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

MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, today is Oceans Day and we know how important our ocean environment is to the people of Newfoundland and Labrador. The current catastrophe in the Gulf of Mexico demonstrates how fragile our oceans are and the importance of necessary precautions, especially when balancing the risk of the oil and gas industry. We have questioned the government extensively over offshore drilling in the Orphan Basin and today I would like to ask the Minister of Environment to outline the protections that are in place for oil shipping lanes in Placentia Bay.

Mr. Speaker, I ask the minister today, because according to comments made by the Mayor of Placentia there is no emergency management plan in place to address a spill in Placentia Bay, and I ask her today: Why hasn’t government implemented such a plan.

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS JOHNSON: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I hope my voice holds up here - but in terms of Placentia Bay, Mr. Speaker, that is under the jurisdiction of Transport Canada. Certainly, the Department of Environment and Conservation is involved. We participate in the SmartBay project. We participate - we have a voice on the REET, the Regional Emergency Environmental Team.

Mr. Speaker, we certainly consult with the communities on all of the environmental issues and as it goes through the environmental assessment process we participate and are certainly aware of that, Mr. Speaker, but this is under the jurisdiction of Transport Canada.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MS JONES: Mr. Speaker, this is about the only Minister of Environment that I have ever seen that will have nothing to do with the environment, but I say it did not stop them in 2003 in the Progressive Conservative Blue Book, Mr. Speaker, to committing to a full strategy on the environment for Placentia Bay, I say to the minister.

Well, this is an area of the Province, Mr. Speaker, that has supported a vibrant inshore fishery for well over 400 years, and, Mr. Speaker, fishermen have stated that a spill in Placentia Bay could destroy their livelihoods, and environmentalists have stated that a spill of any magnitude could wipe out the seabird population in Cape St. Mary’s, and we all know the impact that oil has on land once it reaches shore, minister.

I ask the minister today: Is there a comprehensive plan in place to immediately deal with a spill, should one take place in Placentia Bay?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS JOHNSON: Mr. Speaker, there is one thing that she has right, and that is that we have the jurisdiction in the Department of Environment and Conservation should the oil, in the unlikely event, that should the oil reach land then it does come under the Department of Environment and Conservation, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, when we came into government in 2004 we saw that there was not one plan in place, not one procedure in place, not one person hired to deal with should there be an oil spill that reached shore, Mr. Speaker. That is why we immediately consulted with the industry, talked to other jurisdictions, Mr. Speaker, and actually hired somebody in the department so that we would have a policy in place should it reach land. That is under my jurisdiction. That is something that I oversee and that is something that we are working towards, but, Mr. Speaker, all of the other things that she is talking about in the bay, while we do participate and we are very interested and very concerned, Mr. Speaker, they are not in the jurisdiction of the Department of Environment and Conservation.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

You have over 500 fishing enterprises in that area. You have one of the busiest areas and ports in North America for that kind of business, or at least in Canada, Mr. Speaker, and you have the mayor out there saying that we do not have a strategy or a plan in place, and you, minister, are part of a government that in 2003 committed to put that strategy and that plan in place without ever saying at that time we have no responsibility for the environment, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I ask the minister again today: Will there be a comprehensive strategy implemented, as her government committed to seven years ago?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS JOHNSON: Mr. Speaker, we certainly consult with the FFAW. They have been in my office for certain meetings. Vale Inco is one of the projects that also have impacts on Placentia Bay, and my understanding is the mayor also wrote on that particular project and was very supportive of that project, which could also have cumulative impacts on Placentia Bay. So consultation does take place. The Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture and I meet about Placentia Bay. As I said, we are involved in SmartBay, which is one of the most comprehensive projects that are in place in all of Canada. It is a very comprehensive committee, and we certainly participate in that Mr. Speaker. Anything that the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture and myself, as minister, and certainly DFO, can do to ensure the safety of the fisherpeople and the environment in that bay, we will certainly do that, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Seven years, no strategy, as was committed to by the government opposite. Yet, we know that Placentia Bay, Mr. Speaker, is adjacent to the main transatlantic shipping routes between North America and Western Europe, and we know the traffic that occurs there.

Mr. Speaker, in 2007, and again in 2010, Transport Canada performed an oil spill risk assessment for the South Coast of Newfoundland. It estimated that a spill in the range of 10,000 barrels will likely occur within the next thirty years.

