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Mr. Speaker and Members of the House of Assembly: Newfoundland and
Labrador has come a very long way since My Government was first
elected to office in 2003. Beginning on day one, in a
determined effort to weather the immediate financial crisis and
chart a responsible course toward long-term self-reliance, My
Government demonstrated real leadership by taking decisive action.
Since then, it has taken a responsible approach to spending.
It has streamlined programs to make the most of every public dollar.
It has cut red tape and business taxes to get employers growing and
hiring. It has given generous raises to public sector workers
and tax breaks to everyone in the province. It has cut income
taxes and increased benefits for seniors and families. It has
led the country in measures to reduce poverty and enhancements to
student aid. It has invested unprecedented amounts in
infrastructure, making dramatic improvements in roads and highways,
wharves and bridges, ferries and terminals, schools and hospitals,
long-term care centres, public housing and municipal infrastructure.
And most of these investments – in fact, an overwhelming 80 per cent
– have been in rural Newfoundland and Labrador. My Government
has invested in industries and enterprises offering brighter futures
to thousands: agriculture and aquaculture, fisheries and forestry,
mining and energy, manufacturing and innovation, tourism and
culture. It has renegotiated the Atlantic Accord for a gain of
two billion dollars. It has negotiated higher royalties from
offshore oil and equity stakes in offshore projects worth tens of
billions of dollars and unlike anything the province has achieved
before. It has secured the underfunded pension plans, turned
around the fiscal decline and achieved impressive and important
upgrades of the province’s credit rating. As a result of
strong leadership and a clear vision, young and old together are
celebrating the achievement of “have” status for the first time
since Confederation, and we are seeing the tide turn on years of
decline as our population continues to grow. All this and more
My Government has done through the strong and steadfast leadership
of My Premier and his team, and through the unwavering cooperation
of the people of Newfoundland and Labrador. This record of
achievement is fueling the fires of optimism and hope that are
burning brightly throughout Newfoundland and Labrador today, and
this is something of which all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians
should be proud. No province has weathered the global
recession with greater confidence and strength than ours.
While retail sales across the country dropped by 3.0 per cent last
year, in Newfoundland and Labrador sales rose by 2.6 per cent; and
across the province last year, despite the global recession, labour
income grew by 4.2 per cent. No province is better prepared to
seize the opportunities ahead than Newfoundland and Labrador.
How far we have come in so short a time. With My Government at
the helm, our province is moving forward with incredible momentum
and unshakable optimism into a new era of self-reliance full of the
kinds of opportunities for which generations of our people have long
strived.
Caring For Our Children
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Mr. Speaker and Members of the House of Assembly: There is no gift
more precious than a child, and no duty more important than
advancing the best interests of our children through the choices we
make. My Government since 2003 has been focused on creating a
family-friendly environment where people can establish a lifelong
foothold; where families can thrive; where children can chase their
dreams, seize golden opportunities and realize their greatest
potential. There is no greater legacy My Government is
building for our province’s children than the renewed sense of pride
and confidence that they, as Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, are
feeling as we become masters of our own destiny. In classrooms
and homes across our province, a new attitude is taking hold, full
of hope in the dream of a wonderful future for young people right
here at home. This year’s plan of action builds with
confidence on the extraordinary progress Newfoundland and Labrador
has achieved since 2003. My Government is committed to
ensuring our children remain our number one priority.
Last year, My Government announced the creation of a new department
of Child, Youth and Family Services and made the protection and
well-being of our children and youth its top priority. The new
department will be better organized to support the frontline workers
who protect our most vulnerable children, and the system will be
more accountable. Under the department’s direct management,
the monitoring and auditing of programs will be stronger and
children will be better served. The new department will
revitalize our child protection system from the ground up and get
back to the basics of solid case management and service delivery.
The foundation for this change will be a new Child, Youth and Family
Services Act to guide future policies and program development.
