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Oral
Questions
May 28, 2009
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| In the House | Question
Period
MS
JONES:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Given that the House may
be closing fairly soon, we have questions from a number
of areas.
Mr. Speaker, when it is
necessary to remove a child from parental care in this
Province there are several placement options. When
foster care or group homes are not suitable or
available, individualized or Alternate Living
Arrangements, known as ALAs, are often used. The ALA
services are delivered to the children through home
support agencies.
I ask the minister: Is
there a set of provincial government standards that
ensures that these agencies are following best practices
in residential care?
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Minister of Child, Youth and Family Services.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MS BURKE: Mr.
Speaker, there are typically three types of issues for
children who would go to an ALA placement. That would be
children in sibling groups where it would be otherwise
difficult to find a foster home to take the group of
children. Sometimes it would be children with complex
needs who go to an ALA type setting prior to going into
possibly a treatment centre or a therapeutic foster home
outside the Province. Sometimes ALAs are used for
children who do not have a foster care placement but
would be easily put into the typical foster care home
once one becomes available.
At this time, the ALA
arrangements that have been set up and the policies that
guide them have been set up by the regional health
boards as opposed to a provincial policy.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Opposition House Leader.
MR. KELVIN PARSONS: Thank
you, Mr. Speaker.
Personal care homes in
the Province are licensed. That is, the regional health
authorities can go in, assess the home, establish the
requirements, and on an annual basis renew the licence
for the home based on that assessment. Regional health
authorities have been asking for the same type of
licensing for the ALA homes; yet, government has not put
the legislation in place to make this happen.
I ask the minister: When
are you going to implement this legislation to licence
ALA homes?
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Minister of Child, Youth and Family Services.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MS BURKE: Mr.
Speaker, there are quite a few differences between an
ALA and a personal care home, just based sometimes on
the temporary nature of an ALA that would be in response
to probably being set up to accommodate a sibling group,
as opposed to being a home that is established that we
use on a regular basis.
In the meantime, Mr.
Speaker, this government certainly feels there needs to
be more focus in the area of Child, Youth and Family
Services and, as a result, in our recent budget
announcement we have certainly developed the new
department that will focus solely on Child, Youth and
Family Services.
We go back to the
clinical review, and although it did not specifically
address ALAs there is certainly a need for legislative
review, which will be happening by this new department.
We will certainly review the legislation that guides the
activities of the Child, Youth and Family Services, and
we will certainly be doing a comprehensive review.
So any legislation that
is either in place that may need to be amended, or any
new legislation that needs to come forward, to be able
to assist us to have a more child focus on our Child,
Youth and Family Services, we will certainly be doing
that, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Opposition House Leader.
MR. KELVIN PARSONS: Mr.
Speaker, concerns have been expressed over the
qualifications to work in an ALA. We understand that
there are people working with these high-risk children
who do not even have basic level training, such as first
aid, non-violent crisis intervention, and suicide
intervention.
I ask the minister: What
is your department doing to ensure that only qualified
people are working with our most vulnerable children?
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Minister of Child, Youth and Family Services.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MS BURKE: Mr.
Speaker, there would be a number of people who would
work with children who are in an ALA setting.
The case manager, the
person who oversees the case, would be a registered
social worker, and registered in the Province of
Newfoundland and Labrador. In addition to that, based on
the specific needs, there could also be involved in any
particular case a child psychologist or a psychiatrist.
There could be a paediatric nurse or there could be a
medical doctor, so there are many people who are members
of any particular case management team who would be
qualified to provide intervention or to be able to
provide input into the case plan, based on their
expertise.
Mr. Speaker, certainly,
there are also requirements with regard to foster homes
and the PRIDE program that our foster parents need to
have completed in order to become foster parents.
Mr. Speaker, I certainly
want to make the point that with any team that supports
any child who is removed from the home, there certainly
would be registration within their professional field,
and they would be part of that team.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Opposition House Leader.
MR. KELVIN PARSONS: Mr.
