March
27, 2014
HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS
Vol. XLVII No. 9
The House met at 2:00 p.m.
MR. SPEAKER (Wiseman):
Order, please!
The hon. the Government
House Leader.
MR. KING:
A point of order, Mr. Speaker.
I rise on a point of order,
Mr. Speaker. Yesterday, in Question
Period, the Premier committed to table a document.
We have circulated it with the Opposition and we would like to table it
today.
MR. SPEAKER:
Order, please!
MS JOHNSON:
Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the Premier,
that the House approves in general the budgetary policy of the government.
MR. SPEAKER:
The motion is that the House approves the
general budgetary policy of government.
The hon. the Minister of
Finance and President of Treasury Board.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MS JOHNSON:
Thank you.
Shared Prosperity, Fair Society, Balanced Outook
Mr. Speaker, it is my
privilege to deliver the 2014 Budget on behalf of the Government of Newfoundland
and Labrador. Our focus this year
is captured best in three phases: shared prosperity, fair society, balanced
outlook. Shared prosperity is about
ensuring that we work together to grow our economy responsibly; it is also about
ensuring that residents share fully and equally in the wealth generated from our
province's recent economic growth.
Our commitment to a fair society is a commitment to social justice – to care for
those who are vulnerable and to support those who face obstacles to growth.
A balanced outlook is about charting a sound course to sustainability
over a reasonable period of time.
This reflects our commitment to our 10-year Sustainability Plan.
Budget 2014 reflects a balanced approach to supporting continued economic
and social prosperity, while ensuring our long-term plan for strong fiscal
management. It is with the last of
these three phrases that I will begin – but first, let us review our economic
and fiscal circumstances to see where we stand.
1. Economic Performance 2013
Mr. Speaker, economic
conditions remained strong in Newfoundland and Labrador in 2013.
Real GDP is estimated to have grown by 5.9 per cent, driven by record
levels of capital investment and strong gains in exports and consumption.
Our province led all other provinces in Canada in economic growth last
year.
Capital investment
increased by over 31 per cent last year to a record high of $12.3 billion.
Major project development, such as Hebron, Muskrat Falls and the Vale
nickel processing operation in Long Harbour, continued to fuel growth.
Strength in commercial and residential spending also contributed to
record high levels of investment.
Total real exports
increased by about 3 per cent due primarily to a rebound in oil production and
higher iron ore output. Offshore
oil production increased by almost 16 per cent following a period of extended
maintenance downtime in 2012. The
volume of iron ore shipped rose by about 5 per cent, reflecting production
increases at the Iron Ore Company of Canada and the start of operations at Tata
Steel Minerals Canada.
Higher capital investment
has been the main driving force behind economic growth.
Employment grew by 1 per cent to reach a new record high of 232,800.
More people are working in Newfoundland and Labrador than ever before.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MS JOHNSON:
The unemployment rate declined by 1.1 percentage
points, to 11.4 per cent, the lowest annual unemployment rate since 1973.
Household disposable income
increased by 4.8 per cent, boosted by employment growth and strong wage gains.
Average weekly earnings increased by 2.6 per cent to $951 and were the
second highest among provinces after those of Alberta, and 4 per cent above the
Canadian average.
Higher employment and wages
have meant more disposable income, and that has been driving consumer spending.
Consumer spending was particularly strong in 2013.
Retail sales increased by about 4 per cent.
Growth was recorded in most sales categories; however, gains were driven
primarily by strong car sale. More
than 35,000 new car sales were recorded in 2013, the highest number ever sold in
the province. Expenditures on
services also posted solid growth last year.
Strong consumer spending continues to be supported by employment and
income growth, low personal income tax rates, low interest rates and high levels
of consumer confidence.
2. Economic Outlook 2014
Mr. Speaker, Newfoundland
and Labrador is poised to benefit from global economic growth in 2014.
The province is expected to sustain a high level of economic activity,
but growth will be modest as major project investment plateaus and Vale's nickel
processing facility transitions from construction to production.
Real GDP in the province is
expected to increase 0.5 per cent due to higher consumption and continued high
levels of investment. Consumer
spending is expected to rise 3.8 per cent, capital investment is forecast to
rise 2.4 per cent and housing starts are also anticipated to remain at elevated
levels, with 2,843 expected in 2014.
Employment is anticipated
to rise 0.3 per cent while the unemployment rate is forecast to remain unchanged
at 11.4 per cent. Newfoundland and
Labrador's population is expected to be stable at 526,700.
Employment growth will
combine with wage gains to drive income growth and consumption.
Household income and disposable income are projected to increase 3.4 per
cent and 3.5 per cent, respectively.
Retail sales are anticipated to rise 3.6 per cent.
Consumer prices are expected to increase by 1.7 per cent.
3. Fiscal Review 2013-14
Mr. Speaker, our government
forecast a deficit of $563.8 million for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2014.
Since that time, lower projected net expenses of $248.3 million,
partially offset by lower expected revenues of $33.2 million, have resulted in a
downward revision of the deficit, which is now projected to be $348.7 million.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
4. Balance Outlook: Fiscal Forecast 2014-15 and
Beyond
MS JOHNSON:
Mr. Speaker, at pre-budget consultations this year, people told us about the
important work they are doing in their communities and regions, and how they are
making a difference in people's lives every day.
We heard from them about the importance of continued investment in the
areas that matter most to them.
Budget 2014 echoes the
priorities that the residents of Newfoundland and Labrador have told us are
important to them. It demonstrates
our commitment to ensuring fairness, so that residents share fully and equally
in our prosperity. It also reflects
a balanced outlook as we support continued economic and social prosperity, and
return to a balanced budget.
Mr. Speaker, in Budget
2013, and as outlined in our 10-Year Sustainability Plan, our government
committed to return to surplus in 2015-16.
I am pleased today to advise that we are still on target to achieve that
goal.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MS JOHNSON:
We will return to surplus in 2015-16, and we
expect to continue in surplus in 2016-17 also.
To reach this goal, while
providing for public services, responsible investment and maintaining a
competitive tax system, we are forecasting a deficit for the coming fiscal year
of $537.9 million, which is $112.6 million lower than forecast last year.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MS JOHNSON:
This year we are forecasting oil prices to
average $105US per barrel, as well as a lower average exchange rate.
Oil production is expected to be 1.93 million barrels higher than last
year at 86.2 million barrels.
Higher offshore royalties and sales tax this year compared to 2013-14 will more
than offset some lower revenues on other sources.
Program expenses for
2014-15 are 2.1 per cent higher than budgeted for 2013-14.
Also, $852.7 million will be spent on infrastructure.
Strong fiscal management by our government since 2003 is reflected by the
fact that growth in net program expenses [83.6 per cent] continues to be less
than growth in revenue [89.1 per cent].
Another key measure of
fiscal performance is the percentage of revenue which is required to service the
debt. In 2004, debt expenses
consumed over 23 per cent of our gross revenues.
This year we expect it to be approximately 12 per cent.
While there has been
substantial improvement since 2005, the projected increase in net debt has
caused the province to lose some of the gains achieved.
As a result, net debt is projected to increase by $807.6 million this
year.