The department will develop and deploy innovative solutions to
address the shortage of foster homes with the long-term goal of
creating a full continuum of appropriate placement options for
at-risk children and youth. Already, My Government has
strengthened the front line of child protection services by adding
223 positions since 2006 including 90 social worker positions and a
range of other positions to support frontline work.
The new department will be proceeding with the development of a
10-year Early Learning and Child Care Strategy. This will be
coordinated with the Department of Education as it begins
consultations this year with parents and others on a draft Early
Childhood Learning framework.
My Government in its first Speech from the Throne lamented that
“Newfoundland and Labrador’s level of child poverty is the highest
in the country”, and committed “to facilitate a progressive
reduction in Newfoundland and Labrador’s rate of poverty until we
achieve the lowest rate of poverty in the country”. Six years
later, My Government’s first Progress Report on its Poverty
Reduction Strategy demonstrates that Newfoundland and Labrador has
made significant strides in that direction. Our province has
moved from having one of the highest poverty rates in the country to
the third lowest. We are well along in the journey to become
the province with the lowest poverty rates in the country.
National antipoverty leaders have applauded My Government’s
leadership in fighting poverty and have described our Poverty
Reduction Strategy as a model for the entire country. My
Government will move forward this year to release and consult with
Newfoundlanders and Labradorians on its second Poverty Reduction
Strategy Action Plan, partnering with communities and families to
create opportunities to share in our province’s prosperity.
Many women in our province are particularly vulnerable because of
the violence they suffer. My Government has helped to change
attitudes through its “Respect Women” campaign and will continue to
work to make violence against women as unacceptable as any other
violent crime. My Government will also continue to support
shelters where women and children can escape violence in their
homes.
Discrimination is another wrong from which individuals young and old
should be protected. The Human Rights Code is one of the most
important Acts of our Legislature, affording protection from
discrimination by governments and the private sector. This
year, My Government will bring forward a strengthened Human Rights
Code to reflect the recommendations and values of Newfoundlanders
and Labradorians.
Strengthening the Local Economy
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Mr. Speaker and Members of the House of Assembly: Newfoundlanders
and Labradorians young and old are united in their determination to
see our province grow to achieve its full potential as a place of
prosperity, self-reliance and opportunity for all. When the
global financial crisis hit a year ago, My Government responded
swiftly and powerfully with an unprecedented program of stimulus
measures in a concerted effort to keep our people working, to keep
our businesses growing and to keep our economy moving forward with
confidence and strength. Weeks before last year’s budget was
brought down, My Premier announced an unparalleled increase in
infrastructure spending to $800 million in the 2009-10 fiscal year
and a plan to grow infrastructure spending to more than $4 billion
over the next several years. As My Government rolled out one
project after another under this aggressive Infrastructure Strategy,
public confidence surged, employers across the province rolled up
their sleeves to ready tenders and, in short order, workers across
the province had their shovels in the ground. By year’s end,
we had let tenders for $1.3 billion worth of projects. Not
only has this massive stimulus program fueled economic activity
throughout our province, but it has also prepared our communities to
take the lead in seizing growth opportunities as the world rebounds
from the downturn. This is not a time to slow down but a time
to move forward. My Government will continue to fuel the fires
of economic stimulus in the year ahead with its unprecedented
infrastructure spending program. This approach is the right
approach, not only for the short term but for our long-term future.
Through steadfast cooperation linking communities and workers,
businesses and unions and the provincial government, central
Newfoundland is weathering the closure of the century-old paper mill
at Grand Falls-Windsor and its associated operations. My
Government’s response has been swift, comprehensive and effective.
In December of 2008, My First Minister stated clearly that we cannot
as a Government allow a company that no longer operates in this
province to reap the benefit of our resources. We will not
give away our land, timber, and water resources to a company that
does not continue to honour its historic commitments on industrial
development related to our timber resources. Through the
passage of Bill 75 on December 16, 2008,
My Government revoked land, timber, and water rights from Abitibi
and returned these natural resources to their rightful owners, the
people of Newfoundland and Labrador. Severance pay, training
assistance, employment programs and economic diversification
initiatives have demonstrated My Government’s unwavering
determination to ensure the central region moves forward – just as
the Stephenville region is doing – to a new era of growth and
prosperity firmly established on an array of enterprises across many
sectors. The task will take time, but through the continuing
partnership uniting people throughout the central region, we will
emerge stronger and more resilient than ever.
