Friday, December 09, 2005

QUESTIONS PERIOD IN THE LEGISLATURE! < FRIDAY >

shawn_graham
bern1

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013 10:55
Forest Industry

Mr. S. Graham: On September 29, 2004, UPM-Kymmene announced the closure of its kraft mill
in the Miramichi. I was very concerned that night about how this decision would impact the lives
of many Miramichiers, and I took the opportunity to call the Premier personally and talk to him.
That night, the Premier and I discussed what opportunities for investment could occur in New
Brunswick, and I brought the Premier up to date on the fact that UPM-Kymmene, at that time, was
looking at a feasibility study to invest millions of dollars in its mill in Blandin, Minnesota. The
Premier was unaware of this. In all fairness, he cannot be on top of every file.
However, what I am concerned about this week is that, when the decision was made this week to
announce the three-month closure of UPM-Kymmene’s two operations in the Miramichi, on the
same day in Finland, it was announcing a major project where it would undertake an innovative new
machining process that combines both wood and plastic in a value-added process. My question to
the Premier is this: Why can we not work together to create that type of investment for value-added
opportunities here in New Brunswick?

Hon. Mr. Lord: We can work together—absolutely, we can. We have invited the opposition, on
many occasions, to work with us, but I have to say that when I hear the Leader of the Opposition say
what he is saying with the arrogance that he is saying it today, it is amazing. The Leader of the
Opposition wants to pretend that he is calling me and giving me advice and bring me up to date.
That arrogance is really remarkable.
I want to state unequivocally that we are prepared to work with the opposition. I want to note that
in the past couple of days, I have heard some members, including the member for Moncton North,
state that we need to bring in targeted tax relief. I remember that a few years ago, we brought in
targeted tax relief for large industries in this province, and the opposition refused to work with us
then. In fact, it voted against it. I want to state unequivocally in this House today that the
government is more than willing to work together with the opposition on this file and any other file.

Mr. S. Graham: I seem to have touched a nerve with the Premier this morning.
My second question for the Premier is this. We need to create an environment for investment for
value-added opportunities. Can you confirm this morning whether your government has evaluated
a project with a company in southern New Brunswick—actually, in St. Stephen—with Flakeboard,
to look at the creation of value-added furniture products with a potential partner, Ikea? It would
create hundreds of jobs in this region of the province, thus value-adding a low-end product such as
sawdust and shavings, which go into the medium-density fibreboard and particle board project. I see
the Minister of Finance shaking his head, so I am hoping that the Premier, this morning, can update
us on the status of that very important project.
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Hon. Mr. Lord: When the Leader of the Opposition says that he touches a nerve, I want to be very
clear. If he is going to relay conversations that he had with me, I am going to make sure that the
information is correct. That is the nerve. I will not let the opposition say things that are untrue and
let them go unchecked. The fact is that we are creating that environment in New Brunswick. That
is why, as our member stated this morning, there are close to 30 000 more jobs in New Brunswick
this year than there were in 1999. Wages are growing faster in New Brunswick than the Canadian
average. We are closing the economic gap between New Brunswick and Canada. That is what we
are doing by investing in people and by creating the environment with lower taxes. I remember last
year, when the Minister of Finance tabled the budget with tax reductions for businesses, the
opposition called it a gimmick.
014 11:00

Mr. S. Graham: I hear the Premier’s voice rising, but he has not answered the question that was
asked. There was a very important project proposed to this government where we could see the
opportunity to create hundreds of jobs in the St. Stephen region, where a partnership with
Flakeboard would see us moving into furniture component manufacturing. My question to the
Premier this morning is this: What is the status of that important project?

Hon. Mr. Lord: The government is approached, and we approach businesses on an ongoing basis
to review series of projects. This project is being reviewed and has been reviewed. There is ongoing
dialogue between the government and this company. In recent years, in the last six years, we have
made investments to help this company grow in St. Stephen. It has worked. We have invested in
infrastructure. I do not remember the exact figure, but I will be happy to bring that figure to this
House. We continue to examine these various projects.

Mr. S. Graham: In talking to community leaders in the St. Stephen area, it is my understanding the
Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Energy approached the company officials and clearly
indicated that the government would not be proceeding with the project at this time. My question
to the Premier is this: Can you give us a specific update on the status of this project?

Hon. Mr. Lord: I answered the question before. We are not going to jump at every single proposal,
because some proposals are not the right ones for New Brunswick. I remember that, just a few
months ago, the minister had to come in with a series of loans and grants that had been offered by
the previous government that had to be written off—it was close to $35 million—because it jumped
at projects that clearly were not the right ones.
We will continue to work with this company. We will continue to work with other companies, as
well, that want to invest in New Brunswick, but we will make sure that the investments are the right
ones for the taxpayers of New Brunswick and the right ones for the province of New Brunswick.
Clearly, this year, our unemployment rate will again be below 10%. Last year, the unemployment
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rate was below 10% for the first time in 30 years. We are on the right track, and we are going to stay
on the right track.

Mr. S. Graham: New Brunswickers must be shocked today to hear that the government and the
Premier are not going to jump at every opportunity to create jobs in New Brunswick. I can tell you
that we need an activist government today, because if there is an opportunity to create value-added
jobs from sawdust and shavings, the lowest grade product that is produced, and we can turn that into
furniture with a company such as Flakeboard, then, yes, this government should be jumping. It
should be jumping a mile high.
My question to the Premier is this: The Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Energy, in talking
to community leaders, informed them that it was an issue of wood supply. Can the Premier inform
the House today how much wood his government has exported out of the province since October
14, 2004? These are orders-in-council that you review and you approve. Can you tell us how much
wood has left the province?

Hon. Mr. Lord: This is a very good approach for the Leader of the Opposition. He wants to create
a perception that is incorrect. It is not the first time, and unfortunately, I know that it will not be the
last time. Clearly, the Leader of the Opposition does not have all the facts of this file. The opposition
may say: Let’s jump at every situation. Let’s jump at Goodison Textiles. Let’s jump at the projects
that the Liberals used to jump at where millions of tax dollars went, for no purpose. We will
continue to work with businesses that want to grow in New Brunswick. We have put in place a total
development strategy for natural resources. We will continue to invest in that strategy, and we will
continue to increase jobs in the province.
I will note that the members of the opposition are saying one thing today that is very different from
what they were saying six months ago.

Mr. S. Graham: Today, I am holding in my hand all the orders-in-council this government has
approved since October 14, 2004, which have allowed over 712 000 m of 3 wood to be exported from
the province of New Brunswick into the state of Maine or into the province of Quebec.
015 11:05
Clearly, a company such as Flakeboard, in talking to community leaders in that region of the
province, can create jobs from this low-grade wood product, from sawdust and shavings. What I am
asking the Premier today is this: We are exporting unprocessed roundwood, and it is going to get
worse when UPM-Kymmene closes for a three-month period. What we have to find are
opportunities. Yes, if this means the government jumping at opportunities to create value-added
jobs, we welcome that action.
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My question to you this morning, Mr. Premier, is this, because you have not answered a question
yet: What is the status of the Flakeboard project in St. Stephen?

Hon. Mr. Lord: I have answered the questions. The Leader of the Opposition may not be satisfied
with the answers, but I have answered the questions. Again, in his questions, the Leader of the
Opposition is saying things that are incorrect. When he says that we are exporting roundwood, it is
not true, and he needs to get his facts straight. The fact is, before every order was approved . . .
(Interjections.)

Hon. Mr. Lord: I know the members of the opposition do not want to know that their leader is
wrong, but it is about time they stopped following the blind.
Before every order was approved, this wood was offered to anyone in New Brunswick who wanted
it, and no one accepted it. That is why it was allowed to be exported.