I ask the minister, because I am sure you do some work with your counterparts – or I hope you do, the federal government: What actions were taken in conjunction with your federal counterparts to address the alarming findings that were in both of those reports?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS JOHNSON: Mr. Speaker, as I said, SmartBay is one of the most comprehensive projects that is going on in Canada right now. The purpose of the SmartBay is to look at all of the ecological aspects of the committee. People from the Placentia and surrounding areas are involved. My department - there are officials there from my department. There are officials from the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture; there are officials from Transport Canada and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Mr. Speaker.

Certainly, when projects like this are filed environment comes to the forefront, and that is something that we are very committed to protecting is the environment. There is all kinds of development not just the transshipment facilities, there is Vale Inco, there was the proposal for the second refinery, and there was expansion to the current refinery. We look at cumulative effects in all of this, Mr. Speaker, and that is what the environmental process is all about, it is ensuring at the end of the day that (inaudible).

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

The hon. the Leader of the Opposition.

MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

During consultation on various industrial projects in Placentia Bay, and the minister just mentioned a couple of them with regard to the Inco smelter and with the second refinery proposal, which never materialized, but anyway, Mr. Speaker, concerns were raised about the lack of safeguards and early response measures for potential oil spills even at those times, Minister.

I ask you today: Are there sufficient human resources and capital infrastructure available within the Province, particularly in the Placentia Bay area, to detect and immediately clean up a large scale spill?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS JOHNSON: Mr. Speaker, there are different levels of oil spill response. I understand that the member and the Opposition had a briefing about the oil spill response. There are Tier 1, Tier 2 and Tier 3 responses. There is the ECRC in terms of a spill of up to 10,000 barrels. Mr. Speaker, above that, we certainly have the Coast Guard who also responds to spills. All of those policies are in place and plans are in place.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

We are being told that one of the pieces of infrastructure required to respond to a large oil spill in the Placentia Bay area would be an ocean going tug. We are also told that the nearest tug to this Province would be located in Halifax.

I ask the minister if that is true and if there is a strategy, in the case, again, of a large oil spill in Placentia Bay, what is the process to respond to it?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS JOHNSON: Mr. Speaker, I am trying to do my best to provide information that I have in speaking to my counterparts within the federal government, but, Mr. Speaker, these questions are really better suited to be asked to the federal government. So, I suggest that she get in contact with the Minister of Transport Canada.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MS JONES: Absolutely unbelievable, Mr. Speaker, that the Minister of Environment in this Province cannot answer the questions on how they would respond to an oil spill in Placentia Bay that affects the fishing industry, every other industry that surrounds the ocean including the bird population, Minister. You should be ashamed today to stand in this House and even say such a thing, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

MS JONES: Mr. Speaker, environmentalists and the mayor of Placentia have been very vocal about the lack of response capability in Placentia Bay. Currently, equipment needed to respond to a spill is located in St. John’s and Halifax, and there have been concerns expressed about the impact that this could have on response times.

I ask the minister once again: Since Transport Canada has concluded in both 2007 and 2010 that Placentia Bay was most at risk of having a spill, have there been any changes made to the location of response equipment in the Province?

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

The hon. the Minister of Environment and Conservation.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS JOHNSON: Mr. Speaker, the member can get all worked up all she wants. It is not within my jurisdiction. I am trying my best to help her with the information that I have. It is not our equipment that is in the area. It is not our equipment; that is owned by the Coast Guard. I can certainly give her the information I have, but again these questions are better put to somebody else.

It is not to say that we are not concerned about the environment or that we do not consult with our federal counterparts. Mr. Speaker, these are not my questions. I am trying my best to give her the information. She can get all worked up as she wants, but we all have our own jurisdictions to be responsible for and the questions she is asking –

MS JONES: I cannot believe it (inaudible).

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

MS JOHNSON: While she is saying she cannot believe it, she was a former Minister of the Crown –

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

MS JOHNSON: – she would know what she is responsible for in her certain department and, Mr. Speaker, that goes true for any minister of this government.

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.

Mr. Speaker, yesterday on the Fisheries Broadcast, the Member for Baie Verte-Springdale stated that he is quite confident that the licence for Little Bay Islands would not be transferred out of the community.

