Speech from the Throne 2008
Delivered at the Opening of
the First Session of the Forty-Sixth
General Assembly of the
Province of Newfoundland and Labrador
on Monday, March 10, 2008
by His Honour
The Honourable John C. Crosbie,PC, OC, ONL, QC
Lieutenant Governor of Newfoundland and Labrador
Heartfelt Gratitude
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Mr. Speaker and Members of the House of Assembly: Researchers
in genetics at Memorial University recently made an exciting
discovery that offers hope to countless people, both here and around
the world, who are at risk of sudden, catastrophic heart failure at
a very young age from a condition known as ARVC1. ARVC is
especially prevalent in Newfoundland and Labrador families, but,
until now, there has been no way to tell if a person has the faulty
gene putting him or her at risk. Many families have been living
under a dark cloud of fear, wondering if they or their children
would be next. Fifty per cent of men with the gene die before age
40, while 80 per cent die before age 50; and women and younger
people are also at great risk of sudden death. An interdisciplinary
research team in cardiac genetics from Memorial, led by Drs.
Terry-Lynn Young, molecular geneticist; Patrick Parfrey, clinical
epidemiologist; and Sean Connors, cardiologist; has identified the
genetic cause of the disease. Others on the research team at
Memorial who have joined us today include Nancy Merner, Kathy
Hodgkinson, Annika Haywood, Vanessa French, Barry Gallagher and Lynn
Morris-Larkin.2 These researchers, working with more than
a dozen families in this province, recently located the single gene
mutation responsible for this condition, enabling individuals to be
tested to determine whether they are at risk. Those who are not at
risk can for the first time rest easy while those with the gene can
be implanted with defibrillators that can save their lives.
Newfoundland and Labrador expresses its profound gratitude to this
team for their groundbreaking research and to all the families whose
participation in this study will help to save countless lives. You
embody the tenacity, intelligence and fighting spirit of
Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.
Proud, Strong and Determined
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Mr. Speaker and Members of the House of Assembly: On the 9th
of October 2007, the people of Newfoundland and Labrador were given
the opportunity to make a choice. Our people were asked if they want
Newfoundland and Labrador to be the master of its own house and
control its own destiny within the federation of Canada. Our people
were asked if they want to maintain the principle My Government
adopted in 2003 of no more giveaways. Our people were asked if they
want Newfoundland and Labrador to stay the course to self-reliance.
On the 9th of October, the people of our province, in overwhelming
numbers, re-elected My Government with a powerful mandate to
build upon the initiatives of the past four years with pride,
strength and determination to achieve at long last the promise of a
self-reliant Newfoundland and Labrador. This was a resounding vote
of confidence in the work of My Government and the leadership of My
First Minister. Under his direction, My Government is beginning a
new term full of new opportunities and new objectives. My Government
has made a range of commitments that are compelling and
comprehensive in scope and, over the course of the term ahead, My
Government will deliver for the people.
The overarching goal of the term ahead is to move Newfoundland and
Labrador boldly forward to self-reliance. In resource sectors
such as oil and gas, electricity, mining, agrifoods and the
fisheries, in growth sectors such as tourism and culture, in
leading-edge sectors such as ocean technology and engineering, and
in many other sectors of our economy, the opportunities are
phenomenal and unprecedented. It is no accident that Newfoundland
and Labrador stands on the cusp of a vibrant new future. These
opportunities are here because of My Government’s planning, our
people’s cooperation and My First Minister’s leadership throughout
the past four years.
Already, Newfoundland and Labrador is turning the corner. The tide
has dramatically turned for the better in terms of job opportunities
that are arising for the people of this province, now and in the
future. Labour market conditions have significantly improved, with
unemployment in marked decline and employment at a record high. My
Government will work to ensure Newfoundlanders and Labradorians are
well-equipped to take advantage of the opportunities ahead and the
benefits of a prosperous economy. To give Newfoundlanders and
Labradorians a head start to prepare for the incredible career
opportunities, My Government commissioned and proceeded to implement
the Skills Task Force report and the White Paper on Public
Post-secondary Education. The province’s College of the North
Atlantic and Memorial University are leading the charge in
preparing our students for the careers that await. Memorial
University has already commenced a search process for a new
President who will bring a renewed vision and work collaboratively
with the government to help Newfoundland and Labrador move toward
self-reliance and prosperity. My Government looks forward to
fulfilling our commitment to grant Grenfell College full university
status with a separate executive, senate and budget, while
maintaining a common Board of Regents to secure a strong partnership
between the Grenfell and St. John’s campuses. With a solid education
to ground them and leaders in a wide range of disciplines to guide
them, our graduates will be ready to take the reins of new
opportunities as they arise.
