No.19/2005

House of Assembly

Wednesday, May 4th, 2005

(a) Statements by Members

(b) Statements by Ministers

(c) Oral Questions

(d) Presenting Reports by Standing and Special Committees

(e) Tabling of Documents

(f) Notices of Motion

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

(h) Petitions

1. -- Address in Reply

2. -- Committee of Supply

Second Reading Bills

3. -- Second Reading of a Bill -- "An Act To Amend The Municipal Elections Act". (Bill No. 1)

5. -- Second Reading of a Bill -- "An Act To Amend The Income Tax Act, 2000". (Bill No. 8)

6. -- Second Reading of a Bill -- "An Act To Amend The Public Service Pensions Act, 1991, Teachers' Pensions Act And Uniformed Services Pensions Act, 1991". (Bill No. 9)

7. -- Second Reading of a Bill -- "An Act To Establish A Financial Services Appeal Board". (Bill No. 11)

8. -- Second Reading of a Bill -- "An Act To Repeal The Investment Contracts Act". (Bill No. 12)

9. -- Second Reading of a Bill -- "An Act To Amend The Services Charges Act". (Bill No. 10)

10. -- Second Reading of a Bill -- "An Act To Repeal The Literacy Development Council Act". (Bill No. 6)

11. -- Second Reading of a Bill -- "An Act To Amend The City Of Corner Brook Act, The City Of Mount Pearl Act, The Municipalities Act, 1999 And The St. John's Assessment Act". (Bill No. 15)

12. -- Second Reading of a Bill -- "An Act Respecting The Rooms Corporation". (Bill No. 17)

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. 4)

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. 5)

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 Advancing or Guaranteeing of Certain Loans made under the Loan and Guarantee Act, 1957". (Bill No. 14)

4. -- THE HONOURABLE THE GOVERNMENT HOUSE LEADER -- To ask leave to introduce a Bill entitled, "An Act Respecting The Management Of Government Information For The Province". (Bill No. 16)

5. -- MR. OLIVER LANGDON (Fortune Bay-Cape La Hune) -- To Move:

"WHEREAS FPI was created by an Act of this Legislature and Government has a responsibility to ensure its future in the fishing industry in this province;

AND WHEREAS FPI has jeopardized the future of two communities that rely on the processing industry by announcing the closure of the Harbour Breton Fish Plant and the phasing out of operations in Fortune;

AND WHEREAS FPI has approached Government with a plan that would see the sale of 40% of its lucrative marketing and value-added division in the US;

AND WHEREAS this sale will have a very negative impact on FPI's operations in this province;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that this House of Assembly urge the Government to reject FPI's request to sell its American assets and establish an income trust."

6. -- MR. KELVIN PARSONS (Burgeo & LaPoile) -- To Move:

"WHEREAS health care is one of the most important services provided by Government to the public;

AND WHEREAS Government has engaged the Hay Group and received reports that identified cuts to health care in the Western and Grenfell regions;

AND WHEREAS the Hay Group's reports are focused on cost savings, not health care delivery that considers the unique demographic and geographic challenges that exist in this province;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that this House of Assembly rejects the drastic cuts proposed by these reports and calls on Government to commit to maintaining and improving current health care services rather than cutting services currently provided."

7. -- MS. ANNA THISTLE (Grand Falls-Buchans) -- To Move:

"WHEREAS Abitibi Consolidated announced in January it would be conducting a review of its two operations in Newfoundland and Labrador;

AND WHEREAS Forestry Act amendments passed in 2002 provided for the uniform expiration of Abitibi Consolidated timber licences for the Grand Falls-Windsor mill;

AND WHEREAS the continuance of the licences is subject to the company continuing to operate two paper machines and production using the two machines at substantially the same annual levels as those during the preceding three years at the mill in Grand Falls-Windsor;

AND WHEREAS these Forestry Act amendments passed in 2002 to protect production levels at the Grand Falls-Windsor mill were supported by all parties;

AND WHEREAS Government has an obligation to protect the workers and communities that rely on this important industry;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that this House of Assembly requests that Government reaffirm its commitment to the Bill 27 Forestry Act amendments that protect the production levels at the Grand Falls-Windsor mill, and in turn protect the economy of Central Newfoundland."

8. -- MR. PERCY BARRETT (Bellevue) -- To Move:

"WHEREAS the education of the youth of this province is of utmost importance to our future;

AND WHEREAS many schools in this province are in a dilapidated and sometimes dangerous condition;

AND WHEREAS the current Government has caused increased problems in the education system by introducing school board restructuring without proper consultation or study;

AND WHEREAS the current Government has drastically reduced the number of teachers;

AND WHEREAS there is evidence that the buses used to transport children to school are unsafe;

AND WHEREAS many people fear there may be campus closures or program cuts in the post-secondary education system in this province;

AND WHEREAS there were a number of promises in the Blue Book related to schools and improvements in the education system which have not been kept;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Assembly calls on Government to recognize the importance of education to the future of this province and to keep the commitments they made during the last election by investing sufficient funds to address the needs of the province's education system."

9. -- MR. ROSS WISEMAN (Trinity North) -- To Move:

"WHEREAS the Government of Canada has declared 2005 as the "Year of the Veteran";

AND WHEREAS throughout Canada all citizens are being asked to pay tribute to the Veterans of wars of the last century;

AND WHEREAS many Newfoundlanders and Labradorians have volunteered to serve their country, many of whom have made the ultimate sacrifice with their lives;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED this House of Assembly call on all citizens of Newfoundland and Labrador to seek out veterans in their community and thank them for the contribution they made to preserving democracy and restoring peace to the world, and to pay tribute to the many veterans who gave their lives for our freedom."

10. -- MR. KEVIN O'BRIEN (Gander) -- To Move:

"WHEREAS a consequence of the relocation of weather forecasting services from this province has been that the workplace and social activities of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians are being conducted in a hazardous environment;

AND WHEREAS the social, economic, business and commercial operations of our province are impacted negatively by inaccurate weather forecasts at a far greater rate of frequency, In particular by

(a) threats to the safety of fishermen,

(b) havoc and lost productivity inflicted upon the operation of educational institutions,

(c) turmoil and chaotic conditions that are created when patients must reschedule long awaited appointments because of cancellations due to inaccurate forecasting of impending storms, and

(d) impairment of groups such as business committees, sports organizations, and volunteer groups to conduct their affairs in a timely, economic and effective manner so as to maintain a reasonable flow of activity;

AND WHEREAS as a result of undependable weather forecasting, it is clearly evident that this province is paying an economic penalty far greater than could be anticipated, due to

(b) the loss of productivity and added costs within the medical field when hours of work for specialists and medical staff are not fully utilized because of rescheduling caused by erroneous weather predictions,

(c) the added costs to patients and all citizens who are forced to make repeated journeys when appointments are rescheduled because of inaccurate weather forecasts, and

(d) the negative economic impact on specific aspects of our tourist industry like adventure tourism, who rely on accurate forecasting for their livelihood;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador make representation to the Federal Government of Canada to rescind the decision to move weather forecasting services from Gander to mainland sites and to return full weather forecasting services to this province."

12. -- THE HONOURABLE THE GOVERNMENT HOUSE LEADER -- To Move pursuant to Standing Order 11 that the House not adjourn at 10:00 o'clock p.m. on Thursday, May 5^th, 2005.

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