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Oral
Questions
April 28, 2008
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| In the House | Question
Period
MS JONES: Thank
you, Mr. Speaker.
My questions are for the
Minister of Health and Community Services.
We know that Bill 7 is
before the House of Assembly right now and it deals with
privacy of personal health information. We also know
that Eastern Health has recently circulated the new
confidentiality agreement to its staff.
Can
the minister confirm that this new confidentiality
agreement was formulated in response to what is being
introduced in the new legislation in the House
currently?
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Minister of Health and Community Services.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. WISEMAN: Thank
you, Mr. Speaker.
The policy statement that
she is referring to with Eastern Health, as I understand
it, is growing from a part of the process of
consolidations. There have been many questions in this
House in the recent past about transition and what takes
place in transition. One of the things that happen is a
consolidation of administrative policies and practices.
As I understand it,
Eastern Health has just finally concluded some pieces of
their administrative manuals where they are
consolidating them. Each of the former seven or eight
boards that existed had policies similar to this. In
fact, each of the fourteen boards throughout
Newfoundland and Labrador had policies similar to this
and each of the four authorities now are in the process
of consolidating that. So, what we saw in recent days
announced by Eastern Health was a consolidation of their
current administrative practices, not necessarily
growing from any bill that we would have introduced in
this House.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Leader of the Opposition.
MS JONES: Mr.
Speaker, there may be some clarification required. Our
inquiries with Eastern Health told us that they were
being asked to comply with confidentiality agreements
under the personal health information bill.
We did, Mr. Speaker,
obtain the contents of the confidentiality agreement
within Eastern Health. It goes way beyond what the
legislation is, that is in our House right now. In fact,
what it does is it asks Eastern Health employees to sign
agreements that would prohibit them from speaking
publicly on any issues within our health care system.
I ask
the minister if he is aware of that, and if he has
concerns about it?
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Minister of Health and Community Services.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. WISEMAN:
Just prior to coming to the House, actually, I received
a copy of the new proposed agreements that Eastern
Health are asking their staff to sign. I understand it
has been a consistent practice in the past, to have them
sign a confidentiality agreement. I understand the
wording of this one is new, as I just described. It has
been amended as a result of the consolidation of health
authorities. I have not had a chance to personally
review it in any level of detail, other than the fact
that it is now in my office and I will get an
opportunity in the coming days to review it to make sure
that it is consistent with what would be normal and
reasonable practice.
Also, if there is any
legislation that it must comply with, it obviously must
comply with that piece of legislation.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Leader of the Opposition.
MS JONES: Thank
you, Mr. Speaker.
Doctors in the Province
certainly have indicated their concerns with the
legislation. Mr. Speaker, they feel it will stifle them
in discussing issues publicly around health care in the
Province. In absence of any whistle-blower legislation
being passed in Newfoundland and Labrador, we share that
concern and believe that it may be the case.
I ask the minister: What
assurances will he give to the 12,000 employees within
Eastern Health that this will not be the case and that
there will be no penalties for speaking out on issues
regarding our health care sector?
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Minister of Health and Community Services.
MR. WISEMAN:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
As I just shared with the
member opposite, I just recently received a copy of the
agreement, prior to coming to the House. What I can
assure the people of Newfoundland and Labrador and the
people who are employed with Eastern Health, I will have
my office and I will personally review the policy that
is now being drafted by Eastern Health and ensure that
it does comply with existing legislation, but that it
also reflects current best practices in human resource
management with respect to protecting the confidential
information that may be held within the organization.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Leader of the Opposition.
MS JONES: Thank
you, Mr. Speaker.
My next questions are for
the Minister of Municipal Affairs.
Over the weekend, both
the fire services association and the school councils’
federation called on government to provide more funding
to the fire commissioner’s office to allow for a more
detailed inspection process.
I ask the minister: Will
government be providing this funding, which will allow
the fire commissioner to conduct full and detailed
inspections of all public buildings within the Province?
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Minister of Municipal Affairs.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. DENINE: Thank
you, Mr. Speaker.