So I ask the Minister of Fisheries today: As you have the final say on such a transfer, are you ready to provide the same assurance to the people of Little Bay Islands today?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. JACKMAN: Mr. Speaker, I am sure the member that represents Little Bay Islands, as would the Member for The Straits, would like to see things remain in their communities, but as the member representing Little Bay Islands pointed out, he informed the people in his community of the process and they will present the information to the licensing board, then the licensing board will make the recommendation that comes forward to me, as minister. Then, Mr. Speaker, I will either accept or reject it.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. DEAN: Mr. Speaker, the former Minister of Fisheries rejected a recommendation from the fishery licensing board just last year and we know the final decision ultimately rests with the minister.

So I ask the minister again: Are you willing to ease the minds of the residents of Little Bay Islands and assure that this rejection or this request for transfer will be rejected, or is this really just an indication that the MOU rationalization really has begun?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. JACKMAN: Mr. Speaker, I swear to God they do not want to see this MOU process working. On three or four occasions now the member opposite has got up, in their statement tomorrow, and said that there is no progress that has been made.

Mr. Speaker, I have outlined to him time and time again the meetings that we have made, the input that the FFAW, the ASP, SPNL have all brought forward. Mr. Speaker, we are hoping for a positive result that comes from the MOU.

As to his issue around licensing, Mr. Speaker, we have a licensing board in place. I intend to allow them to do their work and they will bring forth their recommendations based on the information that is submitted to them, Mr. Speaker.

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.

Let me say first of all that we certainly do hope the MOU process brings us a good solution. I have said that before and I will say it again. What we do not see is this government giving the leadership to the MOU process that is required.

Mr. Speaker, last month the community of Jackson’s Arm, again, abruptly heard the news that it was losing its shrimp plant that some 120 people would be out of work. Earlier this week, I understand the minister met with union representatives at the union’s request to discuss this critical issue.

I ask the minister if he and his department has had discussions with the owners of the plant on their decision for this year, and if government has received or indeed requested a written confirmation that the plant will operate next year for those people.

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. JACKMAN: Mr. Speaker, the member may not be aware of this, but on Friday past, I visited his area. I went to New Ferolle; an issue that he has raised from time to time. I, as minister, and we, as government, have no problem meeting with any groups that represent fish plants or communities across this Province. We indeed did meet with the representation from Jackson’s Arm. We have asked them to provide us with some information. The company has indicated that they will not open this year, but they have not said that this is definitive and that the plant will not open the following year. They are making business decisions based on current economic conditions and cuts to quotas.

Mr. Speaker, we will continue to work with the community to find the best resolve that we can to this situation, like we do in all situations.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. DEAN: Mr. Speaker, for the sake of the facts, New Ferolle is not in my area; it is in the area of St. Barbe. Also, ICO does not operate the plant in St. Anthony either; nevertheless, the fishery is in crisis in this Province right now, and not every plant worker or community has the luxury to wait for the MOU process, and that is the point we are trying to make.

I ask the minister: In the absence of any short term, long-term plans for the fishery by this government, are you prepared to implement a response measure that will provide income for plant workers at communities like Jackson’s Arm, because there will be another community next week and so on, and just as importantly, provided at levels of incomes that they are used to earning?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. JACKMAN: Mr. Speaker, he indicates no short term, no long term. I do not know if there is any other term in between there, but, Mr. Speaker, let me assure the member opposite that the members who represent the communities that he mentioned, we have set - the Minister of the Department of Human Resources, Labour and Employment, we have met with her. We are in the process now of having her officials go and make contacts within these respective communities and we will roll out the plan as we have in other communities, Mr. Speaker, who have faced similar circumstances.

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.

Mr. Speaker, we also met with these plant workers yesterday and they are simply astounded by what is happening in their community, and rightfully so. We understand that, and they are looking for some assistance from this government beyond what they termed as being make-work programs.

I ask the minister: We will not talk about long term and short term, but what is the long-term strategy for dealing with these plant closures outside of the MOU? As we wait for the MOU process to develop, where is the long-term strategy? Are we willing to provide early retirement programs? Are we willing to look at worker adjustment programs, community infrastructure money and so on, that will allow these communities to attract new opportunities and give them a sense of hope?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. JACKMAN: Mr. Speaker, he is right in saying one thing, that the people who come in to meet with us in communities that are faced with this challenge, rightfully so, they face a tremendous challenge. Any time that happens to a community there are repercussions. We certainly sympathize and we are willing to work to the extent that we can with them.

