The House met at 1:30 p.m.

MR. SPEAKER (Wiseman): Order, please!

Admit strangers.

Today we are very pleased to welcome to the Speaker's gallery, Ms Kim Bennett and her daughter Sophie, who are the daughter and granddaughter of Ms Hazel McIsaac, who was the first female elected after Confederation.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: Welcome to the gallery.

We are also very pleased today to welcome thirty-six Grades 7 and 8 students from Our Lady of Mercy Elementary School located in the District of St. George's – Stephenville East.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The students are accompanied by teachers: Darlene Sexton and Cynthia Hicks, together with their chaperons: Theodore Bennett, Kim McIsaac-Bennett, and bus driver: Vaughn Hepernan.

We are also very pleased to welcome twelve students from the Spaniard's Bay Campus Discovery Centre. The members here today are from the districts of Port de Grave, Bellevue, Trinity – Bay de Verde, Carbonear – Harbour Grace, and Placentia – St. Mary's. The students are accompanied by their instructors: Margaret Taylor, Paula King, and Kristen Penney.

Welcome to our Assembly.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: Today, we have members' statements from the Member for the District of St. John's East, the Member for the District of St. John's South, the Member for the District of Burgeo – La Poile, the Member for the District of Cape St. Francis, the Member for the District of Bellevue, as well as the Member for the District of Fortune Bay – Cape La Hune.

The hon. the Member for the District of St. John's East.

MR. MURPHY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to congratulate a resident of my district who received the Arts Achievement Award from the Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council in Gander recently.

Dr. Douglas Dunsmore of Memorial University's School of Music is certainly a choral conductor of national and international renown, and he is well-known and well-respected as an integral part of our vibrant provincial choral community.

The NLAC's Arts Achievement Award recognizes a practicing artist who has made an outstanding contribution to the cultural life of Newfoundland and Labrador over a number of years, and surely nobody could be more deserving than Doug Dunsmore.

He has been a major force in shaping choral music in this Province since he joined the MUN School of Music in 1979, touching thousands of students through Memorial choirs alone. He has conducted the Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra's Philharmonic Choir since 1996. As a faculty member, of course, his work reaches through his own students into almost all of our Province's schools.

On top of all this, Dr. Dunsmore is the founding artistic director of the widely acclaimed Festival 500: Sharing the Voices, an international choral event that takes place in St. John's every second year.

Mr. Speaker, I ask all hon. members to help me congratulate Dr. Douglas Dunsmore on his fine achievement.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for St. John's South.

MR. OSBORNE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

It is with pleasure that I recognize Blair Trainor who received a URock award this past Saturday night.

Blair was recognized for launching Sleep-Out 120, this is an initiative which requires youth volunteers to live on the streets for 120 hours so they can get a feeling for what it is like to be homeless. The volunteers are to take only the clothes they are wearing, a sleeping bag and pillow to get them through the five days they participate.

Over the previous two years Sleep-Out 120 has raised approximately $25,000 to support youth homelessness initiatives in the St. John's area. Blair has also put together a tool kit for youth who wish to replicate Sleep-Out 120 in other areas across Canada.

Blair is an active volunteer with the NL Housing and Homelessness Network, Choices for Youth, the Community Pancake Breakfast, as well as being involved in For the Love of Learning.

I ask all members of the House to recognize Blair for his tremendous volunteer work and efforts.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Burgeo – La Poile.

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

I rise today to recognize and congratulate five Grade 9 students from St. James Regional High School of Channel-Port aux Basques, who recently competed and won the provincial junior high trivia competition hosted by SAFE Work NL, at Empire Theatres here in St. John's, on May 2.

The five student team was comprised of Patrick Chippett, Andrew Hayes, Jordan Hulan, Jade Lawrence and Courtney Musseau, and they were accompanied by their teacher, Ms JoAnn O'Brien.

The competition was part of SAFE Work NL's: Who Wants to Save a Life? initiative. It is a trivia game designed to educate youth about workplace health and safety and more than 12,000 students and teachers have experienced the game show since it was launched in 2008.

Members of the winning junior high team each received iPads and $5,000 for their school. Each student fully enjoyed this experience and their time in the capital city. I was very proud to be there in person to cheer them on and marvel at their level of knowledge. I would note the minister, as well as the Member for Mount Pearl North, were there.

Mr. Speaker, I ask all members of this House to join with me in extending congratulations to Patrick, Andrew, Jordan, Jade, Courtney, and Ms Jo Ann O'Brien.

Thank you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Cape St. Francis.

MR. K. PARSONS: Mr. Speaker, I rise in this hon. House today to pay tribute to St. John's Regional Fire Department Deputy Chief Jack Hickey who, after thirty-six years of service to the community, has retired.

Mr. Speaker, I have known Jack for many years and have had the opportunity to play hockey against him. I can honestly say he is one of the most competitive and determined people I have ever met, and that is why it is so easy to see how he had such success rising through the ranks of the fire department. Whether it is fighting fires or sports, anyone who had the opportunity to know Jack has the greatest respect for him.

What makes Jack Hickey a unique firefighter is that Jack began competing for Firefighting Combat Challenges in 1999 – a competition recognized as "the toughest two minutes in sport". Since then, he has clinched eleven world championships, and also holds three world records – and one of those still stands today.

Mr. Speaker, I ask all hon. members in this House to join with me in thanking Jack Hickey for his role in representing all firefighters in this Province so well. I would like to wish Jack an enjoyable retirement with his wife, Loretta, and their family.

Thank you very much.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The Member for Bellevue.

MR. PEACH: Mr. Speaker, I stand today to recognize the Isthmus Regional Playground Committee.

This committee received a Valentine's gift on February 14, when it was announced that they are the recipients of a National Helping Hands Award from Let Them Be Kids. This award contributes a 50-50 match opportunity that gives the community a dollar of equipment buying power for every fifty cents they raise, which helps to significantly cover the costs of the structure and equipment for building a new playground.

The playground build date is set for June 9, and, Mr. Speaker, they have just over 200 registered volunteers for build day, including myself. I extend an invitation to all members.

This committee started with only five members and has grown into a committee of nineteen. The committee was formed in November, 2011, and since then has raised almost $70,000 to build the playground. Now, Mr. Speaker, they can not just build a new playground, but there will also be a new basketball court and picnic area adjacent to the Holy Family Elementary School in Chapel Arm.

I ask all members to join me in congratulating the Isthmus Regional Playground Committee on reaching their goal to build a new playground.

Thank you very much.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The Member for Fortune Bay – Cape La Hune.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS PERRY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I rise in this hon. House today to pay tribute to Bud Davidge who received a honourary doctorate of laws degree from Memorial University for his contribution to Newfoundland music. Bud is famous for his work with Simani and gifting us with traditional music that is a part of every Newfoundlander's soul. Our culture is forever indebted to Bud for preserving our history and traditions in such an enduring and artistic fashion.

Bud recently released a Christmas CD, a gospel CD, and an album entitled Black and White, which continues to tell amazing stories about ordinary Newfoundlanders such as resettlement and famous sea disasters. Bud is a true Newfoundland treasure and an integral part of the "Heart of the Home" in our beautiful and unique Province, where "Music and Friends" are enjoyed by all!

The storytelling masterpieces of Mr. Davidge will keep our Newfoundland stories alive and echo their powerful sentiments throughout every generation. I ask all members of this hon. House to join me and thank Mr. Davidge for his contribution to the Newfoundland culture, and extend sincerest congratulations on his doctorate degree from Memorial University.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: Statements by Ministers.

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

PREMIER DUNDERDALE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, yesterday I had the pleasure of hosting the ninth Annual Premier's Athletic Awards, and was delighted to recognize some outstanding young Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.

The youth receiving these awards represent some of the most dedicated, focused, and committed people in our Province, whose current accomplishments indicate many great things to come, both in sport and in life.

So I was proud, Mr. Speaker, to present ninety-seven exceptional athletes from Newfoundland and Labrador with more than $71,000. Each year, the Premier's Athletic Awards Program provides grants to assist young athletes with the costs of training and competition at the elite level.

In addition to these awards, target shooter Justin Hearn of St. Joseph's and swimmer Katarina Roxon of Stephenville each received a Team Gushue Scholarship Award valued at $5,000. These awards were developed in honour of Team Gushue's Gold Medal win at the 2006 Winter Olympics. They are presented annually to a young man and a young woman who have accomplished athletic and academic excellence. I was pleased that Brad Gushue was available to join me to present these awards.

Mr. Speaker, the provincial government is committed to providing our athletes with opportunities to reach their highest potential in their chosen sport. Since the Premier's Athletic Awards Program was established in 2005, almost $600,000 has been provided to support the continued development of athletic excellence in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Mr. Speaker, I congratulate all of this year's award participants and recipients and I wish them the best of luck for their future success.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. BALL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I want to thank the Premier for the advance copy of this statement. I want to congratulate and recognize the ninety-seven athletes who received those awards at the Premier's Athletic Awards yesterday.

It takes tremendous commitment from these athletes to train at this level. Some of these young athletes went through considerable challenges during training just to get to the level they were and being able to put themselves in a position to win these awards. It is great to see that government is recognizing the fact that this participation and an active lifestyle, what it can mean to the overall health outcomes of our young people. It is important to get those lifestyles started early.

It was also nice to see that Brad Gushue made himself available yesterday. We all remember back in 2006 in the Winter Olympics when the Gushue team won that gold medal. Today they remain an inspiration, I must say, to all our young people as they dream to compete at such elite level.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for St. John's North.

MR. KIRBY: Mr. Speaker, I too thank the Premier for an advance copy of her statement. I congratulate the winners of the Premier's Athletic Awards. It is important to help young athletes to cover their expenses so that the opportunity to advance is not just available to those who can afford it.

I also congratulate Mr. Hearn and Ms Roxon, winners of the Team Gushue Scholarships this year. Given the high rates of diabetes and obesity in this Province, I would like to see a complete physical education program put into our schools again so that every child in this Province will have the opportunity for good health and good fitness.

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Intergovernmental and Aboriginal Affairs.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. McGRATH: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

In Budget 2012: People and Prosperity – Responsible Investments for a Secure Future, our government announced funding to establish an office with a new executive director position in Labrador West. I am pleased to advise all hon. members that the office is now open in Labrador City.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to congratulate and welcome Ms Janice Barnes as the executive director, Labrador West, with the Labrador Affairs office. Ms Barnes has been with the provincial government since 1999, working in Labrador City as an economic development officer with the Department of Innovation, Business and Rural Development. In tandem with this position, Ms Barnes was the mayor of Labrador City for three years and deputy mayor prior to that for four years.

In her role as executive director in Labrador West, Ms Barnes will work closely with many stakeholders including counterparts in other provincial departments, representatives with the federal government and local municipalities, and proponents of mining and other economic development projects.

Mr. Speaker, Ms Barnes has a keen understanding of the impacts that large-scale developments can have on communities. She has wide-ranging experience in working collaboratively with industry, community, and government on efforts to address the many changes associated with mining expansion and development.

As Minister Responsible for Labrador Affairs, I look forward to working with Ms Barnes as we continue to build a stronger, more prosperous Labrador for ourselves and our children.

Mr. Speaker, I ask all members of this hon. House to join me in congratulating Janice Barnes on her new position as executive director in Labrador West for the Labrador Affairs office.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Torngat Mountains.

MR. EDMUNDS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you to the minister for advance notice of his statement. I too, Mr. Speaker, would like to welcome Ms Barnes to the position. I have had the opportunity to meet with Ms Barnes several times over the past few years and I find her a very knowledgeable person.

Mr. Speaker, I think this position replaces an earlier position there for Natural Resources, which has now been transferred to Labrador Affairs. There are a lot of challenges in Labrador West with the new mining operations and expansions. Also, in Labrador West, affordable housing and the high cost of rent are major concerns; infrastructure needs to be accommodated under the present boom.

Mr. Speaker, towns in Labrador West have requested help from the government to help them with their infrastructure needs, government needs, and to consider growth in the region. I think with Ms Barnes' background, Mr. Speaker, I think the minister has made a good choice and I look forward to meeting Ms Barnes again hopefully in the very near future.

Thank you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. MITCHELMORE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I too thank the minister for an advance copy of his statement. We acknowledge that Ms Barnes comes to the job bringing a strong background of community, economic, and business development. The growth of Labrador West certainly provides challenges when it comes to providing affordable housing, quality health care, education, and even recreational services that a burgeoning industry town demands.