Mr. S. Graham: Very clearly, today, the Premier is having a problem adjusting to how complex the
forestry file is. Pulp-grade wood can be put in the form of chips. It can be put in the form of
roundwood when it is exported. Trainloads of wood have left the province. Leroy, you have trucked
wood out of the province—pulp-grade quality. If the Premier needs a lesson, we will educate him
on how the system works.
This is my question to the Premier today. He is saying that wood has to be exported because we
cannot find a home for it. I can tell you today that a company such as Flakeboard can create valueadded
projects, and a Liberal government is going to support projects such as that.
Hon. Mr. Lord: Again, the arrogance of the Leader of the Opposition is amazing.
(Interjections.)

Hon. Mr. Lord: Yes, you are right, there are more personal attacks coming from the opposition.
That is all they can bring in here. Clearly, the Leader of the Opposition does not have all the facts
of what the company is asking for. It just shows that they are willing to say yes to anything that
looks good on the surface, without looking at the details. They are reckless and irresponsible in their
approach. That is why the results that we get from a responsible, consistent approach are far better
than the reckless, irresponsible approach of the Liberals.
Employment

Mr. Foran: I will direct my question this morning to the Minister of Training and Employment
Development. In the past, the minister and the government have made a very big deal of their
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repatriation programs, yet there was no mention of this in the throne speech. Could the minister
please advise this House as to whether repatriation is a priority of this government?

Hon. Mrs. Blaney: There is so much good news happening in this province that it is absolutely
impossible to put it all in the throne speech. We have had some very good success with our
repatriation program. In fact, we had targeted 300 New Brunswickers to come home over a threeyear
period. In fact, we have not even hit the three-year mark, and we are already at over 700 New
Brunswickers of whom we are aware. That is very good news.

Mr. Foran: Isn’t that great news. I find the minister’s comments very interesting, because on
November 29, in the Miramichi Leader, her colleague, the member for Miramichi-Bay du Vin, said
that we should establish a trade school in Miramichi to train people for jobs in Alberta.
016 11:10
This is the full-time MLA, not a part-time MLA, who wants to send people out West. He even went
so far as to say that they could drop their résumés off at his office. He also went so far as to say—get
this, and listen carefully—that they could e-mail < albertajobs@brainhunter.com. > Could the
minister confirm whether it is the position of this government to establish a training school for jobs
out West, or just the position of your full-time MLA?

Hon. Mrs. Blaney: It never ceases to amaze me. To the opposition members, the glass is always
half empty. That is the way that they approach everything: The glass is always half empty. We have
very good success in training our New Brunswickers in our community college network. In fact,
yesterday, there was criticism leveled at the fact that the opposition wants to train 2 800 new people
next year. Do you know what? We are on a very clear path with our community college network,
with over 90% of our graduates working as a result of the training that they received in our
community college network. We are on a very clear path. The opposition is so far in the woods that
it has to come out to hunt. We have a very good story to tell in New Brunswick, and we have
made . . .

Mr. Speaker: Time.

Mr. Foran: I find it interesting again that we are talking about a clear path. Is it the clear path of the
Trans-Canada Highway going out west? We need to focus on creating job opportunities like the
metal fabrication operation proposed by Rob Tozer of Brun-Way that would have created
thousands—or at least hundreds—of jobs at home, especially in the Miramichi area. However, the
government rejected that project, and those jobs went to Nova Scotia. The minister’s department
says that we fall short on opportunity. Industry says that we fall short on opportunity. Even the MLA
for Miramichi-Bay du Vin says that we fall short on opportunity and that he wants to send our young
people out west. When will the minister implement a plan for creating every training opportunity
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that the Prosperity Plan says that we need, so that we can keep our people in the Miramichi and in
New Brunswick, and not send them to Calgary, Alberta?

Hon. Mrs. Blaney: There you go with the negative story again. You do not want to hear or talk
about the good news in New Brunswick. You do not want to talk about all the good things that are
happening in New Brunswick. Yes, people have gone to other provinces to work. Do you know what
the advantage is for us in New Brunswick? When they come back, they have skill sets and very good
knowledge in their field of choice. You want to build a wall around New Brunswick and have
everybody stay, but we are part of Canada. We are very proud of who we are in New Brunswick and
who we are as New Brunswickers. You cannot stop people from leaving, but we welcome them
home, as well.
Sewage Treatment

Mr. Jamieson: This is a question for the Minister of the Environment and Local Government.
People in the Saint John area are sadly disappointed with the reaction of the newly minted Minister
of the Environment and Local Government. His explanation of what his government will do to stop
raw sewage from flowing into the harbour is unacceptable. The minister’s answer has been that this
problem is someone else’s fault. People expected a fresh change with this minister, but it is the same
answer that we get every time from this government. It is always someone else’s fault. It is the same
line that Stephen Harper and John Wallace are using in Saint John. There is a serious problem in the
city of Saint John, and you need to be willing to work with the city of Saint John to solve this
problem. You were ready, willing, and able during the by-election in Saint John to help the people
of Saint John solve this problem. Are you ready, willing, and able to help solve the problem now?
017 11:15

Hon. Mr. Holder: I do not know how much clearer we could have been the other day. I said that
we will sign a deal anytime, anyplace. The federal government cannot make announcements on the
way out of a news conference, where they are making other announcements. The fact of the matter
is that they have never confirmed to us that that $44 million is in place. They have never confirmed
that to me, nor to the Premier. That announcement, as I said to the media the other day, never
happened. At the end of the day, both I and this government want to be a part of this. We made that
very clear. All we need is for the federal government to sit down, talk, and negotiate with us.

Mr. Jamieson: Preventing raw sewage from flowing into Saint John harbour will take a concerted
effort on everyone’s part. Playing the blame game does not solve anything. The city of Saint John
and the province need to form a plan that involves extensive engineering: site plans for a sewage
treatment facility, and a comprehensive plan to divert the flow of raw sewage to that facility.
Planning and development is the responsibility of the city of Saint John and the province of New
Brunswick. The Department of the Environment and Local Government needs to be part of that
planning. Infrastructure is a plan that is put together and then applied for to the federal government.
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You need to put the plan in place, and then apply for the federal infrastructure planning. That is how
it works, if you do not know that. Get your plan in place. The people of Saint John want you to be
part of the plan, not the blame game. Get your plan.

Hon. Mr. Holder: I am not playing any blame game here. Our caucus and government have a great
track record when it comes to this issue. I am going to tell you something. We have spent millions
of dollars with a joint federal agreement to upgrade the Millidgeville treatment facility and to
redirect about 5 000 homes in the North End. We have been working on this project for some time,
and we are going to continue to work on it in the future. I am not going to take a backseat to an
opposition that, when it was in government, did nothing about this.

Mr. Jamieson: The problem here is that you have taken a backseat in the city of Saint John. About
six weeks before the by-election in Saint John, this government had no plans to do anything
regarding harbour cleanup. All of a sudden, you are going to be part of the plan. Well, be part of the
plan, Mr. Minister. Get into the plan. Help the city of Saint John to devise a plan. Do not simply
blame people for your not being part of the plan because the federal government has not put its
money forward. The federal government is there when you put a plan in place, and when you apply
for the money. You have to apply for it first. That is how infrastructure works. This minister is sadly
lacking in any planned direction for this province, to help the city of Saint John.

Hon. Mr. Holder: The fact of the matter is that we have been a part of this plan for a long time. My
predecessor sent a letter to John Godfrey last year, saying that we support this project and that we
want the federal government to step up to the plate. What did he write back? He said that “the
funding has been committed, and we are not in a position to consider Saint John’s proposal at this
time”. He reconfirmed that in a conversation with me a couple of weeks ago, and I can tell you that
I want something in writing. I want something that says that the federal government is on-side with
this. All I have is the Prime Minister, coming out of a news conference, saying it. I am going to tell
you something. Until I see something in writing, that cheque at harbour cleanup is going to be
marked NSF, just like the cheque for Point Lepreau.

Mr. Speaker: Order. Order.

