Thank you, Mr.
Speaker.
This inquiry has impacted the
lives of many people and I guess the minister would
understand why there is extreme interest in monitoring
the continued implementation of the recommendations in
the report.
I ask him today:
Maybe he is prepared to table in
the House another progress report on those
recommendations during this session?
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Minister of Health and
Community Services.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. KENNEDY:
Mr. Speaker, I am aware of the
effect, as we all are in this House, the effect that the
Cameron Inquiry - the people who were involved in the
Cameron inquiry and the effect that had upon them and
their families. We are also, Mr. Speaker, aware – and I
am glad from a government perspective and from a
minister perspective, that an agreement was reached
recently between Eastern Health with the members of the
class action.
Cancer, Mr. Speaker, is a disease
that affects all of us. It is a disease that affects so
many people in this Province. We are continuing to
invest, Mr. Speaker, in our cancer care funding. We will
continue to invest and the Cameron implementations are
certainly a very significant part of what we are doing.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Leader of the
Opposition.
MS JONES:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The minister was listing a number
of initiatives that they were working on, so maybe he
will present in the House of Assembly an update before
the session concludes.
Mr. Speaker, the chair of the
oncology department at Memorial University, Dr. David
Saltman, publicly spoke out on the lack of colorectal
cancer screening programs in the Province. He goes as
far as to calling the situation a tragedy.
I ask the minister:
Why in Newfoundland and Labrador
are we falling behind the other provinces when it comes
to colorectal cancer screening programs?
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Minister of Health and
Community Services.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. KENNEDY:
Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Obviously, colorectal cancer is a
very significant cancer and one that apparently is the
second leading cause of cancer in this country.
Mr. Speaker, I am aware of the
comments made by Dr. Saltman in the media. I was a bit
surprised; Dr. Saltman had written me on October 16
asking for a meeting, but it had nothing to do with the
colorectal cancer screening program. However, having
said that, this matter has been under discussion for
quite some period of time. I indicated over the last
couple of days that budget discussions are ongoing; we
are certainly looking at a very worthwhile program like
colorectal cancer screening. It is a discussion that I
would certainly be willing to have with Dr. Saltman at
anytime. Discussions are ongoing with Eastern Health,
Mr. Speaker, and there is no question that this is a
program that we will have to look at, but again in the
context of the priorities put forward by Eastern Health
and the health care system.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Leader of the
Opposition.
MS JONES:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
There are 400 new cases of
colorectal cancer diagnosed in this Province each year,
and this disease kills approximately 200 of our citizens
annually. Early screening for this type of cancer can
result in 90 per cent of them being preventable. Our
Province also has the highest new cases and mortality in
the country, due to this type of cancer.
I ask the
minister today, is he prepared to commit to implementing
a colorectal cancer screening program, as suggested by
the advice of professionals like Dr. Saltman (correct),
and also, what would be the timeframes to see this
implemented within our Province?
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Minister of Health and
Community Services.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. KENNEDY:
Yes, thank you Mr. Speaker. I can
indicate that the former minister, now Minister of
Business, certainly had this on his radar, and it was a
very significant concern for him while he was in the
department.
The vice-president, Mr. Speaker,
of medical services at Eastern Health advises that a
colorectal screening program is a high priority for
Eastern Health, and for the Province, considering there
is a high incidence, and a genetic predisposition to
this type of cancer in this Province. It is my
understanding, Mr. Speaker, that we will now go through
the budget process and we will look at it – Eastern
Health has indicated that it is a high priority. Then,
what will happen, Mr. Speaker, after the budget process,
it is my understanding that a colorectal screening
coordinator would have to be hired and would take at
least six months to get a provincial program in place,
once the coordinator is hired. So as we go through the
budget process, Mr. Speaker, we will look at this, and I
can indicate to the hon. member opposite, and to Dr.
Saltman, to other residents in this Province, Mr.
Speaker, that this is a matter that we will look closely
at in this budget and see where it goes. Thank you.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Leader of the
Opposition.
MS JONES:
Thank the minister for his response,
Mr. Speaker.
The future of AbitibiBowater –
their current and former workers and pensioners, are now
buried in extensive legal challenges. The latest court
action of your government has been an attempt to force
the company to reveal corporate financial information
using the argument that the Province is in effect, a
creditor of the company. What
is the status of this legal action, and when can we
expect to see a ruling?