I know the NDP look forward to working closely with Ms Barnes as she works with others to address Labrador issues. We know Janice Barnes is up for the challenge and look forward to her in success in this role as we pursue opportunities in Labrador.

Thank you.

MR. SPEAKER: Oral Questions.

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

MR. BALL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The federal Minister of National Defence has stated that the Harper Conservatives have no plans to establish the long promised, 650 member battalion at 5 Wing Goose Bay, nor will they establish the 100 member territorial defence unit here in St. John's.

I ask the Premier: Since you are actively engaged with and campaigned with Mr. Harper, what steps are you now taking to ensure that the Harper Conservatives keep the promises to Goose Bay and to St. John's?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

PREMIER DUNDERDALE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, the Opposition Leader is referring to remarks made by Minister MacKay in the Parliament yesterday. Mr. Speaker, we have some very real concerns about the promises made in the election of 2005 to the people of Newfoundland and Labrador by Mr. Harper then, who was campaigning to be the federal Prime Minister, Mr. Speaker, Prime Minister of this country. He made a number of commitments to Newfoundland and Labrador. Since that time, since he has taken over that job we see a movement away from the commitments made to the people of Newfoundland and Labrador, Mr. Speaker, and that is not acceptable.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. BALL: The Premier mentioned that she is really concerned about it, but what we are seeing is a disturbing trend of those broken promises from the Harper Conservatives. We see this government as being much too passive in its response. We see the Maritime Rescue Sub-Centre; we see cuts to DFO, Service Canada, Parks Canada, and what we know of right now, the response has been a written letter. Now, we have seen the broken promises to 5 Wing Goose Bay and to St. John's.

I ask the Premier: Why would you sit idly by while the Harper Conservatives are continuing to break promises and making cuts to this Province?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

PREMIER DUNDERDALE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, the one thing that this government has not done is sat idly by. Mr. Speaker, we have used every opportunity available to us politically and as a government to influence the federal government. We believe strongly, as do all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, that the federal government has a responsibility to the people of Newfoundland and Labrador regardless of whether we supported them or we did not, Mr. Speaker.

They made commitments to the people of this Province. They have a responsibility to live up to those commitments, Mr. Speaker, and we remind them of that verbally every time we see them. We go see them, we talk about it, we point it out, and we write letters. What else do you suggest that we do, I ask the Leader of the Opposition?

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The Leader of the Official Opposition.

MR. BALL: One thing he should know - one thing that the Prime Minister should know is that we do (inaudible).

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

MR. BALL: So contrary to what the Premier stated, the soft approach to the Harper Conservatives is just obviously not working for Newfoundland and Labrador. Harper continues to slash services to this Province.

When are we finally going to stand up for the people of Newfoundland and Labrador and represent the people we are supposed to represent?

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

PREMIER DUNDERDALE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, sending back six Opposition MPs is not taking a soft approach with the federal government. Mr. Speaker, we have to make our arguments to the federal government and make sure they are understood. This government has taken a lot of time to do that, Mr. Speaker. We do not seem to be getting a response, Mr. Speaker, particularly from Minister MacKay. It is not acceptable, Mr. Speaker, and I say it loudly and clearly here in Newfoundland and Labrador, I also say it loudly and clearly in Ottawa.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The Leader of the Official Opposition.

MR. BALL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

We know we have 308 MPs and we want them to do more too, but we have ten Premiers who carry a lot more weight.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

The Leader of the Official Opposition.

MR. BALL: We have 308 MPs, like I said, Mr. Speaker, we have ten provincial Premiers, so they should carry more weight.

Yesterday there was yet another fish plant that has been ripped out of rural Newfoundland and Labrador, this time it is in La Scie. It has come to our attention that prior to it becoming public, the minister and the Member for Baie Verte – Springdale met with the company and were aware of the ongoing issues that the plant would be closing.

Can you confirm when you became aware of this pending plant closure and what has been done to fix the situation?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KING: Mr. Speaker, I really detest the manner in which members' phrase their questions when they are talking about fish plants closing to say they are being ripped out of communities.

Let me be very clear here, the member who represents the people of La Scie has been active on this file from day one. He has done everything that he possibly could to work with the company and the workers and myself to try and find a way forward to keep that plant operating. We have chatted on any number of occasions; not once have I yet been told that plant is officially closed. What I have been told is there have been struggles with the resource, but I can assure the member opposite that we have been fully engaged on that file, myself and the Member for Baie Verte – Springdale, trying to find a way to keep that plant open.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. BALL: Well, in the case of La Scie, the ingredients for a good business seem to be intact, because what we do know is there is a good resource, there is a good workforce, and there is good infrastructure in place. The problem seems to be, from media reports, that there is a lack of trust and confidence with the operator in that community.

What are we going to do to restore the trust and find a new operator for that plant?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KING: Mr. Speaker, I think the member might be a little off on some of his facts that he is stating there around the availability of resource. The availability of the resource is actually a significant problem in trying to keep that plant operating.

Mr. Speaker, developing trust is all about developing relationships between communities and operators of these plants in particular. It is government's role to facilitate a process when we are asked to do so, and to provide policy and other supports as required. We have been there every step of the way in this process thus far.

As I said a few minutes ago, there is not one minute of the day that the member behind me from Baie Verte – Springdale is not on this file trying to move it forward. The member opposite fully knows, because his own party members are experiencing the same thing, that there comes a point in time where this government does not control the business decisions of private companies.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. BALL: It has also come to our attention that the company was issued a seafood licence by the government last year, even though they owed significant money to workers and to Workers' Compensation.

I ask the minister: Can you confirm this, and does your government grant seafood licences to companies that actually have outstanding invoices with Workers' Compensation?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KING: Mr. Speaker, I am not sure the intent of the question. It almost sounds as though the member opposite is suggesting we should have revoked the licence last year and closed the plant on them.

What I can say, Mr. Speaker, is that the issuance of processing licences in this Province is done through an independent board of government called the Fish Processing Licensing Board. The process involves applicants submitting documentation to the board; there is an independent review done of the quality of the stocks in the area, the quality of the application before it. It is the board, Mr. Speaker, who will make the recommendations to the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture on which licences will stay in the system and which ones will go out. Once a licence is in the system, Mr. Speaker, it comes out only, normally, if it is inactive for a two-year period.

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for St. Barbe.

MR. BENNETT: Mr. Speaker, one of government's requirements for assistance after a plant closes is for the workers in the community to acknowledge that it is permanently closed. Why should the people of La Scie give up on their plant when another operator may come forward?

I ask the minister: Will he relax the requirements around plant closures and provide this community and its workers with the needed support to help them attract a new operator?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KING: Mr. Speaker, the best way I can say this is that the statement just put before this House is factually incorrect. We do not, as a policy, require workers to deem a plant permanently closed.

The process is as follows. It is called a displaced fish plant worker program because they are displaced through a permanent closure. Somebody has to acknowledge there is a permanent closure. Normally that is through a two-year period of inactivity where the licence is withdrawn and thereby the Fisheries Committee of Cabinet can deem the plant permanent closed; or, secondly, a company can outright announce, as it has done in Burin, Marystown, and Port Union, that they are permanently closing the plant. It does not require the workers to do it as the member opposite suggests.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for St. Barbe.

MR. BENNETT: Mr. Speaker, in May 2006, eighteen Daley companies filed bankruptcy, owing millions of dollars.

Why has the minister permitted the same operator to hide behind another company, repeat this charade, and place another fishing community, La Scie, at risk?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KING: Mr. Speaker, it is not the actions of this government or the intent of this government to place any community at risk. I remind members of this House, it was only last year when we went through a trying time in Port Union, where we did not know if the plant was actually going to be closed permanently or remain open. This government provided employment supports to help the people through a trying time.

It is a policy and a practice of this government and this Premier, Mr. Speaker, to stand up and fight for communities in every single instance. If I had the time, I could name off for you community after community after community. We will work with fish plant operators even when they do have financial troubles to try to help them succeed. Unlike the member opposite, it is not our goal to help them fail and shut them down.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for St. Barbe.

MR. BENNETT: Mr. Speaker, Sea Treat, one of the Daley companies that went bankrupt in 2006, left behind a deteriorating fish plant in Englee.

I ask the minister: How does he expect to enforce a ministerial order of 2012 to clean up that mess if this company went bankrupt six years ago?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Municipal Affairs.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. O'BRIEN: Mr. Speaker, I have explained in this House on a previous occasion the complicated matter that the Englee plant finds itself under. The Englee plant is unique as it is part of bankruptcy proceedings, and we have to adhere to the court proceedings. An order has been issued to the owners of the plan under bankruptcy, and we have to see how that plays out over a period of time to see exactly what we can do with the Englee plant.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Burgeo – La Poile.

MR. A. PARSONS: Mr. Speaker, on April 17, 2008, the Minister of Justice was asked about a replacement for the chronically overcrowded, decrepit penitentiary. The minister stated, and I quote: Stay tuned and you will have your answer in a few days.

We have now been staying tuned for 1,492 days. My question to the minister: What actual work or progress has been undertaken by government to replace HMP?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. F. COLLINS: I am somewhat baffled, Mr. Speaker, by the precedent in the hon. member's question: Stay tuned and you will get an answer in a couple of days on the replacement of HMP. I have no idea what left field or right field that comes out of.

We are constantly, Mr. Speaker, over the last two years, assessing our infrastructure system, and I said that several times in this House, assessing our infrastructure system to see how it can be re-modified or retrofitted in order to get a better capacity for our inmates.

In the meantime, Mr. Speaker, we are constantly still negotiating with the feds. We still want to hold their feet to the fire because we think they have an obligation to this Province. We house fifty federal prisoners. We think the feds should have an obligation to us.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The Member for Burgeo – La Poile.

MR. A. PARSONS: Mr. Speaker, at the rate the government is moving on this it is going to be His Majesty's Penitentiary as opposed to Her Majesty's Penitentiary. Government has not even addressed the pen in its latest Budget. As with the report on Dr. Craig and the whistle-blower legislation, this department is in no hurry to keep the promises that they have made.

My question: If government is not moving forward on a new penitentiary, what actions or studies are being contemplated to address the safety conditions at HMP?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. F. COLLINS: Mr. Speaker, Occupational Health and Safety have a constant relationship with HMP. They are down there when they are called, they are down there when necessary, they have made recommendations with regard to safety issues in HMP, and we have followed up on all of them. The safety conditions all put forth by Occupational Health and Safety has all been dealt with, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. JOYCE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Health, the Minister of Finance, and the Premier have been telling the people of Corner Brook that the hospital is in its final stages of design. We learned last night in Transportation and Works Estimates that, in fact, it is still in the pre-design stage, Mr. Speaker. Before it even gets to the design stage, it has to go through a program review with the Department of Health and Community Services and the functional committees.

I ask the Premier: Five years after the announcement and still in the pre-design stage, will the Premier stop dragging her feet and make this project a priority?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Transportation and Works.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. HEDDERSON: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

With regard to the Corner Brook hospital, there is no doubt in anyone's mind – the Premier said it yesterday and I will say it today – we have committed to build that hospital and not only build it, but to bring it along in a fashion where we are making sure that what we are doing is the proper way to do it.

As we stand right now, we are going through a four-stage process; we are halfway through and ready to move forward into the design stage, once we get from Health and Community Services that functional program that is absolutely crucial to any stage that we go into after this.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. JOYCE: I thank the minister for confirming that the information that has been put forth by the government that it is in the final stages is inaccurate. I just thank the minister for confirming that now.

Mr. Speaker, the people of Corner Brook want to know when they will see a new hospital. They also want public consultations and input in the design of the hospital and its programs. The functional committees have not met in fourteen months, and now we know why: It is still in the pre-design stage.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

MR. JOYCE: I ask the Premier: Will you finally be straight forth and tell the people of Corner Brook when will the steel be put up so the Minister of Finance can resign?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Transportation and Works.

