May 20, 2009               HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS             Vol. XLVI   No. 23


The House met at 2:00 p.m.

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

Admit visitors.

Statements by Members

MR. SPEAKER: Today we welcome the following members' statements: the hon. the Member for the District of Cartwright-L'Anse au Clair; the hon. the Member for the District of Bellevue; the hon. the Member for the District of St. John's West; and, the hon. the Member for the District of the Bay of Islands.

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

MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

A week ago I stood in the House to congratulate Jamiee Thomas of L'Anse au Clair who was representing this Province at the national 2009 Karaoke Star Junior competition. Well today, Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate her on becoming Canada's first Karaoke Star Junior as well.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS JONES: Mr. Speaker, this first-ever competition hosted by YTV and CMT featured in its finale ten youth from across the country, and I am proud to say that Ms Jamiee Thomas from this Province and from the District of Cartwright-L'Anse au Clair not only took centre stage but also took first place overall.

This outstanding youth from L'Anse au Clair has done a tremendous job in taking her talents to a national level and coming out on top. Jamiee has been a remarkable promoter of Newfoundland and Labrador and is a great ambassador for our young people, inspiring them to follow their dreams and to embrace the challenges along the way because, in the end, the success makes it all worthwhile.

I ask my colleagues in the House of Assembly today to join with me in congratulating Ms Jamiee Thomas of L'Anse au Clair on becoming Canada's first Karaoke Star Junior and to thank all her supporters from across the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. PEACH: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

It gives me great pleasure to stand here today and inform you of the Vista Regional Schools' three-day Drama Festival which took place April 27-29 at the Rising Tide Theatre in Trinity.

In total, eight schools competed this year in the Vista Regional Schools' Drama Festival. Two schools from the District of Bellevue pretty much cleaned up on the awards: Swift Current Academy and Tricentia Academy.

Swift Current Academy of Swift Current brought home the Best Lighting Award, and student Brittany Newbury brought home Best Animal Performance. At the same time, Tricentia Academy of Arnold's Cove brought home the Best Costume Award and the Best Choreography Award.

Student Tyson Ingram of Tricentia Academy received the Jeffrey Johnson Award for the Best Team Player. This award was presented by Donna Butt from Rising Tide Theatre in memory of Jeffrey Johnson who passed away tragically last year.

I ask that this hon. House join me in sending congratulations to Swift Current Academy and Tricentia Academy on a job well done.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for the District of St. John's West.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS S. OSBORNE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you for the opportunity to congratulate the Matthew Blandford Curling Team who recently won the Provincial Mixed Curling Championships at Bally Haly Curling Club, qualifying them to represent Newfoundland and Labrador in the Nationals in Burlington, Ontario, in November.

Team Blandford went through the round robin with only one loss, advancing them to the final game which they won against Gary Oke from Corner Brook.

Members of the team are: Skip, Matt Blandford; Third, Stephanie LeDrew; Second, Kerry Schuh; Lead, Jessica Mouland. They curl out of the St. John's Curling Club, located in the ReMax Centre.

I ask all members of the House of Assembly to join me in congratulating Team Blandford and wishing them all the best as they represent the Province in Ontario in November.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for the District of Bay of Islands.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. LODER: Mr. Speaker, I rise in this hon. House today to recognize Mr. Fred Humber of Benoit's Cove, Humber Arm South, in the Bay of Islands.

Mr. Speaker, on May 11 of this year, Corner Brook Mayor Charles Pender presented Mr. Humber with a Certificate of Commendation from the Governor General of Canada for saving the life of his brother Eric on March 5, 2008.

Mr. Speaker, during the night, the two gentlemen were snowmobiling across Blow-Me-Down Mountain when they got caught in a sleet and windstorm. Within six miles of Eric's home, a cornice they were travelling over gave away sending both snowmobilers down thirty feet onto hard-packed snow and ice.

Fred escaped injury; however, Eric was not so fortunate. He had difficulty moving, breathing, and responding. Fred, in the meantime, knew he had to get his brother out for medical treatment and managed to use Eric's snowmobile, even with bent handlebars, to take both out to safety.

Eric was transported to hospital via ambulance and was treated for seven broken ribs, broken collar bone, dislocated shoulder, a punctured lung, massive bruising -

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

MR. LODER: - to the left lung and lower portion of his heart. Mr. Speaker, after twelve days of hospitalization, Eric was released.

If it were not for the actions of Fred, this story could have had a different ending.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

MR. LODER: Mr. Speaker, I ask all members here today to acknowledge Mr. Fred Humber for the saving of his brother Eric's life, and no doubt, is worthy of the Commendation Award.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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: Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, when government released the Skills Task Force report, All the Skills to Succeed, in May, 2007, we made the commitment to see that the recommendations would be implemented in a timely manner and that this important work would not lose momentum. With that in mind, government established the Industry Coordinating Committee with representation from business, labour, industry, non-governmental agencies, education and the provincial government.

Today, Mr. Speaker, the Industry Coordinating Committee, or ICC, is hosting the first Skilled Trades spring forum. More than 100 registrations have been received, with the bulk coming from representatives outside government. Participants are discussing achievements to date in implementing the task force recommendations, as well as future opportunities to continue to build this Province's skilled labour force.

I am pleased to report, Mr. Speaker, that much progress has been made on implementing the fifty recommendations contained in the report for government, industry, education and labour.

Government has committed more than $50 million toward the Skills Task Force action plan to support apprenticeship, science and technology, programming, training and infrastructure. Of the twenty-five items identified for government, some have been fully implemented or are at various stages of implementation.

Industry and employer stakeholders have shown dedication to addressing their twelve action items, and indeed have been able to assist in addressing items beyond their responsibility.

Non-governmental agencies continue to provide valuable input into this process and our post-secondary institutions have been very active. All eight education items are being addressed in some way and our post-secondary institutions are dedicated to offering the training our labour market requires.

Finally, Mr. Speaker, labour has been a consistent player in the implementation of the Skills Task Force report. As just one example, Mr. Speaker, the Office to Advance Women Apprentices, which I referenced in the House just last month, now has 171 female apprentices and journeypersons registered in their database.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KING: Mr. Speaker, the level of commitment shown by our partners to this initiative is very encouraging. It is through strong partnerships and mutual commitment to our goal that we are seeing growth in our labour force. And our investments are paying off, Mr. Speaker. From 2007 to 2008, the number of registered apprentices grew by 23.3 per cent in the Province, while the number of Red Seal certificates issued was up 19 per cent.

I thank all partners who have worked with us over the past couple of years, Mr. Speaker, to help build our labour force and we look forward to continued success in the future.

Thank you.

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 thank the minister for an advanced copy of the statement and to say that it is very encouraging to know that business, labour, industry, non-government agencies, as well as education and the provincial government are coming together for the first industry coordinating committee with the skilled trades with their spring forum.

Mr. Speaker, it is good to see that many of the fifty recommendations that were put forward are being acted on in different levels and to know that various trades - we see an increase in the various trades within our Province. As the minister stated, it is very encouraging to see that 171 female apprentices and journeymen are included in that database.

Mr. Speaker, we look forward, not only to seeing the increase to date with registered apprentices up 23 per cent and the Red Seal certification up 19 per cent, but we look forward to a strong labour force in the skilled trades and hopefully an increased opportunity for those people to work right here in Newfoundland and Labrador and we want to wish everyone involved every success with their spring forum.

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 advanced copy of his statement. There is no doubt that we have had some success in the development of apprenticeship in the Province and that we do have some of the recommendations of the 2007 report being put in place.

I would have liked a little bit more from the minister with regard to some details. He says, for example, that of the twenty-five items identified for government, some have been fully implemented. I would like the minister to let us know here in the House what has been implemented. The eight education items that are being addressed, I would like to know to what degree they are being addressed. So maybe I will make a formal request of the minister for that information.

I am particularly pleased, of course, with what has happened with regard to female apprentices. Setting up the office to advance women apprentices was an extremely important step forward, but we have a number of other groups that were identified in both the 2005 White Paper on Post-Secondary Education and the 2007 report of the Skills Task Force, groups that have many barriers to getting into trades and technology: Aboriginal people, people with disabilities, low-income families, and people in rural areas.


I look forward to seeing the government and the other stakeholders starting to put a focus on those groups as well. They have identified women, and women cross over some of those groups, but I think we need, as the two reports have stated, to see a heavy focus on several of the groups that have barriers to getting involved.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER: Further statements by ministers.

The hon. the Minister of Municipal Affairs.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS WHALEN: Mr. Speaker, today is Municipal Awareness Day throughout Newfoundland and Labrador. This annual initiative is supported by our government in close co-operation with Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador.

All too often, the work of mayors, councillors, municipal administrators and staff in this Province goes unnoticed by the general public. These individuals often get things done quietly and efficiently.

Mr. Speaker, it is not always easy for residents to see all the hard work that leads to efficient and quality services within our cities and towns. Municipal Awareness Day is all about changing that. It is about giving recognition and promoting the accomplishments and the importance of local governance. As September approaches, we know that the face of the local governance may change with the impending election. It is more important now than ever for us to acknowledge what Municipal Awareness Day is all about.

Mr. Speaker, this one day throughout the year is supported to educate the public on the role of municipal government and the services they deliver. It is a day to encourage residents to become involved, to increase community pride and understanding. We collectively aim to recognize the many volunteers in our communities that help them grow; and, Mr. Speaker, during an election year for the over 280 municipalities throughout our Province, we hope to capture the public's interest in running for their local council.


Mr. Speaker, to better deliver these objectives, we encouraged municipalities to plan activities that involve their entire community. Some communities will host history days, municipal displays, open houses, school activities, essays, story, trivia and poster contests, community development projects and simulated councils so persons within the community can appreciate how their city or their town actually operates.

Mr. Speaker, the Department of Municipal Affairs is proud to support Municipal Awareness Day through an investment of $15,000 which contributed to a Province-wide advertising campaign, brochures, posters and mail-outs.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage Newfoundlanders and Labradorians to get involved in Municipal Awareness Day as it heightens awareness of local governance. I also encourage all interested men, women and youth to consider running or nominating someone in the September municipal elections. The more people who answer the call the more likely we are to sustain our cities and towns for generations to come.

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 a copy of her statement.

The Official Opposition join the minister in congratulating all municipalities, the municipal leaders and their workers throughout the Province, with regard to the hard work that they do in each of our towns.

Many of those individuals are volunteers and we really appreciate the work that they do, and we do not want their work to go unnoticed. Without them, our towns and cities and local service districts would have very little service in many towns. We heard loud and clear during the Budget consultations the various issues that they brought forward, the concerns for their municipalities, including their fire departments.

We know that municipal elections are coming this fall and we encourage each and every individual to step forward to offer their service to their towns. We are hearing that the numbers are down tremendously this year of those who will seek re-election, but hopefully the government can put a campaign in place similar to what the Minister of Education announced a little while ago with regard to the school board elections.

We should never forget the work that they do for us, and I ask all residents of this Province to congratulate their municipal leaders and workers and to take part in any activities that they have planned over the next day or so.

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 and I am delighted to join my voice with the minister in congratulating –

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

I say to hon. members, the Speaker doesn't mind having private conversations in a quiet way but members cannot go having shouting matches across the House while other members are in control of the floor.

I ask members to pay respect to the people who have been identified, and right now we are listening to the hon. Member for the District of Signal Hill-Quidi Vidi.

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

I would like to take the time to congratulate those who are in elected positions in municipalities, as well as the workers, because they have quite a daunting task, especially in our smaller municipalities.