Thanks to the leadership of My First Minister and the approach of My
Government, our province’s influence is being felt and our voice is
being heard all across the country and far beyond – everywhere, that
is, except at the federal Cabinet table. In the federal forum that
once mattered most, Newfoundland and Labrador is treated with little
but contempt and condescension. Ours is not the only provincial
government to be treated with disdain by the Harper Government, but
no province has been treated more dishonourably. My Government has
been deeply frustrated by the current Federal Government’s refusal
to honour – among other promises – their explicit written commitment
to remove nonrenewable resource revenues from the calculation
of equalization, a commitment worth an estimated $10 billion to
Newfoundland and Labrador according to independent economists. Given
the magnitude of this commitment, My Government cannot, in good
conscience, either forget it or cease to remind others of this
broken promise. A Prime Minister who makes such a promise saying
“there is no greater fraud than a promise not kept” stands condemned
by his own words for refusing to keep it. By keeping their word, the
Harper Government would have advanced our efforts to address our
excessive burden of debt and achieve parity in the federation. Their
actions are not only disingenuous but also dishonest. They have
proven they cannot be trusted; but their great betrayal will do
nothing to prevent us from achieving our goals on our own steam.
Despite their opinion that they will win a government without
Newfoundland and Labrador, our province will achieve its full
potential as a prosperous and self-reliant partner within the
federation with or without this Federal Government. We just want the
opportunity to utilize our natural resources to become
self-sufficient. We will resist any attempt to prevent this from
occurring.
Ours is not the province it was two decades ago. Indeed, it is not
the province it was five years ago. Fiscally and economically, we
stand in a far more commanding position today than at any time in
the past twenty years. As a result of our collective efforts to
wrestle down the deficit, to ratchet up growth and to reach an
agreement that fulfilled the promise of the Atlantic Accord, we are
– for the first time in our history – poised to come off
equalization very soon. This is a stunning achievement that will
reinforce the bold new attitude of self-confidence that has taken
hold among Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.
For fifty-nine years, Newfoundland and Labrador has contributed
enormously to the success of Canada. We have contributed resources
of immeasurable value and, of even greater significance, we have
contributed countless people – talented, tough and tenacious – whose
energy and ingenuity have been powerfully instrumental in building
the economies of our sister provinces and territories across Canada.
As we move off equalization, it is time for us to benefit in
a different way. The time has come for Newfoundland and Labrador to
become a net importer of people. The time has come to reverse the
trend of natural resource giveaways. The time has come for
Newfoundland and Labrador to become a major centre of economic
activity driving not only the Atlantic region but also the economy
of Canada. It is time for people to take notice, because
Newfoundland and Labrador is ready to lead the country.
Success in the twenty-first century is not merely about racking up
high economic growth statistics. Success is about people.
Success is about ensuring Newfoundland and Labrador communities
remain places where people can put down roots and raise their
families in an environment of social and economic security. This is
self-reliance at its most fundamental.
Under the leadership of My First Minister beginning in 2003, My
Government and the people of our province joined forces in a
concentrated effort to enable all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians
to share in the bright future they desire and deserve. My Government
invested in socially progressive initiatives, including the
largest personal income tax cuts in our province’s history, a
poverty reduction strategy that national anti-poverty leaders herald
as a model for the country, increased funding for new diagnostic and
other medical equipment, insulin pumps for our children, new
prescription drugs for those who need them, new long-term care
homes, record spending on education, free textbooks for our students
and the best post-secondary student aid package in the country. My
Government also bolstered our communities by investing in a
multi-billion-dollar strategy to improve infrastructure throughout
the province, and by developing our province’s first Northern
Strategic Plan for Labrador. Newfoundlanders and Labradorians are
better positioned now than ever before to take full advantage of the
fantastic opportunities at our doorstep.