MR. HEDDERSON: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I do not see any need for anyone resigning. I would compliment the Minister of Finance for pushing this project to where it is right now.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. HEDDERSON: We have an individual here, Mr. Speaker, my colleague, who has not only pushed for the hospital in Corner Brook, but let's listen about the long-term care facility; we committed and we built it. The courthouse, we committed and we built it. Herdman, we redesigned and we committed to that and we did it. Again, as with the hospital in Corner Brook, we committed and it will be done, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. JOYCE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I just let the minister know if he is not aware, the long-term care facility still has a wing that your department announced three years in a row $3 million.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

MR. JOYCE: Just to let you know on your commitments. Mr. Speaker, the provincial government has been –

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

MR. JOYCE: – providing security at the Abitibi paper mill, which they mistakenly expropriated. We learned in Transportation and Works Estimates that this is costing the taxpayers of this Province $750,000 a year, over $2 million for this mistake by the Premier which is more than the PUB hearings, Mr. Speaker.

I ask the Premier: What other costs are the taxpayers on the hook for because of your mistake that you made in Grand Falls-Windsor?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

PREMIER DUNDERDALE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, the one thing that the people in the region of Grand Falls-Windsor said to us was: Do not allow those assets to leave Newfoundland and Labrador.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

PREMIER DUNDERDALE: Mr. Speaker, every day in this House we hear the Opposition parties crying for all-party committees, all-party committees; our work will be better if we have all-party committees. Well, on the expropriation of the Grand Falls-Windsor mill and other assets, Mr. Speaker, we had an all-party committee. You were all engaged, Mr. Speaker. We all take responsibility for the mistakes that were made, but they needed to be done in a timely manner, and we own the mistake. We also own the assets and we hope to find a new use for it.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. MITCHELMORE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, the Town of St. Anthony is trying to be forward thinking in their bid to develop clean, green, renewable energy. They want to build a 5.25-megawatt wind farm to meet the needs within their municipality, attract new business, and avoid the inevitable rate increases from Nalcor. Unfortunately Nalcor has said St. Anthony may not build the farm.

Mr. Speaker, I ask the Minister of Natural Resources: Will he instruct Nalcor to reverse their decision and assist the town in their bid to develop an alternate energy source?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KENNEDY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I think in the comments that Thomas Mulcair, the Leader of the Federal NDP, said in St. John's last week he was fully supportive of a clean, green, renewable energy project like Muskrat Falls. Mr. Speaker, the NDP opposite, the provincial party, does not support Muskrat Falls. What we are looking at with wind, as requested by the parties opposite, is we are going to have a report done on wind; it will be tabled in this House and it will form part of the Muskrat Falls debate.

Wind has been looked at, Mr. Speaker. Manitoba Hydro International concluded that eighty megawatts of wind could be integrated into the system along with Muskrat Falls.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. MITCHELMORE: Mr. Speaker, cleaning up contaminated sites was an election promise for this government. Just yesterday the Premier made it very clear that her government will clean sites when they are no longer to be used for their intended commercial use. We have seen five fish plants close in the past few weeks. Yesterday we heard that the plant in La Scie is closing. Not cleaning up these sites can stand in the way of a town's economic development, as we have seen in Englee.

Mr. Speaker, I ask the Premier: Will she assure the people in these afflicted communities that they will not be forced to wait years for site remediation as the people in Englee?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

PREMIER DUNDERDALE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, interesting dynamic going on between the two Opposition parties here today; we have one party wanting to maintain the infrastructure in communities in hopes of reactivating them and now we have a suggestion from the Third Party, Mr. Speaker, that we rush in right now, take down all the closed plants, take them down, and remediate the sites – not the way that we operate, I say to the member opposite.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. MITCHELMORE: Mr. Speaker, another day, another fish plant is closing, and government will probably strike another cabinet committee. Is this the best you have? We learned on Monday from the Premier that her government –

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

MR. MITCHELMORE: – will only step in when a community has a problem –

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

MR. MITCHELMORE: – yet we have all known about the crisis in the fishery for a long time.

When will the government decide that proactive, forward-thinking plans to diversify the economy of rural Newfoundland and Labrador are a good idea, and put these in place, instead of just initiating damage control procedures?

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KING: Mr. Speaker, it is actually a great pleasure to hear so many questions coming from the Third Party on the fishery this session. I think the member over there was twenty-three months without a question, so it is indeed a pleasure to stand.

Mr. Speaker, we have actually been very forward thinking and very clear on where the fishery is headed. The problem is that the Third Party does not share the same vision. If this industry is to succeed, Mr. Speaker, there is going to be downsizing. It is the view of this government, it is supported by every single player in the industry, and was articulated through the MOU process; I have it here, the member is welcome to read it, or I can give him a briefing on it. It is a reality, but there is also a reality that communities need our help, and we will be there to help them.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for St. John's Centre.

MS ROGERS: Mr. Speaker, this government is breaking its five-year-old election promise to bring in whistle-blower protection. The working people of this Province are asking for this legislation for the protection of us all. When Manitoba developed its whistle-blower legislation they used a legislative committee to work through the complexity of the bill.

Mr. Speaker: Will the minister immediately bring their review of whistle-blower legislation out from behind closed doors and into public light by striking an all-party legislative committee to work on this very important file?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. F. COLLINS: Mr. Speaker, as I point out yesterday, we see nothing encouraging in the legislation that is in the other four jurisdictions of this Province; there are only four jurisdictions in this country, actually, that have whistle-blower legislation, this and the federal government.

Mr. Speaker, in this jurisdiction, we have whistle-blower protection in a number of pieces of legislation: the Environmental Protection Act, the Labour Standards Act, the Occupational Health And Safety Act, the Personal Health Information Act; Mr. Speaker, section 425 of the Criminal Code of Canada makes it a criminal offence to penalize an employee who was retaliated or intimidated by an employer for bringing something forward in the workplace. We have a lot of protection, Mr. Speaker, but that is not to say that we are not continuing to look and monitor the other jurisdictions to see if we can find something better.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for St. John's Centre.

MS ROGERS: Mr. Speaker, that is a bit of a confused answer there.

Yesterday, the minister said the human rights of transgender people are covered under the grounds of sex. However, if gender identity is not explicitly in the act, it covers only discrimination and hate crimes that have already happened. The act must be amended so it will have the authority to undertake measures for prevention and education.

I ask the minister: Why would government not ensure full protection for one of the most vulnerable groups in our society?

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. F. COLLINS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, when we did our deliberations and consultations for the preparation of the Human Rights Act, which, as I mentioned yesterday, is the best Human Rights Act in Canada, the discussion was a lengthy discussion on gender for coverage in that act. We received eleven different propositions or definitions on gender. Mr. Speaker, it was impossible to encapsulate it all into one single provision that could be dealt with in the Human Rights Code to handle this particular issue.

Our advice was to leave it for now, Mr. Speaker. The issues that come up under gender are covered off in the sex prohibition in the act.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for St. John's Centre.

MS ROGERS: Mr. Speaker, I am surprised still to learn that there is confusion on government side regarding the definition of gender identity. The United Nations in its Declaration of Human Rights and Northwest Territories have amended their legislation to include gender identity. The federal government is following suit.

Mr. Speaker, as a member of the social sector committee, I ask the Premier: Will you task the social sector committee with developing a formal definition of gender identity to include in the Human Rights legislation so we can finally just move on from this?

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. F. COLLINS: Mr. Speaker, I reiterate, the discussion on inclusion of gender in the Human Rights Act was exhaustive and we had a lot of input from all over this country. The conclusion, Mr. Speaker, was definite on all sides that it was too confusing an issue to try to explain it in one single provision in the Human Rights Act. Mr. Speaker, we were advised not to include it for now, and we went ahead with what we perceive to be the best Human Rights Act in the country.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for St. John's North.

MR. KIRBY: Mr. Speaker, last year's Budget provided funding to College of the North Atlantic for a medical laboratory sciences program in Grand Falls-Windsor. Students who started the program last year are concerned that suitable laboratory facilities will not be available at the campus in Grand Falls next fall.

Can the Minister of Advanced Education and Skills assure us that the promised facilities needed for this program will be up and running for September?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Advanced Education and Skills.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS BURKE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, this government's commitment to the College of the North Atlantic and to the medical lab sciences in Grand Falls-Windsor is only one investment of many investments that we have made in post-secondary education, and in the students of Newfoundland and Labrador, Mr. Speaker. We announced last year that the medical services program would be offered in Grand Falls-Windsor, and, Mr. Speaker, we are working with the College of the North Atlantic to ensure that that program does continue in Grand Falls-Windsor.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for St. John's North.

MR. KIRBY: Mr. Speaker, government recently sent out a document, presumably to the whole Province, that was originally released on Budget Day a month ago. This expensive, mass mail out appears to be timed to coincide with the CRA polling period. If it is so important that all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians receive this Budget information in print format –

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

MR. KIRBY: – then why isn't it equally important to continue to make job ads available in print format?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

PREMIER DUNDERDALE: Mr. Speaker, we have now gone from questions in QP – they ran out of questions last week so now we have moved to commentary in Question Period. Mr. Speaker, the people of this Province have a right to know how their money is spent.

Mr. Speaker, a considerable number of people in this Province, much more than when we came, have access to technology to get their information. Not everyone does, Mr. Speaker, so providing information in this way is a cost-effective way of telling the people of the Province how their money is being spent. Mr. Speaker, you are certainly not suggesting that we send out our ads in a mass mail out across – they might be, Mr. Speaker, given some of the other things that they have suggested.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for St. John's East.

MR. MURPHY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Other provinces have created public ambulance services to ensure that their ambulances have adequate staff and well-equipped vehicles in both rural and urban areas.

When will this government create a public ambulance system providing the same level of resources to both rural and urban ambulances attending to the patients in this Province?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS SULLIVAN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Once again, I am not sure if he is suggesting we do not have ambulance services in rural Newfoundland and Labrador, but I would like to tell him if he is thinking that, we do have ambulance services in rural Newfoundland and Labrador.

We have undertaken to do a review of those ambulance services so that we can ensure that the services we are providing are as good as they can be, and that includes the training component that you talked about yesterday, that includes reviewing the ambulance service itself. We are committed to doing that; we always have been.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The time for Question Period has expired.

Presenting Reports by Standing and Select Committees.

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

MR. LITTLEJOHN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Social Services Committee have considered the matters to them referred and have directed me to report that they have passed, without amendment, the Estimates of: the Department of Health and Community Services; the Department of Child, Youth and Family Services; the Department of Education; the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation; the Department of Justice; and the Department of Municipal Affairs.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. FORSEY: Mr. Speaker, the Government Services Committee have considered the matters to them referred and have directed me to report that they have passed, without amendment, the Estimates of: the Department of Finance; the Department of Transportation and Works; the Public Service Commission; the Department of Service Newfoundland and Labrador; and the Office of the Chief Information Officer.

MR. SPEAKER: Tabling of Documents.

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

MR. MARSHALL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to section 26.(5)(a) of the Financial Administration Act, I am tabling one Order in Council relating to funding pre-commitments for the 2013-2014 to 2014-2015 fiscal year, and it is a pre-commitment for the Department of Health and Community Services to facilitate the extension to the service agreement with Bell Canada for the Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Drug Program, real-time claim adjudication service.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER: Notices of Motion.

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Service Newfoundland and Labrador.

MR. DAVIS: Mr. Speaker, I give notice that I will ask leave to introduce a bill entitled, An Act To Amend The Highway Traffic Act. (Bill 19)

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Transportation and Works.

MR. HEDDERSON: Mr. Speaker, I give notice that I will ask leave to introduce a bill entitled, An Act To Amend The Rail Service Act, 2009. (Bill 21)

I give further notice that I will ask leave to introduce a bill entitled, An Act To Amend The Works, Services and Transportation Act. (Bill 20)

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

MR. KING: Mr. Speaker, I give notice that I will ask leave to introduce a bill entitled, An Act To Amend The Aquaculture Act. (Bill 22)

MR. SPEAKER: Answers to Questions for which Notice has been Given.

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

MR. KING: Mr. Speaker, on April 3, the Member for St. Barbe tabled a question in the House of Assembly requesting information related to the results of any assessment of the impacts of the growing seal population on the fishery resource off our coast, any plans relating to countering the anti-seal hunt propaganda, and a detailed breakdown of the total cost of developing and implementing such a plan. Mr. Speaker, I am more than pleased to stand today and provide that information.

The sealing industry has importance for those who engage in the annual hunt, and it is a part of our history and our heritage. Natural marine systems involve complex predator-prey interactions and seldom remain static; rather, they are responsive to both short and long-term impacts from human and ecological factors.