I was quite pleased this morning to hear the President of Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador speaking about the importance of municipalities and people running in the upcoming elections. I think that should be our message today. I think government should, more and more, find ways to ease the burden of the smaller municipalities in particular, so that people will see the benefit of running and taking a role of leadership in their communities. Many of our communities are aging and do not have the same income, so the tax base is becoming smaller.

I urge us, as the House of Assembly, to consider the needs of the smaller municipalities as we celebrate them today.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

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.

Before I start my questions today, Mr. Speaker, I certainly went to extend congratulations to the Province's nurses and to the government.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS JONES: I congratulate both parties, Mr. Speaker, for reaching a tentative agreement and securing the health care services in the Province for the people of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Mr. Speaker, I have a couple of questions, just for clarification, around the contract negotiations.

We understand that there was a change in the language around the market adjustment clauses which helped facilitate this agreement, and I would like to ask what changes were made and if it is a differentiation from what has been contained in the agreements with the other unions.

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

PREMIER WILLIAMS: Mr. Speaker, as the hon. member opposite knows we initiated a call last night to the union at around nine o'clock. I made a call to Ms Forward and she wasn't available on her line, or at least I couldn't make contact on her cell phone. We spoke with Mr. Vivian and indicated that we were prepared to talk about the two outstanding issues, the two principles we will call them. He was appreciative of the call. Myself and the Minister of Finance had met earlier and had met with our officials and instructed them to go and have a discussion. That went on throughout the entire night and we finally finished up at about five-thirty or a quarter to six this morning; a night's work well spent.

At the end, the principle on the extended leave was dropped by the nurses and we reached what, I guess, would be considered a compromise position on market modifier. From government's perspective, government does have the ability, when there are recruitment issues or recruitment problems within a certain area of the health care system, to provide a bonus in order to deal with that and in order to solve the recruitment problem.

That was a solution that is quite satisfactory to the nurses and quite satisfactory to us. It is a win, win. It wasn't even a hold your nose situation, I think, for either party. I think it is a win not only for government and nurses – that is not really what it is all about - it is really a win for the people of the Province, the patients of the Province.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I certainly agree with that remark.

Mr. Speaker, the nurses' union is recommending acceptance of this tentative agreement. So we certainly hope that there will be a deal in the future.

I ask the government today: When will the nurses see the improved wage benefits, and will this contract be retroactive, and if so, to what particular date?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KENNEDY: Yes, Mr. Speaker.

The deal will come into place, of course, once it is signed and the ratification. So I am not quite certain as to the length of time that will be required for the ratification vote. I do not expect it will be that long. At that point, it will also be retroactive to the point – and as for when the nurses' contract ended -

AN HON. MEMBER: (Inaudible) was last year.

MR. KENNEDY: Yes, it was a long time ago, because we have been negotiating with them, I think, for fifteen or sixteen months. So back to April, I think. It could be April of last year, but it will be retroactive to that point.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The increased monetary offer that was designed to address the recruitment and retention issues will hopefully be able to allow us to recruit more nurses into the Province.

I ask the government today: How many nurses are we currently short in the system, and how does government plan to launch those recruitment initiatives outside of the Province in order to promote this new agreement?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. WISEMAN: Each of the four authorities have been aggressively pursuing their recruitment initiatives during this negotiation process. They were not, obviously, in a position to wait until successful conclusion, because they have had recruitment teams in place, attending job fairs and advertising in publications and journals throughout Canada, and some international recruitment, I say, Mr. Speaker, as well.

So this particular deal signed yesterday, or agreed upon this morning, will now make that job a lot easier. Now we are going to be competitive, not only on a national stage but we are going to be competitive on an international stage. We are hoping to be able to repatriate some nurses who would have left in the last couple of years. Now with this attractive offer, we are now one of the best in the country, I say, Mr. Speaker. So, clearly, this will be a great asset and will really enhance our ability to be successful in recruiting.

With respect to the first part of the question, I think there are some, roughly 300 permanent positions that are being recruited external to the organization now as we speak, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

We also know that in anticipation of a strike there were some contingency plans put in place by the health care corporation that also included cancelling some appointments and surgeries and so on.

I ask the minister today: If the health corporation has been able to provide an update as to when those surgeries and treatments can be rescheduled, and if those that were cancelled will be given a priority now to have their appointments rescheduled?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. WISEMAN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

As I indicated in the House in recent days, that the health authority in preparing for the, what was a potential strike today when they were served notice by the nurses' union, started a process to gear down basically for what might be happening today. It is great news. Obviously, it did not. So now they are in a position to start rescheduling some of those cancelled appointments.

The first order of business was to ensure that those patients scheduled for today and tomorrow were notified of any cancellations that were necessary. So they will now start a process, each of the four authorities will now start a process of contacting those individuals to reschedule those appointments that were cancelled. The rescheduling piece, Mr. Speaker, as with all appointments like that, there is a prioritization that takes place based on acuity and illness. So they will be working with their clinicians to identify those that need to be rescheduled on a priority basis.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

In the last few weeks we have been asking the government in the House to provide interim compensation payments to AbitibiBowater workers pending the resolution of the legal action. Yesterday, they certainly agreed to do that and made that announcement, Mr. Speaker. No coincidence that it was in the middle of a polling period, I am sure, but nevertheless, it needed to be done, should have been done, and we are glad it was done, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, my questions today around that particular agreement are just for clarification and information. First of all, I ask the minister: Will all the people affected by the closure of the AbitibiBowater mill be compensated, including all the loggers?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SKINNER: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

Had I known it was the middle of a polling period I would have invited the hon. member out with us.

Mr. Speaker, the answer to the question is, yes.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I may have gone but I was rather busy yesterday morning.

Mr. Speaker, compensating the loggers under this particular agreement, does this mean - of course I would expect all unionized loggers, but are there non-unionized loggers and loggers with private companies as well included in any of these compensation packages?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SKINNER: Mr. Speaker, the loggers and silviculturists who worked with and for Abitibi are the ones that we have identified.

We are in the process of putting together a small committee representing some government people and some union people to work out the intricacies of what needs to be done. There are some details that need to be worked out. Through that process we will bring some definition to all of the people affected, but we have identified five groups which are: the inside union people, the inside management people, the work reduction program, the early retirement allowances, and the loggers and silviculturists. Those five groups are the groups that have been identified and brought forward to the union. They have agreed to that and we will now work on the details of how each of those groups will be affected by the announcement yesterday.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Although the minister just outlined the five groups that they were dealing with, I ask him if there has been any analysis done around the loggers that work for private companies that might have been outside of the unionized agreements that will be included, and if there are any numbers around the number of them that would have been impacted with the closure of this mill?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SKINNER: Mr. Speaker, the announcement yesterday was for the former AbitibiBowater employees. So if there were any loggers and silviculturists who were employed by private contractors they would not be included in yesterday's announcement. It would be strictly for former AbitibiBowater employees.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MS JONES: Mr. Speaker, I ask the minister as well. There was a group of workers that were employed by the power plant that once the expropriation occurred were transferred to Nalcor Energy. Will these workers also be included in these severance benefit packages?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SKINNER: Mr. Speaker, again the Opposition Leader is correct, that there were a number of employees who left the employee of AbitibiBowater and were transferred to Nalcor, and being former employees of the company AbitibiBowater, they would be included in this announcement yesterday.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

There were also cases of workers' survivors who have lost their benefits. I am just wondering if this compensation package will include any of the benefits to this group of people as well?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SKINNER: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, one of the five groups was what we referred to as the Early Retirement Allowance group, and that group would encompass the group that the hon. Opposition House Leader just identified, or the hon. Opposition Leader, sorry, just identified, in terms of the widows who have been highlighted in the media over the last number of weeks. They are included in the group that we have identified as the Early Retirement Allowance people.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Also, for clarification, maybe if the minister could tell me if the class of workers who were receiving the $1,200 to $1,400 payments as a means of bridging them to retirement age, if this compensation package will include the benefits to those workers as well.

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SKINNER: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, the individuals that the hon. Opposition Leader refers to are the group that we have identified as the Work Force Reduction Program people. They were receiving an amount - it varied - between $1,200 and $1,400 per month up until the age of sixty-five, and those people have been identified under the broad category of Work Force Reduction Program people. They, as well, were included in yesterday's announcement.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

One other question around that piece of it, and that includes the holiday pay. I am not sure if the compensation included the holiday pay that was due to the workers or if was just the severance piece that was due to them.

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SKINNER: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, the announcement made yesterday referred specifically to the severances that were owed to the workers by AbitibiBowater. Any other negotiated benefits - vacation pay, holiday pay, whatever the case may be - are not included in our announcement. Our announcement specifically referred to severance benefits.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I ask the minister if government has an estimated cost on what this commitment will be to the Province, and also if they can tell me if there is any indication that they will be able to recoup that money from the expropriation deal with Abitibi at some point.

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SKINNER: Mr. Speaker, the estimated amount of money - and I stress it is an estimate because we are still working out details - is approximately $35 million. In terms of any recouping of that money, the process will involve the workers assigning their claims against Abitibi to the union, the union then proceeding through the CCAA process, through the court-appointed process, and should the court rule that there be any monies owed through that process that will be paid to the union on behalf of the workers, that money would in turn be paid back to the Province.

The likelihood of that, we understand from our legal representatives, is probably not very likely, but we are going to go forward with the process.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I would also like to ask the minister where the funds are going to come from up front. Will they be coming from the provincial coffers, from Nalcor, from the federal government's Community Development Trust program, or from some revenue stream through the expropriation of the assets or some other form?

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SKINNER: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, the funds will come from the general Treasury of the provincial government. There will be a warrant that we will have to get to receive the funds, and it will just be general Treasury funds.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MS JONES: Mr. Speaker, I am just wondering if government can indicate to us today how much revenue they expect to generate from the expropriated assets that they now have control of?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS DUNDERDALE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

No, Mr. Speaker, we have not put any figures to the amount of money that will be generated out of electricity in Central. Right now what we are doing, because Seal Cove is running at its minimum level, water is being stored in Bay d'Espoir. So basically the energy that is coming from Central is being stored in the reservoir in Bay d'Espoir because we do not have a particular use for it at the moment.

Without a doubt, Mr. Speaker, we will, as our energy demands increase over the summer, but right now water is being stored.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Does the minister have any idea when we may have some demand for the use of that generated power? If we were to be using it today, what would be the revenue generation from it being accrued to the Province on an annual basis?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS DUNDERDALE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

My alter ego is not Karl Wells, so I cannot really tell you when we are going to be using that electricity because it depends on the amount of waterfall and so on that we have in the Province.

In the summertime, as it get warm and we start to use up a bit more electricity or we have greater industrial demands, we are blessed to have that electricity available to us. We are hopeful in the long run, Mr. Speaker, that an industrial user will come forward who has a plan for use of that power in Central Newfoundland and we will be able, again, to once more use that power in that region of the Province to generate jobs for the people there. We are actively working, Mr. Speaker, to see what the possibilities of that might be.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MS JONES: Mr. Speaker, when government made their announcement yesterday, I think they made a comment that they would work to ensure the disbursement of these funds as soon as possible. I wonder if the minister can indicate to us today some time frame around which people can expect to see some cheques in their mailbox.

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SKINNER: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, in the announcement yesterday, when we met with all of the union local leadership, we did indicate that we wanted to have them serve on the committee with us, to work through some of these details, and we needed their support to be able to administer this.

There was a meeting earlier today of my officials and some other officials within government, whereby we put some parameters around the work we needed to do. There will be a meeting tomorrow that will include the union leadership, and based upon that meeting I think we will be able to look at some time frames.

