December

7, 2009

HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS

Vol. XLVI No. 35

The House met at 1:30 p.m.

MR. SPEAKER (Fitzgerald): Order, please!

Admit strangers.

Today the Chair welcomes fifty Level II students from Botwood Collegiate in

partnership with the Botwood Boys and Girls Club-Community Youth Network from

the District of Exploits. The students are accompanied by their teacher: Mr.

Darryl Chippett, as well as chaperons: Colleen Hayter, Perry Chippett, Darelene

Rice and Heather Brown.

Welcome to the House of Assembly.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

Statements by Members

MR. SPEAKER: The following members' statements will be heard: the hon.

the Member for the District of Cartwright-L'Anse au Clair; the hon. the Member

for the District of Bonavista North; the hon. the Member for the District

December of The Straits & White Bay North; the hon. the Member for the

District of Lewisporte; and the hon. the Member for the District of Grand

Falls-Windsor-Green Bay South.

The hon. the Member for the District of Cartwright-L'Anse au Clair.

MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I rise in the House today to congratulate Daniel Johnson, a fifteen-year-old

Junior Canadian Ranger who won first place in the JCR National Marksman

Competition held at 5 Wing Goose Bay, Labrador.

Daniel is a member of the JCR Mary's Harbour Patrol whose patrol earned the

right to compete on behalf of this Province by winning the provincial

competition earlier in the year. Daniel won the marksman competition with a

perfect score of 300 out of 300. The competition also featured team competitions

and Daniel, along with Nicholas Cumby and Paula Russell from Mary's Harbour,

and Ocean King and Jerome Bradley from St. Lewis, won second in the team

competition, behind Nunavut.

Mr. Speaker, this competition features the best of junior ranger patrols from

across Canada and provides an opportunity for young people in rural and remote

areas of our country to come together and to demonstrate their skills and to

meet new people.

Mr. Speaker, I ask all members of this House to join with me in extending

congratulations to Daniel Johnson and to the team from Newfoundland and Labrador

for their tremendous success during the Junior Canadian Ranger National Marksman

Competition.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. HARDING: Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge the recent

activities and accomplishments of two students from Lester Pearson Memorial High

in Wesleyville. Taylor Best, a Level I student, and Allison Bragg, a Level II

student, were both chosen to participate in the Olympic Torch Relay on the

Newfoundland leg of its journey to Vancouver.

Taylor earned the right to participate in the event after submitting an essay

that focused on a topic close to the hearts and minds of all Newfoundlanders and

Labradorians - environmental preservation. Allison was awarded the honour by the

Department of Education for her exceptional academic accomplishments and her

outstanding commitment to her community as evidenced by her dedicated and

sustained extracurricular achievement.

Both students service as wonderful examples of the outstanding talent that is

being developed and nurtured in our provincial educational system. Their efforts

and commitment to excellence has provided them with this very special privilege

and it is a moment in time that they will undoubtedly carry with them throughout

their lives.

Mr. Speaker, I ask all members of this hon. House to join with me in

congratulating Taylor Best and Allison Bragg on their recent achievements, and

in encouraging them to continue their pursuit of academic and personal success.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for the District of The Straits &

White Bay North.

MR. DEAN: Mr. Speaker, I rise in the House today to congratulate

Roddickton native, Karla Pilgrim, on being nominated for an East Coast Music

Award in the category of Country Recording of the Year for her debut album: I'll

Think of You .

Karla's passion for music began at the Roddickton's Apostolic Faith

Church where her father was choir director. As soon as she was old enough, she

was singing at concerts and choirs, and in 2001 progressed to writing her own

music.

Mr. Speaker, Karla has also played for the Canadian military in Afghanistan

alongside The Fables and J.P. Cormier. On November 15 of this year, she won

Female Artist of the Year and Country Artist of the Year at the 2009 MusicNL

Awards.

Mr. Speaker, I ask all members of this House to join with me in

congratulating Kara Pilgrim on her East Coast Music Award nomination and extend

best wishes to her when she travels to North Sydney, Nova Scotia in February for

the awards ceremony. I would also like to extend to her the very best wishes for

continued success in the music industry.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for the District of Lewisporte.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. VERGE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I rise today to recognize the great accomplishments of a thriving

singer-songwriter in my district, Terry Penney.

With more than twenty years of performance, Terry has independently released

four albums of his original songs. He is a contemporary folk artist and a

storyteller, and may be best known for the powerful songs he has written in

tribute of our WWI and WWII veterans of war.

Terry has been recognized provincially with numerous awards, including Male

Artist of the Year in 2002, Country Artist of the Year in 2004, and most

recently 2009 SOCAN Songwriter of the Year. On the international scene, just

this past year he was a finalist in the Kerrville, Texas songwriting

competition, a finalist in a UK songwriting competition, and he also took second

place in the Great Lakes, Michigan

songwriting competition .

As an exporting business, he attended a trade mission to Ireland last June

with the Department of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development, and he has

recently been invited to return to Ireland by an Irish music promoter to perform

a six-date tour in February. He will perform his songs and share some of our

stories.

Members of this House, please join with me, with Terry's wife, who is also

his manager, Angela, and with their entire family in recognizing the talent and

the achievements of another successful Newfoundlander and Labradorian, Terry

Penney.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for the District of Grand

Falls-Windsor-Green Bay South.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. HUNTER: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in this hon. House to congratulate Mr. Charles Weir

on his 100th birthday. Mr. Weir celebrated his birthday on October 8 surrounded

by 300 of his close friends and many family members. Mr. Weir was born in Sutt's

Arm in 1909 and lived in Pilley's Island until moving to Valley Vista Seniors

Home in Springdale.

Mr. Weir is also a World War II veteran and well known for his work aboard

the schooners in the 1940s, as well as bringing food and supplies to Labrador.

He also brought doctors and nurses to Pilley's Island, Robert's Arm, Port

Anson and Little Bay Islands. These doctors and nurses have since passed away

but the stories of travelling medical teams are now famous throughout the

Province.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my hon. colleagues in the House of Assembly to join me in

congratulating Mr. Charles Weir on his 100th birthday milestone and wish him

many more and Merry Christmas, Charles.

Thank you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: Statements by Ministers.

Statements by Ministers

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Education.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KING: Mr. Speaker, in 2007, this government took the progressive step

of introducing up-front, needs-based grants for students applying for a student

loan. These grants have the potential to cut in half the amount of money a

student has to borrow. This past August, we increased these grants by $10 per

week, Mr. Speaker, meaning students who borrow the maximum of $140 per week now

receive $80 of that amount in the form of a non-repayable grant.

I am happy to report, Mr. Speaker, that between April and October of this

year, approximately $5.3 million has been awarded in grants, translating into an

additional $400,000 that has gone into students' pockets over this time last

year.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KING: We are incredibly proud of our Student Aid package, Mr.

Speaker. We are recognized as leaders nationwide in student debt reduction and

we have received accolades from student union leaders across the entire country.

We have frozen tuition tuition that is among the lowest in the nation,

second only to that in Quebec, for Quebec residents only. Up-front grants

greatly reduce the amount of money a student will eventually need to repay,

while our debt reduction grants can eliminate some or all, Mr. Speaker, of the

provincial portion of the student loan. Of course, just this past August, we

eliminated interest on the provincial portion of the loan with an investment of

$5 million annually that is helping 49,000 individuals in repayment.

We want our students to stay in the Province, Mr. Speaker, and to use their

skills and their knowledge to continue to build on our success. To that end,

this year alone $437 million will be invested in the public post-secondary

education system, a 76 per cent increase since 2003. Our investments, Mr.

Speaker, are paying off, as CareerSearch 2008 indicates, graduates are finding

employment in this Province and the majority are doing so today. These students,

Mr. Speaker, have benefited from a top rate education and are now contributing

their skills to the economic and social growth of communities across our

Province.

Thank you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for The Straits & White Bay North.

MR. DEAN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

First of all, I would like to say thank you to the minister for an advance

copy of his statement, and certainly want to recognize the great initiative of

lowering student debt in our Province and hopefully leading to the elimination

of it in the long term. With a budget that has more than doubled since 2003, it

certainly would make sense that we would increase the amount of money that we

put in the post-secondary education system.

I would like just a comment or two. It has come to my understanding that

flight training students do not qualify under this program, and I am not really

sure of the details but I would certainly ask the minister that he would look

into that.

One other comment, just in terms of accommodating our students and looking

after their needs and so on would be the concern of student housing. I know that

in the by-election in particular, in my district, there were a lot of concerns

raised about student housing, particularly for the campus at St. Anthony, CONA,

but also at Corner Brook and St. John's and Lab City as well. An ongoing issue

that would allow more students, obviously, to be able to enrol in our campuses

and to be able to stay in the Province and enjoy the work, as noted in this

statement.

So again, thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Vidi.

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

I thank the minister for the advance copy of his statement. I am sure the

minister knows that everything he announced today is good news and does follow

certainly what I believe in and hope that we will continue to do for the

post-secondary students in our Province.

Recent polls have indicated that Newfoundlanders and Labradorians would like

to see a continued reduction of the cost of tuition until it is actually

eliminated. So I ask the minister to look at those polls and see what it is that

people in the Province are saying.

Tuition cost is still a considerable amount of money for students, even

though we have frozen it and it is low in comparison to other parts of Canada,

but it is certainly high for our people in rural Newfoundland who also have to

pay for their

AN HON. MEMBER: (Inaudible).

MS MICHAEL: It is the lowest, thank you for saying that. I recognize

that, but we have to look at rural Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, people who

have to come into either Corner Brook or St. John's centres and their costs

are increased because of that. We also, too, need to look at those who are still

carrying a debt, and I know we have done forgiveness with regard to interest

rate but there are many students out there with $50,000 to $60,000 debts and are

having trouble surviving.

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

I ask the hon. member to conclude her remarks.

MS MICHAEL: Leave please, Mr. Speaker, just one more comment.

MR. SPEAKER: Does the hon. member have leave?

AN HON. MEMBER: By leave.

MR. SPEAKER: By leave.

MS MICHAEL: The one thing I would like to ask the minister to look at is

possible debt forgiveness for people who are carrying heavy debts but over the

years have paid so much interest that in some cases they have almost paid as

much in interest as they have had as a debt and could we do debt forgiveness for

the debt up to the amount of interest that they have paid? So I would ask the

minister to consider that.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER: Further statements by ministers?

