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Oral
Questions
November 26, 2008
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| In the House | Question
Period
MS JONES: Thank
you, Mr. Speaker.
Yesterday, the Premier
stated that unions who have not yet signed a collective
agreement with government must do so now or risk a lower
wage offer than that negotiated and signed off by CUPE
earlier this year. This has caught the unions off guard
and is being widely viewed as a tactic to force them to
accept government’s offer.
I ask the Premier: Why
is government adopting such a heavy-handed approach and
making pointed threats like this to unions through the
media, and not at the negotiating table where the
discussion should be had?
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Premier.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
PREMIER WILLIAMS: Thank
you, Mr. Speaker.
In all fairness to the
hon. Leader of the Opposition, she wasn’t there in the
scrum yesterday when I indicated exactly what the
government’s position was, but I am at a loss to
understand - in a situation where CUPE have already
accepted what is considered to be a very, very generous
wage package of eight, four, four and four over four
years, which is front-end loaded, which compounds outs
to be 21.5 per cent, we have now seen that PSAC, the
public service union, has accepted 6.8 per cent over
four years, the Prime Minister of the country, who has
referred to the present economic situation as a
dangerous situation, and he has also referred, after the
G-20 meetings, to it as a near-depression possible
situation, and just this afternoon we heard the
Opposition House Leader refer to it as a crisis –
under those circumstances I am at a loss to understand
why I would be considered to be threatening unions when
I am indicating to them that if, in fact, the prophecies
of the Prime Minister, or even the Opposition House
Leader, actually come true and we end up in a depression
or a near-depression situation, why they would not take
a 21.5 per cent offer right now, when they can have it
and when they can get it, rather than in a situation
when we are forced to choose between health services or
education services or drugs, and not be able to give
them that offer.
That was a dose of
reality, it was recognition of a very difficult world
situation right now, and it was an opportunity, I think,
to be frank and open and honest with the people of the
Province.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Leader of the Opposition.
MS JONES: Thank
you, Mr. Speaker.
I
would like to ask the Premier if any of these unions, or
all of them, have made it known to government that they
would not be accepting the offer that is on the table,
or is the time that they are taking necessary to
continue to get through the negotiating practice and
process?
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Premier.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
PREMIER WILLIAMS: Mr.
Speaker, if I can take an example of the nurses - and I
want to make it very clear, before my remarks, that we
value our nurses in this Province in the biggest kind of
a way.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
PREMIER WILLIAMS: The
nurses, just two meetings ago, came in, after we had
indicated to them that we wanted to meet in June and
they indicated that they were not available until
September, they came in and the package that we had on
the table, which is worth $140 million over four years,
which was the eight, four, four, and four package, they
came in and wanted a $160 million package over two
years. Instead of 20 per cent over four years they, in
fact, wanted 24 per cent in two years. They had not
moved off that position.
So, first of all, they
are looking for a two year agreement as opposed to a
four year agreement. Secondly, they are looking for $160
million in just two years when we are offering $140
million over four years. They have basically taken the
wage package that we have had and added on another
$14,000 worth of extras. So, a nurse at the top end of
the scale, when our wage package is in place, will
receive $71,000 a year, and we figure that is a very
generous compensation package.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Leader of the Opposition.
MS JONES: Mr.
Speaker, we know that government is at loggerheads with
the nurses union with regard to this negotiation, but I
ask the Premier: How does he
feel that his approach yesterday, in trying to tell them
or force the agreement upon them to take it now, is
going to improve an already very stressed and faltering
negotiation that is ongoing between the two parties?
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Premier.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
PREMIER WILLIAMS: In
all fairness, yesterday afternoon the hon. the Leader of
the Opposition was not there and she did not hear my
remarks. My remarks were very clear. We said that the
offer that is on the table now - we termed the template
- is on the table and it is staying on the table;
however, what I did point out is what everybody in the
room, everybody in the country, everybody in the world,
now knows, is that we have a very deepening, dark
economic situation. We have no idea where it is going to
go. I can couch that statement by saying we are in the
best possible economic shape that we could be in, but if
we get into a deep recession or a depression situation
then this government has to act responsibly. We have to
try and protect the social services that we provide to
the people of this Province.
Now, when that offer was
put on the table we had a situation where we basically
had over $100 oil. In the last two or three months that
oil has dropped from $150 down to $50, and the statement
that I made very clearly said that if oil stays at the
price that it is today we would have no choice than to
not offer that same wage package under those
circumstances because we would be facing multiple
deficits of several hundred million dollars every year
starting next year.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Leader of the Opposition.