Health Care Services

Mr. Kenny: This question is to the Minister of Health and Wellness. Last April, the minister
promised to establish two additional dialysis units in northern New Brunswick. Although it was
announced in last year’s budget, these units are not expected to be operational until next spring. At
the time of the announcement, the minister said that these new units will provide dialysis treatments
for medically stable patients as determined by a nephrologist. Bathurst already has a nephrologist,
but the satellites in Dalhousie and Tracadie-Sheila will be linked to Moncton, not Bathurst. My
question is: Why are you planning to increase the number of specialists in Moncton, when the
specialized services could be provided in the north?
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L’hon. E. Robichaud : C’est une bonne chose que le député de Bathurst pose la question parce qu’il
n’a certainement pas bien été informé. On a seulement un néphrologiste à Bathurst, alors qu’il y en
a cinq ou six à l’Hôpital Docteur Georges L. Dumont.
018 11:20
Les médecins de l’Hôpital Docteur Georges L. Dumont ont accepté de partager la garde avec ce
spécialiste de Bathurst. Il aurait été inhumain de demander à un médecin de couvrir 365 jours par
année, trois centres de néphrologie. Donc, grâce à la collaboration de l’Hôpital Docteur Georges L.
Dumont, on sera capable d’ouvrir des centres à Dalhousie et à Tracadie pour les populations du
Restigouche et de la Péninsule acadienne. Lorsque le centre de Bathurst aura d’autres
néphrologues — parce qu’on prévoit en recruter un deuxième dans l’année qui vient —, à ce
moment-là, plus de responsabilités seront prises en ce qui a trait à ces deux centres.

M. Kenny : Ma question supplémentaire est la suivante : en plus du spécialiste des reins qui
s’occupe déjà des gens de Bathurst, il y a un autre spécialiste qui a grandi dans la région et qui
terminera ses études ce printemps. Nous savons que les besoins pour les traitements de dialyse
augmentent d’environ 10 % par année. Nous savons aussi que les patients qui ont des maladies
rénales sont sujets à des complications et doivent être traités par un néphrologue.
Monsieur le ministre, vous avez enlevé beaucoup de services dans le nord de la province, mais vous
avez encore le pouvoir de changer cette tendance.
Ma question est la suivante : pourquoi voulez-vous forcer des patients du nord du Nouveau-
Brunswick et de la Péninsule acadienne à voyager jusqu’à Moncton, alors qu’ils pourraient recevoir
les soins à Bathurst. De plus, quand allez-vous vous engager à établir un centre de néphrologie à
Bathurst?

L’hon. E. Robichaud : Tout d’abord, on n’a pas enlevé de services dans le Nord, actuellement, on
en ajoute. Pour répondre à la question que pose justement le député, des unités satellites de dialyse
n’existent pas à Dalhousie ou à Tracadie-Sheila, car, il n’y a pas si longtemps, il n’y avait pas de
financement possible. Nous sommes en train de mettre le service sur pied, et, de nouveau, ce que
je veux que le député de Bathurst comprenne, c’est que, actuellement, on a un néphrologue à
Bathurst. Comme je l’ai dit tout à l’heure, avec seulement un médecin spécialiste, c’est impossible
de couvrir la garde, parce que s’il y avait une urgence, il faudrait qu’il couvre les patients de
Dalhousie ou de Tracadie-Sheila. Donc, on a établi une entente avec Moncton et le Nord, justement,
pour s’assurer que ces patients seront couverts. C’est aussi simple que cela, et je répète ce que j’ai
dit tout à l’heure : La région de Bathurst devrait recruter un deuxième néphrologue au cours de
l’année qui s’en vient. Donc, à ce moment, plus de responsabilités seront assumées par la région de
Bathurst. Lorsque le Nord me justifiera le nombre de spécialistes dans notre région, à ce moment-là,
je souhaite que cette couverte se fasse par les gens de chez nous.
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Mr. Kenny: There is a second person that Bathurst is trying to recruit right now, but, unfortunately,
Moncton is trying to attract that person to Moncton. Can the minister do the right thing and make
sure that he makes a centre of nephrology in Bathurst and make sure that we have the doctors there
to supply services for northern New Brunswick?

Hon. E. Robichaud: The MLA for Bathurst is asking a very interesting question. I hope that the
people in his caucus understand what this implies. I have been seeing this on and on. While the
opposition wants me to provide billing numbers free to everywhere that wants them, wherever they
want, this is not the way the system functions. You are right. We want to make sure that there are
billing numbers in some specific specialities that are reserved for specific regions because of the
lack of those specialities.
With respect to the question you are asking, there is a billing number right now that has been agreed
on for the Bathurst region in order to recruit another nephrologist. I surely hope that they can do it
in the future. Meanwhile, if there are needs anywhere else in New Brunswick, I will not penalize
other areas of New Brunswick because we have some difficulties in the north.

ANOTHER NEW THING FOR THIS BLOG!!!!!

bernard house
shawn

I'm going to blog the questions asks during question period at the Legislature. I will title it - QUESTION PERIOD AT THE LEGISATURE.

Here's the one from Wednesday. Anyone who wishes to received the questions in a transcript? Can do so by sending an email to linda.fahey@gnb.ca>

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Hon. Mr. Lord: Mr. Speaker, before we start question period, this is the first question period of this
new session, and I would like us to extend the time for question period from 30 to 45 minutes, if we
have the consent of the House.

Mr. Speaker: Is it agreed?

Mr. S. Graham: I am reading a statement from the Premier from last session, and I will quote it.
These are the Premier’s words: “Before we move to question period, I would like to suggest that we
extend question period today by a full half hour. This is the only question period this week. Our
government is willing to answer the questions. We are looking forward to the debate, so we are
proposing an extra half hour.”

Mr. Speaker, it is our first question period after a very long period of time. I know we are going to
be here on Friday, but I think today merits a full half hour. We are up to it if the Premier is up to the
work.

Hon. Mr. Lord: I made an offer of 45 minutes. We are willing to extend question period by 15
minutes.

Mr. Speaker: It will be 45 minutes.

Mr. S. Graham: Time is a precious commodity today.

Forest Industry

On November 29, 2002, over three years ago, I raised in this Chamber the urgency of a strategy to
modernize our forest industry. Finally, after three years of the opposition providing clear solutions
on this file, this government has started to listen. That is why I was encouraged by the fact that, this
fall, after my second provincewide tour visiting forestry stakeholders with our caucus, the Cabinet
ministers finally began their own Cabinet tour. We were cautiously optimistic yesterday that the
throne speech would provide tangible initiatives and guidelines pertaining to the forest industry.
Instead, all that New Brunswickers received was eight lines of fluff.
Last night, I was in Bathurst. I have to say that I heard the disappointment of the forestry workers
over the lack of vision that this government has provided. Last year’s throne speech stated that your
government would establish quantifiable wood supply objectives. It is now one year later.

Mr. Speaker: Question.

Mr. S. Graham: When is that commitment going to be met?

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Hon. Mr. Ashfield: As outlined in response to the select committee’s report, it was made very clear
that we formed a task force under the guidance of Dr. Thom Erdle to address Items 10 and 11 in that
report.
017 11:15
It was made very clear at the time that this would take some time. The final report will be presented
in December 2007.

Mr. S. Graham: My question to the Premier, and hopefully we will receive an answer, is this: For
three years, we have been providing solutions to modernize our forest industry and create an
environment for investment: Let’s grow more wood on private land and Crown land; let’s stabilize
our energy costs; and let’s put in place an investment tax credit program that will allow an
accelerated depreciation of the assets to occur, to create an environment for investment. For three
years, this government has been flip-flopping and delaying making important decisions.
Today, it is our understanding that an announcement will be made on the Miramichi that UPM -
Kymmene will be closing two mills for a three-month period, the groundwood mill and the paper
mill. Thousands of New Brunswickers rely on this industry to put food on the table. This is my
question to the Premier, and it is very important to the people of the Miramichi region today: When
is your government going to bring forward quantifiable wood supply analysis for New Brunswick?
You answer the question. Give us the date.