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Minister of Innovation,
Trade and Rural Development.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. SKINNER:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, as the people of the
Province know, this government did step up for the
former AbitibiBowater employees, there have been some
800, 900 employees – former employees of AbitibiBowater
that we have stepped in and provided assistance to. We
deemed that the benefits that they were to receive were
the responsibility of AbitibiBowater. AbitibiBowater did
not live up to that responsibility, and this government
stepped forward to ensure that the people of the Central
region, who are entitled to benefits, received those
benefits as they should have gotten them. Thank you.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Leader of the
Opposition.
MS JONES:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Maybe the
minister could update us on what the status is of the
legal action that government was taking and when we can
expect to see some conclusion of it, or, at least some
ruling around it.
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Minister of Justice and
the Attorney General.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. F. COLLINS:
Mr. Speaker, with regard to the
action CCA claims of monies owing to the Province the
position of the government is that we are not pursuing
these claims because there are insufficient funds. We
figure there are insufficient funds with Abitibi to
compensate for those claims. The costs of legal, the
cost would be (inaudible)
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Leader of the
Opposition.
MS JONES:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
So, I understood that court action
was going to be taken by the government simply because
it was felt that they were a creditor of the company.
Do I understand clearly now that
the minister is telling me that there will be no legal
action taken to recover the monies that were paid out?
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Minister of Justice and
the Attorney General.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. F. COLLINS:
Mr. Speaker, it is the belief of the
Province at this time that the insufficient funds, given
the insolvency,, or the CCA claims, or CCA activities of
Abitibi, there is insufficient funds there to recover
under the claims that we are looking for.
At this stage of the game, that is
the position of government.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Leader of the
Opposition.
MS JONES:
Mr. Speaker, reports indicate that
the AbitibiBowaters pensioners, which are under funded
by some $1.3 billion, are putting pensioners’ income at
risk in our Province as well. As a solution, the union,
the company, with the support of Ontario and Quebec
governments are proposing that governments back a
proposal to establish a pension trust. This should
protect the income of company pensioners should the
company finally fall into bankruptcy. Without
governments taking action many of these pensioners will
take a hit of at least 25 to 33 per cent or more in
their income. It will affect workers in both the Grand
Falls mill as well as the former Stephenville mill.
My question to the minister is:
Has your government been involved
in this proposal to establish a pension trust and to aid
in the protecting of pension funds for workers in our
Province?
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Minister of Finance and
President of Treasury Board.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. T. MARSHALL:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The whole issue of pensions is
certainly on the radar of the country and pension plans
that are in trouble, such as the Abitibi-Bowater pension
plan, which the hon. the Leader of the Opposition has
just mentioned. It is very fortunate that the pension
plan for our employees in this Province, our employees
do not have that same problem, our retirees do not have
that same problem because of investments that this
government has made to the tune of $3 billion in the
pension plan, and the fact that the taxpayers behind the
pension plan provide security for our own retired
employees. With respect to pension plans like
AbitibiBowater we hear in the news of the pension plans
like Nortel up in Ontario, these plans are under great
pressure because the companies themselves are in
financial difficulty and will be unable to make their
contributions but I am pleased to advise the hon. member
that there will be a federal, provincial, territorial
meeting of finance ministers this coming Wednesday in
Whitehorse and I will be attending and I will be happy,
when I get back, to report to this House as to the
results of the reports that have been provided for
finance ministers to deal with this very important
issue.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER:
Order, please!
The hon. the Leader of the
Opposition.
MS JONES:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I guess we are all aware of what
has been going on nationally especially with Nortel over
the last number of years, but, in spite of all of that,
Mr. Speaker, we do know that there has been discussions
between the union, companies, the Government of Quebec,
the Government of Ontario and the federal government
around the pension trust piece and looking at it as an
option for Abitibi pensioners that will be effected. So
again, I ask the minister
outside of the territorial meetings that you will
participate in is your government prepared to get
involved in the process that is ongoing to help protect
the pension incomes of former Abitibi workers in our
Province?
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Minister of Finance and
President of Treasury Board.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. T. MARSHALL:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
In addition to the FPT meetings at
which time reports that have been contracted for to deal
with this important will be presented to the finance
ministers and the federal government and the provincial
governments and territories in Whitehorse next week. In
addition to that I know the Premiers have also
commissioned research reports into this issue and those
reports will also be presented at the end of the year
and with those reports that will inform government right
across the country as to the appropriate steps that we
can take to help pensioners given the pressure that
pension plans are under.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Leader of the
Opposition.
