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Government Agenda
Mr. Volpé: My first question for the Premier is whether he would be ready to reconvene the House
right after the Christmas break. We know that people on this side of the House, and a lot of people
across the province, are concerned about what is happening in the province now, with job losses,
with the cost of energy, and with the situation in the forestry sector. Mr. Premier, are you ready,
after the Christmas break,
to reconvene the House so that we can try together to grow this province
and try to help the people of New Brunswick?
Hon. S. Graham: Thank you for the question. I want to begin by saying that I feel we have had a
very productive session prior to the Christmas break, with the largest capital budget in the history
of our province being brought down and debated within a very efficient time frame by the
opposition, which was very respectful of the democratic process.
It is the government’s intention now to move forward with budget preparations which we will be
bringing forward sometime in the new year. The month of January, though, will be a busy one, for
Cabinet members and for other government and opposition members. I know the Select Committee
on Wellness will be traveling the province in January. There will be committee work undertaken.
As well, I will be chairing a winter meeting of the Council of the Federation in British Columbia,
with my colleague, Gordon Campbell. There will be a First Ministers meeting early in the new year,
in Ottawa with the Prime Minister. I will be in attendance. There will be government work that will
be continuing.
The date to reopen the Legislature for the spring sitting has not yet been established. but when the
government is ready to announce that date, it will do so in the appropriate fashion.
015 13:55
M. Volpé : C’est vraiment dommage que le premier ministre ne soit pas prêt à ramener la Chambre
pour travailler pour les gens du Nouveau-Brunswick. Beaucoup de gens attendent des réponses.
Certains sont inquiets face aux coûts de l’énergie au Nouveau-Brunswick, et beaucoup de familles
traverseront des temps durs cet hiver. Plusieurs usines ont fermé leurs portes au Nouveau-
Brunswick, et cela a un impact majeur sur les petites collectivités. Les gens attendent des réponses.
I was just asking if he would be ready to work for New Brunswickers. We, on this side, are. The
offer is there. We are ready to come back. With regard to those committees you are talking about,
there are probably three members from both sides, and that is all we need. Government can still run
at the same time in the House. If you are not ready to move on that one, would you be ready to
extend question period this morning by 15 minutes?
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Hon. S. Graham: As is tradition, government makes the decision on when the House will
reconvene. Opposition makes the determination on when it closes. It is the government’s intention
again to open the House for a spring sitting, during which an Ordinary Accounts budget will be
tabled. As well, extensive work will be undertaken while the House is not in session. There are a
number of trade missions currently being built upon. I know that the Council of Atlantic Premiers
will be leading a trade mission to Alberta. As well, there is a trade mission to India, at which a
government member will also be present, in conjunction with Peter MacKay, the minister from
ACOA, and minister Emerson, who, I understand, will also be in attendance on that trade mission.
The months of January and February will be very busy for government, as we move forward with
our self-sufficiency agenda. Legislation is being drafted for the upcoming spring session of the
House. Respective ministers and government members will be working on their files. I respect that
the tradition will continue, that government will open the House at the appropriate date, and
opposition will determine when it is closed.
Mr. Volpé: We have been the government, and we know what it is. You do not bring anything new
to the table here by saying that you have meetings outside the country, or outside the province. It
has been done before when the House was sitting. We know that the answer is no on this one. You
are scared of having to answer any questions.
My next question, to which I did not get an answer, is this: Are you at least ready to extend the
question period by 15 minutes?
Hon. S. Graham: I have answered the question. The question has been repeated. There are 30
minutes for question period today. If the Leader of the Opposition chooses not to repeat the same
question, then he will have ample time to ask the appropriate questions that he so desires in the 30-
minute time frame.
Mr. Volpé: We know it is real when people of New Brunswick will have to decide by themselves.
He is not ready to come back here, and he is not even ready to give 15 minutes more to answer the
questions that those people would like to have.
My first question to the Premier this morning, on another topic would be . . .
(Interjection.)
Mr. Volpé: If you want one, just say it. I can have questions for any one of you today.
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Northern New Brunswick Initiative
My next question to the Premier is this: Can he give us the details on the $100-million fund for the
northern development fund? What is the time frame? Is the $100 million over 3 years, is it over 4
years, or is it over 20 years?
Hon. S. Graham: I am not at liberty today to discuss the Ordinary Accounts budget, which will be
presented this spring. What I can say today, due to the realization that northern New Brunswick is
facing extreme difficulties with the impact of the crisis in the forest industry, we are working
cooperatively now with the federal government. In fact, earlier this week, my chief of staff, Bernard
Theriault, was in dialogue with the chief of staff from the Prime Minister’s Office, Ian Brodie. We
are now collectively working together on initiatives to help affected regions in New Brunswick.
Pertaining to the Northern New Brunswick Initiative, the $100-million commitment that our
government has made still stands. I do not want to divulge the Ordinary Accounts budget today, but
we recognize the importance of seeing this fund up and running in an immediate time frame. There
is a very good opportunity that a significant amount of money will be booked in the next fiscal
budget to start this fund to investing infrastructure in the region.
M. Volpé : Les gens du nord du Nouveau-Brunswick qui ont entendu le message du premier
ministre doivent être inquiets ce matin. Les fonds de 25 millions, qui existaient auparavant pour
Restigouche-Chaleur, la Péninsule acadienne et Miramichi, ont été initiés à 5 millions par année.
On sait donc exactement où on va.
My question for the Premier this morning is very simple. The $100 million that he has
announced . . . It has been announced, so he should know what he is dealing with. Is the $100
million over 4 years, is it over 10 years, or is it over 20 years?