As I said time and time
again, after the report came in on the facility, the
report of the ten facilities that the fire commissioner
went out to inspect, and came back with his report, I
made recommendations to the fire commissioner’s office
and to the FES that we would look at all of the
protocols that are in place. That is the sum of the
things. Once we get all of the stakeholders in place,
get a meeting, get recommendations, come back to
government, to my office, then we will comment on that
further.
Thank you.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Leader of the Opposition.
MS JONES: Mr.
Speaker, I am unsure, from the minister’s comments, if
there will be additional resources provided to the fire
commissioner’s office and if it will include all
public buildings in this review of protocols and
procedures, meaning schools as well as hospitals and
other public buildings.
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Minister of Municipal Affairs.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. DENINE: Mr.
Speaker, again, the Opposition Leader is saying: Is
there money going to be given to the FES?
Until we do the protocol
review of this, I cannot tell you what is going to
happen. I am going to wait and see what procedures are
going to be put in place. Then I will be able to say
this is what we are going to do.
When that review is
completed, whatever time it takes to do it - it is not
going to be done overnight, but when that happens - then
we will do it and we will include whatever facilities
are there.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Leader of the Opposition.
MS JONES: Thank
you, Mr. Speaker.
We know that oftentimes
reviews can be a lengthy process. In the meantime, I
guess, it would be the volunteer fire departments around
the Province that will still be expected to conduct
these inspections.
I ask the minister: Will
government provide full funding to ensure there is
proper training in these volunteer fire departments
right throughout the Province?
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Minister of Municipal Affairs.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. DENINE:
Mr. Speaker, there are ongoing training programs offered
by FES over the year, and the fire commissioner’s
office, his officials, will be conducting seminars over
this year to help with the problem of people to inspect
these facilities.
Are we stopping and just
putting something on the shelf? No. We are moving
forward on some of the suggestions as we speak, now. He
is also in the process of setting up seminars for people
in health care facilities to come in and look at fire
and life safety issues, evacuation procedures, et
cetera. That stuff is being moved ahead as we speak.
Thank you.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Leader of the Opposition.
MS JONES: Thank
you, Mr. Speaker.
We also know, from
talking to many of these fire brigades, or volunteer
fire departments throughout the Province, that they do
not all have the training. We have also learned that
many communities do not have active volunteer fire
brigades; nor do they have the basic standard equipment
to be able to respond to certain emergencies in their
community.
In light of that, and the
fact that these people are being responsible to enforce
government policy and regulation, I ask the minister: Is
he prepared to look at 100 per cent funding for
volunteer fire departments in this Province to meet the
basic standard equipment that they require, such as
pumps, hoses, breathing apparatus and so on?
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Minister of Municipal Affairs.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. DENINE: Mr.
Speaker, I thank the Opposition Leader for that
question; because, if she was paying attention on
Friday, she would have heard the new cost-share ratios
that this government put in, and that includes volunteer
firefighters.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. SPEAKER: Order,
please!
The hon. the Leader of
the Opposition.
MS JONES: Thank
you, Mr. Speaker.
I thank the minister for
that clarification, because I read into it that it
applied to water and sewer infrastructure and other
projects, but I am pleased to see it does apply to
volunteer fire departments as well.
Mr. Speaker, my next
questions are for the Minister of Finance.
I guess we are on the eve
of the Budget. It is almost like Christmas Eve in
Newfoundland and Labrador. I guess the minister is Santa
Claus come tomorrow morning. I am so excited, I don’t
know if I can sleep tonight, because I have never seen
such a huge surplus budget being laid out in
Newfoundland and Labrador.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh,
oh!
MR. SPEAKER: Order,
please!
MS JONES: Mr.
Speaker, like every excited kid on Christmas Eve, it is
always nice to –
MR. SPEAKER: Order,
please!
I ask the hon. member to
pose her question.
MS JONES: Indeed
I will, Mr. Speaker.
It is always nice to try
and guess what you might be getting in the morning.
I ask the minister: Can
we expect a break on the price of gas at the pumps for
the people of Newfoundland and Labrador tomorrow, Sir,
when you bring down your Budget?
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Minister of Finance.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. T. MARSHALL: Mr.
Speaker, all good things come to those who wait.