MS JONES:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
In the severance payments that
were provided to Abitibi workers by the government last
year, there were conditions and timelines that were
attached, however, since that deadline there are dozens
of workers that have been laid off. These individuals
have yet to receive any severance payments although they
have applied for government sponsored severance. Some of
them their applications date back to September of this
year and I ask the government
today are you prepared to provide and pay out the
severance to those workers that were outside the
timelines and if you are why is it taking so long to
have their payments processed and issued to them?
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Minister of Innovation,
Trade and Rural Development.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. SKINNER:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, as I have indicated
in this House before, this government did step up for
the former workers of AbitibiBowater. This government
did provide some $25-$26 million in severance and other
benefits to workers who were displaced from
AbitibiBowater in the Central region. The reason that we
are still processing some of these claims, Mr. Speaker,
is that as we move forward new information is becoming
uncovered each day with some of these; it has been
difficult to get information. We have also found out
that people are being laid off after the original; I
will call it, mass layoff that was done back in April of
this year.
As we encounter those situations
we are processing those claims and we will continue to
do that. We will continue to support the people of the
Central region; we will continue to provide the benefits
that they should have received. This government stepped
up and did it before; we will continue to do that, Mr.
Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Leader of the
Opposition.
MS JONES:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Reports indicate that Newfoundland
and Labrador Refining Corporation has emerged from
bankruptcy. The judge in the case has given them two
years to find a buyer or a partner in their proposed $4
billion project.
I ask the minister:
Have you met with the proponents
of this project before or since they emerged from the
bankruptcy position?
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Deputy Premier and
Minister of Natural Resources.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MS DUNDERDALE:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, the department
watches very carefully what is happening in the energy
sector in this Province. We are aware all the time what
is happening; there are informal discussions that are
ongoing on a regular basis. I have not had a formal
meeting with the principles of the Newfoundland and
Labrador Refining Corporation since this action has
taken place.
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 minister:
Has the government or near
government agencies like Nalcor or their subsidiaries;
have they given consideration to taking any equity stake
in the refinery or to contribute public money to this
particular development?
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Deputy Premier.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MS DUNDERDALE:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
No, we have not.
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Leader of the
Opposition.
MS JONES:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
One final question for the
minister on this issue because we know that government
has acted on behalf of this refinery proponent in the
past, in terms of looking at recruiting partners or
buyers. I think the last incident we heard publicly was
from Qatar and a trip they took to the Middle East.
I ask the minister today:
Has there been any indication that
those meetings will result in new investments for this
refinery project and this company, or is there still
follow up taking place to those meetings?
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Deputy Premier.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MS DUNDERDALE:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, as we do our work
here in the Province, across the country, and around the
world, we promote Newfoundland and Labrador and
companies who operate here as good places for people to
invest money. That is part of the responsibility we have
as a government. So we, wherever we go, at every
opportunity we have, we promote Newfoundland and
Labrador as a good place to invest.
Once we make people aware of that,
unless we are asked to intervene or become involved, Mr.
Speaker, we allow then, the companies and the investors
to further build those relationships and make whatever
arrangements work in the best interests of both parties,
Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Opposition House Leader.
MR. KELVIN PARSONS:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
On Monday, I directed some
questions concerning the ongoing issue involving the
Child and Youth Advocate to the Minister of Finance.
Minister, we are now aware that Mr. Bern Coffey, the
solicitor for Ms Neville, has filed an appeal of last
Friday’s Supreme Court decision regarding her right to
appear before this house. Given
that a definitive resolution regarding Ms Neville was
postponed during the September sitting of this House
because these matters were before the courts, is
government now prepared to postpone the introduction of
a definitive resolution, pending disposition of Ms
Neville’s appeal?
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Minister of Finance and
President of Treasury Board.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. T. MARSHALL:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
With respect to the matter
surrounding the Child and Youth Advocate, the government
has received the complaint of the Speaker of the House,
the government has also received a response and has
heard from Ms Neville. We received a ninety-two page
document outlining her response to the allegations made.
Government is considering the information that it has
before it, and in due course, government will bring
forth a resolution to be determined in this House, and
it will be the appropriate resolution at the appropriate
time.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Opposition House Leader.