The hon. the Minister of Human Resources, Labour and Employment.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS SULLIVAN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I rise today in this hon. House to provide an update on the transfer of

responsibility of the Labour Market Development Agreement programs and services

from the federal government to the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Mr. Speaker, on November 2, 2009, the Province officially assumed control for

the design and delivery of EI funded employment benefits and support measures

that were formerly delivered by Service Canada. This was done as per the

Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Labour Market Development Agreement, or LMDA,

which was signed by the Williams government in 2008.

This transfer has been a significant milestone in our continued efforts to

develop high quality, responsive programs to better meet the employment needs of

individuals throughout the Province and to support local labour market and

economic development priorities. At $2 billion, the LMDA represents the single

largest investment in labour market programs throughout the country.

Newfoundland and Labrador's portion of this funding is $133 million per year.

Mr. Speaker, assuming responsibility for these programs was indeed a major

undertaking from an administrative perspective. For example, as of November 2,

over seventy-five former federal employees not only transferred to the

provincial public service, they also physically relocated to our offices

throughout the Province on day one, a first in the implementation of devolved

agreements across the country. Despite the magnitude of this undertaking, I am

very pleased to report that we have achieved our goal of a seamless transfer of

services.

Now that this milestone is behind us, we have already started looking ahead

to the opportunities we have before us to shape a more responsive and integrated

labour market service delivery system. In the short term, we will not be making

significant changes to the current suite of programs and services. However, we

will be working to streamline processes where we can. Our eye now has turned to

the longer term. Together with business, labour, education and non-profit

organizations, we are working to ensure we have the programs and services we

need to build a strong provincial workforce, to meet upcoming demands of our

major projects and to help us capitalize on emerging opportunities.

I want to thank everyone who contributed to the seamless transition of these

important employment programs and services. I look forward to what our

government will achieve through the addition of new resources and staff to our

current compliment of HRLE programs and employees.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. BUTLER: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I want to thank the minister for an advance copy of her statement and an

update with regard to the transfer of the programs and services from the federal

government to this Province.

As the minister stated, no doubt, this was a major undertaking because each

and every one of us in the hon. House of Assembly know what those programs mean

to each of our districts in conjunction with the provincial programs that we

have. It is good to see that the former federal employees have also transferred

over to be a part of the program, and I am sure we have all had the great

pleasure of working with those individuals over the years.

Mr. Speaker, no doubt, one good thing I see there, they will be in

consultation with the non-profit organizations, because those are the people

that really it comes down to who are doing those major projects in each of our

communities.

I know the minister stated that she will not be making any significant

changes in the short term. One thing I would like to put forward - and this is

not in a negative way; I am sure we have all had the same complaints - those

programs, right now, they are uninsurable earnings unless you want a foreman or

someone to look after it. So, all I would suggest to the minister that maybe in

the future this can be looked at, those programs would become insurable similar

to our Community Enhancement Program.

I, too, with the Official Opposition, want to congratulate everybody with the

transition that has taken place.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Vidi.

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

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

I do believe that the coming together of the programs that were under HRDC,

now coming under HRLE is a good move because it has the potential to be an

excellent opportunity for the people of the Province. I think being completely

based here in the Province with the Province making the rules we should be able

to get closer to what the needs in the community are.

One of the things that was problematic with what happened over the years with

funding from HRDC and under their programs was a change in focus groups. There

was a point at which those groups focused on women, young people, Aboriginal

people and people with disabilities. In the latter years, women dropped out of

that list in many ways. I looked over and over again many times to see women in

the list and it was gone, which was part of what happened with the current

federal government in terms of programs for women.

I really would ask the minister, along with the Minister Responsible for the

Status of Women, to look at reinstating women back into the focus groups that

these programs look at. I notice, as you have said, you are not going to make

changes in the short term, I just hope the long term is not going to be too long

and that women, once again, will become part of the focus of these programs.

Thank you, Minister.

MR. SPEAKER: Further statements by ministers?

Oral Questions.

Oral Questions

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

MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, on Friday I met with the federal Fisheries Minister, Gail Shea,

to discuss a number of important issues related to the Province's industry.

During our discussion, I learned that proposed NAFO amendments will be ratified

regardless of the vote that takes place in the House of Commons this week.

Mr. Speaker, I ask the Premier today, realizing that the ratification of

these amendments will have a significant negative impact on the Province's

industry on a go-forward basis: Will he contact Prime Minister Harper for an

immediate meeting with him to discuss this issue and to bring the concerns of

Newfoundlanders and Labradorians directly to his attention before this decision

is binding?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. JACKMAN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

This convention was brought before the House of Commons in June, Mr. Speaker.

Since then, I would like to outline what has happened. Our Premier has written

to the Prime Minister on two occasions. The former Minister of Fisheries and

Aquaculture appeared before three committees; we have met. I have personally

sent off a letter just the past few days ago asking Minister Shea to certainly

not allow this amendment to be ratified.

Mr. Speaker, we have to commend our federal Liberal MPs for the work that

they have done. I certainly thank the Opposition Leader for going up on Friday.

I do not know if they have done it before, Mr. Speaker, or not, but maybe too

little, too late.

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

I ask the hon. member to conclude his answer.

MR. JACKMAN: Mr. Speaker, to the point of what we have been doing as a

government, we have done everything that we possibly can to make our point, not

only this government, but many people in the Province

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

For the minister's attention, we have also participated in a lot of letter

writing campaigns to the federal government in the last year on this issue.

The reality is, Mr. Speaker, letters are not working. This issue is not dead

until the treaty is signed and it is binding. Today, that is not the case.

I ask the minister and I ask the Premier: Are you prepared to make the call

to the Prime Minister of this country to outline the impact that this will have

on Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, and to ask that this agreement not be

signed because it is not in the best interest of the fishing industry in this

country?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. JACKMAN: Mr. Speaker, I hope to be in contact with Minister Shea

before this day is out. I have asked the staff to arrange that I make a call to

her.

Mr. Speaker, the measures that I have outlined that have been taken by this

government, we have contacted our Atlantic Province counterparts to see if they

would support us. It looks like, Mr. Speaker, that in this case here, we are on

our own with this, not barring, like I said, the representation, that certainly

I am pleased to hear that the Opposition have made. Mr. Speaker, with all the

federal Liberal MPs that are up there, the support of Mr. Harris from the NDP,

we have made our case, we are continuing to make our case. If luck is with me,

Mr. Speaker, I will speak to Minister Shea before the day is out.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

It has also come to my attention that the provincial officials who were

present at the NAFO meetings where these amendments were originally brought

forward had fully supported their implementation.

I ask the Premier today: Why would the provincial government representatives

be directed to support these amendments on behalf of the government and the

people of Newfoundland and Labrador?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. JACKMAN: Mr. Speaker, I cannot speak to what officials have done to

this particular point. It is something that I certainly will follow up on and

check into.

Mr. Speaker, one thing about it, our stand as a government is very clear. I

have outlined it, we are against this and we will continue to pursue it until

the last opportunity that we have, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Well maybe the minister could get the answer as to why the officials of his

department would have sat at the NAFO table and originally supported these

amendments.

Mr. Speaker, another issue that I discussed with the minister was the fish

buyback program, which saw a grave injustice done to the fishermen and their

families whereby some were taxed on the money they received and others were not.

The deadline for action for these hundreds of fisherpeople in our Province is

coming in the spring of 2010. So time is running out for many of those people.

I ask the Minister of Finance today: Has your government, through the

Department of Finance and Treasury Board, conducted any analysis of the tax laws

of 1999 to strengthen the case of these nearly 800 fisherpeople and their

families in this Province to present to Canada Revenue Agency and the federal

government?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Finance and President of Treasury

Board.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. T. MARSHALL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I can assure the hon. Opposition Leader that the government is constantly

doing analysis of our tax revenues and our expenditures in the Province, but I

do not recall being specifically advised about an analysis of 1999. Obviously, I

would be happy to look into that and if there is such an analysis done I would

be very happy to advise the hon. member and the members of this House.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MS JONES: Mr. Speaker, this is an injustice that has been done to

fisherpeople and their families in this Province and they deserve to have a fair

hearing on the issue. Mr. Speaker, the federal government has not budged on this

particular initiative and since this case has been brought forward there are

approximately ninety-two of these individuals who have passed away in our

Province.

I ask the minister today: Through the Department of Finance and Treasury

Board are you prepared to advance this issue with the federal Minister of Canada

ensure that these fisherpeople are treated properly and are repaid the money

they deserve?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Finance and President of Treasury

Board.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. T. MARSHALL: Mr. Speaker, as we all know, there is a federal

Department of National Revenue and there is the Province. We charge taxes in

order to raise revenue to carry out the programs that the people of this

Province want us to carry out. We have personal income tax, we have corporate

taxes, but also the federal government have their own taxes. That seems to be an

issue that is under the complete jurisdiction and confidence of the federal

government, and any representations on behalf of those fisherpeople I think have

to be made to the federal Minister of Finance and the federal Minister of

National Revenue.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

My next questions are for the Minister of Education. Since raising the issues

contained in the report on Jens Haven Memorial School in Nain I have heard from

a number of teachers and leaders in the community who still have concerns. Mr.

Speaker, while these individuals are certainly proud of the accomplishments of

many of the students who attend this school and want to promote the positive

impacts of their community, and aspects, they also indicated that they have many

problems and concerns with the highlights in the report of 2006.

I ask the minister, with the information that you have been provided and

recognizing the fact that two-thirds of the children in this school have been

impacted by trauma and tragedy in their lives, I have to ask minister: Why have

no physiologists been sent into this community and into this school to work with

those children?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Education.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KING: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I thank the member opposite for her question. I, like many of our officials

and school board people, share her concerns around what is happening in all of

our schools, not only the one reported that we are discussing here today. We are

fully aware of the issues and we offer our continued support. Last week I

highlighted a number of significant initiatives that we have undertaken.

As a matter of fact, Mr. Speaker, one of the initiatives that I announced

around the teaching units was confirmed as being the basis of that report by the

author, I think it was on Friday, who clearly said that the basis of that report

was to present the negative side of that school for the purposes of securing

resources, and, in fact, left out a lot of the many positive things happening in

that school. That is what tends to be overlooked here.

Mr. Speaker, we are working with the Nunatsiavit government, we are working

with the Department of Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs, and we are working with

the local school board. As I said last week, we have responded with extra

resources. We responded with special services support. We are reviewing the

current curriculum offerings to make sure it is appropriate to the students, and

we will continue to respond as we are needed to.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The minister did not answer my question which was related to the two-thirds

of the children in the school who had been affected by trauma and tragedy in

their lives, and why there is no psychologist that have been sent in there.