Hon. Mr. Ashfield: Obviously, the member on the opposite side of the House has difficulty in
hearing. It is quite clear. If he paid any attention to the report of the wood supply committee, the
facts and figures that came out of that, and this government’s response to that report, he would know
very well the time lines that are required for this task force to do its job. I suggest that he take a look
at the report.

Mr. S. Graham: This is my third question to the Premier. Hopefully, he will have the fortitude to
stand and answer a question. The mill in Dalhousie that is run by Bowater has one of the highest
power rates in the province. Last year, the mill spent over $40 million on electricity costs. Your
government has seen a dramatic increase in power rates occur through NB Power. My question to
you is this: What are you going to do to help the people of Dalhousie maintain their jobs by
stabilizing power rates for the mill in Dalhousie?

Hon. Mr. Lord: When I hear the Leader of the Opposition say that he has been saying these things
for three years, one thing is clear: Some of these things were not in their platform, and the election
was two and a half years ago. The fact is that there are some situations that have an impact on the
forestry industry of New Brunswick that are outside the control of the government of New
Brunswick. They are outside the control of any government, for that matter.

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The Leader of the Opposition can stand here today and tell us that he will fix everything when, in
fact, he cannot. The fact is that when they were in office, the increases in power rates were higher
than what has taken place in New Brunswick so far. The issues faced by some of these mills is not
a question of wood supply. It is a question of markets. Our ministers have been doing their work.
We have been doing our work every day, every week, and every month. We will continue to do our
work to support the forestry industry in New Brunswick.

Mr. S. Graham: That is the same speech that Bernard Lord gave in this Chamber last session. He
had an opportunity to put forward tangible dates in the throne speech of when that work would be
completed. All this government has stated today is: We are going to continue to study the issue and
allow the world market conditions to affect us. What New Brunswickers need today more than ever
is a proactive government rather than a reactive government.
Over 15 000 New Brunswickers rely on this industry to put food on the table. You are saying that
you are going to continue to allow the status quo to remain until you can make up your mind on a
decision. Well, New Brunswick cannot wait. We have a unique opportunity with the sale of 766 000
acres of Fraser’s freehold property. A month ago, the minister himself said he was looking at the
opportunity to purchase that land. I welcomed his commitment to that. My question to the Premier
today is this: Give us an update. Are we ready to purchase that property on behalf of all New
Brunswickers?

Hon. Mr. Lord: In his question, the Leader of the Opposition said things that are wrong. It is not
the first time, and I guess this session will not change that. He will come into the House, make
accusations that are false, and say things that are totally incorrect. That is his way of doing business.
It is not our way. If the issue of identifiable wood objectives is so simple, can they just show us what
their identifiable wood objectives would be? Do they have that in their back pockets?
018 11:20
No, they have not done that work, because that work requires time. Sometimes, investing some time
to do the right thing works for the people of New Brunswick, and that is what we are doing.
We have stated very clearly that we are open to looking at the situation with regard to land that is
for sale in the province, but we won’t just jump at the first piece of land that is for sale. We want
to make sure, if we buy it, that we get a good price for the people of New Brunswick, that it makes
sense for the forest industry, and that it makes sense for the taxpayers of New Brunswick. That is
what we will do.

Mr. S. Graham: The Premier says: We need more time. We need more time to procrastinate and
to study. What is clearly evident today is that after six years of Conservative government in New
Brunswick, this government is running out of time.

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My question to the Premier is this: The former Liberal government made a significant investment
by purchasing the Georgia Pacific property as an investment for future generations. In fact, the
former Liberal government also went out and bought the first property when it was up for sale. At
that time, we did not have record equalization adjustments or investments from the federal
government coming to New Brunswick. In fact, it was going in the opposite direction. What did the
government of the day do? It sold off isolated blocks of Crown land to raise the funds to purchase
the Hearst property.
My question to the Premier is this: You have record investments coming from Ottawa. We have an
opportunity to increase the Crown land base in New Brunswick. When are you going to make a clear
commitment that you are looking to purchase this important piece of property?

Hon. Mr. Lord: Obviously, the Leader of the Opposition does not know the facts, or he is purposely
telling things that are not completely accurate. The fact is, the percentage of transfers from Ottawa,
as part of our budget, is lower today than in the last year the Liberals were in office.
Do you know the other thing that is lower today than it was when the Liberals were in office? It is
the net debt of the province. When the Liberals were in office, they were in such a hurry to increase
the debt for our children that in their first six years in office, they almost doubled the debt of the
province. They saddled our children with more debt. We have turned that around.
Do you want to talk about running out of time? They are running out of time, because the people of
New Brunswick have more jobs today than before. There is more investment in health care, more
investment in education, and we are going to continue to work for the people of New Brunswick,
with a balance of economics and social progress. That is what this government is about, and we will
continue to do that.
We are not going to just go out and buy some land because it is for sale. If we can get the right deal
for the forest industry and for the taxpayers, we will do it.

Mr. S. Graham: In all the rhetoric the Premier has provided this morning, he has not provided an
answer, and the answer is very clear. Former administrations purchased land when it became
available, on behalf of the citizens of this province. Richard Hatfield did it when he purchased
property for the Juniper license for Bev O’Keefe to operate that license. Frank McKenna did it when
he bought the Hearst property and the Georgia Pacific property.
Today, we have an opportunity to seize upon an investment so that the people of Edmundston will
no longer have the fear that if an American interest buys this property, it can, in turn, ship all that
freehold wood into the U.S. market, without jobs being created here in New Brunswick.
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My question to the Premier today is this: If you are investigating this opportunity, have you,
yourself, contacted Fraser? Have you, yourself, put an offer on the table that they can evaluate? If
you are studying it, is there an offer on the table?

Hon. Mr. Lord: There is a lot of fearmongering in that question, but certainly not a lot of facts. I
have answered the question. The government is exploring the option that is there. We will not just
jump at it. If we cannot get the right price for taxpayers and get the right value for the forest
industry, there is no need to do it. It is that type of decision making in the past that has led the
province to add more debt.
When the Liberals were in office, they were good that the unemployment was 12.2%; that was the
12-year average. Last year, the unemployment rate in the province, contrary to what the House
Leader of the opposition says, was the lowest in 30 years. We are on track toward meeting that this
year. Those are the real facts.
I have stated very clearly that if there is a good deal for the taxpayers and for the province, we will
take it. If not, we will not.
019 11:25

Mr. S. Graham: Today, on the Miramichi, just before Christmas, hundreds of families are hearing
that their mills are going to be closing for a three-month period. Last night, in Bathurst, I again met
many citizens who were concerned that this government was not on top of the forest file and that
it had allowed the Smurfit-Stone mill to be closed without having a proactive discussion with the
stakeholders. New Brunswick families today want a government that is going to take a decision and
that is going to take action.
You are saying you need more time to study. You are saying that you do not want to rush into a
decision. At some point in time, a decision does have to be made. It cannot be made to our
detriment, with thousands of lost jobs in New Brunswick, while your government continues to be
inactive. That is why we have provided three tangible solutions. Today we are saying that we should
be looking at the purchasing of the Fraser property. We are asking you to move in this direction.
Putting aside the partisan politics, let us work on behalf of New Brunswickers, together.

Hon. Mr. Lord: I hear the Leader of the Opposition saying: Let us put aside partisan politics. All
morning, all they have been doing is insulting me and this government. That is all they are
doing—calling names. Then they say: Let us put aside partisan politics. I remember that a few years
ago, in this House, our government proposed to reduce the increase in property tax for large
industries, which benefited mills. The opposition voted against it. Every single one of them voted
against it. They all did. The member for Bathurst—they all voted against it. Now, they want to be
the saviours of the forest industry.

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The fact is that silviculture is 24% higher now than it was in 1999, when we took office. We are
investing more in silviculture, not less. We are providing tax relief to those businesses, not less.
Those are the real facts, and it is unfortunate that the Leader of the Opposition wants to fearmonger
in this House.