016 14:00
Hon. S. Graham: Without going into the details of the Ordinary Account budget which will be
booked this spring, there is a very good possibility that a significant amount of money will be
booked for the budget, in this budget that will be brought forward. That will allow us to invest in
critical infrastructure, such as ports infrastructure and telecommunications infrastructure, which will
help with the diversification of the economy in the north. That money will flow on a case-by-case
basis. I do not want to allow all the good news to be brought forward today because it would
preempt the capital budget process. I will say today, again, that a significant amount of money will
be booked in the next budget process for the Northern New Brunswick Initiative.
M. Volpé : Plus le premier ministre parle, plus les gens sont inquiets. Il n’y a pas de secret, il a
annoncé un programme.
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There has been an announcement of $100 million for the northern development fund. My question
is very simple. What is the time frame on the $100 million? If you announce it for the next 100
years, it is not a lot of money. If you announce it for 4 years, it is a good amount of money. I just
want to know, and New Brunswickers want to know.
Hon. S. Graham: If the pattern follows the action that our government took in the cleanup of Saint
John Harbour, in which the entire amount was booked in the budget process on a project that
languished for over seven years under the former government’s initiative . . . We booked the entire
amount, which actually allowed the federal government to come to the table with matching dollars.
Without going into the budget process, but following the pattern that we took in the past, one does
not have to take a giant leap of faith to realize that our government is prepared to invest a significant
amount of money in the next provincial budget that will be brought forward in this session of the
House for the Northern New Brunswick Initiative, following the pattern that we undertook with the
cleanup of Saint John Harbour.
Mr. Volpé: The reason I am asking the question today is that last week I asked about tourism, which
did the same thing. The government announced $100 million for tourism in New Brunswick. I asked
the minister what the time frame is on it. Is it over one year, 10 years, or 20 years? He said: There
is no time period on the $100 million. There was never a time period on it.
So, it is probably 2026. Everything is based on that. People need to know. Those people affected
with job loss want to know if the $100 million is over 100 years or over 4 years. It is pretty simple.
It was announced during the election process last year. People want to know if it is over 4 years.
Usually, that is a mandate, so the people want to know what the time frame is on it.
Hon. S. Graham: I will let our record stand for itself on our record investments in tourism
infrastructure. For seven years—for seven years—the former Conservative government abandoned
the investment in tourism infrastructure. Immediately after coming into office, in this fiscal period,
we have announced investments in the Kings Landing historic site, the Village historique acadien,
and significant investments in Mount Carleton Park. With the capital budget that was brought
forward by the Minister of Tourism in this fiscal period, additional monies now have been allocated.
In fact, this is the most significant investment in tourism infrastructure in the past 10 years, which
our government has brought forward with this capital budget.
M. Volpé : Monsieur le président, vous venez vous-même d’une région du nord du Nouveau-
Brunswick, et je suis convaincu que vous allez être surpris d’apprendre que pour ce qui est des
100 millions pour le fonds développement économique il n’y a aucune période de temps d’établi,
et cela est très inquiétant. Pour ce qui est du fonds pour le tourisme, il n’y aucune période de temps
également. Il peut s’agir de 20 ans ou de 50 ans, personne ne le sait.
If the Premier wants to go back, we can also go back. I remember the way the school system was
left when you were in government, with Mr. McKenna and Mr. Thériault. I remember the health
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care system. One year, there was even a negative budget, a minus 0.5. We do not have any lessons
to take from you, Mr. Premier. My question, which you do not want to answer, is very simple. I am
sure that New Brunswickers who are listening today do understand the question. There is $100
million that was announced for the northern development fund. What is the time frame on that? Is
it 100 years?
017 14:05
Hon. S. Graham: Clearly, we are going to have an accelerated time frame compared to the time
frame that the former Conservative government had for investments in tourism infrastructure. As
I previously mentioned, over a seven-year period, zero dollars were allocated for tourism
infrastructure in the facilities that I just listed. There is going to be a significant investment this year
at Sugarloaf Provincial Park. Two announcements have been made pertaining to funding for the
Mount Carleton Provincial Park, where work has already started. As well, the Village historique
acadien, which is going to play a key role in the Congrès mondial, is going to see significant
upgrades. The assistant deputy minister who is working on this project now is bringing forward
initiatives that will receive appropriate funding from our government.
Coupled with that, there are significant investments in Kings Landing. Your own member has stood
up and publicly applauded our government, saying that the party that he represents failed to make
significant investments in that facility over a seven-year period. People, today, have an all-time high
morale within that facility, because our government is investing in key projects as it moves forward.
I thank the member for York, Mr. Urquhart, who is saying that our government has done more in
one year than his government did in seven years.
Mr. Volpé: I have asked the same question over and over again. I will not again, because people
know by now that there was no answer to it. The Premier is talking about tourism, and we are
talking about the northern development fund. We know that $100 million was announced for
tourism, but the minister himself said that there is no time frame on it. I was asking about the
northern development fund. I cannot get an answer from the Premier, so I will let it go, because
people know by now that he cannot give an answer.
Hon. S. Graham: I have a chance to respond to the question. As I said before, our government has
moved swiftly on a number of projects that the former government chose not to fund—and that was
its prerogative, and the people of New Brunswick decided accordingly in the last provincial election.
For seven years, the former government could not make a decision on the restoration of the
Petitcodiac River. We have committed to the establishment of a trust fund in this fiscal period, in
the new budget that is coming forward, and there will be budgeted money for the restoration of the
Petitcodiac River.
As well, there is the cleanup of Saint John harbour, a project that languished for over seven years
under Bernard Lord’s government, which chose not to act. We put in place the necessary funding
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on day one of our election to office. The federal government matched that funding, and today, that
work has been accelerated over a five-year period. That harbour will be cleaned up once and for all.
There are number of infrastructure projects that are important to mention, such as the psychiatric
hospital in Campbellton. The former government chose not to build this facility, and it allowed those
individuals to suffer, year after year, in a facility that was not air-conditioned, with multipurpose
rooms.
