MR. SPEAKER: Further petitions?

The hon. the Opposition House Leader.

MR. KELVIN PARSONS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I appreciate an opportunity to present the sixth petition on behalf of the residents of La Poile, and all users of the provincial ferry service who might venture down to the Southwest Coast and find their way onto or coming from La Poile.

The petition reads:

WHEREAS the people of La Poile must use the provincial ferry system in order to travel to and from La Poile; and

WHEREAS the people of La Poile and visitors are required to wait at the Town of Rose Blanche-Harbour Le Cou from time to time for ferry services; and

WHEREAS there is no restroom, waiting area at the Town of Rose Blanche-Harbour Le Cou where users of the ferry service may utilize washroom facilities; and

WHEREAS citizens of all ages including men, women, children, seniors and disabled persons require washroom facilities as a basic human need in the course of their travels and particularly while awaiting the transit system; and

WHEREAS it is an abuse of human dignity as well as health and safety regulations to allow such degrading and dehumanizing circumstances to continue;

WHEREUPON the undersigned your petitions humbly pray and call upon the House of Assembly to urge government to immediately construct and operate a waiting room, restroom facility at the Town of Rose Blanche-Harbour Le Cou such that all users of the provincial ferry service which operates out of La Poile may be able to utilize such waiting area and washroom facilities.

Mr. Speaker, as I say, this is the sixth time I have raised this petition. I raise it not because I like to hear myself repeat myself, and I am sure the members of this hon. House do not wish to hear me repeat myself, but some things are so important that it bears repeating.

As I said yesterday, it only requires the Minister of Transportation and Works who is responsible for constructing such a facility, who runs the provincial ferry service - it does not take a whole pile of money to do this - to provide the citizens of this Province who utilize this service day in and day out basically with a common, decent place to use a washroom. We are not asking for the Taj Mahal. We are not asking for terminals like are in major centres. We are not asking for any kind of beyond the realm, unnecessary facility here. We are asking for a washroom, Mr. Speaker. We are asking for a washroom so that people who are travelling, who need to use a washroom, have a place to go instead of having to creep behind the rocks, up in the bushes. Now, just imagine how dehumanizing that is. We provide a ferry service but yet we do not have the common decency as a government to provide them with a washroom facility. Now I do not know of anywhere else that exists.