No.31/2012

House of Assembly

Province of Newfoundland & Labrador

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1st Session – 47th General Assembly

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Wednesday, May 16, 2012

 

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 Address in Reply

 

2. C Committee of Supply

 

Second Reading Bills

 

3. C Second Reading of a Bill C “An Act Respecting Procurement By Public Bodies”.

(Bill No. 1)                                                                                                    (Service NL)

 

4. C Second Reading of a Bill C “An Act To Amend The Registration Of Deeds Act, 2009". (Bill No. 14)

                                                                                                    (Service NL)

 

5. C Second Reading of a Bill C “An Act To Amend The Student Financial Assistance Act”. (Bill No. 15)

                                                                           (Advanced Education and Skills)

 

6. C Second Reading of a Bill C “An Act To Ensure Access For Service Animals Used By Persons With Disabilities”.

(Bill No. 17)                                                                 (Justice and Attorney General)

 

7. C Second Reading of a Bill C “An Act To Amend The Legal Aid Act”. (Bill No. 18)

                                                                                (Justice and Attorney General)

 

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. 16)

 

3. C MS. YVONNE JONES (Cartwright - L'Anse au Clair) C To Move:

 

         “WHEREAS we have seen many tragedies and many lives lost due to distress on land and at sea, most recently the death of 14 year old Burton Winters of Makkovik, Labrador;

 

         AND WHEREAS ground search and rescue is a Provincial responsibility and was the first point of contact in the Burton Winters Tragedy;

 

         AND WHEREAS the Federal Government has announced that the Maritime Sub-Centre for Search and Rescue Services in Newfoundland and Labrador will close on April 25 of this year;

 

         AND WHEREAS many questions have been raised about procedures and practices of the Provincial Government and DND in relation to the Burton Winters tragedy;

 

         AND WHEREAS the Government of Canada has indicated that they are ready to participate in, and cooperate with, a public inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the death of Burton Winters;

 

         THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that this House urges the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador to conduct a full investigation into the Burton Winters Tragedy and search and rescue services in Newfoundland and Labrador using a public enquiry under Section 3.(1) of the Public Inquiries Act which states:

 

                  3.(1)  The Lieutenant-Governor in Council may by order establish a commission of inquiry to inquire and report on a matter that the Lieutenant-Governor in Council considers to be of public concern.”

 

4. C MR. DALE KIRBY (St. John's North) C To Move:

 

         “WHEREAS education plays a critical role in preparing young people to grow up as productive, contributing, and constructive citizens;

 

         WHEREAS all students, teachers, and staff members should feel safe at school and deserve a positive school climate that is inclusive and accepting, regardless of race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, creed, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, family status, or disability;

 

         WHEREAS everyone – government, educators, school staff, parents, students and the wider community – has a role to play in creating a positive school climate and preventing inappropriate behaviour, such as bullying, sexual assault, gender based violence, homophobia, and other forms of harassment;

 

         WHEREAS neither bullying nor harassment is yet mentioned anywhere in the Schools Act, 1997; and

 

         WHEREAS bullying, harassment, and intimidation are as prevalent in our schools as ever;

 

 

         THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that this House of Assembly urge Government to address the issue of bullying and harassment in our schools as follows:

 

         Section 2 of the Schools Act, 1997 is amended by adding the following definition:

 

                     (c)   “bullying” means repeated and aggressive behaviour by a pupil, teacher, or staff member where:

 

                        (i) the behaviour is intended by the pupil, teacher, or staff member, to cause, or the pupil, teacher or staff member, ought to know that the behaviour would be likely to cause, harm, fear, or distress to another individual, including psychological harm or harm to the individual's reputation,

 

                        (ii) the behaviour occurs in a context where there is a real or perceived power unbalance between the public, teacher, or staff member, and the individual based on factors such as size, strength, age, intelligence, peer group power, economic status, social status, religion, ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, family circumstances, rate, disability, or the receipt of special education, and

 

                        (iii) the behaviour occurs in the form of any physical, verbal, electronic, written , or other means.

 

         BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week be enacted twice during the school year – the weeks beginning the third Sunday in September and the third Sunday in February.

 

         AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this Government create a bullying prevention plan that will be placed in legislation, which would be included in the curriculum, and would include reporting mechanisms and discipline structures between schools, school boards and the department.”

 

QUESTIONS

 

         17. C MR JIM BENNETT (St. Barbe) – To ask the Honourable the Minister of Innovation, Business and Rural Development  to lay on the Table of the House any assessment of the impact on Newfoundland and Labrador of the European Free Trade Agreement which the Government of Canada is currently negotiating.

 

         18. C MR JIM BENNETT (St. Barbe) – To ask the Honourable the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture to lay on the Table of the House correspondence or reports which have been prepared in relation to workforce adjustment as a result of impending fish plant closures.

 

         19. C MR JIM BENNETT (St. Barbe) – To ask the Honourable the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture to lay on the Table of the House an update on the lobster license buy out program.

 

         20. C MR JIM BENNETT (St. Barbe) – To ask the Honourable the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture to lay on the Table of the House a detailed account of the activities of the Fish Harvesting Safety Association and the Fish Processing Sector Safety Council over the last two years.

 

         21. C MR JIM BENNETT (St. Barbe) – To ask the Honourable the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture to lay on the Table of the House a detailed account of the activities of the Fish Processing Licensing Board for the last two years.

 

         22. C MR JIM BENNETT (St. Barbe) – To ask the Honourable the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture to lay on the Table of the House information related to Government's initiatives to encourage further secondary processing of fish products in the province.

 

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Published under the authority of the Speaker of the

House of Assembly by William E. Parsons, Queen's Printer