A key component of the
province's net debt relates to unfunded pension and other post-retirement
benefits. Despite an investment of
more than $3.6 billion by our government, the liabilities have continued to
grow. As of March 31, 2013, they
accounted for 67 per cent of net debt.
By 2016-2017, they will account for 85 per cent of net debt – almost $9
billion.
As outlined in the 10-Year
Sustainability Plan, our government is continuing its review of pensions and
other post-retirement benefits.
Meaningful and collaborative consultations are ongoing with our public employees
with the objective of ensuring the sustainability of these plans.
Our next meeting is scheduled for mid-April.
We are continuing to seek solutions by working together with our
employees.
Our government is concerned
about the adequacy of retirement income for our residents.
For this reason, we continue to support a responsible, phased-in,
fully-funded enhancement to the Canada Pension Plan that will improve the
retirement incomes of workers in our province.
The growth in our economy
has helped the province build a strong financial foundation which has
contributed to six surpluses in the past 10 years and resulted in our government
not having to borrow money for operational or capital purposes since 2004.
Since 2005-06 we have generated surpluses of approximately $5.7 billion.
We have used that cash balance to pay off debt from years ago that has
come due and to pay for new infrastructure and finance equity investments.
While we are projecting that we will borrow this year, we do so knowing
that it is a short-term measure and not a long-term trend.
We will not borrow to fund our day-to-day operations; we will take
advantage of low interest rates to fund further investments in infrastructure
and additional equity in oil and gas and Muskrat Falls.
One of our key commitments
is to maintain competitive tax rates that support economic growth.
Since 2006, our government has decreased taxes, putting hundreds of
millions of dollars back into the hands of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians
annually. This year, savings to
residents will total approximately $600 million.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MS JOHNSON:
Budget 2014 includes further enhancements, which
I will outline for you shortly.
5. Shared Prosperity
But first, Mr. Speaker, let
us consider the choices we make in our annual budgets to promote growth
provincially and locally. A new
road can open up a community to increased investment.
Broadband access can enable an entrepreneur to launch an online business.
Investment financing can help a business expand into a lucrative market
and grow. Tourism ads can bring new
customers to a local bed and breakfast.
The choices we make right here can pave the way to success where people
live.
As a government, we fully
appreciate that having well-developed transportation infrastructure such as
highways, bridges and ferries is critical to successful communities and regions.
We have heard, and we share, the views of residents who say these
improvements in infrastructure are investments in our province's future.
This year, we are investing
more than $81 million for the enhancement and rehabilitation of provincial
roads, highways, and bridges to provide a safe, efficient and effective
transportation network.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MS JOHNSON:
This funding includes the $30 million that we
announced for road tenders in January to jumpstart the construction season.
This year's funding is one of the largest investments ever in the
Provincial Roads Program.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MS JOHNSON:
This summer, we will complete the Labrador-West
to Happy Valley-Goose Bay portion of the Trans Labrador Highway and we will
continue the widening and upgrading of phases two and three of the Trans
Labrador Highway.
Budget 2014 includes
funding for ferry vessel replacement and improvements to marine terminals and
wharfs.
Few strategies are as
effective as brush cutting to reduce moose/vehicle collisions.
This year, we will invest $2 million to expand our brush cutting program
to make our highways safer.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MS JOHNSON:
Our government recognizes the importance of
funding for municipal infrastructure.
As announced on March 11, we are allocating $200 million over the next
three years in municipal capital works to benefit all of our communities large
and small. Approximately $100
million of this funding is for our larger municipalities.
We are proud to support the
work of the 5,900 volunteer firefighters across our province with a total
investment this year of more than $5 million, an increase of $3.5 million and
the largest investment ever.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MS JOHNSON:
We will also invest $120,000 for Hazardous
Material Response Training to enhance response capability.
Members of the Newfoundland
and Labrador Search and Rescue Association are also valuable volunteers. Through
Budget 2014, we are increasing the association's grant by $580,000 over the next
five years so that the organization can upgrade vehicles and equipment.
Our investments in
infrastructure do not end there.
Through our Rural Broadband Initiative, we have made tremendous progress to
expand broadband access across the Province.
Since 2003, Provincial Government investments totaling $29 million have
leveraged more than $115 million to extend rural broadband access to more than
500 communities. As a result,
approximately 95 per cent of households have coverage.
Work is continuing with industry, community and government partners to
further improve broadband infrastructure.
This year, we will invest $4.9 million to improve access to high-speed
Internet in Newfoundland and Labrador.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MS JOHNSON:
Recently, we streamlined the programs which
provide for direct investment in business enterprises and regional development
initiatives. To encourage
employment and respond to the growing needs of businesses and communities
throughout Newfoundland and Labrador, we are allocating $45.5 million to support
business development and to stimulate growth.
We are giving these businesses the productivity and competitive edge they
need to secure solid footholds in the global marketplace.
These businesses are rising to the challenge and proving that we can
build successes here that can compete anywhere.
Some enterprises are ready
to pursue new opportunities, and securing access to venture capital is important
to take advantage of opportunities.
We are teaming up with the Atlantic provinces to invest in a Build Ventures
Fund, and our government is contributing $10 million to provide support to
innovative start-up businesses that will expand opportunities for early-stage
businesses in the province with high potential for growth.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Order, please!
MS JOHNSON:
The privately-managed venture capital initiative
will provide financing, as well as access to necessary mentoring and business
expertise, to ensure companies have the resources to succeed in national and
international markets. Access to
venture capital in emerging growth sectors, such as ocean and Arctic technology
and other knowledge-based industries, will improve the global competitiveness of
companies operating in those sectors, strengthen employment opportunities and
drive economic diversification in Newfoundland and Labrador.
We are also preparing to
establish the new Venture Newfoundland and Labrador Fund to support innovative
start-up businesses and complement the Build Ventures Fund.
We are developing this fund in partnership with venture capital and angel
investor stakeholders, and we will announce details in the very near future.
To further support small
businesses in our province, in Budget 2014 we are reducing our small business
corporate income tax rate to 3 per cent.
Along with Nova Scotia, our rate will be the lowest small business tax
rate in Atlantic Canada.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MS JOHNSON:
About 6,000 small businesses throughout the
province are expected to benefit from this reduction.
Let me focus on some of the
industries in our province that stand to benefit from specific investments we
are making to stimulate growth.
Let me begin with an
industry that has been very important for my district and for tens of thousands
of people in this province over the past several hundred years.
Our seafood industry is now worth approximately $1 billion each year, and
the prospects for growth are tremendous.
The fishing industry has had more than its fair share of ups and downs
across the generations, but something happened in October that sparked
tremendous excitement throughout our province.
The Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement-in-principle (CETA)
between Canada and the European Union will, at long last, virtually eliminate
barriers to the export of Newfoundland and Labrador seafood into the largest
seafood market in the world.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MS JOHNSON:
We are investing more than $9.7 million for key
initiatives that support research and development projects, advance marketing
initiatives and build capacity in the industry.
Another trade agreement was just announced with South Korea, so these are
exciting times for the province's fishing industry.