Mr. Speaker: Time.

Environment

Mr. Doherty: Today, I pose an important question to the new Minister of the Environment and
Local Government. If you recall, during the most recent by-election in Saint John, a number of
promises were made by the Lord government. These were clearly attempts to sway voters.
Particularly important to me, both professionally and personally, is the much-needed cleanup of
Saint John Harbour. My question to the new Minister of the Environment and Local Government
is simple. When will the cleanup commence, as promised?

Hon. Mr. Holder: I am very pleased that the member opposite has asked this question. Quite
frankly, our caucus, at the local level in Saint John, has been committed to this project for a long
time. We have made that very clear to the municipality and to the federal government. The fact of
the matter is that we have not gotten a firm commitment from the federal government, except for
the Prime Minister walking out of a news conference yesterday, suggesting that there was $44
million. He has never committed . . . That has never been conveyed to me as minister, nor to the
Premier. We need the federal government at the table. We would be proud to be a partner in this
important project for Saint John, and we will be.

Mr. Speaker: Supplementary.

Mr. Doherty: According to an article in the Telegraph Journal on October 19, 2005, on harbour
cleanup, the Premier pledged an initial contribution of $8.3 million toward cleanup, with an
additional promise to return more money once municipal and federal partnerships were determined.
This was not mentioned in the throne speech yesterday. My follow-up question is simple. Where has
the initial $8.3 million been spent, as pledged, and how are the negotiations progressing, as
promised? Why was it not mentioned in yesterday’s throne speech? I therefore assume that
everything is moving forward, according to the Premier’s promise and pledge.
020 11:30

Hon. Mr. Holder: The throne speech lays out our commitments in terms of what we are going to
do over the next few months and in this session. We are going to bring those details as time goes on.
The negotiations are ongoing. We have committed that money. We have told the federal
government: Come on down, and let’s sign that deal. I will be very proud when we finalize it. The
federal government just needs to tell us the time and the place, and we will sign that agreement.

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Bibliothèques

M C. Robichaud : Mes questions s’adressent à la ministre de l’Éducation. me tion. Le 31 mars 2005, les
parlementaires du côté du gouvernement ont voté en faveur du principe du projet de loi 31, Loi sur
le droit de lire, proposé par les Libéraux. Ce projet de loi établissait des objectifs pour améliorer nos
bibliothèques scolaires au cours des cinq prochaines années. Les enfants font des acquisitions en
lecture, mais les bibliothèques de la province sont fermées dû au manque de livres et de
bibliothécaires. Si vous avez donné votre appui en principe, pourquoi n’avez-vous rien fait pour
apporter des plans concrets pour améliorer nos bibliothèques scolaires dans la province?

L’hon. Mme Dubé : Cela me fait extrêmement plaisir de répondre à cette question et, surtout, de
parler d’éducation et de littératie, qui est certainement un dossier que moi et le gouvernement Lord
tenons à coeur. Je rappelle à la députée d’en face que nous avons de nombreux investissements en
littératie. Elle a dit quelque chose dans sa question qui me dit que les bibliothèques scolaires sont
fermées parce qu’il y a un manque de livres. Je demande à la députée qu’elle fasse ses devoirs.
Nous avons augmenté le financement des bibliothèques scolaires, nous investissons davantage —
plus que jamais — dans les livres, dans les écoles et dans les ressources que le personnel enseignant
nous a demandées. Nous investissons davantage dans l’ensemble du budget, et, parce que nous
savons que nous avons besoin d’une stratégie globale, je pense que nos devoirs sont faits en
littératie. Je dois ajouter que nous n’avons pas terminé.
Éducation physique

Mme C. Robichaud : Le 31 mars 2005, les parlementaires du côté du gouvernement ont voté en
faveur du principe du projet de loi 33, la Loi sur les étudiants en santé, proposé par les Libéraux.
Ce projet de loi établissait des objectifs pour améliorer l’éducation physique dans nos écoles au
cours des cinq prochaines années. Selon Statistique Canada, l’éducation physique favorise la santé
et une qualité de vie chez nos jeunes. Vous avez donné votre appui en principe ; alors, pourquoi
n’avez-vous rien fait pour améliorer les cours d’éducation physique dans nos écoles de la province?

L’hon. Mme Dubé : C’est vraiment un honneur et un privilège de me lever et de parler d’éducation.
Cela me fait tellement sourire chaque fois que les parlementaires du côté de l’opposition parlent
d’éducation physique, puisque nous savons que ce sont eux qui ont réduit dans l’éducation physique
dans nos écoles.
Voilà un autre exemple, ce matin, où le parti de l’opposition nous arrive encore et met le feu où il
a fait des réductions flagrantes. Les parlementaires du côté de l’opposition se présentent au grand
jour pour essayer de nous faire croire qu’ils sont des sauveurs. Ils ont fait des gaffes majeures, ils
ont réduit en éducation, ils ont négligé l’éducation, ils ont négligé les ressources et ils ont aussi
négligé les programmes d’enseignement.

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Du côté du gouvernement, nous avons un plan d’action, nous avons un Plan d’apprentissage de
qualité, nous avons des investissements majeurs et nous travaillons également avec tous nos
partenaires. L’éducation physique est extrêmement importante, et j’ajouterais que l’activité physique
est importante aussi. Nous continuerons à travailler avec tous nos partenaires pour nous assurer que
nos enfants sont en santé et qu’ils apprennent aussi dans un environnement sain.
Fermeture d’écoles

M C. Robichaud : Depuis les derniers six ans, cela ne paraît pas. Il n’y a rien qui a changme é.
Toutefois, le 7 juin 2005, les parlementaires du côté du gouvernement ont voté en faveur du projet
de loi 65, la Loi modifiant la Loi sur l’éducation, proposé par les Libéraux. Ce projet de loi forçait
la ministre de l’Éducation à considérer les facteurs suivants avant d’autoriser la fermeture d’une
école rurale : l’utilisation de l’édifice scolaire par la collectivité, la durée requise pour voyager les
élèves à l’école, les résultats scolaires des élèves de l’école et l’impact de la fermeture de l’école.
Ce projet de loi reconnaissait le rôle important que jouent les écoles dans nos collectivités rurales.
Il forcerait aussi la ministre à participer à des audiences publiques et à émettre sa décision par écrit.
Vous avez donné votre appui en principe ; alors, pourquoi n’avez-vous rien fait pour protéger nos
écoles rurales?

L’hon. Mme Dubé : Cela me fait encore plaisir de parler d’éducation. La députée parle des
réductions et des fermetures d’écoles dans les milieux ruraux. Je rappellerai aux parlementaires que
nous construisons justement une école dans la circonscription de la députée d’en face, qui est
certainement une école dans un milieu rural.
021 11:35
Je vais rappeler à la Chambre que nous construisons justement une école dans la circonscription de
la députée de Baie-de-Miramichi. Il s’agit certainement d’une école en milieu rural. Que faisonsnous
de ce côté de la Chambre? Nous travaillons avec nos conseils d’éducation de district où les
décisions locales sont prises et où sont évaluées les infrastructures et les besoins dans les diverses
régions. Ensuite, ces conseils font des recommandations. D’année en année, nous augmentons les
budgets et abordons les besoins. Je dois rappeler à la députée que, effectivement, nous construisons
même des écoles dans les milieux ruraux.

Mr. Murphy: I am glad the minister mentioned that, because school districts throughout this
province are in deficit positions now, and in fact, are using, in some instances, extracurricular money
just to pay the bills. I do not know whether it is their plan to have bottle drives to pay the heating
bills in these schools, but I would like to know from the Minister of Finance whether he will confirm
that he is going to change the formula to ensure that sufficient funds are in place from now on.