Speaker, it is a requirement, according to the Child,
Youth and Family Services, that a criminal record check
be part of the process in order to be hired as a
caregiver for children in this Province. We know that
children with criminal convictions have been working
with our children at risk for almost two months before
the criminal record check was completed.
I ask the minister: Does
government feel it is acceptable that people with
criminal convictions are able to access children in ALAs
in this manner, and what do you intend to do about it?
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Minister of Child, Youth and Family Services.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MS BURKE: Mr.
Speaker, it is my understanding that there were issues
that came forth from Labrador with allegations that
there were people with criminal records working with
children in ALA settings. The information that I was
provided by my officials also indicated that there were
no individuals working in the ALAs who did have criminal
records, although that allegation did come forward.
I had asked my officials
about that; they confirmed with me that the individuals
who were working in the ALAs in the particular place
where the allegation came forward did not have criminal
records.
Mr. Speaker, it is a
requirement that is there and it is my understanding
that requirement is being followed.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Opposition House Leader.
MR. KELVIN PARSONS: Thank
you, Mr. Speaker.
Based on recent
statistics, a significant number of children in care in
Labrador are largely Aboriginal; yet, there is no
cultural component to their ALA.
I ask the minister: Do
you intend to do anything to address this shortcoming,
and when could we look forward to seeing something being
done?
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Minister of Child, Youth and Family Services.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MS BURKE: Mr.
Speaker, the questions put forward by the hon. member
certainly highlight some of the deficiencies in the
system and certainly exemplify why this government has
decided to have a new department for Child, Youth and
Family Services.
There are many gaps in
services. We had the Clinical Services Review, which
will provide the basis for change, but we also note -
and it was in the Abell report - that there are no quick
fixes to this issue, either, and that it is going to
take a number of years for us to bring the system to
where it needs to be.
One thing that is
particularly important is that when we deal with
Aboriginal children we do have cultural sensitivities
and we are able to provide a cultural component to their
care, whether it is foster care, ALA, or
out-of-the-Province care.
The other thing, Mr.
Speaker, I have also had correspondence from the Innu
Nation. They want to be able to look at child protection
issues and the child welfare system in an attempt,
possibly, to be able to take over responsibility for
those services. When I am in Labrador, I certainly have
intentions of meeting with representatives from the Innu
Nation but we feel strongly that the Aboriginal
component is absolutely important.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. SPEAKER: Order,
please!
The hon. the Opposition
House Leader.
MR. KELVIN PARSONS: Thank
you, Mr. Speaker.
Energy drinks are meant
to supply mental and physical stimulation for a short
period of time. They are not to be confused with sports
drinks, which rehydrate the body. Health Canada cautions
that children under eighteen, pregnant women or
breastfeeding women, should avoid energy drinks.
Possible side effects from energy drinks include nausea,
vomiting and heart irregularities.
I ask the minister: Has
government considered any legislated restrictions on
energy drinks for young people in our Province?
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Minister of Health and Community Services.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. WISEMAN: Thank
you, Mr. Speaker.
It is not something that
is under active consideration at this time, Mr. Speaker,
but the member opposite raises a valid point. Obviously,
we need to be very cognisant of the jurisdiction that
the federal government has in regulating various
products, food products and others in the country.
Provincial regulations and guidelines should be in sync
with what we have federally but it is not something that
is under active consideration, but I will have officials
in my department review the issue and report back to the
House.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Opposition House Leader.
MR. KELVIN PARSONS: Mr.
Speaker, according to health officials energy drinks are
loaded with caffeine and other herbal extracts.
Nutritionists worry about children becoming addicted. A
person would have to eat five-and-a-half chocolate bars
or drink four cans of cola in one sitting to ingest the
same amount of caffeine found in just one can of these
energy drinks.
I ask the minister: What
research has been done in this Province? It is obviously
becoming a problem. What research has been done or what
is intended to be done to determine the impacts of these
drinks on our children in this Province?
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Minister of Health and Community Services.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. WISEMAN: Mr.