With renewed pride, hope and self-assurance, we are ready to
continue the journey we have started together. Strong within
ourselves and strong within our country, we are standing tall and
striving boldly to bring Newfoundland and Labrador into its own. As
masters of our own destiny, with our eyes focused clearly on
the opportunities ahead, we will become stronger and more secure
than we have ever been before.
Strong Economy
with Strong Communities
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Mr. Speaker and Members of the House of Assembly: Among
Newfoundland and Labrador’s most promising sectors is the energy
sector. My Government in September released Newfoundland and
Labrador’s first comprehensive, long-term Energy Plan: a
strategy extending out to 2041 to prepare us for the expiration of
the Upper Churchill agreements; a strategy to position us as an
energy warehouse in eastern North America; a strategy to benefit
Newfoundlanders and Labradorians first, while at the same time
providing the right climate to promote development. The release of
the Energy Plan marked a new era of self-confidence and promise for
energy resource development in Newfoundland and Labrador. Our vast
energy resources – including oil, gas, hydro, wind and others – will
be developed in ways that bring sustainable economic development
opportunities to both Labrador and the island, while returning
valuable royalties, dividends and other revenues to the people of
Newfoundland and Labrador.
My Government is especially excited about successfully negotiating
equity stakes in the offshore development projects Hebron and
White Rose satellites, in addition to a “super” royalty and
industrial benefits. Those who said it could not be done have been
proven wrong. My Government rejected old, outdated ways of thinking
in favour of a bold, progressive, new approach. Securing equity
means having greater leverage to control our own destiny. We welcome
our new partners and look forward to many years of mutual success.
My Government will build on the other outstanding successes of 2007
in the coming year by advancing a broad array of energy
initiatives that will include:
-
finalizing framework
agreements with the Hebron project partners;
-
participating in the
development of the White Rose satellites under our new
agreement;
-
advancing the
Hibernia South project based upon successful reapplication;
-
progressing the
Lower Churchill project development plan toward project sanction
and first power;
-
advancing wind power
development;
-
completing an
offshore Natural Gas Royalty Regime that will provide a fair
return to industry and the people of this province;
-
working with the
proponents to advance the proposed new refinery near Come By
Chance and the liquefied natural gas transshipment facility; and
-
promoting increased
offshore and onshore exploration and development on the west,
south and east coasts and off the coast of Labrador.
Energy is not the only
sector offering great promise. The province’s mining sector
achieved a record level of exploration expenditure of $138 million
in 2007. The industry will continue to strengthen in 2008 with
exploration, expansion at the Iron Ore Company of Canada operation
in Labrador West, preparation for the construction of a nickel
processing operation in 2009, and the opening of new mines at Beaver
Brook and Pine Cove, all of which will create hundreds of
high-paying jobs in rural communities. As production at Voisey’s Bay
continues, we look forward to future development of the underground
mineral reserves.
We also have great expectations for our fisheries – the
backbone of many rural communities – which will benefit from the
province’s initiatives under the Fishing Industry Renewal Strategy.
These include processing policy renewal, increased R&D, improved
occupational health and safety, an enhanced harvesting sector loan
guarantee program and strengthened workforce adjustment measures. We
are also working with industry on innovative programs such as
implementation of fish auctions and an enhanced seafood marketing
structure.
My Government is disappointed that the current Federal Government
has not yet acted on its promise to impose custodial management
on the Nose and Tail of the Grand Banks and the Flemish Cap, and
will continue to press the Federal Government to honour their
promise. Reform of the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO)
is no substitute for custodial management, in terms of either timing
or efficacy.
My Government is reaffirming its commitment that the province would
participate in a cost-shared, federal-provincial early retirement
/ licence buyback program.
The fishing industry last year achieved a production value exceeding
one billion dollars. My Government affirms that the fishing
industry, which anchored our proud past, will always be vitally
important to rural Newfoundland and Labrador as we work to build
a strong, sustainable future. Both in the near term and for
generations to come, the fisheries will continue to be a major
employer, a major economic generator and a major source of pride
throughout Newfoundland and Labrador.
The aquaculture industry has benefited since 2005 from a
progressive suite of initiatives – including working capital
investments in 2005, a capital equity program in 2006, and an
aquaculture health facility and wastewater treatment program in 2007
– that have broken through the barriers that had precluded the
commercial development of aquaculture for many years. Production of
salmonids, which was less than 5,000 tonnes worth about $15 million
in 2007, is projected to reach 15,000 tonnes worth some $80 million
in 2009. Success in aquaculture has brought an exciting new sense of
optimism and a brighter outlook to our south and northeast coasts.
