Port au Port, you couldn't get a more qualified person to be
Auditor General of this province; a more honest, upfront, truthful, present the
facts the way they are. When there were times when there was tension, she knew
how to bring levity to the situation so that we all get back.
I just want to congratulate Denise. I remember in
2016-2017 one of the things that she missed the most about the turbulent times
that she had getting the budget ready for us was missing her family. I hope now
she has time to make up for that because the service that she gave to the
Province of Newfoundland and Labrador and put her family behind – that she has
time now to spend with her family.
I'm just so pleased that this motion was brought forth
for such a great lady, for a great worker, a great person and someone who is
going to serve this province well in the future. Congratulations, Denise.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Minister of Finance and President of Treasury Board.
S.
COADY:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I'd like to add to the chorus of congratulations and
speak to the qualifications of Ms. Denise Hanrahan. She is not just
knowledgeable, but her integrity, her work ethic and her enthusiastic demeanour,
I think it's all been noted well here this afternoon. Her dedication to this
province and her deep and profound love of this province, I think, make her an
ideal candidate as Auditor General. I think this province will be very well
served.
I had the honour to work with her in her role for a few
months as Minister of Finance, and I can say that she understands and knows more
about the construct of this government over multiple years. I think she will
serve us very well as Auditor General and she will make this province proud.
Thank you.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Member for Labrador West.
J.
BROWN:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
On behalf of myself and my colleague here, we would
like to also support this motion for Ms. Hanrahan. From the sounds of my fellow
colleagues here, she has had a very impactful career, especially in the
Department of Finance. She seems like she has made a lot of good friends over
there in that. It's good to hear that she has also guided us through seven
budgets and many other negotiations and different changes in our province.
Myself and my colleague here also do support this
motion. We congratulate Ms. Hanrahan.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Minister Responsible for Women and Gender Equality.
P.
PARSONS:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I want to add my voice to this. Of course, I want to
applaud this motion and congratulate Ms. Hanrahan on this very prestigious
opportunity. As we all know, arguably we're facing our most challenging fiscal
times here in the history of Newfoundland and Labrador.
On behalf of the proud department of Women and Gender
Equality, I want to congratulate this very well-deserving recipient for this. We
look forward to collaborating and working with her. I have great confidence in
her.
Thank you.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Member for Topsail - Paradise.
P.
DINN:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
If I didn't speak up on this I would probably get a
call from Denise later on saying I didn't support her appointment. For those who
know Denise, she would do that.
I had the pleasure of working with Denise many years
ago when she first came to government. As the Member opposite said, it's not
unlike to see her working hard at her job, but then having some levity to relax
and play some music loud.
I'm sure – I'm totally 110 per cent confident – that
she is the right person for this job. She has all the tools to make this job
work and to do the best for the province. She's a person of integrity and a hard
worker, but she also has some levity. She can keep things real, and as the
Member for Humber said over here, sometimes she brings a bit of humour to her
job that takes the stress away from the staff that are working around her. She
does that quite easily.
I just want to say I congratulate her. I think she's
fabulous for the job and no need to give me a call tonight.
Thank you.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Member for Mount Pearl - Southlands.
P.
LANE:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker; I was waiting for the light to come on.
I'm not going to make this long, but as has been my
past practice, any time there's any bill or any motion that comes before the
House, as I am an independent Member, I'd like to speak for myself and give my
point of view on it.
I just want to say that I don't really know Denise very
well, as some others would know. I've obviously met her a few times through
briefings with the Department of Finance, through the Estimates process and so
on, but her reputation precedes her and I've heard a lot of good things about
her.
Any dealings that I did have with her were positive.
Looking at her résumé that's been presented to us, she's obviously very
qualified, both from an educational point of view and from the perspective of
experience, knowing government and how government operates. I have no problems
supporting this motion.
I certainly want to congratulate her. I just also want
to give her a heads-up that in her new role now, she can expect a visit from me
very soon to discuss the audit of Nalcor.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
SPEAKER:
Seeing no other speakers, if the Minister of Education speaks now, he will close
debate on this resolution.
The hon. the Minister of Education.
T.
OSBORNE:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I think Members in the House spoke very eloquently and
very positively. I know that Denise is probably sitting in her office listening,
to have the vote of confidence of Members of the House of Assembly.
It's an Independent Appointments Commission
appointment, Mr. Speaker, unlike the old days. But if it were the old days, her
name would probably come forward anyway because she is very capable and very
qualified. She earned this, was chosen by the Independent Appointments
Commission. I know that tonight, her and her family will probably celebrate this
and tomorrow she gets to work.
Mr. Speaker, it's a pleasure and an honour to see this
motion passed.
Thank you.
SPEAKER:
Is
the House ready for the question?
Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt this motion?
All those in favour, 'aye.'
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Aye.
SPEAKER:
All
those against, 'nay.'
Carried.
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Government House Leader.
S.
CROCKER:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I call from the Order Paper, Order 3, Bill 5.
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Minister of Justice and Public Safety.
J.
HOGAN:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I move, seconded by the Minister of Industry, Energy
and Technology, that Bill 5, An Act To Amend The Access To Information And
Protection Of Privacy Act, 2015, be now read a second time.
SPEAKER:
It
is moved and seconded that a bill entitled, An Act To Amend The Access To
Information And Protection of Privacy Act, 2015, Bill 5, be now read a second
time.
Motion, second reading of a bill, “An Act To Amend The
Access To Information And Protection Of Privacy Act, 2015.” (Bill 5)
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Minister of Justice and Public Safety.
J.
HOGAN:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you for the first opportunity in my time here, a
very short time, obviously, to speak to a bill and speak to an amendment of this
piece of legislation. I know all the Members of the House of Assembly are
familiar with the Access to Information
and Protection of Privacy Act, 2015. It's a very important piece of
legislation.
As everybody knows, the work that we do here as Members
of the House of Assembly and in our various departments is all in the interest
of the public. The public should and do have the ability to make requests about
the documents that we work on, the documents that we send back and forth to each
other, so that we do the work in a public manner and that information is
accessible to the public if they make requests.
Of course, there are exceptions to that. Not every
piece of information that passes through our hands is public. One example of
something that wasn't public information was documents that were provided to the
commissioner of the Muskrat Falls inquiry. For Members who were here at that
time, they might remember that Schedule B of the legislation provided an
exemption to the Commission of Inquiry Respecting Muskrat Falls where the ATIPPA
would not apply.
As everyone knows, as well, there has been an Inquiry
into Ground Search and Rescue for Lost and Missing Persons in Newfoundland and
Labrador that has been established. There is work ongoing in that. I think we'd
all agree that's a very important piece of work that's being done, headed up by
former Provincial Court judge, James Igloliorte. He's carrying out that work
right now.
To that end, he has made a request that the House of
Assembly provide an exemption to ATIPPA for that inquiry. The judge has
indicated he believes the work of the inquiry may be prejudiced if the inquiry
is not exempted from the operation of this act. The commissioner believes that
the requirements of the ATIPPA could potentially interfere with the work of the
inquiry and impose unnecessary demands on the staff of the inquiry.
