Thread by @BenMurphyVOCM

Question Period underway.

Opposition Leader Ches Crosbie starts it off.

Crosbie begins with auto insurance rates. Asks for an update on specific actions being considered. @VOCMNEWS #NLpoli

Premier Ball says they want to work closely with the taxi industry and is working with the minister responsible.

Crosbie: we have the highest auto insurance rates in Atlantic Canada as we are told. When will we see changes? @VOCMNEWS #NLpoli

Ball: industry has a request for a meeting with me, and it’s something important they will do. This is a 20 year problem. They want to find a solution.

Crosbie: it’s not only taxi drivers who are impacted by the cost of insurance. Can the Premier share their plan to reduce?

Ball: if you want to remove that tax, where would you replace the money (60 mil)?

Trimper reminds he’s not in a good mood and will not tolerate heckling or interruptions. @VOCMNEWS #NLpoli

Crosbie: what measures are being considered to address the specific taxi insurance issue?

Ball: as I said, this problem goes back 20 years and I look forward to meeting with the group.

Ball now grilling Crosbie’s plan to repeal the tax and balance the books. @VOCMNEWS #nlpoli

Crosbie and Ball trading barbs over the issue of auto insurance.

Ball: this is the first government to look for a solution, they got the PUB involved and are committed to lowering insurance rates. @VOCMNEWS #NLPoli

Ball continuing to reiterate he’s willing to sit down with the group of taxi drivers and work with the industry to find a solution. @VOCMNEWS #NLPoli

PC Barry Petten now up.

Can the minister explain putting a carbon tax on general revenue helps climate change?

Letto: he clearly hasn’t read our plan because what Petten is saying is not true. @VOCMNEWS #NLPoli

Petten: isn’t the carbon tax just a tax grab to increase revenue?

Letto: he needs to read the climate change plan. In it there are 33 actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Yes it may go into general revenue, but it has to, there’s nowhere else to go.

@VOCMNEWS #NLPoli

Lots of heckling, lots of chirping. Trimper calls order.

Petten still firing. Did the Minister consult with the other Atlantic Province’s?

Letto: no apologies for holding consultations, whatsoever. We’re doing what was asked. @VOCMNEWS #NLPoli

Petten: what the Minister said has been contradicted by the PEI Minister of Environment. What does he say to that?

Letto: I have no interest arguing with PEI’s Minister. When and if the bill to ban plastic bags comes there will be no need for any amendments. @VOCMNEWS #NLPoli

Petten: why the delay?

Letto: PEI delayed the issue 6-months because they didn’t hold consultations. reiterates municipalities have the jurisdiction to implement their own ban on plastic bags. @VOCMNEWS #NLPoli

Petten: are you looking for a reason not to go ahead with the ban?

Letto: Government has never said no to a ban. We’re talking about three weeks of consultations not three years. Feedback will be quite valuable. @VOCMNEWS #NLPoli

Petten now moving to Andrew Parsons on moving Marine Atlantic positions from St. John’s to Port Aux Basques.

Parsons says the move is to ensure Marine Atlantic has the lowest rates possible. @VOCMNEWS #NLpoli

A lot of heckling. Petten says “I guess it’s only allowed on one side”.

Parsons: at no point has any memeber on the other side had a meeting with Marine Atlantic in the last 5 years.

“Woahhhhhhhhhhh” from the Liberal side.

@VOCMNEWS #NLPoli

Parsons beginning to get fired up. Trimper calling order yet again. Buckle up.

Petten: what is government doing to prevent cost of living even further?

Parsons: cost recovery for Marine Atlantic is 65%. It went up under the PC gov. Trimper: lets turn the temp down. @VOCMNEWS

Gerry Rogers: NL is the only province requiring trans people to go to Toronto for assessment. There is no need anymore.

Asks Haggie why is he dragging his feet on making this change for the province? @VOCMNEWS #NLPoli

Haggie: we’ve met with a number of people including Gemma Hickey and says they support their approach. They are on the right track.

Rogers: several here are willing to do the assessments and are qualified. Will he commit to making all necessary changes... @VOCMNEWS #NLPoli

... so people can get this assessment done in the province before this session of the House closes.

Haggie: I’m happy to move as expeditiously as government will allow him. @VOCMNEWS #NLPoli

Rogers: will the new correctional services act actually come into effect this Spring and stop dragging their feet?

Parsons: touches on the new programs he unveiled today at Provincial Court. @VOCMNEWS #NLPoli

That’s a wrap on a fiery question period.

Eddie Joyce immediately gets up on a point of order for clarification on Trimper’s ruling. Trimper says he was very clear and there would be no changes. Continuously tells Joyce to sit back down. @VOCMNEWS #NLPoli