L’hon. M. Volpé : Cela me fait plaisir de répondre à ma première question de cette présente session.
Comme d’habitude le député de Moncton-Nord a perdu le nord. Lorsqu’il était président de

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l’Association libérale du Nouveau-Brunswick, durant les années de McKenna, son étoile montante,
la dette a augmenté, et le gouvernement a fait des réductions dans les écoles et les universités.
L’ancien gouvernement a même fait des réductions dans le domaine de la santé, et malgré tout cela,
il n’a pas été capable d’équilibrer son budget.
Peut-être que l’argent a mystérieusement disparu, comme cela s’est passé au fédéral, parce qu’il faut
se rappeler qu’il s’agit des mêmes Libéraux.

Mr. Murphy: Once again, we hear the members over there talking about the 1990s. My response
is: What have they been doing for the past six and a half years? The answer is: Nothing. They have
also said that the Leader of the Opposition has difficulty hearing, but I will tell you this. He heard
the people of Shediac and he heard the people of Saint John Harbour, and you are going to hear from
all of New Brunswick soon.
The districts cannot cut back on teacher aides anymore, nor support staff. I want to know from the
Minister of Finance whether he will confirm that sufficient funds will be in place so that no more
teacher assistants and no more support staff have to be cut.

L’hon. M. Volpé : Je pense que le député de Moncton-Nord, ne comprend pas la différence entre
une addition et une soustraction. Cette année, dans nos budgets, nous avons investi environ 40 %
de plus pour chaque étudiant. Cela, ce n’est pas une réduction.
Moi, je me souviens que, en ce qui a trait aux universités, dans une seule année, leur budget avait
été réduit par 9 millions, et cela, dans une seule année. Ça c’est une réduction, pas une
augmentation.
Donc, il serait temps que vous compreniez la différence entre un plus et un moins, Monsieur le
député de Moncton-Nord. Notre gouvernement a ajouté de l’argent dans les ministères. On donne
de meilleurs service en éducation et en santé et plus d’argent aux universités. On balance nos
budgets et on réduit la dette ; on ne l’augmente pas. Alors, c’est ça la différence. Les gens du
Nouveau-Brunswick reçoivent un service pour les taxes qu’ils paient, comparativement à lorsqu’ils
payaient des taxes et que leur argent disparaisait mystérieusement.

Mr. Murphy: It has been taking, in some instances, hot dog sales to pay the bills. This government
has done nothing for six years and now talks of some change. The government members are so lazy
that their motto has become: Do not just do something. Stand there.
I would like to know the following from the minister. Because the districts are saying that they
cannot pay the increased costs and that the formula is inadequate, will he simply admit that the
formula is inadequate and will he simply give us a date or any indication of when he is going to
change that?

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L’hon. M. Volpé : De ce côté-ci de la Chambre, on a certainement pas de leçon à recevoir en ce qui
a trait à travailler avec les comités locaux. Les conseils d’éducation de district établissent leurs
priorités et le gouvernement apportent l’argent. On n’a jamais encore envoyé les chiens sur les gens
qui nous demandent des choses, et ce, contrairement à l’opposition.
Lorsque le député de Moncton-Nord nous parle de surplus et de déficit, au cours des six premières
années au pouvoir, nous avons réduit notre dette cette année de 212 millions, alors que l’ancien
gouvernement a pris une dette de 2,9 milliards et l’a augmenté de 2,9 milliards.
022 11:40
Il a eu des déficits, mais, en plus, il a réduit dans les services. La question que devraient se poser les
gens du Nouveau-Brunswick est la suivante : S’il y a un déficit et des réductions dans les services,
où est allé l’argent? Où est allé l’argent? Il est peut-être allé dans de petits programmes de créations
d’emplois, ce qui faisaient l’affaire des simples parlementaires et peut-être aussi du président de
l’Association libérale de Moncton-Nord. Cependant, cela ne faisait pas l’affaire des gens du
Nouveau-Brunswick.
Literacy

Mr. Lamrock: Yesterday, we heard members of the government say that perhaps they are not
moving fast enough for the opposition’s standards. In fact, they are not moving fast enough for their
own standards. There were over 20 projects announced in last year’s throne speech that they just did
not get around to finishing. There were a whole bunch of bills that they just never bothered to write,
and a bunch of steps that they never bothered to take.
One that caught my eye is on page 5 of last year’s throne speech when the government said there
would be a focus on adult literacy programs. This is very important. We rate near the bottom of the
country in adult literacy rates. It takes too many people out of our workforce. It makes too many
people vulnerable to the closure of a mill or an industry in their town when they do not have the
skills to find jobs. Even though the government promised action on adult literacy in last year’s
throne speech, if you search literacy on the website, there was not one new adult literacy program
announced, and none are pledged in this year’s throne speech. My question to the Minister of
Training and Employment Development is this: If this is such a priority, why was nothing done last
year, and why are there no new ideas for this year?
Hon. Mrs. Blaney: I would be happy to update the member opposite on where we are with adult
literacy, because an awful lot of work has been done during the past year, as promised in the throne
speech last year with respect to the work that we would undertake to address the issues of adult
literacy. I would remind the member opposite that the issues we face in literacy, especially as it
relates to adult literacy, did not just occur over the last six years. We have undertaken to put all our
programs that relate to adult literacy under one department, the Department of Training and
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Employment Development. As a result of that, we have undertaken to consult with all the
stakeholders who work in this field every single day. These take place in regions all around our
province.
We are moving forward to unveil a part of our Quality Learning Agenda, of which there is not just
one component. The blinders are on for the opposition. There are four components, and they are
unfolding.

Mr. Lamrock: That was a long way of announcing no new initiatives. Let’s actually look at the
facts. If you search “literacy” on the department’s website, the first page of results does not even
turn up this minister’s department. In fact, I sent in a request for information to her office for the
waiting lists for adults who want literacy training and cannot get it. Here is what the minister wrote
back to me: As a result of my department’s arm’s length involvement in the direct delivery of adult
literacy training, we don’t maintain waiting lists for adult literacy programs in the province.
Is this what constitutes action now—arm’s length involvement, and not even bothering to see how
many adults are waiting for literacy? The minister should really read the letters her staff puts in front
of her to sign. My question is clear. How can you say you are addressing a problem when you have
not even bothered to find out how many people are waiting for adult literacy training in this
province?

Hon. Mrs. Blaney: We take a very different view to that of the opposition when it comes to working
with our stakeholders and working with the people of this province. The view of the members
opposite is that they would know all. They would be the all-knowing being, the entity that would
direct what others would do. We take an entirely different perspective. We work with our
stakeholders. Yes, we are at arm’s length. They are the professionals. We do not purport to know
everything about what they do. That is why we undertook to consult and to meet, at length, with the
people who work every day in this field. They are professionals, and we do respect what they do.
That is why, as a result of these consultations, we are moving forward with a very comprehensive
plan on adult literacy and lifelong learning, a part of a continuum that you seem to know nothing
about.

Mr. Lamrock: I went from all-knowing to knowing nothing in the space of 60 seconds. I have to
say that we do have a different view. We are second last in the country. I do not think arm’s length
is good enough. No one has to direct frontline officials, but should we not at least ask them how
many people are on their wait lists? Is that too much to ask for a government that is doing due
diligence on literacy? If they are the professionals who know, let’s ask them how many people are
waiting for their services, because when I talk to them, they tell me that their waiting lists are long.

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023 11:45

This minister could have asked, but she never thought to ask. Because of her arm’s-length
involvement, she does not know how many people are waiting to learn how to read in New
Brunswick.
Let’s talk about some ideas that I can maybe convince the minister would be good to look at. What
if we did like some U.S. states and gave tax credits to employers that have literacy programs in the
workplace? What if we had a fund to help labour unions? They are doing amazing work training
their own members. What if we had a volunteer literacy corps of recent graduates who wanted to
pay off their student loans through workplace frontline literacy? What if we had a wait time
guarantee to find the very people this minister was too lazy to ask about how quickly they can learn
to read? Will the minister consider any of those ideas in the next 12 months? Would she consider
adding those to the throne speech?

