No.32/2004



House of Assembly

Province of Newfoundland & Labrador


1st Session -- 45th General Assembly

Wednesday, May 19th , 2004

ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS

(a) Statements by Members

(b) Statements by Ministers

(c) Oral Questions

(d) Presenting Reports by Standing and Special Committees

(e) Notices of Motion

(f) Answers to questions for which notice has been given

(g) Petitions

ORDERS OF THE DAY

1. -- Committee of Supply - Estimates - Consolidated Fund Services, Legislature and Executive Council.

Bill Referred To Committee Of The Whole House

2. -- Committee of the Whole on a Bill -- "An Act To Amend The Income Tax Act, 2000". (Bill No. 7) (Progress reported)

MOTIONS

1. -- THE HONOURABLE THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND PRESIDENT OF TREASURY BOARD -- To Move that the House Resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole on Supply to Consider Certain Resolutions for the Granting of Supply to Her Majesty. (Bill No. 3 )

2. -- THE HONOURABLE THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND PRESIDENT OF TREASURY BOARD -- To Move that the House Resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole to Consider Certain Resolutions Respecting the Imposition of Taxes on Tobacco. (Bill No. 13)

3. -- THE HONOURABLE THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND PRESIDENT OF TREASURY BOARD -- To Move that the House Resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole to Consider Certain Resolutions Relating To The Raising Of Loans By The Province. (Bill No. 19)

4. -- THE HONOURABLE THE MINISTER OF NATURAL RESOURCES -- To ask leave to introduce a Bill entitled, "An Act To Amend The Mineral Act". (Bill No. 22)

5. -- THE HONOURABLE THE MINISTER OF GOVERNMENT SERVICES -- To ask leave to introduce a Bill entitled, "An Act To Amend The Highway Traffic Act". (Bill No. 21)

6. -- THE HONOURABLE THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND PRESIDENT OF TREASURY BOARD -- To ask leave to introduce a Bill entitled, "An Act To Amend The Income Tax Act, 2000 No. 2". (Bill No. 20)

7. -- THE HONOURABLE THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND PRESIDENT OF TREASURY BOARD -- To ask leave to introduce a Bill entitled, "An Act To Amend The Memorial University Pensions Act". (Bill No. 23)

8. -- THE HONOURABLE THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND PRESIDENT OF TREASURY BOARD -- To ask leave to introduce a Bill entitled, "An Act To Create A Pension Plan For Provincial Court Judges". (Bill No. 24)

9. -- MR. FABIAN MANNING (Placentia & St. Mary's) -- To Move:

"BE IT RESOLVED that this Honourable House encourages the government to protect the province's children and grandchildren from a massive and unmanageable burden of debt by resolving to do a better job of living within our means."

10. -- MR. GERRY REID (Twillingate & Fogo) -- To Move:

"WHEREAS there has been no comprehensive study which shows reorganization of school boards in this Province will either save money or result in better educational delivery;

AND WHEREAS this restructuring has been undertaken in a hasty and unorganized fashion that could result in many problems within our K-12 education system;

AND WHEREAS political patronage has been used to appoint transitional chairs to replace duly elected school boards;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that this House of Assembly calls on government to halt any school board reorganization until proper studies and public input can be obtained."

11. -- MR. EDDIE JOYCE (Bay of Islands) -- To Move:

"WHEREAS the fiscal state of the province has been misrepresented by the provincial conservative government;

AND WHEREAS this misrepresentation is political manoeuvring on the part of government to create a public mood that would enable them to implement their right wing conservative agenda;

AND WHEREAS arts and culture activities contribute to both the economic and social life of this province;

AND WHEREAS the reputation of the art and the culture of this province will be severely damaged;

AND WHEREAS we are in danger of losing valuable and world renowned curators and staff;

AND WHEREAS art currently owned by this province is not properly stored and in danger of being damaged;

AND WHEREAS there is a fine art program at Sir Wilfred Grenfell College attracting students from all over North America;

AND WHEREAS local artists used the Provincial Art Procurement Program as a major advantage in promoting local art and helping local artists;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that this House of Assembly supports the opening of The Rooms and the Corner Brook Exhibition Centre without delay, as well as a restoration of funds to the provincial government's Art Procurement Program."

12. -- MR. KELVIN PARSONS (Burgeo & La Poile) -- To Move:

"WHEREAS there is an impending Federal Election and many Federal-Provincial issues need attention;

AND WHEREAS this province should be the principle beneficiary of offshore resource revenue;

AND WHEREAS there is a need for improvements to the equalization program;

AND WHEREAS health and post secondary funding from the Federal Government should be increased;

AND WHEREAS there is a need for improvements in the EI system;

AND WHEREAS the economy of this province is suffering because the Federal Government is not willing to take custodial management over the stocks off our coast;

AND WHEREAS the joint management of the fishery is an important issue for the future of this province;

AND WHEREAS there is a role for the Federal Government to play in the development of the Lower Churchill;

AND WHEREAS there should be an increased Federal presence in the province;

AND WHEREAS there should be continued operation and marketing of 5 Wing Goose Bay;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that this House of Assembly supports the establishment of an all party committee of this House to draft a policy document for presentation and endorsement by all candidates in this province and the party leaders in the upcoming Federal Election."

13. -- MR. ROGER FITZGERALD (Bonavista South) -- To Move:

"WHEREAS the challenge of constructing and maintaining transportation infrastructure in Newfoundland and Labrador is enormous, given our difficult terrain and our relatively small population dispersed over a large area;

AND WHEREAS much of this province's existing transportation infrastructure has deteriorated in recent years as a consequence of insufficient funding;

AND WHEREAS the Constitution of Canada establishes the principle of equalization which directs governments in Canada to reduce the disparity of opportunities associated with the relatively poor fiscal capacity of a province;

AND WHEREAS the Government of Canada has entered into transportation agreements with this and other provinces whereby it has funded or cost-shared valuable infrastructure work;

AND WHEREAS the 1988 fifteen-year Newfoundland [and Labrador] Transportation Initiative (also known as the Roads-for-Rail Agreement) has expired, leaving the province with significantly diminished funding in the face of an undiminished need;

AND WHEREAS proper transportation infrastructure is required to attract and complement investments that will create jobs and opportunities in our communities;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that this Honourable House call upon the Government of Canada to enter into a comprehensive transportation infrastructure agreement with the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador."

QUESTION

2. -- MR. ROGER GRIMES (Exploits) - To ask the Honourable the Premier to lay upon the Table of the House the following information:

(a) An itinerary of his most recent trip to Europe, including where he visited, who he met with and the purpose of the meetings.

(b) The costs associated with the trip including air fare, meals, accommodation and other expenses incurred.

(c) A list of government officials and others involved in this trip and the reason they were part of the mission.

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Published under the authority of the Speaker of the

House of Assembly by Earl G. Tucker, Queen's Printer