Fermetures d’usines
M. Mockler : C’est abérrant. Selon le ministre des Ressources naturelles, le 18 décembre dernier
était la première fois que le premier ministre rencontrait les dirigeants d’AbitibiBowater. En tenant
compte de nombreux appels téléphoniques que j’ai reçus encore ce matin, le gouvernement du
Nouveau-Brunswick n’inspire pas confiance aux employés et aux familles de l’usine
d’AbitibiBowater, à Dalhousie. Employés, comme présidents de syndicat, opérateurs forestiers
comme manufacturiers d’équipement, tous sont inquiets de l’attitude et du manque de vision dans
la foresterie du premier ministre Shawn Graham. Ma question au premier ministre est la suivante :
Le gouvernement du Nouveau-Brunswick peut-il rassurer les employés d’AbitibiBowater, à
Dalhousie, qu’ils auront accès S je vais prendre mon temps S à un programme de préretraite de la
compagnie afin de rassurer les familles de la région de Dalhousie?
Hon. Mr. Arseneault: First of all, if you had read the whole article, you would have noticed that
it was the first face-to-face meeting since the announcement of the closure of the operations in
Dalhousie. The Premier, Minister Byrne, and I were in Dalhousie that Monday evening, and we met
not only with the municipal officials but also with the union officials. As recently as this week, we
were in Montréal to discuss a number of issues that had to do with the operations in Dalhousie,
including the employees.
018 14:10
This morning, my colleague, the Minister of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour, and
I were in Dalhousie to put forth $300 000 to put together a transition centre, to meet the needs of
those employees. On January 31, they will be without employment. They have needs where we have
to put all the resources available to them in order to meet their needs throughout this difficult time.
M. Mockler : Cela veut dire que le ministre des Ressources naturelles et député de la circonscription
en question ne peut pas rassurer les employés. Cela veut dire que nous ne pouvons pas assurer un
programme de préretraite pour les employés. Ma deuxième question pour le premier ministre est la
suivante. Le gouvernement Graham doit prendre ses responsabilités vis-à-vis AbitibiBowater. Nous
estimons qu’il y a présentement environ 100 millions de dollars dans un régime de pension de
Bowater pour venir en aide à un programme préretraite pour ceux qui ont travaillé corps et âme à
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l’usine Bowater, à Dalhousie. Le premier ministre doit cesser d’être la marionnette d’AbitibiBowater
et de M. McGuire.
I want to say this to the Premier and his ministers: New Brunswickers must be first all of the time
and not some of the time.
Le gouvernement travaillera-t-il avec le syndicat pour sauvegarder le montant de 100 millions de
dollars qui est présentement dans les coffres de la compagnie Bowater? Quand elle quittera le
Nouveau-Brunswick, la compagnie placera ce montant à son bilan financier international. Viendrezvous
en aide aux gens qui sont touchés, qui ont travaillé corps et âme pour AbitibiBowater et qui
ont droit à cette pension?
Hon. Mr. Arseneault: Look, when we met with senior officials of Bowater and Mr. Paterson, the
Premier of New Brunswick was very clear on a number of issues, including the one that has to do
with employee pensions. The company agrees that it will follow all rules and regulations in New
Brunswick. We have the utmost confidence that it will do that. We will continue to work with the
employees and the unions. This morning, again, my colleague, Dr. Doherty, and I were in Dalhousie
announcing a transition centre. It is a very difficult time for my community, and we have to make
sure that we put politics aside. This is not a time to play politics with a very serious issue. Those
employees have needs. We have to make sure that all the resources are available for them to get
through these hard times.
Mr. Mockler: If the member from Dalhousie and Minister of Natural Resources thinks that trying
to secure $100 million is playing politics, I do not call that playing politics. I call that standing up
for the people of New Brunswick. We all know that there has been a dramatic change in the forest
market conditions. We all know that there are a significant number of direct and indirect jobs
provided through the forest industry in New Brunswick. My question to the Premier, again . . . Now,
I know why he does not answer, and I know why he is dropping in the polls. We want answers, and
he cannot give them to us. The Premier and the Minister of Natural Resources have said that the
report of the 2004 Select Committee on Wood Supply is no longer relevant and that we need to
refocus. Therefore, I ask this to the Premier: Mr. Premier, can you immediately convene a select
committee on the forest industry and the situation of forestry in New Brunswick, so we can help to
secure and protect the people of New Brunswick?
Hon. S. Graham: Again, our team and I have been working very hard with the government of
Canada. Stephen Harper, today, recognizes the importance of helping affected communities and
individuals who have been severely impacted by the downturn in the forestry industry. Also,
yesterday, I met with union officials and community leaders on the Miramichi. Earlier this week,
I was in Montréal, meeting with AbitibiBowater officials. Ervan Cronk, the head union
representative, said yesterday that this has been the most accessible government that he has dealt
with since Richard Hatfield’s administration. In fact, Mr. Cronk went on to say that we were able
to achieve, yesterday, what his union membership was not able to achieve in the Dalhousie region,
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which was to have the mill winterized and to have a date set in place for September to allow us to
go out and try to find an appropriate owner for assets not pertaining to papermaking.
019 14:15
Yesterday, the union officials were very pleased and very encouraged by the active role that
government has taken. As well, our government is anxiously awaiting the report of Dr. Tom Erdle
on his review of forest management practices in the province. A number of options from Mr. Erdle’s
report, will be presented to government, I understand, so there will be ample opportunity to move
forward on the forestry file. Our government’s position has been very clear, though: We want to
increase the annual allowable cut and sustainable management practices on Crown land, to give our
forests a stronger future.
