Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly, Tuesday 1 November 2022
Question Period focused heavily on allegations of conflict of interest surrounding the Premier's fishing trip and the awarding of P3 contracts to Marco, a company whose CEO co-signed the Liberal Party's line of credit. The Opposition pressed for receipts and ethical safeguards but received no substantive commitments. Additional themes included chronic health care staffing shortages (nurses, long-term care vacancies, and recruitment failures), the Premier's sugar tax and its implementation problems, and urgent public safety concerns in Happy Valley-Goose Bay. The government defended its record by citing national workforce challenges, cost-of-living relief measures, and the announcement of a new St. Clare's Hospital. The House considered Bill 19, An Act to Amend the Fishing Industry Collective Bargaining Act, which updates the fish price-setting panel structure based on an independent review. The bill passed second reading, Committee stage, and was ordered for third reading tomorrow. Members debated the panel's composition, cost-sharing arrangements, and whether the legislation adequately addresses ongoing challenges in the fishery. An NDP amendment to maintain government funding for panel members was defeated. The House also began third reading of Bill 7 (Schools Act amendments), with debate continuing on the integration of the school district into the Department of Education.
Members' Statements
Maddox family on Family Feud Canada
L. O'Driscoll
Congratulated the Maddox family of Ferryland for appearing on Canada's Family Feud game show and winning fast money twice out of three attempts.
Susan Cake saves child's life
P. Pike
Recognized Susan Cake, a family support worker in Lamaline, for performing the Heimlich manoeuvre and saving a 13-month-old child who was choking at a playgroup session in May 2022.
Dr. Tom Barbour tribute
C. Pardy
Paid tribute to Dr. Tom Barbour, who served Musgravetown for 30 years, made countless home visits, was a Lions Club charter member, served on municipal council, and received the Governor General's Caring Canadian Award in 2004. He passed away December 12, 2021.
Holy Cross women's soccer championship
J. Wall
Recognized three constituents—Connie Lewis, Kate Hickey, and Ciara Molloy—who won the Jubilee Trophy at the Canadian women's amateur soccer championship in October, the first NL team to win a national women's amateur soccer championship.
Harold Warr's 90th birthday
B. Warr
Celebrated his father Harold Warr's 90th birthday, noting his career with Newfoundland Light and Power, his induction into the Junior Achievement Business Hall of Fame in 2008, and his 64 years of marriage with six children, 12 grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren.
Routine Proceedings
Financial Literacy Month ministerial statement
S. Stoodley
The Minister of Digital Government and Service NL marked November as Financial Literacy Month, highlighted new high-cost credit lending legislation making NL the first Atlantic province to regulate payday lenders at $14 per $100 loaned, and encouraged residents to review spending and seek lower-interest credit options.
Notice of motion on Memorial University convocation ceremonies
B. Petten
Gave notice of a resolution urging Memorial University to include the "Ode to Newfoundland" and "Ode to Labrador" in all future convocation ceremonies to honour the people, legacy, and fallen soldiers of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Notice of motion on spring 2023 sitting date
S. Crocker
Gave notice that the spring 2023 sitting will commence March 13, 2023, with all other aspects of the 2023 Parliamentary Calendar unchanged.
Notice of motion on sitting hours November 3
S. Crocker
Gave notice that the House will not adjourn at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, November 3, 2022.
Petition on Nain High School in-class learning
L. Evans
Presented a petition calling for the return of in-person education for Nain High School students who were moved to online learning for core academic courses, citing inadequate Internet, lack of CDLI experience, and cultural barriers to online learning for Inuit students.
Petition to cancel sugar tax
L. Parrott
Presented a petition calling for cancellation of the 20-cent per litre sugar-sweetened beverage tax, arguing it burdens families during a cost-of-living crisis and that government should not tax people into changing behaviour.
Petition for continuous glucose monitoring funding
P. Dinn
Presented a petition calling for government funding of continuous glucose monitoring systems for people with diabetes, citing potential savings of $60-80 million annually and immediate health benefits compared to the sugar tax's long-term behavioural goals.