Mr. Speaker, we have an MOU process that is in place. I hope that the member opposite is not suggesting that we start another process outside of the MOU. We have the groups at the table that can make a difference in this fishery engaged in this MOU process, Mr. Speaker, and I am certainly hoping that as a result of that process, we will have a stronger fishery in the Province in the future, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. DEAN: Mr. Speaker, again, either intentionally or unintentionally, it seems to be misunderstood. I am not suggesting another process of the MOU. Again, I will state that we are in support of the MOU, but many of these workers that we met yesterday suggested to us they have two or three weeks of unemployment left, they have been waiting for their plant to open, we know the plant is not going to open, and they are looking to government to give some assistance, some direction as to what they can expect in their communities.

Again, I ask the minister: What is the plan?

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

The hon. the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. JACKMAN: Mr. Speaker, despite the challenge that some of these communities face, in terms of plant workers, Mr. Speaker, we have stepped up for plant workers time and time again and we will do likewise in the situations that we have before us right now, Mr. Speaker, I can assure you of that.

Mr. Speaker, in the long term, as I indicated I believe here in Question Period last week, I met with the chair of the MOU and I directed him to have something to me by January 11, which is the anniversary of this process. Mr. Speaker, shortly after that, I asked that we have something submitted in writing. So, if we can have that put before us, Mr. Speaker, hopefully that will lay out the direction for the –

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

MR. JACKMAN: Mr. Speaker, I cannot – she is shouting at me, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

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

MR. KELVIN PARSONS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I guess that is not unheard of in this place, when somebody shouts at you.

Anyway, yesterday, Mr. Speaker, I asked the Minister of Business about the graving dock for Marystown, given the federal government’s announcement of the two new $35 billion contracts that were going to be let over the next number of years. The minister responded that there had been conversations between him and the people in the Marystown area and that government would step up to the plate if there was some infrastructure that was needed and if they were successful in the bidding process. I say to the minister, the graving dock is needed, not after the contracts are let and awarded, minister. The graving dock is needed in order to make them successful in the bidding project.

I ask you again: After years and years of conversations and consultations, is this government prepared to commit to a graving dock so that they can enhance their chances of being successful, and if so, when are you going to tell the people of Marystown?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Business.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. WISEMAN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I said yesterday that we as a government were very pleased that the federal government has now decided to proceed with a new shipbuilding strategy, and that Marystown yard, because of its history and successes that it has had, is well positioned to bid for that kind of work. They have indicated to us that to help with that process, depending on the nature of the work that they get – because that thirty-year strategy involves a full range of boats and ships to be built over that period time. Some of them large, some of them small, and some of them mid-sized. Depending on the nature of the work that will be going to Marystown, that will influence the kind of investment they need to make to be able to respond to and to do that piece of work, Mr. Speaker.

One of the things that we have been trying to do, and working with the company, is as they have been trying to identify the infrastructure requirements that they will have, depending on the scope of work that they get to complete. We have indicated to them that we would want to work with them to ensure that their position –

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. KELVIN PARSONS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, the minister is like a tape recorder.

I will put this very bluntly: Are you prepared to commit money to a graving dock? Period!

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

The hon. the Minister of Business.

MR. WISEMAN: Now that the member opposite has clarified the punctuation, let me try to respond to his question.

Mr. Speaker, it is very unfortunate that in the Department of Business, and other departments of government, we frequently find ourselves having discussions with private companies who are interested in soliciting support from government. It is very difficult on the floor of the House of Assembly to discuss what is very confidential information in a very public way. So the members opposite get up frequently and ask questions of government and the ministers on this side of the House about issues relative to their discussions and negotiations, potentially, with private companies. It is difficult - in fact, impossible, I say, Mr. Speaker, for ministers to get up and to actually start to disclose the nature of what might be very private and confidential discussions. So I ask the member opposite to respect the notion that government may on occasion –

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

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

MR. KELVIN PARSONS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

We know a lot about what the Department of Business does not do, but we know what this minister is good at doing.

Anyway, Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development. Last month in the House, minister, the Minister of Natural Resources slipped that a German company had toured the former AbitibiBowater mill with an interest to possibly doing something with it. Upon hearing the news, the president, I believe, of the Grand Falls Chamber of Commerce revealed that they had no idea there had been an Expression of Interest from that particular company and, in fact, he expressed concern about being kept out of the loop.

I ask the minister: Have you since included the partners in the process - such as the Chamber of Commerce - and can the minister provide us with any kind of update as to where things might stand with respect to the German interest?