In Corner Brook, My Government is working cooperatively with all
stakeholders to ensure the pulp and paper mill has a bright and
prosperous future. The city of Corner Brook and the
surrounding region will always be one of our province’s powerhouses
of economic activity and a proud leader in each of the many sectors
in which the local economy is diversified.
From our larger regions to our smaller rural communities, My
Government is focused on pursuing every promising opportunity for
new growth and jobs. Through the Rural Secretariat, My
Government will continue to work closely with citizens and
stakeholder groups to develop new approaches to regional
collaborative governance.
Rural communities have thrived over the centuries under the
leadership of strong individuals backed by tireless volunteers.
Understanding the value of municipal service, My Minister led a
successful “MakeYourMarkNL” campaign which, last year, increased the
number of candidates seeking municipal office. My Government
is proud of those who have stepped up to serve on their municipal
councils, and is ready to work with them and Municipalities
Newfoundland and Labrador to strengthen local government and improve
local infrastructure and services, including access to clean
drinking water.
On ball fields, in fire departments, in our hospitals and in many
other ways, tens of thousands of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians
contribute to their communities and province each year as
volunteers, and we applaud them. In April, My Government will
present the inaugural U Rock Volunteer Award to individuals 30 and
under and to youth-run and youth-serving organizations that have
made a real difference in our province.
Widening Access
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Mr. Speaker and Members of the House of Assembly: As a result of My
Government’s unprecedented investments, the people of Labrador this
year celebrated the historic completion of Phase III of the
Trans-Labrador Highway at long last linking Southern Labrador to
Labrador West. It is eager to continue work to improve and
maintain the quality of this artery in the years to come. My
Government was also excited to announce the establishment of a
winter ferry link across the Strait of Belle Isle, connecting
Southern Labrador to the Island during the months of ice. My
Government will continue to work with the Federal Government to
ensure it does an effective job of meeting its constitutional
obligation to provide appropriate, reliable ferry services between
the Island and the Maritimes at reasonable, highway-equivalent costs
to all users.
My Government has invested significantly in transportation
infrastructure and services within the province, including roads,
highways and provincial ferry services. No less vital to our
economic strength than land- and sea-based transportation services
is air access. My Government will take the lead in
implementing a new five-year strategy to improve air services in all
regions of the province.
My Government will continue to take full advantage of opportunities
to streamline operations and improve services through electronic
service delivery. The province will continue to support BizPaL,
an online Business Regulatory Information Service launched in 2009.
Other such electronic service delivery projects in the pipeline
include an online deeds registration project, which will allow
authorized users to securely enter deeds registrations online;
online access to applications for birth, marriage and death
certificates and electrical permits; and student loan payments.
Raising Our Level of
Expertise
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Mr. Speaker and Members of the House of Assembly: With a bold new
attitude of confidence in our ability to capitalize on opportunities
and take control of our future, My Government is determined to
advance the province’s expertise in the discipline of capital
investment management. To this end, it has invested resources
to research the investment of large pools of capital, such as
pension funds. My Government is exploring options that will
support the development of professional investment expertise in
areas such as portfolio management. This research and
evaluation will lead to the development of a framework that will
guide our province in building the level of investment capacity
required to manage our own wealth over the next seven years.
The ocean technology sector in this province is poised to become a
billion-dollar industry by 2015 with more than 6,000 employees,
opening doors to careers in offshore energy, life sciences,
environmental technologies, aerospace and defence. My
Government is taking the lead in working with local stakeholders and
international partners to nurture knowledge-based capacity and
capture business development opportunities that capitalize on our
coastal location and expertise.