Mr. Speaker, the minister did state again today and last week, that there

have been some additional teaching units. I know that most of them are around

FAS support, but I ask him today: Why is there no guidance counsellor on staff

for the full school year? As I understand it now, there is one visiting guidance

counsellor who comes out of St. John's, who spends about three to four days

out of a month at this school, weather permitting and all the rest of the issues

around travel into the area. I also ask him, why there are still vacant teaching

positions at this school?

One of the areas that is vacant

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

I ask the hon. member to conclude her question.

MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

One of the vacant positions is in the Grade 4 area and we know that 88 per

cent of the Grade IV students were performing at a (inaudible) rate.

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

The hon. the Minister of Education.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KING: Mr. Speaker, the issue of teacher staffing throughout the

Province is a challenge in many places. Specific to the allocation of guidance

counsellors, we have two significant challenges; one is the number of qualified

and trained guidance counsellors available to us. A result of that is it is hard

to fill positions, particularly in smaller communities. The member has already

highlighted one of the initiatives that we have undertaken to try and at least

address some of the burden. We are flying itinerant counsellors in and that is

not the ideal, it absolutely is not. It is happening in other parts of the

Province as well, Mr. Speaker.

One of the things we have done is we have also offered bonuses to teachers to

try and fill the positions. The specifics of the positions that have been named

I cannot respond to because staffing of schools, as the member would know, is

the responsibility of school boards, not the Department of Education. What I can

say

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

I ask the hon. minister to conclude his response.

MR. KING: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I can say that we have responded to the best of our ability when we have been

asked to by school boards to support them in their efforts to recruit trained

personnel.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Realizing that there have been some efforts made on behalf of the government

but realizing as well that there are many improvements that still could be

initiated, I ask the minister today: If he is prepared to commit to implementing

a monitoring process that will determine what the effectiveness is or have been

of the new investments in units in that school and if he is prepared to put in

place a plan to address the other issues that are outstanding?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Education.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KING: Mr. Speaker, let's define what some efforts entail, because

the member tends to present a case here that we have done absolutely nothing or

next to nothing to support the students in Nain.

We have addressed, first of all, the first and most significant issue raised

to us which was the allocation of more teaching resources to that school. We

have done that, Mr. Speaker. We provide training in FASD to the teachers who

required it, Mr. Speaker. We have also introduced after school programming and a

Homework Haven, Mr. Speaker to that community. We provide library night; we

provide adult basic education Level I and II, Mr. Speaker, to residents of that

community. All of that - those things are things that we have been asked to

support and we have responded positively. So to stand here and say we have done

some things, Mr. Speaker, is an injustice to the actions that we have taken as a

government and the school board has taken to try and provide support to the

students of Nain.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Again, the minister has not answered the questions so I will try to phrase it

a little bit differently. In light of the fact that there are still issues in

this school, that there are still individuals who work and live in this

community who feel that the improvements have not been enough and that there are

still significant issues that exist there, I ask the minister: Is he prepared to

do an evaluation to look at how effective the investments have been, and what is

required in order to move forward?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Education.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KING: Mr. Speaker, we do evaluations of all of our schools on an

ongoing basis. We evaluate through academic programs, through things like the

public exam results, through criterion reference testing results, Mr. Speaker.

We monitor attendance rate, we monitor dropout rates and we monitor graduation

rates. We will continue to do that with that school. If there are other

initiatives that the school board would like us to become engaged with, with

them, we will certainly consider that.

I can say, Mr. Speaker, for the member's benefit, that the statistics show

us, over the last two years, the graduation rates have improved in that school,

the attendance rates have improved and the percent of students absent from

school has dropped.

So, Mr. Speaker, we will continue to provide the supports, as we are asked to

provide by the school board, recognizing that it is the local school working

with the school board who helps to set their own localized priorities; we work

with them to support them.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The doctorate program in clinical psychology currently being offered at

Memorial University is designed to provide comprehensive high level training in

the practice of clinical psychology. The graduate program, Mr. Speaker, is

helping to address the need of clinical psychologists not only in Newfoundland

and Labrador, but across Canada. Students enrolled in the program have been

assured that they will be able to complete the program; however, there is a

growing concern that funding will not be in place for future students to enrol.

I ask the minister today: Is government willing to commit the necessary

funding to ensure that this program will continue into the future?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Education.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KING: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I certainly want to thank the member opposite for praising the programs that

we are offering at Memorial University. We, on this side of the House, everyday

talk about proud we are of Memorial and the kinds of programs that we are able

to offer. Indeed, the one that she has referenced today is a good program, it is

a strong program and it is certainly recognized across the country as one that

is needed, Mr. Speaker.

With respect to budget commitments, I am not in a position to make a budget

commitment today. I can only say to the member opposite that the decision on

program offerings is one of Memorial's. They are autonomous; they make their

own academic choices about programming. We are engaged in discussions with them,

and we will continue to be engaged in discussions over the coming weeks and

months relative to their budget priorities. We work with them based on their

priorities, Mr. Speaker. I do not sit here and make the priorities on program

offerings for Memorial. I can say that there is absolutely, absolutely no plan

to eliminate that program.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MS JONES: Mr. Speaker, they did not mind intervening to select a

president a couple of years ago, but they have a huge problem to intervene to

save an important program at our university that is desperately needed.

Mr. Speaker, the reality is this, many of the people in this program realized

that the application for applying for the next season is on February 1, and if

there is no assurance from the Province for money to continue with this program,

it could very well be cancelled. The minister knows that the university, in

order for them to fund this program, they will have to cut another program.

I ask you, Minister: In the absence of coming forward with the funding to

allow this program to continue, what would you suggest they cut at our

university?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Education.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KING: Mr. Speaker, I thank you.

It is getting really hard to stand in the House and listen to the member

opposite continue to praise the initiatives of our government, and I thank her

for it, because she just referenced the latest initiative, which was the

securing of a new president for Memorial. We could not be happier; we have a

top-notch candidate.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KING: We have a top-notch candidate, Mr. Speaker, who is going to

take Memorial from where it is today and is going to lead it into the future and

help it grow and become a vital part of our Province as it continues to be. So I

thank the member opposite for pointing that out for the House and for everybody

listening that they support that as well, Mr. Speaker.

With respect to the question on the program at Memorial, Mr. Speaker, I can

only say it is a shame that the member would stand up, opposite here, and cast

fear and doubt out through the public airwaves to students to suggest that the

program might disappear when, in fact, Memorial has made public statement that

they have no plans whatsoever to cancel that program.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I am sure the University of New Brunswick is quite happy today too, I say to

the minister. We have a great Newfoundlander and Labradorian running the

university over in New Brunswick, Mr. Speaker, in Dr. Campbell.

Mr. Speaker, Memorial University is renowned for being one of the best

universities in the country; there is no doubt about that. Programs, such as

it is attracting new students to our university and to our Province. Mr.

Speaker, you combine that with the fact that there about 200 people in

Newfoundland and Labrador on the wait-list today to see clinical psychologists.

When you look at that kind of information I think it should be a priority for

the government to continue funding this particular program -

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

I ask the hon. member to pose her question.

MS JONES: I ask the minister today: Instead of putting the university

through the search of trying to find the revenues within their budget to

continue with this program, why don't you and your government -

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

If the hon. member has a question, I ask that she pose it now.

MS JONES: Mr. Speaker, I will have to repeat the question again because I

was almost finished it. In light of the fact, Mr. Speaker

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

Members know that there are forty-five seconds allotted here in the House to

ask a question and forty-five seconds to ask one. The present member has been

one minute and twenty-six seconds.

The hon. the Minister of Education or I ask the member to pose another

question.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KING: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I am suspecting you will not give me the same minute and forty-five, but I

will try to restrict my response. I did not hear a question, so I am not going

to call it an answer.

I will say that as happy as the University of New Brunswick might be, we are

just as happy here in Newfoundland and Labrador with the candidate that we have

secured.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KING: We are quite proud of the candidate we have secured, Mr.

Speaker, and we are quite happy with the direction that we see Memorial going

in. We are proud to be a supporter of that, Mr. Speaker, with the kind of

investments we continue to make in post-secondary education in this Province.

I say again, Mr. Speaker, because I have said this twice already, it is a

shame that a member would stand opposite in this House, in the public airwaves

and to suggest to students who are out there nervous about a program that they

might lose it.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. KELVIN PARSONS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, on Friday past the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador

dismissed the application of Darlene Neville, in her capacity as Child and Youth

Advocate, to address the House of Assembly in regard to her suspension.

I ask the minister: Can government now confirm whether they will be bringing

a resolution calling for her removal from office to the House during this

session?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Finance and President of Treasury

Board.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. T. MARSHALL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I believe there were two actions taken by Ms Neville in the Supreme Court of

Newfoundland last week. The first was the one that the hon. member refers to and

that was dismissed. There was another action that, I believe, continued or has

been set over until such time in January. The government will be bringing

forward, before the end of this session, a resolution with respect to Ms

Neville.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. KELVIN PARSONS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, after the same court, the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and

Labrador, denied Fraser March's application to be heard by the House of

Assembly government gave Mr. March an opportunity to present his case to retired

Justice John O'Neill in an independent review, which is currently underway.

This was all after a resolution for his dismissal had been passed here in the

House of Assembly.

I ask the minister: Would government be prepared, in the case of Ms Neville,

to permit a similar independent review by a retired judge prior to the

resolution coming to the House of Assembly?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Finance and President of Treasury

Board.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. T. MARSHALL: Mr. Speaker, the answer to the question is no.

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

MR. KELVIN PARSONS: Mr. Speaker, we are aware that the current Minister

of Health and the former Minister of Finance and President of Treasury Board

stated when Ms Neville was originally suspended by government that she would

have an opportunity to state her case to Cabinet before any resolution was

brought to the House of Assembly.

I ask the minister: Will this opportunity to address Cabinet still be

afforded to Ms Neville, and if so, when; or would an independent review be more

appropriate, as then there would be no denial of natural justice to Ms Neville?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Finance and President of Treasury

Board.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. T. MARSHALL: Mr. Speaker, as he indicated earlier, government's

intentions with respect to Ms Neville will be dealt with in a resolution or in a

matter that will be brought before the House of Assembly prior to the end of the

session.

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

MR. BUTLER: Mr. Speaker, the deadline for government's oil tank

registration program was reached in July, 2009. It became illegal for homeowners

to operate unregistered tanks. Within weeks of the deadline passing, government

realized it would have no choice but to create an emergency program to assist

some 5,000 low-income homeowners who are not in compliance as well as establish

new deadlines for oil tank registrations, more so for the people along the Coast

of Labrador communities due to human resource difficulties.

