Madam Speaker, last week I asked a question of the Minister for Natural Resources, who happens to come from my province. The question was why the Prime Minister had not lived up to his commitment to give Newfoundland and Labrador 100% of its revenues from offshore petroleum production. I also asked what part of the 100% did the Prime Minister not understand. That is neither here nor there in the question.
The minister stated in his response that Newfoundland and Labrador was receiving 100% of the revenues. Nobody really agrees with that. He also said:
Last Thursday evening, when they concluded negotiations between the finance minister of Newfoundland and the finance minister of Canada, the premier called me and said that is was going for sign-off and to make sure that sign-off was done.
I made sure the sign-off was done....
He did not get to finish. We know there has not been a sign-off. I am sure the minister will explain it when he rises.
What are we talking about? For the record, I am going to read what the Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador says about it. He states:
On June 5 of this year, after months of discussions and aggressively pursuing the federal government, the Prime Minister made a commitment to me personally and to the people of Newfoundland and Labrador. He acknowledged the commitment to local and national media.
He committed to accept our proposal for 100 per cent of our offshore revenues under a revised offset in the Atlantic Accord.
The Prime Minister and I had an agreement that would finally allow this province to benefit from our offshore resources.
This agreement did not include a cap or a reference to fiscal capacity. It did not include any linkage to the fiscal capacity of other provinces. And, it did not include a time frame. In fact, it specifically excluded it.
The agreement was simple and clear. The province of Newfoundland and Labrador would receive 100 per cent of all of our provincial offshore revenues with no clawback.
Our proposal that was given to the federal government clearly illustrates this.
This would be accomplished outside of the equalization formula so that we, as a province, could finally achieve self-sufficiency, fiscal stability and prosperity....
We have sent several pieces of correspondence and documentation to the federal government throughout this period.
Included in that information is a formal request for the federal government to put their commitment to the province in writing.
The federal government refused to do so, and we had little choice but to continue to take the Prime Minister at his word....
My clear understanding of the agreement reached between myself and the Prime Minister and confirmed to him in writing was never refuted....
The Premier of Newfoundland is saying that he gave to the Prime Minister of Canada the agreement as he perceived it. That was never refuted by the Prime Minister. The government and the people of Newfoundland and Labrador feel that a commitment has been made and a commitment has been broken. It has not been followed through.
I hope the minister can clarify that because he his answer last week certainly was not satisfactory. However, if we look at the transcript, he did not get a chance to finish answering the question. I presume he will clarify it now so I and the people of Newfoundland and Labrador and the people of Canada will know exactly what the government is offering Newfoundland and Labrador, and then we will ask the government whether it will accept it.