MS JONES: Thank
you, Mr. Speaker.
The messages are often
confusing from government. It is deep and dark recession
one day and then if you listen to a couple of your
ministers here yesterday, the Minister of Transportation
and the Minister of Industry in their speeches in the
House, everything was wonderful and we were going to
ride this out with no problems and no difficulty.
Premier, let me ask you
this question. Government has
maintained a stand that they will not enter into
non-pattern bargaining with the sectorial unions, but it
seems now that that is a direction that you are prepared
to go in if it means negotiating wage rates down and
benefits down.
MR. SPEAKER: Order,
please!
The hon. the Premier.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
PREMIER WILLIAMS: Mr.
Speaker, we have no control over the world economy. As a
matter of fact, we have virtually negative influence on
the world economy. As a result of that, we have no
control, as does the Government of Canada, over the
various extraneous factors that are driving the economy
in the tank, but we do have to be responsible in the way
that we manage the funds.
We have put this Province
in a great situation. We will have a good year this
year. I indicated yesterday, just outside this House,
that we will, in fact, exceed our surplus this year,
even if the price of oil is at $50. That puts us in a
very good situation. Luckily, we have managed down the
debt. We have taken a situation, which we inherited from
the previous government, which was a near bankrupt
situation and we have had four consecutive surpluses. We
have used those funds then to reduce the debt. We have
used those funds to lower taxes. We have used those
funds to improve health care in the Province. We have
used those funds to increase education in the Province.
We have put it into municipalities. We have put it into
roads. We have put it into a lot of things that place
the Province in a very good economically, competitive
situation. So we have done absolutely everything right,
but if this Province is subject to a world economy that
is in the tank, then we have to act responsibly to
protect all the things that we have already done.
I can tell you, there is
not a person, I don’t think, in the country –
MR. SPEAKER: Order,
please!
I ask the hon. Premier to
conclude his remarks.
PREMIER WILLIAMS: Thank
you, Mr. Speaker.
I do not think there is a
person in the country these days, that would turn their
nose up to 21.5 per cent compounded. I am at an actual
loss to understand why these unions would not grab this
now while they can get it and while we are in a
financial position to offer it to them. All I am saying
to the union members is if the situation changes
(inaudible).
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Leader of the Opposition.
MS JONES: Mr.
Speaker, just to follow up on the nurses’ piece for a
moment because nurses have said that they no longer have
the time that it takes to do non-nursing duties because
of the shortage. Unfortunately, we all know that Central
Health has decided to begin disciplinary action against
these nurses and have done so in some cases.
I ask: Why
is Central Health the only board that is using this
tactic, and are they doing it on a directive from
government?
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Minister of Health and Community Services.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. WISEMAN: Mr.
Speaker, with respect to what is happening in Central
Newfoundland through Central Health, first of all, there
is no direction being provided by government. Each of
our four health authorities have been given a mandate as
they deliver programs and services to direct their
workforce according to various human resource policies
and collective agreements. What each of the four
authorities have done is advised the nurses union that
should their membership take any action that is
contravention of the collective agreement or in
contravention of their code of conduct and code of
ethics that governs their practice, then some
disciplinary action will occur.
What we are witnessing in
Central Newfoundland is an employer who is paying a
nurse, or nurses, in various facilities to be in charge
during particular times during the day. The nurses in
question have decided that they are not going to carry
out those duties, which is very much in contradiction of
the collective agreement. To say, Mr. Speaker, it very
clearly indicates what their role and responsibilities
are with respect to that in-charge assignment.
Fundamentally, what we are seeing here is nurses
deciding, on their own, not to comply with the terms and
conditions of their already negotiated collective
agreement.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Leader of the Opposition.
MS JONES: Thank
you, Mr. Speaker.
Obviously, the nurses
have a different perspective to this.
So I ask the minister: Are
you prepared to reign in Eastern Health and the other
health boards on this issue and ensure that nurses are
permitted to do their jobs effectively and focus on
patient care and not be reprimanded for not completing
these extra duties?
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Minister of Health and Community Services.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. WISEMAN: Mr.