But times are exciting for
other reasons as well. A decade
ago, we set out to become a leader in the aquaculture sector, investing millions
to establish and support operations that are today supporting entire
communities. This year, we are
building on those successes by adding $5 million to the Aquaculture Capital
Equity Investment Program, making a total of $6 million available.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MS JOHNSON:
Between 2006 and 2013, our government invested
approximately $25 million to support new aquaculture development – funding that
has leveraged approximately $400 million from the private sector.
Ours continues to be the
only province in Canada that solely funds its own offshore fisheries research.
Since 2010, we have invested $13 million to support fisheries science in
the province and, this year, we are sustaining our commitment to fisheries
science with an allocation of $4.9 million to support the Centre for Fisheries
Ecosystems Research for the next two years.
In October 2007, our
government introduced the Fisheries Technology and New Opportunities Program.
The program supports research and development that enhances harvesting,
processing and marketing techniques, which in turn make our fishing and
aquaculture industries more globally competitive.
Since 2007, the program has supported more than 240 projects, including
biodegradable twine that has made crab pots more eco-friendly; new shrimp trawls
that are more efficient and less impactful on sea beds; and promotional
campaigns that build demand in international markets for provincial seafood such
as shrimp, seal, sea cucumber and mussels.
To encourage such innovations, Budget 2014 includes more than $4 million
in funding to continue this program over the next two years.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MS JOHNSON:
The province's agriculture and agrifoods
industry is continually developing, diversifying and generating annual revenues
totaling upwards of $130 million.
The value of agriculture and agrifoods production, including secondary
processing, is now approximately $500 million per year.
The industry generates direct and indirect employment for approximately
6,500 people across Newfoundland and Labrador.
Through Budget 2014, our government will provide close to $12 million
through various programs to further grow and diversify the industry.
Our government will provide funding through Growing Forward 2, the
Agriculture and Agrifoods Development Fund, the Provincial Agrifoods Assistance
Program, the Agriculture Research Initiative, Land Consolidation Program, and
Agriculture Limestone Program.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MS JOHNSON:
The forest industry is another that continues to
support thousands of jobs – in fact, some 5,500 people, directly and indirectly.
We were proud to work with the company and workers at Corner Brook Pulp
and Paper to secure a strong future for this important enterprise.
Budget 2014 continues to invest in ongoing programs that ensure the
forest resource is managed in a sustainable manner for future generations.
Investments include $8.3 million for silviculture projects, $5.9 million
for resource roads that support timber harvesting, $1.7 million for forest
insect and disease control, and $4.1 million for fire suppression.
We will also contribute $250,000 to the Centre for Forest Science and
Innovation to increase the forest research capacity to foster innovation and
diversification.
Since 2006, our government
has invested approximately $100 million on tourism marketing, and the positive
impact can be seen in the growth in visitation and tourist spending.
Between 2009 and 2013, non-resident visitation increased 19 per cent,
surpassing a milestone of half a million visitors during that period.
Non-resident tourism spending increased 30 per cent between 2009 and
2013, reaching $467 million in 2013, the highest level of non-resident spending
ever in the province. Our province
has become a destination that others watch and imitate.
Budget 2014-15 will provide an additional $2 million to support tourism
marketing in the province, with an additional $2 million in 2015-16, bringing
the total annual investment to $13 million by 2015-16.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MS JOHNSON:
The Find Yourself campaign is not the only
initiative that is showcasing our province in a new light.
Consider the impact of CBC's Republic of Doyle, which today is showing in
markets around the world. Seasons 1
to 5 of Republic of Doyle created more than 1,300 full-time equivalent
positions. The total expenditure on
the five seasons amounted to $111 million overall.
Of the $82 million spent in the province on all five seasons of Republic
of Doyle, $52.9 million was leveraged from sources outside the province and
would not have been spent here if not for this production.
That is why our government will continue its investment in Budget 2014
for Republic of Doyle.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MS JOHNSON:
The local music industry is a major employer and
generator of economic activity. In
2015, St. John's will be the host of East Coast Music Week.
We will be supporting this event in order to foster and promote the
careers of local music industry professionals.
This year's Speech from the
Throne highlighted the approaching centenary of the First World War, in which
Newfoundlanders and Labradorians made tremendous sacrifices.
As part of the many initiatives from 2014 to 2018, we are enabling 150
young people to join veterans at the Newfoundland and Labrador memorials in
Europe. They will stand beside the
five caribou monuments where the Royal Newfoundland Regiment fought significant
battles and remember those who gave their lives nearly a hundred years ago –
both our finest hour and our greatest sacrifice.
Kylie Beals, an 18-year-old student from L'Anse au Loup, travelled to
Beaumont Hamel last year and describes her experience with these words:
“Standing on the field at Beaumont Hamel in the same spot where so many of our
province's soldiers had fought and died on that exact day all those years ago
was a moving experience. It made
the reality of what actually happened overseas become clearer than ever.
The sacrifice of those soldiers struck me deeply and the experience gave
me an entirely new perspective on the war and a newfound respect for days of
remembrance.” The Honour 100
initiative will ensure our young people make these life-changing connections
with the heroes who secured their freedom.
Provincial Historic Sites
in Newfoundland and Labrador are snapshots of our past, providing insight into
who we are today. Many are located
in rural areas and considered anchor attractions in the community.
We are allocating more than $1 million under a new multi-year development
plan, with $175,000 for maintenance and upgrades in the year ahead.
This funding will enable us to protect the Heart's Content Cable Station
and prepare for the 150th anniversary in 2015 of the landing of the
first permanent telegraph cable connecting Europe and North America.
This funding will also help maintain the Point Amour Provincial Historic
Site in southern Labrador, home of the tallest lighthouse in Atlantic Canada.
The Mistaken Point
Ecological Reserve is a natural wonder, preserving some of the oldest fossils
ever found on the planet, and is one of my favourite places to visit.
The reserve is among seven sites listed by Canada for possible UNESCO
World Heritage status. Achieving
this status would draw worldwide attention to the reserve.
Budget 2014 includes $209,000 to assist in the completion of the UNESCO
bid to help make that happen.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MS JOHNSON:
The geology of Newfoundland and Labrador is a
source of tremendous wealth.
Minerals on land and petroleum in the depths are spurring exploration and
fueling growth unprecedented in our history.
As a government, we have a major role to play.
Choices matter, and ours have transformed Newfoundland and Labrador.
The province's petroleum
industry is the largest contributor to the provincial GDP at 28 per cent in
2012. Oil production was valued at
over $9 billion and royalty revenues were $2 billion in 2013.
Through continued investment in modern geoscience, the province is
maintaining its competitive advantage as a major resource-producing province.
Government geoscience leads to early and more strategic data acquisition.
Combined with recent improvements to the Land Tenure Regime, it will
drive exploration, discovery, development and revenues.
So this year, we are investing $1 million in the offshore and onshore
petroleum geoscience programs to enhance exploration and promotion of future
commercial developments in the province.
In step with our province's
first comprehensive energy plan, developed in 2007, we established Nalcor, a
company owned by the people of the province, to take the lead in energy
developments for the greater benefit of the people Newfoundland and Labrador.
