No.45/2004


House of Assembly

Province of Newfoundland & Labrador

1st Session -- 45th General Assembly

Wednesday, November 24th , 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. -- Address in Reply

2. -- Committee of Supply

Second Reading Bills

3. -- Second Reading of a Bill -- "An Act To Amend The Municipalities Act, 1999". (Bill No. 37)

4. -- Second Reading of a Bill -- "An Act To Revise The Law About Veterinary Medicine". (Bill No. 34)

5. -- Second Reading of a Bill -- "An Act To Amend The Pharmaceutical Association Act, 1994". (Bill No. 35)

6. -- Second Reading of a Bill -- "An Act To Establish The Fish Processing Licensing Board". (Bill No. 36)

7. -- Second Reading of a Bill -- "An Act To Amend The College Act, 1996 And The Memorial University Act". (Bill No. 42)

8. -- Second Reading of a Bill -- "An Act To Amend The Labour Standards Act". (Bill No. 38)

MOTIONS

1. -- THE HONOURABLE THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND PRESIDENT OF TREASURY BOARD -- To ask leave to introduce a Bill entitled, "An Act To Enhance The Transparency And Accountability Of The Government And Government Entities To The People Of The Province". (Bill No. 39)

2. -- THE HONOURABLE THE GOVERNMENT HOUSE LEADER -- To ask leave to introduce a Bill entitled, "An Act To Amend The House Of Assembly Act And The Elections Act, 1991". (Bill No. 40)

3. -- THE HONOURABLE THE MINISTER OF TRANSPORTATION AND WORKS AND MINISTER RESPONSIBLE FOR ABORIGINAL AFFAIRS -- To ask leave to introduce a Bill entitled, "An Act To Ratify And Give The Force Of Law To The Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement". (Bill No. 44)

4. -- THE HONOURABLE THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE AND ATTORNEY GENERAL -- To ask leave to introduce a Bill entitled, "An Act To Provide For The Registration Of Lobbyists". (Bill No. 43)

5. -- THE HONOURABLE THE MINISTER OF GOVERNMENT SERVICES -- To ask leave to introduce a Bill entitled, "An Act Respecting The Government Purchasing Agency". (Bill No. 41)

6. -- THE HONOURABLE THE MINISTER OF TOURISM, CULTURE AND RECREATION -- To ask leave to introduce a Bill entitled, "An Act To Amend The Motorized Snow Vehicles And All Terrain Vehicles Act". (Bill No. 45)

7. -- THE HONOURABLE THE MINISTER OF NATURAL RESOURCES -- To ask leave to introduce a Bill entitled, "An Act To Amend The Forestry Act". (Bill No. 46)

8. -- 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."

9. -- 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."

10. -- 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."

11. -- MR. JACK HARRIS (Signal Hill-Quidi Vidi) -- To Move:

"WHEREAS fair, affordable and accessible automobile insurance is a concern for all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians;

AND WHEREAS public automobile insurance has been suggested as a model that could bring relief for Newfoundland and Labrador drivers, and may be a necessity in the event private insurers discontinue their operations in the province;

AND WHEREAS there are many models of public insurance that contain numerous options and in the interest of an informed debate these models and options should be explored in the Newfoundland and Labrador context;

AND WHEREAS the province should be ready to operate a public automobile system that has been developed to satisfy the needs and desires of the people of the province with a practical plan for implementation and delivery;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT this House appoint a Select Committee on Public Automobile Insurance to examine into and inquire on the most suitable form of public insurance system for Newfoundland and Labrador should the province conclude that a public system is required;

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the Select Committee shall inquire into and identify:

1. The most suitable model of public automobile insurance to ensure fair, affordable and accessible public automobile insurance including:

(a) the type of public automobile system to be recommended,

(b) the types of coverage and benefits to be offered,

(c) a proper risk rating system for establishing premiums,

(d) the method of distribution,

(e) the types of insurers;

2. The start-up costs for establishing the proposed model, including infrastructure, office equipment, payroll, initial provision for losses, etc.;

3. The fixed and recurring costs of operating the proposed model;

4. The legal and trade implications involved in setting up the proposed model;

5. The downstream impact of the proposed model on the legal community, the physiotherapists and other therapists, as well as on the brokers, independent adjusters, automotive repair shops and trades or professions;

6. The creation of a basic automobile insurance policy within a public system.

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the Select Committee be provided with sufficient resources to conduct an adequate public consultation process and engage consultants to advise on matters required to fulfill its mandate."