In ecosystems where a human harvest of only certain components of the food web occurs – which is almost all cases, Mr. Speaker – there is an inevitable and increased likelihood that these equilibrium shifts will become accentuated, sometimes leading to significant distortions in the dynamics and biotic composition of these systems. Mr. Speaker, such distortions can have consequences for individual species populations, as well as for the industries and human communities relying upon them.

Through the years, there has been considerable debate and much rhetoric expressed on seal-cod interactions. Recently, in Halifax, Mr. Speaker, I presented to a Senate committee focused on the grey seal issue and encouraged them to take a holistic approach to studying the management of the seal population off Canada's East Coast, including its impact on Atlantic groundfish stocks.

Mr. Speaker, over the past sixty years the historical ecosystem balance has been disrupted by increased fishing power, high seas fishing, and failed resource management regimes. We need now to move toward a balanced, informed, and carefully managed approach to marine resource utilization.

In a peer reviewed Scientific Advisory Report on the Impact of Grey Seals on Fish Populations in Eastern Canada, the following conclusion was reached, "A review of the weight of evidence for each cause supported a conclusion that predation by grey seals was likely the greatest contributor to increased mortality in large southern Gulf cod." This, Mr. Speaker, is a significant conclusion, as the report also concludes that "if current levels of productivity and natural mortality were to persist, the stock is estimated to decline to levels of local extinction within the 40-50 years." This report, Mr. Speaker, goes on to say that grey seal predation is also contributing to high natural mortality of winter skate and white hake, both of which are also at high risk of extirpation in the southern Gulf.

Similarly, Mr. Speaker, the Fisheries Resource Conservation Council, locally known as FRCC, a well-respected group of advisors with a balance of scientific and academic expertise, released its report, Towards Recovered and Sustainable Groundfish Fisheries in Eastern Canada, which recommends that efforts should start immediately on an experimental reduction of grey seals in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence.

It also recommends that scientific meetings be coordinated to discuss whether the reduction of seals, including harp seals, would either enable or enhance the recovery of groundfish stocks in other areas, such as the shelf off Labrador and Eastern Newfoundland.

While the reports I referenced here, Mr. Speaker, have focused on grey seals in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, fishermen for many years have expressed serious and similar concerns about the impact of harp and hooded seals on the recovery of the northern cod stock off the Southern Labrador and Eastern Newfoundland areas, and the cod stock in the Northern Gulf of St. Lawrence.

In Newfoundland and Labrador we are struggling to deal with an ever increasing harp seal population. To that end I have asked a senior scientist at our Centre for Ecosystem Research, Mr. Speaker, to look at this whole issue of cod and seal interaction. The Eastern Canada harp seal herd is now estimated to be about 9 million animals.

Mr. Speaker, we have been advocating for some time that this population needs to be reduced. We are aware that estimating the direct consumption of cod by harp seals is very hard to quantify, but there is clearly direct mortality associated with harp seal predation on cod, and certainly on key prey species that cod rely upon, such as capelin.

It is the position of the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador that we should pursue the management of fish stocks and seals within an ecosystem context, and that we should uphold our responsibilities to the world's biodiversity and the cultural and economic traditions of our societies insofar as and as long as they do not impoverish nor imperil the world's biodiversity.

While science undoubtedly supports the fact that seals have a detrimental impact on fish stock recovery, the biggest obstacle remains the continued rhetoric and misinformation campaign being waged by anti-sealing groups throughout the world. There is no question, Mr. Speaker, that seal products are, in fact, in demand. The barrier is red tape created by those fuelling misinformation and innuendo.

Mr. Speaker, our support for this industry speaks for itself. Our support, for example, for the purchase of pelts this year amounted to a $3.6 million loan for Carino Processing Limited in South Dildo. Almost 70,000 pelts to date have already been harvested this year, an amount that practically doubles the entire harvest for last year. This accomplishment sends a strong message to the anti-sealing groups that they have not accomplished their goal. This will provide hard evidence that the industry, Mr. Speaker, is still viable.

We look forward to later in the year when we will be in a position to access whether the pelts –

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

MR. KING: – and the blubber were received positively into the world markets.

We also continue to advocate with the federal government and work on initiatives that give the industry much hope.

I anticipate meeting with the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans in June, Mr. Speaker. At that time, we will discuss this particular file, we will receive an update on progress for new market access, the Russian ban, and any potential for products to flow through China. We also look forward, Mr. Speaker, to a positive outcome with the EU challenge currently ongoing.

In the meantime, through Budget 2012: People and Prosperity – Responsible Investments for a Secure Future, we have once again allocated $100,000 for sealing industry advocacy and development. This funding will support projects and initiatives that will enhance the image of sealing and promote the product domestically, nationally, and internationally.

Also, Mr. Speaker, in the very near future we will launch an initiative that will provide deep insight on the history of the hunt and why it is important that we protect it. Without giving away too much, Mr. Speaker, I will say that the Minister of Environment and Conservation recently gave a pre-screening of this project to an international audience in South Africa. I have to say it was very highly and positively received.

Mr. Speaker, seals have been a part of our lives for hundreds of years. During that time, the harvest has contributed hundreds of millions of dollars to the provincial economy of Newfoundland and Labrador. Mr. Speaker, even in the last few years the seal harvest has contributed $100 million in total to our economy. Our government will continue to support this humane, sustainable, and viable harvest of our ocean's resources like we do for many other species that have provided economic benefit to our people in the past.

Unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, time does not permit a more detailed response. I would greatly appreciate a future opportunity to discuss our product development initiatives with industry, our product research with Memorial University, and our technical analysis and support of the federal WTO challenge to the EU ban, and the other ongoing legal actions. I would also, Mr. Speaker, encourage the member to review the transcript of my presentation to the federal Senate Committee hearing on the grey seal population in the Gulf, which I delivered on March 29 of this year.

Thank you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: Petitions.

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for St. John's North.

MR. KIRBY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I rise to present a petition for anti-replacement worker legislation.

To the hon. House of Assembly of the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador in Parliament assembled, the petition of the undersigned residents of Newfoundland and Labrador humbly sheweth:

WHEREAS strikes and lockouts are rare and on average, 97 per cent of collective agreements are negotiated without work disruption; and

WHEREAS anti-temporary replacement workers' laws have existed in Quebec since 1978 and British Columbia since 1993, and successive governments in those provinces have never repealed those laws; and

WHEREAS anti-temporary replacement workers legislation has reduced the length and divisiveness of labour disputes; and

WHEREAS the use of temporary replacement workers during a strike or lockout is damaging to the social fabric of a community, the local economy, and the well being of its residents, as evident by the recent use of temporary replacement workers by Ocean Choice International and Vale in Voisey's Bay.

We the undersigned petition the House of Assembly to urge the government to enact legislation banning the use of temporary replacement workers during a strike or lockout.

And as in duty bound your petitioners will ever pray.

Mr. Speaker, this petition has petitioners from the communities of Epworth, Fortune, Point May, and Marystown - quite a number from Point May in fact, Mr. Speaker. I note that the petition sort of explains itself, the damage that is done when workers are unnecessarily idle because employers, as in the case of Ocean Choice International earlier this year, decided to lock them out and to discontinue any productive collective bargaining. I know the government has said on a number of occasions that it would look into enacting such legislation, and I urge the government to hear these petitioners and to bring this legislation forward as soon as possible.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Burgeo – La Poile.

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

I have a petition to the hon. House of Assembly for the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador in Parliament assembled.

The petition of the undersigned residents humbly sheweth:

WHEREAS home care allows the elderly and people with disabilities to remain within the comfort and security of their own homes, home care also allows for people to be discharged from hospital earlier; and

WHEREAS many families find it very difficult to recruit and retain home care workers for their loved ones; and

WHEREAS the PC Blue Book 2011 as well as the 2012 Speech from the Throne committed that government would develop a new model of home care and give people the option of receiving that care from family members; and

WHEREAS government has given no time commitment for when government plans to implement paying family caregivers;

WHEREUPON the undersigned, your petitioners, humbly pray and call upon the House of Assembly to implement a new home care model to cover family caregivers in 2012-2013.

And in duty bound your petitioners will ever pray.

Mr. Speaker, this is an issue that has come up quite frequently, both before the election, during the election, and after the election. It is probably the number one topic that I have received e-mails and calls from since I was elected. It affects people all over my district, in every community. It is a promise that has been made but has not been kept, Mr. Speaker.

As we know, it is hard to recruit home care workers in rural areas and many of these family members are actually already doing home care elsewhere. In this case, we have people who have family that are left with no choice but to quit their jobs to come home and take care of their family members. Again, that is really a double whammy. We should be paying these people so they can take care of their own family members. We do not have the people in a lot of these communities to do it already.

We also have to deal with a shortage of homes and accommodations for seniors, especially in rural districts. We have people waiting and we are not getting an answer to this issue. People are relying on a promise that this issue is going to be remedied. The answers received thus far have been, in certain cases, contradictory and certainly not acceptable.

One can only hope that this is going to be forthcoming, and forthcoming very soon, Mr. Speaker. Until then, I will continue to bring concerns of my people to this House.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. JOYCE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I present a petition here today concerning cellphone coverage.

WHEREAS the lack of cellular phone coverage in Lark Harbour, York Harbour, and Frenchman's Cove is a major safety concern for residents, especially in times of emergency; and

WHEREAS the lack of cellular phone coverage restricts and negatively impacts local businesses in the area as compared to most other areas of the Province; and

WHEREAS the tourism destinations in our area are without cellular phone coverage, causing a safety concern and inconvenience for tourists who visit; furthermore, the lack of cellular phone coverage can be a deterrent for people in choosing our region as a tourist destination; and

WHEREAS the residents of Lark Harbour, York Harbour, and Frenchman's Cove should have the same cellular coverage available as other areas of Newfoundland and Labrador that in some cases have long had such service;

WHEREUPON the undersigned, your petitioners, humbly pray and call upon the House of Assembly to urge government to support our request to obtain cellular phone coverage.

As in duty bound, your petitioners will every pray.

Mr. Speaker, this is another petition I am presenting on behalf of the people of the Bay of Islands concerning this issue. As we all know, I am after standing in the House on numerous occasions to present it. From my understanding from the minister, the minister is meeting with some federal counterparts and local providers to see what can be done for all of Newfoundland and Labrador. This is an important issue, not just for the Bay of Islands, but for all of Newfoundland and Labrador for people without cellphone coverage.

Once again, I offer my services to the minister if he needs it, for the local providers out on the West Coast. I already had meetings out in Lark Harbour for the people of York Harbour and Lark Harbour, and in Cox's Cove for the people of Cox's Cove and McIver's concerning this. They are very frustrated. They understand that it is a cost issue, but we are asking that if there is some way that the provincial government, in consultation with the federal government, and maybe partnership with the federal government and local providers to find some way to help spread the cost so that we can provide this service.

As I said on many occasions, Mr. Speaker, this is by no means a slight on the government, because I understand the ability of the government when it is under federal regulations, but I think it is incumbent upon the government and the minister to start these negotiations and get all these parties together so that we, as all members of the House of Assembly, can participate and offer our support.

From all these petitions that we have presented, you have the support of a lot of residents in Newfoundland and Labrador, Minister, so at any time, when you start the meetings and start to get the three or four groups together, count me in for the meetings; I am sure that I will be speaking on behalf of all the residents that need cellphone coverage in the Bay of Islands.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for St. John's Centre.

MS ROGERS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

To the hon. House of Assembly of the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador in Parliament assembled, the petition of the undersigned residents of Newfoundland and Labrador humbly sheweth:

WHEREAS as a result of a recommendation in the Green Report about wrongdoing in the House of Assembly, there is now legislation that protects anyone who speaks up with evidence of financial abuse or other impropriety in the legislative branch;

WHEREAS it is unfair for one group of civil servants to be protected by whistle-blower legislation when another group is not;

WHEREAS Justice Green stated that the financial wrongdoing in the House of Assembly might have been discovered sooner if whistle-blower legislation had been in place;

WHEREAS the Cameron Inquiry into ER-PR testing found that problems with tests would have come to light sooner, therefore lessening the impacts on patients, if whistle-blower legislation had been in place;

WHEREAS the Task Force on Adverse Events recommended an amendment to the Regional Health Authorities Act to provide legal protection for employees reporting occurrences or adverse events;

WHEREAS whistle-blower legislation is in place elsewhere in Canada, and the provincial government promised similar legislation in the 2007 election but has not kept that promise;

We the undersigned petition the House of Assembly to urge government to enact whistle-blower legislation to protect public sector employees and provincial departments and agencies, including public corporations, regional health authorities, and school boards.

