No.
8/2009
House
of Assembly
Province
of Newfoundland & Labrador
_______________________________________
2nd
Session – 46th General Assembly
________________________________________
Wednesday, April 8,
2009
ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS
(a) Statements
by Members
(b) Statements
by Ministers
(c) Oral
Questions
(d) Presenting
Reports by Standing and Select Committees
(e) Tabling of
Documents
(f) Notices of
Motion
(g) Answers to
questions for which notice has been given
(h) Petitions
ORDERS OF THE DAY
1. C
Committee of Supply
Second
2. C Second
Reading of a Bill C AAn Act
Respecting Apologies”. (Bill No. 1)
(Justice
and Attorney General)
3. C Second
Reading of a Bill C AAn Act To
Consolidate The Law Respecting Revenue Administration”. (Bill No. 4) (Finance
and President of Treasury Board)
4. C Second
Reading of a Bill C AAn Act To
Repeal The
5. C Second
Reading of a Bill C AAn Act To
Amend The Pensions Funding Act”. (Bill No. 6)
(Finance
and President of Treasury Board)
6. C Second
MOTIONS
1. C THE
HONOURABLE THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND PRESIDENT OF TREASURY BOARD C To Move AThat This House Approves in General the Budgetary
Policy of the Government.@ (Budget Speech)
2. C THE HONOURABLE THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND PRESIDENT
OF TREASURY BOARD C To Move that the House Resolve itself into a
Committee of the Whole on Supply to Consider Certain Resolutions Relating to
the Granting of Supply to Her Majesty.
(Bill No. 2)
3. C THE HONOURABLE THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND PRESIDENT
OF TREASURY BOARD C To ask
leave to introduce a Bill entitled, AAn Act To Amend The Labour-Sponsored
Venture Capital Tax Credit Act”. (Bill No. 3)
4. C THE HONOURABLE THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND COMMUNITY
SERVICES C To ask leave to introduce a Bill entitled, AAn Act
Respecting Chiropractors”. (Bill No. 8)
5. C MR. DERRICK DALLEY (The Isles of Notre Dame) C To Move:
“WHEREAS all Members
of the
AND
WHEREAS the Newfoundland and Labrador sealing industry provides direct
employment for over 6,000 people, and has a significant economic, social, and
cultural value for many coastal communities in Newfoundland and Labrador;
AND
WHEREAS the European Union is considering a proposal to ban the trade in seal
products based on perceived moral arguments which are in clear violation of the
WTO agreements;
AND
WHEREAS it is the responsibility of the Government of Canada to advance
international trade and economic interests by maintaining market access for Canadian
goods and services;
AND Whereas the USA Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) was
enacted in 1972 to address conservation concerns over marine mammals, including
seals; and has been used to ban the trade in Canadian seal products;
AND
WHEREAS the proposed EU exemption for seal harvesting by Inuit for cultural and
ceremonial purposes only, offers no economic benefit to the Inuit of Labrador;
AND
WHEREAS the Canadian seal harvest is an environmentally sustainable industry
with the Government of Canada setting sealing quota limits that ensure health
and abundance of seals based on science and on internationally-recognized
conservation principles;
AND
WHEREAS research on the modern sealing industry by international veterinary experts
concluded that seals are harvested in a humane manner;
AND
WHEREAS the commercial harvesting of seals is an important component of
ecosystem health and diversity;
AND
WHEREAS implementation of trade bans on seal products will have serious consequences
for the commercial viability of the seal harvest, and on the livelihood of
those who make their living through a legitimate harvest of a renewable marine
resource;
AND
WHEREAS global leaders, including the EU, at the G-20 Summit in November 2008,
spoke against protectionism and agreed to a Declaration calling on countries
not to impose any new trade barriers in light of the current global economic
crisis;
THEREFORE
BE IT RESOLVED that all Members of the
be it FURTHER resolved that this House of Assembly urge
the Government of Canada to call upon the European Union to respect the G-20
Declaration not to impose any new trade barriers during these times of global
economic instability;
Be it FURTHER resolved that this House of Assembly urge
the Government of Canada to initiate negotiations with the Government of the
United States of America calling for an amendment to the Marine Mammal Protection
Act to permit trade in seal products from seal populations that are
environmentally sustainable and managed according to international standards
for conservation and animal welfare;
AND BE it FURTHER Resolved that this
House of Assembly urge the Government of Canada to call upon the European Union
not to proceed with its proposal to ban seal imports, as such a trade
restriction would be contrary to international trade rules and would do nothing
to encourage either sustainable use or humane sealing practices.
__________________________
Published under the authority of the
Speaker of the
House of Assembly by Earl G. Tucker,
Queen's Printer