Catalyzing research and development in Newfoundland and Labrador is
the primary objective of our province’s new Research and Development
Corporation, launched by My Government in May 2009 to strengthen the
focus, quantity, quality and relevance of R&D undertaken for the
long-term economic benefit of the province. Increased R&D
activities will play a major role in driving innovation, creating
wealth and increasing economic growth in Newfoundland and Labrador
for future generations. R&D is a critical component of a
healthy and robust economy, and already, the RDC has launched two
new programs to deliver against its mandate.
Research and development has its genesis in a strong and vibrant
education system. It is often in the classroom that our
province’s children learn to explore their diverse gifts and reach
their greatest potential. My Government has demonstrated year
after year that children are its number one priority by its
record-breaking investments in education. This year, My
Government will continue to build on these investments through
important initiatives such as the Excellence in Mathematics strategy
for our K-12 students; the Futures in Skilled Trades and Technology
Program for high school students; the ISSP/Pathways recommendations
for our students who require extra support; and the new Teacher
Allocation Model extending class-size maximums to the remaining two
K-9 grades, namely 6 and 9.
At the post-secondary level, My Government is proud of the
significant investments it has made to enhance the student aid
program and ease the burden of debt for graduates.
Newfoundland and Labrador is leading the country in student aid
reform and improvements to post-secondary accessibility, and our
province will be stronger in the years to come because of these
investments in students. My Government this year will follow
through on its commitment to increase autonomy for Memorial
University Corner Brook’s Sir Wilfred Grenfell Campus. In
November, we were delighted to give a warm Newfoundland and Labrador
welcome to Memorial’s new president, Dr. Gary Kachanoski, and we
would like to echo that welcome here today.
Three years ago, My Government released the report of the Skills
Task Force it commissioned to prepare for labour force needs and
opportunities associated with large-scale development projects on
the horizon. Having acted early, it is more prepared than ever
to ensure our province and people capture the opportunities these
projects provide. This year, My Government will take further
action to implement improvements for apprentices. To advance
the participation of women in nontraditional trades, My Government
will continue to work with industry partners to develop and support
implementation of effective women’s employment and business access
strategies for large-scale resource development projects. My
Government will also continue to support apprenticeship initiatives
to strengthen women’s access to training and employment in the
growing sectors of our economy.
Our province’s goal of sustainable self-reliance means attracting
and enabling young people to put down deep roots in our communities.
My Government is demonstrating that children and youth are its
number one priority by partnering with young Newfoundlanders and
Labradorians to make ours the province of choice for youth. It
recently launched its Youth Retention and Attraction Strategy and
designated a Minister Responsible for Youth Engagement to take the
lead in putting the strategy into action. It also began to use
new tools to promote labour market attachment, including our first
provincial job matching site at JobsinNL.ca and a new online human
resources toolkit for employers. For the first time,
Newfoundland and Labrador is in a position to shape and deliver over
$250 million in employment and training programs to link people to
opportunities for stable careers.
My Government is striving to make Newfoundland and Labrador a
province where people with disabilities will have access to the same
opportunities as others. Having created a Provincial Advisory
Council and a Disability Policy Office, My Government is now working
across all departments and agencies in collaboration with the wider
community to dissolve the barriers to inclusiveness. My
Government will listen attentively to these ideas and develop a new
provincial Strategy for the Inclusion of People with Disabilities.
To nurture healthy work environments and promote growth, My
Government has also been working to strengthen partnerships among
the public sector, the private sector and organized labour.
The Strategic Partnership Council has brought forward
recommendations for amendments to labour legislation to promote
stable, progressive workplace relations by making the framework that
governs them more modern and flexible.
Harvesting Bountiful Resources
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Mr. Speaker and Members of the House of Assembly: The
fisheries
sector remains among the most important sectors in our province.