Our forestry sector, which has weathered particularly tough
challenges, will benefit from the implementation of the
provincially-funded and independently-produced forest sector
strategy report. Initiatives advanced under this strategy will
reflect My Government’s appreciation of the immense value of our
forest industry and a strong conviction that this industry does
indeed have a sustainable future in Newfoundland and Labrador over
the long term.
Newfoundland and Labrador’s economy will also benefit from My
Government’s steadfast commitment to continue investing in the kinds
of infrastructure and services that embolden investors and
stimulate growth. My Government has already announced an investment
this year of $182 million in road improvements, the largest such
funding in the province’s history. This will include a record $73
million for the Provincial Roads Improvement Program, an amount 10
per cent higher than last year’s figure, which set a record of its
own. Funding this year will also significantly improve the national
highway system in Newfoundland and Labrador. My Government will work
with Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador to review fiscal
policies, to develop an infrastructure investment strategy that
targets resources in line with the needs and capabilities of our
municipalities, and to develop regional approaches to service
delivery that will lead to stronger communities with stronger
economies.
Strong
Labrador
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Mr. Speaker and Members of the House of Assembly: With the
release of the Northern Strategic Plan for Labrador, My
Government demonstrated an unfailing commitment to Labradorians and
an unwavering determination to ensure the Big Land enjoys
opportunities that are unprecedented in its long, proud history. My
Government’s commitment to Labradorians will not fail, nor will its
determination to advance the well-being of Labradorians waver
throughout the implementation of the Energy Plan or any other
venture. The Northern Strategic Plan is a living document with clear
goals and focused priorities for Labrador. My Government recognizes
that Labrador will play a significant role in the overall future of
the province and looks forward to working with Labradorians to
implement the Northern Strategic Plan. Investments in Labrador under
the plan include completion of the Trans-Labrador Highway and other
infrastructure improvements along with important advances in health
care, education, natural resource management, tourism, culture and
social services.
There are now two Ministers representing Labrador in the provincial
Cabinet, including – for the first time in our province’s history –
an Aboriginal woman who is serving as the Minister of Aboriginal
Affairs. This Minister, who formerly served as a member of the
Nunatsiavut transitional government, will be instrumental in working
with Aboriginal leaders and communities in advancing the status of
Aboriginal people and Aboriginal women’s issues in Newfoundland and
Labrador. Having welcomed the inauguration of the Nunatsiavut
Government, My Government will continue to implement the Labrador
Inuit Land Claims Agreement, particularly the provisions respecting
devolution of programs and services and self-government. My
Government will also work constructively with the Innu Nation toward
the achievement of a Comprehensive Land Claims Agreement, and will
also work cooperatively to advance the well-being of the Metis
people of Labrador and the Mi’kmaq people of the island.
Strong
Governance top
Mr. Speaker and Members of the House of Assembly: My
Government moved early and effectively to shine the spotlight of
accountability on the operations of the Government and of the House
of Assembly. My Government commissioned Chief Justice Derek Green to
recommend an overhaul of management procedures at the House of
Assembly and subsequently enacted legislation reflecting his
recommendations. Among his recommendations was a call for
‘whistleblower’ legislation establishing procedures for the
disclosure of wrongdoings and for protecting public servants who
disclose wrongdoings.
My Government will introduce whistleblower legislation this year
after appropriate consultation has taken place.
Strong People
Mr. Speaker and Members of the House of Assembly: My
Government will build on important initiatives set in motion during
the first term, including the Poverty Reduction Strategy, the
Provincial Healthy Aging Policy Framework, the Immigration Strategy,
the Violence Prevention Initiative and initiatives to advance the
status of women; and will also take new initiatives to advance the
well-being of our people. With a new Minister Responsible for the
Volunteer and Non-profit Sector, My Government will draw on the
talents, energy and compassion of thousands of volunteers and
hundreds of community-based organizations across our province who
are working to make Newfoundland and Labrador a better place to
live.