As in duty bound, your petitioners will ever pray.

Mr. Speaker, since we have introduced this petition I have received many calls from constituents and from our workers across the Province saying that they want to see this legislation enacted, particularly when we look at our future and our near future, when we look at the large resource development projects that are being undertaken in our Province, and that will be undertaken very shortly. It is about workplace health and safety, it is about environmental issues, and it is about having a clearly articulated whistle-blower protection legislation that workers can depend on. It is about the health and safety of our prisoners at Her Majesty's Penitentiary and the health and safety of our workers at Her Majesty's Penitentiary. It is about the telemetry issues at St. Clare's Hospital and at the Health Sciences Centre, it is about our nurses, and it is about search and rescue.

We know, Mr. Speaker, that many people want to speak out but they fear for their jobs. They have no reason not to fear for their jobs if we do not have a clearly articulated whistle-blower protection legislation. It is about workers' rights; it is about honouring the commitment that this government made to the people of Newfoundland and Labrador. It is about respecting the people of Newfoundland and Labrador by honouring and fulfilling that commitment that was so clearly made. Mr. Speaker, this is a progressive move, and to not do so at this point in our history is indefensible in a modern democracy.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

MR. MITCHELMORE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I present a petition today to reinvest in rural broadband initiatives.

To the hon. House of Assembly of the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador in Parliament assembled, the petition of the undersigned residents of Newfoundland and Labrador humbly sheweth:

WHEREAS in the District of The Straits – White Bay North, despite the $4 million Rural Broadband Initiative announcement on December 22, 2011, only one community, Ship Cove, is slated for broadband coverage; and

WHEREAS the communities of Pines Cove, Eddies Cove East, Bide Arm, North Boat Harbour, L'Anse aux Meadows, Great Brehat, St. Carol's, Goose Cove, Grandois, and St. Anthony Bight still remain without services; and

WHEREAS many small businesses within the district rely on Internet to conduct business; and

WHEREAS broadband Internet permits a business to be more competitive than slower, dial-up service; and

WHEREAS broadband Internet enhances primary, secondary, post-secondary, and further educational opportunities;

We the undersigned petition the House of Assembly to urge the government to reinvest in rural broadband initiatives in Newfoundland and Labrador.

As in duty bound your petitioners will ever pray.

Mr. Speaker, we have quite a ways to go to see full coverage of broadband Internet in Newfoundland and Labrador. We are the worst Province in Canada when it comes to broadband Internet coverage.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

MR. MITCHELMORE: Mr. Speaker, I have seen on the Great Northern Peninsula as I worked in business previously, where I have tried to help people set up business; since then, business has closed because they have not had access to broadband Internet.

I can think of a business in Hawke's Bay that was selling clothing, a great boutique, and wanted to get on using Facebook and using on-line selling in stores to promote their sales, promotions, and put up new offerings to reach out to a younger demographic and also the people who are using Facebook; the growing market is females over fifty years old.

This is a great opportunity for business, but without broadband initiatives and without greater enhancement to all parts of Newfoundland and Labrador – we have seen in St. Joseph's where a business is closing because they cannot get access to webinars. We are limiting opportunity in Newfoundland and Labrador for those who really want to live in rural Newfoundland and Labrador. Government needs to step up on these initiatives and really put broadband so that it is enhanced.

We have seen a pullback from the federal government because they did announce that by 2015 they would have broadband and now it is up to 2019. We have many gaps to go there, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: Orders of the Day.

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

MR. KENNEDY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I call from the Order Paper, Order 1, that this House approve in general the budgetary policy of the government.

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for St. John's East.

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

It is a pleasure again to stand up on behalf of the people in Newfoundland and Labrador and the people in my district and talk about the Budget and express a little bit of dismay in some cases on issues that are contained within the Budget, as well as talk about some of the positive initiatives that we have seen in the Budget. Again, it is a great pleasure to do that.

Mr. Speaker, I will quantify the remarks by talking about some of the things that have been missed with regard to a couple of constituents that I have in my district. A couple of those constituents find themselves in a bit of a bind; they were almost borderline in some of the things that we see in the Budget.

I will start off with the first two examples, I guess, talking about Newfoundland and Labrador Housing and the need for greater subsidies and the recognition that there has to be the setting up of a separate government entity that we would like to call a housing division. While government can get up and talk about the fact that Newfoundland and Labrador Housing is there, it is really not the same thing because while they are dealing with housing issues, at the same time as that we are also dealing with the whole matter of the whole circle of putting and keeping a roof over somebody's head and making life more affordable for those people at the same time so that they can live in comfort.

One of those people who I have is directly caught in that particular circle where they are a senior, seventy-six years of age, drawing a pension, a fixed-income, and they find themselves being squat out of a market where they are actually needing a subsidy but are being told that all of the subsidies are gone, that all of the money has already been accounted for and, hence, they are having to be forced to look for a cheaper form of accommodation for themselves and not being able to find it in the real estate market that we are finding in St. John's. St. John's is a place of great wealth and it is doing very well, but some of the people are not.

Mr. Speaker, we are disappointed to see that there is no more money in there for subsidies and what has been granted, and we know that the problem is going to be getting even greater than that one particular case. Like I said when you are seventy-six years old and you have served yourself in the best means that you can to the members of the public and you were a former government worker, you would certainly hope that government would be there to help you when it is needed, and the time right now for that need is very great.

The second thing that I would like to talk about for a constituent of mine who happens to be caught in a very different predicament, but I guess not one that would be endeared by other people in the Province. This one has to deal with the provincial drug program and expresses the need why we should have seen a stronger investment in a drug program that would encompass all seniors, regardless of income, and have their needs met. This particular person is just outside that borderline as well when it comes to the income cut off level that the Newfoundland and Labrador drug program covers. This person is making – the household income that is between the man and wife – approximately $31,500 in the run of a year. The reason why they have –

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

MR. MURPHY: – that much income in the first place, they are out there in the workforce and they are trying – the man is; the wife is home sick with varying degrees of illnesses. The private insurance program that they have, their costs are approximately $400 to $450 in the run of a month. This woman is severely ill, but God love her she is trying. The man of the household is trying to keep the house going and that is the reason why he works so much. That is the reason why there is a $31,500 income level there, but the whole problem now is that he works so hard to try to get the money to pay for the drugs that the family ended up over that borderline cut off of $30,000, so now they do not qualify for the drug program.

Mr. Speaker, if there is any one change that I would like to see in that drug program, if government is going to keep it right around where it currently sits, is the simple fact that if any family has to pay for drugs like that – and we are talking almost $5,000 a year that this family has to pay out for drugs on an annual basis - if there is any one change that I would like to see, it is for a case like this. If we are talking about a $31,500 income and the income is $30,000, the government should take into account how much money this family has spent in the past year in order to make these people qualify for drug coverage. In other words, the $31,500 less the cost of the drugs that they spent, put it down to about $20,000 or $25,000 or whatever the number works out to – $25,500, I think – and allow that family to qualify for drugs.

It is fairly easy for government to address the needs of some people who are being lost within the system. This is just one case. I would hope that I will be writing the Health Minister on that to let her know my views as regards to that, and to hopefully catch more people and allow them to be covered under the drug program.

Those are two very unique cases in my district where the Budget actually hinders families rather than helps. Now, I will say it, Minister: It is a good program. We are not there yet. We would certainly like to see a universal drug coverage program in this Province.

To the Minister Responsible for Housing I say that we would like to see a government program by which, if there is going to be people who are going to be left behind when it comes to keeping a roof over their heads, it is the government's responsibility. It is also the responsibility of everybody in this House, for the Opposition and for our party as well, to bring up the notion that we have a responsibility to help families keep roofs over their heads so they will have a place to be in comfort like everybody else.

Those are two things that are immediate, to my mind, when it comes to this Budget. I ask government to keep in mind these particular things and why I do not like these particular items in the Budget. Albeit, like I said, some of these initiatives are very positive.

I will come back to Municipal Affairs, and some of the things that I did see in the Municipal Affairs budget. We are a little bit of a hindrance. The one thing I did notice, particularly against last year's Budget, when it came to the replacement of our emergency vehicles and everything for the various departments, the numbers for Fire and Emergency Services are about 10 per cent of what they were last year. There is a very strong need for the replacement of firefighting equipment out there amongst municipalities. We know that a lot of these services are shared within regions, and we would certainly like to see more money sunk into that department.

When it comes to Transportation and Works, again I will address it, that I do know the minister in Estimates last night was kind enough to tell us that he would be forwarding off the study of the fixed link between Newfoundland and Labrador. At that same time, I would also like to say that when it comes to the fixed link – and I will express the need again how great it is and what it can do, not only for the people of the Island portion of the Province, Newfoundland, but as well as for the people of Labrador, that it would knock down the cost of consumer goods coming in and out of the Province, exports from the Province, down an awful lot and give us a competitive advantage in the North American market. Not only would we be thinking that Halifax would be the North American gateway to North America and to Canada and the United States, but we could possibly be talking about St. John's and the immediate area, the Northeast Avalon, for example, or any other part of the Island portion of the Province becoming a competitive gateway and entranceway into the North American market.

I would ask government to revisit that and to make sure that these numbers are updated, and probably to keep revisiting this issue. Not only for the potential that is has, but also because the need is great as well for the people in Labrador in bringing down consumer prices. Like I said, I do not know how many people might have been disturbed when they saw it as much as I was, when we saw that picture on the CBC Web site of the $7 local bread. I think that told us volumes on what should be happening.

As regards to Environment and Conservation, we would like to see government introduce a new ban on more chemicals, the addition of more chemicals into the ban. We would have liked to have seen more money put into education into the alternate use of pesticides, as well as more money into the enforcement program that is there. That element, the education element was not delivered in this Budget and it was very disappointing to see.

The other matter when it comes to Environment and Conservation, I think that is rather important to talk about and was not readily seen in the Budget was more money to go towards food security. I know this was a very great issue in the news yesterday. We are talking about Newfoundland and Labrador of course, about twenty years ago had - when it came to, for example, talking about vegetables, Newfoundland and Labrador farmers had approximately 40 per cent of the market here in Newfoundland and Labrador when it came to vegetables. Right now it is down to about 10 per cent. So, the question has to be asked on the part of government, can we do a little bit more to ensure the growing of food and vegetables, subsidizing of farmers, and the helping out of farmers? We do know that they have had some good initiatives with regard to what they have done, for example, to various initiatives like the Food Security Network. We would like to see a greater investment done in that regard to ensure food security.

We also know, from Olivier De Schutter's visit to Canada yesterday and his little press conference, we have 800,000 households in Canada that are in danger here because they are not getting the right foods to eat. This is also a medical issue, Mr. Speaker, and just another reason why we would like to see more money put into it. When you are talking 800,000 homes and the possibility of a family of four in each household, you could be talking about 2.4 million people in this country – and that is shameful to say, 2.4 million people in this country who are not eating right or in danger somehow because they cannot get their hands on food supplies, that sort of thing. We ask government to put more money into initiatives that would ensure food security in this Province and ensure growth of our farming sector.

With regard to the need for more money to address these food concerns, we would certainly hope that in talking about food security, we would also hope that some of these monies would benefit the people in Labrador and the possibility of more food initiatives, for example, for the growing of food in Labrador. We know that back years ago, there were some initiatives with regard to growing food. We are talking about back in the early 1900s when the first settlers were up there. We know about the Cartwrights, for example, and their green housing installations.

We do know that there are some prime regions for the growing of vegetables in Labrador, so there should be some more focus particularly as well on the farming sector in Labrador. Contrary to popular belief, it is not cold up there all the time. As a matter of fact, they have probably warmer summers than what we do here on the Island portion of the Province.

As regards to the things that government should have done as well, I think that there should have been more money towards, for example, an effort towards the progression of the shipbuilding industry in this Province. We know that there was some weakness in what had been happening with shipbuilding, particularly when it came from government supporting the initiative on the Burin Peninsula in support of the JSS contracts. We lost between $30 billion and $35 billion worth of shipbuilding.