Speaker, as a government we have made some significant
strides in recent years as a part of our wellness
strategy to ensure that the people of Newfoundland and
Labrador, particularly our children, fully understand
the value of nutrition. Some of the things we have done
in our new school food guidelines, some of the things we
have done as a part of our Healthy Students, Healthy
Schools initiative, all with a view, Mr. Speaker, to
create a better understanding in our society about the
value of nutrition, the value of making appropriate
choices about the food you eat, the liquid you drink,
the level of physical activity that you enjoy. So, Mr.
Speaker, as a part of our overall wellness strategy, as
a government I think we have become very cognisant of
the impacts of making appropriate lifestyle choices on
people’s health and well being, and we will continue
to make those kind of strategic investments.
In areas with respect to
the kinds of products that are being licensed to come
into the market and the regulations around food
products, Mr. Speaker, is a federal jurisdiction, but as
I said a second ago, we are not currently doing any
research in this particular area but our regulation in
this Province needs to be in sync with the federal
(inaudible).
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Opposition House Leader.
MR. KELVIN PARSONS: Thank
you, Mr. Speaker.
I say that it is obvious
that the government has no understanding that this issue
is current, this issue is relevant. Tobacco is also a
licensed product but we also took undertakings and moves
in this Province to make sure of how they were dealt
with by our young people and in certain public places.
While these drinks are not being sold on public
property, students are bringing these drinks to school.
Teachers have raised concerns about the growing
popularity of these drinks and their effects on
students. Teachers say there is a spike in student
behavioural problems and they are unable to maintain
attention in class.
I ask the minister: How
much of a problem, indeed, are these energy drinks
causing in our classrooms, and are you prepared or
considering a ban on these drinks in our schools?
MR. SPEAKER: Order
please!
The hon. the Minister of
Education.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. KING: Mr.
Speaker, to the member’s question on the energy
drinks. We do have food guidelines that have been
developed in keeping with Canada’s Food Guideline and
in consultation with the Department of Health. We
certainly do discourage the use of those kinds of
drinks. We have not brought in a regulation or a rule
that prevents those drinks from going on school
property, as a government. Rules of that kind of nature
would be the responsibility of the school boards in
consultation with individual schools, but there is
nothing whatsoever to restrict an individual school
council from having a rule that would prevent it. I
might say there is nothing to prevent an individual
parent from talking to their children and discouraging
them from bringing things of that nature to school.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Opposition House Leader.
MR. KELVIN PARSONS: Thank
you, Mr. Speaker.
I think it is quite
evident to everybody that parents do in fact pay a key
role in educating their children. However, you cannot
slough this off to the school boards. The government, I
would suggest, has an onus on them as well to inform
people. Many parents may not be aware of the contents of
these energy drinks or the effect these drinks may be
having on their children.
Is
government considering any kind of educational campaign
or marketing campaign to make parents and citizens of
our Province aware of the potential hazards of these
energy drinks?
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh,
oh!
MR. SPEAKER: Order
please!
The hon. the Minister of
Health and Community Services.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. WISEMAN: I
am glad the member opposite prefaced his question by
saying we are getting to the end of the session because
we are scraping the bottom of the barrel with questions
today, I say, Mr. Speaker.
It is an extremely
important topic that the member opposite is raising,
though, at the same time. Is that having an awareness
and an understanding of the products that we eat, the
products that we drink is an extremely important thing
for all of society to consider. As I said a moment ago,
that is the very reason, Mr. Speaker, that we are
investing millions of dollars, on an annual basis, in
our wellness campaign to ensure that we create a better
understanding of the importance of making those
lifestyle choices, the importance of educating our
children. That is why we are doing tremendous work in
conjunction with the Department of Education and some of
the kinds of things we are doing with our students. It
is the reason why we engage in social marketing
campaigns, to create an understanding of parents so they
can educate and advise their children and provide
guidance, Mr. Speaker, but as I said a moment ago –
MR. SPEAKER: Order
please!
The hon. the Opposition
House Leader.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. KELVIN PARSONS: Thank
you, Mr. Speaker.
On May 19, government
announced a $35 million package to cover the severance
for the former workers of AbitibiBowater.