Of course, I know no one in this House wants that to
happen. It's very important that the work he is doing move forward as quickly as
possible. It's very important work. He is examining the adequacy of search and
rescue in Newfoundland and Labrador. Once his inquiry is done, as soon as he is
able to – and this will help him move faster to complete his work – he will
report back with any recommendations that he has to improve search and rescue in
this province, to help improve the safety of everyone here.
This amendment is consistent, as I said, with an
exemption that was provided to the Muskrat Falls inquiry. We all know
Commissioner LeBlanc provided numerous recommendations following his completion
of the inquiry. One of the recommendations he did make was that future inquiries
should be exempt from ATIPPA.
This is the first inquiry since the Muskrat Falls
inquiry was completed. In line with his recommendations, as this government is
doing with numerous of his recommendations, we're agreeing to it. We're bringing
this amendment forward to comply with the recommendation made by Commissioner
LeBlanc.
I do want to stress – this is the most important part
of what I say today – that the amendment is not frustrating anyone's ability to
access public government records. Any government record that can be – and I
guess this is a verb now – 'ATIPP-able,' will remain 'ATIPP-able.' If anybody
wants a document from the Department of Justice and Public Safety, they can
still make that request under the current legislation; however, they cannot make
that request directly to the Inquiry into Ground Search and Rescue.
It does not change the public's ability to access any
information that is public right now; it will simply allow the commissioner to
do his work without the burden of having to comply with ATIPP legislation. The
scope of this amendment is extremely narrow. I can't imagine anything that would
be more narrow than exempting this one inquiry from the applicability of ATIPP
legislation.
As I said, it's very important work. It's investigating
a very sad event in Labrador and it's about time this moves forward. In order
for it to move forward as quickly as possible, I ask that the House grant this
amendment at the request of the commissioner, so he can move forward with his
work in an expedited manner.
Thank you.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Member for Harbour Main.
H.
CONWAY OTTENHEIMER:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, first of all, I can say with respect to
this bill, as the Minister of Justice and Public Safety has stated, it is a very
important piece of legislation. Bill 5, An Act to Amend the Access to
Information and Protection of Privacy Act, 2015 – this legislation plays an
important place in the public forum.
For example, when we look at this legislation, we see
that the purpose of the legislation – it has been stated in the act – is to,
first of all, facilitate democracy. One of the more important functions of this
legislation is to safeguard the values of transparency and accountability.
The legislation, in its nature, is there to ensure that
citizens have information, that they're able to participate meaningfully in the
democratic process. I'm sure we'll all agree how important that is. We need to
increase transparency in government and public bodies. We need to increase
transparency so as to ensure accountability of elected officials, of MHAs, of
people who are employees and officers of public bodies.
The legislation is quite lengthy. When we look at it,
it's a very detailed document. The amendment that is the subject of today is
just one section of this very detailed act, which is there for the people of
this province.
It is important to note, as well, that this legislation
not only is there to facilitate democracy, it's to ensure transparency. It's
also there to protect the privacy of individuals – the privacy of individuals,
with respect to their personal information about themselves, which is in
possession of public bodies. This legislation, for all of us, is very important
because it does protect our privacy, it does protect personal information that
public bodies have in their possession.
One other interesting thing that I think we need to
note about this legislation – the actual act in itself – is that the purpose
there is to be achieved by giving the public the right of access to records and
public information. That's really what this act is all about. ATIPPA is there to
give people in our province the right to access their records, the right to
access their personal information.
I think it's important to set that background, just to
summarize what the fundamental purpose of the legislation is and what the
rationale for the purpose is, which is to increase transparency and to hold
government accountable. Those are some of the important things that we need to
make sure are evident. This is all about facilitating democracy.
This specific bill, Bill 5, as the Minister of Justice
and Public Safety has indicated, is really just a simple exemption – one
exemption for the commissioner of the Inquiry into Ground Search and Rescue for
Lost and Missing Persons in Newfoundland and Labrador. It provides an exemption
to the commissioner so that the inquiry and the commissioner will not be
subjected to ATIPPA. I do find comfort in hearing that the Minister of Justice
and Public Safety say, and he recognizes, that this is a very narrow-scope
amendment. It is very specific as to the inquiry and it certainly will not –
what we're hearing is that it will not at all affect people from being able to
access their information. It's not, in other words, a block of information
becoming public. So that's really important to know and that's really important
to hear.
It's really, I would say, a procedural kind of an
amendment, if you will, to allow the commissioner the ultimate, I guess,
discretion to access, for example, which exhibits will be made public and which
will be confidential. The commissioner will make that determination. I think
it's safe to say that that determination will be made by the commissioner in the
public interest.
As has been referenced by the Minister of Justice and
Public Safety with respect to the Muskrat Falls inquiry, that was just a
narrow-scope exemption as well. It only applied to that inquiry. When the
inquiry was over, the documents became the Government of Newfoundland and
Labrador's property, and thus were subject to ATIPPA and could be accessed by
people. It is my understanding that will be the same with respect to this
legislation.
With respect to that, Mr. Speaker, I can say that the
Opposition Party is in support of this amendment. As has been stated, the work
that will be taking place in this inquiry is very important to the people of the
province and to the families that were involved, so we really want to support
the efficient functioning of the inquiry so that they can do the important work
that needs to be done and that the commissioner is not hindered, burdened or
inundated by ATTIPA requests that are not necessary.
In conclusion, Mr. Speaker, we, the Opposition, do
support Bill 5.
Thank you very much.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Minister Responsible for Indigenous Affairs and Reconciliation, and
Labrador Affairs.
L.
DEMPSTER:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Just waiting on the clock.
S.
CROCKER:
You
are only given 20 minutes anyway.
L.
DEMPSTER:
I
am only going to take five, I say to the Government House Leader.
Mr. Speaker, I am really pleased to see this amendment
come before the House. I want to thank my colleague, he is pretty new in the
department but it is nice to see some papers moving through quickly. As has
already been discussed this is just a brief amendment to An Act to Amend the
Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act.
Mr. Speaker, what this is really about, if we go back
to the Muskrat Falls inquiry, where we saw that Commissioner LeBlanc, he stated
that: “A Commission should be exempted from the
Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act legislation so
that its investigations can be conducted fully and without potential
interference or influence.”
Really, that's what this amendment is about; moving
this inquiry forward that we have been waiting a long, long time for. I go back
to 2012, when I was then a deputy mayor in my community, Mr. Speaker, and if
there was one thing that galvanized Labradorians, it was the call for
improvements for search and rescue when young Burton Winters went missing.
That very difficult time in Labrador's history that we
all went through, really, stays fresh in your memory. We were also very honoured
that Judge Igloliorte from Hopedale, from a neighbouring community of that boy,
when he was appointed the commissioner into the inquiry, and it was Judge
Igloliorte that said: “I hope that I can honour Burton Winters' memory by
identifying steps that can be taken to prevent similar tragedies in the future
….”
Mr. Speaker, be it on the Coast of Labrador, or
anywhere in the province for that matter, as we know there was a ground search
underway at that time, but it was two days before a military aircraft would be
dispatched and the outcome was very tragic: we have to learn from those events.