Nalcor is a strong partner in energy resource exploration and
development, driving the geoscience program and holding ownership stakes in
offshore projects on behalf of the people of Newfoundland and Labrador, who are
Nalcor's owners and beneficiaries.
To support responsible resource management and development in the province's
energy sector, Budget 2014 includes a $552.7 million equity investment in Nalcor
to continue their work in advancing petroleum initiatives and the Muskrat Falls
project – work through which we will reap even greater returns in the years
ahead.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MS JOHNSON:
The Muskrat Falls projects will generate
significant employment and economic opportunities for the people of the
province. During construction, the
Muskrat Falls project will create 9,100 person-years of direct employment in the
province, of which 5,800 will take place in Labrador.
The project will also generate approximately $500 million in income to
business and labour for Labradorians and Labrador-based businesses, and deliver
an 8.4 per cent return to the people of the province, the stakeholders.
Our government has announced additional oversight mechanisms to ensure
that, during the construction phase, Muskrat Falls project costs, scheduling and
overall performance remain on target and that project information continues to
be shared with the public.
Power from the Churchill
River system means tremendous opportunities for growth.
Our recent decision to construct a third transmission line westward from
Churchill Falls means we will be able to meet power demands for new mining
developments, attract investment into the region, and generate spin-off
employment and business opportunities for the people of Labrador.
Growth offers promise for many who were impacted by the recent decision
at Wabush.
We have promised to work
with those affected and trust that many will be able to seize the new
opportunities that are opening up all around them.
This year, as we advance
work on the Trans Labrador Highway, we are also seeking a new partner to deliver
marine services for Labrador for a 15-year period.
We are also investing $351,000 to continue the Labrador Transportation
Grooming Subsidy which maintains a quality winter snowmobile trail system
connecting otherwise isolated coastal Labrador communities during the winter
months. We will allocate $50,000 to
continue the Air Foodlift Subsidy which helps offset air freight costs on fresh
milk and perishable food items shipped to isolated Labrador communities.
We will invest $100,000 in operational funding for the Combined Councils
of Labrador, and $43,000 to enable youth delegates from Labrador to attend the
annual Youth Council Convention.
Our government recognizes that Labrador continues to play an incredibly
important role in shaping the future for our Province.
By the end of this fiscal year, the total investment our government has
made in Labrador since 2004 will reach $4.9 billion.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MS JOHNSON:
We are providing funding to enable Labrador and
Aboriginal Affairs to advance its important partnerships with Aboriginal people,
exploring ways to enhance consultation and advance land claims and
self-government. Aboriginal people
in this province are already benefitting tremendously from economic development
activities in Labrador, particularly at Muskrat Falls and mining projects like
Voisey's Bay, and greater benefits are still to come.
6. Fair Society
Mr. Speaker, this brings me
to the third theme of this year's Budget.
I have already spoken of our balanced outlook, with a return to surplus
in both 2015-16 and 2016-17. I have
spoken of shared prosperity, whereby all regions, communities and families reap
the returns of the tremendous growth we are achieving.
The third theme is about social justice.
We must constantly aspire to build a more fair and just society.
Fairness means making adjustments to compensate for the factors that
would otherwise leave some people excluded from the opportunities and benefits
that we are working to achieve.
An important example of
rebalancing the scales is the action we have taken to make post-secondary
education accessible and affordable for all.
At pre-budget consultations in Corner Brook, two students told us that
they were testaments that our strategy is working.
They told us how important it is to continue our support.
We heard the same message from students in St. John's and in other parts
of the province. We are listening.
We will invest an
additional $5.1 million this year to continue the tuition freeze for students
attending Memorial University and College of the North Atlantic.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MS JOHNSON:
Our government since 2005 has now invested more than $282 million cumulatively
to freeze tuition fees, making Newfoundland and Labrador's students the envy of
the country with some of the lowest tuition fees and the best student aid
program in Canada.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MS JOHNSON:
Mr. Speaker, we are prepared to do more.
Our government will
eliminate provincial student loans and replace them with upfront grants that do
not have to be repaid.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MS JOHNSON:
Budget 2014 commits $14.7 million over two years
to complete the conversion of student loans to grants, with a projected
investment of approximately $50.6 million over five years.
We will invest $19 million
in infrastructure funding for Memorial University in 2014 to support continued
modernization of the university's older student residences and ongoing
modernization of science labs. We
are investing $4 million for infrastructure at College of the North Atlantic to
support a medical sciences lab at the Grand Falls-Windsor campus –
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MS JOHNSON:
– and industrial shop modernization at college campuses.
In total, that brings our 2014 investment in Memorial to over $358
million and in CNA to $67 million.
Indeed, the cumulative investment in these institutions since 2004 is $742
million for College of the North and $2.7 billion for Memorial University.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MS JOHNSON:
With some 70,000 jobs opening up in Newfoundland
and Labrador, we have been working proactively to prepare so the jobs are filled
and our residents have the qualifications to fill them.
We continue to invest in
apprentices to support them to become journeypersons to meet our growing demand
for skilled labour. Since 2011, we
have assisted over 950 apprentices and more than 450 employers through our
Apprenticeship Wage Subsidy. That
program and our Journeyperson Mentorship Program are assisting apprentices to
get the work experience and training they require to advance their careers.
As well, our Office to Advance Women Apprentices, founded in 2009,
continues its important work to increase employment opportunities for women in
the skilled trades. Since 2009
there have been over 800 women apprentices registered, with the office securing
more than 320 employment opportunities.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MS JOHNSON:
In view of the fact that our investment to drive
apprenticeship have been working so effectively to open doors of opportunities
for skilled trade graduates, we are investing another $39.8 million this year to
continue developing the province's skilled workforce.
This funding will support training and advance apprentices while securing
still more skilled workers for employers.
Our investments will continue our efforts to encourage immigrants to
work, settle and raise families in our province, and help to ensure that
under-represented groups, such as women, persons with disabilities and
Aboriginal persons, have the necessary skills and the opportunity to secure
employment.
Reducing poverty has been
among our government's highest priorities.
Our Poverty Reduction Strategy in just eight years has helped
Newfoundland and Labrador reduce reliance on income support to the lowest level
in our province's history.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MS JOHNSON:
I am proud to note that our investment of
approximately $170 million this year will bring our total investment in poverty
reduction since 2006 to above $1 billion.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MS JOHNSON:
We address poverty on many fronts and we
recognize that the most vulnerable are too often forgotten.
Members of Citizens' Voice
and others provided suggestions to me at pre-budget consultations about ways to
tackle poverty. We listened
carefully, and this is our response.
To improve the
circumstances of the most vulnerable in our society who continue to rely on
income support, we are investing $4.8 million this year, and an estimated $32.3
million over the following five years, to raise the basic income support rate by
five per cent, beginning on July 1.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MS JOHNSON:
Those earning very low incomes in our province
do not pay income taxes, and others pay relatively little.
Our government continues to maintain the lowest personal income tax rates
in Atlantic Canada. Total personal
income tax reductions since 2006 are estimated to have returned approximately $2
billion to taxpayers – funding that has continued to encourage economic growth
in the province.