I ask the minister: Why were these income, geographic and human resource

obstacles not identified by your department prior to the approach of the

deadline?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS JOHNSON: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I would just like to clarify one point by the Opposition member.

The deadline is May of 2010, provided you have an appointment to get your oil

tank updated. That is for everybody in the Province.

Thank you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. BUTLER: Mr. Speaker, this government has spent millions of dollars

developing poverty reduction strategies and Northern strategic plans to ensure

cross-departmental awareness.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. BUTLER: Mr. Speaker, I ask for your protection because I might read

the same question twice. I am known to do that before.

However, Mr. Speaker, the way in which this oil tank registration program was

rolled out this summer shows to me that these documents look better in theory

than in practice.

I ask the Minister of Finance: Can you confirm that this program ran out of

money to meet the high demand for the $300 oil tank replacement assistance

subsidy for residents as early as October, and how many people are still owed

money through the Department of Finance?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Finance and President of Treasury

Board.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. T. MARSHALL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I will be happy to seek the information, as the hon. member has asked, and

give him an answer tomorrow.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

Vidi.

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

Mr. Speaker, it has been two years since the Premier said that his government

would develop anti-scab legislation. Mr. Speaker, the governments of B.C. and

Quebec already have anti-scab legislation in place and if the Premier really

wanted anti-scab legislation, then we could have it too. Mr. Speaker, if the

government really cares about the benefits to the people of the Province from

resource development, then they should also care about benefits to the workers

who are the backbone of that development, such as the workers at the Voisey's

Bay nickel mine.

Mr. Speaker, I ask the Premier: When will his government bring forth

anti-scab legislation?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Human Resources, Labour and

Employment.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS SULLIVAN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

To be clear, it has been two years since we have agreed to do that review and

we have been actively engaged in that review.

I would like to remind the member opposite that there are three parties

engaged in that review: it is business, it is labour and it is government. We

are very concerned about modernizing our labour legislation; there is no

question about that. I believe that all three parties are concerned about that.

I am assuming that you have asked that question to labour and that you have

asked that question to business as well because this is a tripartite committee

and we are all working on that process. I would be happy to bring forward any

amendments, any legislation once that review is completed and once they offer up

those amendments to us.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

Vidi.

MS MICHAEL: Mr. Speaker, the striking workers at Voisey's Bay are

entering their fifth month on the picket line. Vale Inco is using scab labour

which puts a great deal of stress on the situation and on other workers on the

site. Such action by the employer has the potential to create an unsafe work

environment. For two years the government has been giving the answer that the

minister just gave.

I am asking, Mr. Speaker, if the minister will recognize the urgency of

tabling anti-replacement worker legislation or is she happy with the current

situation Newfoundland and Labrador workers are facing in Voisey's Bay?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Human Resources, Labour and

Employment.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS SULLIVAN: Again, as a point of clarification, Mr. Speaker. Bringing in

anti-scab or anti-worker replacement legislation is not going to solve the

strike at Voisey's Bay. There are many issues at the heart of that particular

problem and my Labour Relations Agency is at the ready. We are willing to sit

down at any time to try to find a successful resolution to the problem at Voisey's

Bay. Many, many issues at stake there; conciliation people ready to go, we

simply need the opportunity to sit down with them.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

Vidi.

MS MICHAEL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

My concern is not just for this strike but for other strikes that have

happened in the past and strikes that might come. We have had, Mr. Speaker, at

least three strikes in particular in Labrador where scab workers have been

brought in and we have had others here in the Province, one in St. John's in

particular that ended in April, 2008 after eight months of workers being on

strike.

My question for the minister is - I will answer her first, yes, I have spoken

to other groups. I would like to know the details of how anti-scab legislation

is being dealt with within the current review of the labour regulations?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Human Resources, Labour and

Employment.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS SULLIVAN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, there is very little consensus, actually, about the success

relationship between banning anti-replacement workers and successful resolution

of strikes. There is very little consensus on that.

I should point out that there are only two jurisdictions, Mr. Speaker, two

jurisdictions in North America that have anti-scab legislation. So, the jury is

not out on that. I think it is very clear that that is not an option at this

particular point in time, but in terms of the details, all three parties are

working. When they bring something forward to me I will be more than happy to

share that with you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

The time allotted for questions and answers has expired.

Presenting Reports by Standing and Select Committees.

Tabling of Documents.

Notices of Motion.

Notices of Motion

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Finance and President of Treasury

Board.

MR. T. MARSHALL : Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I give notice that I will ask leave to introduce a bill entitled,

An Act To

Amend The Government Money Purchase Pension Plan Act. (Bill 56)

I give further notice that I will ask leave to introduce a bill entitled, An

Act To Amend The Members Of The House Of Assembly Retiring Allowances Act. (Bill

53)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER: Further notices of motions?

The hon. the Government House Leader.

MS BURKE: Mr. Speaker, I give that notice that I will ask leave to

introduce a bill entitled,

An Act To Amend The House Of Assembly Accountability,

Integrity and Administration Act. (Bill 54)

MR. SPEAKER: Further notices of motions?

The hon. the Minister of Education.

MR. KING: Mr. Speaker, I give notice that I will ask leave to introduce a

bill entitled,

An Act To Implement Labour Mobility. (Bill 55)

MR. SPEAKER: Further notices of motion?

The hon. the Minister of Transportation and Works.

MR. HEDDERSON: Mr. Speaker, I give notice that I will ask leave to

introduce a bill entitled, "An Act To Amend The Rail Service Act, 2009.

(Bill 60)

MR. SPEAKER: Further notices of motion?

The hon. the Minister of Health and Community Services.

MR. KENNEDY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I give notice that I will ask leave to introduce a bill entitled,

An Act To

Amend The Occupational Therapists Act, 2005. (Bill 59)

MR. SPEAKER: Further notices of motion?

The hon. the Member for Bonavista North.

MR. HARDING: Mr. Speaker, I move the following private member's

resolution:

WHEREAS rural and regional economic development has consistently been among

our government's highest priorities since 2003; and

WHEREAS our government since 2003 has consistently demonstrated its

commitment to rural Newfoundland and Labrador by implementing a wide range of

strategic policies promoting infrastructure, natural resource development,

value-added production, diversification, education, innovation, investment,

entrepreneurial initiatives, business success, family growth, youth retention

and attraction and a reliable social support network; and

WHEREAS in addition to ensuring our rural communities benefit from these

initiatives the Department of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development has

established funds dedicated exclusively to rural development totalling $25

million a year and 80 per cent of the department's total funding in all of its

program benefits rural Newfoundland and Labrador communities;

BE IT RESOLVED that the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly affirms

its support for the determination of the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador

to continue promoting the growth, prosperity and sustainability of our rural and

regional communities.

That resolution is seconded by the hon. Minister of Innovation, Trade and

Rural Development.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: Further notices of motion?

Answers to Questions for which Notice has been Given.

Petitions.

Petitions

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

MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I stand today to present a petition on behalf of students at the university

who are enrolled in the clinical psychology program.

Mr. Speaker, these students are extremely, extremely disappointed and

concerned that there has not been any continued commitment to funding for this

program and they have been making an appeal to the university and also to the

Minister of Education. In fact, Mr. Speaker, they did send a letter to him just

recently outlining a number of concerns that they had, and I guess two in

particular. One was with regard to the number of students who currently come out

of the undergrad program and want to go in to pursue their graduate studies in

Canadian universities in the country to be offering this particular program. Mr.

Speaker, they are concerned that there is not a commitment beyond those who will

graduate this year. Secondly, Mr. Speaker, they have also expressed concern that

if the program does not continue, that it may not receive the accreditation that

it needs from the Canadian Psychological Association. If that does not happen,

if the accreditation does not happen, then obviously there are some concerns

about how long it will take them to have their credentials reviewed under the

regulatory body process, and therefore become licensed.

So, Mr. Speaker, these are very legitimate concerns, and these are concerns

by people who are currently in the program. They are awaiting a response from

the minister on those particular issues, which they have not received to date.

However, Mr. Speaker, there is drastic concern by the entire university and the

undergrad program in psychology that this program may not continue. Now, today

in the House of Assembly I did have the opportunity to question the minister on

what their commitment would be to the long-term funding of this program.

Unfortunately, he has not given an answer or a commitment. That is unfortunate,

because the registration for the program is on February 1, 2010, which is in

advance of the Budget coming down from government. So, Mr. Speaker, these

individuals and people in the Province who seek higher education in this field

of study are looking for a commitment that the program would continue.

Mr. Speaker, the minister has also said that it is the prerogative of the

university. While we certainly understand that, that it is the university and

their board that decide what programs and fields of study that are implemented

in every calendar year and carried forward in the university, we also realize

that they can only add when they have the financial resources to do so. In the

absence of the government committing to extra money to the university to be able

to do this, they would have to find that money within their existing budget. In

order to find it within their existing budget, it means that they would have to

have savings in one area or another. Those savings, whether they come in the

form of cutting a program or cutting a service, in most cases, Mr. Speaker, it

would come from a cut of one form or another. Mr. Speaker, I -

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

I remind the hon. member that her time for speaking has expired.

MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Just a minute to clue up?

MR. SPEAKER: Does the hon. member have leave?

AN HON. MEMBER: By leave.

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. member, by leave.

MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I would certainly make an appeal to the minister on behalf of these

individuals and on behalf of our university that is carrying forward a program

which is not offered anywhere else in the country and has certainly become

renowned for this kind of program delivery, that he would consider making the

commitment prior to the Budget, to allow this program to continue as part of the

regular curriculum of our university.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER: Further petitions?

The hon. the Opposition House Leader.

MR. KELVIN PARSONS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I take this opportunity to present my seventieth petition on behalf of the

residents of South Western Newfoundland concerning the dialysis needs that exist

in that particular region, from Rose Blanche, Port aux Basques, Codroy Valley

and so on. As outlined earlier, the numbers vary. They vary from year to year,

of course, depending upon how many people require treatment. Some people

unfortunately do not live long enough to get continued treatment. Their health

deteriorates and they do, in fact, pass away. So the numbers are always

variable.

The current Minister of Health is certainly clued into the need. In fact, I

have had some discussions with him in regard to one particular case of hardship

where a person had some questions, and hats off to the minister. In fact, he has

done his level best to respond. In fact, we could not even get the information

we needed from Western Health, but thanks to his intervention, that information

was provided. There is also some information that that individual in question,

the specific individual, asked about training, that it might be possible to do

home dialysis. The minister has undertaken to check into that. I realize he is

quite busy, of course, with H1N1 and everything else that is going on in the

health care system. Trying to deal with a specific need is not always easy, but

he has certainly undertaken it and he has proven himself to be doing that. So we

look forward to that information.