Speaker, as I said, there is an already negotiated
collective agreement in place. One of the provisions in
that agreement says that when a nurse is assigned in
charge they get an in-charge pay. They get compensated
for carrying out certain duties and responsibilities
within their unit or within that building. That
provision clearly states that not only does it apply to
members of NLNU but it applies to working people of
other bargaining units. Fundamentally, when a nurse
decides that they are not going to agree with or conform
with the already established collective agreement, than
that is in contravention of their agreement.
The normal practice, I
say, Mr. Speaker, if employers are assigning
responsibilities to individuals who believe that it is
inappropriate for them to do it, there is a well
established practice in labour relations and that is you
carry out the direction as directed by your employer and
you grieve it. There is a grievance process in the
collective agreement. All we are saying is if nurses
disagree with the process there is a mechanism through a
grievance process to do it, so follow it. That is a
natural part of labour relations, I say, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Leader of the Opposition.
MS JONES: Mr.
Speaker, I ask the minister: Does
he think that the public is being well served by having
these nurses reprimanded and suspended from their jobs
at a time when we have nursing shortages in many of
these hospitals and clinics?
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Minister of Health and Community Services.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. WISEMAN: Mr.
Speaker, the people of Newfoundland and Labrador have
been well served for many years and I suspect will
continue to be well served by the tremendous amount of
work the nurses do in this Province. They are dedicated
individuals who do their job in a very diligent fashion.
They are well trained by very capable and competent
people in their schools of nursing throughout
Newfoundland and Labrador, and I suspect, Mr. Speaker,
that the people of Newfoundland and Labrador are well
served today by the nurses in this Province, as they
were yesterday. I believe we can all, all of us in this
Province can look forward to the nurses of this Province
continuing to provide dedicated and very professional
support and services to the people who need it in
Newfoundland and Labrador.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Leader of the Opposition.
MS JONES: Thank
you, Mr. Speaker.
Yesterday, I referenced a
2003 report for residential treatment of services for
children, youth and families. Part of the response that
the minister said at that time was that this report was
done by half a dozen people, and I think it was to
belittle the information that was contained in the
report. I want to remind him that your people in your
department were involved, along with managers from right
across the system, consultants and professionals both
nationally, provincially and internationally. It took
two years and it was done in consultation with
individuals and committees right across the Province.
So, Mr. Speaker, when you
look at the amount of time, effort and expertise that
went into this report, I have to ask the minister
specifically: Why did you wait
five years before ever dealing with the recommendations
that were in this report, and not look at it until these
people came forward on television?
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Minister of Health and Community Services.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. WISEMAN: Thank
you, Mr. Speaker.
That was a great speech
but I want to remind the member in this House today at
least what happens when you assume. I say, Mr. Speaker,
when you start assuming things and reading into things,
you create all kinds of inaccurate statements and you
make misleading comments in the general public. That is
what we saw yesterday when the member opposite issued a
press release referencing the comments I made in this
House yesterday, and nothing, I say, Mr. Speaker, could
be further from the truth.
This government, me as
the Minister of Health and Community Services, take very
seriously our responsibility for the general health of
the population of this Province, and very seriously our
role and responsibility in providing mental health
services to not only children but adults and anyone else
who needs it, I say, Mr. Speaker.
My comment about the
report, when I said it was about a half a dozen people,
it was a reference to suggest that it was not just one
individual who wrote the report, but many minds came to
bear. I was not quantifying the number, nor did I go on
to say about where they came from. I acknowledged the
contribution of people. If I remember correctly, Mr.
Speaker, I remember the contributions that are made by
community volunteers, people who provide supports for,
people who advocate on behalf of. I think if she checks
Hansard, I did acknowledge –
MR. SPEAKER: Order,
please!
MR. WISEMAN: -
a variety of contributions made in that report, I say,
Mr. Speaker. So I was not belittling at all –
MR. SPEAKER: Order,
please!
I ask the hon. minister
to conclude his answer.
MR. WISEMAN: Thank
you, Mr. Speaker.
Just the contrary, I
acknowledge the significance of it and that is why I
have directed officials in my department to now pull
that report and actually start to review the
recommendations with respect to their appropriateness
for today.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Leader of the Opposition.
MS JONES: Mr.
Speaker, yesterday I also indicated the serious
deficiency that exists within programs and services that
are available to help youth within this Province, and
the minister’s response was that the Janeway had an
array of programs and services. I want to remind him
that in the discussions that we had with parents and
youth and health professionals it certainly appears that
they feel the services are not sufficient at this time.