I ask the minister: Were
there any negotiations or consultations, prior to that
announcement, with Services Canada or Revenue Canada to
work out the EI and tax implications of distributing
these funds?
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Minister of Innovation, Trade and Rural
Development.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. SKINNER: Mr.
Speaker, with the announcement that was made here a
couple of weeks ago, it was indicated that we would be
working with the unions representing the workers
affected by the Abitibi closure to make sure that they
had all of the information that they needed and all of
the capacity that they would require to be able to
address any issues that would be arising from the
payment of the severance and the other benefits that
government undertook to pay.
That committee is in
place. They are doing their work. They are following
through on questions that are being directed to them by
their membership, and I am sure that the members are
receiving the information that they need to make
informed decisions.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Opposition House Leader.
MR. KELVIN PARSONS: Thank
you.
Mr. Speaker, most of
these former workers are already signed up with Services
Canada and are registered to receive EI. That means when
and if these workers receive this government-sponsored
severance package, it will impact upon how much and how
long they continue to receive EI. In other words, it is
possible for these workers to change from being
recipients of EI to suddenly owing money back to EI the
moment they receive these government-sponsored severance
funds.
I ask the minister: What
arrangements, if any, have been made with Services
Canada to ensure that this government-sponsored
severance package does not negatively affect the EI of
these workers?
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, in our
discussions with the union leadership regarding
government providing monies to the union to be able to
meet the former obligations of AbitibiBowater, it was
indicated that any of the impacts that would be felt
upon workers, as would normally be felt had they
received their severances and their obligations from
AbitibiBowater, would have to be met, would have to be
understood that people may have some impact. They
understood that. They understood that it may happen
should they receive their severances from AbitibiBowater.
There are no issues with that, that I am aware of, and
things are progressing along and workers are happy, the
unions are happy and everything seems to be going quite
nicely out there.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Opposition House Leader.
MR. KELVIN PARSONS: Mr.
Speaker, there are allowances in the tax system to
shelter portions of severance payments into RRSPs and
related instruments; however, these allowances assume
that funds are coming directly from the employers and
are received directly by instruments controlled by the
employee. In this case, the severance package funds are
coming from government, not the employer, are then
transferred to the union and then to an accounting firm,
not directly to the employees’ financial instruments.
I ask the minister: What
arrangements, if any, has government made with Revenue
Canada to ensure that the workers are not hit with an
unnecessary and onerous tax bill as a result of the
government-sponsored severance?
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Minister of Innovation, Trade and Rural
Development.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. SKINNER: Mr.
Speaker, as I indicated earlier, the government, in
consultation with the union leadership, is in the
process of determining the way in which this will flow.
So, the assumption that the hon. member just made is
exactly that, an assumption. That process has not yet
been finalized.
The second point which he
raises relative to sheltering of money and so on, as I
indicated, we have provided an undertaking to the union
leadership that we will provide to them whatever
assistance they need from financial managers, from
actuaries, anything that they need like that, accounting
firms, to be able to deal with these issues, and the
union is moving forward, quite happy with the
arrangement that has been made and quite happy that
government has stepped up and made sure that they
receive the obligation that they should have received
from AbitibiBowater.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Opposition House Leader.
MR. KELVIN PARSONS: Thank
you, Mr. Speaker.
It seems clear that
government has made and announced another decision
related to AbitibiBowater without considering and
thinking through all the implications.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh,
oh!
MR. KELVIN PARSONS: Mr.
Minister, at the end of the day, once all the
consultations are done that you are talking about, will
government compensate or otherwise shelter the former
AbitibiBowater workers from any unintended negative
impacts regarding EI and tax liabilities which might
occur as a result of this government-sponsored severance
package?
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh,
oh!
MR. SPEAKER: Order,
please!
The hon. the Minister of
Innovation, Trade and Rural Development.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. SKINNER: Thank
you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I think the
answer to that question is obvious. Government has
provided $35 million of sheltering to the workers of
Central Newfoundland and Labrador -
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. SKINNER: -
and government is very happy to be able to provide that
sheltering.