12. -- MR. Roger Grimes (Exploits) -- To Move:

"WHEREAS the Premier has written to the Prime Minister and the Leaders of the Conservative Party of Canada and the New Democratic Party of Canada asking for commitments from them on fourteen issues which are important to the future of this province including:

Support for Newfoundland and Labrador's claim to 100 percent of our offshore oil and gas provincial revenues, making the province the true "principal beneficiary" as intended under the Atlantic Accord.

Transfer at no cost to Newfoundland and Labrador of the 8.5 percent Hibernia shares owned by the Federal Government.

Give Newfoundland and Labrador jurisdictional control and ownership over petroleum and other economic resources in the offshore.

Supporting calculation of equalization based on a ten-province standard.

The restoration of federal transfers to the province for health care, post-secondary education and social services to 1994-95 levels adjusted for inflation.

The allocation of future transfers on the basis of need rather than population numbers alone.

Giving Newfoundland and Labrador a direct and meaningful say in the management (i.e. the allocation and harvesting) of fisheries stocks in the ocean territory adjacent to the province.

Support for imposing custodial management on the continental shelf immediately outside Canada's 200-mile exclusive economic zone where such action is warranted to preserve fish stocks from international unsustainable harvesting practices.

Support for efforts to develop the Hydro-power resources of the Lower Churchill River system for the primary benefit of Newfoundland and Labrador, including the provision of a Federal Government guarantee if necessary to proceed with the project on a stand alone basis.

Support for initiatives that make amends for the grossly lopsided Upper Churchill power contract that was signed after Ottawa refused to support a reasonably-priced power corridor for Newfoundland and Labrador to wheel electricity across Quebec to external markets.

Support for the completion of the Trans-Labrador Highway and raise it to an acceptable standard.

Support for efforts for the repair, replacement and maintenance of key transportation infrastructure in the province on a timely basis.

Support for the construction of a fixed link across the Strait of Belle Isle to give this province the continuous land-based connection to the North American highway grid that most residents of the nine other provinces enjoy, and which will complete the Trans Canada Highway from coast to coast.

Support for efforts to restore and enhance military training activities at 5-Wing Goose Bay, which has served for many years as a key NATO international flight training base.

AND WHEREAS the people of this province have not received satisfactory and definitive answers on many of these issues;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that this House of Assembly calls on the Government of this province to follow-up and request definitive answers in writing on these issues so this information can be made public before election day."

13. -- MR. OLIVER LANDGON (Fortune Bay-Cape La Hune) -- To Move:

"WHEREAS Fishery Products International (FPI) is a critical part of the fishing industry, provides economic and social well-being and contributes to stability and prosperity in many communities of this province;

AND WHEREAS the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador refused to lift the 15% share restriction that is forcing an end to the NEOS Seafood bid to buy all outstanding shares of FPI;

AND WHEREAS in correspondence with government and reports in the media, John Risley said in May 2001 that "None of FPI employees have anything to fear" and "We are going to do this (expand the company) by investing in the company, not laying people off";

AND WHEREAS in a Proxy Circular to Holders of Common Shares of FPI in April 2001, John Risley stated "(We) do not intend to close any of FPI's processing facilities in Newfoundland or elsewhere.";

AND WHEREAS in 2002 when FPI was preparing to implement an investment strategy which would have resulted in more than 600 job losses in the three ground fish plants in Marystown, Fortune and Harbour Breton, government undertook to ensure that FPI lived up to previous commitments on employment related issues, resulting in legislative amendments to the FPI Act to protect processing workers;

AND WHEREAS in January of 2003, FPI and its unions reached a tentative Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the company's groundfish operations on the province's south coast, which promised significant capital investment while protecting workers and enhancing plant productivity;

AND WHEREAS FPI is a creature of the Fisheries Restructuring Act and later the FPI Act:

AND WHEREAS FPI announced that it will not be re-opening the Harbour Breton Fish Plant, rocking the entire province, shaking the industry and devastating FPI workers, families and communities along the south coast;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Assembly calls on the Provincial Government to demand that FPI make the necessary investment to save the Harbour Breton Fish Plant and restore confidence and trust in the company."

QUESTION

10. -- MS. ANNA THISTLE (Grand Falls-Buchans) - To ask the Honourable the Premier to lay on the Table of the House the following information:

(a) The proposal put forward by the Victorian Order of Nurses regarding the palliative care pilot project in Corner Brook and all correspondence and documentation and reports pertaining to this issue.

(b) The agreement between the Victorian Order of Nurses and the Provincial Government outlining all the parameters and the mandate of the palliative care project.

__________________________

Published under the authority of the Speaker of the

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