Mr. Speaker, search and rescue continues to be an issue
of provincial and national importance and one that we take quite seriously; so I
am really pleased to support this amendment today to Bill 5.
I'm sure the family is very anxious for this inquiry to
be up and running. There will be one hearing of this inquiry dedicated solely to
Burton Winters. Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with the family.
Again, I commend my colleague, the Minister of Justice,
for moving forward on this rather quickly since he's been in the portfolio.
Thank you.
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Member for Labrador West.
J.
BROWN:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I'll speak briefly to this as well.
We understand the importance of this kind of an
amendment to the protection of information, especially from the last inquiry's
request for such a thing. It's important that we do – this is a good sign that
this is the first step actually towards the inquiry finally taking place after a
number of years.
We do support this housekeeping amendment, more or less
than anything, to allow the commission and the inquiry to function correctly in
the most expedient ways possible, but also, at the same time, protecting
people's information and allowing the flow because we also have to protect
whatever information we take in. It goes back to the minister's statement today
about protecting people's information but also allowing access to it when it is
relevant.
I just want to briefly say that and that we do support
this motion.
Thank you.
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Member for Lake Melville.
P.
TRIMPER:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I think I could say without any doubt that those of us
who can remember back nine years and certainly those of us who are very lucky to
live in Labrador, will recall the emotions at that time and what happened with
this tragedy of this young man. Many of us knew him, knew his family, we knew
the people involved in the search. We knew the efforts that were being expended.
We knew a lot of frustration that went on at that time.
It is good to see this inquiry move forward. As the
sponsoring minister has said, and with his experience in working with inquires,
if this is what is needed to proceed, then let's get on with it. I think it's
extremely important that we do whatever it takes to get to the bottom of what
did happen and what didn't go well.
I have quite a bit of familiarity with this, I've spent
10 years myself working on the Happy Valley-Goose Bay Search and Rescue team. I
can tell you when you're watching people respond, it's often 2 o'clock in the
morning, your phone rings or a pager rings and off you go. Now, you and your
colleagues, you're putting yourselves at risk.
I want the outcome of this inquiry to be such that the
tremendous contribution that so many volunteers across our province put forward
each time that they are called out, they are really putting their own lives at
risk. When I think back on those days – and some of them are very vivid for
myself – I can only think that the communications breakdown that occurred here,
the potential indecision, I'm not sure, but I do look forward to seeing an
outcome that will allow us, will allow Labrador, will allow this family and
everyone else around this tragedy and others to feel that we'll make some
progress in responding to future situations such as this.
I wish Mr. Igloliorte all the best. I first met Judge
Jim, as we all know him, as we knew him back in 1987 at Susie's Boarding House.
I've had a long time that I've known this man. I don't think we could've found a
better person to lead the inquiry. If Judge Jim is looking for this
accommodation, I think we should give it to him.
I'm fully in support of that, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you.
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Member for Cape St. Francis.
J.
WALL:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
It's certainly a privilege to speak in this hon. House.
I appreciate the opportunity to speak to this bill, Bill 5, An Act to Amend the
Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, 2015.
Mr. Speaker, before I go any further, I want to pay
tribute to all the families that are affected by this. For those who have lost
and are missing loved ones, we remember them here in this House of Assembly
today and always.
Mr. Speaker, I'd also like to take this opportunity to
acknowledge the crucial work that's done by the members of the ground search and
rescue team all around our province. They are called upon in stressful times and
their work is very difficult. I'm sure that each Member of the House will agree
with me today that their efforts are held in high regard and we appreciate all
the work that they do.
Mr. Speaker, the purpose of any inquiry is to answer
what has happened and why it happened. This particular amendment to the bill is
necessary. This amendment won't be hiding anything, it won't block any
information coming to the public. By the very nature of the commission of
inquiry, information through exhibits and testimony will all be made public. The
commissioner will assess the exhibits that can be made public and those that
will remain confidential. I'm sure the commissioner will act in the public
interest by virtue of his position alone, and make such a determination with
public interest in mind.
Mr. Speaker, such instances being handled under this
bill are very personal for family and friends of those who have died or are
missing. They don't want or need the added worry as to what information will be
made public while the ordeal is ongoing. This amendment to Bill 5 will allow the
process not to get bogged down with information requests and, Mr. Speaker,
there's really no need to play politics here at all.
In addition, there are a number of volunteer
organizations who may provide documents to an ongoing inquiry and, of course,
these documents are not eligible for ATIPPA requests as they are not from a
public body. This proposed exemption for the inquiry will allow the commissioner
to make the decision regarding if they to be made public or not.
Mr. Speaker, this inquiry is personal in nature and
will rely on the testimony of family members and volunteers, and their personal
information must be treated very carefully and with respect. I believe this
amendment will do exactly that.
Mr. Speaker, I applaud Bill 5, An Act to Amend the
Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, 2015. We are not
reinventing the wheel here and we are not playing politics, as I said. This will
be a benefit for everyone going forward who is involved in such an instance.
Our work here in the House of Assembly is for all
Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. Mr. Speaker, I support this bill and I support
the government on this amendment to Bill 5.
Thank you.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Member for Mount Pearl - Southlands.
P.
LANE:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I'm not going to take long, but, again, just this past
practice, as an independent Member of the House, I like my vote to be recorded
in Hansard so it's quite clear where I
stand on any given issue.
As it relates to this bill, I'm not going to get into
repeating all that has been said, I think it's pretty clear what's happening
here. We're just simply going to exclude this particular inquiry from the access
to information act, basically on a temporary basis, if you will. Once the
inquiry is over and everything returns to the government, if there are any
documents that could normally be ATIPPed from government, that will still occur.
As has been said, the justice is just looking for – he
doesn't want anything that's going to interfere with this very important inquiry
and he doesn't want to be bogged down in ATIPP requests and so on. As it is sort
of a one-off, if you will, the only other time it happened was with the Muskrat
Falls inquiry.
Given the fact that the information will eventually
become 'ATIPP-able' after the inquiry is over and as it allows for the inquiry
to go through smoothly without problems so that we can get to the bottom of
everything that went wrong, I will support it wholeheartedly.
Thank you.
SPEAKER:
Seeing no other speakers to the bill, if the Minister of Justice and Public
Safety speaks now he will close the debate.
The hon. the Minister of Justice and Public Safety.
J.
HOGAN:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
First, before I make some comments, I note that this
was seconded by the Minister of Industry, Energy and Technology who was not the
House when I first spoke. He is here now, if I can just note that he will second
this motion.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
I want to thank all Members who spoke to this today,
for contributing and supporting this motion. As everybody noted, it is something
very important, something that obviously deals with a very serious situation in
Labrador that happened. People spoke about the families and how this was, and
continues to be, a difficult time for them. This will, hopefully, be part of the
process of moving forward and healing, if that is possible for those family
members.
I also acknowledge the Members opposite did recognize
that the right to the public to access their records does remain in place, which
is obviously very important; something we all want to ensure.
