No. 38/2005

House of Assembly

Wednesday, November 30th, 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

3. -- Committee of the Whole on a Bill -- "An Act To Amend The Pippy Park Commission Act". (Bill No. 42) (Progress reported)

4. -- Committee of the Whole on a Bill -- "An Act Respecting Protection Against Family Violence". (Bill No. 50)

6. -- Committee of the Whole on a Bill -- "An Act Respecting Denturists". (Bill No. 60)

Second Reading Bills

7. -- Second Reading of a Bill -- "An Act To Amend The Income Tax Act, 2000 No. 2". (Bill No. 48)                                        (Debate Adjourned)

8. -- Second Reading of a Bill -- "An Act To Amend The Electoral Boundaries Act". (Bill No. 43)

MOTIONS

1. -- 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. 61)

2. -- THE HONOURABLE THE MINISTER OF EDUCATION -- To ask leave to introduce a Bill entitled, "An Act To Amend The Memorial University Pensions Act". (Bill No. 63)

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. 62)

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

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;

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."

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

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."

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

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

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;

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

"WHEREAS the Speaker of the House of Assembly has not applies the rules of the House equally to all Members;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that this House of Assembly calls on the Speaker to operate within the confines of Standing Order 1(1) and 1(2) and convene the Standing Orders Committee when otherwise necessary."

"WHEREAS Labradorians must be the primary beneficiaries of any development of the hydro resource on the Lower Churchill River;

AND WHEREAS the Premier promised during the 2003 election campaign, "We will not develop the Lower Churchill unless the primary beneficiaries are Labradorians. You have my assurance on that";

AND WHEREAS Labrador communities must have electrical power which is affordable and reliable to sustain and grow the local economy;

AND WHEREAS there must be respect and inclusion for all of Labrador's aboriginal peoples - the Inuit Nation, the Metis Nation and the Inuit must be consulted and engaged in meaningful discussions on the development;

AND WHEREAS environmental concerns must be considered and addressed through environmental assessments. Labradorians must be provided with intervenor status;

AND THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a deal on the Lower Churchill not be concluded unless the electrical needs of Labrador are met and a Labrador Development Fund is established to ensure that Labradorians are the primary beneficiaries of the export of their hydro electric resources".