My Government will work with stakeholders to make our fishing sector
more competitive, sustainable and self-reliant by continuing to
implement the initiatives of the Fishing Industry Renewal Strategy
of 2007. This long-term strategy was developed after a high
level of consultation with industry and involves a total financial
commitment by My Government of up to $140 million. The
strategy also identified inherent structural issues that My
Government has begun to address proactively in collaboration with
the Fish, Food and Allied Workers and the Association of Seafood
Producers, demonstrating the power of cooperation to progress this
critical industry. These are challenging times in world
markets, but My Government remains committed to a strong,
sustainable fishing industry, which is the backbone of so many rural
communities in Newfoundland and Labrador.
The province will continue to lead the development and
implementation of a provincial Coastal and Ocean Management Strategy
and Policy Framework to address issues such as climate change,
aquatic invasive species and the establishment of new Coastal
Management Areas.
The province will also harness the power of fisheries innovation
through its continuing work with the Fisheries Technology and New
Opportunities Program and the Canadian Centre for Fisheries
Innovation. The technology and opportunities program supports
research related to the harvesting and processing sectors that will
aid the provincial fishing industry as it strives to become more
innovative and competitive. The Canadian Centre for Fisheries
Innovation plays a significant role in supporting research and
development in the fisheries and aquaculture sectors, and it will
bring the expertise, creativity, and infrastructure of Memorial
University, in particular its Marine Institute, to the challenges
and opportunities in the fishing and aquaculture industries.
A sector that has experienced enormous growth in recent years and
become one of our most exciting industries is the aquaculture
industry. Aquaculture has changed the face of many communities
and offers great promise to others. Today, there are licensed
aquaculture sites from the Northern Peninsula to Placentia Bay, from
the Port au Port Peninsula to Notre Dame Bay, Bonavista Bay, Trinity
Bay and along the province’s south coast. While the positive
impact on the economy of the Connaigre Peninsula, in particular, has
been enormous, the south coast holds much more opportunity for
expanded salmon aquaculture. Innovation and financial
incentive programs have facilitated the rapid growth of the sector,
which has experienced a five-fold increase in production value since
2003. Operations in this province are farming such species as
steelhead trout, Atlantic salmon and blue mussels. My
Government is determined to pursue these opportunities aggressively
and responsibly through continuing investments in infrastructure and
a steadfast commitment to bio-security to ensure this new industry
is sustainable and that our reputation for quality is second to
none.
My Government will continue to work with the Federal Government on
cost-shared initiatives to support research and development in the
agricultural sector, new farmland development and advanced research
and surveillance of important animal diseases for the protection of
the agricultural industry and public health.
My Government understands the challenges and opportunities in the
forest sector. Our forestry companies must have the ability to
compete in a changing global environment to ensure the continued
sustainable development of our forest industry. We will continue to
work with the industry to enable these companies to improve their
businesses by diversifying the products that are developed from our
forests and identifying new markets for these products. My
Government continues to promote the use of wood pellets as a source
of home heating through our Residential Wood Pellet Rebate Program,
an action that is positive from both an industry and an
environmental perspective. Moving forward with recommendations
from the comprehensive marketing strategy for the province’s forest
industry, My Government will take the first step towards achieving
Environmental Management System certification that will open up
broader markets for our forest products in European countries.
By ensuring the competitiveness of our producers we will strengthen
the entire industry.
Harnessing Energy and Mineral Potential
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Mr. Speaker and Members of the House of Assembly: The
mines and
energy sectors continue to be major drivers of the provincial
economy. Combined, they represent the largest source of
revenues for the province.
The mineral sector will continue to grow this year as operations in
Labrador West return to pre-downturn levels and first concrete is
poured at the Vale Inco nickel processing plant under construction
at Long Harbour. The province’s first new iron ore mine in
almost fifty years, in western Labrador near Schefferville (Quebec),
has just been released from the environmental assessment process,
and a second is now being examined. The railway in Labrador
West connecting the Quebec-based Bloom Lake iron ore mine near
Labrador City and Wabush to the existing railway is nearing
completion. Once the railway line is fully operational, 100
per cent of the line’s employees will be Newfoundland and Labrador
residents and the railway will be headquartered in Wabush. To
advance this key sector, My Government will develop a Mineral
Strategy in consultation with stakeholders and the public, reviewing
all aspects of mineral policy with a view to maximizing activity and
optimizing wealth.