Tomorrow, when I present the Budget, I am sure that
there will be initiatives that will be very pleasing to
the people of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Thank you.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Leader of the Opposition.
MS JONES: Mr.
Speaker, that didn’t give me the scoop I was looking
for. It gave me the response but as of right now I
don’t feel like I’m going to save any money at the
pumps tomorrow.
Mr. Speaker, the growing
price of gasoline in our Province is no doubt
contributing to a number of factors. Just recently we
heard a story from a volunteer group, Meals on Wheels,
who may have to change the way they have been serving
the public in the Province because of the high price at
the pumps.
Again
I just want to ask the minister if strong consideration
could be given to reducing the price, bringing it more
in line with what the rate is across the country and
providing some savings for consumers tomorrow.
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Minister of Finance and President of Treasury
Board.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. T. MARSHALL: Mr.
Speaker, I think, as I said in response to a question
from the Opposition House Leader some time ago, the
Williams government certainly recognizes the problems
that high energy costs have for the people of this
Province. We are aware of it and we take it very
seriously. That is why last year, for example, we
introduced a number of measures to put more money in
people’s pockets, such as tax cuts, the biggest tax
cut in history, help for seniors, low income tax
benefits, and this year the Premier has already
announced an additional $94 million, $75 million
annually that will help people pay for the rising cost
of food and the rising cost of energy. We will continue
over time to take more initiatives that will put money
back into people’s pockets to help them deal with
those rising costs.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Leader of the Opposition.
MS JONES: Thank
you, Mr. Speaker.
I will just have to wait
until tomorrow, I guess.
Let me ask a question to
the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs about a funding I
know they do have. That is the Off-Reserve Aboriginal
Housing Trust. It was announced
by the federal government well over a year ago, yet we
haven’t seen any of this $8 million flowing into
aboriginal communities in Labrador to deal with the
housing needs.
Can I ask the minister
why the program has been delayed so long?
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MS POTTLE: Thank
you, Mr. Speaker.
Let me tell the House,
Mr. Speaker, that within the last couple of weeks my
department has met with all aboriginal groups. They are
fully aware of how things are unfolding. A press release
is hopefully going to be out in the very near future.
Let me tell you that they are extremely satisfied with
how things are progressing. Just keep tuned and
hopefully we will have that announced shortly.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Leader of the Opposition.
MS JONES: Thank
you, Mr. Speaker.
It doesn’t answer my
question, why we have seen a delay of almost two years
in the program, and only last week I am aware of the
fact that they are trying to put regulations around it.
Maybe
the minister can tell me what the funding breakdown will
be for each aboriginal group in Labrador and when the
applications will be in the hands of people in Labrador
who need this money.
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MS POTTLE: Thank
you, Mr. Speaker.
All Aboriginal groups
have been contacted. They have been kept up to date as
to how this is progressing. They have been involved and
they know that it is coming down shortly. They know what
the break down is going to be, and as soon as the press
release comes out, so will everyone else.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Leader of the Opposition.
MS JONES: Thank
you, Mr. Speaker.
Maybe I will ask the
minister this. Of the 150
applications that are currently on the wait-list for
housing programs now in Labrador: How many of these will
automatically be transferred into the Aboriginal program
or will they have to reapply, because some of them have
been on the list now for two years?
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MS POTTLE: Thank
you, Mr. Speaker.
All Aboriginal groups
know the process. They know there is an application
form; they know they are still eligible for other
programs that Newfoundland and Labrador Housing offers.
They are kept attuned as to how this program is going to
be delivered, and they are satisfied. They are happy
with how things are progressing. It will be announced in
the very, very near future and they are aware of it.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Opposition House Leader.
MR. PARSONS: Thank
you, Mr. Speaker.
Our office recently
requested a meeting with health officials to discuss
ambulance services in the Province. A meeting was being
arranged but was then cancelled after the minister’s
executive assistance was advised of our request.
Instead, we were asked to provide a detailed agenda with
questions, and our request will be considered. As
indicated to the minister’s political staff, the
purpose of the meeting was exactly that, to find out
what the ambulance services are like in this Province.
