No

No.38/2012

House of Assembly

Province of Newfoundland & Labrador

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1^st Session – 47^th General Assembly

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Wednesday, May 30, 2012

ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS

(a) Statements by Members

(b) Statements by Ministers

(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

Second Reading Bills

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

(Bill No. 1) (Service NL)

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

(Service NL)

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

(Advanced Education and Skills)

5. 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)

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

(Justice and Attorney General)

7. C Second Reading of a Bill C “An Act To Amend The Highway Traffic Act”. (Bill No. 19)

(Service NL)

8. C Second Reading of a Bill C “An Act To Amend The Works, Services And Transportation Act”. (Bill No. 20)

(Transportation & Works)

9. C Second Reading of a Bill C “An Act To Amend The Rail Service Act, 2009”.

(Bill No. 21) (Transportation & Works)

10. C Second Reading of a Bill C “An Act To Amend The Aquaculture Act”. (Bill No. 22)

(Fisheries & Aquaculture)

MOTIONS

1. 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.”

2. C MR. DWIGHT BALL (Humber Valley) C To Move:

“WHEREAS the labour force of Newfoundland and Labrador has traditionally been one that is disproportionally based on seasonal employment compared with other provinces given the large rural population and broad seasonal industries including the fishery, tourism, forestry, roadwork, construction, cultural industries and agriculture. Many of these industries depend upon seasonal labour for their continued existence and success;

AND WHEREAS the Government of Canada has announced profound and substantial changes to the national Employment Insurance program;

AND WHEREAS these changes will adversely affect more than 50,000 persons in Newfoundland and Labrador who are in receipt of Employment Insurance each year, including more than 7,000 recipients of fishery benefits;

AND WHEREAS the changes, including the requirement for EI recipients to find a job paying at least 80 per cent of pay in a similar occupation within six weeks and the requirement that recipients to be willing to work at a job that is within a one hour commute from their home are aimed at urban populations and ignores the needs and realities of the rural economy;

AND WHEREAS the changes made to the Employment Insurance appeals and review process denies the right for a speedy, meaningful and comprehensive appeal;

AND WHEREAS the changes were conceived, announced and will be implemented without consultations with the population of Canada, without advanced warning to the government's of the provinces or territories, without a proper debate in the Parliament of Canada on the principles or implementation, and without mandate to do so given these changes were never proposed during the most recent federal election;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that this House of Assembly condemns the substance and implementation of the changes to the Canadian Employment Insurance program;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this House calls upon Government to immediately conduct a detailed research program to examine the long-term effects of these changes on individuals, communities and the Province as a whole with the goals of gathering evidence to use in a campaign against these changes and also for use in determining what Provincial Government programs may be required to mitigate the negative effects of these changes;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this House calls upon the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador to join forces with the governments of the Maritime provinces in order to better address the issue with one united regional voice;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this House calls upon the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador to ensure that this issue be placed on the agenda for discussion at the annual Council of the Federation Summer Meeting, in order to initiate a national debate on the role and value of the Employment Insurance program.”

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Published under the authority of the Speaker of the

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