With a new Minister Responsible for Persons with Disabilities and a
new Division of Disabilities, My Government will make great
strides in enhancing the inclusion of persons with disabilities in
all aspects of our society. In consultation with persons with
disabilities, My Government will commission a study of the barriers
they encounter – including barriers to public services, education
and employment – and develop recommendations and strategies to
address them effectively so persons with disabilities can take full
advantage of the opportunities that lie ahead in this province.
My Government’s groundbreaking Poverty Reduction Strategy has
been praised by advocates across Canada as the model others should
adopt, but our work has only just begun. My Government is committed
to maintaining an open dialogue with families and community partners
to ensure we are making the right investments and making a real
difference. My Government remains committed to helping people make
the transition from income support to the work force.
Promoting growth means implementing policies that are friendly to
families. The family is the foundation of our communities and our
province. We must continue to build our reputation as a place where
people can raise their families in a positive, nurturing
environment. My Government will proceed this year with initiatives
to provide support for growing families to make it a little
easier for them to make ends meet as they put down roots in our
communities.
My Government is particularly determined to advance the status of
women in our province and will do so by promoting apprenticeship
and employment opportunities for women in nontraditional sectors, by
encouraging their participation in influential roles in the
community, and by addressing the special challenges that so many
women face, which sadly in too many instances include violence and
poverty.
Strong on
Crime
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Mr. Speaker and Members of the House of Assembly: To ensure
the security of our people, My Government will build on the strong
investments of the past four years in crime-fighting and violence
prevention. No one should live in fear – not a child, not a
senior, not a woman, not a victim of crime and not a community. My
Government will introduce further steps to prevent criminals from
benefiting from their crimes by seizing the proceeds of crime and
directing the value of these seizures directly back into provincial
law enforcement and crime prevention. My Government will also
modernize the province’s Human Rights Code, which has not had a
major revision for two decades. Specific initiatives to battle crime
and protect people will be announced in the forthcoming Budget.
Strong
Culture top
Mr. Speaker and Members of the House of Assembly: Our
province’s unique culture has been shaped by our economy, our
environment and people of many ancestries. My Government this year
will build on the work of the Strategic Cultural Plan and
proceed with a new Intangible Cultural Heritage Strategy to help
preserve, strengthen and celebrate our distinctive and intangible
cultural heritage, including languages, traditional knowledge and
skills, customs, and music. We will be welcoming others to share our
culture here at home as we prepare to host the North Atlantic Fiddle
Convention and, in Corner Brook a year from now, the East Coast
Music Awards. We will also be preparing to welcome visitors here for
events of international significance in the next two years: in 2009,
the 100th anniversary of the historic voyage to the North Pole of
Captain Bob Bartlett of Brigus, and in 2010, the 400th anniversary
of the founding of Cupids.
My Government’s unprecedented investments in tourism
marketing are paying off. In November 2007, Newfoundland and
Labrador’s tourism marketing campaign won the Tourism Industry
Association of Canada’s Marketing Campaign of the Year Award. In
December, Newfoundland and Labrador was named a top 30 travel
destination for 2008 by Lonely Planet Publications, one of the
world’s most respected travel guidebook publishers. In February, the
highly-respected Fodor’s travel institution highlighted Newfoundland
and Labrador in a guide entitled “Where We’re Going in 2008: Seven
Places Americans Have Yet to Discover”. This national and
international recognition is a clear indication that Newfoundland
and Labrador is no longer the world’s best-kept secret. My
Government is working with the tourism industry in the development
of a new tourism vision and plan to ensure we continue to develop
our tourism products and experiences. We will continue to creatively
market the province and build on our successes in ways that will
attract more and more visitors and the opportunities they bring to
our communities.
Strong on the Environment
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Mr. Speaker and Members of the House of Assembly: Public
concerns about climate change, both globally and locally, have
fostered a groundswell of interest in finding better ways to live
more sustainably. My Government in 2005 developed a Climate
Change Action Plan which, together with the Energy Plan, plotted
a path forward to energy efficiency, waste reduction and sustainable
living. This year, My Government will further update the action plan
and include new initiatives to prepare the province for the impacts
of climate change. Specific initiatives will be laid out in this
year’s Budget and in the months that follow.