In fact, even the Child and Youth Advocate and also the
Canadian Mental Health Association expressed directly
their concerns.
I ask you, Minister: If
you feel the programs and services are there, I want you
to confirm for me today whether there is currently a
statement of claim against Eastern Health by a family in
the Province because of the lack of mental health
services that are being offered to youth under the age
of 19.
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Minister of Health and Community Services.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. WISEMAN: It
is interesting that the member opposite decides to quote
the Advocate. What she failed to share with the House
and the people of this Province was that around the
middle of October – about the 17, I believe – the
Advocate was interviewed on CBC, and if she had listened
to that, or wants a transcript of it, she would hear the
Advocate acknowledging that there have been major
improvements in mental health services in this Province.
The children in this
Province have been seeing improved services and, just
like the Advocate, I acknowledged yesterday that we are
continuing to make further investments, and we will
continue to make further investments in the future.
We are always looking at
ways to improve services, how we deliver them, the
breadth of the services, improving the qualifications of
the people who deliver it, all with a view, at the end
of the day, of providing an enhanced service to the
people of Newfoundland and Labrador.
So I say, Mr. Speaker, if
the member opposite is going to quote someone like the
Advocate, at least do it accurately and acknowledge the
full breadth of her comment, which was that there have
been improvements in mental health services for the
children of this Province.
If she doesn’t want to
take my word for it, read the transcript from the CBC
Here and Now program on the seventeenth.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Leader of the Opposition.
MS JONES: Thank
you, Mr. Speaker.
I have read the
transcript. I read my notes, I say to the minister, and
I have certainly seen the program. I also know that the
Advocate feels that there are still insufficient
services.
I ask the minister this: Can
he confirm for me that there is a statement of claim in
the courts today against Eastern Health because of the
lack of mental health services being provided to youth
in this Province?
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Minister of Health and Community Services.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. WISEMAN: Mr.
Speaker, I am not personally aware that there might be.
If the member opposite is suggesting that there is, and
if she is citing a statement of claim being filed, I
guess she got that from the court records herself, and
that is a public document. If that is available, I am
certain that the member opposite has already had it. I
would need to verify it myself. I do not have any
personal knowledge of that today but I will undertake to
confirm it for the member opposite. As I said, if it is
matter of public record I suspect that their office
already has it.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Leader of the Opposition
MS JONES: Thank
you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, earlier
today the Seal Cove Campus of the College of the North
Atlantic was closed due to poor air quality. Students
and professors became sick and experienced symptoms such
as burning eyes and fumes. There was recently a new
boiler installed there, from what I understand, and they
think this might be part of the problem.
I ask
the minister if she can confirm for me today what the
problem is in that campus, and if proper inspects have
been completed on that facility.
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Minister of Education and Government House
Leader.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MS BURKE: Mr.
Speaker, I cannot confirm at this time what the actual
problem is. I heard about this issue this morning. What
I can confirm is that officials are certainly looking
into the matter, and if there is a matter of health and
safety concerns they will be taken most seriously and we
will certainly make sure that we rectify the situation
so nobody is left at risk.
Thank you.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Leader of the Opposition.
MS JONES: Thank
you, Mr. Speaker.
We received complaints
back a few months ago about the air quality at this
particular campus of the College of the North Atlantic
and, as a result, Mr. Speaker, we filed under Access to
Information a request for all the air quality
inspections for the CONA facilities over the past year.
Unfortunately, our request was denied unless we were
willing to pay $125 to access that information.
Minister, in light of the
situation today, in light of the fact that we have
gotten complaints at this campus over the last few
months about air quality, I ask
if you are prepared to table the inspection reports on
those facilities in the House of Assembly so that we can
access them free of charge, as they should be to the
public?
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Government House Leader.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MS BURKE: Mr.
Speaker, I would certainly like to let the hon. Member
for Cartwright-L’Anse au Clair know that if there are
any concerns about health and safety in any of the
campuses of the College of the North Atlantic, if they
receive complaints, I would certainly encourage that she
send them on to the college or to me and we will make
sure that we look into them. I certainly think they are
very serious matters that we need to address, as opposed
to using them for, I guess, political points on the
floor of the House of Assembly.
If there are any issues
of health and safety or any particular or specific
college that may need attention, that is coming to your
attention - because nobody phoned me and told me
specifically - if they phoned you, I would certainly
like to have that information. We would certainly act on
it at any point in time.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh,
oh!
