MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Opposition.

MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, in a few weeks we will be starting a new year and once again public service pensioners will see no improvement to their pensions.

I ask the minister today: With the rising cost of living, will your budget recognize the struggles of these former public servants in the next year?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Finance and President of Treasury Board.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. T. MARSHALL: Mr. Speaker, pensions is certainly a big issue in the public discourse of our nation today. Finance ministers and ministers responsible for pensions are meeting in Whitehorse today, as we speak, concerning issues that are affecting pensioners right across the country.

I know the Minister of Government Services is in Whitehorse today taking part in those discussions, and he is doing that in his capacity as a minister responsible for the Pension Benefits Act, which is the legislation which administers all pensions in this Province.

Mr. Speaker, this government has concerns for all public pensioners but we have to help everyone, not just those who have a public pension, but also people who do not have pensions and others who may have worked in the private sector who also do not have indexed pensions. So all our efforts will be broad based and will help our pre-retirees and our seniors who need help and we will provide that help.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Opposition.

MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

This is a government that certainly expects the federal government to help bail out pensioners at a time when they need it, but obviously they are not stepping up to the plate to look after our own public service pensioners. They submitted a proposal to your government and offered suggestions on how to help many of those who are on public service pensions but living below the poverty line.

I ask the minister: Have you even considered this proposal that could help thousands of these low-income pensioners who live in our own Province?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Finance and President of Treasury Board.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. T. MARSHALL: Mr. Speaker, the pensioners are former employees of the provincial government. They are getting the pension that was promised to them. In these tough and uncertain economic times, because of major investments of in excess of $3 billion invested in these pension plans, our pensioners are in fact receiving what they paid for and what was promised to them. Unlike pensioners in other pension plans who are running the risk that their pensions will be reduced by up to 30 per cent.

Our government will continue to make broad based initiatives that will help all low-income citizens of Newfoundland and Labrador, but we have to help everybody and we have to help especially those who need it.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Opposition.

MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The proposal that they have presented to the minister would help those who most needed it in the Province. There was a cut-off point, obviously, established to ensure that those who were at the higher public service pension limits would not receive the same increases.

I ask the minister: Has that offer been given consideration, and is government looking at implementing something to that standard for these pensioners?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Finance and President of Treasury Board.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. T. MARSHALL: Mr. Speaker, I have met, in my capacity as Minister of Finance, on a previous occasion with the pensioners association and I will meet with them again. As a matter of fact, we set up a situation where they would meet with officials in the Department of Finance from time to time to exchange information. I have considered all the requests, and anything we do will be dealt with in the budget and it will be done in accordance with good fiscal policy and that is fair to all citizens in the Province.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Opposition.

MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

These public sector pensioners are also seeing clawbacks to their pensions once they reach the age of sixty-five as a result of the Canada Pension entitlements.

I ask the minister: If he thinks that this is fair, and if he has had any discussions with his federal-provincial counterparts on this issue so that it can be addressed and these individuals can have a little more money in their pockets?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Finance and President of Treasury Board.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. T. MARSHALL: Mr. Speaker, it is not a claw back. When the pension plan was designed, it was designed to be reduced at the age of sixty-five when the Canada Pension Plan would kick in at that date.

Government has, of course, looked at the requests from the pensioners dealing with claw back and as to the cost that that would have on the Treasury of the Province. Government will continue to consider all reasonable proposals from people as we consider going forward in the budget process. It is very important to ensure that all people are protected, not just those who were fortunate enough to have a public sector pension fund backed by the taxpayers of the Province.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Opposition.

MS JONES: Mr. Speaker, the minister keeps talking about how he has considered their proposal and considered their options.

I ask you, minister: Are you prepared to act, and what is it you are going to do for these people, something or nothing?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Finance and President of Treasury Board.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. T. MARSHALL: Mr. Speaker, this government removed thousands of those people from the tax rolls in this Province. This government gave the people of this Province the biggest and largest tax cut in the history of Newfoundland and Labrador. This government has provided a Home Heating Rebate to people who heat their homes with fuel and electricity. This government has given a benefit every October to low-income seniors. We will help people who need help. We have to treat everybody fairly.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Opposition.

MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Tax cuts never help those who live below the poverty line, and the minister knows that – and neither does increasing electricity rates in the Province.

I ask the minister today, here we are, right now, the Public Utilities Board has just announced an increase to customers effective January 1. That was as a result of an application by Newfoundland and Labrador Power, where those consumers will see their power bills increase by 3.5 per cent.