With that, Mr. Speaker, I'll end my comments.
SPEAKER:
Is
the House ready for the question?
The motion is that Bill 5 now be read a second time.
Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?
All those in favour, 'aye.'
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Aye.
SPEAKER:
All
those against, 'nay.'
Carried.
CLERK:
A
bill, An Act To Amend The Access To Information And Protection Of Privacy Act,
2015. (Bill 5)
SPEAKER:
This bill has now been read a second time.
When shall the said bill be referred to a Committee of
the Whole?
S.
CROCKER:
Now.
SPEAKER:
Now.
On motion, a bill, “An Act To Amend The Access To
Information And Protection Of Privacy Act, 2015,” read a second time, ordered
referred to a Committee of the Whole House presently, by leave. (Bill 5)
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Government House Leader.
S.
CROCKER:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the Minister of
Justice and Public Safety, that the House resolve itself into a Committee of the
Whole to consider Bill 5.
SPEAKER:
It
is moved and seconded that I do now leave the Chair for the House to resolve
itself into a Committee of the Whole to consider Bill 5.
Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?
All those in favour, 'aye.'
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Aye.
SPEAKER:
All
those against, 'nay.'
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 now considering Bill 5, An Act To Amend The
Access To Information And Protection Of Privacy Act, 2015.
A bill, “An Act To Amend The Access To Information And
Protection Of Privacy Act, 2015.” (Bill 5)
CLERK:
Clause 1.
CHAIR:
Shall clause 1 carry?
The Chair recognizes the hon. the Member for Harbour
Main.
H.
CONWAY OTTENHEIMER:
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
The first question is: Has the minister spoken to Judge
Igloliorte, the commissioner? Just for clarification, are you aware if he
intends to publicly make available the exhibits, which he is going to rely on
throughout the inquiry?
CHAIR:
The
Chair recognizes the hon. the Minister of Justice and Public Safety.
J.
HOGAN:
Thank you very much and thank you for the question, Mr. Chair.
I have not spoken to the commissioner; I've actually
never met him. I've heard great things about him and I've heard things about him
in the House this afternoon as well. We're very pleased that he agreed to be the
commissioner of this inquiry. Obviously, a very important inquiry to all
Newfoundlanders and especially to Labradorians.
Any decision to make public records will be his and his
alone. Certainly, I won't, and no one from the Department of Justice and Public
Safety will dictate to him what he feels that needs to be disclosed to the
public in relation to any investigations he makes in the course of his inquiry.
I certainly know that's my experience when I was counsel at the Muskrat Falls
inquiry. There was no discussion between counsel and the commissioner, and I
highly doubt the commissioner discussed anything with the Department of Justice
at the time about what should and should not be public. He will decide and he
will alone decide what he needs to disclose so that he can do the full
investigation.
I certainly expect that he will come across some
information that is very private to individuals. It could be health records that
he may feel do not need to be disclosed and maybe partially can be disclosed. He
can redact things if he sees necessary. I think that concisely and fairly
answers the question that the Member opposite had.
CHAIR:
The
hon. the Member for Harbour Main.
H.
CONWAY OTTENHEIMER:
Has the Privacy Commissioner given an opinion on this
amendment? If so, what was his opinion? If he did provide an opinion, can you
table it?
CHAIR:
The
hon. the Minister of Justice and Public Safety.
J.
HOGAN:
Thank you for the question, Mr. Chair.
It is my understanding that the Privacy Commissioner is
satisfied with this amendment, but I can't confirm that right now as a definite.
I will certainly check with the department and see the exact conversations that
were had with the Commissioner. If there is an opinion, we will look at
disclosing it.
CHAIR:
The
hon. the Member for Harbour Main.
H.
CONWAY OTTENHEIMER:
This inquiry, as we've already acknowledged, is very
personal in nature and will rely on the testimony of family members and
volunteers. How will their personal information be treated by the inquiry? Is
there going to be any support made available to these people, to the volunteers
and family members, throughout the inquiry?
CHAIR:
The
hon. the Minister of Justice and Public Safety.
J.
HOGAN:
Thank you for the question, Mr. Chair.
Again, that's a question that will go to how the
commission operates. I'm sure that's part of the work that the commissioner is
doing right now, making decisions about witnesses, who they will be and where
this will take place.
Obviously, with the ongoing global pandemic, that
changes everything in terms of how courts, commissions of inquiry and even the
House of Assembly operate. Those sorts of decisions will be made by the
commissioner. The funding will be provided and has been provided by the
Department of Justice. We will keep an eye on that and any decisions or issues
he needs in relation to that specific matter we'll happily talk to him about it.
But, again, how the inquiry will be conducted is entirely in the realm of the
commissioner's decision-making.
In terms of information that may be private and the
families may not want to disclose, again, it's a very sensitive matter that the
commissioner is dealing with. I'm sure he can have discussions with council for
the family, that if they want things to remain private, they can discuss that.
That's between them and not for the Department of Justice and Public Safety to
opine on.
Thank you.
CHAIR:
Shall the motion carry?
All those in favour, 'aye.'
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Aye.
CHAIR:
All
those against, 'nay.'
Carried.
On motion, clause 1 carried.
CLERK:
Be
it enacted by the Lieutenant-Governor and House of Assembly in Legislative
Session convened, as follows.
CHAIR:
Shall the enacting clause carry?
All those in favour, 'aye.'
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Aye.
CHAIR:
All
those against, 'nay.'
Carried.
On motion, enacting clause carried.
CLERK:
An
Act To Amend The Access To Information And Protection Of Privacy Act, 2015.
CHAIR:
Shall the title carry?
All those in favour, 'aye.'
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Aye.
CHAIR:
All
those against, 'nay.'
Carried.
On motion, title carried.
CHAIR:
Shall I report the bill without amendment?
All those in favour, 'aye.'
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Aye.
CHAIR:
All
those against, 'nay.'
Carried.
Motion, that the Committee report having passed the
bill without amendment, carried.
CHAIR:
The
hon. the Government House Leader.
S.
CROCKER:
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I move that the Committee rise and report Bill 5.
CHAIR:
The
motion is that the Committee rise and report Bill 5.
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.
SPEAKER (Bennett):
The
hon. the Member for Baie Verte - Green Bay.
B.
WARR:
Mr.
Speaker, the Committee of the Whole have considered the matters to them referred
and have directed me to report Bill 5 without amendment.
SPEAKER:
The
Chair of Committee of the Whole reports that the Committee have considered the
matters to them referred and have directed him to report Bill 5 without
amendment.
When shall the report be received?
S.
CROCKER:
Now.
SPEAKER:
Now.
When shall the bill be read a third time?
S.
CROCKER:
That's tomorrow, Mr. Speaker.
SPEAKER:
Tomorrow.
On motion, report received. Bill ordered read a third
time on tomorrow.
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Government House Leader.
S.
CROCKER:
Thank you again, Mr. Speaker.
I call from the Order Paper, Motion 3, Bill 4.
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Minister of Finance and President of Treasury Board.
S.