But there is more we can do
for individuals and families whose incomes are low but who do pay personal
income tax. In 2005, we introduced
the Low-Income Tax Reduction to ease the burden for many.
Now, we are prepared to ease the burden for even more.
Effective for the 2014 taxation year, the Low-Income Tax Reduction income
thresholds will be increased, eliminating provincial income tax for individuals
with net income up to $18,547 and for families with net income up to $31,362.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MS JOHNSON:
Partial tax reductions will be received by
individuals with net income up to $22,815 and for families with net income up to
$38,006. What does this mean for a
family with an income of $32,000?
It means a lot. It means an extra
$463 in their pocket. These changes
will reduce personal income tax paid by low-income individuals and families by
about $4.5 million annually, bringing the total estimated reduction under this
measure to approximately $11.1 million.
Seniors are the backbone of
our communities. They have played
an important part in helping our province get to where it is today and they have
made lifetime contributions to our vibrant economy.
Many live on relatively low and often fixed incomes.
With this year's Budget, we are giving the fourth increase since 2003 to
the Seniors' Benefit. As a result,
the maximum payment seniors will receive in October 2014 will be the highest
ever at $1,036, up from $971 in 2013.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MS JOHNSON:
In 2014, the $40.4 million budget for the
program is more than five times higher than the budget in 2003.
About 42,000 seniors in our province receive benefits under this program
each year.
To support inclusion by
addressing the transportation barriers faced by many people with
mobility-related disabilities, we are continuing to invest in the Vehicle
Accessibility Program, which provides up to $25,000 per family for a vehicle
retrofit. We have heard from people
whose lives have been changed as a result of this program.
One family told us of how the Vehicle Accessibility Program allowed them
to retrofit a van to accommodate travel for their son.
Having an accessible vehicle changes lives, something that most of us
take for granted.
We are also investing in
Inclusion Grants, which assist non-profit community organizations to make their
facilities and events accessible.
For instance, in St. Anthony, the group Community Readiness for People with
Disabilities received a $25,000 Inclusion Grant to build playground equipment to
accommodate children with disabilities.
The goal of this project is to ensure children have access to a
playground that meets their needs, allowing all children to socialize together
and to provide an opportunity for equal play.
We are extending the Home
Modification Program for a further three years, at a cost of $9 million.
This is a program that provides financial assistance to homeowners with
disabilities and seniors with low-to-moderate incomes that require accessibility
changes to their residences – changes that can help promote independence and
self-reliance, assist with a better quality of life, and enable individuals to
remain in their own homes for a longer period.
Investments such as these
reflect the objectives of our Strategy for the Inclusion of Persons with
Disabilities.
Through an annual
investment of $100,000, we will create an additional 24 summer employment
positions in Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Community Centres across the
province to hire at-risk youth and help them continue their education and career
paths. I have met some young people
whose lives have been transformed by this experience, and their stories are
testaments to the power of these programs.
We will also be investing
$12 million over the next three years to extend the Residential Energy
Efficiency Program, or REEP, and assist up to 1,000 clients per year with energy
retrofits that will significantly improve affordability by reducing heating
costs.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MS JOHNSON:
To date, we have been able to assist more than
4,500 homeowners with energy retrofits through the program with an estimated
average energy savings of 32 per cent or $735 annually.
We have heard from the
Nunatsiavut Government that more needs to be done to address housing in the
Inuit Communities of Northern Labrador.
We are pleased to announce $350,000 towards an equal partnership with the
Nunatsiavut Government to assist low-income private homeowners in Nunatsiavut to
complete major renovations.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MS JOHNSON:
We will increase affordable housing options in
the private market by once again expanding NLHC's Rent Supplement Program.
This year, the annual allocation will be increased to $9 million and
provide an additional 150 rent supplement units.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MS JOHNSON:
The program assists individuals and families on
low incomes, and individuals with complex needs, by paying the portion of their
rent that exceeds 25 per cent of their net household income up to $800 monthly,
but not before Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation conducts detailed
inspections to ensure the property is suitable and acceptable.
In keeping with the
provincial goal to reduce poverty and promote self-reliance, and in advance of
the results of the homelessness study, an additional $500,000 will be allocated
through the NLC's Supportive Living Program for a total annual investment of
$5.3 million to further advance the work of community partners and stakeholders
and to address homelessness.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MS JOHNSON:
Housing is one of the greatest challenges some
families and individuals face. We
are proud of the work we have been doing through Newfoundland and Labrador
Housing to develop affordable housing programs and options to assist persons
with disabilities, families and persons with complex needs, seniors, and
households with low income throughout the province.
Since 2006, through the Investment in Affordable Housing Agreements and
with private and non-profit partnerships, we have created nearly 1,117 new
affordable housing units throughout the province.
We will partner once again
with the Government of Canada to implement an unprecedented five-year agreement
to invest in affordable housing.
Under the new agreement, we will provide a total investment of $68 million over
the next five years to create approximately 590 more new affordable housing
units.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MS JOHNSON:
The agreement also extends the Provincial Home
Repair Program, and will annually assist approximately 2,000 households with low
incomes to repair their homes under the program.
There is no greater
challenge in our society than violence. We
are designating approximately $2.1 million annually to launch the Action Plan
for Phase II of our new Violence Prevention Initiative.
We recognize that intimate
partner violence is a complex societal issue, and within the Violence Prevention
Initiative we are committed to finding ways to tackle the root causes.
A joint, province-wide law enforcement effort between the RCMP and the
RNC will build on existing work and will raise awareness and enhance our
responsiveness to intimate partner violence.
An additional police officer and crime analyst will be dedicated to each
police service to provide guidance and oversight of investigations related to
intimate partner violence.
These police resources will
be tasked with developing a model based on analysis of data that will enable
police to be more proactive and responsive to emerging trends.
Through these efforts, we intend to encourage individuals who do not
currently report these crimes to do so.
It is through efforts such as this that the province will reduce the
amount of intimate partner violence in the long term.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MS JOHNSON:
We will make our communities safer by investing
$4.8 million this year to strengthen our police services.
We will hire 5 new RCMP officers to work in Labrador.
We will also increase the class size in Memorial University's Police
Studies Program by 10 new recruits a year beginning in 2015-16 to enable 20 new
Royal Newfoundland Constabulary positions to be added to the force by 2016-17.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MS JOHNSON:
In 2013, we provided funding to establish the
Combined Special Enforcement Unit-Newfoundland and Labrador to combat child
exploitation, illegal drug trafficking and organized crime.
The unit has achieved considerable success to date.
That is why we are providing an additional $527,500 this year to support
the unit's important work.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MS JOHNSON:
The need to create a safer environment for
correctional officers, inmates and community groups is one of the reasons we
have moved forward to award a contract for the first planning phase of a new
correctional facility. The planning
process is well underway. Budget
2014 provides $1 million for the next stage.
Mr. Speaker, none are more
vulnerable in any society than children.
That is why attending to the needs of particularly vulnerable children
has received such attention from our government.
Through the Department of Child, Youth and Family Services, we have
refocused our efforts and made considerable inroads in addressing complex needs.
We are ready to build on that progress by doing even more.