The oil and gas sector will also continue to grow this year as both
development and exploration work proceed. In February of this
year, My Government along with Nalcor Energy finalized an agreement
with its partners in the oil and gas industry for the development of
the Hibernia Southern Extension. This project will contribute
$13 billion in incremental revenues to the province over its life.
In the agreement, the province also furthered its Energy Plan
objectives by achieving an equity position, an enhanced royalty
regime and commitments to gender equity and diversity.
Several important exploration programs, both offshore and onshore,
will proceed in 2010 on the heels of successful exploration programs
in 2009 culminating with the Mizzen discovery in the Flemish Pass
Basin. In the Laurentian Basin, ConocoPhillips and co-venture
partner BHP Billiton commenced their first drilling in the
Newfoundland and Labrador offshore area. In the Orphan Basin,
Chevron and its other co-venture partners including ExxonMobil are
ready to act on the information they have gathered from their first
well and subsequent geoscience data with plans to spud a second deep
water well. In the Jeanne D’Arc Basin, north of the White Rose
field, Husky Energy is busy exploring in collaboration with Suncor
and Statoil. Nalcor has commenced exploratory drilling onshore
near Parsons Pond. In the Deer Lake and Bay St. George Basins
respectively, Deer Lake Oil and Gas and Vulcan Minerals/Investcan
are making their own plans. Seismic acquisition programs are
planned this year for the Labrador Shelf, the Sydney Basin and the
Laurentian Basin, making this a banner year.
In the electricity sector, My Government continues to advance
prospects to develop Lower Churchill power. The Environmental
Assessment process continues to proceed for both the generation and
transmission projects. Recently, the Public Utilities Board
established a water management agreement between Nalcor Energy and
Churchill Falls (Labrador) Corporation. This agreement sets
out the water sharing arrangements between the two companies and is
critical for the development of the Lower Churchill. This
agreement was made possible by amendments that My Government made to
the Electrical Power Control Act and legislation that granted Nalcor
Energy water rights to the Lower Churchill River. The province
has also made its case for transmission access through Quebec before
that province’s “Régie de l’énergie” and is awaiting a ruling.
My Government also continues to explore other options for
transmission and access to markets in eastern Canada and northeast
United States.
Also this year, the Churchill Falls (Labrador) Corporation is
proceeding with its motion in Québec Superior Court against
Hydro-Québec to address inequities in the 1969 Upper Churchill Power
Contract pricing. The current contract is grossly inequitable
for CF(L)Co and its shareholders for the next 32 years. As a
result of My Premier’s diligence in reviewing all aspects of this
decades-old inequity, My Government discovered a new, promising
legal option to address on a go-forward basis the gross inequity of
this contract. Having informed CF(L)Co, we are optimistic
about the potential for resolution. Legal advice indicates
that, in the particular context of the Power Contract between
CF(L)Co and Hydro-Québec, circumstances have changed in a way that
could not have been reasonably foreseen at the time the contract was
initiated. The consequence of these unforeseen circumstances,
coupled with the extraordinary length of the contract, has resulted
in a gross inequity in the distribution of contractual benefits
between Hydro-Québec and CF(L)Co. This unique situation
regarding the Power Contract, combined with the obligation under
Quebec Civil Law to act in good faith throughout the full term of a
contract, obliges Hydro-Québec, upon request, to reopen the contract
in order to re-establish the appropriate equilibrium.