That is why we could not give the questions and answers
in advance.
I ask the minister: Does
your executive assistant decide what information is
allowed to be provided publicly by your department, and
how does that process live up to openness and
accountability?
MR. SPEAKER: Order,
please!
The hon. the Minister of
Health and Community Services.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. WISEMAN: Mr.
Speaker, it is because we want to be open and
transparent that we go through that kind of process.
My department gets a
number of requests from individuals looking for
information, and we want to make sure that when the
Opposition or any other group would like to meet with
officials in the department, to determine some issue or
to understand an issue better, we want to make sure we
understand what it is they really want to know so we can
assign the most appropriate person to attend that
meeting.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. WISEMAN: It
would be difficult if I were to assign someone, or
someone in my office were to assign someone who really
was not up to speed on the file and the information
would be - probably not complete and then we would have
another form of complaint. So, better understanding what
the information the Opposition would want to have helps
us better assign someone. Last week, we had a -
MR. SPEAKER: Order,
please!
I ask the hon. minister
to conclude his answer.
MR. WISEMAN: Thank
you, Mr. Speaker.
Last week we had a
briefing on the new legislation on privacy and personal
health information. We knew they were doing that, we
assigned someone who was very familiar with the file,
and I understand it was a great briefing session.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Opposition House Leader.
MR. PARSONS: Thank
you, Mr. Speaker.
That answer was almost as
clear and as transparent as the answer we received from
the executive assistant.
I want to carry on with
the issues relating to so-called openness and
accountability. Mr. Speaker, two weeks ago we managed to
pry a few reports and other documents out of various
departments with our questioning. We are still waiting
for some ministers to deliver on their commitments. Mr.
Speaker, under the Access to Information Act, we
requested briefing notes related to the Mealey Mountain
National Park through the Department of Aboriginal
Affairs. Here is what we received, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh,
oh!
MR. SPEAKER: Order,
please!
MR. PARSONS:
Mr. Speaker, my question to the Minister of Aboriginal
Affairs is: What is so top
secret that we received two entirely blacked out pages
from the minister? Is this (inaudible)?
MR. SPEAKER: Order,
please!
I ask the hon. member to
pose his question.
MR. PARSONS: That
is for the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs, please.
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Minister of Justice and Attorney General.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. KENNEDY: Thank
you, Mr Speaker.
For the information of
the Opposition House Leader; as he is well aware, when a
request is made for Access to Information, the process
is that it is vetted by department officials. The
information is looked at and it is determined what
information can be provided. If the Opposition House
Leader is not satisfied with the information, there is a
process that he can follow and I would suggest that he
do the same.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Opposition House Leader.
MR. PARSONS: Thank
you, Mr. Speaker.
I guess that is why the
Minister of Aboriginal Affairs could not answer for
herself, because all she got was the blacked out paper,
too.
MR. SPEAKER: Order,
please!
The Chair will interrupt.
The hon. member knows full well that props are not
admitted here in the House and I would ask him if he
would refrain from doing so.
MR. PARSONS: Yes,
Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, since the
Minister of Justice likes to be on his feet, I will ask
you minister. On April 16, I asked the Minister of
Justice about a report which was prepared and forwarded
to the minister in late January of this year. This
report is supposed to the result of a tour to Nova
Scotia, BC and Saskatchewan, conducted by a delegation
of prison management and union officials. Almost three
months after receiving it, and two weeks after I asked
the question in this House, again we are still waiting
for the report.
I am
wondering if the minister can advise us when he is
likely to release the report that was done concerning
this tour of these provinces?
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Minister of Justice and Attorney General.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. KENNEDY: Thank
you, Mr. Speaker.
As I indicated to the
Opposition House Leader when that question was first
asked, it was asked in the context of whether or not
there was going to be a new prison built in this
Province. At that point I indicated, and I reiterate,
that there can be no further decisions made on anything
until the federal government determines and outlines its
position.
In relation to that
report, I have to indicate that I am not aware of any
such report. There are two aspects of this. There was, I
understand, a visit to prisons by various people, not
that I am aware of any report having been provided.
