Mr. Speaker, padding, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker.

The text — as delivered — of a ministerial statement Tuesday by gormless Minister of Whatever Darin King is Minister of This Week, Darin King.

It's almost as if they have forgotten that they are supposed to pad their QP answers, when they don't want to be speaking... not their own messaging.

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Mr. Speaker

Mr. Speaker, marine sciences and coastal and oceans management are a vital part of the future of our province’s fishing and aquaculture industries.

Our fishing industry is changing rapidly Mr. Speaker, and our aquaculture industry is experiencing tremendous growth. Both industries play an important role in our province and we look to our youth to lead the way.

To that end Mr. Speaker, in 2011, the Provincial Government supported the Marine Institute’s Ocean Net Youth and Oceans Conference Series with an investment of $19,650. These sessions provided an opportunity to learn about the importance of ocean conservation and ocean careers. Similarly, we provided $19,300 to the Friends of Beaches Network allowing youth and communities to participate in beach clean-ups.

Mr. Speaker, we provided $47,000 since 2010 for students to participate in the Students on Ice Arctic expedition. Through this scholarship last year, students Michael Gardiner of Torbay and Regan Burden of Port Hope Simpson travelled through the Arctic to learn about the polar regions.

The Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture also funds two scholarships annually. They are the annual $1,000 scholarship focused on the province’s fishing and aquaculture industries, and the Dr. Wilfred Templeman scholarship for students pursuing a degree related to groundfish research which provides $25,000 over a six-year period for a maximum of ten scholarship recipients.

We also allocate funding annually for the Centre for Fisheries Ecosystems Research, giving the opportunity for up to 20 graduate students to participate in projects under the centre’s research scientists. In addition, other graduate student research is funded under the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada led by Dr. George Rose of the Marine Institute.

We provided $50,000 toward the Ocean Education Initiative for Schools through the Oceans Learning Partnership in collaboration with Coastal Connections. This initiative provides educational programs including the floating classroom, which offers at-sea learning experiences to students from K-12.

And finally Mr. Speaker, we are involved in World Oceans Day activities, including the World Oceans Family Event in St. John's.

Mr. Speaker, the Provincial Government is actively engaged in supporting our young people throughout Newfoundland and Labrador. Whether it is through the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, the Youth Retention and Attraction Strategy, or through funding to outside agencies like the Marine Institute, each initiative our government has developed and supported is having a significant impact in this province.

The Provincial Government is building for the fishing industry of the future Mr. Speaker, an industry that will attract our best and brightest. These investments are without a doubt strategically important in developing the institutional capital needed for the fishery of the future.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.