In the Labrador region, we
are allocating an additional $308,000 to implement a new one-year mentoring team
and to hire two new community services workers.
This will enable the province to improve and expand the delivery of
programs and services in the Innu Zone.
The new mentoring team will consist of two senior social workers from
other regions of the province who will travel to communities in the Innu Zone to
provide direction on key social work practices, case management and clinical
decision-making skills for those social workers.
The additional community service workers will further assist the
department's social work practice.
As part of the longer-term
solution for Natuashish, our government will allocate $200,000 in 2014-15 to
provide additional funding for travel in order to continue the newly implemented
fly-in/fly-out approach. In
addition to the permanent staff already in the community, this new program
consists of two fly-in teams. This new
program is helping to ensure a more consistent presence of frontline social
workers in the community, as well as more interaction with families.
It is a unique approach to a unique set of circumstances.
Through the Department of
Child, Youth and Family Services, our government will also purchase staff
housing in the coastal community of Hopedale.
Providing staff housing will advance our recruitment and retention
efforts in this region.
Province-wide, we are
investing $190.6 million this year in Child, Youth and Family Services, an
amount that will enable us to enhance the delivery of services to those who need
them. Of this, approximately $1.5
million will be provided to hire staff for an additional 20 new positions,
including social worker supervisors and social workers.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MS JOHNSON:
We are committed to reducing the provincial
average caseload per social worker from 22 to 20.
Our
Foster a Future campaign has been
extremely successful to date as it continues to create awareness surrounding the
need for more foster parents who can provide safe and nurturing environments for
our most vulnerable children and youth, as well as increase the number of foster
homes throughout our province. To
date, the Foster a Future recruitment
campaign, in only a short time, has resulted in the approval of 137 new foster
home placements for children and youth.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MS JOHNSON:
We will invest an additional $50,000 for the
Newfoundland and Labrador Foster Families Association to strengthen capacity and
training.
One of the best things we
can do for our children is to ensure that child care is available for those who
need it. Since 2003, our government
has increased the number of regulated child care spaces by 70 per cent.
To build on these gains, we will allocate approximately $9.7 million to
implement a new voluntary operating grant program that will require participants
to meet specific criteria, such as setting child care rates at the provincial
daily subsidy rates, and meeting accountability criteria relating to staffing,
wages, program quality and financial oversight.
Our government is committed
to providing all of our children with the best possible start in life, and the
best possible opportunities to be successful in school.
We are committing a total of $35.4 million over three years, beginning
this year, for Phase II of the province's Early Childhood Learning Strategy,
Learning From the Start. Phase II
will include $4.8 million over three years for the continued development and
enhancement of initiatives aimed at children from birth to age three –
initiatives we have been developing and implementing since 2011.
Research tells us there is
no better investment we can make in our children's future than early learning.
Therefore, we will begin the process to implement a universal full-day
Kindergarten program –
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MS JOHNSON:
– to enhance the early emotional, social and
academic development of all children.
To make this happen, we will embark on an intensive program to renovate
and redevelop existing school infrastructure, where necessary.
Additional resources, including teaching resources, will be put in place
for an implementation date of September 2016.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MS JOHNSON:
Throughout the past decade, our government has
made enormous investments in classroom education, benefitting thousands of
students and their families. We are
ready to do more. Despite a decline
in K-12 enrolment, there will be no reduction in teaching services.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MS JOHNSON:
Budget 2014 provides $2.4 million annually to
retain the 28.5 teaching units that would otherwise have been removed.
Three of those units will be deployed at the school district level, in
addition to current district and department resources, to assist schools in
their efforts to implement Safe and Caring Schools initiatives.
The remainder will be assigned to school districts to be deployed
according to their priority needs.
Class caps for the required curriculum at the K-9 level will remain in effect.
This means Newfoundland and Labrador will continue to have the best
pupil-teacher ratio of any province in Canada.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MS JOHNSON:
We have heard from parents, teachers and
stakeholders about the need for increased student assistant support.
We have listened, and we are providing an annual $1 million increase.
This translates into an additional 43,000 hours of assistance for
students with identified needs.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MS JOHNSON:
It builds on the 25,000 additional hours we
provided in 2010, and brings the total annual budget for student assistant
support to over $16 million.
Newfoundlanders and
Labradorians have told us education is an investment in our children's future.
Our investments in school infrastructure are unprecedented.
We are allocating a total this year of over $128 million for K-12
infrastructure –
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MS JOHNSON:
– including: a new school to replace Coley's Point Primary;
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MS JOHNSON:
– extensions to St. Peter's Junior High in Mount Pearl and Elizabeth Park
Elementary in Paradise;
the partial reconstruction
of Gander Academy to serve as a K-3 facility;
modular classrooms at
Beachy Cove Elementary in Portugal Cove-St. Philip's, Paradise Elementary, St.
Bernard's Elementary in Witless Bay and École des Grand Vents in St. John's; and
an assessment of
infrastructure requirements for the francophone student population in the
greater St. John's area.
As part of a long-term K-6
reorganization plan for Corner Brook, we are also providing funding to further
planning and design work for the reconfiguration of G.C. Rowe Junior High,
planning and design work for the extension and renovation of J.J. Curling
Elementary, and planning for C.C. Loughlin Elementary.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MS JOHNSON:
We are providing funds, as well, for ongoing new
school projects in St. John's, including the new high school in the west end,
St. Theresa's Elementary, Virginia Park Elementary and schools in Paradise,
Conception Bay South, Torbay, Portugal Cove-St. Philip's and Gander, where there
will be a new Grades 4-6 school.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MS JOHNSON:
In addition, we will fund new public library
space in Conception Bay South.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MS JOHNSON:
Major extension, reconstruction and
redevelopment projects will continue at Roncalli Elementary in St. John's, at
William Gillett Academy in Charlottetown, Labrador, at Exploit's Valley High in
Grand Falls-Windsor and at the former Regina High in Corner Brook, which will
serve as that city's junior high school.
Since 2004, we have
allocated more than $681 million in K-12 school infrastructure, including almost
$236 million for repairs and maintenance.
We have opened 13 new schools; nine more are in various stages of
planning or construction; 26 major extensions and renovation projects have been
completed; and 11 more are underway.
Furthermore, we have undertaken more than 1,900 repairs and maintenance
projects during that time.
Children are impacted by
the choices we make in health care as well.
Through an investment of $2
million this year, annualizing to $3.9 million in 2015-16, we are increasing
access to assessment and treatment for children with autism and other
developmental conditions.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MS JOHNSON:
To increase the capacity to assess and reduce
wait times for children and families, we are providing funds for the addition of
22 positions in the regional health authorities, increasing to 30 positions next
year. These new positions include a
developmental pediatrician at the Janeway, new occupational therapists and new
speech language pathologists.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MS JOHNSON:
We are also allocating $158,800 to expand the
Newborn Screening Program to include cystic fibrosis.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MS JOHNSON:
We are continuing to invest $159,000 annually to
promote breast feeding awareness in recognition of the tremendous health
benefits of breast milk for newborns.
Dialysis remains an
important priority for our government.