We realize as well that it is beyond fair to say that this government has not

done anything for dialysis services in this Province. In fact, in the last

number of years there has been dialysis put down on the Grand Bank, dialysis in

Carbonear, dialysis services in St. Anthony. The issue we are putting forward

here, of course, is that we just have not gone far enough and hopefully

government will be able to find the resources so that we can do it for the

people in the South Western region. We have a particularly treacherous area they

have to travel through.

The three issues that come up in dialysis, or course, are: Where will you do

it? We can do that in Port aux Basques. Do you have the people trained to do it?

The staff there have undertaken to get trained to do it on their own time

because they want to see the service available in that institution in Port aux

Basques and LeGrow. The other, of course, is the cost of equipment. The people

of that region have undertaken to raise the funds to get the equipment to put

into the hospital. So those two big issues are removed. The third one, of

course, is the operational cost on an ongoing basis. Hopefully, government and

the minister will be successful in their Budget deliberations this year, and

hopefully if we have the equipment looked after, if we have the training looked

after - which, as I say, can easily be addressed - the ongoing operational cost,

if we identify those, hopefully the minister will be able to find them in his

Budget this year or convince his Cabinet colleagues that it can be made

available. I guess he has to talk to the Minister of Finance on that issue as

well.

Government, as I say, has gone some distance, but hopefully the people in

that particular region can be attended to. I am not aware of any other region in

this Province right now that has the population basis which has the need that is

not being addressed. Hopefully, that can be eradicated in the very near future.

I call upon government, again, to give that its serious consideration and

hopefully the funding can be made available to do that in the budget of 2010.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER: Further petitions?

Orders of the Day.

Orders of the Day

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

MS BURKE: Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the hon. the Minister of

Government Services to ask leave to introduce a bill entitled,

An Act Respecting

Condominiums, Bill 48, and I further move that the said bill be now read a first

time.

MR. SPEAKER: It is properly moved and seconded by the hon. the Government

House Leader to ask for leave to introduce a bill entitled,

An Act Respecting

Condominiums, Bill 48, and that Bill 48 be now read a first time.

Is it the pleasure of the House that Bill 48 be now read a first time?

All those in favour, 'aye'.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Aye.

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

The motion is carried.

Motion, the hon. the Minister of Government Services to introduce a bill,

"An Act Respecting Condominiums", carried. (Bill 48)

CLERK: A bill,

An Act Respecting Condominiums. (Bill 48)

MR. SPEAKER: Bill 48 has now been read a first time.

When shall Bill 48 be read a second time?

MS BURKE: Tomorrow, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER: Tomorrow.

On motion, Bill 48 read a first time, ordered read a second time on tomorrow.

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

MS BURKE: Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the hon. the Minister of

Government Services to ask leave to introduce a bill entitled,

An Act Respecting

Public Accountants, Bill 49, and I further move that the said bill be now read a

first time.

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Government House Leader has asked leave to

introduce a bill entitled,

An Act Respecting Public Accountants, Bill 49, and

that Bill 49 be now read a first time.

Is it the pleasure of the House that Bill 49 be now read a first time?

All those in favour, 'aye'.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Aye.

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

The motion is carried.

Motion, the hon. the Minister of Government Services to introduce a bill,

"An Act Respecting Public Accountants", carried. (Bill 49)

CLERK: A bill,

An Act Respecting Public Accountants. (Bill 49)

MR. SPEAKER: Bill 49 has now been read a first time.

When shall Bill 49 be read a second time?

MS BURKE: Tomorrow, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER: Tomorrow.

On motion, Bill 49 read a first time, ordered read a second time on tomorrow.

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

MS BURKE: Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the hon. the Minister of

Government Services to ask leave to introduce a bill entitled,

An Act To Amend

The Petroleum Products Act, Bill 50, and I further move that the said bill be

now read a first time.

MR. SPEAKER: It is properly moved and seconded that the hon. the

Government House Leader shall ask leave to introduce,

An Act To Amend The

Petroleum Products Act, Bill 50, and that Bill 50 be now read a first time.

Is it the pleasure of the House that Bill 50 be now read a first time?

All those in favour, 'aye'.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Aye.

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

The motion is carried.

Motion, the hon. the Minister of Government Services to introduce a bill,

"An Act To Amend The Petroleum Products Act", carried. (Bill 50)

CLERK: A bill,

An Act To Amend The Petroleum Products Act. (Bill 50)

MR. SPEAKER: Bill 50 has now been read a first time.

When shall Bill 50 be read a second time?

MS BURKE: Tomorrow, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER: Tomorrow.

On motion, Bill 50 read a first time, ordered read a second time on tomorrow.

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

MS BURKE: Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the hon. the Minister of

Municipal Affairs to ask leave to introduce a bill entitled,

An Act To Amend The

City Of Corner Brook Act, The City Of Mount Pearl Act And The City Of St. John's

Act, Bill 51, and I further move that the said bill be now read a first time.

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Government House Leader has asked leave to

introduce a bill,

An Act To Amend The City Of Corner Brook Act, The City Of

Mount Pearl Act And The City of St. John's Act, Bill 51, and that Bill 51 be

now read a first time.

Is it the pleasure of the House that Bill 51 be now read a first time?

All those in favour, 'aye'.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Aye.

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

The motion is carried.

Motion, the hon. the Minister of Municipal Affairs to introduce a bill,

"An Act To Amend The City Of Corner Brook Act, The City Of Mount Pearl Act

And The City Of St. John's Act", carried. (Bill 51)

CLERK: A bill,

An Act To Amend The City Of Corner Brook Act, The City Of

Mount Pearl Act And The City Of St. John's Act. (Bill 51)

MR. SPEAKER: This bill has now been read a first time.

When shall Bill 51 be read a second time?

MS BURKE: Tomorrow, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER: Tomorrow.

On motion, Bill 51 read a first time, ordered read a second time on tomorrow.

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

MS BURKE: Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the hon. the Minister of

Municipal Affairs to ask leave to introduce a bill entitled,

An Act To Amend The

City Of Corner Brook Act, The City Of Mount Pearl Act, The City Of St. John's

Act, The City Of St. John's Municipal Taxation Act And The Municipalities Act,

1999, Bill 52, and I further move that the said bill be now read a first time.

MR. SPEAKER: It is properly moved and seconded that the hon. the

Government House Leader shall ask leave to introduce a bill entitled,

An Act To

Amend The City Of Corner Brook Act, The City Of Mount Pearl Act, The City Of St.

John's Act, The City Of St. John's Municipal Taxation Act And The

Municipalities Act, 1999, Bill 52, and that Bill 52 be now read a first time.

Is it the pleasure of the House that Bill 52 be now read a first time?

All those in favour, 'aye'.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Aye.

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

The motion is carried.

Motion, the hon. the Minister of Municipal Affairs to introduce a bill,

"An Act To Amend The City Of Corner Brook Act, The City Of Mount Pearl Act,

The City Of St. John's Act, The City Of St. John's Municipal Taxation Act

And The Municipalities Act, 1999", carried. (Bill 52)

CLERK: A bill,

An Act To Amend The City Of Corner Brook Act, The City Of

Mount Pearl Act, The City Of St. John's Act, The City Of St. John's

Municipal Taxation Act And The Municipalities Act, 1999. (Bill 52)

MR. SPEAKER: This bill has now been read a first time.

When shall Bill 52 be read a second time?

MS BURKE: Tomorrow, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER: Tomorrow.

On motion, Bill 52 read a first time, ordered read a second time on tomorrow.

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

MS BURKE: Mr. Speaker, I would like to call from the Order Paper, Order

12, second reading of a bill,

An Act To Amend The Engineers And Geoscientists

Act, 2008. (Bill 44)

MR. SPEAKER: It is moved and seconded that Bill 44,

An Act To Amend The

Engineers And Geoscientists Act, 2008, be now read a second time.

Motion, second reading of a bill, "An Act To Amend The Engineers And

Geoscientists Act, 2008". (Bill 44)

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. O'BRIEN: Yes, Mr. Speaker, I certainly move, seconded by the Minister

of Human Resources, Labour and Employment that Bill 44,

An Act To Amend The

Engineers And Geoscientists Act, 2008, be now read a second time.

This act was first passed in the House of Assembly in December of 2008.

Certainly under the statute, it complies with the requirements set out in the

White Paper entitled: responses to challenging times, new proposals for

occupational regulation. Certainly, that act, when it was passed in the House of

Assembly enabled this particular profession to self-regulate itself, and to

govern its own activities.

Also, under that act, I might say that the public interest was protected

through the legislation, because under the regulations it required that the

association of engineers and geoscientists to file annual reports and establish

improved disciplinary process and appoint lay people to their boards under my

direction, as the Minister of Government Services. The structure also laid out a

clean separation of the regulation of this profession to protect the public

interest, or consumers of these services, and members' interests as well.

In regard to the act itself, on review of the act and with some consultation

with the association itself, a couple of amendments are needed. One was

certainly an oversight on our

part in the way we mirrored the legislation after

other self-regulating bodies that it actually did not fit. The other one is much

the same thing, other than it lies within the regulations itself, but can be

interpreted as completely different when you read the

section in the act itself.

The first amendment that we need and it all comprises around the

formation of committees is what it is. Those committees are a very part of the

function of the particular association, and in regard to protecting the public

interest. Under the current act, and under the bylaws section, it requires that

all committees established under the act, to carry out the functions of the act,

must be comprised of members of the board. This was not the practice of the

association in the past, nor did they support this directive as the expertise

for certain committees may not very well lie within the board itself. So they

have to go outside the board. When we had a close look at that bylaw section,

section 9(1)(b), which was incorrectly mirrored on the bylaw section, I believe,

of the Chartered Accountants Act, which was drafted much at the same time.

So we at Government Services, my staff, reviewed the act. We see that it was

a drafting error and that the wording of this

section should have been

consistent with the statutes or other self-regulating professions, such as the

Embalmers and Funeral Directors Act or the Certified General Accountants Act or

the Architects Act. So on oversight, we have to change this in regard to

allowing the association itself to go outside their membership to form

committees and draw on expertise with regard to the issues at hand from people

who are not currently a part of that association and a part of that profession.