I am reluctant to give any particular time frames right now, simply because I think tomorrow's meeting will help define that a bit better, but we expect that some of the groups, the five groups identified, some of those, very, very quickly, would start to receive cheques very, very soon.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Last week, as well, I asked questions about the eighty-seven silviculture workers in Central Newfoundland who have been waiting to be recalled to work under an agreement, a five-year agreement that was negotiated between AbitibiBowater and the Province. That agreement to plant more than 3 million seedlings on 1,100 hectares of land has been suspended, and these eighty-seven workers have not been recalled to work.

I ask if you can give me an update today as to when they will be called back to take their jobs again this year?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister Responsible for the Forestry and Agrifoods Agency.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS DUNDERDALE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Yes, Mr. Speaker, since the question was asked in the House last week, significant progress has been made between the government, and particularly the Department of Forestry, and the CEP silviculturalists. We are very hopeful to have people back planting trees under the Abitibi Newfoundland and Labrador agreement, hopefully by mid-June or the end of June.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

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

I have a number of questions for a number of ministers. I do not think any of them will bring the government down today, but they need to be followed up on.

Mr. Speaker, our office has received inquires on the condition of the Fort Amherst site here in St. John's. Although there is widespread acknowledgment about the historical and cultural importance of the site, particularly with reference to the remnants of the World War II fortifications, safety concerns resulted in the area being closed to the public some years ago.

I ask the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, we know that the City of St. John's has recently petitioned the federal government for assistance with their planned preservation effort. I ask, have you been involved in any way in this restoration effort and been asked to commit any funds to that particular restoration site?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. JACKMAN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Indeed, I have been involved. I have actually visited the site myself, Mr. Speaker.

Right now, one of the things under the jurisdiction of The Rooms is to ensure that what we have there is maintained. There are certain things about air quality and there has to be very much temperature control to make sure that what is there stays intact. I cannot speak specifically to the plan but I can certainly provide the House with an update as to where things are progressing.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

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

Just as a follow up to that. We know that a major plan was put in place by the city in 2002 for the renewal of Fort Amherst. It seems to have gone off the radar somewhat.

I ask the minister: Why has your department not designated Fort Amherst as a provincial historic site which would allow it to access the Provincial Historic Resources Act to get some resources to help in that regard?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. JACKMAN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

As I said, I certainly will provide the House with an update, but this is progressing through the channels. The Rooms are doing some work on it. As I said, the key thing at this particular point is to ensure that the integrity of the site as it stands now is maintained, and I will certainly provide an update on that.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

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

My next question is for the Minister of Justice and the Attorney General. The Clarenville Women's Correctional Facility is currently overcrowded. They have twenty-two inmates, which is over its twenty inmate capacity. A former inmate recently indicated as well that at one point inmates were triple-bunked in the cells. Overcrowding of the correctional facilities directly breaches section 9 of the United Nations Standard Minimal Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners.

What is government currently doing to curb the overcrowding problem at the Clarenville Women's Facility?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Justice and the Attorney General.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

There are twenty-two single bunk cells at the women's prison in Clarenville. I understand from time to time that there is some double-bunking that happens. My understanding is that - I am certainly not aware of any triple-bunking. My understanding is that there were three cells in which they were double bunked.

What will happen from time to time when prisons are at excessive capacity, then federal prisoners are moved over to other federal institutions. I believe at Clarenville that was in the process of happening. I think on a weekly basis when a plane arrives, prisoners are moved out to other federal institutions and that will ultimately solve the problem.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

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

The government received two significant reports on the state of corrections for women in this Province and committed, based upon those reports, to make certain changes. Specifically, in the last announcement of government and included in this year's budget, I do believe, was funding for a full-time psychologist and funding for a full-time addictions counsellor for female offenders.

I ask the minister: Where is the department right now in that recruitment effort for those two professionals?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Justice and the Attorney General.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. T. MARSHALL: Mr. Speaker, if the hon. member will bear with me for a second, I think I can provide him with a detailed list on what has been happening and what is happening at Clarenville.

There is now, as a result of the new budget, there is now a psychologist, an addictions counsellor that will serve the women's prison and also serve HMP. There are programs taking place in adult basic education. There are programs under the national employment to help people get the skills they need to obtain employment. There is – what I will do, I will undertake to do is – here we go.

There is a classification officer there. There is a psychiatrist now, a medical doctor, there is a psychologist, there is a methadone program, there is a Home of the Heart program offered by the Salvation Army, there is mental health counselling, there is addictions counselling, there is sexual abuse counselling, there is adult basic education, the national Employment Skills Program, regular meetings of AA, a craft program, a pastoral care program, a Native Friendship centre, and programs offered by the John Howard Society.

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.

Before I ask you my first question I want to congratulate the government on doing the right thing and going back to the table with the nurses and sticking at it until you were able to negotiate and avert a strike.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS MICHAEL: I think it speaks to the goodwill of both sides. I think that they stayed, they compromised language and they got to where they got at 5 o'clock this morning and I think the whole of the Province was smiling because of that.

However, Mr. Speaker, the reality is, as we all know, our health care system still has considerable problems in spite of the new contract and salaries that are probably the best east of Ontario.

We have graduate nurse retention rates in the Province that are far from where they should be. We are short 1,017 nurses and the Province is continually losing 30 per cent to 40 per cent of the graduating class from the first year and experiencing losses in the years afterwards.

Mr. Speaker, I ask the Premier: What aggressive plan does government, with the regional authorities, have to try to keep a greater number of our graduates in the Province this year?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. WISEMAN: One of the biggest planks in that recruitment platform we heard announced 5:00 o'clock this morning, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. WISEMAN: We now have a competitive salary package, competitive with the rest of the country. In fact, we are better than most people in Canada today. The situation that we have in Newfoundland and Labrador today, with this announcement early this morning, is that we will have a recruitment package, we are now second-to-none in the entire country because we are able to offer –

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. WISEMAN: We have a competitive wage package - more than competitive, one of the best in the country. We have tuition at our university the lowest in the country.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. WISEMAN: We have a student aid program, the best in the country.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. WISEMAN: We have a tax rate, one of the lowest in the country.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. WISEMAN: What better place would you want to come to work but Newfoundland and Labrador?

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.


I recognize all of the things that the minister has just outlined.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

MS MICHAEL: However, Mr. Speaker, from January 2007 to February 2008 Eastern Health reported 212,408 hours of nursing overtime and Western Health reported 64,480 hours of nursing overtime.

Mr. Speaker, this amount of overtime that nurses are working has not disappeared overnight and will not go away in spite of the package that was agreed to this morning. It is one thing to have good wages, but nurses are also still looking at their quality of life.

Mr. Speaker, this is quite a hurdle to get new recruits to come in and to get graduate students to stay here, knowing how much overtime they will have to work. What is the government going to do about getting over that hurdle?

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

The hon. the Minister of Health and Community Services.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. WISEMAN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Speaking of hours, it has only been about six hours since we have had this sweetheart deal. I say, Mr. Speaker, give us a few more hours and we will start to deal with some of the overtime hours.

She is absolutely right; the member opposite is absolutely right. The compensation is one piece of it, the quality of work life is another significant piece, and that is why we announced – last week, I think, or the week before last – a new initiative in partnership with the nurses' union out in Central Newfoundland, a new arrangement. We are looking at a new scheduling arrangement, a new way to better utilize some of our senior nurses. It was a collaborative effort between ourselves and the nurses' union and the regional health authority looking at quality of work life issues.

We have a partnership with the ARNN. They have a program where they are implementing a number of initiatives in a number of our facilities, working in partnership again with our department together with the health authority and the ARNN, looking at quality of work life issues, Mr. Speaker.

There is a whole suite of issues taking place. Compensation is one of them, and some of these other initiatives are (inaudible).

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

The time allotted for questions and answers has expired.

Presenting Reports by Standing and Special Committees.

Tabling of Documents.

Notices of Motion.

Notices of Motion

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KENNEDY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I give notice that I will ask leave to introduce a bill entitled, An Act To Amend The Liquor Control Act. (Bill 32)

Mr. Speaker, I also give notice that I will move that the House resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole on Supply to consider a resolution relating to the granting of Supplementary Supply to Her Majesty. (Bill 34)

MR. SPEAKER: Further notices of motion.

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 Amend The Memorial University Pensions Act. (Bill 33)

MR. SPEAKER: Further notices of motion.

The hon. the Government House Leader.

MS BURKE: Mr. Speaker, I give notice that, under Standing Order 11, I shall move that the House not adjourn at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 21, 2009.

Further, I give notice, under Standing Order 11, I shall move that the House not adjourn at 10:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 21, 2009.

MR. SPEAKER: Further notices of motion.

Answers to Questions for Which Notice has been Given.

Petitions.

Petitions

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

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

I appreciate another opportunity to submit a petition on behalf of the residents of the Southwest Coast of the Province with respect to dialysis services in that particular area. I think this is the tenth time I have presented the petition. Every time I go back to the district, every weekend, I end up with another suitcase full, so there is obviously no shortage yet of the concern in that particular area for this particular issue.

We have solved a big issue in the Province with health care this morning - the government and the nurses' union - and hopefully government, particularly the minister, will find its way clear to solve what is an equally important issue to the residents of that particular area of the Province out there.

There are different options, of course. There is a dialysis satellite facility, there is a home dialysis piece, but right now the government is not giving due attention to considering even what the options are. That is the purpose of the petition, of course, to bring to the minister's attention and the people in the Department of Health and the people in Western Health, in particular, that the issue is not going to go away. People have dialysis needs at the present time and no doubt those needs will continue. In fact, the statistics I have been made aware of show that it is on the increase. Instead of decreasing, there seems to be an increase in the need for this type of treatment.

Right now, of course, there is a price tag attached to doing all this, number one, in terms of equipment, and also there is a need for trained personnel to do it once you have it. In our case, as we pointed out, the people of the area are prepared to raise the funds to provide the equipment. That is not an issue. Government normally has provided this equipment, I understand, in Labrador, on the Burin Peninsula, and in St. Anthony. We people on the South West Coast of the Province feel this is important enough and urgent enough that, if we have to, we will raise the funds ourselves. Now, if government treats us like they would treat everybody else, they would chip in and help out, but it is important enough that we will raise the funds ourselves.

The other piece of this, of course, is you have to have a place to put it. We have a place to put it, and that is at the Charles L. Legrow Health Centre in Port aux Basques. Everybody then, from Grand Bruit, LaPoile, right on up to the Codroy Valley could access that particular service at that facility. It saves them traveling three times a week. By the way, if anybody did the math and figured out what it currently costs government to ship these patients three time a week, right now, into Corner Brook to get the treatment done, either by taxi or for gas for their own families, and the cost of feeding them when they are in there –

MR. O'BRIEN: (Inaudible).

MR. KELVIN PARSONS: I say to the Member for Gander, maybe this is not important for him but it is important for the people of my district and I will stand on my feet when I have the right to stand on my feet and speak for the District of Burgeo & LaPoile every time I have the right to do so. I won't take my seat for the likes of you, thank you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

MR. KELVIN PARSONS: Mr. Speaker, this is my tenth time in saying this, and I will continue to present the petitions.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

The hon. the Member for Burgeo & LaPoile.

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

Mr. Speaker, I have three minutes. I think I have used my allotment on this petition, but you can rest assured I will be back again and I will continue to speak out on behalf of the people of Burgeo & LaPoile, as I have done since 1999, on every issue that is of importance to them. Nobody in this House or anywhere else is going to tell me to stop doing that.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER: Further petitions.

The hon. the Member for the District of Port de Grave.