Forest Management
Mr. Ashfield: My question is for the Minister of Natural Resources. Mr. Minister, I know that
during question period, as my honourable colleague has mentioned, you seemed, at one point, to
have abandoned the wood supply report. Then, your comments in response to questioning a couple
of weeks ago suggested your complete acceptance of the wood supply report. Now, we see the
Premier suggesting today that he is also in agreement with the wood supply report. I would like to
know, once and for all: Have you abandoned the report of the wood supply committee, or do you
agree with it?
Hon. Mr. Arseneault: I think the former minister is very well aware that the wood supply
committee was an all-party committee that worked very hard and provided many recommendations
that we saw within the report. The government of the day also provided many directions on where
those recommendations were going, and we adopted many of those recommendations, as well. We
have shown on a number of occasions how open and transparent we are. We communicate better
with the public. I have a public advisory committee on forestry that includes the Conservation
Council, environmentalists, and private woodlot owners. We have continued to show openness on
many of these issues, and I think that that has been appreciated by the public.
Mr. MacDonald: My questions today are for the Minister of Business New Brunswick. Harvesting
on Crown land is at an historic all-time high. Harvesting on private land is at an historic all-time
low. I would like to hear the Minister of Business New Brunswick comment on why this is and on
how we can restore the proper balance.
Hon. Mr. Byrne: I certainly do not purport to be the Minister of Natural Resources, but I can say
that under the former administration, users of Crown wood—the major industrial players—were
only required to buy 10% from private woodland. Now, under this administration, they are required
to buy a minimum of 20%. That has certainly been of great benefit to the private woodlot owners.
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Yes, there are challenges in the forestry sector. We acknowledge that. We acknowledge the
challenges that have been brought on by the Canadian dollar. We recognize the challenges that have
been brought on by the slowdown in the housing market in the U.S. We recognize the challenges
that have been brought on by international competition. However, this is a viable industry, and it
will continue to be viable. Will it change? Yes, it will change, but it will continue to be a primary
industry for New Brunswick long into the future.
Mr. MacDonald: I am happy to hear the minister use the word “viability”, because my next
question goes to the viability of the sawmilling industry here in the province. New Brunswick has
an industrial-based model of forest management. When you cut a tree, you have to have a market
for the pulpwood. You have to have a market for the sawlogs. Depending on the species, you have
to have other markets for that log, as well. With the recent announcement of UPM closing down,
the two sawmills that were using that fibre—the one in Bathurst and the one in Blackville—will
have challenges in securing the fibre they need in order to go forward. What commitment does the
minister have to those sawmills, given that the UPM operation has now gone down permanently?
Hon. Mr. Byrne: As my colleague has stated on many occasions, despite the closure of these mills,
it is a priority of the government to ensure that the wood continues to flow. Obviously, the wood
supports the sawmills. It supports many people in the industry. It supports the trucking industry. It
supports the people who are cutting the wood. It is important to maintain that. The licenses will
continue to be managed, and the wood will continue to flow.
020 14:20
Mr. MacDonald: That is going to be a bit of a challenge, given the fact that that market for
pulpwood may not be there.
My next question is for the Minister of Business New Brunswick. Your government promised to
keep the allocation in the Dalhousie operation. I am wondering if the minister will stand up today
and make the same commitment to the people in the communities of Blackville, Bathurst, and
Juniper.
Hon. Mr. Byrne: As the member knows, wood continues to flow throughout the provinces. Wood
is not confined to use in any one particular geographic area. As a matter of fact, the wood, for
example, from the AbitibiBowater mill flows to locations throughout the province. It is a bit of a
misconception, a devious misconception suggested by the member, that all wood should remain in
that specific community. This government continues to ensure that communities are supported.
There have been some challenges, but we will work to bring new opportunities to those areas for the
people who have been displaced. Obviously, we would like it if those people had not been faced
with this crisis, but it is crises like this that motivate this government to work harder to provide more
opportunities.
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Funding
Mrs. Poirier: My question this afternoon is for the Premier. During the last election campaign, I had
a major concern about some comments that were made at the time that Kent County would be
excluded from the Northern New Brunswick Initiative fund. At the time, the Liberal candidate in
the riding was actually accusing me of fearmongering. However, my fears were founded, for they
were reconfirmed in the House last week by the Premier. I just want to say that the riding of
Rogersville-Kouchibouguac is part of Kent County, and it is directly and indirectly affected by the
closure of UPM in Miramichi. My question for the Premier is this: Would you reconsider your
position and include the riding of Rogersville-Kouchibouguac in the Northern New Brunswick
Initiative fund?
Hon. S. Graham: Last week, the opposition was criticizing me because we did include Kent in the
current economic development funds. I have been very clear. In our Charter for Change platform,
four regions fall under the umbrella of the new Northern New Brunswick Initiative. It does not
include the riding that I represent or the riding that the member opposite represents. I have been very
clear. Even though the members opposite attempted to say that that region was included, it would
be very easy for me today to include my home riding. However, I recognize that the regions that
need it the most are the four regions in northern New Brunswick that have been identified. That is
where the $100 million will flow.
Mrs. Poirier: The difference is that our riding is part of the Greater Miramichi area. The Miramichi
area depends on the people of the riding and also of the riding in the area of Neguac. In order to
survive economically in the region, they need the people from our area. This was also identified
when the task force was put in place. People from the Greater Miramichi area were included in the
task force. When you look at that, the task force was formed with people from all over. If we want
to survive as a region, we need to. The area of Rogersville-Kouchibouguac, a good part of our
riding, even gets all its government services from the Miramichi area. The Miramichi hospital is its
hospital. The DOT office in the Miramichi area is the DOT regional office for a good part of the
riding. So is the office for Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour. So is the former Family
and Community Services office and all of those. Due to that and the close proximity that we have,
I am asking you to please reconsider our need. If we want to grow as a region, and if the Miramichi
region wants to grow, we are part of that region. They want us, they need us, and we need them also.