I ask the minister: What impact will this increase have on the customers of Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Deputy Premier.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS DUNDERDALE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, as you know, electricity is regulated here in this Province by the PUB, and in terms of Newfoundland Hydro particularly, Mr. Speaker, they are restricted to a very small return on the service that they provide to the people of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Mr. Speaker, as costs go up, as capital, construction, renovation, repair, new transmission lines are required, there is a requirement for new investments. What we do as a government, Mr. Speaker, as the Minister of Finance has just spoken so eloquently to, is ensure that the people who are impacted in the most serious way have some mitigation provided to them through programs like our Home Heating Program.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Opposition.

MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The minister talks about the rates being set by the Public Utilities Board, but it was back in June that she made a submission or representation to them asking them to earn a return and equity equal to that of Newfoundland Power for Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro.

I ask the minister today: Now that you have directed the Public Utilities Board to do just that, why don’t you tell us what that direction will cost to people who are customers of Newfoundland Power come January?

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 one thing that the people of this Province expect, and have a right to expect, is a quality of service from both the utilities in this Province who provide energy to the whole Province.

Mr. Speaker, Newfoundland Hydro, like Newfoundland Power, needs to have the capacity to do the kind of refurbishment to make the kind of investments that are required to ensure that we have a top-notch energy company in the Crown corporation giving the same kind of service, the same quality of service as Newfoundland Power does.

What we have in the PUB is to ensure that the rates that are being charged, Mr. Speaker, are fair and all of us, certainly on this side of the House, have confidence in the PUB and the service that they are providing to 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 ask the minister: Does she think that capacity at Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro should come at further expense to the customers who rely upon this electricity service, while your government is out investing money in equity shares in oil companies?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. Deputy Premier and Minister of Natural Resources.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS DUNDERDALE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, we have to provide a service here in this Province. We have to provide energy to the people of the Province for domestic use. We have to provide energy for industrial use and to drive business here in the Province. Under the PUB, we have set up a mechanism to ensure that is done fairly.

Mr. Speaker, from time to time government does intervene. We intervene by providing substantial subsidies to our isolated communities, our isolated diesel communities here in the Province, particularly under the Northern Strategic Plan in Labrador. We work very hard at buffering high prices of energy for people who have difficulty in paying. We use our energy resources that we have, Mr. Speaker, to drive industrial development here in the Province to provide work for Newfoundlanders and Labradorians so they can pay their bills.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

The hon. the Leader of the Opposition.

MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

We know that Newfoundland Light and Power’s customers will see a 3.5 per cent increase in their electricity rates come January 1, so I ask the minister today: Based on the fact that you have directed the Public Utilities Board that they must have a return on equity, what will that rate increase be for the customers of Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Natural Resources and Deputy Premier.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS DUNDERDALE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, the whole process of the setting of rates here in Newfoundland and Labrador is under the purview of the Public Utilities Board. When appropriate, Newfoundland Hydro will make application for a rate increase, if they deem one is necessary. They will have to vigorously defend that position at the PUB, and the people of Newfoundland and Labrador through the consumer advocate –

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

MS DUNDERDALE: – or through other mechanisms that are available to them, Mr. Speaker, have the right to intervene and to state their case whether or not they think what Newfoundland Hydro is asking for is fair or appropriate.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

The hon. the Leader of the Opposition.

MS JONES: The minister is the one who asked them to get return on equity, and she still does not know how that is going affect people of the Province and how much more they are going to have to pay – I think that is ridiculous, Mr. Speaker.

Government reached a tentative agreement with private ambulance operators back in November. While this was a good first step – I think everyone recognizes that – I have had a number of calls and e-mails from small ambulance operators in the Province, and their workers, who have outstanding concerns. They have been unable to get a meeting with the minister.

I ask you today, Minister: Are you prepared to meet with these small ambulance operators, and listen to their concerns and try and deal with the issues that they have to face in the coming year?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Finance and President of Treasury Board.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. T. MARSHALL: Mr. Speaker, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador entered into a successful tentative agreement with the private ambulance operators, and more funds were put in to enhance the contract they had, and that enabled to pay their employees a much better salary than they were previously paying.

Mr. Speaker, we are pleased to meet the agreement. I understand that the Department of Health has prepared the contracts; the contracts have all been sent out. It is my understanding that twenty of twenty-eight have been returned. As soon as they get on the desk of the Minister of Health, they will be signed and sent back to the private operators.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Opposition.

MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I think the minister realizes that there is a problem here, and the problem is in the classification of these ambulance operators. The smaller operators are unable to pay their employees based on the contract amounts that were granted to them. They were under the impression that they could give wage increases to their staff, which now they cannot, and they want an opportunity to discuss this with you, Minister, and with your department to see if they can sort this out. I ask you if you are prepared to do that.

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Finance and President of Treasury Board.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. T. MARSHALL: Mr. Speaker, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador negotiated with the ambulance operators through their association. A tentative deal was reached then the contracts were prepared and sent out to the operators.

If some of the members of the association are having difficulty with the agreement that their executive and their association met with government, then that is an internal matter involving the private ambulance association.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Opposition.

MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The issue here is that a number of these smaller operators feel that they are not being granted the provisions that were originally negotiated in the contract. As a result of it, they are falling short in being able to offer up the kind of increases they should to their employees.

I ask you again, Minister: Are you prepared to meet with them and discuss this issue?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Finance and President of Treasury Board.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. T. MARSHALL: Mr. Speaker, government met with the private ambulance operators and negotiated a contract - a contract which they agreed to and government agreed to. The money has been made available to meet the agreement -

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

MR. T. MARSHALL: Government’s obligation is to pay the agreement -

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

MR. T. MARSHALL: Now, what is happening is that the hon. the Leader of the Opposition is now attempting to renegotiate the contract here on the floor of the House of Assembly.

MS JONES: (Inaudible) are you going to meet with them?

MR. T. MARSHALL: Mr. Speaker, I am sure the Minister of Health and I, as Minister of Finance, would be very happy to meet with any citizen of this Province.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for the District of The Straits & White Bay North.

MR. DEAN: Mr. Speaker, government has committed to developing a new physical arrangement with municipalities to ensure they can provide services to their residents and maintain infrastructure. This new physical arrangement was supposed to be put in place by March of this year.

I ask the minister today: Could you please provide an update as to when this arrangement with municipalities will be in place?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Acting Minister of Municipal Affairs.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. HEDDERSON: Mr. Speaker, we are always attempting to ensure that we are moving forward in our relationship with municipalities. I am not exactly sure what the member is asking about the particular fiscal arrangement. All I can say is that we do grant to our municipalities on capital works and so on with a ratio of 90-10, 80-20, and 70-30.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. HEDDERSON: As well, we lobbied hard for the federal government and allow them now to use their gas tax for water quality and waste management. So I am not sure where the member is coming from.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for the District of The Straits & White Bay North.

MR. DEAN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The department has stated a goal that they were developing a physical framework by March, 2009. That is what the question was. Nevertheless, Mr. Speaker, many communities are finding it more difficult to provide services to their residents, and municipal operating grants often help subsidize services such as snow clearing, garbage collection, street lighting and so on.

Again, I ask the minister today: Has your department reviewed the Municipal Operating Grant program, and are there any plans to increase the monies provided to towns throughout the Province?

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

The hon. the Minister of Municipal Affairs.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. HEDDERSON: Mr. Speaker, again, we have a working relationship, a very strong relationship to Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador, and we work very closely with that organization to try to continue to build on the assistance that we give to our municipalities. We understand the challenges that they are under, but again, I would say to the hon. member, we, as a government, understand those challenges. We are working with the municipalities and we are achieving tremendous results.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for the District of Port de Grave.

MR. BUTLER: Mr. Speaker, we know the people of Buchans have been through a lot over the past few months and there are more concerns there today with the potential of contaminate dust from the tailings pond. A consultant determined that the dam which maintains the integrity of the tailings pond is in serious disrepair and the water level should be reduced by two metres to take care of the pressure. This past weekend residents of Buchans were reeling as the reduction of water levels exposed them to more contaminate dust.

I ask the minister: What actions are you taking to mitigate against people being exposed to those potential harmful chemicals?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Environment and Conservation.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS JOHNSON: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, we have an excellent working relationship with the Town of Buchans, in particular the mayor there. We have consulted him every step of the way on this. The issue of the dam is a safety issue. Through the Department of Natural Resources they hired a consultant. We acted immediately on the recommendations. The final report is expected to come in within the next week or so, but we have already acted to lower the water levels, close off the gate in terms of safety, and add some of the coarse sand and gravel that is required there for the structural integrity, Mr. Speaker.