As I have indicated in my
previous answers, we are working with the union
executive, who are working with the affected members, to
ensure that this flows as easily and nicely and as
co-operatively as it can, and we will continue to do
that kind of work, Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Opposition House Leader.
MR. KELVIN PARSONS: Thank
you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, last session
in the House of Assembly we highlighted the fact that
Newfoundland and Labrador is one of the last provinces
to bring forward midwifery legislation.
The Minister of Health
and Community Services committed, at that time, to
bringing forward umbrella legislation that would address
this concern, as well as licence other health
professionals in other disciplines.
I ask the minister: What
is the status of this legislation now, and when can we
expect to see it tabled in the House?
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Minister of Health and Community Services.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. WISEMAN: Thank
you, Mr. Speaker.
If the member opposite
would reflect on the comments I made in the House, I
think I indicated that some time before the end of 2009
– which we are only halfway through now – that we
would anticipate having that legislation brought before
the House.
It is a significant piece
of work, Mr. Speaker, to look at the regulation of a
number of disciplines that we currently do not have
regulation for, especially when we are trying to bring
it together in one umbrella piece of legislation.
Significant work has been
done, significant progress has been made, and from the
discussions I have had in recent weeks about the status
of the work in progress we are on target to have that
introduced in the House by the fall session.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Opposition House Leader.
MR. KELVIN PARSONS: Thank
you, Mr. Speaker.
There are other health
disciplines that have contacted our office, also asking
for this umbrella legislation. One of these groups is
the Newfoundland and Labrador acupuncture association.
Even though this is a growing practice in our Province,
these professionals have no legislation governing their
activities. We even have a private college that offers a
three-year program on acupuncture in this Province, but
these graduates do not have to meet any provincial
certification requirements upon graduation.
I ask the minister: Are
you concerned that there are no standards whatsoever
guiding the practice of acupuncture in the Province, and
will these individuals be included under the umbrella
legislation that you referred to?
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Minister of Health and Community Services.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. WISEMAN: The
member opposite has identified one particular group, but
we have a number of professions. We made a commitment in
this House very recently that we would have laboratory
medicine also covered by legislation. We have speech
language pathologists who are not yet regulated in this
Province. We have x-ray and imaging technicians who are
not. We have ultrasonographers who are not, and
respiratory therapists who are not, so we have a fairly
large number of people currently in practice in the
Province who are not yet regulated.
Mr. Speaker, that was the
reason – because some of these groups are fairly
large, some more of them are relatively small - that is
one of the reasons that we believed it was fundamentally
important for us to develop an umbrella piece of
legislation to ensure that we have not only those that
are currently in practice covered, but as other
disciplines emerge over time we will have the umbrella
legislation to embody those in the future.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Member for the District of Port de Grave.
MR. BUTLER: Mr.
Speaker, last year the Opposition raised questions in
the House about the dysfunctional relationship within
and between the Town of Portugal Cove-St. Phillips and
its residents, and the minister assured that action
would be taken. Yet, we know that no action was taken by
the Department of Municipal Affairs and that all parties
to the conflict feel let down by government.
I ask the minister: Why
did you choose to take no decisive action on the
Portugal Cove-St. Phillips file, despite the fact that
directives from your department were breached?
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Minister of Municipal Affairs.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MS WHALEN: Mr.
Speaker, the Department of Municipal Affairs, my
officials and myself, met with the Town of Portugal
Cove-St. Phillips and we raised the concerns with them
that were brought to my attention. They were given a
directive, and just this morning the mayor met with me
in Portugal Cove-St. Phillips - and the town manager -
to bring me up to speed to where they were, and it is
almost to a resolution.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. SPEAKER: Order,
please!
The hon. the Member for
the District of Port de Grave.
MR. BUTLER: Thank
you, Mr. Speaker.
I guess the minister must
have been aware I was going to ask her the question.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. BUTLER: Mr.
Speaker, since raising questions on problems with this
municipal government -
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh,
oh!
MR. SPEAKER: Order,
please!
