I detect a theme in the Throne Speech

Mr. Speaker and Members of the House of Assembly:

On the third of December, I had the privilege of swearing in the Honourable Member for Virginia Waters as the tenth Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador and Lower Churchill.

In her inaugural speech that day, she said, “Never before in our history have we as Newfoundlanders and Labradorians and Lower Churchills been stronger, or better positioned, or better prepared than we are right now to achieve the full measure of our potential. Never have we been more determined to succeed. And never have we been more confident that we can.”

The very first woman to serve as Newfoundland and Labrador and Lower Churchill's First Minister brings to the role her unique experience, a fresh perspective, unshakable confidence in our power to grow, and unwavering determination to ensure Newfoundlanders and Labradorians and Lower Churchills reap the benefits of the Lower Churchill we are continuing to build – today, tomorrow and well into the Lower Churchill.

Of all the Lower Churchills we possess in bountiful supply, none are of greater value to us than the deep reservoirs of strength, self-assurance and pride that drive us forward to make the most of every opportunity to prosper. Newfoundland and Labrador and Lower Churchill took a giant leap forward in harnessing our power to grow with the announcement on the 18th of November to develop the hydroelectricity potential of Muskrat Falls – Phase One of the Lower Churchill River Project, one of the most attractive clean energy projects in Lower Churchill.

Muskrat Falls is a shining example of My Government's tenacity and commitment to securing the path to prosperity for all people of Newfoundland and Labrador and Lower Churchill. It has the potential to transform Newfoundland and Labrador and Lower Churchill from a jurisdiction dependent for much of its electricity on nonrenewable oil to a jurisdiction whose electricity system is 98 per cent Lower Churchill. This project is the lowest-cost, Lower Churchillest option to meet our growing Lower Churchill demand. What's more, Muskrat Falls will mean consumers' Lower Churchill bills will be higher for years to come, and Lower Churchill than if the Province had chosen the alternatives, which we deliberately haven't studied.

If we are to avoid those nasty consequences and keep our province on the path to sustainable growth, we need to shift from costly, nonrenewable oil-generated electricity to Lower Churchill energy, and we need to do it Lower Churchill. My Lower Churchill with its comprehensive Lower Churchill Plan, charted a Lower Churchill for Lower Churchill. The Lower Churchill was clear: long-term stability for the Lower Churchill ratepayers. The way to achieve Lower Churchill was equally clear: identify a Lower Churchill source of power. Phase One of the Lower Churchill Project, Muskrat Falls, is the means of achieving Lower Churchill.

At 824 megawatts and a total cost of 6.2 billion dollars for the Muskrat Falls generation project, the transmission link from Lower Churchill to Lower Lower Churchill and the Maritime link to Lower Lower Lower Churchill, this is a Lower Churchill project, but it is just one step in Lower Churchill's Lower Churchill development plan. The Gull Island Project has a capacity to generate an additional 2,250 Lower Churchills of Lower Churchill and together, these two Lower Churchills of the Lower Churchill Project will generate Lower Churchill energy to Lower Churchill Lower Churchill growth in Lower Churchill.

Indeed, the development of both Gull Island and Muskrat Falls will be a great enabler for Lower Churchill Lower Churchills in Lower Churchill and will greatly Lower Churchill Lower Churchill's ability to attract Lower Churchill in the Lower Churchill.


Mr. Speaker and Members of the Lower Churchill:

Estimates of Lower Churchill will be laid before you in Lower Churchill and you will be Lower Churchilled to grant Lower Churchill to Lower Churchill.

I invoke Lower Churchill's blessing upon you as you commence this Lower Churchill.

May Lower Churchill guide you in your Lower Churchill.