I am asking you—I am pleading with you today—to please reconsider your position.
Hon. S. Graham: Last week, the opposition was accusing me of including the region. Today, it is
accusing me of not including the region in the funding. They are two different messages. I can say
very clearly that, yesterday, I had an opportunity to meet with Patrice Finnigan, who congratulated
our government on making the most substantial investment in the past 10 years on Route 126. Over
24 km of asphalt will be put on that road—a $9-million investment. This is the biggest and most
important transportation link for the region of Rogersville-Kouchibouguac to the Moncton market
and the Miramichi market. The bushes that were cut and the asphalt that was placed on that route
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this year, with the budget coming forward next year, are going to drive the economy—our
investment in infrastructure for the region.
Mr. Speaker: The time for question period . . .
021 14;25
Hon. S. Graham: With unanimous consent, Mr. Speaker, in all fairness, the opposition has asked
today for an extension of question period. In fairness for the Leader of the Opposition not to
monopolize the time he has asked his questions, we are prepared to extend it for an extra half hour
today. I am sure that the members who have asked questions were prepared. For those who have not
asked questions, this will allow them the opportunity. For the members who have not asked
questions, we will give you an extra half hour.
Mr. Speaker: Agreed?
Hon. Members: Yes.
Mrs. Poirier: I am very surprised and shocked by your comments today. Yes, the road work is very
well appreciated in the riding. However, to say that we now are going to have a good road, and we
can commute to Moncton in our riding, is actually the Francis McGuire vision. It is not the Saint-
Louis or the Rogersville or the Rogersville-Kouchibouguac area vision. We strongly feel that we
will be strong as a region when all our regions are strong. Rural New Brunswick needs to be strong.
Stop saying that we have to send everybody to the urban areas. Please support rural New Brunswick.
Please include the riding within the Miramichi region that needs to be supported. If Miramichi needs
us, we need them also.
Hon. S. Graham: I am once again happy to announce that our government has just brought forward
the largest capital budget in our province’s history. In fact, that capital budget is going to see the
most significant investment on Route 126, an investment that the member failed to see brought in
place when she was a Cabinet minister. I have to tell you today. The letter to the editor that I saw
from Patrice Finnigan, congratulating our government on making the most substantial investment
that will benefit the community of Rogersville, is a testament that we are making the proper and
correct investment.
Fonds de développement économique régional Miramichi
M. Williams : Ma question cette après-midi est pour le premier ministre. Le village de Saint-
Antoine est la seule municipalité du comté de Kent qui n’a pas accès au Fonds de développement
économique régional Miramichi. La municipalité de Kent est désavantagée du côté du
développement économique. Monsieur le premier ministre, êtes-vous prêt aujourd’hui à faire une
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annonce que le Fonds de développement économique régional Miramichi, qui se termine en 2009,
s’étendra pour inclure la municipalité de Saint-Antoine?
Hon. S. Graham: It is clear that the opposition was not ready for the extra amount of time it asked
for. Clearly, that is the same question that was just asked by the member for Rogersville-
Kouchibouguac. Last week, they accused me that Kent was included in the current fund. Today,
opposition members are saying that they now want the new fund that is being developed to include
it as well. They are not prepared for question period, and they are flip-flopping on the questions they
are asking each day.
Mr. Williams: The Premier did not listen to the question.
La question a trait au fonds de développement de la Miramichi qui se termine en 2009. La
municipalité de Saint-Antoine est la seule municipalité à ne pas avoir accès à ce fonds. La question
est claire. La municipalité a fait des représentations auprès du premier ministre et des ministres afin
d’être incluse et d’avoir accès à ce fonds de développement économique. Ma question est simple.
Monsieur le premier ministre, êtes-vous prêt à faire l’annonce aujourd’hui que la municipalité de
Saint-Antoine, la seule municipalité qui n’a pas accès à ce fonds, sera incluse dans le Fonds de
développement économique régional Miramichi?
Hon. S. Graham: Once again, opposition members are not prepared for the extension of question
period. Clearly, last week they were asking that Buctouche and Rexton be taken out of the
Miramichi fund. This week, they are asking that they skip over that region, but now include Saint-
Antoine. The mixed messages coming back and forth today from the opposition clearly shows that
it was not prepared today. Once again, I am happy to report with the significant investments that
Kent South is seeing today in the capital budget, in fact a vital link between Sainte-Marie-de-Kent
and Saint- Antoine is being upgraded. It is the Liberal government that is going to upgrade this road
that was neglected for seven years under the former Conservative government. Those are the
necessary infrastructure investments. The people in Kent want better roads built, and it is being built
on nonpartisan lines.
M. Williams : La question est smiple. La municipalité de Saint-Antoine est désavantagée au point
de vue développement économique par rapport au fonds de développement de la Miramichi. Le
premier ministre ne répond pas à la question. Le conseil municipal, le maire et les gens d’affaires
ont fait des représentations directement au premier ministre et aux membres du Cabinet. C’est clair
aujourd’hui que le premier ministre ne veut pas donner chance égale aux gens du comté de Kent afin
qu’ils aient accès au programme du gouvernement.
022 14:30
Je donne une chance au premier ministre de faire l’annonce aujourd’hui. La municipalité de Saint-
Antoine, la seule municipalité du comté de Kent qui n’a pas accès au fonds de développement,
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pourrait-elle être traitée sur une même pied d’égalité que les autres municipalités du comté de Kent,
en ce qui a trait au Fonds de développement économique régional Miramichi?