Through an investment of $500,000, our government is planning an
enhancement of the Provincial Home Dialysis Program. This investment will
increase uptake in the program for patients who now have to travel long
distances to receive dialysis.
Budget 2014 also provides $1.5 million to establish a hemodialysis site in
Bonavista –
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MS JOHNSON:
– and $1.2 million to address increased growth
in hemodialysis in Stephenville and St. John's.
To enhance support for
those who travel for medical services, Budget 2014 includes a further expansion
of the Medical Transportation Assistance Program to increase the monthly
accommodations cap from $1,500 to $3,000; to change the formula to reimburse 75
per cent of eligible expenses over $3,000 a year; to decrease the private
vehicle kilometer threshold from 2,500 kilometers a year to 1,500 kilometers;
and to increase the rate for private vehicle usage from 16 cents a kilometer to
20 cents.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MS JOHNSON:
Mr. Speaker, during pre-budget consultations, an
individual eloquently told me that extending coverage under the Newfoundland and
Labrador Prescription Drug Program by six months would help with the transition
to employment. We have listened,
and we are doing just that.
We are also increasing the
cap for basic dental services under the Adult Dental Program from $150 to $200.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MS JOHNSON:
Cancer continues to touch the lives of all
Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.
Through Budget 2014, we are investing to enhance the care and treatment of
people with cancer. These
investments include: $7.1 million for coverage of new drug therapies under the
Prescription Drug Program, including drugs to treat prostate and breast cancers;
$1.3 million to fund new drug therapies for cancer care at Eastern Health; and
$500,000 for a study of safe radiation services delivery in Western
Newfoundland.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MS JOHNSON:
This brings our total investment in cancer
treatment and prevention since 2004 to over $170 million.
Smoking continues to put
lives at risk while placing enormous demands on our health care system.
Research has shown that the best way to motivate people to quit is to
raise the price of cigarettes significantly.
Effective 12:01 a.m. March 28, 2014, the tax per cigarette will increase
by 3 cents and the tax per gram on fine-cut tobacco will increase by 6 cents.
Quitting can be extraordinarily difficult, but there are products that
make quitting easier. For this
reason, we are allocating $712,000 to subsidize smoking cessation products for
people living on low incomes.
Addiction to narcotics
continues to be a problem in our society.
Many have said we need to do more to address these challenges, and we are
listening. This year, we are
allocating $383,700 to add a second methadone maintenance treatment team in St.
John's.
In Budget 2014, our
government is providing significant new funding for long-term care and community
support services to: Cover growth in the Home Support Program; Increase the
Personal Care Home and Community Care Home monthly subsidy to $1,950; Improve
access to Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy services in the community; and
Increase the monthly rate at Alternate Family Care Homes to $1,355.
To continue the work of
improving and replacing our health care infrastructure, we will: Begin
construction on a protective care residence on the Burin Peninsula; Plan and
construct a 20-bed expansion of the long-term care facility in Happy Valley-
Goose Bay; Open a second 18-bed Alternate Level of Care Unit at Western Memorial
Regional Hospital in Corner Brook; Continue redevelopment of the Central
Newfoundland Regional Health Centre in Grand Falls-Windsor; and Advance the
design of the new Green Bay Health Centre.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MS JOHNSON:
As well, we will: Advance planning and design of
a new Psychiatric Hospital in St. John's to replace the Waterford Hospital; and
Plan for the development of the Bonavista Health Centre.
Government's infrastructure
fiscal framework currently includes $588 million for the construction of a new
western regional hospital to replace Western Memorial Regional Hospital in
Corner Brook. This year's budget
will provide funding to finalize the functional program, complete some
additional site work and move forward with phase 2 of the RFP process to select
a designer-builder team to prepare the design development documents for all five
buildings that will compose the hospital campus.
These documents will in turn serve as the owner's statement of
requirements for phase 3, which will be two design build contracts that will see
the construction of the acute care hospital, the long-term care facility, an
administration/clinical building, a central utility plant and a hostel.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MS JOHNSON:
Meeting the health care needs of our people also
means responding to emergencies as they occur.
Recognizing this, we are providing $2.1 million
this year to advance province-wide basic 911 implementation.
Protecting our workers and
securing our workplaces is a responsibility we all share.
Recognizing the importance of safety on provincial infrastructure
projects, we are creating a new Manager of Safety position within the Department
of Transportation and Works, and hiring a Traffic Engineer.
The Occupational Health and
Safety Branch is adding two new Occupational Health and Safety enforcement
officers.
The health and safety of
individuals who work offshore is a key priority of our government.
We are investing $1.2 million to increase the Canada-Newfoundland and
Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board's operating budget.
This will enable the organization to move forward with further
implementation of the Offshore Helicopter Safety Inquiry recommendations,
including the establishment of a Safety Oversight Management System and as well
as implementation of regulatory reforms, including the introduction of a
Scheduled Lands Tenure system.
Improving safety also means
cleaning up contaminated sites to remove the risk of harm.
We will embark on a three-year plan to remediate the site in Hopedale.
This year, we will invest $3 million to begin the removal of PCBs at the
former United States Military Base in the community.
We will provide a further $3 million in the following two years to
continue the remediation plan. The
total investment in site remediation at Hopedale by the end of 2016-17 will be
more than $12 million.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MS JOHNSON:
As stewards of our resources, we are deeply
concerned about the state of the George River Caribou Herd in Labrador.
We are allocating $390,000 this year and a total of $975,000 by end of
2016-17 to collect and interpret data on the herd and, with the hard science in
hand, to continue working with the Government of Quebec and Aboriginal groups on
a responsible management plan.
Climate change is one of
the most challenging long-term problems facing the world and Newfoundland and
Labrador today. It is already
affecting us in profound ways. We
have a responsibility to prepare as much as we can for the changes that are
occurring and to adjust our behaviours as appropriate to protect our environment
from further harm as much as we can.
Budget 2014 includes
funding for the development of new flood risk maps and continuing to assess
sites that are vulnerable to coastal erosion.
With 90 per cent of our people living near the sea, we need this
information to plan effectively.
We are investing more than
$300,000 a year for the Coastal and Oceans Management Strategy and Policy
Framework. This strategy guides the
province's efforts to plan for, administer and promote the sustainable use of
the province's coastal and ocean areas and resources.
Ours was proudly the first jurisdiction in Canada to release such a
strategy, and our government has provided $900,000 to implement it since its
inception in 2011.
Finally, let us talk about
energy efficiency and energy conservation.
We are investing $2.7 million in the next three years to improve the
resilience of communities and increase awareness on the benefits of energy
conservation and efficiency. In
particular, we are moving forward with three initiatives.
We will launch two pilot programs: one that uses energy and technology to
increase awareness of energy conservation in homes, and a second that challenges
all schools to engage students and staff in behaviours at school and home that
drive energy conservation. Thirdly,
to set an example, our government will invest in energy efficiency improvements
to government-owned buildings.
Mr. Speaker, this province
has always had its dreamers, but true progress demands doers.
In the words of William Jennings Bryan, “Destiny is not a matter of
chance; it is a matter of choice.
It is not a thing to be waited for; it is a thing to be achieved.”