Secondly, Transportation and Works, as is the norm in
preparing for the report on prison sites, costs, et
cetera, provided a - what I have seen so far is a draft
consultation report. I think there must be some
confusion there. If the Opposition House Leader can
point me in -
MR. SPEAKER:
Order please!
I ask the hon. member to
conclude his answer.
MR. KENNEDY: If
he can be more specific I can try to find out what he is
talking about, but I have not seen any such report.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Opposition House Leader.
MR. PARSONS: Thank
you, Mr. Speaker.
I would refer the
minister to a copy of The Independent - and I am
not showing any props here. It is the February 8 to 14
edition of The Independent on page four, column
five, which references that exact report I just talked
about, and it references it as being given to Justice
Minister Jerome Kennedy. That is what I am quoting from
and that is where I got the information.
MR. SPEAKER:
Order please!
I ask the hon. member if
he would abide by the rules of the House. He knows full
well that members should not be repeating member’s
names here, or refer to them either by reading of a
transcript or by saying it directly.
I ask the hon. member to ask questions referring to
members by the district they represent or by the
executive position they hold.
The hon. the Opposition
House Leader.
MR. PARSONS: Thank
you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I will come back to the point of order,
because I understand it is proper to do a point of order
on that point after Question Period is over. So, I will
come back to that issue you just raised.
My next question is for
the minister responsible for the Workplace Health,
Safety and Compensation Commission. Two weeks ago I
asked the minister about a report, which government
commissioned, into the issue of client services.
Apparently, this report was received by government in
May of 2007. There was one released on Friday, but that
was a 2006 statutory review.
When I asked the minister
two weeks ago he said he would take it under advisement,
ascertain the content -
MR. SPEAKER:
I ask the hon. member to pose his question.
MR. PARSONS: My
question of the minister is: When
are we going to see that report?
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Minister of Human Resources, Labour and
Employment.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. SKINNER: Mr.
Speaker, after receiving the question here in the House
from the member opposite I did check into the situation.
There was no report commissioned by government. There
was no report presented to government about the client
service. He is referring to a report that the board of
directors at the commission prepared and, as I
understand it, are dealing with as a board of directors,
but it was not commissioned nor presented to government.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Opposition House Leader.
MR. PARSONS: Thank
you.
A major issue for
Labrador is the state of the Trans-Labrador Highway. My
question is for the Minister of Transportation and
Works.
It was reported in The
Labradorian on May 29, 2007, that the Town Council
in Happy Valley-Goose Bay was told that a government
report on various grades of chip seal on the
Trans-Labrador Highway would be released to them on
April 1 – that is April 1, 2006 - three transportation
ministers ago.
My question for the
minister is: Why has this
report not been published or placed on the government
Web site, and when might we expect this to be tabled in
this House?
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Minister of Transportation and Works.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MS WHALEN: Mr.
Speaker, I thank the hon. member for his question.
We are indeed working
with Labrador, in investments we have made in Labrador.
We are doing, this year alone, a $45 million cost-shared
investment in Labrador, surfacing and widening of our
Phase 1 during the construction season. We are indeed
using chip seal in a part of that road in Labrador, the
Trans-Labrador Highway.
Thank you.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Opposition House Leader.
MR. PARSONS: Thank
you.
Again, for clarification,
can the minister confirm that
the report will be released, and when?
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Minister of Transportation and Works.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MS WHALEN: Mr.
Speaker, all reports that we do are released in due
time. That report will be released when it is due to be
released.
Thank you.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Opposition House Leader.
MR. PARSONS: Thank
you, Mr. Speaker.
My final question is for
the Premier.
Premier, contrary to what
the minister just said, your government is on record as
releasing reports within thirty days. We are three
years, almost, into this one that I am talking about
here. Saying you are going to release it when you are
ready is not keeping the commitment to release it in
thirty days.
Premier, you, yourself,
said back on March 3 that you would scour the government
coffers and departments and see what reports are hanging
around and they would be released. They are still not
released and we are here some sixty days later.
I am
just wondering, has anybody given anyone instructions to
do that, and can we look forward to seeing these reports
actually being made public sooner rather than later?