We are seeing a generation of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians having to go away to the mainland to work now. We think that government should be addressing this concern. We have several fine shipyards in this Province, the biggest of which would be down in the Marystown area, and we be getting more done here; of course, the example of that, just the other day: the agreement between Kiewit and the provincial government here in building that third ferry boat. We are particularly happy to see that initiative proceed now but what we need to see is that boat on the water –

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

MR. MURPHY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

At the same time, we have to see the initiative behind the construction of new ferry boats proceed.

Mr. Speaker, from what I can see with regard to this Budget, it was really disappointing; there was a lot of focus here on Nalcor, the money that was given to Nalcor. I hear it all the time on the street, $664 million, and at the same time we are talking about people that are hungry out there. We are talking about people that are not getting that extra $50 for a home subsidy. We have to ask ourselves about the ethics behind that. We know that government has a plan in place to possibly generate revenue in the Province in the future through Muskrat Falls. We are not there yet as a party; we believe that it has to be proven to be economically sustainable, beneficial, and environmentally sound. We are just not there yet, Mr. Speaker. As a party we are not prepared to support the construction of it until we have all our questions answered, it is as simple as that. We are looking forward to the debate on that.

I am going to throw out a couple of points now to the government side and hopefully they will understand where we are coming from when it comes to talking about the other options that are out there. Of course, we all know about the wind energy potential here in the Province, the potential for municipalities, for example, to generate their own revenue. If the moratorium that was placed on electrical generation and having that put into the grid was lifted, the question is: would we be asking ourselves, would we be asking municipalities, would we hear the argument from municipalities that they need more money? If they had the chance to put more electricity into the grid at the same time, it may very well answer the Island portion question about the need for electricity. We would not be asking about the future needs of the Province because that answer would already have been given by the municipalities.

You have to ask that question and ask government why that moratorium has not been lifted or, indeed, why a program of the generation of electricity would not be shared amongst communities or regions, for example, so that not only would they have a chance to generate revenue but they would be allowed to put electricity in the grid and address Island needs.

The second thing I would like to say about natural gas, and I heard the natural resources minister get up the other day and give his views on natural gas, saying that we are not there yet; he talked about the shipping, the liquefaction of natural gas, the compression of natural gas, so I am going to ask the question straight out. When it comes to the next oil development that is happening offshore, we have to ask the oil companies if there is going to be a natural gas compression capability aboard that platform when it is built. So that when the day comes for this natural gas to be landed in the Province, we have to ask the question: Are they going to have the capability to pump it? We need to put our shoulders to the grindstone to find out the answers from the oil companies if these integral parts have been put into the design.

A second thing I would like to say about natural gas, it is pretty easy to send it in by pipeline rather than have it shipped. Shipping is probably, according to Bruneau, a little bit more unsound than what it is by pipeline. Pipeline we are talking, according to Mr. Bruneau, 380 kilometres between the present fields that are out on the Grand Banks to the Holyrood facility. That is not saying that we would not decommission the Holyrood facility of course and put in a whole new facility that is going to be more beneficial.

The other thing I would like to say about natural gas is that you have to do it now. The reason why you have to do it now is because you have to be prepared when the price is going to go up. I am going to challenge the Natural Resources Minister on this particular fact. Natural gas prices are not going to stay down for a really long time for one simple reason: fracking. Fracking is dangerous. There is going to be so much environmental kickback from fracking that you are going to see the price of natural gas gradually start to rise.

That is just a theory on my part, but I have questioned a couple of my friends who are out there who I ask from time to time what their views on natural gas are. Their diverging opinion is that you might have an awful lot of gases out there that would be recovered in the form of fracking, but at the same time as saying that the dangers of fracking to water supplies, for example, and the environmental damage that it can cause is probably going to allow the price of natural gas, stranded natural gas in big pools such as we see from the various areas offshore here, you are going to see the price of that rise over a certain time.

I still think that it is viable and we should be thinking about the three things that we would get from natural gas, rather than the one thing that we get from water. We may get a couple of cents a kilowatt hour when it comes to the generation of electricity. If we generate electricity from natural gas, we get, number one, an alternate form of heating, for example, for homes in the future and we get a secondary industry in the sale of natural gas supplies, that sort of thing. That is all by-product of it. The second thing that we are going to get is the possibility of being able to export natural gas. If we liquefy it onshore, we are going to be able to take the things like butane, that sort of thing, put it in a separate plant and have an onshore petrochemical industry at the same time when natural gas comes onshore.

The third we are going to have is a natural –

MR. SPEAKER (Verge): Order, please!

I remind the member his time for speaking has expired.

MR. MURPHY: By leave to clue up?

MR. SPEAKER: Does the member have leave?

AN HON. MEMBER: By leave.

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for St. John's East, with leave.

MR. MURPHY: Thank you, Sir.

The third thing, the simple fact is we are going to have electricity being able to be generated by natural gas. There is no reason to think that under section 34 of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Act we cannot think imaginatively when it comes to using natural gas. We can take natural gas in kind from the oil companies now. That is my understanding after reading that part of the act. We can generate electricity at the same time as that.

There is no reason to think that we cannot go from east to west when it comes to the exporting of electricity. If that is the way it is going to be done, generated onshore, develop your natural gas onshore at the same time, and make it benefit Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. If you are going to export natural gas, make it benefit the Provincial Treasury at the same time when oil is on the decline.

Mr. Speaker, I am going to leave it at that. I thank you for the extra time to do that. At the same time, while there are some good measures in this Budget, I will be voting against it basically because there are going to be a lot of people left out.

I will leave you with one more line, with one quote: If you want to grow prosperity for a year, then grow grain. If you want to grow it for ten years, you grow trees. If you want it to last 100 years, you grow people. Right now, for the initiatives that this Budget missed, Mr. Speaker, I cannot see it growing people.

Thank you very much.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. HUTCHINGS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

It is certainly a pleasure to rise today, Mr. Speaker, and speak to the main motion of Budget 2012. It is certainly an honour, too, to stand in the House as a representative for the people of the Ferryland district, who has given me the opportunity to represent them here in the hon. House. It is a district that is quite significant. It goes from Petty Harbour-Maddox Cove south to St. Shotts.

In the past number of years there have been investments by this government, whether it is infrastructure, various health care, post-secondary, in our seniors, or various aspects of community development. I have seen it first and foremost in my region and worked with all of those community groups, our volunteer groups, councils, and local service districts. A portion of my district takes in the City of St. John's, so working with the council and the City of St. John's on a whole range of issues.

Mr. Speaker, as you know, as many members would know, infrastructure is extremely important in terms of roads, in terms of transportation. We have seen a significant improvement in my district, there is more to do. We have invested in areas towards Trepassey, right from areas like Ferryland to Fermeuse, the upgrading of Route 10. We did some work last year on Witless Bay Line. That is a connector highway from the Southern Shore to the Trans-Canada, a very important infrastructure. Municipalities did a lot of work on roads in Ferryland, the Town of Ferryland, in Bay Bulls itself, last year in Witless Bay. The project was almost $3 million in terms of significant road infrastructure, which is so important. There was some work in Petty Harbour, Maddox Cove as well, and certainly significant.

Mr. Speaker, I wanted to speak to and acknowledge the volunteers, as I mentioned earlier. Those people whether they are in a fire brigade. I have worked closely with the fire brigades in my area. I recognize the great work they do. Through the initiatives of this government, we delivered last year a new fire truck to the Town of Ferryland to assist that fire brigade. Last year I was with the hon. Minister of Municipal Affairs, we were in Trepassey and announced at that time that funding had been approved for a new truck for the Town of Trepassey. Hopefully, that will be delivered this year, another extremely important piece of infrastructure.

For smaller communities, if it is St. Shotts, Portugal Cove South, we have done enhancements in regard to water enhancements that are so important for small communities. An initiative we brought in a number of years ago, I think it was 2008, in regard to a new cost-shared ratio for municipalities with less than 3,000 people, a 90-10 ratio where the municipality would only pay 10 per cent. We have seen that is so vital to rural Newfoundland and Labrador. I know firsthand, in those small communities infrastructure was in such poor state, that allowed these small communities to access infrastructure at a 10 per cent rate to help rebuild their communities, put in things like I said, water, upgrade water, roads, and help with some small infrastructure projects.

Portugal Cove South, a $15,000 grant to assist with upgrades to the community centre there in Portugal Cove South, which is so important. Right down along through my district, Mr. Speaker, it is so important. We looked at participating in upgrades with the federal government, the Southern Shore Arena; the twenty-fifth anniversary, a great celebration a little while back that I had the pleasure of attending. After twenty-five years, significant upgrades were done, close to half a million dollars, and now that facility is set and ready to go for years to come.

Again, in that region, on the lower end of the shore, we partnered with the federal government on a new Lifestyle Centre in Bay Bulls. A $4.3 million facility that is up and operational now. For the whole region, in terms of healthy living and what we can do, it is first-rate and a fabulous facility. The provincial government was the majority partner in funding that. As well, we have a forty-eight space daycare, state of the art, which is attached to that facility.

I had the Minister of Child, Youth and Family Services up with me last year to open that facility. She indicated at the time, through her efforts, has been around the Province and recognizes that is a model and a state-of-the-art facility, and we are delighted to have it. We recognize that we as a government, and her as minister, recognize the need for early childhood development. We have a strategy, we are moving it forward, and this reflects that. We appreciate it in my district, the work we have done in that area and how we are moving forward.

Mr. Speaker, I had an opportunity a little while back, I was in Petty Harbour for the seventy-fifth anniversary of the New Hope Anglican Church, seventy-five years. I mentioned that just as an example. We had a service there, after that we went over to the community centre. There were a number of people around, but just that whole community spirit, with the volunteers who have been there year after year and the commitment they make. It is generational, Mr. Speaker, families have been involved, whether it is church, community, a whole other range of activities, those people are always there, and I want to recognize those. That is just one example.

I had an opportunity some time back to attend the Irish Loop Development Board volunteer awards. A great night in Bay Bulls Lifestyle Centre recognizing those people who have made a life-long commitment to volunteerism, and how important it is for our community and regions as we continue to grow and do the things we need to do, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I just wanted to mention as well, a couple of events that I had the opportunity to participate in. As you may have known, in April was the commemoration of the Titanic sinking. In my district we had some work done in Portugal Cove South. I was there for the opening of the wireless station at Cape Race. Through IBRD we did approximately a $200,000 investment for the wireless station, which was the first to receive the SOS signal from the Titanic. As part of that commemoration, again, volunteers. The Portugal Cove South-Cape Race Heritage Group had a year of planning. For pretty well over a year we met and put together a first-class, national and international event which had a week of activities which was so very successful. Certainly, hats off to them.

At the opening, I was delighted to have the hon. Minister of Tourism up that day and out to Cape Race. We had an opportunity to meet with the folks there and celebrate the work that was done, recognizing the history there; a strong history it is for Newfoundland and Labrador. As well, the Minister of Environment and Conservation was up that day. Thankful to him, the two ministers, for coming up with me, recognizing the contributions being made, and recognizing the event.

Also, Mr. Speaker, on that day, on the way out to Cape Race is the Mistaken Point Ecological Reserve, which, now, is fantastic; over 600 million-year-old fossil sites, it is world-renowned. This year in our provincial commercials, as anybody would notice, there is a little boy out around by the fossil bed. That is from Mistaken Point Ecological Reserve.

Both of the ministers and I were up to Cape Race for the opening of the wireless station, did that morning go early and actually went out to Mistaken Point. It was the first time both ministers were there. I encourage everybody this year to make a trip to Cape Race – Portugal Cove South, Mistaken Point. We are working to get UNESCO World Heritage site designation for that. Through various departments, we have invested over $800,000 now.

There is an interpretation site in Portugal Cove South where you stop through the Parks Division. It is tour by registration, so you need to register actually to get that tour; I encourage everybody to do it. It is a big part of economic development in the area. We believe it continues to grow. Last year, I think we had about 6,000 people through. That continues to grow and looking forward to that, Mr. Speaker, for the region. As I spoke earlier, in terms of those people who are involved with the community, the volunteer work they are doing is fantastic; we need them as we move forward.