Ours is a far more prosperous province than it was a decade ago, and that
progress is a testament to the power of cooperation and, thus, the power of
action. We have changed our
fortunes by working together. And
that is how we will continue to deliver the results that people want – by
engaging people, by truly listening and by making adjustments whenever they are
required. So now – as we share our
prosperity, advance fairness in our society and strive for balance – let us
recommit ourselves to the task of building on the solid foundation we have
established. When some would deny
and others would abandon the great gains we have achieved, let us instead renew
our pledge and redouble our efforts to work together to make Newfoundland and
Labrador everything it is capable of becoming.
Thank you.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER:
Order, please!
The hon. the Minister of
Finance.
MS JOHNSON:
Mr. Speaker, I wish to inform the House that I
have received a message from His Honour the Administrator.
MR. SPEAKER:
Order, please!
Does the minister want to
adjourn debate first?
MS JOHNSON:
Okay, I can do that.
Mr. Speaker, I moved,
seconded by the Minister of Justice, that the debate be adjourned.
MR. SPEAKER:
It has been moved and seconded that the debate
be now adjourned. You have heard
the motion.
All those in favour, ‘aye'.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Aye.
MR. SPEAKER:
All those against, ‘nay'.
Motion carried.
On motion, Budget Debate
adjourned.
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Minister of Finance.
MS JOHNSON:
Mr. Speaker, I wish to inform the House that I
have received a message from His Honour the Administrator.
MR. SPEAKER:
All rise.
As Administrator of the
Province of Newfoundland and Labrador, I transmit Estimates of sums required for
the Public Service of the Province for the year ending 31 March 2015, in the
aggregate of $7,488,728,900, and in accordance with the provisions of sections
54 and 90 of the Constitution Act, 1867, I recommend these Estimates to the
House of Assembly.
Sgd.:
___________________________
Administrator
Please be seated.
The hon. the Minister of
Finance.
MS JOHNSON:
Mr. Speaker, I moved, seconded by the Minister
of Education, that the Message, together with the Estimates, be referred to a
Committee of Supply.
MR. SPEAKER:
It has been moved and seconded that the Message
from His Honour the Administrator, together with the Estimates, be referred to a
Committee of Supply and that I do now leave the Chair.
All those in favour, ‘aye'.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Aye.
MR. SPEAKER:
All those against, ‘nay'.
Motion carried.
On motion, that the House
resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole on Supply, Mr. Speaker left the
Chair.
Committee of the Whole
CHAIR (Verge):
Order, please!
We shall take a few minutes
to distribute the budgetary documents to all hon. members.
[Budgetary documents are
distributed]
CHAIR:
The hon. the Government House Leader.
MR. KING:
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Now with the documents
distributed, I move that the Committee rise, report progress and ask leave to
sit again.
CHAIR:
The motion is that the Committee rise, report
progress and ask leave to sit again.
All those in favour, ‘aye'.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Aye.
CHAIR:
All those against, ‘nay'.
Carried.
On motion, that the
Committee rise, report progress and ask leave to sit again, Mr. Speaker returned
to the Chair.
MR. SPEAKER (Wiseman):
Order, please!
The hon. the Member for the
District of Lewisporte.
MR. VERGE:
Mr. Speaker, the Committee of Supply have
considered the matters to them referred and have directed me to report some
progress and ask leave to sit again.
MR. SPEAKER:
The Chair of Committee of Supply reports that
the Committee have considered the matters to them referred and have directed him
to report progress and ask leave to sit again.
When shall the report be
received?
MR. KING:
Now.
MR. SPEAKER:
Now.
When shall the Committee
have leave to sit again?
MR. KING:
Tomorrow.
MR. SPEAKER:
Tomorrow.
On motion, report received
and adopted.
Committee ordered to sit
again on tomorrow.
Notices of Motion
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Government House Leader.
MR. KING:
Mr. Speaker, with leave, I would like to give
notice regarding the composition of Estimates Committees and the assignment of
those Committees.
AN HON. MEMBER:
Leave.
MR. SPEAKER:
Leave granted.
MR. KING:
Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, I give notice,
by leave, and move that the following Committees will be made up of the
following members in this order.
The Resource Committee will
consist of the Members for: Conception Bay East – Bell Island; The Straits –
White Bay North; Bonavista North; Lake Melville; Carbonear – Harbour Grace;
Fortune Bay – Cape La Hune; and Signal Hill – Quidi Vidi.
The composition of the
Government Services Committee will consist of the Members for: Exploits; Mount
Pearl South; Kilbride; Bellevue; Cape St. Francis; St. John's East; and St.
John's South.
The composition of the
Social Services Committee will consist of the Members for: Port de Grave; Port
au Port; Cartwright – L'Anse au Clair; St. John's Centre; Bonavista South; St.
John's North; and Baie Verte – Springdale.
Mr. Speaker, I further give
notice that the Committees will hear the following heads, as assigned.
The Resource Committee will
deal with: the Department of Advanced Education and Skills; Status of Persons
with Disabilities; Environment and Conservation; Multi-Materials Stewardship
Board; the Office of Climate Change; Energy Efficiency and Emissions Trading;
Status of Women; Fisheries and Aquaculture; Innovation, Business and Rural
Development; the Newfoundland and Labrador Research and Development Corporation;
Natural Resources; Forestry and Agrifoods; and the Department of Tourism,
Culture and Recreation.
The Government Services
Committee will deal with: Finance and Treasury Board; Human Resources
Secretariat; Public Service Commission; Newfoundland and Labrador Liquor
Commission; Service Newfoundland and Labrador; Workplace Health, Safety and
Compensation Commission; Office of the Chief Information Officer; Government
Purchasing Agency; Transportation and Works; and Labrador and Aboriginal
Affairs.
The Social Services
Committee, the final one, will deal with: Child, Youth and Family Services;
Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation; Fire and Emergency Services;
Municipal and Intergovernmental Affairs; Registrar General; Office of Public
Engagement; Department of Justice; Office of the Attorney General; Labour
Relations Agency; Department of Education; Health and Community Services; Aging
and Seniors; and Francophone Affairs.
Finally, Mr. Speaker, I
serve notice to members of the House that on Monday, March 31, the Resource
Committee will meet here in the House at 9:00 a.m. to review the Estimates of
the Department of Advanced Education and Skills.
Thank you.
MR. SPEAKER:
Further notices of motion?
The hon. the Minister of
Finance.
MS JOHNSON:
Mr. Speaker, I give notice that I will move that
the House resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole to consider a resolution
respecting the imposition of taxes on tobacco, Bill 12.
I give notice that I will
ask leave to introduce a bill entitled, An Act To Amend The Income Tax Act,
2000, Bill 13.
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Government House Leader.
MR. KING:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I move that the further
Orders in the House would now deferred by the day and, seconded by the hon. the
Premier, the House do now adjourn.
MR. SPEAKER:
It has been moved and seconded that this House
do now adjourn.
All those in favour, ‘aye'.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Aye.
MR. SPEAKER:
All those against, ‘nay'.
Motion carried.
This House stands adjourned
until 1:30 p.m. on Monday.
On motion, the House at its
rising adjourned until tomorrow, Monday, at 1:30 p.m.