Developing Labrador
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Mr. Speaker and Members of the House of Assembly: The Big Land of
Labrador continues to benefit from the implementation of the
Northern Strategic Plan and an array of related initiatives,
including many already highlighted. My Government is releasing
the midterm report on the Northern Strategic Plan to document
progress on the many commitments to Labrador’s people and
communities. Recent milestones include the opening of Phase
III of the Trans-Labrador Highway and the continued paving of Phase
I; the expansion of satellite telephone services on the highway; the
introduction of year-round marine service across the Strait of Belle
Isle; an agreement on the boundaries of the Mealy Mountain National
Park Reserve and an adjoining Eagle River Waterway Provincial Park;
continued implementation of the Inuit land claims agreement; the
award of a tender for the Labrador West Regional Healthcare
Facility; and the new tourism marketing ad themed “Ancient Land”, to
name just some of the progress benefiting Labradorians.
My Government is very excited about the initialing of the Tshash
Petapen (or New Dawn) Agreement with the Innu Nation in February of
2009. The Agreement marks a new beginning for the Innu of
Labrador and their relationship with the province. Subject to
ratification by the Innu people of Labrador, the agreement resolves
key issues relating to matters between the province and the Innu
Nation surrounding the Innu Land Claims Agreement, the Lower
Churchill Impacts and Benefits Agreement and Innu redress for the
Upper Churchill hydroelectric development.
My Government has been especially vigorous in promoting the
strategic importance of the province as a Northern Gateway. As
the only Atlantic province with a Northern region, Newfoundland and
Labrador is positioned to play a pivotal role helping develop new
economic growth and international trade opportunities; facilitating
oil and natural gas development activities; implementing
environmental protection initiatives; assisting with adapting to
climate change; and maintaining Canadian sovereignty, as well as a
host of other initiatives.
Protecting Our Environment
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Mr. Speaker and Members of the House of Assembly: Newfoundlanders
and Labradorians have an enduring love for their natural
environment. We envision a future in which self-reliance and
sustainability go hand-in-hand. By harvesting our natural
resources responsibly, we are safeguarding our province’s
environment for the benefit of generations to come. In
particular, we are determined to ensure that our nonrenewable
resources fuel a renewable future that endures long after the
nonrenewable resources are gone.
Through its Climate Change Action Plan, its Energy Plan and other
initiatives, My Government has demonstrated a strong commitment to
responsible environmental stewardship. The Newfoundland and
Labrador Green Fund provides financial aid for projects that reduce
greenhouse gas emissions. With a goal of further advancing
greenhouse gas reduction, promoting energy efficiency and adapting
to the impacts of climate change, My Government will release a
discussion document and undertake consultations to determine the
best approach going forward.
My Government will continue to collaborate with Environment Canada
during the upcoming review of the Canadian Environmental Assessment
Act to ensure there are provisions in the new federal Act to
facilitate enhanced cooperation with provinces in environmental
assessments.
Celebrating Our Heritage
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Mr. Speaker and Members of the House of Assembly: Uncommon
Potential, our joint government and industry tourism strategy for
Newfoundland and Labrador, and our substantial financial investments
in marketing the province have been wildly effective in celebrating
the heritage and beauty of Newfoundland and Labrador and drawing
tourists to our communities. The tourism industry contributed
almost $850 million to the provincial economy in 2008 and employs
approximately 13,000 people. The industry is especially
important in the rural communities that so many visitors are coming
here to experience.
Newfoundland and Labrador took full advantage in Vancouver and
Whistler of the opportunity to showcase our cultural strengths
before an international audience at the Olympic and Paralympic
Games. In April, we will celebrate our hospitality and love
for music when we host the JUNOS once again before a broadcast
audience on five continents potentially exceeding 250 million.
Other cultural showcases include the successful CBC Television
national series “Republic of Doyle”, which created over one hundred
full-time local jobs and generated wage totals approaching $10
million, and has just been picked up for a second season. Two
local films won considerable kudos far from home this year: “Grown
Up Movie Star”, which screened at the Sundance and Berlin
International Film Festivals; and “Crackie”, which screened at,
among other places, the Cannes Film Festival.