Hon. S. Graham: Clearly, the opposition is not prepared. That is the third time that its members
have repeated the same question. Last week, they said that the region of Rexton and Bouctouche
should not be included in the Miramichi fund. Today, they are now saying that Saint-Antoine should
be included. I have been working very hard with the Mayor of Saint-Antoine. A significant
investment was made last summer, during the construction period, where a Liberal government
upgraded the principal route in Saint-Antoine, in cooperation with the new monument that was being
unveiled for the former Premier, Hon. Louis J. Robichaud. I am happy to report today that we are
seeing significant investments. In fact, a new bridge is going to be built in the riding of the member
opposite. The road infrastructure is being upgraded. This is what the people of the Kent region have
requested: that roads be built along nonpartisan lines. There is more roadwork being undertaken in
the ridings of the two members opposite than has happened in a very long time.
Protection des renseignements personnels
M. P. Robichaud : Étant donné que le premier ministre semble réchauffé cet après-midi et avoir
pris goût à répondre aux questions finalement, après quatre semaines, on va probablement lui poser
des questions pour lesquelles il n’a pas osé répondre pendant les dernières semaines.
Durant les dernières semaines, nous avons tenté d’avoir une réponse du premier ministre concernant
l’action ou l’inaction de son ministre de la Santé, suite à la perte de documents de plus de 485
personnes du Nouveau-Brunswick sous la direction du ministre de la Santé.
Le premier ministre va-t-il se lever aujourd’hui à la Chambre et nous dire s’il appuie son ministre
de la Santé ou s’il va agir en conséquence et retirer son ministre de la Santé de cette responsabilité
jusqu’à ce que l’ombudsman donne son verdict sur les actions du ministre de la Santé dans la perte
de documents confidentiels?
Hon. Mr. Murphy: The Department of Health, this minister, and all ministers enjoy the support of
their Premier. We work in concentration, and we work together in concert to advance health care
in this province. We have spoken extensively, and this question has been answered by me, I am sure,
at least a couple of dozen times. We believe that the environment of trust must be enhanced within
the Department of Health for the people of New Brunswick. In order to do that, we have put in place
certain protocols. We continue to do that. We continue to go forward, in partnership, with the
Ombudsman. We value his insight, his judgment, and his experience, and we will be able to deliver
the goods of better health care for New Brunswickers.
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Stratégie de développement économique
M. P. Robichaud : Nous avons un premier ministre qui est extrêmement sélectif concernant les
questions pour lesquelles il veut bien répondre. Il ne touche pas aux patates chaudes. On a un
premier ministre qui est pas mal peureux de répondre à des questions.
Je vais tenter une autre question pour le premier ministre pour voir s’il va avoir le courage de
répondre à celle-ci. Je vais tenter d’avoir un peu plus de succès que mon chef en a eu tantôt et de
parler de l’Initiative pour le nord du Nouveau-Brunswick. Pendant la campagne électorale, le chef
du Parti libéral a annoncé que le Nord sera doté d’un fonds économique de 100 millions de dollars.
Le présent gouvernement ne sait pas trop où est le nord, parce qu’il a exclu le nord-ouest dans son
plan de développement économique. Toutefois, il y avait un objectif de 100 millions pour le nord-est
du Nouveau-Brunswick.
Le premier ministre va-t-il répondre aujourd’hui à la Chambre et nous dire quels sont les échéanciers
pour ce montant de 100 millions? Pendant la campagne électorale, tout le monde, autant les
candidats libéraux eux-mêmes lorsqu’ils faisaient campagne comme ceux qui les écoutaient, a
compris que c’était pour une période de quatre ans. Toute le monde pensait que c’était durant votre
mandat que vous alliez investir ce montant de 100 millions. Une année a déjà été perdue, parce que
rien n’a été fait l’an dernier.
Le premier ministre va-t-il nous dire quel est l’échéancier et si ce montant de 100 millions sera
investi durant son mandat, qui se termine en septembre 2010?
023 14:35
Hon. S. Graham: Clearly, the opposition is unprepared for the extension of question period that it
requested. This is the exact same question that the Leader of the Opposition posed at the beginning
of question period.
I will be very clear that tradition has it that, once one question is answered, two supplementaries
must follow on the same question. He started on an issue and switched. I am prepared to answer. A
significant amount of money will be booked in this fiscal period for the Northern New Brunswick
Initiative, and that initiative is going to help invest in infrastructure in the northern part of our
province. At the same time, we are going to continue to work cooperatively with the federal
government to come forward with similar initiatives. I am happy to report today that those
discussions are ongoing. The Ordinary Account budget will be released at an appropriate date. Those
amounts of money, as always, will be brought forward in the normal budget process.
M. P. Robichaud : Cela me fait rire lorsque j’entends le premier ministre parler de tradition. Je veux
vous rappeler une autre tradition parlementaire de notre système parlementaire britannique.
Normalement, c’est le premier ministre qui vient à la défense de ses ministres. Ici, on voit que ce
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sont les ministres de ce gouvernement qui doivent venir à la défense de leur premier ministre. C’est
assez inusité.
Je peux comprendre le processus budgétaire et je peux comprendre que le premier ministre n’est
peut-être pas tellement à l’aise de nous donner le montant exact pour la prochaine année financière.
Ma question est simple. On veut la période de temps, l’échéancier. Je ne veux pas connaître le
montant le printemps prochain. Je veux connaître la période de temps que les 100 millions de dollars
seront investis. Seront-ils investis pendant une période de quatre ans, comme le gouvernement l’a
laissé croire à la population durant la dernière campagne électorale? Est-ce pendant une période de
10 ou de 20 ans, ou est-ce que tout va nous tomber du ciel en 2026, avec le fameux slogan sur
l’autosuffisance? La question est fort simple. Le premier ministre peut-il répéter ce que ses candidats
disaient durant la campagne électorale et confirmer que les 100 millions seront investis dans un
échéancier de quatre ans qui se termine en septembre 2010, oui ou non?