MR. BUTLER: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

It is a pleasure today to stand and present another petition on behalf of the residents of Roberts Arm, Triton, Springdale, Long Island and so on, with regards to the Long Island causeway.

Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure to stand not only on behalf of the residents but on behalf of the Long Island causeway and transportation committee and all those who support those individuals with the issue with regards to transportation, whether it is by a new ferry or a causeway, but this petition is asking for a fixed link from Long Island to Pilley's Island.

I have to say to the residents, keep persisting. Even though government says no, we cannot do it now, but all you have to do is listen to the news yesterday. When we left this House with regards to the situation that was resolved 5 o'clock this morning, we know very well they said there is nothing we can do for you people. That was the expression that was used, but I know the minister is planning to meet with those people and who knows what can come out of a good meeting when people come together and consult with each other.

Mr. Speaker, I think those people have a legitimate issue. They have brought it forward for the simple reason that they were promised a new ferry and then it was placed on hold and after that they were told no, this would not go ahead. This is why they are presenting the petitions, and I will stand each and every day as long as they keep the petitions coming. They do have legitimate concerns, whether it is with regards to the health care service from time to time, they find themselves in a difficult position. Whether it is with the transportation of their students, whether it is the transportation of goods from the fish plant to market and what have you, Mr. Speaker.

So those people do have major concerns and they are bringing them forward. All we are doing here with those petitions is asking government to reconsider the decision that they will not proceed with a fixed link. Hopefully, at the end of the day, once those people meet with government, they can come to a successful conclusion so that the services that they have been receiving in the past will continue in one way or the other. The petition, in particular, is asking for a fixed link between Long Island and Pilley's Island.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER: Further petitions?

The hon. the Opposition House Leader.

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

With the indulgence of the Chair and the approval of the Member for Gander, I would like to present another petition, if I might. This time on behalf of the residents of the other end of my district, that being the residents of Ramea and Grey River and François, and that of course concerns again, for the tenth time, the issue of the lack of proper personnel, the numbers of personnel, to provide the necessary medical services at the Ramea clinic.

As indicated, we are dealing with three isolated communities. These are not some places that are accessible by roadway. You get to Ramea, Grey River and François by boat or by helicopter. It is not easy in the best of times to gain access to either of those communities, particularly when you have weather circumstances, particularly in the winter months.

The problem here is we have a clinic in Ramea that is supposed to have two nurse practitioners. There is one lady who is a nurse-practitioner. Give due credence and diligence to the officials of the health care system at the Calder in Burgeo, they have tried their best. The site facilitator there has tried her best to try to get someone to fill the spot but we have determined, after months and months of trying, that it cannot currently be done under the present situation. It has been suggested that perhaps a way to do it would be to modify the current recruitment bonus system so that we could attract someone. At the present time, the current system provides that you can only hire a nurse practitioner or let them avail of the recruitment benefits and bonuses if that person is a new graduate or if that person resides or comes in from outside the Province.

What we are suggesting to the minister, is if we can come up with all kinds of formulas to deal with unique situations that exist in other places in this Province, can we at least try to modify the recruitment situation so that if anyone in the Province, other than a new graduate, is prepared to go there? For example, we do have some retired nurse practitioners in this Province. It might even be an RN who is retired, who might, for the right incentives, be prepared to go to this community and service these communities. Even if it is on a one-year basis now and someone else is prepared to go there again on another one-year basis, for example. At least we have to provide the options, because we know right now, the people of the communities know, the people who work in the health care system in Burgeo now know, that unless we do something different we are not going to have an opportunity to fill that spot.

So all we are suggesting to the minister and the department is, would you be at least agreeable to looking at this, because it cannot even be done now if the department does not permit it? The Western Health people can try what they want, and if it is not being done, obviously it will not work.

Now, maybe with the new nurses' situation, hopefully there are some provisions in that. The minister is indicating to me that maybe we have a deal now whereby we can do that. If that is the case, and we can do it without any problems and causing any problems for the nursing union, if the government has the ability now to deal with these unique situations, this is certainly an opportunity, an ideal opportunity to do it.

We have one person now who services these three communities, 365 days a year. You talk about having a home life and the stress that is caused. I mean, the person can be as diligent as you want, and this lady certainly is and very competent, but there comes a point when you have to have a day off, just for your own mental renewal.

So, again, I encourage the minister – I am encouraged by his comment that we can do it now, as he says. So, I am sure that these communities will address some correspondence to his office now, to say: Where do we go from here? Once it is ratified, the nurses' deal, hopefully we will be in a position to actually do something about this.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Orders of the Day

Private Members' Day

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

It being 3 o'clock and this being Private Members' Day, we now call on the hon. Member for the District of Lewisporte to bring forward his private member's resolution.

The hon. the Member for the District of Lewisporte.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. VERGE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I am not sure if I am going to need my glasses today or not, Mr. Speaker. I can almost see that without glasses.

Mr. Speaker, it is certainly a pleasure to speak on this private member's motion today. The motion itself was read into the record on Thursday of last week and I will not read in its entirety again today. I will, however, refer to different sections of the motion throughout my speaking time.

The motion deals with the seal fishery, Mr. Speaker. On April 8 of this year, just five or six weeks ago, we also debated and passed a motion in this House of Assembly that dealt with the seal fishery. Some people may ask why it is that we are talking about the seal fishery again today by means of a private member's motion.

We are debating it again today, Mr. Speaker, because of the changes that have occurred since the last debate and also because of the importance of the seal fishery to all the people of this Province. The seal fishery is culturally significant to our people. It is part of our history. It is part of our way of life. It is economically important as well. The seal fishery traditionally over the years has influenced positively the economic situation of this Province. Also, we are talking about it again today because our seal fishery is being decimated by means of false propaganda. Propaganda spread primarily by animal rights activists with their own specific agenda.

Mr. Speaker, I grew up in a small community, actually a community that consisted of miners and loggers and also fishermen. As a boy, I saw many seals brought into the community wharf and the community stage and beachside, and saw them cleaned on the ice. I cannot say it was a pretty sight, to see seals being cleaned on the ice because splashed across the white ice there was also red blood, but it never bothered me as a boy. I understood the significance of it. I understood why it was being done. I never did witness any cruelty. Although I never participated in the hunt, I have had many flipper meals and flipper pies. I had many family members that have participated in the hunt, as well as many constituents throughout Lewisporte district that rely on the industry on an annual basis.

On April 8 we passed a Private Members' Motion pertaining to the seal hunt in this House of Assembly, and at that time we were anticipating a vote would be taking place in the European Union, a vote to ban the importation of seal products. We were calling on the House of Assembly at that time to urge the Government of Canada to call upon the European Union to respect the G-20 declaration not to impose any new trade barriers during these times of economic instability and to further urge the Government of Canada to call upon the EU not to proceed with its proposal to ban seal imports as such a trade restriction would be contrary to international trade rules.

Well, Mr. Speaker, as stated in this motion today, despite our action in this House, with the unanimous passing of that original motion, on May 5 of this month members of the European Parliament did conduct a vote, and in a vote with a result of 550 in favour, 49 against, and 41 absentees, they voted to ban the commercial trade of seal products in European Union countries.

The countries that participated in this vote did it because of the lobbying and influence of animal activist groups, groups again, I say, Mr. Speaker, that have false information and their own specific agenda. Despite the facts and despite our efforts to educate the EU with its 27 members - I might note, the 27 members of the EU, Mr. Speaker, include Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cypress, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom - they voted to ban the importation of seal products. The combined population of all 27 members as of January of this year is said to be about 500 million people. It makes you wonder, Mr. Speaker, how so many countries could be duped, but this is what happened.

I want to talk a little bit about the hypocrisy of that move, because in this motion it talks about the hypocrisy. It says, "WHEREAS it is the height of hypocrisy for European Union countries to ban the commercial trade of products from Canadian seal harvest - which is ecologically sustainable, economically sustainable, tightly regulated and humane - while permitting the harvests, culling and hunting of animals within their own jurisdictions and the commercial trade of products from such activities."

In an article that came out on Monday from the Globe and Mail - not everything in the Globe and Mail, Mr. Speaker, I necessarily agree with. I have seen some articles in the past that I do not agree with, but in this particular article a writer from Quebec, Lysiane Gagnon writes - and I am going to allude to some of her article - she says, "The position of the European Parliament on the seal hunt is not only illogical, but hypocritical. In a teary introduction to the resolution that bans Canadian seal products, it says that seals are "sentient animals that can experience pain, distress, fear and other forms of suffering." This is said, Mr. Speaker, "as if seals were the only creatures that could suffer."

"If the European Parliament were really interested in animal welfare, then it could look rather more closely at the farming industry that the European Union so lavishly rewards with subsidies. Pigs, indeed, suffer more than seals when they are killed on an assembly line, where five pigs can be processed in a minute. Quoting an activist group, the Economist says that half the sheep in France are conscious when their throats are slit."

Mr. Speaker, those are harsh words but we are dealing with a harsh reality and we are dealing with people who live sometimes in a fancy world. I refer to the animal rights groups, Mr. Speaker, who ashamedly proclaim that the seal hunt is cruel and inhumane.

What about the bull fights, Mr. Speaker? "If the seal hunt is "inherently inhumane", as the European parliamentarians say, why do they tolerate bullfights?" The answer, Mr. Speaker, according to this writer is, "They take place in Europe and banning them would create political havoc." Granted there are seal hunts in Northern Europe but this does not bother the European Parliament, not at all. These are acceptable as long as they are meant to protect fish stocks and do not appear to be done for profit. The same argument can be said in defence of the Canadian seal hunts, since seals everywhere within our waters are ferocious fish eaters.

Another writer commenting on that article, a writer by the name of Darcy in the Signal - that I found in doing some research for this - says something like this: Ever heard of The Meatrix? It's an artificial reality most of us live in where we imagine our meat and poultry products come from quaint family farms, where the animals we eat are happy and cared for. The actual reality is most often factory farming, where practices that make the seal hunt look like a petting zoo are carried out daily, all year round. And yet where are the protestors in these factory farms? Where are the economic sanctions? And, yeah, where are the celebrities? Animal rights groups put a lot of weight behind the seal hunt because it's easy marketing, it is easy money. There are plenty of animals all around the world that indeed need somebody to speak up for their rights, but they do not look as pretty as the seal hunt.

The hunt is humane, Mr. Speaker. For the European Parliament to pass this motion is indeed hypocritical, it is illogical, and it does not make any intellectual sense.

Some facts about the seal hunt from this Province: The Newfoundland and Labrador sealing industry provides direct employment for over 6,000 people. The economic value of the seal hunt is significant to this Province. The federal government says that the landed value of seals exceeded 16.5 million in 2005 and provided a significant source of income for thousands of sealers. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans says that the 2005 seal catch ranked fifth in the value of all species it monitors; that is after snow crab, shrimp, lobster and cod. It is a catch that is profitable and it is also a hunt that takes place at a time in the year when most other forms of fishing cannot be conducted.

In 2008 our sealing industry was valued at approximately $30 million. While value fluctuates according to global supply and according to demand, it has been as high as $60 million in recent years. Some sealers in this Province say that 25 per cent to 35 per cent of their total income comes from the sealing industry.

Mr. Speaker, I remember the last motion that we passed here was brought in by my colleague, the Member for The Isles of Notre Dame. I spoke with him yesterday and he filled me in on a conversation he had with a sealer in his district. The person that he was talking to in his district said last year that person made $4,600 on the seal hunt. This year, that same sealer made $1,400. That is $3,200 for that person to make up, Mr. Speaker, on an annual basis. That is around $240 a month as a deduction in his income. That is significant.