Mr. Speaker, I wanted to take a few minutes too in regard to the Budget to talk about – it is related to my department, IBRD. I am responsible for the Research & Development Corporation. We talk about, and our government has consistently talked about diversification and sustainability. How you do that is diversify the economy. You build on your traditional industries, which we have done and which we will continue to do, but you look outwards; you say: what else do we have that we can expand on, we can invest in, and we can move forward?

Research and development is a key component of that. What that brings with it, it brings with it academia, it brings with it business and industry, and it brings a knowledge-based industry and drives with the post-secondary, drives an opportunity for our young people. That opportunity can be in research and can be in development. It can be in commercialization through the entrepreneurial stage, where they take that idea, it is incubated, and it is moved a long to market, which we see.

In IBRD we work with the Genesis Centre at Memorial with regard to bringing those ideas to life so they can be patented, brought forward, and commercialized; then it is a new industry, it is a new market. We have people involved with that today here in the Province, doing quite well. We continue to support it and we will continue to support it in years to come.

Yesterday, specific to that, I was able to get a ministerial statement talking to the whole issue of life sciences and how important it is as we move forward and diversify our economy and diversify as a people, looking at research in such areas as bio-fuels, agri-foods, pharmaceuticals, bio-pesticides, and a whole range of other areas in the agriculture sector. What we are seeing down on the Connaigre Peninsula now in regard to the closure of Harbour Breton years ago, and what would happen, and how would things go; through the agriculture sector, through us participating with the private sector, we have seen a new growth, we have seen a new region. That is what we believe in this Province in terms of diversification. When the opportunity exists, we need to be there to work with all the partners to maximize the opportunities. That is what we see in life sciences; as I said, research and development is so important.

Just an example of that, I had an opportunity, I spoke yesterday with regard to being at Memorial University; we invested $750,000 in genetic research and Dr. Terry-Lynn Young, the tremendous work she has done in terms of identifying a gene that is tied to sudden cardiac syndrome, which basically was identified by Dr. Young and her team here. Due to our unique gene pool, the research that was isolated and identified by her and her team and is recognized nationally and internationally for what that means. We are supporting that because we believe through that comes diversity, and that is through research and development and the things we need to do.

That investment, Mr. Speaker, as well, we are putting a $17 million contribution into the $28 million Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Human Genetics which is now being built, which is still expanding that genre, if you will, to make sure that we are on the leading edge and we are out there, because other jurisdictions are there too. What that means, too, if we are leaders in research and development, we are getting some of the brightest and best students from here. We want to retain them. We are also getting students from around the world, certainly around Canada and internationally.

I had an opportunity through another program that we sponsored through the Research & Development Corporation to be at Memorial. We give particular funding to Ph.D. and master's students who are in research and development. I was there to represent the RDC. We had about twelve recipients for the year. I spoke to a young man there who is actually from Pakistan. I asked him: How did you come to study at Memorial? He had done an undergrad degree in Pakistan. He said he had done some research, identified Memorial, saw from the perspective of the information he gathered and what were doing here in Newfoundland and Labrador in terms of Memorial and research and development, and thought this was the type of research he wanted to do. So, now he is here.

That is innovation, too, Mr. Speaker, because it is the exchange of ideas. We cannot be closed shop in terms of the exchange of ideas and how they get translated. We bring people in, we go elsewhere to study, and through all of that we have innovation. We continue the knowledge base and the growth, which is so important, Mr. Speaker.

We continue to invest this year in the RDC. We have approximately $24 million in the Budget for various programs. That is industry related to the oil and gas sector, ocean technology, fishing industry, mining industry, life sciences, and right across the board, Mr. Speaker. We know and we made the commitment that it is so important to our economy and to our people that we need to be part of this overall industry. We are there and we are working towards it. To date, there is about $50 million that has been invested since 2009 in the various projects. There is a suite of programs under the Research & Development Corporation that continue to drive it. We are going to be there as we play the role.

I will just give a few examples, Mr. Speaker. In terms of high-quality people, which is so important, we have the Ocean Industries Student Research Awards, a program introduced since 2010. We have forty-two students who have received this award for a total of $1.9 million. They focus on local, national, international graduates – as I talked about the gentleman from Pakistan – as well as undergraduate students pursuing higher education in industry-relevant research at Memorial University and the College of the North Atlantic. From there, we hope to retain those people. We are seeing they are retained here, based on the various industries we have here and based on the growth we are seeing here in the Province. That will continue to drive our economy, but also ensure we have leading-edge research and academia in the Province. Some will be from here and some will be from other parts. We are certainly seeing that and we are quite pleased with the efforts to date.

As well we have the Industrial R&D Fellowships Program partnered with Natural Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada to fund Industrial R&D Fellowships in Newfoundland and Labrador. There have been three fellowships granted. RDC commits up to $30,000 per year, per graduate, for a maximum of two years. Once again, we are promoting research, supporting it, and continuing to evolve where we need to be.

Another program, IgniteR&D, is an academic-led program to attract highly qualified academic researchers that build new research and development capacity. Again, we are improving our capacity. Under this program, we have seen an investment of $1.7 million to Memorial University of Newfoundland to support fourteen related health projects, and over $240,000 to the College of the North Atlantic to support an additional two projects.

We are working with our post-secondary institutions, which are certainly world renown. I had an opportunity at Memorial with some of the work being done with the engineering faculty again this year. We provided some assistance in terms of expansion there which is very much needed, a very hot commodity in terms of the engineering field, engineers, so we are certainly recognizing that and supporting it. It also goes to the innovation component up again, Mr. Speaker. I talked earlier about the incubation of ideas and moving them along to business continuum. It is so important to get those ideas because evolves into new industries and new opportunities for us overall.

Other areas that are important to us, certainly to the Research & Development Corporation, the Centre for Fisheries Ecosystems Research in support of fisheries research. RDC committed $1.5 million over five years for the Marine Institute Centre for Fisheries Ecosystems Research. We certainly recognize, as I said before when I started, it is traditional industries but it is also new industries, new research, that we can identify in the life sciences or others that certainly diversify our economy and diversify our capacity. It is very important.

Another one I had an opportunity to participate in was the Research Chairs. The Research & Development Corporation contributed $1 million over five years to create the Statoil Associate Chair in reservoir engineering at Memorial University. Mr. Speaker, that was looking at how we access oil from seabed in terms of a reservoir, how you fully maximize the extraction of that, as well $1 million from Statoil and from the RDC, but that is a perfect example of the partnership between academia, the industry, and the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador applying R&D to something that is quite relevant to us now, but on a go-forward basis too, to maximize applied science for an increase in the amount of oil that we can extract, which returns revenues back to us. It certainly helps the industry, but as well improves on our knowledge and expertise so we can sell that around the world from our people that have developed that expertise and knowledge.

So, Mr. Speaker, I am certainly pleased – my time is winding up here – certainly quite impressed with the Research and Development Corporation and what they are doing, the leading role they are playing in diversifying our economy, both through our traditional industries and those other industries. Again, this year we will have close to $24 million and continue to move that along.

With that, Mr. Speaker, I conclude my remarks, but finally to say this Budget is visionary in terms of where it is going, it is continuing the commitment this government made to the people of Newfoundland and Labrador, and it is certainly a great Budget again this year.

Thank you very much.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

The hon. the Member for Torngat Mountains.

MR. EDMUNDS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

It is again good to have the opportunity to speak to this Budget. As I pointed out earlier, Mr. Speaker, there are many good points about this Budget that have been brought forward, no doubt, by the members opposite. As well, there are flaws in this Budget that have been identified and put forward by this side of the House. Mr. Speaker, I think that this ensures a healthy debate.

Mr. Speaker, Labrador is roughly three times the size of Newfoundland. Although we are vast, we do have a lot of common issues. First of all, I would like to address some of the comments made by the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs, probably, no doubt, in response to some of my comments. Mr. Speaker, whether the minister believes it or not, there is not a district in this Province that is totally content with this Budget, and it includes Torngat Mountains. I must point out that I am happy with the recognition of my district in this Budget. Again, with the level of need in every district in this House, including the district of my hon. Member for Exploits, budgets come up short. Having said that, Mr. Speaker, I say this with the full realization that no Budget, I think, ever has or ever will address and erase the problems that we have in our Province.

Mr. Speaker, I have to point out that the issues that I brought forward are real. I bring them across as a voice. These are not issues that I have fabricated, Mr. Speaker; these issues I have identified impact the very core of our livelihood. There are primary issues that deal with impacts on our lives. It deals with staying above the poverty line and, I think, more importantly, raising to the level of the poverty line from below the level of the poverty line. That is the reason I bring these concerns forward.

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and myself are new to this political forum. I will give the hon. member the benefit of the doubt. No doubt I have heard the minister pride himself on his accomplishments. I accept that we are new and that the concerns are being brought forward from my district. On that note, I will continue to bring forward the concerns from the Aboriginal community. In terms of the minister's ability to address these issues, Mr. Speaker, I will give the minister the benefit of the doubt, because we are new.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to make some comments in response to the Member for Lake Melville. As I said, Labrador is vast, but issues are very, very common. In the member's last address to the Budget, I heard him speak in support of the Muskrat Falls deal and how it will benefit the people of Labrador and the endless opportunities. Mr. Speaker, I think it was just last spring, and it made me think about it, that the member addressed a joint panel review committee on Muskrat Falls, where the comments there were totally opposite of the comments that he made in his Budget address. It confuses me. It confuses me because they are in such direct contrast. As a representative of the people, Mr. Speaker, I would like to assure the Member for Lake Melville that the questions he asked at the Joint Review Panel will be asked in any debate. Lake Melville and Lab West are certainly not in my district but sometimes you feel compelled to do so because of the hundreds of messages and hundreds of phone calls that have come forward. That is just some comments on another side in Labrador.

I would like to take a few minutes, Mr. Speaker, to talk about transportation. It was confirmed during Estimates that the motor vessel Astron, which was in place before the Dutch Runner, will be used to deliver freight to the North Coast of Labrador, and as well to some communities on the South Coast of Labrador. Mr. Speaker, I would like to point out that prior to the 2011 shipping season, the minister did undertake a plan to upgrade and make major improvements - and I do mean major improvements, Mr. Speaker - to improve the system and that government did in fact accept was inadequate. The level of service, Mr. Speaker, was not enough to accommodate the increasing volume of freight due to the increased activity.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to assume that this was done in conjunction with the transportation committee and government –

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER (Wiseman): Order, please!

MR. EDMUNDS: The transportation committee does play a role in these assessments.

Mr. Speaker, this is where the problem starts. I would also like to say, alarming this is where the problem begins. The reason I say this, Mr. Speaker, is if only government had made attempts to improve the system that we had prior to last year. I think we can all agree that the introduction of the Dutch Runner was a major disaster to shipping on the North Coast. I cannot criticize, Mr. Speaker, because I guess you could say I was a victim of circumstance with this vessel. I think the level of service then was pointed out and corrections were made later on in the fall, in the nick of time.

Mr. Speaker, you could say now that we are back to the problem we had prior to the shipping season last year where service was inadequate and there was a plan made to make major improvements to the service. Mr. Speaker, the vessel that has been identified to do the freight run this year is the exact same vessel that we had when government wanted to make changes to the shipping season in Northern Labrador, make changes to the freight run because it was inadequate. Take last year out of the equation, Mr. Speaker, like I said, we have increased volume of freight to move, people are depending on it. The increase in volume of freight to move increases every year, and we now look forward to the same vessel we had prior to improvements being made.

Mr. Speaker, I talked about increase in volume of freight and demand for freight delivery coming every year. It makes it harder for resource development in Labrador, Mr. Speaker. If you are compromising the ability to develop your resources, Mr. Speaker, Labrador loses out, but the Province as a whole loses out.

The government, Mr. Speaker, prides itself on investment in Labrador. It is great to see some features on investment; yet, a much-needed investment, Mr. Speaker, one that would increase the return to this Province, and this accurately defines investment, is where you spend money in order to make money. With all due respect, this year's investment is definitely a shortfall, Mr. Speaker.

Once again, Mr. Speaker, I have to bring up the concern with respect to price gouging in Northern Labrador. The reason I say price gouging, Mr. Speaker, is because I cannot find another word that accurately describes what is going on in the District of Torngat Mountains. I say this, Mr. Speaker, because in some stores, in some communities, some items, prices are reasonable. There is a significant number with respect to price gouging that we would certainly like to see addressed. Mr. Speaker, we have been criticized as a country by the United Nations. The price gouging that is allowed to go on in this Province fits into that category.