In 2010, we are drawing people to Cupids for the 400th anniversary
celebrations of the establishment of the first English colony in
what is now Canada. This year, My Government will establish a
new Provincial Historic Site in Cupids, the Cupids Cove Plantation
Archaeological Site. We look forward to major celebrations at
Cupids and spinoff celebrations near
and far as the year unfolds.
Advancing Health Care
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Mr. Speaker and Members of the House of Assembly: Over the last six
years, My Government has invested significantly to improve the
health care system in our province and to enhance health care
services in all regions. Indeed, our total budget for health
care has increased by $1.0 billion. Some key investments over
the past six years total $17.9 million for mental health and
addictions services, $112 million for health facilities repairs and
maintenance, $281 million to improve health infrastructure
throughout the province and $177.9 million for new health care
equipment. Recognizing that health care affects each and every
one of us individually, My Government will continue to ensure that
our investments are effective in improving the health care system
for all who use it. This means continuing to enhance health
care services in rural Newfoundland and Labrador and providing
services to residents close to home, as My Government has done with
new dialysis units and unprecedented infrastructure projects
throughout our province. Through the purchase of new medical
equipment, My Government will continue to improve access to services
by reducing wait times.
Cancer continues to touch every family in our province. Having
commissioned and learned important lessons from the Cameron Inquiry
on Hormone Receptor Testing, My Government will continue to ensure
that those suffering from cancer receive modern treatment options,
and continue to work to improve the quality of our laboratories and
services. By the end of this month, as mandated by
recommendation #60 of the Cameron Inquiry report, My Minister of
Health and Community Services will provide an update to the House of
Assembly and the people of the province on the status of
implementation of the recommendations contained in the report.
My Government is committed to responding to all of the issues and
recommendations made by Justice Cameron. My Government will
plan ahead to ensure the province is prepared to
deal with chronic disease while at the same time working to prevent
cancer from taking hold.
There are individuals in our province who suffer from the stigma
associated with a mental illness or an addiction. My
Government is determined to ensure that those suffering from mental
illnesses and addictions have effective treatment options available
to them. My Government has committed to build two new
treatment facilities, including a residential treatment centre for
youth with addictions in Grand Falls-Windsor and a residential
treatment centre for youth with complex mental health needs.
My Government knows that an investment in treatment must go
hand-in-hand with an investment in prevention. To this end, My
Government will continue to promote our province’s Wellness Strategy
in communities throughout our province. Through the Office for
Seniors and Aging, My Government will work to ensure our aging
population is a healthy population, and will plan ahead by
supporting the types of programs and services our seniors will need
into the future.
Well Wishes
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Mr. Speaker and Members of the House of Assembly: While we are on
the theme of wellness, I would like to express our collective best
wishes to the Premier, who is recovering marvelously from heart
surgery. He has an important job to do, and it is heartening
to see him return in such short order, rearing to go.
Embracing a Future of Self-reliance
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Mr. Speaker and Members of the House of Assembly: As My Premier has
said, the time has come in this province to be proud of what we have
achieved together. Standing tall in the face of adversity;
maintaining a united front; saying “no more giveaways”; knowing what
we are fighting for: these are the things that now define us as a
people. A “have-not” province no more, we are embracing our
newfound status in the Canadian federation: a status that has
brought us newfound respect; a status that is well-deserved; a
status that will define the next generation of
Newfoundlanders and Labradorians as we reach for new heights, strive
to accomplish more than ever before, and meet the true potential
that has always been here in this province. We are strong,
proud and determined, with confidence and self-assurance anchored
deep in the hearts and souls of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians at
home and away. Imagine poor little Newfoundland and Labrador
standing proud and tall and strong, as a force of change and
progress on the national stage, putting to shame the defeatists and
finally getting the respect we have always deserved. Our
future is bright with possibilities as we enter a new era of
self-determination and self-reliance. This is our time to
shine. Better than ever is only the beginning. For
Newfoundland and Labrador,
the best is yet to come!
* * * * *
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.