The average price of an A1 beater pelt this year is $14, plus $2.40 for the blubber. Just a few years ago we saw this number rival $100 a pelt. As of May 19 - that was yesterday, Mr. Speaker - there have been 69,659 pelts taken. That represents about 25 per cent of the quota, and the current activity is low. There are very few people out there right now fishing for seals, or hunting for seals. It is leaving about 225,000 seals in the mix, seals that were allowed to be caught this year, allowed to be hunted, that are going to be left in the mix to breed and, yes, to produce for another year. That is going to leave us with a population surge, seals exploding in our waters, with the full impact yet to be seen and yet to be felt.

I want to talk about the humaneness of the hunt, Mr. Speaker. Research on the modern sealing industry by the international veterinary experts concluded seals are harvested in a humane manner. The Government of Newfoundland, our government, supports a sustained harvest in the hunting of seals under three principles: There has to be a sustainable harvest based on a solid science; we want an industry that is based on the full utilization of the animal; and we want humane harvesting methods with zero tolerance for inhumane practices.

While the International Fund for Animal Welfare says seals are not killed humanely, Mr. Speaker, what I would say is: That is lies. That is definitely not true. A 2002 report in the Canadian Veterinary Journal found that the large majority of seals taken during the hunt are killed in an acceptably humane manner. This study found that 98 per cent of hunted seals it examined had been killed properly. These are facts that these groups leave out when they are doing their presentations. These are little tidbits of information that are true. They are factual. However, because they are trying to base their information on misleading and emotional and sensitive pictures, they leave out the facts, for their own agenda purposes, I would argue.

Mr. Speaker, there are several other points that –

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

I remind the hon. member that his speaking time has expired.

MR. VERGE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

AN HON. MEMBER: By leave.

MR. VERGE: I understand there are some other speakers, and I do have some other points I want to make, but maybe I will get to make them during my closing remarks.

As for now, Mr. Speaker, I will take my seat and listen to my colleagues render their remarks.

Thank you.

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

MR. BUTLER: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

I want to say it is a pleasure today to be able to stand and have a few comments with regard to the Private Member's Motion put forward by the hon. Member for Lewisporte and seconded by the Member for Bellevue.

There are a few comments I want to make, but in general I am supporting his Private Member's Motion.

It was very interesting to note some of the comments he made with regard to some people who were involved in the sealing industry last year, the numbers of dollars they made last year versus this year, and to know that only 25 per cent of the quota has been taken to date. We all know that it is a major issue with regard to our fishermen in the Province. We know they are involved in other types of fisheries, but the sealing industry lends to take care of some of the concerns they have at that particular time of the year by being involved in the fishery.

I want to note that the comments I am making are going to be made by a private member as well, because they are the comments I believe in and hopefully they will add some credence to the Private Member's Motion.

Mr. Speaker, the motion calls for a letter by the Speaker or the government to be sent to the government of each European Union to direct their representatives on the council to vote against the ban. If a letter should go to each of those countries we have to remind them of several things. We have to remind them, that the men and women who served in two world wars are the same flesh and blood we are dealing with here in this fishery. They have to be reminded of that, because our men and women went overseas and fought for their freedom. We have been called by those individuals in various countries as barbarians, and I want to say that if we are barbarians now we were always barbarians, but I do not believe in that. Those men and women who went overseas, I would venture to say should never have been called barbarians.

To listen to Paul Watson only recently say that now there is a ban or a possible ban being put in place when it comes to the sealing industry, he said: Now maybe those people will be able to get a good job for themselves. Mr. Speaker, I take offence to that, because the people who are involved in the fishing industry, regardless if it is a sealing industry or what type of fishery that they are involved in, those people are far from lazy individuals. They have lived by the sea for some 500 years, and the sealing industry has been a part of their livelihood.

We have to remind them that by banning the seal hunt they are doing another greater injustice, not only to the people of this Province but to the people of their own countries, because by not taking control of the seals that are in our oceans, the 5 million or 6 million, however many that is there, and we hear different numbers, we are also eliminating the recovery of the cod fishery around the shores of our Province. Back years ago, when there was a major seal hunt, the numbers were kept to a level where it did not get involved and destroy the cod fishery to what it is today. We hear so many stories right throughout our Province of Newfoundland and Labrador, in various communities, about how the seals are coming in closer to shore, how they are even going up freshwater streams and brooks. So we can only imagine what they are doing to the recovery of the cod.

Also, Mr. Speaker, we know that those countries - and we heard recently about two of those countries that were, I guess, caught outside the 200-mile limit, and possibly inside the 200-mile limit, that were doing things that were not proper with regards to the cod fishery. Those countries have come here for many years, and there is nothing wrong with that, but here they are, they came, they raped the bottoms of the ocean, they destroyed the feeding grounds for the cod fishery, and now here they are, they want to ban another industry that we have in this Province that has been ongoing for many years.

Also, in the "BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the House calls on the Government of Canada to challenge the ban immediately, vigorously and persistently before the World Trade Organization if such a ban is finally imposed." I believe that we have to act now and act swiftly, as the motion states.

With all due respect to the ministers of this government who have travelled to Ottawa and they have gone and held meetings with whoever they could get a meeting with, but what has to be done, I honestly believe that our Premier and the Prime Minister, the only two that I believe can sit down, decide what has to be done and then the Prime Minister has to deal properly with those countries. They have already come out and said that they are not going to deal with us as a Province; they are not going to deal with our Premier. So I believe that both of them, even though they may have their differences on other issues, this is a very critical situation and they have to come together to make sure this is what will take place.

We are going to see, Mr. Speaker, in rural Newfoundland - and it all hinges on the seal fishery, as well as other factors, but I can assure you it is going to be very crucial to rural communities in our Province. If the cod does not recover - I mean, we hear news from – if you listen to the fishers, they are saying the cod is recovering in great numbers. If you listen to the scientists you get a different picture, but hopefully the day will come when our people throughout this Province will be able to once again make a decent living through the cod fishery in conjunction with other species.

We have to sit down, and Ottawa has to be firm with those EU countries. The time for writing letters and sending postcards and phone calls is over. We have to take more decisive action. I believe we have travelled to Europe, our officials in this government and the Premier travelled to Europe, we have travelled to Ottawa but it is not working, Mr. Speaker, and other action has to be taken. It comes down, as I said earlier, I really believe that it comes down to our Premier sitting down with the Prime Minister and putting a plan of action in place.

All too often we have heard stories about Mr. Watson, Paul Watson, Heather Mills and Paul McCartney and so on. They put on a major campaign to bring an end to our sealing industry here in this Province of Newfoundland and Labrador. They came here and all you can see is Heather Mills and Paul McCartney rolling around on the ice with the little white coats, the baby seals, something that we have not killed for years and they send those pictures around the world, and what do we get? Millions of dollars, they are raising millions of dollars on the backs of our industry.

Mr. Speaker, I know this might be a prop, but I have to show this. Where is Paul Watson and Heather Mills when this is happening in our world today, in one of the EU countries? That is happening right in Denmark. The oceans are filled with blood and here we are losing an industry because of a bit of red blood on a snow surface, on the very coast that we live in.

Mr. Speaker, those people have to be challenged. Probably they have been challenged to a certain degree, but I believe the government of Ottawa has to be stronger in what they do. I mean there are pictures here where it shows the full ocean red in Denmark where whales are being killed, but I can tell you one thing, Paul Watson's boat is not in the background. Heather Mills and Paul McCartney are not rolling around on the backs of the whales, but that is what is happening. We have to start a major campaign to see that those issues in the countries that are voting against us are dealt with.

Mr. Speaker, maybe what it has to come to, maybe we as a Province and as a country have to boycott products coming from those countries, there is twenty-seven of them. I do not know what they send to our Province or to our country, but something has to be done.

Just in conclusion, I will mention the cod fishery. I believe that Canada, as a country, has to take control through custodial management of the Nose and Tail of the Grand Banks and the Flemish Cap, because what is happening there today, and as we speak, the cod, the masses are being destroyed. They are being destroyed by those very countries that are gloating and trying to put an end to a seal fishery here in this Province. This can be done. I do not know why we are waiting, why Canada is waiting, not to intercede, to go ahead with custodial management.

From people that I have spoken to, and I do not have any background when it comes to law, but lawyers will tell you that the law of the sea, the clauses are there for our country, if they wanted to, to protect those fishing grounds. As I said, I believe we have to boycott and do whatever has to be done. I firmly believe, and this is no disrespect to this government or the Premier, I think it is the Premier who has to sit down with the Prime Minister and the powers that be to send this message, because Ottawa at the present time is not doing it, and they do not care. All they mind is the trade agreements they have with some other provinces, and we are being left out on the hook once more.

So, having said that, Mr. Speaker, I totally agree with the private member's motion that is put forward by the Member for Lewisporte, and I look forward to listening to the comments of other speakers.

Thank you.

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. PEACH: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

It gives me great pleasure to rise in this hon. House in my place as the MHA for the great District of Bellevue and represent my constituents.

Mr. Speaker, I want to second this motion presented by my colleague, the MHA for the District of Lewisporte. It is also a great pleasure to speak on such an important motion which will affect the future of the seal hunt.

Just a couple of weeks ago I had the privilege to speak on a similar motion, Mr. Speaker, a motion to lobby the European Union Parliament asking them not to vote in favour to ban the seal products in the European Union.

Mr. Speaker, this motion put forward by my colleague, the MHA for the Isles of Notre Dame, on April 8, 2009, was also a very important motion, but the members opposite did not think so, or it seemed that way. Mr. Speaker, on that day only one member out of the four members opposite spoke on this important issue. I wonder how Joe and Martha Chesterfield would analyze this, Mr. Speaker. I anticipate that today all members opposite will speak on this very important issue of the seal hunt.

This is an important motion that will set the precedent to revive our seal hunt for the year 2010 and the future. Mr. Speaker, this is a motion that will call on the European Union to direct their representatives on the Council of the Federation to vote against the ban on seal products. Mr. Speaker, this motion calls upon the Government of Canada to challenge the ban immediately, vigorously and persistently, before the World Trade Organization.

Mr. Speaker, the sealing industry is significant to the people of my district, and many of my colleagues' districts across the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador. It is imperative to the small boat fishermen who hunt seals in the bays. It is imperative to the crews that go to the ice to hunt seals. It is very important to the seal plant workers of the South Dildo area. This plant is the largest seal tannery plant in the world and its operation is in the District of Bellevue, my district.

Mr. Speaker, the sealing industry provides full-time and part-time jobs at this seal plant in my district. When workers finish up the season at the seal plant they move into the near pelagic species plant for work at the New Harbour and Long Cove plants in the areas. This year, Mr. Speaker, what happened?

Mr. Speaker, the European Union Parliament voted in May to ban seal products and they did not care about, nor did they consider, the consequences to fish plant workers, the seal hunters and their families.

Mr. Speaker, despite the representation through letters to our Prime Minister, and the lobbying efforts of our Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture and our Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs to the Ambassadors of the European Union, they, the European Union, voted against our request. The vote was 550 in favour and only 49 against. The vote was not to buy seal products, the day the European Union voted in favour of the activists.

One lady from the European Union Parliament stated they voted in favour of their constituents. Their vote, no doubt, was influenced by an upcoming election this fall. This lady also stated that most of the activists were from the European Union.