Hon. Mrs. Blaney: I am very proud of the initiatives that this government has put in place to
address quality learning in our province. What if we had an opposition we could work with? What
if we had a federal government that would be willing to be our partner as we move forward in
getting the flexibility that we need to do the training that needs to take place in the private sector?
St. Anne-Nackawic

Mr. Targett: It is really quite simple. The people of this province are looking for straight answers
to some very serious questions. I would implore the members of this House on the government side
to take one day of question period and simply answer in a straightforward way the questions that are
being asked, without going to the past every time they have to respond.
Nackawic has been hit with a situation that most of us could never imagine. The mill has now been
sold. However, many former workers and pensioners from St. Anne-Nackawic still don’t know the
fate of their pension benefits. This government has kept the residents of Nackawic waiting long
enough. Will the Minister of Training and Employment Development tell this Chamber when a
decision will be made on the issue of pension funds in the Nackawic situation?
Hon. Mrs. Blaney: I will be pleased to answer that question. I fully anticipate that we will have a
decision before Christmas, before this House rises.
The story of Nackawic is not only about pensions, although that has certainly played a very large
role in the story as it has unfolded. It is also a story of renewed hope and restored optimism in a
community that was hit very hard. There is restored hope in the knowledge that the mill is going to
reopen.

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What has amazed me more than anything about the story of Nackawic has been the perseverance,
the determination, and the courage that the people of Nackawic have shown. It is really a reflection
of the kind of people we are in New Brunswick, and I think we should all be applauding the people
of Nackawic for the courage they have shown, for the determination, and for the sense of optimism
with which they have been determined to move their community forward. I think we should be very
proud of the people of Nackawic.
Pensions

Mr. Targett: Thank you to the minister for that very straightforward answer.
My second question for the minister is as follows: Last year, the Leader of the Opposition
introduced Bill 16, the Pension Benefits Guarantee Act. Despite promises that this bill would be
further analyzed by the Standing Committee on Law Amendments, nothing, to our knowledge, has
yet been done.
More and more pensions are facing deficit situations. As the minister said, this has been an ongoing
saga for the people of Nackawic who have been affected. Despite this situation, there was no
mention of pensions in this session’s throne speech. It is something that affects people across this
province. Will the minister again please advise the House of what the government is planning to do
to ensure that this situation, like the one in Nackawic, never happens again?
Hon. Mrs. Blaney: As I have indicated on several occasions in this House, we have undertaken a
review of the Pension Benefits Act. To my knowledge, the Standing Committee on Law
Amendments, which includes members of the opposition, is still looking at this, considering the
overall issue of the bill that was brought forward, although it did die on the table.
A larger picture needs to be looked at here, beyond the provincial Pension Benefits Act. That is the
role of the federal government, as the law dictates it today, relating to pensions. Two major issues
have come to the fore, and one is the fact that you cannot put any surplus in pensions away for a
rainy day.
024 11:50
That is according to federal tax law. The other one is that there are no provisions for secured
creditors as relates to pension recipients. Those are two major federal issues that really need to be
dealt with. Having said that, we are reviewing the Pension Benefits Act to look at whether we can
provide more protection here in New Brunswick, but the bigger issue is a federal issue.

Mr. Targett: I respectfully understand what the minister is saying about how big this issue is.
However, the question becomes a very simple one once again. This is such an enormous issue that
requires such attention that it baffles me as to why the committee has not met once to begin the

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process of this review. There has been zero committee consultation given to this yet, and it is over
a year since the tragedy happened. We need to resolve this, and it cannot be done in the philosophy
of go for it, we are going to think about it and work on it later. We need to take action on these
items. We are here in this Legislative Assembly to govern this province and to protect our people.
Our troops in Afghanistan are fighting to allow that country to have this pleasure. Yet, we wait this
long to deal with such an important issue and do not even bring it to committee. I cannot understand.
Why has this not been brought to committee for consideration?

Hon. Mrs. Blaney: We have undertaken a review of the Pension Benefits Act. My understanding
is that bill has been referred to the law amendments committee. I can certainly check to see where
it is with the law amendments committee, but you could as well. You could also make an inquiry.
I know it is an issue that has concerned this member, but he can ask just as well as I can. I can
certainly ask.
Maladies chroniques

M. V. Boudreau : Le Plan provincial de la Santé, rendu public en juin 2004, souligne des stratégies
de gestion des maladies chroniques telles que le diabète, sous la rubrique Priorités stratégiques,
Améliorer la santé de la population. Cependant, ni le discours du trône de 2004 ni celui de 2005 ne
font mention des stratégies de gestion des maladies chroniques. Ce matin même, le rapport sur le
diabète 2005 de l’Association canadienne du diabète a été rendu public. À la page 10 de ce rapport,
nous remarquons que toutes les provinces participent au système national de surveillance du diabète
et que la plupart d’entre elles ont produit des rapports sur le diabète s’appuyant sur les données
recueillies grâce à ce système. Nous savons que le ministre a ces statistiques pour le Nouveau-
Brunswick. Le ministre de la Santé et du Mieux-être peut-il nous expliquer pourquoi nous sommes
une des seules provinces qui n’ont pas rendu public un rapport provincial sur le diabète?

L’hon. E. Robichaud : Premièrement, si le député avait écouté hier, à la Chambre, il verrait qu’il
est clair que le discours du trône parle de mettre en place des stratégies de gestion des maladies
chroniques. Deuxièmement, si le député d’en face avait pris le temps de regarder le rapport, il verra
que non seulement le Nouveau-Brunswick mais toutes les provinces de l’Atlantique sont au même
niveau en termes de rapporter le taux de diabète. En termes d’épidémiologie au Nouveau-
Brunswick, on veut avoir des données plus précises, et c’est ce que le plan de santé devrait arriver
à faire d’ici 2008.

M. V. Boudreau : Je n’a pas vraiment eu une réponse à ma première question. Le ministre a les
statistiques, nous voulons donc un rapport de la province.
Je veux rappeler à la Chambre que le diabète est une des plus importantes causes de mortalité et de
maladies au Nouveau-Brunswick. Au moins 5 % des Néo-Brunswickois de 20 ans ou plus, soit
environ 40 000 personnes, souffrent du diabète. Nous prévoyons que ce montant pourrait doubler
d’ici 10 ans au Nouveau-Brunswick. Encore dans le rapport sur le diabète 2005, à la page 11, nous
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remarquons que six provinces au Canada ont déjà élaboré des stratégies multisectorielles sur le
diabète. Les six autres provinces élaborent actuellement des stratégies. Quand au Nouveau-
Brunswick, nous disons simplement qu’il intègre le diabète dans sa stratégie de prise en charge des
maladies chroniques. Je crois que nous parlons ici de cette même stratégie inexistante qui est
mentionnée dans le plan mais qui n’est pas mentionnée dans les deux derniers discours du trône. Je
répète donc ma question : Est-ce que le ministre peut nous dire quand, nous voulons une date
précise, nous recevrons cette stratégie de gestion des maladies chroniques au Nouveau-Brunswick?
025 11:55

L’hon. E. Robichaud : De nouveau, le député de Shediac—Cap-Pelé dit des faussetés. Je lui
demanderais de lire le discours du trône d’hier. C’est clair que c’était dans le discours du trône.
Deuxièmement, je m’accorde avec mon collègue, mais ce n’est pas seulement avec une stratégie
unique que nous allons réussir. En ce qui a trait à l’éducation, nous avons pris des mesures pour
contrôler ce que les élèves mangent dans les écoles. Le taux d’obésité chez nos jeunes au Nouveau-
Brunswick est l’un des plus haut au Canada. En termes de stratégie de prévention, il ne s’agit pas
seulement d’avoir une stratégie spécifique à une maladie. En effet, lorsqu’on regarde les causes de
différentes maladies, plusieurs facteurs sont communs. Nous allons nous attaquer à ces causes
communes, et, oui, en plus, dans nos stratégies visant les maladies chroniques, le diabète fera partie
de nos stratégies qui seront développées dans l’année en cours.

