Yesterday in the House of Assembly Roger Grimes, Leader of the Official Opposition, and MHA for Exploits District, questioned Premier Williams concerning the new Department of Business.  In order to ensure that Premier Williams’ new project could be fully accountable to the legislature, and thus the people of the province, Mr. Grimes offered, at the leisure of the Premier, to reschedule the estimates committee meeting for the Department of Business.

This offer was rejected by Premier Williams and the meeting occurred, for an unprecedented first time, without the Minister responsible present.

The exchange is below.

MR. GRIMES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The record, Mr. Speaker, shows no progress whatsoever on equalization, no progress whatsoever on the Atlantic Accord, and no progress whatsoever on the 8.5 per cent, but lots of lovely chats.

Mr. Speaker, one last question. Another separate question. Last week we do understand and recognize that the Premier was on a different mission and was not in the Legislature, and I do not know whether he is aware or not because he was not aware of the motion made, but the Estimates Committee for the Department of Business - which is the pride and joy of the Premier, personally, and he, the minister of it - proceeded without the minister, the Premier who is also the minister, being available to answer questions.

I ask the Premier directly today: Would you agree, by consent - because we would gladly do it - to resume the Estimates Committee for the Department of Business so you can tell us about the wonderful things that your new department is going to create and do for the benefit of people in Newfoundland and Labrador? Would he commit to that today so that we can explore some of the good things, because so far we have heard nothing but bad news and no results from this government?

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

PREMIER WILLIAMS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I understand in my absence last week, when I was working on behalf of the people of the Province, that an issue was made of the fact that I could not be at the Estimates for the Department of Business. Well, unfortunately I felt - and I am sure the absent member for Labrador and the other present member for Labrador would agree, that issues of importance for Labrador, like 5 Wing Goose Bay, are very, very important to the people of the Province and, indeed, the people of the Labrador. So that is why we went on that mission. We went to meet with the Italian Air Force and the German Air Force and the Dutch Air Force, and the embassies in all these cities. The other thing, from a business attraction perspective, the single, most important thing I did from the business side was to meet with these ambassadors to discuss business opportunities, to discuss networking, to bring European investment to this Province so that we can grow the economy, so that we can create jobs, so that we can economically diversify. That is why I went.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

PREMIER WILLIAMS: As well, Mr. Speaker, something which obviously is not of interest to the hon. gentleman opposite, is the whole issue of foreign overfishing. I went over there to advocate our case on behalf of -

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

I ask the Premier now to complete his answer.

PREMIER WILLIAMS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I went over there to advocate our case on behalf of the people of Newfoundland and Labrador because of the overfishing that is going on our banks and our communities are closing. Our people are leaving the Province. That is why I went to Europe, and that is why I was not here!

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

The hon. the Leader of the Opposition.

MR. GRIMES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The question was quite simple and straightforward. Now that you are back in the Province would you like to have three hours at an Estimates Committee meeting to expound further on what you just talked about in answer to that question? Would you like to have an opportunity to come before the Estimates Committee as the Minister Responsible for Business and spend three hours explaining exactly what you plan to do for Newfoundland and Labrador?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

PREMIER WILLIAMS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, at that particular Estimates Committee meeting I was very capably represented by the Minister of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development and because both departments are working together, working in tandem, she was very capable of making that representation. I understand -

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

PREMIER WILLIAMS: - I do not know if my information is correct, if it is not I will certainly clarify it.

AN HON. MEMBER: Read Hansard.

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

The Chair has recognized the hon. the Premier and I ask the Premier now if he could complete his answer.

PREMIER WILLIAMS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

In conclusion, I might add, it is also my understanding that the hon. members opposite, who were part of that committee, showed up and then left because they really did not care about the business that was taking place.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

The hon. the Leader of the Opposition.

MR. GRIMES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Again, a very simple, straightforward question. The answer can be yes or no. The Minister of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development, in her own Estimates, said: Any questions about the new Business Department should be addressed to the minister responsible, who is the Premier, because he knows what is going on, I don’t. Mr. Speaker, that is her own words. It is in Hansard.

We are saying, you are now back in the Province, Premier, yes or no, would you like an opportunity to come to an Estimates Committee meeting at your convenience tonight, tomorrow morning, tomorrow night, next week, the week after? At your convenience, would you like an opportunity to come and do the Estimates for the Department of Business that you are supposedly so proud of? Would you like to do that?

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

The hon. the Premier.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

PREMIER WILLIAMS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, it is my understanding - and I can be corrected if I am wrong - that that particular Estimates Committee meeting is over, that it has been passed and that it is done.

Now, what I do suggest to the hon. gentleman opposite is, you have Question Period, so if you want to stand up tomorrow for thirty minutes and ask me questions on the Department of Business feel free to do so because I will answer each and every one them!