I have to stress this price gouging, Mr. Speaker, because it is to the point now, with the cost of living going up every year, and salaries and fixed incomes remaining the same; it is ongoing, as in everywhere in this Province, Mr. Speaker, when you talk about the seniors who have trouble making ends meet. I gave examples in my last address. In other parts of this Province, there are other primary demands on fixed incomes that threaten the lives of our older people when they should not have to worry about making a living on whatever income they have.

That is the reason I bring this forward. I brought this to the attention of several ministers, Mr. Speaker. I certainly will continue to push this issue, because it is a valid issue. It is easy to say that you cannot do anything, Mr. Speaker, but I would accept a commitment to have it looked into, and just to have it looked at. Mr. Speaker, with respect to price gouging, it is an issue that is not going to go away. I assure the hon. ministers that I will continue to bring it forward. It is a big issue in my district and it is one that impacts the livelihoods of very many people in Torngat Mountains.

Just one other issue that I would like to bring up is with respect to the comments made by the Minister of Environment and Conservation on caribou, Mr. Speaker. I have to share the concern that has come forward from the Department of Environment and Conservation, especially with respect to caribou. The importance of caribou to Aboriginal people is that it is a food source, Mr. Speaker. The reason I bring up the importance of caribou is because it ties in with livelihood and it ties in with price gouging.

Caribou is not only a food source in my district, and in Lake Melville, to some respect. It is not only a food source because of tradition, it is a food source because people have come to depend on it for the simple reason they cannot afford to go to the store and buy four pork chops for $15 to $20. It is just not doable. Caribou, Mr. Speaker, families harvest because they can keep it in volume, and with many families, it is sometimes all they have to rely on as a food source in between the ability to receive revenue for some reason or another. So, it is a basis, and I cannot stress the importance of this herd and how the Aboriginal community shares the concern that was brought forward by the minister.

I would just like to sum up, Mr. Speaker, by saying that we share the same concern for the level of caribou as the Minister and the Department of Environment and Conservation. The only difference is, Mr. Speaker, our concern is on a much higher level; it is on a level of need, and in some cases, sustenance.

So, Mr. Speaker, the reason I brought up these issues today, and hopefully remind the minister opposite, these concerns come forward as a valid concern; they do not come from me, but rather I am voicing these concerns from my district. I certainly hope that the minister opposite will address these issues in the same fashion as they have come forward, Mr. Speaker.

So, with that, I thank you for the opportunity to speak to the Budget again, and I certainly look forward to engaging in further discussions.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Child, Youth and Family Services.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

It is a pleasure to get up and speak to this wonderful Budget again. It is my second opportunity now, and I thought this time I would take a little bit of time to speak – the first time I spoke it was mainly around the Department of CYFS, all the wonderful things that are happening there, all of the great investments that have been placed into the department, particularly over the last three years. We received $41.8 million extra in funding over the last three years. It certainly speaks to the commitment from this Premier and this government for a very vulnerable group in our society, and that is children, young children, youth and their families.

Mr. Speaker, I talked a lot about the child care program, the increase in funding for staff. Just yesterday, I was out and announced the $475,000 for social work students to have paid placements – one of the things that we have received so much praise on, and I have received a lot of feedback since yesterday. While it does not seem like a lot of money, getting paid while you are doing a work term – and we certainly work our students in the Department of CYFS – it was certainly very welcome news to them. In fact when one of the students first heard about it, they thought that they were being lied to and say no, no we do not get paid for our work. In fact, they are very pleased to hear now that they do. For a first year social work student coming in for their first internship, the rate is actually $16.78 an hour and then it goes up with your years of experience in school up as high as the master's level of $20.54 an hour. That was a wonderful announcement yesterday in terms of the social worker students.

The day before that from the Department of CYFS we were out and had the pleasure to be in Kelligrews. It was taken in by the Minister of Transportation and Works district, as well as the Member for Topsail was there and also represents the Member for CBS. It takes in a large demographic group in that region. We opened up a family resource centre – it was the grand opening. Mr. Speaker, in my opinion in all the work that we are doing in government, it is such a wonderful pleasure to see so many family resource centres helping so many families. The early years, as you and the Minister of Education said many times, it is very, very important. Just to hear from the parents and how for them it is wonderful to see their children in terms of the social development, emotional development, cognitive development, but they said it is also nice to sit back once in a while let your kids play with other kids and you can have a coffee with some of the moms – again, another wonderful announcement that we just made yesterday.

Last week I had the opportunity to attend the MNL symposium in Gander on Thursday night after the House sitting. I was not sure how it was going to be received in terms of talking about our Child Care Strategy. I have to tell you it was one of the most worthwhile engaging discussions that I have had in a while. Really, for the municipalities, child care is so important in terms of attracting young people to their communities because one of the barriers for young people, either working in a rural community or urban for that matter, is finding child care. I talked to the municipalities about how they can help us with our Child Care Strategy, why it is important to them to have the young people in their communities, how they can help us with the not-for-profit groups, the community-based organizations, how they can help us in terms of identifying space, helping us with the needs assessment and so on.

A lot has been going on from the CYFS perspective. I thought I would take the time today to talk about the other department for which I am responsible for, and that is my role as Minister for the Status of Women. Yesterday, I had the opportunity to speak about the Violence Prevention Initiative and the next phase of that. Today I thought I would like to put out some information around what we are doing in terms of trying to advance women in the workplace, Mr. Speaker, because that responsibility falls under our department.

I just want to back up a little bit because a lot of this began with the Premier. The Premier was Minister of Natural Resources at the time, and also at one point was Minister Responsible for the Status of Women. She really, really pushed hard in terms of women employment plans. It is now mandatory when particularly a resource company comes forward in their environmental assessment, that these women employment plans be part of the environmental assessment process. I remember she drove this when she was minister and constantly said how we need to create the opportunities for women.

First and foremost, we want all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians to be the number one beneficiary of the resource development going on here, but we also want women to be in and have a great part of that action as well. I had the opportunity two weeks ago to attend FPT meetings in Halifax. Then at the end of the meetings there was a conference about women and trying to promote women in trades and technology, science and engineering. I spoke to upwards of 180 to 200 people in the room and talked about our women employment plans and how we make them mandatory as part of the environmental assessment but also how we put set targets in there in terms of the percentage of women who must be hired during the construction phase, during the operational phase. Then I went on to talk about how we are even strengthening that on a go-forward basis in terms of trying to get more women businesses in on the action. Now we are even strengthening the women employment plans in terms of a supplier diversity component so that women-owned businesses can be in on the action when it comes to supplies for a lot of these projects.

Mr. Speaker, we are currently in negotiations with Hebron. That is the first ever of its kind in the entire world, in fact, for an offshore project. I am pleased to say that negotiations are ongoing. We have set pretty aggressive targets and that is being worked on. When I talked about this in Halifax, the entire room applauded. After, we have had much conversation with groups who were in the room. They have contacted staff and they have contacted our Women's Policy Office. They want to learn from Newfoundland and Labrador. They want to hear how we are doing, how is it that the companies are embracing this, and really, can you help us out, because we want to do the same kind here. It is safe to say, Mr. Speaker, we are certainly leaders in the country when it comes to women employment plans.

Just to give you a couple of examples, with the Vale Inco project and the demonstration plant, we set a target of 20 per cent employment for women, not at the construction phase, but once it is operational – sorry, Mr. Speaker – so 20 per cent during the operational phase. We do not tell them how to get to 20 per cent. We just say: You have to get to 20 per cent, and it is up to you how you get there. We will certainly help them and give suggestions along the way.

Vale Inco really stepped up to the plate and they have one group that oversees all of the unions there. They collect twenty cents for every single hour worked at the Vale Inco site. Now, there are upwards of 3,500 workers there now, so the fund is growing. Then they take that money and they train females in various trades, whether it is bricklaying, carpentry, and so on. Those women go on then and automatically are in the union. A lot of those women get hired at the Vale Inco site. They may go on to other places. They have really stepped up to the plate.

They also did a lot of local training when the demonstration plant was up and running. As a result, they hired forty-five women in the demonstration plant. Not only did they meet their target of 20 per cent, but they in fact surpassed their target, they exceeded it, and they reached 37 per cent. Hats off to Vale Inco, but certainly hats off to the Premier for her foresight to make sure that these requirements are mandatory in the environmental assessment. Not only did they hire forty-five women at the demonstration site, but things worked out so well that my understanding is they then offered these women a job at the new site when it is up and running.

Mr. Speaker, I just mentioned the fund that they do. This year, my understanding is they are really putting a focus on Grade 12. They are going right into the classrooms and talking to all of the people in the classroom, but this fund is targeted at women. What an opportunity, to come out of Grade 12 and be sponsored to do a particular trade. For any of you graduating and listening out there now, moms and dads or grandparents listening, graduation is coming up soon; certainly, contact our office, the Women's Policy Office or the company themselves and find out more about the program. What an opportunity to come right out of Grade 12, do you trade, become part of the union, and then go to work after. It is a fabulous program, but it is really because we made sure that this was mandatory in our environmental assessment plan. As I said, we are receiving accolades throughout Canada for the work that we are doing there.

Mr. Speaker, I just wanted to touch on our government and how we fund the Women in Resource Development Corporation; WRDC is how we refer to them. That is $1 million that we fund them. This is a really great organization because they do a lot of work in trying to help women get into the trades, match them up with employers, and so on, just to get some of the information on that here. The other organization that we funded is the Office to Advance Women Entrepreneurs. They are doing fabulous work. This is funded through the Department of AES, but certainly the Women's Policy Office works very closely with the Department of AES, as we do with all departments when it comes to advancing women's issues. They do a lot in terms of coaching and mentoring; they maintain a registry database and the focus of that is to match female trades with the employment opportunities. As a result, they have been able to place 172 women with employers, Mr. Speaker, certainly no small feat.

There is also the Wage Subsidy Program, and when I talked in Halifax about the Wage Subsidy Program here, there was a lot of interest in the room to hear more about the Wage Subsidy Program. As the Minister of Advanced Education and Skills announced, I believe it was just two weeks ago, further details of our apprenticeship program – our government certainly values apprentices; we understand how important it is to get young apprentices first in the door, and to training, and then help them on their way through becoming a journey person and beyond. One of the ways that we are doing that, certainly, there was an increase of $4.1 million particularly for apprentices this year, but one of the ways that we have been very successfully doing that – and women have certainly taken advantage of the program. It is just great to see. It is a wage subsidy program.

I explained to all of the other provinces that were there and the industries that were in the room that if you are in your first year of your apprenticeship, the government here will support the wages for that apprentice up to 90 per cent in the first year, 80 per cent in the second year, and then 60 per cent in years three and four, and it is to a maximum of $14 an hour. It is just a great opportunity, when you go to an employer and you are trying to get a job. You put in your application, but you also put in the wage subsidy application and say: Oh, by the way, government will help fund my position. It has been extremely successful. My understanding is that there have been forty-two subsidies over the last two years for women. Twenty that carried over from one year of their apprentice to the next, and then twenty-two new ones this year, Mr. Speaker.

I see that the time is getting short, and I would like to change focus for my next ten minutes or so – seven minutes, that is all that is left for the next day; but being 3:58, I propose now that we adjourn debate and see you all on Tuesday.

Thank you very much.

MR. SPEAKER: Is there a seconder for the adjournment of the debate, I ask the Minister of Child, Youth and Family Services?

MR. HEDDERSON: I will second that.

MR. SPEAKER: Seconded by the Minister of Transportation and Works.

It has been moved and seconded that we do now adjourn.

All those in favour, ‘aye'.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Aye.

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

Motion carried.

The hon. the Government House Leader.

MR. KENNEDY: What are we doing, Mr. Speaker?

MR. SPEAKER: We are adjourning the House for today.

MR. KENNEDY: Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I move, seconded by the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, that the House do now adjourn.

MR. SPEAKER: It has been moved and seconded that the House do now adjourn.

All those in favour, ‘aye'.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Aye.

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

Motion carried.

I remind members to remain in their place.

This House now stands adjourned until 1:30 p.m. Tuesday.  Monday being a provincial holiday, the House stands adjourned until 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday of next week.

On motion, the House at its rising adjourned until tomorrow, Tuesday, at 1:30 p.m.