The other piece is a second amendment dealing with an inconsistency as well

section 38(1)(c). I will not read it all, it is quite lengthy, but what

happened is that when you look at the wording it could be interpreted one way or

another to mean that only members of the board can complete the regulatory

functions of the actual association itself. Again, the wording has to change. It

is inconsistent between the act and the regulations. The association does not

support the advancing of this direction as the expertise again for certain

committees may not exist on the board itself. So that makes all the sense in the

world to me as the minister responsible. It is consistent with other

self-governing bodies as well. As I mentioned before, chartered accountants and

the embalmers profession, et cetera. They have to be able to go out and draw

down on the expertise that is outside of their own profession. That will give

more consistency and more strength in regard to their self-regulation and their

self-governing and also to the protection of the consumers and the general

public at large.

With that Mr. Speaker, I will take my seat and welcome any remarks by my hon.

members across the House in regard to this act. I hope that they will support it

because it was a request by the association itself that was brought to our

attention and certainly recognized by me as the minister and my staff as a

necessary amendment or two amendments to the original act in 2008.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. BUTLER: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

It is a pleasure to be able to stand with regard to Bill 44,

An Act To Amend

The Engineers And Geoscientists Act, 2008. As the minister stated, this bill,

this piece of legislation was brought forward in the last fall session. As he

stated very clearly, the Association of Professional Engineers and

Geoscientists, those are the people who came forward with those two amendments.

As the minister stated, it is more or less a bit of bookkeeping to bring the

piece of legislation up to standard as other professionals.

With regard to the

section that the minister mentioned 9(1)(b); really what

it says in the old act that was put forward, "the appointment of committees

of the members of the board comprising representatives of elected and appointed

members and the duties and responsibilities of those committees and the

delegation of some or all of the board's powers to them".

Whereas that

will be deleted now and the following will be substituted, where it says under

(b), "the appointment of committees and the duties and responsibilities of

those committees." As the minister stated, those two pieces of changes to

the act has to do with the formation of committees and how they are governed.

The second, "Paragraph 38(1)(

c) of the Act is repealed and the following

substituted" and the wording is almost identical, apart from one word

within it. Under (

c) it says, "governing the evaluation by the board, or a

committee appointed by the board" and the only change in that part of

the act, (1)(

c) is the word "appointed" being added to the wording

from the old piece of legislation.

Mr. Speaker, having said that, knowing that it came forward from the

association itself - we stood in our place when the bill came forward and

supported it because this piece of legislation was brought forward so that it

would be in formation with all the other professionals and so on. The minister

named them, the accountants and so on.

We have no problems with this piece of legislation and the two amendments,

Mr. Speaker. I just want to thank the minister for the opportunity to be able to

stand and yes, we will be supporting the amendments to Bill 44.

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

If the hon. the Minister of Government Services speaks now he will close the

debate on second reading of Bill 44.

The hon. the Minister of Government Services.

MR. O'BRIEN: Yes, Mr. Speaker, certainly I would like to close debate. I

will recognize the comments of my hon. member of the House. I compliment him on

his knowledge of the act itself and the necessary amendments thereof. Yes, and

he just mentioned in one regard, one of the amendments is only one change, one

word and one word only. There is a lot of difference between one word and

another word when it comes to self-governing and the meaning and the

interpretation of that particular

section of the act itself. This might seem

like a bit of housekeeping or whatnot but it is very important to the

association itself in regard to them being able to carry out their affairs on an

ongoing basis.

With that, Mr. Speaker, and all said, I will take my seat in the House. If

there are any other comments I will certainly welcome them in Committee stage.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER: Is it the pleasure of the House that Bill 44 be now read a

second time?

All those in favour, 'aye'.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Aye.

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

The motion is carried.

CLERK: A bill,

An Act To Amend The Engineers And Geoscientists Act, 2008.

(Bill 44)

MR. SPEAKER: Bill 44 has now been read a second time.

When shall the said bill be referred to a Committee of the Whole House?

MS BURKE: Now, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER: Now.

On motion, a bill, "An Act To Amend The Engineers And Geoscientists Act,

2008", read a second time, ordered referred to a Committee of the Whole

House presently, by leave. (Bill 44)

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

MS BURKE: Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the hon. Minister of Fisheries

and Aquaculture that the House resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole to

consider Bills 38, 42, 43, 44 and 45.

MR. SPEAKER: It is properly moved and seconded that this House now

resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole and that I do now leave the Chair.

All those in favour, 'aye'.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Aye.

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

The motion is carried.

On motion, that the House resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole, Mr.

Speaker left the Chair.

Committee of the Whole

CHAIR (T. Osborne): Order, please!

We are now debating Bill 38,

An Act To Amend The Memorial University Pensions

Act No. 2.

A bill, "An Act To Amend The Memorial University Pensions Act No.

2". (Bill 38)

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: Clauses 2 to 22 inclusive.

CHAIR: Shall clauses 2 through 22 inclusive carry?

All those in favour, 'aye'.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Aye.

CHAIR: All those against, 'nay'.

Carried.

On motion, clauses 2 through 22 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 Memorial University Pensions Act No. 2.

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: We are now debating Bill 42,

An Act To Amend The Vital Statistics

Act, 2009.

A bill, "An Act To Amend The Vital Statistics Act, 2009". (Bill 42)

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: Clauses 2 to 6 inclusive.

CHAIR: Shall clauses 2 through 6 inclusive carry?

All those in favour, 'aye'.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Aye.

CHAIR: All those against, 'nay'.

Carried.

On motion, clauses 2 through 6 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 Vital Statistics Act, 2009.

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: Bill 43,

An Act To Repeal The Newspapers And Books Act.

A bill, "An Act To Repeal The Newspapers And Books Act". (Bill 43)

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: Clause 2.

CHAIR: Shall clause 2 carry?

All those in favour, 'aye'.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Aye.

CHAIR: All those against, 'nay'.

Carried.

On motion, clause 2 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 Repeal The Newspapers And Books Act.

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: We are now debating Bill 44,

An Act To Amend The Engineers And

Geoscientists Act, 2008.

A bill, "An Act To Amend The Engineers And Geoscientists Act,

2008". (Bill 44)

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: Clause 2.

CHAIR: Shall clause 2 carry?

All those in favour, 'aye'.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Aye.

CHAIR: All those against, 'nay'.

Carried.

On motion, clause 2 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 Engineers And Geoscientists Act, 2008.

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: We are now debating Bill 45,

An Act To Amend The Victims Of Crime

Services Act.

A bill, "An Act To Amend The Victims Of Crime Services Act". (Bill

45)

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.

All those against, nay'.

CHAIR: Carried.

On motion, enacting clause carried.

CLERK:

An Act To Amend The Victims Of Crime Services Act.

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 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 bill without amendment,

carried.

CHAIR: The hon. the Government House Leader.

MS BURKE: I move, Mr. Chair, that the Committee rise and report Bills 38,

42, 43, 44 and 45.

CHAIR: The motion is that the Committee rise and report Bills 38, 42, 43,

44 and 45, and ask leave to sit again.

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, Mr. Speaker returned to the Chair.

MR. SPEAKER (Fitzgerald): The hon. the Member for St. John's South and

Deputy Speaker.

MR. T. OSBORNE: Mr. Speaker, the Committee of the Whole have considered

the matters to them referred, and have directed me to report Bills 38, 42, 43,

44 and 45 without amendment.

MR. SPEAKER: The Chair of the Committee of the Whole reports that the

Committee have considered the matters to them referred, and have directed him to

report Bills 38, 42, 43, 44 and 45 without amendment.

When shall the report be received?

MS BURKE: Now, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER: Now.

When shall the said bills be read a third time?

MS BURKE: Tomorrow, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER: Tomorrow.

On motion, report received and adopted, Bills 38, 42, 43, 44 and 45 ordered

read a third time on tomorrow.

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

MS BURKE: Mr. Speaker, we would like to call from the Order Paper, Order

2, Address in Reply.

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Education.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KING: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

It is indeed a pleasure to have an opportunity to have a few words through

the Address in Reply

section here today.

I want to first of all start out by congratulating the two new members that

just recently came through the by-elections. The hon. Member for The Straits

& White Bay North, I want to welcome him to the House, as well as my

colleague here for Terra Nova who is not quite with us in the House yet, but I

understand will be within a few days. I want to congratulate both members for

their election victory. I know it was hard fought in both cases. Having gone

through a couple of those myself, I know the kind of pressures that they go

through and the challenges and the stresses and everything else. I am sure it

was a lot of fun as well.

I am sure that both of them, like many of us here, will enjoy their

opportunity to be here in the House and to participate in public debate and to

make sure that they represent the views of their constituents and play a hand,

Mr. Speaker, in the future policy development for the Province and policy,

hopefully, that will affect the lot in life for many of their constituents.

First of all, I want to say congratulations to both members and wish them all

the best for future success.

I want to take a few moments, Mr. Speaker, just to talk a little bit about my

own district, the District of Grand Bank then I think probably I will make a few

comments relative to my portfolio in education. Certainly, the budget, this past

budget like the one before, has been very, very beneficial to my district and to

my communities. It is only this past Thursday night, as a matter of fact, I met

with representatives of the municipal councils that I represent and we had an

opportunity, as we do twice a year for a round-table discussion, an opportunity

for municipal leaders to share items of concern to them, things that are more

generic, Mr. Speaker, that is spread across the district, things that would be

of concern to all municipalities perhaps and a chance to, in some ways, make

some decisions on how they might like to work with me to address their issues.

It was a very, very good discussion, very productive. It is the third one that

we have done now and I must say very enjoyable.

The message, Mr. Speaker, I am receiving from my municipal leaders is very

strong in support of government's investment on the municipal side, in

particular, the municipal infrastructure program. In my particular district, all

of my communities have the opportunity, Mr. Speaker, to avail of the ninety-ten

cost-share program. It has certainly been very well received and certainly has

made some tremendous impact on many of my communities. We have seen any range of

things from new rescue vehicles to fire and emergency services, to investment in

municipal infrastructure, water and sewer, new water lines, upgrading of sewer,

roadwork and paving. Certainly, Mr. Speaker, I think that my councillors are

very appreciative of what they have been able to achieve working collaboratively

with government, and very excited about the prospects of the new budget and what

it might have available in it for their municipality.

As well, of course, in addition to the municipal issues that are raised

councillors are very, very pleased with the roadwork that we have invested in,

and on two fronts, Mr. Speaker. One is the actual investment in our particular

district around what my colleague, the Minister of Fisheries and I tend to call

the Loop in my district. We have invested about $6 million I think over the last

two years with a combination of culvert work and drainage, as well as guardrail

work and, of course, just pure roadwork and paving. It has been a successful

investment so far. We have discussed it at the municipal round table on a number

of occasions and I have sought input from my municipal leaders as to what they

felt the priorities ought to be.