COADY:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I move, seconded by the hon. Minister of Industry,
Energy and Technology, that the House resolve itself into a Committee of the
Whole on Ways and Means to consider a certain resolution and a bill relating to
the advancing or guaranteeing of certain loans made under the
Loan and Guarantee Act, 1957, Bill 4.
SPEAKER:
The
motion is that I do now leave the Chair for the House to resolve itself into a
Committee of the Whole on Ways and Means.
Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?
All those in favour, 'aye.'
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Aye.
SPEAKER:
All
those against, 'nay.'
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 now debating the related resolution and Bill 4,
An Act To Amend The Loan and Guarantee Act, 1957.
Resolution
“Be it resolved
by the House of Assembly in Legislative Session convened, as follows:
“That it is expedient to bring in a measure further to
amend The Loan and Guarantee Act, 1957,
to provide for the advance of loans to and the guarantee of the repayment of
bonds or debentures issued by or loans advanced to certain corporations.”
CHAIR:
Shall the resolution carry?
The Chair recognizes the hon. Minister of Industry,
Energy and Technology.
A.
PARSONS:
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I would just like to speak for a couple moments on this
resolution that's been brought here, which even though it is quite miniscule in
the size of the paper that it's printed on, it's actually a very important paper
that we're dealing with here today and one that we, as a Legislature, have been
dealing with now for over a decade.
To anybody that might be watching here, what we are
doing is essentially changing the wording, changing the date on a loan guarantee
that we provide to the Stephenville Airport Corporation. Just to speak about the
air industry in general, we all note the difficult times that have been present
over the last year when it comes to this industry. Not just the industry as it
relates to the flights coming in and out, but the airports that receive them. It
is global in nature; it is not just as a province. We need to determine what the
future is of air travel, passenger traffic and commercial activity. What does
that hold for us?
I was very happy to see federal funding announced
recently, which I know was much appreciated by the airport corporations. That's
a group that we have had a number of meetings with over the last number of
months. No matter where they are in the province, we have a number of hubs and
we meet with them and try to work with them. A lot of it, obviously, is based on
passenger restrictions, which we won't get into now, but we realize it's a lot
of the issue that they face.
The Stephenville Airport itself prior to the pandemic
had about 7,200 passengers. It has two runways, a fuel farm and operations
terminal. As someone that has used it fairly frequently over the last number of
years of my life, even before politics, we realize its charm and we realize its
importance strategically as well. It is an important backup: you only have to
talk to the airlines to see where they – if you have to divert there.
Again, I say to the Member opposite: he's going to be
in agreement, as well as my colleague who – this is an airport that we're all
very familiar with. The reality is that it has gone through tough times over the
last two decades; this is not a new issue. The fact is we are here every year,
on an annual basis, dealing with this loan guarantee and the renewal of it.
I did want to point out, though, some positivity and
that is that last year the Stephenville Airport Corporation and the Town of
Stephenville embarked upon a partnership with Winnipeg Airport Services
Corporation. They're known as WASCO. They provide airport management and they
deal with a lot of rural airports all throughout the country. Their goal is to
enhance airport operations for the benefit of the community and the region.
One thing I would point out – and this comes directly
from meeting with Mayor Rose on a number of occasions – this is not about
competing with other airports we have in the province, about diverting a finite
base of passengers from one spot to the other, because that's not a game for
anybody here. This is about creating new streams of traffic, new streams of
passengers and new opportunities that come with it. I have a good feeling about
this contract that they signed and I've heard a lot of positivity about this.
One positive is that they do have Sunwing returning to
the airport, coming from Toronto in June with a weekly flight. Again, I don't
want to belabour the importance of air connections to this province, we all know
it, but that's one of the challenges that this airport faces, that this
corporation faces and that we face as a province. So we support them, we want to
work with them and I'm glad that they'll see the commitment that we've made.
Now, I will point out just for those that might be
listening or hearing this for the first time, this was first done, actually, in
2005. Back then, it was a $350,000 loan guarantee to secure their operating line
of credit. It increased in 2010 and then increased further in 2016. Now, we have
extended it annually since 2018, but there have been no increases on the amount.
The amount went up just over a decade but it's stopped now and it's currently at
$850,000, I believe, or $900,000. This bill will take it to there. The amount
has not changed. The amount that has been incurred on that, I think, has
actually gone down. I think there have been some revenues realized there.
We know the asset that's there. We know what it
presents to the area and the opportunities that exist. Doing this, providing the
support will ensure that they can continue to look for those opportunities,
especially during this trying time. We'll see what other opportunities present.
We all look forward to the same thing. We're going to see busy, bustling
airports and people coming into this province. I think doing this will allow
them that possibility to remain there and that hope to remain there.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
CHAIR:
Thank you.
The Chair recognizes the hon. the Member for Stephenville - Port au Port.
T.
WAKEHAM:
Thank you, Mr. Chair, and I want to thank the hon. minister for his comments.
He's spot on when it comes to the critical importance
of the location of Stephenville Airport. As he has pointed out, the government
is not loaning money to the airport, but is guaranteeing their line of credit.
They're continuing to guarantee that line of credit.
I also want to thank the provincial government for the
support they provided last year to allow the corporation
to enter into a contract with the Winnipeg Airport Services Corporation. They do
have some exciting plans for the airport and are trying to build business, as
the minister alluded to. Certainly, I would be remiss if I didn't mention that
perhaps that might get extended again, given the fact that we ran into a little
bit of COVID this year. So it's something that they may come to government
looking for a little bit of an extension with that one.
Stephenville provides a critical service for the whole
West Coast when it comes to the air ambulance service. Whether you live in Port
aux Basques east, Burgeo or Stephenville, even in the Corner Brook area, the air
ambulance lands there a significant amount of time. That's a valuable service
for the people of the West Coast. Stephenville Airport provides that. It does
provide support to the community college, to the hospital, private industry and
the fish hatchery itself.
It has the critical infrastructure that will be needed
if new businesses are set up and require any kind of cargo shipments. There are
positive things there. It supports the Marine Institute, and as the minister
alluded to already, it's an important alternate landing site for air carriers
using St. John's, Gander and Goose Bay. If Stephenville was not there, it is
possible that these airports would have to lose business because airplanes would
not have an alternate landing site. Even that is of critical importance.
For all of those reasons, I'm glad to see that this has
been brought forward. Yes, it's an annual thing. We would like to see if we
could extend it out a little farther, but the fact that we're here and it's
being supported by all sides of the House, I think the Stephenville Airport
actually has – one of the other advantages it has is it probably has some of the
best weather patterns in the entire province.
I'd also like to point out an opportunity, which I
think is something maybe the Minister of Finance, the Minister of Transportation
and others might want to look at as we go forward with our new budget. We
clearly are in a different situation when it comes to domestic travel in our
province, given the fact that COVID has probably shut down many of our airports
and had a significant impact on them. As a government, we spend an awful lot of
money on air transportation in this province. I would argue that most of the
domestic province travel is probably funded in one way or another by government
or people travelling on a government dime, whether they be government officials,
departments' officials; whether they be agencies, boards or commissions; or
whether, in fact, they're people who have to travel for medical transportation
purposes.