Hon. S. Graham: Again, if you follow the pattern that our government undertook, we booked the
entire amount for the cleanup of Saint John Harbour in one fiscal period, which was invested over
a set period of time as the projects unfolded. Without going into the full budget details, we are going
to be investing a significant amount of money for the Northern New Brunswick Initiative, which will
then be able to invest as the projects are developed over a set period of time. I want to be very clear.
This booking of finances for the Northern New Brunswick Initiative will take place in this fiscal
period.
Parks
Mr. D. Graham: I must say that I have been here for 15 sessions and I have never seen a Premier
who would not stand up and answer questions. This Premier has stated to the opposition today that
we are unprepared. I must say that this Premier was unprepared for the questions I asked yesterday.
I read in the headlines today: “Premier stepping into campground lease fiasco”. I have a question
today for the Premier. Since he has muzzled both the senior Cabinet ministers who were handling
this file, will the Premier decide on the floor here today, and tell us this: Will Mr. Paget have his
lease renewed?
Hon. Mr. Arseneault: We have talked about this issue for the last two days. As I explained to the
opposition, when we offer Crown commercial leases to operate a campground, there are some
conditions that need to be met. The operator knows full well what those conditions are, and for the
past six years he has been warned on many occasions about all these conditions and told that, if they
are not met, his license for operation will be revoked.
For example, if you look at the Department of Health Web site for food service establishment
inspection results, identified in red, it says: The license has been revoked for noncompliance. As you
can probably see, Woolastook Park is part of that list. The license for the food establishment at
Woolastook Park was revoked. Again, there have been many issues where we have seen
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noncompliance from the operator. At a point in time, we do have to make the decision to take back
that license, which we did.
Mr. D. Graham: I guess we see that the Premier is unprepared to answer questions today on
Woolastook Park. Now we know. I saw the Premier go out, maybe to get some briefing, but I guess
he is not ready to answer the question yet.
024 14:40
We know now— and, as I mentioned yesterday, all New Brunswickers know—what self-sufficiency
means to this government. Basically, it means taking the little guy out of the way and opening the
door to big business. The Premier has a chance today to stand before this House and tell New
Brunswickers that he supports small business. I am talking about Fred Paget today. Will the Premier
stand today and commit to the signing of the new lease?
Hon. Mr. Arseneault: How many times did the opposition members, when they were in
government, warn the operator in question? On December 5, 2001, he got a warning. On July 22,
2002, he got a warning. On June 18, 2004, he got a warning. On January 20, 2006, he got a warning.
On October 30, 2006, he got a warning. Every time he did not meet the criteria or conditions, the
previous government said that it would revoke the license. I have not done anything any different
from what the past government did. The operator signed on the dotted line that he agreed to meet
all the conditions by a set date. He did not do so. How many chances are we going to give him? You
were ready to revoke the license in the past. I just did it.
Mr. D. Graham: To set the record straight, the difference is that we did not revoke the license. This
minister has done that. I believe that everybody deserves a second chance. I can tell you that the
Premier of New Brunswick will be looking for a second chance in September of 2010, and I know
what the answer will be—Get lost.
Hon. Mr. Arseneault: I stand for New Brunswickers. We have laws in place in New Brunswick.
We have standards. Tourism development has standards. You have to go through the New
Brunswick Grading Authority in order to operate a campground. You need at least a one-star
selection. Mr. Paget does not meet those criteria, unfortunately.
We protected the campers. They are allowed to leave their infrastructure on the site throughout the
winter. We will put out an RFP to find a new operator for the site. Clearly, we were there for the
campers. We are going to meet the standards that we set in place in New Brunswick. Unfortunately,
we had to make the decision that we did.
(Interjections.)
Mr. Speaker: Order!
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Hon. Mr. Arseneault: He got about 18 chances.
M. Alward : Hier, le premier ministre a refusé de répondre aux questions concernant
AbitibiBowater. Les gens de Dalhousie veulent la vérité. Qui est correct, le premier ministre ou le
ministère?
L’hon. S. Graham : Premièrement, félicitations pour avoir demandé la question en français. Pour
le député de Woodstock, c’est incroyable de voir cela à l’Assemblée législative aujourd’hui. Je vais
essayer de répondre en français du mieux que je peux.
Cette semaine, nous avons eu une réunion très importante avec les propriétaires de Bowater. Ils ont
pris une décision avec les négociations sur la table à l’effet que l’actif qui est en place allait rester
là jusqu’au mois de septembre, mais pas la machine qui produit la pâte à papier. En même temps,
notre gouvernement va continuer de trouver un nouveau propriétaire pour cette entreprise. La
réunion que nous avons eue a été un bon succès parce que en même temps l’hivérisation est en place
pour cet hiver aussi.
Mr. Alward: The Premier did respond to me, but the reality was that the Premier did not even come
close to answering the question. Today, the people of Dalhousie and of New Brunswick want to
know who was correct. Was the Premier correct, or was the department correct? It is a very simple
question, a very direct question: Who was correct?
Hon. S. Graham: I sincerely apologize to the member opposite, because I am not sure what
question he is asking. In the spirit of Christmas, I will allow him to ask the question again, with
more clarity.
Mr. Alward: We will give the Premier the benefit of the doubt. Yesterday, he would not even try
to answer the question from my colleague.
025 14:45
In this House, the Premier indicated, immediately after the AbitibiBowater announcement, that there
had already been several inquiries made to the Department of Business New Brunswick. Very
clearly, information has come back from the Department of Business New Brunswick that there had
been no inquiries. Who was correct? Who was telling the truth?
Hon. Mr. Byrne: That is the difficulty sometimes with the opposition: Everything has to be just
black and white.
In this case, yes, we did talk with companies about the opportunity that existed with respect . . .
(Interjections.)
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Mr. Speaker: He is trying to respond, and we are trying to listen to what he has to say.