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Premier.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
PREMIER WILLIAMS: No
instructions have been given; and, yes, we can.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Member for the District of Port de Grave.
MR. BUTLER: Mr.
Speaker, last week we asked the Minister of Municipal
Affairs about the amount of money that has been spent to
date on the government’s waste management strategy,
and if estimates have been made on the long-term cost
that will be incurred by municipalities trucking garbage
to the three mega-dumps that government has proposed.
I ask the minister: Has
this government done a cost study into a more
decentralized system of regional engineering landfills
for the Province where such long-term fuel and equipment
costs could be measured against short-term capital
expenditures?
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Minister of Municipal Affairs.
MR. DENINE: I
am not sure what he is asking, but I will try to attempt
to answer the question.
Mr. Speaker, there is
significant money being invested into the waste
management strategy. To date, over $41 million has been
committed right now and there is more to be committed in
the future – not too long into the future.
What happens, Mr.
Speaker, is when the studies are done in each of the
areas that will take in all the factors that the member
across the way is saying: your gas, transportation,
where they are going to be located. That will be done in
the study. Until that is done, I cannot comment on that.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Member for the District of Port de Grave.
MR. BUTLER:
Mr. Speaker, the minister has stated that the first 100
kilometres travelled by garbage trucks to the mega-dumps
are the responsibility of the municipalities. We know
that the New Harbour regional landfill is approximately
100 kilometres from the city. This extremely
contaminated site was scheduled to close in 2007;
however, it still remains open.
I ask the minister: Are
you aware of the difficulties eight communities that use
the New Harbour landfill are having in tendering to pick
up the garbage for Robin Hood Bay? Have you been in
touch with them, and have any discussions been held with
those eight communities?
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Minister of Municipal Affairs.
MR. DENINE: I
am really trying to find the question here.
The thing here that I
would like to say is, first of all, you are right. The
responsibility for different municipalities to get it is
the first 100. Then, the extra cost is going to be
spread out over all the municipalities participating.
Mr. Speaker, everyone
will be consulted on where the facility is going to be
located, if it is going to be located in the Bay, and
how to get the garbage there.
I also want to correct
one thing. They are not gigantic dumps, mega-dumps.
There is more to this. In the modern age of environment,
these are called engineered landfills.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. DENINE: They
are not called dumps. I heard the Opposition Leader say
that, I heard the member –
MR. SPEAKER: Order,
please!
The hon. the Member for
the District of Port de Grave.
MR. BUTLER: Mr.
Speaker, I will make it clearer for the minister.
With regard to the New
Harbour landfill, there are eight communities at the
present time which use that site and it is scheduled to
be closed this year. All I am saying to you, Sir, is
that those eight communities are finding it difficult to
come up with the funds to transport their garbage to the
site here in St. John’s.
I was wondering: Have
you been in touch with those eight communities, and what
procedures are in place to assist them?
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Minister of Municipal Affairs.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. DENINE: Thank
you, Mr. Speaker.
The committee for the
Avalon Waste Management Committee is now completed and
it is appointed. The first meeting will be early in May.
I cannot give you the exact date because it has not been
nailed down yet.
Those concerns that the
member across the floor has asked me, those are the
concerns that will be addressed to that committee and
they will address those issues. So, as far as
transporting the waste to an engineered landfill, they
will look after that.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Member for the District of Port de Grave.
MR. BUTLER: Mr.
Speaker, we know that Winterton has been approached by
the Trinity Bay Waste Management Committee to take their
waste on an interim basis. I ask the Minister of
Environment - apparently they were supposed to do a cost
feasibility study.
I ask the minister: Has
the report been completed, and are you prepared to
subsidize Winterton for the extra administration cost
that would be involved?
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Minister of Municipal Affairs.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. DENINE: Again,
Mr. Speaker, any studies to be done will be cost shared
by the committee that is there, and they will be
whatever studies are needed to be done to help
facilitate the movement of the garbage to an engineered
landfill.
When we start
consolidating, there is going to have to be a study to
do that, to find out where they are going to put it, and
that will be done. As the Opposition says - is it a mega
dump? No, it is an engineered landfill, a mega one. |