Maybe it's time we looked at how much money we're
actually spending in providing all that and all this service, and look at
entering into a potential contract or contracts with one or two local carriers
and say: Guys, we're prepared to give the government business, but we want a
service that allows for a daily flight, maybe, that lands in Stephenville, that
comes to St. John's or Gander and Deer Lake, Goose Bay, Wabush, all of our
airports.
One of the things we have, of course, is a very small
population. We have one tertiary care centre and it's in St. John's, and we're
not going to build another one. There is a lot of travel that has to happen. A
lot of people have to travel in to St. John's for treatment and for medical
reasons. A lot of those times they take advantage of, or try to take advantage
of, the Medical Transportation Assistance Program and, of course, all of us here
have travelled on different ways. I think maybe it's time, as part of the
process of what we look at in budget, to look at exactly what our expenditures
are, and maybe there's a way to do it.
I would say, in our Blue Book we did propose an
opportunity for what we call a routine air ambulance service. What I mean by
that is, there are lots of times that people in our province have to travel to
the tertiary care centre and sometimes they're not deemed emergency and they
travel by road ambulance over long kilometres.
I can give you an example. In my own district where a
young man had severe burns, but he wasn't in what they called critical condition
but he needed to go to the burn unit in St. John's. The air ambulance was called
and said, yes, they would come get him, but the unfortunate part was, because he
was not an emergency, the air ambulance would have to divert if an emergency
came up. So the young gentleman was put in the back of an ambulance with a
nurse, giving morphine every so many hours for pain, and travelled nine hours
from Stephenville to St. John's in the back of an ambulance.
That's just one example. There are lots of people who
are in palliative care and maybe need to be transported back to their
communities, wherever they may be. It's just another opportunity here, I
believe, to take a look at how we do business and the use of our airports and
certainly how we provide air travel.
Again, I'm certainly glad to see the support for the
Stephenville Airport here from my colleagues.
Thank you.
CHAIR:
Thank you.
The Chair recognizes the Member for St. George's -
Humber.
S.
REID:
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
It's great to have an opportunity to speak on this
motion today.
Before I begin, I just wanted to thank the people of
St. George's - Humber again for re-electing me in the recent election for the
fourth time. It's quite an honour to serve in this House and I look forward to
the next four years serving them again and speaking on their behalf on topics
that are important to them.
The Stephenville Airport is an important piece of
infrastructure for the whole Southwest Coast. It's been an important facility
for some of the many reasons that have already been mentioned: the business
travel, the tourism travel and the air ambulance that comes in there as well; it
provides an important service.
It's very important that we have this kind of support
for the airport and the government. I think both sides of the House for a long
period of time have supported the Stephenville Airport in significant ways, as
has the town and the communities in the area as well, in a financial way as well
as moral support for the facility.
I'm very encouraged that the Winnipeg Airport Services
Corporation is now involved in the Stephenville Airport. They have a track
record of providing leadership at smaller airports throughout Canada. They have
a very good track record and I'm very impressed by the way they're approaching
things in Stephenville. I look forward to seeing – once we get through this
COVID period – wonderful things from them as they work on the airport in
Stephenville.
I don't know if people know the history of the
Stephenville Airport but it's a former US Air Force Base and, at one point, it
was an alternate landing site for the space shuttle. It's quite a big airport,
quite a big facility and it's had a significant place in the history of this
province. I think it still has a bright future and still has a lot more to offer
to the province.
I'm very pleased with the actions that are being taken
here to support the Stephenville Airport. I'm very pleased to see support on
both sides of the House for these actions.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
CHAIR:
Thank you.
Further speakers to the resolution?
The Chair recognizes the hon. the Member for Mount
Pearl - Southlands.
P.
LANE:
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
It's always a pleasure to speak in this hon. House. I'm
going to be supporting this bill as well. As has been said, this is something
that basically we do on an annual basis. As one Member did point out, this is
not about year over year loaning money to the airport authority, it's basically
the equivalent as you're co-signing a loan, like if you were co-signing a loan
for a family member or something, that's basically what the government is doing
here and continues to do year over year for this particular airport.
We know that this has been a particularly tough year on
all of our airports and our entire province, all of our industries for the most
part with COVID-19. It's been particularly rough, but I think it's important,
particularly as we talk about our tourism strategy and trying to grow our
tourism, as one example, that we maintain the assets that we have that can help
our tourism industry grow. There's a lot of potential, I believe, for our
airports, not just in the St. John's area, but out on the West Coast.
Quite frankly, a lot of people that I know and have met
over the years who come to Newfoundland and Labrador, many of them tend to flock
to the West Coast because they want to see Gros Morne and all those beautiful
places there. The West Coast of our province is a beautiful part of our
province. That's not to mention, obviously, the benefit to the region and to the
people and to the businesses of the region.
There's no doubt there are people out there, possibly
from this side of the Island, who might say: Do we really need all these
airports? We have one in Deer Lake and so on and now there's another one in
Stephenville. Do we need both of them? I understand why some people might have
that view, particularly because it's not impacting them, but the reality of it
is that it is important to the West Coast of the province and to the region. It
does benefit that area and, as I said, it does provide that potential for
economic growth and growth in our tourism industries.
Again, it's not like we're providing loans or grants
and so on, that's not what's happening here. It's simply co-signing, basically,
on the line of credit.
I'm prepared certainly as a Member from this end of the
Island, if you will, to support the greater good and to support the people of
the West Coast in that regard.
Now, Mr. Chair, with that said, this is a money bill so
that means that we're not required to stick to the subject of the airport. I've
already said that I support that, but it's an opportunity for us, as Members, to
raise other issues as well. There are a couple of issues I do want to just put
out there, not related to the election. I think I ranted on enough about that
yesterday and I'm going to rant on again tomorrow, and many days to come until,
hopefully, we get some action on what went on there and get an investigation.
There are many other things that are happening in our
province, there are many issues that people bring to all of our attentions as
MHAs, and anytime we can find an opportunity to speak to those issues and bring
it to government's attention, then I think that it's incumbent upon us, as
Members, here to do just that. So that's what I'll be doing.
Mr. Chair, one issue I just want to bring forward just
for the record and for the information of all Members of the House – and I'm
sure other Members have probably heard similar concerns. One of the things that
the government did, I guess it was in last year's budget, I think, with the best
of intentions, and something that I voted for, I supported and I thought it was
a great initiative – I still think it's a great initiative, and certainly the
spirit of it. It was brought in by the Minister of Education and it was the
$25-a-day child care. That was applauded by many people throughout the province,
as I said, unanimously supported in the House of Assembly. I supported it, and I
think the intent was and is great; the best of intentions. I'm not knocking the
concept from an overall perspective.
I do just want to point out that I've heard from some
people, some operators and so on, and families as well, who have concerns with
how it went. Because while there were a number of daycare operators that went
with the $25 a day and were able to go with the $25 a day, which was obviously
beneficial to the families, the part that you don't necessarily hear about, like
the public wouldn't hear about, is if you were a daycare operator, as an
example, and you've built your business model – and anyone who's been in any
kind of a business, whether it's child care or the service industry, the
restaurant industry, it doesn't matter; manufacturing, doesn't matter, any kind
of a business model, you build a business model and then, of course, the
revenues and so on have to match the expenses. It has to match the model that
you've established so that you can earn a living, you can make a profit.