We went above and beyond that because the mayor did raise the issue of dust. We went above and beyond and applied a dust suppressant. That has already been taken care of and my understanding is the mayor is absolutely more than pleased, and I suggest you talk to him yourself.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for the District of Port de Grave.

MR. BUTLER: Mr. Speaker, in other jurisdictions where a mining company leaves or goes bankrupt the local government often finds itself with responsibilities for the maintenance and monitoring of tailing dumps. According to the same municipal leaders that the minister just mentioned, we know that the tailings pond dam will eventually need to be replaced.

I ask the minister: Will government commit to replacing the dam, and if so, when will this happen?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Natural Resources and Deputy Premier.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS DUNDERDALE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, over the years mining companies have come to this Province, they have exploited our resources, they have left with money in their pocket and left a big mess behind. Currently, we are dealing with Buchans. This government has been dealing with Baie Verte. We have spent over $10 million there in the last three years trying to begin the remediation work that is required.

Mr. Speaker, we will do everything we can to clean up, and we will over time clean up all of the messes that these companies have left behind them. Right now, Mr. Speaker, we have legislation in place that anybody who is going to operate a mine in this Province has to have fiscal tools and guarantees in place for remediation when the mine closes so we never, ever, get left in this position again.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for the District of Port de Grave.

MR. BUTLER: Mr. Speaker, we have learned today that the lone constable for the RCMP in Buchans, and I understand that his wife and children have already left the community, and he will be transferred out as well due to the level of lead contaminants. We know that there are serious concerns in the community that will not be solved overnight.

However, I ask the minister: What police services will be made available to the people of that community after April, and since it is a concern to the RCMP, what assurance can they give the residents that this town is safe?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Justice and Attorney General.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. F. COLLINS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Yes, we are aware of the fact that the lone RCMP officer in Buchans has moved his family out. The officer himself is still stationed in Buchans and intends to stay in Buchans until such time as he is transferred, and our understanding is that the staff in Buchans will remain. The detachment will continue to be staffed. There is no issue there, Mr. Speaker, with the member being moved out because of contaminants. He has moved his family, but the staffing remains the same.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for the District of Port de Grave.

MR. BUTLER: Mr. Speaker, in October, I requested under the Access to Information Act a breakdown of the $500,000 allocated for design and planning work for the proposed long-term care facility in Carbonear. I still have not received a response from the Department of Health on that request.

I ask the minister: Can you provide an update to the people of the Conception Bay North area on the status of the long-term care facility, and whether the design and planning work has been completed?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Health and Community Services.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KENNEDY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I am very pleased to announce that the planning and design is proceeding. In fact, it was not too long ago - if the hon. member had watched Ed Swain on NTV News he would have seen Ed there at the facility in Carbonear showing where we were going to put the long-term care. The consultants were there with us that day, the mayor of the town was there, and everyone was very happy. It is going to be a state-of-the-art facility, Mr. Speaker, and it is going to be one that the people of Carbonear-Harbour Grace area will be very proud of.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for the District of Port de Grave.

MR. BUTLER: Mr. Speaker, I thank the minister for his response, but I hope there is more to it than just a photo op.

Mr. Speaker, I asked the Minister of Transportation and Works in the Estimates this past year if the department will be once again looking at maintaining Class 4 roads to a certain degree. The minister’s response at the time was that a review was being done and that they would take a look at this in the near future.

So I ask the minister: Has the review been completed, and if so, what are the results of that review?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Transportation and Works.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. HEDDERSON: Mr. Speaker, the review is underway and when it is completed, obviously, I could release the considerations if indeed a review has been undertaken. I will have to go back and review to see where we are on that particular one. I will review the review.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for the District of Port de Grave.

MR. BUTLER: Mr. Speaker, I have to say that is almost like opening and closing the roads at the same time.

Mr. Speaker, with all due respect to the minister, I was hoping that he would be able to stand in his place today, because I know a review was done, that was from both former ministers, the hon. Minister Whelan and hon. Minister Taylor. Enough time has gone by that there should have been something.

I am just wondering: Can the minister confirm today that definitely they will be doing work on Class 4 roads?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Transportation and Works.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. HEDDERSON: I say to the hon. member opposite again, that we will review the review and get back to you.

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 have some questions that I would like to put to the Minister of Health and Community Services with regard to the private and community ambulance operators. As has been pointed out, their retroactive cheques, which have been agreed to, are ready and they are with the regional health authorities. They are printed and they are being held until the government officially signs off.