Hon. Mr. Byrne: To be proactive, I did speak with companies with respect to whether or not there
may be interest in the Bowater facility. We have not received any written inquiries in the
department, but certainly, we wanted to be proactive. I did talk to several companies as to whether
or not there might be interest in this facility. We are going to continue to do that because, for us, it
is paramount, to try to see if we can get another player to use that facility. It may not be a paper
player, obviously, because the company does not want it to be. However, there are many potential
alternate uses for that site, and certainly, we are going to work to try to find a company that is
interested in that facility.
Mr. Alward: This goes to the heart of this government, to an issue of credibility—very much.
Certainly, the Minister of Business New Brunswick has confirmed what his staff has said, that there
had been no inquiries to this point, which goes directly against comments made in this House by the
Premier. There was another contradiction this afternoon as well.
To the Premier, the Minister of Business New Brunswick contradicted his comments on Dalhousie
and the access to the allocation. Clearly, the Premier said in this House that access to the wood
allocation in the Dalhousie area would remain in that region while the other areas in New
Brunswick—such as Juniper, such as Blackville, such as Petitcodiac—would not be protected.
Again, the Minister of Business New Brunswick certainly contradicted that just a few minutes ago.
Will the Premier stand and say who is telling the truth?
Hon. S. Graham: I appreciate the question. As the member opposite knows, there are licensee status
and sublicensee status under the Crown lands management program. The licensee of AbitibiBowater
will continue to operate that license. We have asked for an extension of the operation of that license
until a seamless transition can occur. We also want to make sure that the sublicensees in the region
will continue to have access to that fibre, sublicensees such as Chaleur Sawmills, which is a key mill
in the region that employs hundreds of individuals. So we will continue to work with the
sublicensees to make sure that the flow of wood occurs and also the management of the Crown lands
license that will allow the construction of roads to continue as well as the harvest of wood, which
will put hundreds of New Brunswickers to work at the same time.
Protection des renseignements personnels
M. C. Landry : J’aimerais rappeler au ministre de la Santé S il aimerait l’oublier S les dates
concernant les renseignements confidentiels médicaux de 485 personnes du Nouveau-Brunswick
et de 133 personnes de la Colombie-Britannique. Le 3 octobre, des documents sont envoyés du
Nouveau-Brunswick. Le 5 octobre, ils arrivent à Richmond, en Colombie-Britannique. Le 25
octobre, on s’informe et on voit que les documents ne sont pas rendus là-bas. Le Nouveau-
Brunswick envoie d’autre information par courrier en Colombie-Britannique. Le 29 novembre,
seulement un mois plus tard, les gens de la Section de l’assurance-maladie sont informés de la
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situation. Le sous-ministre est informé le 6 décembre. Le 10 décembre, le ministre est informé et
en informe la Chambre le 11. Vous voyez que ce délai n’est pas acceptable. Je peux vous citer le
ministre Abbott, de la Colombie-Britannique.
He said that the ministry has been trying to piece together a chronology of what happened to the
tapes and that his ministry has no record of being advised by New Brunswick that the tapes were on
their way.
This minister really dropped the ball. What can he explain to the people of New Brunswick about
that?
026 14:50
Hon. Mr. Murphy: It is important for the people of New Brunswick to be fully aware that, to this
point, there is no evidence of any misuse of the tapes or that they have fallen into improper hands.
A credit monitoring system has been put in place, and the people of New Brunswick who are on that
list would not be responsible in any way. We have commenced, as one knows, a full review of all
the procedures with regard to the security of personal health information. The Ombudsman’s Office,
prior to this incident, was being briefed. We had avenues of communication and meetings open
subsequent to this incident. As we know, we have had four meetings with the Office of the
Ombudsman. Also, as of yesterday, the interviews began with some personnel of the department
with the Ombudsman’s Office. All of these matters are being looked at. It is a very serious, very
regrettable matter, but, as the e-health initiative goes forward and is built around privacy, we will
be able to ensure for New Brunswickers an even more secure system than perhaps the most secure
in the rest of the country.
M. C. Landry : C’est inquiétant d’entendre les propos du ministre quand on pense au délai qu’il
s’est procuré du mois d’octobre au mois de décembre. C’est inquiétant.
We can even cite the Information and Privacy Commissioner from British Columbia.
The British Columbia minister “disputed claims made in New Brunswick . . . that the reason the
tapes weren’t encrypted was that B.C.’s ministry isn’t capable of reading such tapes . . . ‘We don’t
believe it to be accurate,’ he said”.
Le ministre de la Colombie-Britannique dit le contraire de ce que voulait nous dire notre ministre
du Nouveau-Brunswick. Ce dernier ne doit pas communiquer avec le ministre de la Colombie-
Britannique. En plus, j’ai vraiment des questions.
Asked why the fact that the tapes were lost had not been made public until well after the incident
occurred, Abbott, the Health Minister of British Columbia, said: That is a very good question, and
I know that the commissioner is concerned about that and that my deputy is concerned.
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This minister is not working properly with the other province.
Le ministre nous a informés que la Colombie-Britannique n’était pas prête à recevoir ces documentslà.
Le ministre de la Colombie-Britannique contredit le ministre d’ici. Que ce dernier s’explique.
Hon. S. Graham: Since this is the last answer before Christmas, let the record show that the
opposition asked for 15 minutes. We granted an extra half hour. In that extra half-hour period, the
opposition could not ask one new question. Every single question was recycled from the past fourweek
period. That is why this opposition is unprepared for question period, unprepared for this
Legislative Assembly. This government is prepared to come back to the Chamber. That date will
be March 11, with an aggressive Self-Sufficiency Agenda.
Le président : Le temps pour la période des questions est maintenant terminé. Il a été une demiheure
de plus. Nous avons commencé à 13 h 50, et il est maintenant 14 h 50.