There has been clear consensus, Mr. Speaker, that they want to focus on the

main roads, the trunk roads in the district, those roads where it is essential

that we have safe for school buses that transport our children on a daily basis.

The same roads that many people on the Burin Peninsula travel back and forth to

Marystown in particular, or Burin to the fish plants and the shipyard commuters,

that we have good highway conditions for them. Of course, the Burin Peninsula is

renown as a fishing part of the Province. So there continues to be trucks

travelling all parts around the Grand Bank side and the St. Lawrence side.

It has been a very well-received investment in the main trunk roads. Of

course, this year as well we have been fortunate enough, the Minister of

Fisheries and our colleague, the MHA for Bellevue and myself working together to

get some much needed improvements done to the main Burin Peninsula Highway.

Certainly, people are appreciative of that, recognizing that it is only a start

and there is more work left to do. It has been well-received and I have gotten

very good feedback on it.

In the broader context, in my district over the last year or so I think the

other issue that people are happy with is the investment in health care. We now

have the new Grand Bank health care facility. The facility is fully operational,

open and up and running. The previous Minister of Health was down and we did the

opening. It was a great event and certainly an enhancement of the services to

all those who use that particular facility.

We have also finished, I think almost 100 per cent, the renovations to the

Blue Crest Nursing Home in Grand Bank. That is a project, I think, probably

worth somewhere in the area of $14 million; a great investment for residents on

the Peninsula.

On the St. Lawrence side, of course, our government reopened ten beds that

had been closed for many, many years there. The main Burin Peninsula Health Care

Centre, we have invested in dialysis equipment and we have invested in CAT scan

equipment just to name a few. That one, Mr. Speaker, is a significant investment

because the Burin Peninsula Health Care Centre serves the entire region, the

entire Burin Peninsula. Every single dollar that we spend in there goes to

benefit every single resident on the Burin Peninsula. I am very proud of that. I

am very proud as well, Mr. Speaker, of the many volunteers who take the

opportunity to work on behalf of the Burin Peninsula Health Care Centre to

fundraise and becoming all kinds of charity events, like yesterday the Happy

Tree fundraiser on the Peninsula and so on.

It is certainly an investment that is well-deserved and we are being

recognized on the Peninsula as having done a good job in doing that. We

recognize, of course, there is more work to be done. The Minister of Fisheries,

my colleague, the MHA for Placentia West, and I, and the MHA for Bellevue have

had discussions with health officials around trying to extend the dialysis

service on the Peninsula. We know it is much needed and we will continue to

advocate for that and continue to make the minister aware. Hopefully, in the

near future we might be able to see some success there and have the service

extended so that more clients who need the dialysis service can actually avail

of it there on the Burin Peninsula.

Mr. Speaker, I want to make a couple of comments from my portfolio, the

Department of Education, because it has been a good year in education, a good

couple of years as a matter of fact. The first thing I want to touch on is our

student aid package and debt reduction initiatives. It was only maybe three or

four weeks ago that I had the opportunity to spend a couple of hours or so with

student leaders from across the Province. They were gathered in here for a

student leadership conference with leaders from the Canadian Federation of

Students who had organized the event. They had secured a facility and they had

organized an itinerary of events and activities to engage students in, guest

speakers were provided.

It was really an opportunity, Mr. Speaker, for leaders from across the

Province, leaders at the post-secondary level, Memorial and Grenfell and our

college system to come together and have a talk about items that affect their

life. Items of concern that they might have that affect them directly or

indirectly through the public post-secondary system. I had the opportunity to

join them for a period of time and I have to say it was just so refreshing to

hear what the students had to say. Clearly, one of the things they highlighted

as being a significant success story, from their perspective, is the kind of

investment that our government has made in order to reform student aid

initiatives and the student aid package that we have available.

Just to remind people, Mr. Speaker, I spoke a little earlier today in the

House by way of a member's statement around the increase in the grants program

that we currently have. This past year we increased for students who borrow, up

to a $140 per week, Mr. Speaker. For those who borrow up to $140 per week to

further their studies, we now provide $80 of that in free money that they do not

have to pay back; pure grant outright. That has seen a steady increase, Mr.

Speaker, over the past couple of years in particular. As we bring the grant

money up, the $80 goes up. The amount they have to borrow is now down to $60. It

continues to decrease, and we have been very pleased with that. As well, Mr.

Speaker, another big initiative for us has been the elimination of the interest

on the provincial portion of student loans. Clearly, all the students I talk to

see that as a wonderful initiative, as a great program and one that certainly is

leading the country right now.

As I said a few moments ago here in the House, right now we have the lowest

tuition, lowest post-secondary tuition in the entire country, with one

exception, Mr. Speaker, and that exception is for the Province of Quebec. The

caveat is that, that is for Quebec residents only. So if you are a non-Quebec

resident and you want to pursue post-secondary studies in Quebec you pay a much

higher tuition. On par comparing apples to apples, Newfoundland and Labrador has

the lowest tuition in the entire country, with that one exception, Mr. Speaker.

We are very proud of that as a government, very proud of it. It demonstrates

first of all our commitment to education and it is a commitment that we have

made and the Premier has made right early in our mandate, that we recognize the

value of education to the future growth and the future development of the

Province. We recognize the value of education to the economic development of the

Province and to the personal and professional growth of students. So we are

certainly very, very committed to continuing to work with our students at the

post-secondary level.

I have had ongoing discussions, Mr. Speaker, with students there about the

kinds of things they would like us to consider for this particular budget. The

kinds of investments they would like for us to consider, but overwhelmingly, Mr.

Speaker, the message has been one of praise and very positive. Students feel

that the kinds of investments we are making in the debt reduction initiatives in

particular are the kinds of investments that they would like to see. So I am

very pleased to talk for a few moments about that today.

As well, I just of course want to touch a little bit on the K-12 system, as

we have had some significant investment in a number of areas. In the last couple

of years in particular, of course, we have made significant investments on the

infrastructure side. I am discussing the construction of new schools as well as

the increase in the maintenance and renovation budget to help us deal with

things like air quality, for example, Mr. Speaker.

This year alone, our budget was more than $121 million, Mr. Speaker - more

than $121 million. As I said, not only new schools, but that includes things

like my colleagues opposite asked me a few days ago, air quality, Mr. Speaker.

As I have said here many times, we recognize the importance of air quality in

schools and that is why we are investing, for example, in fixing leaky roofs,

and fixing leaky windows with new windows, siding and new roofs because that is

where one of the problems on air quality is created. When water infiltrates the

building, it can lead to the growth of mould. We recognize that, Mr. Speaker,

and we are investing in that to fix that problem.

We are also investing in many other things, Mr. Speaker, that often get

overlooked, many things that get overlooked, but are also contributors to air

quality problems. Things, for example, like chalkboards and chalk dust in

classrooms, Mr. Speaker. We are eliminating chalkboards. We are removing them

and replacing them with whiteboards. Carpet in classrooms, Mr. Speaker, carpet

picks up dust and all kinds of other things that can lead to bad air quality; we

are removing carpets.

Those are just but two items, Mr. Speaker, in addition to the core

infrastructure that we are investing in because we recognize the importance of

having good air quality in schools and will continue to do that.

Mr. Speaker, there has been a number of questions I just want to speak to for

a couple of minutes. There has been a number of questions over the past several

days here in the House from members opposite with respect to education. I often

find it troubling when you have to sit in the House here and you listen to a

question that, in many instances, is lacking in totally accurate information,

Mr. Speaker, if I might say it that way. I will rephrase from what I said last

week, but sometimes members do not have all of the information required when

they stand in the House here and they ask questions. It is a little frustrating,

as a minister, when you try and stand up and answer a question that you know for

the first

part is not based solely on 100 per cent information; there is some

information missing.

One today, for example, the PHD program at MUN comes to mind. On three or

four separate occasions the member opposite raised a question, and I answered

the question multiple times. It has been clearly stated on the public record by

officials from Memorial University, and it has been clearly stated here in the

House, at least twice today by me, that there are no discussions ongoing right

now to cancel, or to postpone, or to do away with a PHD program in psychology at

Memorial University. That just does not exist, Mr. Speaker; it does not exist.

I said that twice today and the member opposite continued in the line of

questioning. To my mind, all it does is it creates negatively and it creates

fear amongst people when it need not happen. I understand, Mr. Speaker, very

clearly, very clearly, that students have written me a letter. I received a

letter on Thursday. I am going to respond to the letter. I understand that there

may be some anxiousness amongst students about this particular program. I

absolutely do understand that. I will respond, as Memorial University has done,

and what the university has said, as far as I know, on public record, is they

have said that clearly that program like any other program requires a financial

commitment in order for it to continue. Well, Mr. Speaker, it does not take

rocket science to figure that out; we all understand that.

What I have said here today, very clearly, is that to continue to support

that program will be a decision of Memorial University and them alone. This

government will not speak to Memorial and dictate the programs that they offer

or do not offer. That is not our role. Their role is to decide what programs

they offer, and it is their role and their responsibility to engage with us in

the budgetary process as they have done so many times before - every single

year, as a matter of fact. Even between the pre-budget consultations, Mr.

Speaker, we engage in those discussions with the university as we do with other

entities that require this government's financial support for their budget,

and we will continue to do that.

As I have said before, there has been no indication whatsoever from anyone

that the program is in jeopardy. It is frustrating sometimes here in the House

when a member raises the point and continues to raise the point over and over

and over, even when the answer has been given on this side three or four times

over and over and over, Mr. Speaker.

The other point that I want to make, Mr. Speaker, and I realize I am getting

short on time here. The other point I want to make is with respect to the Nain

report, Mr. Speaker. That has come up a number of occasions in the House.

Thursday was the first opportunity that I had to speak a little to it. I got a

little sidetracked, I recognize that, but I have another opportunity to speak to

that today.

Again, Mr. Speaker, a member opposite stands and portrays a picture that is

only half correct; maybe that is the best way to put it. I made a statement in

the House that suggested a little too directly that there were some inaccuracies

in the way the question was phrased on Thursday.

AN HON. MEMBER: (Inaudible).

MR. KING: I said it a little differently than that, I recognize that I

ought not to have and I corrected that.

Mr. Speaker, what I said on Thursday was verified in the media by the author

of the report on Friday in an interview with CBC. I made two statements. To

paraphrase myself a little bit, I said that the report was not commissioned by

government and I said that the report was intended as an advocacy report by the

author to try and secure resources for the school. That, Mr. Speaker, was not

meant to diminish the importance of the report. It was said as a matter of fact

to clarify, for the record, here in this House how that report came about.