Profit is not a dirty word, right? Some people seem,
for some reason, to think it is, but it's not. As long as it's a fair profit,
it's not gouging, of course there are issues with that. In the case of a lot of
these child care operations, a lot of them, they were based on say $45 a day was
what they were charging. When the government came in with the $25 a day, the
government said: $25 a day to the families, but we're going to subsidize the
daycare to the value of – I think it's $38 a day. I think it's an extra $13. I
could be wrong, maybe it's $39, $38, $39, something like that.
If you were running a daycare operation and your model
and the salaries you're paying and the rent you're paying or the mortgage you
were paying on the building and all the expenses, if you built a model around
$45 a day, in order to offer that $25 a day, you have to cut your rate to $39,
which means you're taking a $6-a-day cut in revenue as a business for every
single child in your daycare.
I understand their challenge, but if you said to the
government, well, you can charge $25, but you need to give me the $20 so that
I'm still getting my $45 to keep my business going. The government is saying:
No, you're only getting your $13 or $14, whatever the amount. I think it's $13.
That's all you're getting. You're expected to take a $6 or $7 loss per child.
That's the issue that has been brought forward to me by a number of daycares.
Then you hear from the parents, of course, because
there are a number of child care operators who said: I just can't do it. I'll
just have to close my doors. The only way I can operate is I have to say to the
families here: I'm still charging $45; I'm not charging $25 because I can't get
$13 from government. They would say: Well, maybe I can charge you $38 a day, but
the government is not going to give me that $13 subsidy unless I charge you $25.
I can't avail of the program; therefore, if you want to stay with me, you are
going to be have pay the full $45.
There are a lot of families who have had to make that
tough choice and say: Well, if I don't go with you, there's nowhere else to take
my child. Some families are kind of forced to stay there, and not be able to
avail of the $45 a day. Some families are saying: Well, my child is here.
They're with their friends. They like where they're going. They're used to the
child care operators and so on, so I'm going to have to suck it up and pay the
$45 a day. A lot of them are prepared to do that.
The point I'm making, I guess, is that while the
initiative was great, it's not necessarily working exactly the way, perhaps, it
was conceived.
Now, I'm hearing from some people today, operators
saying: It was all bad enough what happened with the $25 a day, now the federal
government is saying we're going to have $10 a day. Who's going to pay me the
difference? Or am I expected to take another cut as I had to take? The province
made me take a cut and now the feds are going to look for me to take another
cut. How am I going to keep my doors open?
CHAIR:
(Inaudible.)
P.
LANE:
Yes, Mr. Chair, I understand I have, like, 10 seconds.
So winding it down, I would just say, Mr. Chair, that I
applaud the initiative; heart was in the right place and there are a lot of
people benefiting, but I would ask government to look at this program to see if
there are improvements that can be made so that more people can avail of this
service and daycare operators can keep their doors open.
Thank you.
CHAIR:
Thank you.
Further speakers to the resolution?
The Chair recognizes the hon. the Leader of the
Opposition.
D.
BRAZIL:
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
It's an honour to speak to this bill, but,
particularly, this is my first opportunity to speak to legislation in the House
in the 50th sitting.
I first want to congratulate all Members for being
elected to the House of Assembly. I do want to thank the people in the great
District of Conception Bay East - Bell Island for giving me an opportunity to
serve them again in the House of Assembly for the fifth time.
I do note that when I first came in the only other
Member who was here at the time was the Minister of Education, so welcome back
again.
T.
OSBORNE:
(Inaudible.)
D.
BRAZIL:
I
don't know if that speaks volumes about us or we've been around.
It's indeed a privilege to come back here. I do want to
thank all of those volunteers who supported every candidate, no matter what
party or if they were independents, because it does show the importance of our
democratic process and the fact that people do go out of their way to give their
time and energy to ensure that people get an opportunity to exercise that right.
It has been a privilege. I look forward to the 50th sitting of the House of
Assembly and I congratulate and look forward to working with the government and
all of our colleagues here on the Opposition side.
I did want to acknowledge this piece of legislation
because I do agree, it's an important piece of legislation. While it may not
seem like a lot when it comes to – and I think one of the former speakers, the
minister himself had said: At the end of the day, while it may not seem like a
lot on the Order Paper, it's very important to the region and to the community
of Stephenville, but particularly to the southern part of the West Coast.
I've had a very connected history, because I do
remember spending a lot of time as a civil servant travelling to Stephenville.
Stephenville was the hub of the southern part of the West Coast when it came to
education with the college being there, when it came to things around
infrastructure, conferences, conferences for the province, but the national
conferences, because of the location, it was a real good area for people to
congregate and discuss issues that were relevant to the whole region. We managed
to do that.
I remember being on the tarmac at one point and having
an EPA airline – Air Atlantic would have the smaller ones and, even later,
Canadian Airlines coming with Air Canada. So there was a lot of traffic coming
and seeing fighter jets further down who would land and do some various things
there as part of it.
Knowing the history of that asset to the people of
Newfoundland and Labrador – and that's what it is now, it's an asset to the
people of Newfoundland and Labrador. We have a responsibility to ensure that we
keep those assets. Too often, we flippantly see things deteriorate and we let
them deteriorate, without realizing the value they could have by being
proactive.
This is a case where, for a number of years, different
administrations have seen the value of the airport authority in Stephenville and
the airport itself, and have contributed to ensure that it stays viable while
it's looking for an opportunity to expand and find other markets. I was
fortunate enough, as a Member of the PC caucus at one point, that we had
discussions around increasing the loan guarantee which made it viable for the
airport authority to move forward, and the Town of Stephenville to ensure that
asset stayed in that region. As minister of transportation and works, I had the
opportunity, in meeting with the airport authority and councils, to discuss how
we further could support that infrastructure asset.
I think we all agree that this is an asset that not
only benefits that part of the region, but it benefits all of Newfoundland and
Labrador. The world has gotten so small now from a global perspective and from a
business perspective. What we need to sell are the assets that we have here. We
need to market the fact that globally we're in the middle of perhaps the most
economically diverse parts of the world, from Europe to North and South America.
Having our assets ready to go when industries change, when there's an uptake for
a multitude of reasons, being able to enhance it by making more equitable
investments and modernize things so that we can now be as competitive with
anybody else.
I was a bit skeptical, I don't mind saying, when I did
hear that the Winnipeg Airport Authority was going to take over the operations.
I was skeptical because maybe we get a little bit defensive in this province
when somebody outside, we feel, has control of something we're doing, but it is
smart business. It was a smart move to bring in an authority that has that as
their speciality, that has that keen knowledge of operating facilities like this
and have the expertise.
The expertise we could get for a fraction of the cost,
if we had to go on our own to do it, was a very smart move here. I welcome that.