MR. KELVIN PARSONS:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I just had some correspondence
delivered, in fact, as we entered the House today, again
from Mr. Coffey, solicitor for Ms Neville, who indicates
that she has had absolutely no opportunity, since she
was advised of her suspension, about an opportunity to
provide any information to cabinet, or to speak to
cabinet. I asked the minister this question on Friday –
or excuse me, on Monday past –
would Ms Neville be afforded an opportunity to appear
before the House, or before cabinet, and the minister at
that time said bluntly, no. I am wondering if the
minister could take an opportunity to explain why you
are not allowing her an opportunity.
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Minister of Finance and
President of Treasury Board.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. T. MARSHALL:
Mr. Speaker, the principles of
natural justice will allow Ms Neville to state her case
to the government, and that has happened. As I said, we
received a ninety-two page outline of the case that she
has made.
In the case of Fraser March, he
was not given that opportunity. Mr. March was dismissed
by the Internal Economy Commission of the House without
being given an opportunity to make his case. In Ms
Neville’s situation, the case has been heard by
government, government is reviewing it, and it is
reviewing the allegations from the Speaker. Government
will make its determination and bring a resolution
before the House so the House can make the final
determination of this matter and end it once and for
all.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Opposition House Leader.
MR. KELVIN PARSONS:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Just for the information of the
minister, Mr. March was not terminated by the Internal
Economy Commission. Mr. March was terminated from his
employment by a resolution of this House of Assembly.
Now, the government has gone back, as we know, and
allowed Mr. March and opportunity to have natural
justice by way of Justice O’Neill, whose report is due
on Friday.
I ask the minister:
If you were prepared to see that
natural justice was allowed in the case of Mr. March,
who was dismissed by this House, why would not be
prepared to allow Ms Neville the same opportunity?
MR. SPEAKER:
Order, please!
The hon. the Minister of Finance
and President of Treasury Board.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. T. MARSHALL:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I have already
answered that question. The principles of natural
justice allow Ms Neville to make a response. The
response, a ninety-two page response has been received
and is being considered by government.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Member for The Straits &
White Bay North.
MR. DEAN:
Mr. Speaker, a common practice by
small boat fisher people in our Province for years, if
not decades, has been the practice of selling cod fish
locally, either at the wharf or door-to-door, on the
back of their truck and so on. This past season
commercial fishers in this Province have received
warnings from the DFA fishery inspectors that it is
illegal to sell cod fish locally. My question for the
Minister of Fisheries is: Why
has your department suddenly decided to bring stronger
enforcement to that regulation?
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Minister of Fisheries
and Aquaculture.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. JACKMAN:
Mr. Speaker, under the Fish
Inspection Act fish harvesters are only permitted to
sell to licensed fish processors and buyers. Everyone
knows in the Province that oftentimes that is something
that is not followed. I think some people would go out
and purchase a bit of fish off a fisherman and not even
know that they are in contravention of the law.
Mr. Speaker, at the union
convention just a little over a week ago, I was
approached by some fishermen on that particular issue. I
told them at that particular point that I would discuss
it with my officials and see where we might be able to
go with that, and that, in fact, Mr. Speaker, is what I
am doing and will continue to do. We will see how gets
resolved.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Member for the District
of Port de Grave.
MR. BUTLER:
Mr. Speaker, I assure you my
questions today have nothing to do with electricity.
On Monday, Mr. Speaker, I asked
the Minister of Finance with regards to the $300 rebate
for oil tank replacements and he told me that he would
undertake to find the answers to that question so I ask
the minister today how many
people are waiting for their rebates and when will the
checks be forthcoming?
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Minister of Finance and
President of Treasury Board.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. T. MARSHALL:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, the year before last
I think there was a budget allocation of $750,000 in the
budget but the take up was only around $71,000 so the
following year the amount allocated was $75,000 and of
course the take up was in excess of that amount. Funds
were transferred into the program on August 13, on
September 22 and again on November 30 and I am advised
by the Comptroller General that 284 checks were sent out
yesterday afternoon to these people.
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Member for the District
of Port de Grave.
MR. BUTLER:
Mr. Speaker, I thank the minister for
that response.
It is December 9 and again our
office is flooded with e-mails and telephone calls
asking questions: Where is the
home heating fuel rebate? Last year it was
announced on December 8. The year before it was December
6. It seems like each year the announcements are coming
later and later. I ask the minister:
When can we expect the
announcement with regards to the home heating fuel
rebates this year?
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Minister of Finance and
President of Treasury Board.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. T. MARSHALL:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Government announced in March of
this year that the home heating rebate program would be
a permanent program and we also announced that the
program, along with the parental benefits program will
be moved to Grand Falls and will provide twenty-five
jobs in that Central Newfoundland community to attempt
to mitigate in a small way the job losses from the
closure of the mill. So the program is now permanent.