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, the work that the ministerial task force does in relation to the shutdown of the mill in Central Newfoundland and Labrador is done through the Community Development Committee; so we engage with the Community Development Committee on any economic development issues or other issues that we may have related to the mill closure. So, in terms of going out and speaking to individual Chambers of Commerce or individual municipalities or other individual groups that may be out there - and there are many of them - we have certainly talked to them in the past, but, in terms of formally engaging, our engagement would be done with the Community Development Committee.

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.

My questions are for the Minister of Environment and Conservation.

We have learned today, Mr. Speaker, through the media, that half of our capacity of containment boom is en route to the Gulf of New Mexico. The containment boom is what is necessary, in the case of an oil spill, to keep oil from reaching the coastline.

I would like to know from the minister, Mr. Speaker, if the Province has been involved in this decision to have half of our boom capacity moved to the Gulf of Mexico.

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS JOHNSON: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I can certainly check for the member and get back to her. I do know that we did send a staff person who has involvement with the cleaning of birds, very highly specialized within Canada, and they work at one of our provincial parks here; we did send one of those down to help out. They just came back yesterday, or the day before, and we are looking forward to a report from them, but I can certainly check on the other one for you 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: Mr. Speaker, I ask the minister - she said earlier in Question Period that her department is in consultation with all those who are involved in issues around oil spills: Canadian Coast Guard, DFO, et cetera - how could this decision be made without the Province being consulted, Mr. Speaker?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS JOHNSON: Mr. Speaker, my understanding is that this equipment is privately held. I am not saying that they did not consult with anybody in government; I am saying that I am not aware of any consultation done in my department. Our department is responsible for, should there be an oil spill on land. We are not responsible for the offshore, Mr. Speaker. Again, I can certainly check around within government and see if anybody within government was consulted, but again I think it is private equipment.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

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

MS MICHAEL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I point out to the minister that the boom that has gone down is half of the capacity of the Canadian Coast Guard, so she may want to look further into that issue.

Mr. Speaker, we know that Placentia Bay is at very, very high risk when it comes to the potential for oil spills – much higher than the offshore, Mr. Speaker – and the Mayor of Placentia and others who are concerned say that we are not adequately prepared for an oil spill.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

MS MICHAEL: So I am asking the Minister of Environment and Conservation: What is her concern about the implication of half of our boom capacity being deployed to the Gulf of Mexico?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS JOHNSON: Mr. Speaker, it seems like the member opposite answered her own question. She said herself that half of the equipment came from the Canadian Coast Guard, so a very appropriate entity to ask would be the Canadian Coast Guard, Mr. Speaker.

As I said, we consult with the communities; we participate on the SmartBay. Certainly, there are environmental assessments that go on, that we pay very close attention to, Mr. Speaker. We consult with the FFAW, with the mayors themselves, and we keep in very close contact with the federal government, Mr. Speaker.

As I said, this is under the jurisdiction of the federal government. I know in the past that the mayor has been very outspoken. I know that he does not believe that he has gotten the attention that he deserves from the federal government, Mr. Speaker. There are certainly discussions that we have had with the feds on that, but again it is the jurisdiction of the feds and certainly the Canadian Coast Guard. If they make a decision to send half of their capacity, then that is certainly a decision that is within their rights to make.

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 was on Sunday that the federal government announced it was sending 3,000 metres of boom, and I heard that in the news on Sunday. I am asking the minister: If she is so up on consulting with all of the parties involved, whether it is the communities or the mayors or Canadian Coast Guard or DFO, why would her department not have started asking questions about where the 3,000 metres of boom were going to come from when the federal government made this announcement?

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

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS JOHNSON: Mr. Speaker, again, I do not mind providing information when I consult with the various organizations in government.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

MS JOHNSON: Mr. Speaker, this is not within the Department of Environment and Conservation. I have no issue whatsoever – I think it has been demonstrated in this House - I have no issue with answering questions that fall within my jurisdiction. I certainly would never want to answer questions for the Minister of Finance –

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

MS JOHNSON: – or for the Minister of Child, Youth and Family Services, and I certainly should not be answering questions for the Department of Transportation, or Transport Canada or the Canadian Coast Guard, Mr. Speaker.

I just said that I can certainly follow up within government. Certainly, if she does not want to ask them herself, I can certainly ask on her behalf. That is what I can offer to her, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The time allotted for questions and answers has expired.