The native woodland caribou on the island is an important
historical and cultural symbol for this province, and an important
resource for resident hunters and the outfitting industry. It is the
only woodland caribou population in North America that is not listed
as threatened or endangered. Still, caribou populations on the
island have been in decline since they peaked in the mid to late
nineties. My Government will strengthen its caribou strategy this
year with an intensive five-year research and action program to
better understand caribou population needs and threats, and will
identify, test, and implement wildlife management practices that can
help ensure the long-term integrity of the herds.
Strong
Health Care
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Mr. Speaker and Members of the House of Assembly: Among the
most important priorities in health care delivery are
facilities, equipment and – most importantly – health care
professionals. My Government remains strongly committed to
recruiting and retaining doctors, nurses and other professionals who
deliver the vital health care services our people need. My
Government will announce initiatives respecting all of these key
priorities in conjunction with this year’s Budget. Among these
initiatives will be an increase in funding to address the most
critical maintenance and repair issues at health care facilities.
My Government has made significant investments in new health
infrastructure and capital repairs and maintenance in health
facilities throughout Newfoundland and Labrador over the last four
years, totaling $128 million. Our health care system has been
strengthened with the completion of satellite renal dialysis sites
in Burin, St. Anthony and Happy Valley-Goose Bay and the opening of
two new cancer clinics in Central Newfoundland. In the months ahead,
we will continue to see the results of this investment, including
the openings of the new long-term care home in Clarenville and the
new Humberwood Addictions Treatment Centre in Corner Brook. This
year will also see the new primary health clinic and re-development
of the Blue Crest Inter Faith Nursing Home in Grand Bank completed.
As well, we are committed to making further investments in health
infrastructure such as the new health centre for Labrador West and
the completion of the long-term care home in Corner Brook. Our
health care system has been further strengthened by an injection of
$76 million over the last four years in capital equipment, which
included such major investments as the addition of five new CT
scanners throughout the province, an MRI machine in Corner Brook, a
third MRI for the Janeway Children’s Hospital, and funding for two
new radiation bunkers and radiation treatment machines for the Dr.
H. Bliss Murphy Cancer Centre. My Government is building on a record
of unprecedented health care investments that are working to enhance
the health and well-being of all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.
My Government this year will implement Phase II of the Provincial
Wellness Plan, focusing particularly on the promotion of mental
health, child and youth development, environmental health and health
protection. These objectives will complement the Phase I initiatives
that focused on healthy eating, physical activity, tobacco control
and injury prevention.
My Government broke new ground last year in releasing and commencing
to implement the province’s Healthy Aging Plan, and will
proceed this year to implement year two of the plan with further
initiatives to promote the well-being of seniors.
Consistent with the Healthy Aging Policy Framework, My Government
will advance a Long-Term Care and Community Supports Strategy,
building on a range of initiatives already underway. In particular,
My Government will advance plans to redevelop and modernize the
province’s long-term care homes, to improve home care services, to
implement equitable financial assessment processes and to redevelop
standards for long-term care homes, personal care homes and home
support services.
Strong Minds
top
Mr. Speaker and Members of the House of Assembly: Nothing
gives us more optimism for a bright future than the confidence, hope
and pride we see in the faces of our students. Some are
children whose paths we determine. Others are older students who are
charting their own course to a successful career. In all cases, we
must be supportive, innovative and always striving for excellence.
At the K-12 level, My Government will build on initiatives of
the past four years to advance the quality of education our students
receive and respond to needs that will make the system better able
to position these students to seize the opportunities before them,
right here at home in Newfoundland and Labrador. Strengthening our
education system means investing strategically in programs and in
education professionals. My Government has received and evaluated
the recommendations of the Teacher Allocation Commission and will
announce its plans in the days ahead.
Since 2004, My Government has allocated $111 million for new school
construction, maintenance and repair projects. Funding has
been allocated for the construction of 11 new schools as well as
renovations and extensions to many existing buildings. There were
200 roofing, siding, window and exterior maintenance projects
completed or underway at a cost of approximately $25 million. In
addition, over $2.4 million has been approved for 25 fire and life
safety projects, such as fire protection systems, fire rated
corridors and electrical upgrades. Approximately $2.6 million has
been approved for 87 air quality projects such as air quality and
hazardous material testing, remediation, carpet removal and
ventilation. More than $24 million has been invested in projects
involving the repair or replacement of roofing, siding, windows and
brickwork since 2004 and other miscellaneous projects. Between
2005-06 and 2007-08, the budget for school construction almost
doubled from approximately $25 million to approximately $49 million.