MR. SPEAKER: Order
please!
MS BURKE: If
we are hearing reports that came into the office of the
Official Opposition months ago, I would certainly like
to have those issues brought to my attention, and I will
look into those issues and ensure that if there is a
health and safety concern that it receives attention.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Leader of the Opposition.
MS JONES: Thank
you, Mr. Speaker.
We went through safety
issues and air quality issues with this minister before,
in schools, and asked for information that we never,
ever received.
Mr. Speaker, I am asking
the minister today: In light of
the fact of the situation that exists at the Seal Cove
Campus, will you table the air quality inspections done
at that campus in the last year in the House of Assembly
so that we do not have to pay to access them through
Freedom of Information?
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Minister of Education and Government House
Leader.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MS BURKE: Mr.
Speaker, with regard to Access to Information and how
there are charges to receive the information, and the
amount of information sometimes that is available, that
is pre-established and there is a formula that we use in
order to determine what is being charged. I want to make
sure that the public understands that we do not come up
and put a number on it just based on what we think.
There is certainly a way that we deal with that
information.
It is also noteworthy
that sometimes there are boxes and boxes of information
that tie up staff for months at a time, so we certainly
need to make sure that the amount that we put on it is
by a prescribed formula and we follow that formula.
Mr. Speaker, as far as
the air quality testing, and issues that the member just
mentioned with regards to schools or colleges, I can
assure the hon. member that this government takes air
quality and health and safety issues very seriously.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MS BURKE: If
there is an issue at the Seal Cove Campus, as has been
brought to my attention just this morning, we will
certainly look into that matter and, as I said before
and I certainly mean, if there are health and safety
issues at that particular campus we are looking into
them today and we will make sure that no one is left at
risk.
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Leader of the Opposition.
MS JONES: Thank
you, Mr. Speaker.
A yes or no answer from
the minister would be just fine. Will
you provide the air quality inspection testing and
results in the House of Assembly that were done on the
Seal Cove Campus in the last year if, indeed, there were
any done?
We know you sent people
out there yesterday. We are not sure if there was
anything done prior to that.
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Minister of Education and Government House
Leader.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MS BURKE: Mr.
Speaker, I cannot guarantee to table a report if I do
not know if that particular report exists or not. We
will certainly have a look and see if there are any
reports on the Seal Cove Campus that were done in the
last year regarding air quality, and certainly the
follow-up or the plan from the college to deal with
those issues.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Leader of the Opposition.
MS JONES: Thank
you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker,
government’s interference with the operations at
Memorial University, and in particular its interference
in the selection of a new president for the university,
has been widely condemned within the Province.
I ask the minister: Does
she now recognize that her actions were improper and
does she intend to take a new approach?
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Minister of Education and Government House
Leader.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MS BURKE: Mr.
Speaker, this government invests heavily in our
post-secondary education, in particular, Memorial
University of Newfoundland. We certainly want to make
sure that university remains a leader, not just within
Atlantic Canada or Canada, but certainly worldwide.
Mr. Speaker, we are at a
point in the university right now where we do have some
changes. We have a new chair of the Board of Regents. We
certainly want a presidential search to continue. I am
looking forward to meeting with the new chair to discuss
that particular issue, but more importantly, the private
member’s motion that we will be debating here on the
floor of the House of Assembly deals specifically with
the autonomy at Memorial University because we see that
as extremely important. We certainly want to move
forward and we want to make sure that that university
remains a leader within the academic institutions of
this country.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Leader of the Opposition.
MS JONES: Mr.
Speaker, we know that the resignation of the former
president, Axel Meisen, came eight months before the end
of his term, amidst the claims of government intervening
in the operations of the university. We also have on
record the Chancellor of Memorial University, Mr.
Crosbie, who even accused the Premier –
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh,
oh!
MR. SPEAKER: Order,
please!
MS JONES: -
of putting political ambition ahead of educational
priorities.
I ask the minister today:
Is she concerned about the
damage that is being done to the reputation of the
university by your heavy-handed actions and interference
in this process?
MR. SPEAKER: Order,
please!
The hon. the Minister of
Education and Government House Leader.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MS BURKE: Mr.
Speaker, Axel Meisen resigned as the president of the
university on his own accord. He certainly never
indicated to me at the time of his resignation, and I
was at different functions that acknowledged his
contribution to the university, there was never any
indication that because of any type of government action
that he resigned.