Mr. Speaker, despite all the regulations that are in place to make this seal hunt the most humane hunt in the world, despite the scientific information, despite the veterinarian photos and displays showing a well organized and humane hunt, the European Union Parliament played politics with the historical seal hunt, with the lives of our Newfoundland and Labrador families, with our livelihood and with our culture. Mr. Speaker, the total ban on seal exports in the European Union is devastating to the seal hunters and their families not only in my district but throughout the Province as a whole. For thousands of years families in small coastal communities have relied on responsible seal hunting for their survival. Voting to ban the sale or transportation of seal products will significantly harm the way of life in these communities, carrying with it severe consequences.

The vote to ban seal products in the European markets, what did it mean to our seal hunt? This meant markets dropped. It meant that sealers who this year on the Northeast Coast were affected because of ice conditions could not hunt seal as an incentive. Mr. Speaker, ice problems that affected the crab fishery, the lobster fishery - in April and May of this year - around the Island always brings hardships to families. The seal fishery has always been an incentive for fishermen who hunt seals annually. This year has been different than previous years, Mr. Speaker. Low markets, the cutbacks in prices of pelts, has made it impossible for these fishermen who rely on the hunt to hunt seals and make a profit to be a source of revenue to provide for their families. It is devastating, Mr. Speaker. One-third of the seal hunters' income comes from the seal hunt. Six thousand fisherpersons hunt seals each year. This leads to approximately $55 million into the provincial economy, and about $30 million in landed value.

Seals are an important and valuable natural resource to many Newfoundland and Labrador families. Harp seals rank fifth of the total landed volume in our Province. Seals are part of our culture and vital to our economy. Most of all, Mr. Speaker, the seal hunt plays an important part in controlling the growth of cod stocks.

I want to refer to another part of the article that was alluded to by my colleague earlier, which was in the Globe and Mail. I want to read this as quoted, "Granted, there are seal hunts in northern Europe. But does this bother the European Parliament? Not at all. These are acceptable, Strasbourg-ruled, as long as they are meant to protect fish stocks and do not appear to be done for profit. The same argument could be made in defence of the Canadian seal hunts, since seals everywhere are ferocious fish eaters. But the Europeans are not concerned with Canadian cod, they eat the ‘cabillaud,' which comes from European waters, and they don't want to be deprived of this fine fish. There's more. The European resolution magnanimously allows the Inuit to hunt seals, since it is one of their age-old cultural practices."

Now, I want to read that again, "…allows the Inuit to hunt seals, since it is one of their age-old cultural practices."

Just listen to this, Mr. Speaker, "Isn't killing seals supposed to be barbaric? If so, why would the Inuit be encouraged to do so? And if an ‘inherently inhumane' practice is to be condoned for the simple reason that it has existed for a very long time, what about the fishermen in Newfoundland…" and Labrador "…and the Magdalen Islands, who have been hunting seals for 400 years?"

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. PEACH: Seals are an important and valuable natural resource, Mr. Speaker. Harp seals rank fifth of the total landed volume in our Province, and seals are part of our culture and vital to our economy.

Mr. Speaker, what other problems did these seal hunters have to face this year because of the seal hunt being down? Mr. Speaker, they had no unemployment insurance benefits, and when they asked for extensions on Employment Insurance benefits because of the ice conditions, what happened then?

I will tell you what happened. The Deputy Minister of Fisheries and Oceans said there was no ice on the Northeast Coast of Newfoundland, and there was no need for extensions to Employment Insurance benefits. My, aren't they well informed, Mr. Speaker?

These are the same people who we had lobbying on our behalf for our seal hunt, lobbying on our behalf to the European Union asking them not to ban seal products. They, our federal government, Mr. Speaker, need to get in tune. They need to educate themselves on the fact that ice disrupts the fishery around this Province of Newfoundland and Labrador every year.

Having said all of this, Mr. Speaker, there are other options. We have the Council of the Federation. They, Mr. Speaker, can vote against this ban, a vote to take place in June 2009. This will allow our seal hunt to revive itself and encourage future growth. We have our federal government, Mr. Speaker, our Prime Minister who can play an important role in this decision. He can take a stand, I say, Mr. Speaker, to challenge the ban, to fight vigorously and persistently before the World Trade Organization, and ask them to vote against such a ban.

Mr. Speaker, if all else fails, we will not be dead in the water. The seal hunt can rebound. Our processors, our federal government, can open doors. They can do research, explore new opportunities, and explore new markets in China, Asia, Russia, Korea and India.

Mr. Speaker, we should find a way to utilize the whole seal carcass. There are so many people around the world with very little food and we have so many seals that could be a good food source for all other countries. The sealing industry has always been an historic hunt, a tradition of Newfoundland communities, and most of all a means of providing for families in small outport communities. That is why it is so important to vote in favour of this motion.

I feel optimistic that when our world economy bounces back, Mr. Speaker, our seal hunt will come back. Mr. Speaker, the dignity, pride and self-reliance will be with the people of our great Province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Our government remains committed to a future harvest and continues to provide an important economic benefit to our coastal and other communities.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for the District of Baie Verte – Springdale.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. POLLARD: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

First of all, I cannot resist the urge to congratulate and thank our Premier and the Minister of Finance and their team of officials for reaching a tentative agreement with the nurses, and I applaud our government as well for addressing the needs of the workers in Central Newfoundland. It is a great day for the Province, so thank you again. I am proud of our government. It is a great day once again.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. POLLARD: I am delighted to have a few words on this Private Member's motion today, Mr. Speaker.

The proposed ban is not based on factual information. It is not based on solid scientific information. In fact, it is inconsistent with the World Trade Organization obligations. It is also disrespectful of international trade agreements. It is also incongruent with the G-20 summit leaders who met on April 2, 2009 and agreed that they would not impose any more trade barriers in light of the tough economic situation globally.

Neither will this ban achieve the goals of the animal rights lobbyists, Mr. Speaker, nor will it foster or enhance a more sustainable or humane hunt. In fact, in my opinion it will pose a greater danger for fish stocks in the future.

I have concluded, Mr. Speaker, that there is absolutely no justification, no reasonable rationale, for this ban. This ban is based solely on distortion of the truth, and based on misinformation by animal rights groups who are out to make a profit at the expense of people's emotions; a forty-year propaganda campaign by celebrities whose sincerity I really question. I really question their agenda, Mr. Speaker.

Let's get the facts straight about the seal hunt. First of all, it is indeed sustainable. It is economically viable. Our seal hunt does not receive government subsidies. It is ecologically viable. The seal hunt has thrived for 100 years or more in this great Province of ours. It has shaped our culture. It has shaped our history. The species is certainly not at risk, Mr. Speaker, thanks to Canada's sound conservation and management practices. The current harvest poses absolutely no apparent threat to the long-term health of the species.

The seal hunt is also humane, Mr. Speaker. It is heavily regulated, it is heavily monitored, and it is strictly enforced. In fact, they say the sealing industry is one of the most regulated industries in the whole wide world, to ensure that there is no cruelty to the animal. In fact, the experts have concluded that seals are harvested in a humane manner. Furthermore, Mr. Speaker, there is absolutely zero tolerance, as alluded to earlier by my colleagues, for any inhumane practices or methods to occur. If so, there will be heavy fines and heavy penalties imposed upon those who make such infractions.

Our government supports a sealing industry, a sealing harvest, based on three cornerstone principles, again alluded to earlier by my colleague: Number one, sustainability, which is based on solid science; number two, the utilization of the whole animal; and number three, based upon humane harvesting methods. The seal hunt is also economically sound. It is of great economic importance to rural Newfoundland and Labrador, especially the coastal communities. The seal hunt makes up about 25 per cent to 35 per cent of their annual income, it provides part-time employment for 6,000 or more people, and it generated in 2008, to the provincial economy, around $30 million, and in 2006, I believe, it went up as high as $60 million.

This ban is a serious threat to the industry and to the livelihood of people in my District of Baie Verte-Springdale. Of course the Ray Wimbletons, the Leo Seymours, the George Walshs and the Mark Smalls who live in my district can get up here today and do a lot better job than me in articulating the importance of the seal industry to the District of Baie Verte-Springdale, because for their entire lives they were immersed in the sealing industry and the fishery as a whole.

In fact, I believe in Nippers Harbour, back in the early 1900s or late 1800s, I am not really sure, I understand that there was a canning factory in Nippers Harbour back in those years. So the sealing industry has carved and shaped our District of Baie Verte-Springdale. It has a great history.

The seal hunt is also of great commercial value, Mr. Speaker. You say: Why is that? Number one, because of its seal meat. Do you realize that the seal meat is rich in protein, iron, magnesium and calcium? It is of great nutritional value. Number two, it is of great commercial value because of its seal oil. The seal oil plays a vital role in preventing and treating hypertension, arthritis, diabetes, some types of cancer, and other diseases. In fact, it also reduces cholesterol levels. These positive health effects create a marketing edge for the seal oil industry compared to other fish oils.

In addition, the seal fur is also of high demand and is a valued commodity. Furthermore, it is a known fact that seal pelts make good quality leather that is used to make various items such as coverings for furniture, clothing, boots, mitts, hats, coats, you name it, because the leather is durable and it is of high tensile strength that wears well and ages well. In fact, these chairs in the House of Assembly are made up of leather pelts, leather sealskin.

Mr. Speaker, our government realizes the importance of the hunt and is aware of certain facts. Fact number one, it is indeed economically viable. Fact number two, it is a humane hunt. Fact number three, the seal quotas are healthy and it is not endangered. In the past thirty years it has tripled. Fact number four, the sealing industry, the seal hunt, is part of our culture. It has shaped our history. Fact number five, the sealing industry is respectful of the environment. It is respectful of the species and it is also respectful of the animal. Fact number six, Newfoundland and Labradorians are not barbarians as the animal rights activists would like to portray us to be. Fact number seven, that Newfoundland and Labradorians are not engaged in animal cruelty. Fact number eight, Newfoundland and Labrador are hardworking people who are trying to make an honest day's living, a decent living for their families. Fact number nine, those who participate in the hunt are brave, courageous individuals who risk their lives on a daily basis every time they go out on the ice floes. Those people who go to the front and participate in the hunt should be applauded and held in the highest esteem for their courage, for their bravery and for accepting risk in order to feed their families, in order to put food on their table. Fact number ten, if seals are not harvested they will impede the recovery of other fish stocks. As far as I know, it is not a crime against humanity or against society to feed one's family by harvesting seals in a humane, sustainable manner.

Our government has demonstrated our resolve in advocating for the industry. Just listen to the steps that our government has taken just before the EU vote. One: in six languages our government provided information to international audiences. Two: our government worked with the industry to promote training sessions. Three: in the past four years we have spent $100,000 per year for advocacy. Four: our government has worked hard to inform the EU parliamentarians to consider the real facts. Five: our government has worked with the provinces and territories. Six: our Premier has written letters to the ambassadors of a number of EU member states to make them aware of the facts pertaining to the Province's seal industry.

Again, Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture went to Ottawa and met with various number of ambassadors or senior diplomats from the EU and other European countries, including Denmark, Sweden, Iceland, Finland, Norway, and representatives of the EU.

In fact, Mr. Speaker, I was rather thrilled to see our Premier on Larry King Live when our Premier educated not only Paul McCartney and Heather Mills, but also educated Larry King about our seal hunt. I was proud that night when I saw our Premier get up and stand up for our industry at that particular time.

Mr. Speaker, our government, we have done our part, but it seems like it has fallen on deaf ears. Now is the time for our Government of Canada, our federal government, to step up to the plate and lobby strongly on our behalf. I am not pleased with their indifference, with our federal government's laissez-faire type of attitude, nonchalantly approaching this issue with a half heart, with lip service only, approaching the issue on a casual basis. I would like to see our federal government making this issue a priority for Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. I would like for our federal government to expose the hypocrisy and the double standard of the EU.