The hon. the Member for
the District of Port de Grave.
MR. BUTLER: Since
raising questions on problems with municipal government,
we have heard from many other municipal governments who
have complained about the lack of due diligence and
leadership from the Department of Municipal Affairs.
Only today, Mr. Speaker, we learned of the resignation
of the Mayor of Steady Brook.
With
new municipal elections taking place this fall, will
your department be adopting any new policies or
procedures to ensure municipal councils can function
effectively and take timely action when significant
problems are identified and bogged down by council’s
work?
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh,
oh!
MR. SPEAKER: Order,
please!
The Chair is having great
difficulty in hearing the questions that are asked.
The hon. the Minister of
Municipal Affairs.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MS WHALEN: Mr.
Speaker, we did become aware last night of Mr.
Dawson’s resignation. We received a copy of the news
release right after the town council meeting last night.
The department will
continue to work with the Town of Steady Brook in order
to move this forward, but Municipal Affairs officials
are always aware and they are always there to assist
councillors with any issues in their town.
I would like to go back
to the member. I was not anticipating his question, but
I would like him to know that we are on top of things in
our department.
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.
Mr. Speaker, it has been
brought to my attention that out of the fourteen cardiac
surgeries scheduled this week at the Health Sciences
Centre only one was able to be completed due to a lack
of available ICU beds. In January seventeen cardiac
surgeries in St. John’s were cancelled because there
were not enough nurses. That means more than one-quarter
of the scheduled surgeries were cancelled for that month
alone. We have also heard of cancellations due to a
shortage of anesthesiologists.
Mr. Speaker, I ask the
Minister of Health and Community Services: Could he give
us some concrete examples of what his department is
doing to deal with this ongoing critical situation?
MR. SPEAKER: Order,
please!
The hon. the Minister of
Health and Community Services.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. WISEMAN: Mr.
Speaker, one of the reasons that the member cited for
some of the challenges we are having is the nursing
issue, and she wants a tangible example. Well, let me
share one with her.
We just recently, just a
few days ago, in fact, negotiated very successful,
averted a strike and negotiated the best collective
agreement of any unionized group in the entire country,
Mr. Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. WISEMAN: Nurses
in Newfoundland and Labrador have a contract today
second to none. They are among the best paid nurses in
the entire country. They have benefits second to none in
the entire country. That is a very tangible example, I
say to the member opposite, of where our government has
provided leadership and stepped up to the plate, Mr.
Speaker, to address some of the critical issues that the
nurses’ union identified with respect to recruitment
and retention of nurses.
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.
The minister knows that
that contract is not going to deal with the urgent
situations now.
Mr. Speaker, last summer
health authorities reduced elective services and closed
beds during the summer as a way to deal with the
shortage of nurses in the Province. We know nurses need
to have vacations as well as all other workers. Eastern
Health closed two long-term care units as Hoyles
Escasoni last summer, we had maternity patients shipped
around Central Newfoundland, and dialysis units
temporarily closed in St. Anthony.
Mr. Speaker, I ask the
minister: What plans does this government have in place
to deal with this summertime issue this summer, here and
now, not in two years time?
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Minister of Health and Community Services.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. WISEMAN: I
am glad the member opposite acknowledged that our health
care workers need vacation. They work very long hours.
They are dedicated individuals who make a big commitment
to the people of Newfoundland and Labrador, and they,
together with all of us in this Province, deserve a
periodic holiday, and many of them like to take that
during the summertime when their children are out of
school and the family can be together.
Ever since I can
remember, and long before I was ever involved in the
health system, which dates back to the early 1980s, the
health organizations in this Province have always made
adjustment in the summertime to accommodate nurses and
other individuals who need annual vacation. So what we
will experience in 2009, the summer of 2009, is the same
thing that was experienced in the summer of 1985, 1981,
1979 and will probably be well into the future, Mr.
Speaker, adjust the level of operation to facilitate the
much needed and the much deserved vacations that staff
need to take.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear!
MR. SPEAKER: Order,
please!
The time allotted for
questions and answers have expired. |