I did a little research to see their background. They're as competent as any of
the top airport authorities in this country. Hats off that we could reach out to
our western colleagues in those industries and get them to come to Newfoundland
and Labrador, keeping in mind they then have contacts all over the world that
could be of use to the airport authority in Stephenville itself. Having this
asset guaranteed – and as we know, additional monies, time changes, there is
additional costing, but there is also the ability for this board, who are very
creative, to find ways to enhance the attractiveness of the airport itself and
of that asset.
We wholeheartedly support this, as my colleague, the
MHA responsible out there, has said. The dialogue and the support from all of
the agencies, organizations and councils in the region dictate that we owe this
to the people of that region to ensure this asset stays viable. I think we're
all confident that in the near future we'll see this prosper and be an economic
contributor.
The loan guarantees won't be around these types of
things. It will be infrastructure investments because it's creating employment,
it's a tax-revenue generator and it's bringing people to Newfoundland and
Labrador while providing services that are necessary. I wholeheartedly support
this and look forward to a day when we can get back there again and I land on
that tarmac, I look out a window and there are two or three other airlines
landing next to us.
Thank you, Mr. Chair, for that opportunity.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
CHAIR:
Further speakers to the resolution?
Shall the resolution carry?
All those in favour, 'aye.'
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Aye.
CHAIR:
All those against, 'nay.'
Carried.
On motion, resolution carried.
A bill, “An Act To Amend The Loan And Guarantee Act,
1957.” (Bill 4)
CLERK:
Clause 1.
CHAIR:
Shall clause 1 carry?
All those in favour, 'aye.'
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Aye.
CHAIR:
All those against, 'nay.'
Carried.
On motion, clause 1 carried.
CLERK:
Be it enacted by the Lieutenant-Governor and House of Assembly in Legislative
Session convened, as follows.
CHAIR:
Shall the enacting clause carry?
All those in favour, 'aye.'
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Aye.
CHAIR:
All those against, 'nay.'
Carried.
On motion, enacting clause carried.
CLERK:
An
Act To Amend The Loan And Guarantee Act, 1957.
CHAIR:
Shall the title carry?
All those in favour, 'aye.'
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Aye.
CHAIR:
All those against, 'nay.'
Carried.
On motion, title carried.
CHAIR:
Shall I report Bill 4 carried without amendment?
All those in favour, 'aye.'
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Aye.
CHAIR:
All those against, 'nay.'
Carried.
Motion, that the Committee report having passed the
resolution and a bill consequent thereto, carried.
CHAIR:
The hon. the Government House Leader.
S.
CROCKER:
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I move the Committee rise and report the resolution and
Bill 4.
CHAIR:
The motion is that the Committee rise and report the resolution and Bill 4.
Is it the pleasure of the Committee 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.
SPEAKER (Bennett):
The
hon. the Member for Baie Verte - Green Bay.
B.
WARR:
Mr.
Speaker, the Committee of Ways and Means have considered the matters to them
referred and have directed me to report that they have adopted a certain
resolution and recommend that a bill be introduced to give effect to the same.
SPEAKER:
The
Chair of the Committee of Ways and Means reports that the Committee have
considered the matters to them referred and have adopted a certain resolution
and recommend that a bill be introduced to give effect to the same.
When shall the report be received?
S.
CROCKER:
Now.
SPEAKER:
Now.
On motion, report received and adopted.
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Government House Leader.
S.
CROCKER:
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the Minister of
Finance and President of Treasury Board, that the resolution be now read a first
time.
SPEAKER:
It
is moved and seconded that the resolution 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.
SPEAKER:
All
those against, 'nay.'
Carried.
CLERK:
“Be
it resolved by the House of Assembly in Legislative Session convened, as
follows:
“That it is expedient to bring in a measure further to
amend The Loan and Guarantee Act, 1957,
to provide for the advance of loans to and the guarantee of the repayment of
bonds or debentures issued by or loans advanced to certain corporations.”
On motion, resolution read a first time.
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Government House Leader.
S.
CROCKER:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I moved, seconded by the Minister of Finance and
President of Treasury Board, that the resolution be now read a second time.
SPEAKER:
It
is moved and seconded that the resolution now be read a second time.
Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt this motion?
All those in favour, 'aye.'
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Aye.
SPEAKER:
All
those against, 'nay.'
Carried.
CLERK:
“Be
it resolved by the House of Assembly in Legislative Session convened, as
follows:
“That it is expedient to bring in a measure further to
amend The Loan and Guarantee Act, 1957,
to provide for the advance of loans to and the guarantee of the payment of bonds
or debentures issued by or loans advanced to certain corporations.”
On motion, resolution read a second time.
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Government House Leader.
S.
CROCKER:
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
I move, seconded by the Minister of Finance and
President of Treasury Board, for leave to introduce a bill, An Act To Amend The
Loan and Guarantee Act, 1957, Bill 4, and that the bill now be read a first
time.
SPEAKER:
It
is moved and seconded that the hon. the Government House Leader shall have leave
to introduce a bill entitled, An Act To Amend The Loan And Guarantee Act, 1957,
Bill 4, 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.
SPEAKER:
All
those against, 'nay.'
Carried.
Motion, that the hon. the Minister of Finance and
President of Treasury Board have leave to introduce a bill, “An Act To Amend The
Loan And Guarantee Act,” carried. (Bill 4)
CLERK:
A
bill, An Act To Amend The Loan And Guarantee Act, 1957. (Bill 4)
On motion, Bill 4 read a first time.
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Government House Leader.
S.
CROCKER:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I moved, seconded by the Minister of Finance and
President of Treasury Board, that Bill 4 be now read a second time.
SPEAKER:
It
is moved and seconded that the said bill be now read a second time.
Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?
All those in favour, 'aye.'
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Aye.
SPEAKER:
All
those against, 'nay.'
Carried.
CLERK:
A
bill, An Act To Amend The Loan And Guarantee Act, 1957. (Bill 4)
On motion, Bill 4 read a second time.
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Government House Leader.
S.
CROCKER:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I moved, seconded by the Minister of Finance and
President of Treasury Board, that Bill 4 be now read a third time.
SPEAKER:
It
is moved and seconded that Bill 4 now be read a third time.
Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?
All those in favour, 'aye.'
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Aye.
SPEAKER:
All
those against, 'nay.'
Carried.
CLERK:
A
bill, An Act To Amend The Loan And Guarantee Act, 1957. (Bill 4)
SPEAKER:
This bill has now been read a third time and it is ordered that bill do pass and
that its title be as on the Order Paper.
On motion, a bill, “An Act To Amend The Loan And
Guarantee Act, 1957,” read a third time, ordered passed and its title be as on
the Order Paper. (Bill 4)
SPEAKER:
The
hon. the Government House Leader.
S.
CROCKER:
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
I'll try this again.
I move, seconded by the Member for Conception Bay East
- Bell Island, that this House do now adjourn.
SPEAKER:
It
is 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.
SPEAKER:
All
those against, 'nay.'
Carried.
This House stands adjourned until 10 o'clock tomorrow.
On motion, the House at its rising adjourned until
tomorrow, Wednesday, at 10 a.m.