Mr. Speaker, the seal hunt is more than just a mere irritant. The seal hunt is, in the words of animal rights lobbyists, victory for seals. I have news to say. I say it is a defeat for the cod, the capelin and other species, and it is certainly a defeat for the families who depend on the hunt for basic survival, for families, especially in my area, to have a little bit of money extra from the sealing industry to carry them over for the cod fishery. I am sick and tired of misinformation, manipulation of the facts, distortion of the facts, depicting Newfoundlanders and Labradorians as barbarians who are cruel to animals, who kill whitecoats inhumanely.

Mr. Speaker, did we realize that killing whitecoats was banned ever since 1987, despite what the animal rights activists would portray or would lead us to believe? What lies the animal groups would spread in the name of sustainability, in the name of humaneness, just to advance their cause. So I am questioning their real agenda. I am questioning the real sincerity of these animal rights activists who are motivated by profit. Driven by profit, Mr. Speaker, with absolutely no regard to the livelihood of Canadians and Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.

In conclusion, Mr. Speaker, I endorse the motion put forward by the Member for Lewisporte, and seconded by the Member for Bellevue. We call upon the government of each European Union country to direct their representatives on the council to vigorously oppose this ban.

Furthermore, Mr. Speaker, I implore the Government of Canada to challenge the ban immediately. Put it before the World Trade Organization. Do it vigorously, do it with passion, do it with pride, and do it with wholeheartedness.

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.

I am quite pleased to be able to stand this afternoon and speak to this private member's bill with regard to the EU seal ban.

The last time the issue of the seal harvest was on the floor of the House, I was unable, because of my other duties to not be here. As a matter of fact, I rushed back into the House and everybody was walking out. So I missed my opportunity to speak on the issue. I was quite ready to speak on the issue that day, but as I said, because of the lack of speakers I did not get back into the House in time.

So I am very happy today to have something to say about this, because if there is anything that makes my blood boil, I have to say it is this issue of the self-righteous people in the European Union, the politicians and the people who vote for them, who think that they know everything when it comes to the seal harvest here in Newfoundland and Labrador.

It is so hard to believe that intelligent people, thinking people, can pick on one harvest and say that it is wrong, pick on the killing of one animal that gets used for food, for medicinal purposes, and for clothing, and say that that one particular harvest is wrong and needs to be banned. Like I said, it makes my blood boil, it really does, because who do they think they are? That is what always comes to my mind: Who do they think they are? It is something that was made an issue by bleeding-heart people who fell in love with the eyes of baby seals, pups who no longer get killed in the seal harvest, and yet that lie goes on and on and on. It is a lie, and yet it continues to go on and people perpetuate it, and the politicians of the European Union have perpetuated it by voting so overwhelmingly in favour of the ban, the ban that they are asking for. We only had what, ninety – yes, only ninety - people either voting against or abstaining, and 550 voting for the ban of commercial trade of seal products in European Union countries.

What really annoys me is that so many attempts have been made to educate those politicians. It is not as if attempts have not been made. Everything has been done to show those politicians that they do not know what they are talking about, but I guess what they are doing is something that maybe all politicians do at one time or another. I do not think it is the way to go, but they are bowing so much to public pressure instead of fighting back and saying: Look, let's be logical. Let's think about what happens in our own countries with regard to animals, and animals in some cases which are wild animals, certainly - they have that in their countries - but then also there are the tame animals, the animals that are raised for no other reason but to be eaten.

You know, as we hear so often, we hear it in the public and we say it ourselves, and I want to say it here again: How would we like it if we went into abattoirs and saw the killing of animals? We would not like it.

I remember one time when I was doing some work down in Nicaragua. It was after the revolution down there and they did not have much, and the people I was staying with were all excited because they were getting a cow for the big celebration on December 8. December 8 is a big celebration in the country. Every family, anybody who could afford one, could only get one a year. They actually had to have a passport to get. I remember going up into the mountains in Nicaragua with the man of the family I was staying with, to get the cow. Now, you know what I had in my mind, don't you? That we were not getting a live cow; the cow was going to be dead. Well, I got to meet the cow and I got to be invited to be there as the cow was slaughtered and as the guts were taken out. I got to be there for the whole thing. I have pictures of it, too, if anybody ever wants to see my pictures of seeing a cow slaughtered in the mountains of Nicaragua. It was humane. The throat was cut quickly. That is how it is done, just as humane as the killing of the seals on our ice, the same thing. It is blood and it is guts. That is what it is, and every time we eat meat that has happened to an animal that we have eaten.

Now, I have to admit that sometimes I get torn when I think about it and I say maybe I should become a vegetarian, but I have never done it because I am a carnivore. I know that, and I have to have meat.

It is so hypocritical of people in countries in Europe to be looking askance at something like the seal fishery when eating meat is so big in those countries. They are not known for their vegetarianism in any big way. They have to know that animals are killed in the same fashion as I saw that cow killed in the mountains of Nicaragua, which is no different from how the seals are killed on the ice.

We all know that the problem with the seal harvest and the killing of the seals is that it has become so public. It is out there and nobody is stopping it from being public; and that is fine, it should not be stopped, but neither should this industry in Canada, and particularly here in Newfoundland and Labrador, be stopped, for all kinds of reasons.

The hypocrisy of the European Union is even more than the hypocrisy around the fact that they do not look at what they eat and where those animals are killed or how they are killed. There is also hypocrisy with regard to the exemption that they are giving to Aboriginal people, and this is not lost on Aboriginal people because there is a bit of condescension there, a bit of condescension and racism on the part of the European Union with regard to that exemption, and I know that is not lost on the Inuit people. They are well aware of it, so this is a further part of the hypocrisy of people in the European Union and the politicians who voted for the ban, that the killing of seals, the harvesting of seals and the use of seals, is meant for the broader culture, number one. Yes, in the north the Aboriginal peoples were there first, but people who went to settle in the north also became dependent upon the seal. People who settled in the north and lived with Inuit people and became part of the communities in the north also are dependent on the seal. They may not be Inuit but they are part of the culture and they, too, in the winter in particular, needed the seal to eat, they needed wild animals to eat, because in the north that is all that they have in the winter. Life is changing a bit now, we know, but we still have a major group of people in the north whose diet is based on the seal.

My colleagues in the House have pointed out as well that the medicinal use of products from seals is well known internationally. This medicinal use is now being stopped as well. We have a group of people in the European Union, politicians who are just not using their heads, who are just not thinking, or if they are thinking they are thinking based on wrong information and they are thinking based on values that put our economy in jeopardy, the economy of the fishing people who also harvest seals in jeopardy.

I really get upset when I hear people talk about: Oh, it is only a small amount of the money that they make. Well, if your income for a year is $20,000, another $4,000 or $5,000 is an awful lot of money. It is an awful lot of money. We cannot underestimate the impact on people who do seal harvesting by having this taken away from them. It is going to create further hardship and it is more than problematic. I think it is immoral, actually, what has been done, because it has been done without any real basis in fact. That is the problem.

The seal hunt is humane. The seal harvest is needed from a lot of perspectives. It is needed even medicinally. We need what comes from seal. It is also needed to help keep the balance in the waters with regard to the fishery. We all know that. This is going to become even more problematic. If the seal hunt in our waters becomes completely banned then we are going to have a major problem with regard to the balance in our oceans, with regard to the fish and the seals. We all know that.

We support the seal hunt for the same reason that everybody else here supports a seal harvest. We are committed to its further development. We want it to grow, not to get smaller. First of all, a sustainable harvest is required, and we can produce a sustainable harvest based on solid science. That is something that I know our Party is committed to, I know the government is committed to, and I am sure that the Official Opposition is committed to. We also need an industry that will be based on the full utilization of the animal, and we are there. We know how to utilize all of the animal. That has already happened, and why not continue. There is no wastage going on with the animals.

A third thing, humane harvesting methods with zero tolerance for any inhumane practices, we are all committed to that.

These three principles are extremely important. We have regulations on a provincial level, and we have regulations on a federal level, with regard to the regulation of the harvest of the resource so that the resource is harvested in a humane way and that it is harvested in a way that there is no wastage. This is extremely important.

We know that we can harvest, based on solid science. We know, because of today's technology, how many seals should be harvested. We know the principles of conservation. We know that we can do it in a way that is good for the seals and good for the economy. The seal harvest provides direct annual employment for over 6,000 people on a part-time basis in Newfoundland and Labrador. That is a lot of people in a population our size. They are a significant source of income for thousands of families in remote coastal communities in Newfoundland and Labrador.

The harvest comes at a time when employment opportunities are extremely limited. Because of the ice, the fishing people are not fishing up in the North at this time. Having the seal harvest at this point in time comes in the part of the year just when they are getting ready to go fishing, and getting to the end of using the resources that they were able to make in the previous year. The timing is just extremely important for people who are involved in the harvest.

I was not here unfortunately for all the discussion and I do not know if some of this information was put out, but it does not hurt to hear it again. In 2006, the seal harvest generated approximately $30 million in landed value and approximately $55 million to the provincial economy. That is nothing to be sneezed at. Now, unfortunately, we know we certainly did not get that value this year because the numbers of boats that went out were so low because of what has happened, and that cannot continue. We have to get this decision reversed. We have to make sure it does not go the whole way.

If this goes to the World Trade Organization, we have to fight it. This government has to fight it. This government has to enlist with the federal government in fighting it. We have to use Mr. Loyola Sullivan in Ottawa, the ambassador. We have to enlist Dr. Fitzgerald, who is there representing this government and being a liaison in Ottawa. We have to make sure that all the resources are used to fight this ban if it goes to the World Trade Organization. We have got to show how this is a just part of trade, that it is viable, that it is humane, and that the harvesting of seals is no more or no less than the harvesting of any other wild animal that is not an endangered species, which the Lord knows, the seals are not, and that it is no more or no less than the killing for food of animals who are raised to be killed.

I put all that before you, Mr. Speaker, and I am really glad that I had an opportunity to speak to this bill, and I will be very happy to vote for it.

MR. SPEAKER (Collins): The hon. the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. DENINE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I thought your eyesight was going when you had to try to find out who was going to speak.

Anyhow, Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to be here to be able to support this resolution.

I had the chance to go to Ottawa four or five weeks ago and talk to some of the ambassadors in Ottawa who represent the EU.

Mr. Speaker, what is happening here, and I have to tell the people who are watching this – they think because I am from Mount Pearl that I do not have any respect for the sealers in this Province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Let me tell you, I have watched a lot of sealing shows, I have watched people go out on the ice, and when they go out on the ice, Mr. Speaker, they put their lives in the hands of Mother Nature. Let me tell you, that is not just a sport that we have to laugh at. That is a very serious issue. If I had to go to work everyday and go out on a pan of ice, that would be awfully strange for me, let me tell you, because I will never go. I do not have the courage that those sealers have. I do not have the courage.

Anyhow, Mr. Speaker, we are asked today to call upon the government of Canada to challenge the ban immediately, vigorously, and persistently before the World Trade Organization, if such a ban is imposed. Now, there was a vote taken not too long ago and that vote was in early April, but there is going to be another vote, Mr. Speaker, taken in June. The tentative date is around June 24, June 25. It is not unlike this House of Assembly here today when a motion is passed, because what happens is that when that vote is passed on June 24 or June 25 then it is like our gazetting, it is gazetted into a journal and then nine months after that it becomes law. By the spring of 2010 that ban will become law in the EU common market.

If there is any change in that by the council ministers then we can get some changes to that in the second reading, similar to what we do here, no difference. To say that our fight is over, Mr. Speaker, is not right. We will fight this as vigorously and persistently as possible, to make sure that the people of the EU common market understand exactly what they are talking about.