Additional work will be announced in conjunction with this year’s
Budget.
At the post-secondary level, My Government in Budget 2007 announced
significant enhancements to the student aid program.
Newfoundland and Labrador led the country in reducing provincial
student loan interest rates to prime, a 2.5 per cent reduction, and
now provides up to 50 per cent of provincial student assistance as
an up-front grant. Both of these advances reflect the priorities My
Government heard from our post-secondary students themselves.
My Government will continue to support the efforts of the province’s
post-secondary students and its institutions through the
implementation of its White Paper on Public Post-secondary
Education. The tuition freeze at Memorial University and
College of the North Atlantic will continue for a further four
years. Making post-secondary education affordable and accessible,
and ensuring research and development are supported within these
institutions, continue to be key priorities of My Government.
Initiatives to address financial accessibility and student debt not
only help the students themselves. They also help our province to
educate and retain the skilled professionals we will need as new
economic development projects commence and opportunities expand. My
Government established a Skills Task Force during its first
term and commenced an action plan to deliver on the recommendations.
My Government will continue to take measures to ensure that our
people are well prepared to take advantage of the many opportunities
that lie ahead.
My Government is determined to position Newfoundland and Labrador as
a leader in innovation and will establish this year, as a new Crown
entity, the Newfoundland and Labrador Research and Development
Council, a groundbreaking initiative to develop and lead a
provincial R&D strategy to build a stronger knowledge-based economy
and plot a course toward sustained prosperity. My Government will
also implement year three of its Innovation Strategy and launch the
Ocean Technology Strategy which, together with the Polaris program
and the Northwest Atlantic Ocean Observing System initiative, will
position Newfoundland and Labrador as an international leader in
ocean technology development.
The
Future is Ours
top
Mr. Speaker and Members of the House of Assembly: We are
today at a critical point in our history as we prepare to make the
long-anticipated transition from a ‘have-not’ jurisdiction to a
‘have’ province. Our day is now beginning to dawn. And with this
dawning comes the confirmation that the course My Government chose
four years ago is the right one. The principle of no more giveaways
is the right one. The principle of making our own way and taking
control of our resources is the right one. The principle of
demanding accountability for federal commitments is the right one.
We are ready to be fiscally self-sufficient, to be economically
sustainable, to be socially secure and to be counted in Canada as
strong contributors to the federation.
The bright new realities awaiting Newfoundland and Labrador demand
the new way of thinking that My Government has boldly embraced. No
longer can we afford to listen to those who try to impose on us
their own outdated way of thinking. The time has come for us to
chart our own course, to determine our own destiny, to think outside
the box that others have tried to confine us within. New realities
require new approaches. As the world continues to change, we must
continue to adjust our game plan to ensure the approach we take is
working. When there are successes, we must learn from them. When
there are setbacks, we must learn from them as well. We must be
prepared to try innovative approaches to ensure we remain relevant,
on the leading edge of change, riding the global wave that will
carry us forward from the subservience we have suffered for too long
to the brand new future of self-reliance and sustainability that is
beginning to dawn.
The support and confidence of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians that
has sustained My Government these past four years is the foundation
for the successes we will achieve in the years to come. The work
that remains to be done will be achieved with the continuing
confidence and cooperation of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. It
is only by continuing to work together that we will remain masters
of the destiny we share.
Together, we will ensure our future is stronger than our past.
Together, we will show the world we are a powerhouse of
opportunities with the courage, competence, commitment
and conviction to convert those opportunities into sustainability
prosperity for the benefit of all. The promise is within reach. The
future is ours. Proud, strong and determined, we will achieve our
great promise by standing tall together, united as one, Newfoundland
and Labrador.
Mr. Speaker and Members of the House of Assembly: Estimates of
expenditure will be laid before you in due course and you will be
asked to grant supply to Her Majesty.
I invoke God’s blessing upon you as you commence this new Session.
May Divine Providence guide you in your deliberation.
1
Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy
2 The research team also included Jörg-Detlef Drenckhahn,
Christine Kupprion, Kalina Ramadanova, Ludwig Thierfelder, William
McKenna and Anne Bassett.
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