M. V. Boudreau : J’ai compris dans l’année en cours ; donc, nous avons hâte de voir cette stratégie.
The death rate is two times higher for a New Brunswicker with diabetes than it is for the general
population of this province. Diabetics in New Brunswick are six times more likely to be admitted
to hospital than the general population of this province. Yet, this government continues to stick its
head in the sand and refuses to help these people manage this deadly illness. The 2005 Canadian
diabetes report, released this morning, concludes that a Type 1 diabetic in New Brunswick has an
annual out-of-pocket expense of $3 355 for supplies and medication. That is the third highest in the
country. A Type 2 diabetic in New Brunswick has an annual out-of-pocket cost of $3 674, which
is the second highest in the country. According to the Atlantic diabetes council, the proper
management of this disease would save $36 million.

Mr. Speaker: Question.

Mr. V. Boudreau: Would the minister please tell this House what his government intends to do to
help the 40 000 diabetics who deal with the worst out-of-pocket expenses in the country?

L’hon. E. Robichaud : Comme je l’ai dit lors de ma réponse à la première question du député de
Shediac—Cap-Pelé, il n’y a rien d’extraordinaire là-dedans, car là où les citoyens paient le plus,
c’est dans les provinces de l’Atlantique. Terre-Neuve vient au premier rang, ensuite il s’agit de l’ÎleORAL
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du-Prince-Édouard, du Nouveau-Brunswick, et quatrièmement, de la Nouvelle-Écosse. Donc, ce
n’est pas une surprise pour personne que, l’an dernier, en 2004, lorsqu’ils ont rencontré le premier
ministre Martin, les premiers ministres des provinces de l’Atlantique ont demandé un Programme
de médicament sur ordonnance amélioré pour l’ensemble des Canada. Justement, dans les provinces
de l’Atlantique, c’est beaucoup plus difficile de fournir des taux adéquats pour les besoins de la
population. Donc, cela n’est pas surprenant. Que faisons-nous? Dans le plan de santé, nous allons
introduire un Programme de médicaments sur ordonnance pour les gens qui font face à des situations
catastrophiques suite à certaines maladies, comme le diabète.
Services d’ambulance

M. Paulin : Nous avons une situation extrêmement préoccupante dans la région de Restigouche-
Ouest et même ailleurs au Nouveau-Brunswick. Nous avons des services d’ambulance dans les
régions de Sainte-Anne et de St. Leonard qui sont devant un groupe de conciliateurs. Nous avons
le même problème dans le comté de Kent et à Grand-Sault. Dans restigouche-Ouest
particulièrement, nous avons le local 4212 des services d’ambulance qui, dans le moment, est en
grève. J’aimerais connaître la position du ministre de la Santé et du Mieux-être en ce qui concerne
un service aussi essentiel pour une région rurale du Nouveau-Brunswick.

L’hon. E. Robichaud : Évidemment, il y a une situation de grève qui a débuté ce matin à 10 heures
dans la région de Saint-Quentin—Kedgwick. Un plan de contingentement a été mis sur pied, et une
ambulance sera disponible 24 heures sur 24, alors que le service était offert 12 heures par jour dans
les deux localités. Il y a un service d’appel la nuit ; donc, durant la nuit, le service devrait être
amélioré. On a évidemment prévu que les services d’ambulance voisins viendraient couvrir lorsqu’il
y aurait un appel. Troisièmement, les ambulanciers de la région d’Edmundston vont effectuer les
transferts, et le personnel de mon bureau surveille de très près la situation pour s’assurer que l’on
couvre de façon adéquate les urgences qui pourraient survenir.
026 12:00

M. Paulin : Ce gouvernement prônait une espèce d’uniformité en ce qui a trait aux services
d’ambulance au Nouveau-Brunswick. Ma question est simple. Pourquoi y a-t-il des régions au
Nouveau-Brunswick où des ambulanciers qualifiés, qui servent une population rurale, sont payés
moins qu’ailleurs dans cette province? Ce gouvernement finira-t-il par mettre en vigueur ce qu’il
prêche à la Chambre?

L’hon. E. Robichaud : Comme le député l’a constaté, nous avons 54 contrats différents pour les
ambulanciers au Nouveau-Brunswick. C’est une situation que le gouvernement du premier ministre
Lord s’est engagé à rectifier. J’espère apporter prochainement, pour les gens du Nouveau-
Brunswick, un système unifié et intégré de services d’ambulance où le service que l’on recevra sera
le même partout au Nouveau-Brunswick. Donc, c’est quelque chose que nous sommes en train de
changer à l’heure actuelle.

WHAT IS BERNARD LORD CLEAR PLAN???

L-stee

BERNARD LORD A TRUE HERO????

Stay tune for this true story later on in the day! It's a dozzy!!!

Charles 04_07_05 071

NEW BRUNSWICK LEGISLATURE NO LONGER PEOPLE'S HOUSE! !! IT'S FORT KNOX!!!!!!!!!

Sites are changing at the Legislature and I believe it’s for the worst.

Picture 025

Yesterday morning, I noticed a crew were installing these pillars.

Picture 027

I was surprised because the Premier usually drives his vehicle by this driveway to go at the Legislature.

Afterwards, I noticed more pillars around the People’s House.

Picture 028
Picture 029

I remember one evening during my protest. I arrived at my tent and noticed hundreds of vehicles parked all around the building.

At first, I didn’t what was going on?

I quickly learned they were all going at the PlayHouse for a play.

Playhouse
Playhouse4

I said - Only in New Brunswick could a person freely park their car in front of the Legislature and leave it unattended for a few hours.

Try that action in other Provinces or the States???

But we are joining other provinces in providing proper security at the People’s House.

Picture 031

What’s next?

Metal Detectors and body guards for our elected officials?

Yes, it is a sad day for New Brunswickers but what can you do?

I sure wish this is not an act to temp or dare New Brunswicker to try something stupid?

Picture 032

It looks like the days that Ministers or the Irvings walking freely alone in New Brunswick are numbered and this is sad!!!

Picture 030

THIS IS THAT LAST DAY TO VOTE ON THE POLL. STROLL DOWN AT THE END OF THE FRONT BLOG. DON'T BE SCARE TO VOTE!!!!

CANADIAN FEDERAL ELECTION - SHOW ME THE $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$!!!!!!!!!

Fed-debate

GOD'S MINUTE!

Picture 022

This Message is Especially for Charles

BLESS THE LORD, O MY SOUL; AND FORGET NOT ALL
HIS BENEFITS: WHO CROWNS YOU WITH LOVING
KINDNESS AND TENDER MERCIES.
( PSALM 103:2 & 4 *NKJV )

Charles, indeed, we should never forget just how very
much our Heavenly Father loves each one of us. Also how
many ways HE proves that to us each day as well!

After all when we feel hopeless; THE LORD WILL GIVE
STRENGTH TO HIS PEOPLE; THE LORD WILL BLESS
HIS PEOPLE WITH PEACE. ( PSALM 29:11 )

When we can't find the answers we want, or are in
need of guidance, He will provide the way, for; THIS ALSO
COMES FROM THE LORD OF HOSTS, WHO IS
WONDERFUL IN COUNSEL AND EXCELLENT IN
GUIDANCE. ( ISAIAH 28:29 )

Further, don't forget the best benefit of all, for; THIS IS
THE TESTIMONY: THAT GOD HAS GIVEN US
ETERNAL LIFE, AND THIS LIFE IS IN HIS SON.
( 1 JOHN 5:11 )

So in return you should; LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD
WITH ALL YOUR HEART, WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, WITH
ALL YOUR MIND, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH.
( MARK 12:30 ) Because HE loves you Charles, even
more than that! Amen

With My Love & Prayers,
your servant Allen
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