Mr. Speaker, I also want
to make sure that people understand that as far as the
university goes and as far as the courses and the
offerings and the curriculum and the way courses are
taught and the research that is being done, this
government has never and has no intentions of
interfering with that process.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. SPEAKER: Order,
please!
The hon. the Member for
the District of Signal Hill-Quidi Vidi.
MS MICHAEL: Thank
you, Mr. Speaker.
The mid-year financial
statement is now almost two months past its due date and
yesterday the Premier said it will not be due for
another two weeks, or to quote him: For a fortnight.
Mr. Speaker, with the
very light legislative agenda that has been tabled for
this sitting, that projection by the Premier could
potentially mean that the Legislature might even be
closed before the update is released.
Mr. Speaker, I ask the
Premier to please tell us why this government is holding
up the releasing of the economic update? Will it be
coming to this floor?
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh,
oh!
MR. SPEAKER: Order,
please!
The hon. the Minister of
Finance and President of Treasury Board.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. KENNEDY: Thank
you, Mr. Speaker.
As indicated by the
Premier yesterday, we are working on the update. There
is a lot of volatility in oil prices in the markets
right now, and we will be ready within the next couple
of weeks to provide that economic update.
As for the fact of
whether or not the House will be closed, I can assure
the Leader of the NDP that we will sit here as long as
it takes and give you as much time as you want to debate
that economic update. So, ever how long that takes, we
will be here and we look forward to your questions.
Thank you.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Member for the District of Signal Hill-Quidi
Vidi.
MS MICHAEL: Mr.
Speaker, yesterday in responding to the media in the
scrum, the Premier considered the worst-case scenario of
our economic situation. He spoke to that today, and he
talked about the possible implications for collective
bargaining because of looking at the worst-case
scenario.
So my question is: Could
the government possibly, at the moment, also look at the
worst-case scenario when it comes to doing the financial
reporting, and is it possible that we could be actually
facing budget cuts in the potential of the worst-case
scenario?
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Premier.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
PREMIER WILLIAMS: Mr.
Speaker, our budgets and our budget estimates and our
forecasting is all done on the best available
information that we can get our hands on. It is the best
projection of revenues; it is the best projection of
expenditures. We go through a very detailed process on
the whole expenditure side to make sure that
expenditures are legitimate. On the other hand, we look
at our revenues.
From the oil perspective,
we use the Pira forecast. We rely on those forecasts to
the best of our ability, and we try and gauge then of
course as well with what is happening right across the
country on a national basis and what other jurisdictions
are putting into their forecasts as well.
So we do not do a
worst-case budget. We try and hit it as close as we can.
Now if you get fluctuations, huge fluctuations, as we
can, whether it is in oil production or oil prices, they
can change a budget surplus or deficit dramatically, as
well as variations in the corporate taxes, but we do not
budget on a worst-case scenario. We budget on the basis
that we try to nail it as best we can, with some
conservativism in the event that things go awry or we
run into the situation that we ran into this year from a
global economic perspective.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Member for the District of Signal Hill-Quidi
Vidi.
MS MICHAEL: Mr.
Speaker, based on what the Premier just said, I really
do have to do a follow-up that I was not intending.
Mr. Speaker, I ask the
Premier: If you will not budget on a worst-case
scenario, why would you publicly talk about collective
bargaining based on a worst-case scenario?
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Premier.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
PREMIER WILLIAMS: Because,
quite frankly, it is incumbent upon me and my government
and the members of this House to give the people of
Newfoundland and Labrador, particularly our public
sector employees, the reality of the situation. Now, I
am not telling them anything they do not know. They just
have to look at the nightly news or read the papers or
listen to the radio and find out exactly what is going
on in this world. When we get the top leaders and the
top countries in this world worried about a possible
near depression situation, I have an obligation, and we
all have an obligation, to tell the people of this
Province and the public sector employees of this
Province, what could be the consequences.
As well, you were not
there yesterday. You did not hear what I said. I said
this offer is out there. It is a very generous offer. It
is the best offer in the land right now, right across
this country. We are maintaining it. We are keeping it
there. We are going to keep it there, but if the bottom
falls out of it completely and oil prices completely
tank and we end into a very severe depression situation,
it is incumbent upon me to forewarn the people of this
Province and the public-sector workers that we may not
be able to afford that offer on a future basis. I see
nothing wrong with that. That is just a good test of
reality, that’s all. |