I would like to know from the minister: What is the hold up on releasing the retroactive cheques, especially for those who have signed the contracts? If they have signed, why can’t they be signed off for them?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Health and Community Services.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KENNEDY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

It is my understanding that this deal that was reached, was reached with the Ambulance Operators Association that includes twenty-eight or more contracts. We have, a number of contracts are either in my office or on their way.

I have received ten today from the Western Health Authority which I was ready to sign. However, having regard to the fact that the Liberals wish to renegotiate the contract on behalf of the ambulance operators, I cannot tell them when they will be signed now. I am going to want to hear from the ambulance operators saying that they are happy with this contract, that they accept the contract and that it is a contract that they will live with before I sign.

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.

It is my understanding from the ambulance operators that I have been speaking to, they have signed their contracts, that means they have accepted them and they want their cheques.

These ambulance operators have been working at the end of their ropes for the past year, some with banks breathing down their necks because they were waiting for a negotiated agreement. They did not have adequate money; they have had to take out loans to operate.

I ask the minister: Can you tell them that those who have signed their contracts are going to be able to get these cheques before Christmas?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Health and Community Services.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KENNEDY: Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker.

It is my understanding that this agreement was reached by the Ambulance Operators Association and that they had a team which met with the Treasury Board negotiating team. These contracts were not reached on the basis of well if four or five of you agree, then the rest of you can choose whether or not to agree.

What I am hearing today from the Liberals, they do not appear to be agreement is what I say to the Leader of the NDP. If these ambulance operators are not all in agreement, well, I am sorry, but we cannot reach an agreement with half a group and leave the other half of the group to come back later. That is not the way negotiation works.

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 wish the minister had just responded to my questions, not in relationship to anybody else’s questions; he spoke to an issue I did not raise.

Mr. Speaker, other provinces have streamlined –

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

The Chair has recognized the hon. the Member for the District of Signal Hill-Quidi Vidi.

The hon. member.

MS MICHAEL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Others provinces have streamlined the provision of ambulance services by putting them under one public umbrella, and this has been very successful in the provinces where it has happened.

Mr. Speaker, in November, the Minister of Health and Community Services said in the media, and it was reported in the media: We may have to start looking at moving towards-

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

MS MICHAEL: - the type of ambulance service that they offer in other provinces where there is not as much reliance on the private operators.

Mr. Speaker, I ask the minister: When will this government begin to publicly manage as well as fund all ambulance services in this Province so that the same standards of operations and services are provided to everyone the same in the 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 am not aware of the final details but my understanding there was at least an $8.5 million raise in the contract, the operating, which amounted to over 20 per cent. In the forefront of the negotiations was the desire that this money get down to the people who were working. Now whether or not that has happened, Mr. Speaker, I do not know.

I have indicated, and I did indicate during the H1N1 that if the private ambulance operators could not see fit to reach an agreement or were going to go on strike in the middle of a pandemic, then we would have to look at the issue of a private ambulance system. I do not think, Mr. Speaker, it is an issue of the underfunding of the system; it is a question of which system is most efficient and most effective.

We are pleased to reach a deal with the ambulance operators, but all we are hearing from the Opposition is that they do not seem to like the deal. If they wish to get back to us today, and I hear from the Ambulance Operators Association, then I will sign the contracts.

It seems to be ambulance week for the Liberal member over there -

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 very much, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, my question to the minister was relating to something that he said in the media some weeks ago when negotiations were going on, so I will put it more clearly to him. What did you mean when you said that we may have to start looking at moving toward the type of ambulance service that they offer in other provinces where there is not as much reliance on the private operators? Please answer my question, that is what I am asking, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

The hon. the Minister of Health and Community Services.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KENNEDY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

It is my understanding during this negotiation there was a significant raise given to these ambulance operators in their operating costs. It was very generous and I think it came within the template of 20 to 21 per cent; it might have been higher. The cost, Mr. Speaker, and I forget the actual numbers, and my colleague, the Minister of Finance and President of Treasury Board would be able to outline that, but there has been a significant increase in the operating costs that have been provide to these ambulance operators over a period of time.

It seems to me, Mr. Speaker, that if they want the money that they have agreed upon, it is simply a matter of sending an e-mail from the president of the Ambulance Operators Association to the President of Treasury Board and myself, and we will certainly get the money.

I hope that answers the question for the Member for Signal Hill-Quidi Vidi.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!