Lo and behold, Mr. Speaker, it was not received well by the author of the

question; I submit that.

Lo and behold, on Friday, the author of the report was interviewed with CBC

and the author of the report says a number of things; let me share those with

you. First of all, the report as it is called was actually intended to be a

brief for officials, it was never intended to go to the ministerial level,

number one. Number two, he confirmed that it was his writing and not a report

commissioned by government, which I said. Number three, Mr. Speaker, which I

said in my reply in the House, the author confirmed that the report in actual

fact was intended for one sole purpose, to get more teaching units for the

school, which is exactly what I said in the House, Mr. Speaker, even though it

was refuted.

If you sense my frustration in answering those questions on Thursday, that is

why, Mr. Speaker. The accurate information does not always come forward.

Having said all of that, Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to acknowledge, as I

have done many times today and Thursday, that we understand the seriousness of

the issues raised; we do. We have responded and as a matter of fact, Mr.

Speaker, some of the response occurred even before it came to the ministerial

level. Officials in the department worked with the school board to provide a

response to many of the issues identified.

We are very pleased with that and we want people to understand that, just,

Mr. Speaker, like we would do for any school in the Province. If they are

looking for support from the Department of Education, from the minister or from

government for any particular issues that might not be normal and fall outside

of the normal scope of operations for a school district or for a school,

absolutely, we will be there to assist and to do what we can. We do that on a

regular basis, Mr. Speaker. That is how we operate; that is why we are here

because we want to provide some leadership and some guidance and some support to

school boards in the Province to make sure that we are offering quality

education in every school in every part of the Province.

I recognize, Mr. Speaker, as was alluded to earlier today as well, that there

are challenges around that. We are not able to do every single day in every

single school -

MR. SPEAKER (T. Osborne): Order, please!

I remind the hon. member that his time for speaking has expired.

MR. KING: By leave.

MR. SPEAKER: Does the hon. member have leave?

AN HON. MEMBER: By leave.

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Education by leave.

MR. KING: Thank you.

Just a couple of more minutes to clue up, Mr. Speaker, and I thank the

members opposite for your leave.

As I was saying, Mr. Speaker, we recognize there are challenges out there and

we recognize, as I am sure all members do whether they want to admit it or not,

that we cannot provide all of the same kinds of services in every single part of

this Province. It just cannot be done.

Human resources continue to be a challenge for us. We have made steps in

focusing on the recruitment of qualified professionals. We have worked with

school districts who have implemented things like signing bonuses and other

measures to try and attract employees to schools. The reality is, Mr. Speaker,

we will continue to be challenged in that area. We recognize that. People need

to understand that as long as there is a challenge there this government and the

Department of Education will be there to assist the school boards and do

whatever we can to support their efforts and their initiatives, keeping in mind,

Mr. Speaker, that the focus on all of these discussions

AN HON. MEMBER: We always do.

MR. KING: As we always have in the past, that's right. The focus always

will be for us, the focus on the students and doing what is in the best

interests of the students of this Province, and the students in the schools in

particular that we are talking about.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I certainly appreciate the opportunity to be able to stand and speak today to

the Throne Speech.

Mr. Speaker, I listened to the Minister of Education with great interest

today and it is quite obvious that he has the same syndrome that the Premier

has, and that is if you ask a question all of a sudden it is the attack. It

either has to be about misinformation or the miscalculation of something. In

fact, Mr. Speaker, maybe what the minister needs to do is start taking his job a

little bit more seriously and stop looking at the political innuendos that he

can shoot across the floor, and rather start doing something about these

critical issues that are out there in the Province and facing children in our

schools of which he is responsible for.

Mr. Speaker, at the risk today of being called unpatriotic or tried for

treason before the next fifty-nine minutes are up, I will attempt to raise a

number of issues in the House of Assembly that I feel warrant being raised.

First of all, I am going to speak to the issue that was just raised around the

clinical psychology program at the university. Mr. Speaker, no one said today

that this program was going to be cancelled. In fact, the questions were around:

Where is the money coming from? At any time within the university there is not a

financial availability for the university to move forward with a program or a

curriculum, they have to come to government to find the necessary resources. Mr.

Speaker, they are coming to government to find the necessary resources and that

is a simple request that is being made.

Now, Mr. Speaker, one would think that when you look at the number of issues

that we have around psychology in the Province, first of all, retaining people

to work in the field. Secondly, we have a two-year wait list in this Province of

people looking to see psychologists in the field that they work in, and we are

this. Are there any other reasons why the Minister of Education would need to

promptly move forward with a commitment to the university that this program

would stay and the cost of it would be incurred by the government if the

resources are not found within their own university financial budgets? Well, Mr.

Speaker, a very good question but one that we certainly have not received any

answer to.

Secondly, Mr. Speaker, he talks about the situation in Nain and the report

that was released last week talking about the issues in the school of Nain. Mr.

Speaker, I listened to the minister and I listened to the Minister of Aboriginal

Affairs who really tried to turn this into emotional issues, an exploitation of

Inuit children. That was so disgusting, Mr. Speaker, coming from leaders within

the government; ministers who are supposed to lead by example.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

MS JONES: Ministers who are supposed to take information, critical of a

nature such as this, and move forward with solutions. In fact, what we seen was

the complete opposite. What I saw was nothing only emotional babble, that was

serving no purpose in finding solutions for the children in these schools. In

fact, Mr. Speaker, there is not one person in this House of Assembly who would

not find good in every school in this Province, and Nain being no exception.

There are very bright children in this school. As I said earlier in my comments,

I had met most of them, Mr. Speaker. They have been very successful, especially

in areas of recreation and theatre. I have had the opportunity to meet many of

them who have been involved in those particular programs. It does not take away

from the fact that government has a responsibility, when information is provided

to them to act on that information.

Mr. Speaker, whether the information came to light as a result of a lobby

group looking for more teaching units for their school or whether it came to

light out of real concern for the fact that there were different incidents

ongoing that needed to be dealt with is irrelevant. The reality is that the

information came to light. The information indicated that two-thirds of the

children in this school had been going through trauma and tragedy in their

lives, that they were impacted by the many suicides that were in the community,

but yet government, even if they say they did not have the report for three

years, I think the minister said we only had it for a year. Well, even in a

year, Mr. Speaker, when you are presented with that kind of information, why

aren't you prepared to act on it immediately? Why was there no psychologist

sent into this school to work with these children when that highlight was there?

Why is it that government did not move forward to verify that this information

was correct and conduct their own evaluation within the school? Neither of which

happened.

In fact, Mr. Speaker, it was also outlined that 88 per cent of Grade 4

students in this school were performing at less than a basic level in the Grade

4 curriculum. Over 90 per cent of the students in Grade 5 were performing at

less than the basic requirement within that curriculum. With those kinds of

numbers, Mr. Speaker, you being the Minister of Education in this Province,

being presented with that kind of information, why would you not move

immediately to try and remedy that situation, to find out where the gaps were

within the curriculum? What was the problem that these children are not

learning, and what services needs to be provided to them to ensure that they do

grow within the curriculum and they are able to do much better? We do not see

those things happening. In fact, Mr. Speaker, still today there are vacancies

for teaching units in that school, one of them at the Grade 4 level. Right now,

they have an FAS teacher who is actually filling in and subsidizing in that

school to those children. That is not acceptable and it is not good enough.

So, Mr. Speaker, the minister can exploit this however he wishes. The reality

is that not enough has been done. In fact, why is he not prepared to follow up

with an evaluation of the school at this stage to see how well those Grades 4s,

5s, and 6s are doing, to see where the dropout rate is in the school, to see

where the attendance rate is today, to find out how many children are

graduating, to look at how many of those children are still suffering from

traumatizing and tragic experiences in their lives?

Mr. Speaker, why is he not prepared to do those things? Why is it acceptable

to have a guidance counsellor in this school only three to four days out of

every month, weather permitting? Why is that acceptable that a guidance

counsellor should fly out of St. John's on a Monday and back on a Friday to

service a school in Northern Labrador when the minister already knows the

challenges that exist there? Why isn't there someone there full time providing

for the needs of these children, providing stability for them in a learning

environment?

Mr. Speaker, as a result of these challenges, there has been a lot of stress

on the teachers in this school. Many of them who are overworked, many of them

who have had to assume extreme amount of responsibility, when there should be

other staffing provided to do just that for them.

So, Mr. Speaker, I think the minister really needs to get down off his high

horse and start putting some of his knowledge to work here, and not trying to

foster and develop his political skills in the House of Assembly because

this is much too important an issue to be political about. Mr. Speaker, that is

all I have heard from him every time that he has spoken on this particular

issue.

Mr. Speaker, I am not surprised; I am not surprised at all, because this

government opposite never wants to be questioned. They never want to hear the

comments of other people. One thing I have learned in making decisions and in

leading, Mr. Speaker, in this Province, is that you should listen to people; you

should listen to what they have to say. Whether you agree or disagree is not an

area of relevance. Mr. Speaker, this is a government who never wants to listen.

They do not want to listen to anyone. In fact, Mr. Speaker, not only do they not

want to listen, they never want to answer for the decisions that they make.

What kind of a government never wants to answer for the decisions that they

make? I will leave that wide open, Mr. Speaker. What I will say is this, last

week in the House of Assembly we were debating a very important issue in this

Province where the minister came out and the Premier and the head of the Nalcor

corporation, who is also a part of CF(L)Co, saying that they were going to look

at renegotiating clauses in the Upper Churchill contract. Clauses, Mr. Speaker,

that they felt were founded in Quebec civil code that was amended in 1994, and

they had an opportunity here to challenge Hydro-Quebec or challenge the Quebec

government for what they called fairness, Mr. Speaker, in the Upper Churchill

contract.

I have no problem with that; I have absolutely no problem with that. If there

is a case there, present the case. If there is an opportunity to reopen the

contract, reopen the contract, but does that mean that you cannot ask a question

about it? That is what it means to the government opposite. That is exactly what

it means. How dare you question anything I should say or do? How dare you? You

are merely a living, breathing person in this Province. You have no right to

question me, Mr. Speaker. You are becoming a traitor. You are betraying the

people of the Province because you ask a question.

Mr. Speaker, I am not the only one to have my patronage questioned by the

government opposite when I raised issues in this Province. I am not,

unfortunately, in a class all of my own, Mr. Speaker. I am not, unfortunately,

claiming the title of being the only one that has been enduring the wrath of the

Premier when you ask a question, Mr. Speaker. There are others out there who

have had their patronage questioned in this Province, many others.

In fact, Mr. Speaker, you look at the federal MPs in this