The parameters of the program are being discussed. They
were discussed between me and some of my colleagues
today and I expect to be in a position in the
not-too-distant future to announce the parameters which
are the amount of the rebate and the income eligibility
threshold. There are three permanent positions hired in
Grand Falls-Windsor now. There are twenty-two permanent
seasonal workers who, these positions should be filled
by mid-December. The interviews took place the week of
November 23 and we are looking forward to the program.
These will be new workers-
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Oh, oh!
MR. SPEAKER:
Order, please!
MR. T. MARSHALL:
- but-
MR. SPEAKER:
Order, please!
I ask the hon. minister to
conclude his response.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Member for the District
of Signal Hill-Quidi Vidi.
MS MICHAEL:
Thank you, very much, Mr. Speaker.
I too want to ask the Minister of
Finance about the Home Heating Rebate and I am glad to
know that the steps have been taken to make it a
permanent program as had been promised in the March
Budget, but, Mr. Speaker, the people who rely on this
rebate do not have a lot of money and the waiting game
is very difficult for them as they try to budget,
especially as they come into the winter and the
Christmas season. The minister has said a number of
times that the rebate is only a small amount of money
but for these people it is not a small amount and I am
hoping this year it is going to be more.
I am asking the minister: If he
can tell us why there is always this waiting game and
why it is so difficult to come up with, as he called it,
the perimeters of the program?
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Minister of Finance and
the President of Treasury Board.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. T. MARSHALL:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The program is announced – the
perimeters of the program are usually announced in
December, around this time every year. We are going
through that process and analysis was done; we analyzed
the changes in the fuel cost and changes in electricity
cost. We had a good look at it and when I have completed
my discussions with my colleagues the perimeters will be
announced for this year as well.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Member for the District
of Signal Hill-Quidi Vidi.
MS MICHAEL:
Mr. Speaker, I would like to point
out to the minister that the phone calls to our office,
and I assume it is probably the same for other MHAs;
those phone calls begin early in November.
I am wondering: Can the minister
tell me whether or not he is willing to take under
advisement trying to get this out earlier in the future?
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Minister of Finance and
President of Treasury Board.
MR. T. MARSHALL:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
As I said earlier, the program is
now a permanent program; it will not be an ad hoc
program anymore. There are three full-time employees –
three permanent employees in Grand Falls, twenty-two
permanent seasonal employees. As soon as they get
trained they will get the program out, and then each
year after that the program should come out earlier.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Member for the District
of Signal Hill-Quidi Vidi.
MS MICHAEL:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I hope the training begins
immediately so that people will not have to wait next
year.
Mr. Speaker, in fall update 2009,
the GDP is used as an indicator of how the Province is
doing. Unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, the GDP does not give
an accurate and authentic picture of what is really
happening to people here in the Province and what is
happening in their lives.
Mr. Speaker, the financial updates
used by our Province and others - not just by ours,
whether purposefully or not, I do not know - do not
reference recognized social indicators such as hunger,
homelessness, illiteracy or unemployment and therefore
do not give a true economic picture of the lives of the
people in the Province.
Mr. Speaker, I ask the Premier:
When is this government going to give an accurate view
of how all people are actually faring in our new
economy?
MR. SPEAKER:
The hon. the Minister of Finance and
President of Treasury Board.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. T. MARSHALL:
Fortunately, the people of this
Province, especially people at the low end, are doing
much better because this government has done more for
people in poverty than any other government in the
history of Newfoundland and Labrador.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. T. MARSHALL:
Mr. Speaker, I refer to the Seniors’
Benefit, which was enhanced last year. We are giving
seniors $800 every October. I refer to the fact that we
allow seniors to split their pension income. We have
expanded the Home Heating Rebate program. When we came
into office, there were 11,000 people getting the
program – there are 76,000 got the program last year.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. T. MARSHALL:
Mr. Speaker, we removed thousands of
low-income people from the tax rolls. Mr. Speaker, we
gave the people of this Province the biggest tax cut in
the history of Newfoundland and Labrador. We lowered 174
fees, we lowered motor vehicle registration, and we
increased the provincial home repair program.
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER:
Order, please!
MR. T. MARSHALL:
We provided money for drug programs,
we increased the RAP program, and we are going to
continue to help people (inaudible).
SOME HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER:
Order, please!
The time allotted for questions
and answers has expired.