Mr. Speaker, let me go back to the vote. The vote on May 5 was 550 in favour, forty-nine against and forty-one in abstinentia. That is a significant defeat for us to get the ban through. The problem with that is that they did not look at the real facts. They did not really look at the facts of what the seal hunt is all encompassing, because in my discussions with some of the ambassadors the first thing they said to me was: What about the white coats? What about them? I said: Mr. Ambassador, do you realize that the killing of white coats was banned over twenty years ago. That has not been done since 1987. We have not done that. He did not know that. He said: Oh!

The other part, Mr. Speaker, that became quite prevalent in our discussions is that they were - I do not know if the word is parliamentary. I think they were sucked in. Is that parliamentary? I am not sure. They were sucked in - I will say it anyhow and you can correct me if that is unparliamentary - by the animal rights. They believe everything that they have been given. They were hook, line and sinker, hoodwinked; no question about it. They did not understand.

The hon. Member for Signal Hill-Quidi Vidi mentioned about how you cannot make this look nice, the killing of animals. My colleague back there said: How do you make the killing of an animal look nice? It is not. Someone mentioned about the abattoirs. The abattoir is for a pig or a cow or chickens or hens or cattle, whatever. Animals that kill –

AN HON. MEMBER: (Inaudible).

MR. DENINE: No, cattle. Any type of animals that are killed in an abattoir are done within the confines of four walls.

Mr. Speaker, the abattoir for killing of seals is the ocean, open to everyone to see. I tell you, when you put red on white, that shows up like, I do not know what. I mean, that is very visible no matter where you go. So that is exactly what they are looking at over there in the EU. They really have no sense of what we are talking about, no sense at all. They do not understand it. They think it is only a pittance a bit of money because it is about $30 million, $35 million. That, to them, when they look at hundreds of millions of dollars, that is a pittance of money. They do not understand that there are 6,000 sealers depending on that money for income, to supplement incomes in the other parts of the fisheries. They do not understand that.

Another thing they do not understand, Mr. Speaker, is the sustainability. There are over 5.6 million seals in around the coasts of Newfoundland and Labrador, 5.6 million. Back in the early 1980s, late 1970s, the population was one-third that size. So it has tripled in size since then and significant; that is significant. Years ago the animal rights groups would say: well, you know, they are going to be extinct. You are over killing everyone. It is over killing. We should not be doing it. Then when we proved them wrong, they went to another tactic about the killing of the seals.

This seal hunt, Mr. Speaker, is as humane as possible. It is humane. People do it as humanely as possible that it can be done. You have to remember, and I just said in the first part of my speech, is that you are out on an ice pan. Let me tell you, Mr. Speaker, I have never been out there and I do not think I will ever get out there. Number one, because - and I said it before. I think you have to look at these sealers and the courage they have and the fortitude and the stability and the sustainability that they have. They go out and catch the seals for a living for their family. They should be congratulated and commended for what they do.

Mr. Speaker, another part of what they do, is that without a cull, without a hunt, without a hunt the seals are going to explode in population. They eat 7 million tons of fish a year, not only codfish, all fish. That is significant! I told one of the ambassadors, I said: Do you realize that we have a moratorium on cod here in Newfoundland and Labrador? We are trying to build up the stocks of cod, and what impact the amount of seals would have on trying to build up that stock? I said it would be significant.

The thing is, Mr. Speaker, we take approximately 280,000 seals. As my colleague pointed out, I think there were 69,000 taken, 25 per cent. Now if we do not continue taking out that quota every year, that is only going to be increased by that, plus the new pups that are being born every year. That is going to be a population explosion, and that will do a couple of things. One, you will not have a healthy seal herd. The seals will not be, because if there is no one to cull them out, even the sick will survive. The other part is that it is going to make more added pressure on the fishery in our oceans, and that is significant.

Mr. Speaker, that is what we were trying to sell to the European common market. One, that we need a sustainable hunt. Number two, it is done as humanely as possible; and three, to try to get away from the animal rights groups and the propaganda that they have given to them. They have swallowed it hook, line and sinker.

Another part of this, is that last year when the G-20 met, they passed a motion that there be no trade barriers set up during the time of economic crisis because they wanted to get away from protectionism in terms of in their own country, not being able - they said that. They reaffirmed that again in April. So that is not going to happen. From the G-20's perspective, there should be no trade barriers until at least into 2010, not only the country of Canada or the States, but all the world, global, that are able to come out of this global recession.

Mr. Speaker, when I look at what we look at, as far as Newfoundland and Labrador is concerned, and Mr. Stockwell Day, the federal minister, said that they would vigorously oppose this to the World Trade, and that is what this motion says. We want to encourage the federal government to vigorously attack this ban with the World Trade Organization. That is what we are doing. We are calling upon the federal government to step up to the plate, do a lot more than what they have been doing in the past.

Mr. Speaker, when we talk about things that have happened in Newfoundland and Labrador, every part of our economy is very, very important, every part of it. We can go back and talk about our history of the seal. We can go back and say it is 400 years we are doing it. That is only one reason, part of our culture, but that is not the thing they are talking about today. It is the sustainability. There are more seals out there than ever before and taking 240,000 seals out of this population is not going to hinder it one way or another, Mr. Speaker, none at all.

We want to, as the House of Assembly here today, call upon the federal government to vigorously, vigorously oppose the seal ban by the EU.

Mr. Speaker, I hope the federal minister will live up to what he said, will live up to his commitment to Newfoundland and Labrador. I hope the Prime Minister will live up to that. It was kind of sad to see, because the Prime Minister was over there at the time when this ban was done, standing up for not only Newfoundland and Labrador, but for Canada. This was all supported by the Council of Federation of ministers. They supported this, and our Prime Minister was over there and never said a word. He said: Well, we are not going to let that interfere with our EU trade.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Shame! Shame!

MR. DENINE: Mr. Speaker, that is one small thing for Canada but it is a big thing for Newfoundland and Labrador. We are a part of this federation and I expect the Prime Minister to take up the torch, carry the torch for this seal hunt and make sure it is prosperous, make sure that the EU does not do it.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. DENINE: Mr. Speaker, there is not much else to say, and I am going to assume everyone is going to vote for this because of what people have been saying. There is no question about it, because we all know how important it is to the economy of Newfoundland and Labrador and to the sealers who make an honest and decent living at this and work very, very hard for every dollar that they bring into their whole income and their families. We, as elected members of Newfoundland and Labrador, whether you be rural or urban, need to stand up for this seal hunt. We need to make sure that our voice is heard. We need to make sure that Ottawa hears what we have to say and we need to make sure EU hears what we have to say.

So, Mr. Speaker, it is not over yet. As I mentioned before, June 24-25 is the vote. Then if we do not get a second reading on that or some changes then that will hurt. Mr. Speaker, let's all act together, let's all act in unison, let's get the federal government on side and make sure that it is vigorously opposed to the EU.

Thank you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

The Chair recognizes the hon. Member for Lewisporte to close the debate.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. VERGE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, there are a few comments I want to make in closing. In my opening remarks there were a couple of points that I wanted to make, and some of them have been made. I will try, at least, not to repeat some of the things that were said as I close.

I want to talk briefly about the ecological impact and what will the uncontrolled seal population do to the other resources that we have in our waters. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans does say that our seal population is healthy; there is an abundance of seals.

Several speakers have mentioned today that there are about three times the number of seals that were present in the 1970s, about 5.6 million seals. Mr. Speaker, that is a lot of seal. You know, in thinking about that figure of 5.6 million, that is about three times the population of Atlantic Canada or eleven times the population of Newfoundland and Labrador. Mr. Speaker, there are a lot of seals in our waters, and if we add the other 225,000 that should have come out that will not come out now because it is just not economically feasible for our seal hunters to go out there with the prices of today, we are going to have a problem. It has been alluded to in some European countries they have an annual cull now of seals to limit the damage that is being caused to the fish stocks. Will we have to initiate a cull? If we do not manage this stock, Mr. Speaker, we are going to have to initiate something in order to save the other resources that are in our oceans.

Will we allow the overpopulation of seals to prevent our cod stocks from ever recovering to an acceptable level? Harp seals alone can consume about 7 million tonnes of fish annually. That is more than ten times Canada's total annual seafood exports. Seals consume more than ten times the amount of fish that we export.

I live in Lewisporte, Mr. Speaker, and from my window I can look out over the bay. This past winter we saw, when the harbour started to freeze up there, some counted up in the hundreds of seals hanging out in the harbour. I do not know if any of you saw, the winter, there was, in The Telegram, a picture of a seal. It was the way that the seal had this codfish, and it was a sizeable codfish. I would estimate it was an eight to ten pound codfish. It sort of had it up in – it looked like its hands, but – its flippers, and the big pieces that were gone out of that codfish. I could only imagine, Mr. Speaker, there were probably a couple of hundred seals, maybe 300 or 400 in our harbour at that time, and the damage that they were doing with the few codfish that we have there in Lewisporte harbour. It is a sad, sad picture. Many people believe that if we do not do something about the seals then we will not see our groundfish stocks recover. We do need a hunt, Mr. Speaker. Logic supports that conclusion, and we do need it.

Mr. Speaker, we have heard from several speakers here this afternoon, and I enjoyed listening to what they had to say, and all of them, on both sides of the House, I am pleased to say, spoke in favour of the seal hunt, and they presented their arguments eloquently. They were logical arguments, they were intellectual, and they were passionate arguments. They all spoke in favour of the continuation of a sustainable, of a humane, and of a controlled, seal hunt in this Province.

Mr. Speaker, if there is any shame in the seal hunt, it is the way our people have been treated. The abuse that we have taken over this issue is indeed shameful. Robert Courtney, who is president of the North of Smokey Fishermen's Association in Nova Scotia, after the last vote, has been quoted as saying this: It is a black day for Atlantic Canada, for this ban to go ahead. It is really going to have an impact, because it is not just sealers who will be affected; it is also fishermen. He said: We didn't think they would do it.

That is so true of a lot of things that we are faced with. We kind of live in a bit of a bubble sometimes, and we think that this, I guess, negative decision will ultimately not be made.

In Newfoundland, the president of our union, Earle McCurdy, said this: We are disgusted with the ban, actually. They are telling us how to live, pass judgement on how we live with no regard whatsoever for the impact that the growing seal population will have on our fish stocks. In our view, Canada has no recourse but to take action against the World Trade Organization.

This was very pointedly said by the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, as he said that in his speech and his talk about this today, calling on our government to do what is necessary.

WHEREAS the next step to bring this ban into effect is a decision by the Council, representing each of the 27 EU national governments; and the Council is expected to consider the matter in June 2009.

What this motion says is: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Assembly, by way of letters from the Speaker on our behalf, calls on the Government of each European Union country to direct their representatives on the Council to vote against the ban on the trade of seal products within the European Union.

The other resolution is, "…that the House calls on the Government of Canada to challenge the ban immediately, rigorously and persistently before the World Trade Organization…."

Mr. Speaker, based on what I have heard here today on both sides of the House, I think you are going to have some writing to do, because I fully expect that this motion will pass, and I certainly hope that the ongoing and the continued attention we have been giving this issue results in some real change – some real change - within the European Union.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion as put forward by the hon. Member for Lewisporte?

All those in favour, 'aye'.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Aye.

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

The motion is carried.

Motion carried.

MR. SPEAKER: This being Wednesday, Private Members' Day, this House now stands adjourned until 1:30 p.m. of the clock in the afternoon tomorrow, Thursday.