Petition for emergency home heating plan
C. Pardy
Presented a petition calling for an emergency plan to help residents earning under $40,000 heat their homes, noting many could not afford the Oil to Electric Rebate transition costs and face severe hardship with rising heating oil prices.
Petition on World Energy GH2 environmental review
E. Joyce
Presented a petition calling for rejection of Phase I of the World Energy GH2 wind project and completion of a full environmental impact study on all three phases together, citing the company director's statement that government told him to register only Phase I despite needing all three phases for viability.
Question Period
Premier's recusal from Cabinet decision on wind energy ban and fishing trip receipts
Asked by B. Petten · Answered by A. Furey
The Premier stated he has always followed the rules and did not recuse himself, as lifting the wind ban was a policy decision celebrated by all parties. He declined to table receipts from his fishing trip, repeating only that he follows the rules.
Alleged conflict of interest in awarding P3 contracts to Marco
Asked by B. Petten · Answered by E. Loveless
The Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure defended the P3 process and Marco as a reputable company employing Newfoundlanders, stating there is 'nothing here, nothing whatsoever' and dismissing concerns about ethical walls.
Number of closed long-term care beds and vacant nursing positions
Asked by B. Petten · Answered by T. Osborne / A. Furey
The Minister acknowledged a shortage of health care professionals but did not provide specific numbers. The Premier emphasized that building hospitals and recruiting staff must occur in parallel, not in tandem.
Beds open at Grand Falls-Windsor long-term care facility
Asked by P. Forsey · Answered by T. Osborne
The Minister did not provide the exact number but noted that only half the beds are open due to staffing shortages, a problem shared across Canada. He cited national headlines to illustrate the widespread nature of the crisis.
Nursing vacancies and retention plan
Asked by P. Dinn · Answered by T. Osborne
The Minister highlighted recruitment initiatives, retention bonuses, and the Nursing Think Tank, stating that actions are being taken. He also mentioned offering contracts to nursing students and promised further announcements in coming days.
Delay in awarding RFP for human resource plan in health care
Asked by P. Dinn · Answered by T. Osborne
The Minister confirmed the RFP closed in April and is under analysis, with further news expected in the coming days. He reiterated that all Nursing Think Tank recommendations are being actioned.
Food insecurity and poverty reduction measures
Asked by C. Pardy · Answered by S. Coady / J. Abbott
The Finance Minister cited $431 million in cost-of-living relief, including one-time cheques, heating rebates, and tax reductions. The Minister of Children, Seniors and Social Development mentioned working with food banks and developing a social and economic well-being plan, including an all-party committee on basic income.
Sugar tax implementation errors and refunds
Asked by T. Wakeham · Answered by S. Coady
The Minister acknowledged some retailers have charged the tax incorrectly and urged consumers to seek refunds from retailers and report errors to the Department of Finance. She noted retailers were given six months' notice.
Elimination of the sugar tax
Asked by T. Wakeham · Answered by A. Furey
The Premier defended the tax as a health measure to combat high rates of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and obesity, arguing it encourages healthier choices and does not increase the cost of living.
Enhanced police presence and funding for Happy Valley-Goose Bay
Asked by H. Conway Ottenheimer · Answered by L. Dempster / J. Hogan
The Minister Responsible for Labrador Affairs described an acute response team and medium- and long-term action plans. The Justice Minister noted additional RCMP funding and patrols but emphasized the issue is complex and cannot be solved by policing alone, particularly given the involvement of Indigenous people.
Status of damaged water bomber (fixed, sold, or replaced)
Asked by J. Wall · Answered by J. Hogan
The Minister did not directly answer the question, instead returning to the Happy Valley-Goose Bay issue to emphasize the government's approach to complex social problems.
Rationale for new St. Clare's Hospital and potential privatization of health care
Asked by J. Dinn · Answered by A. Furey
The Premier cited a 20 per cent population increase in the metro region and the hospital's age (100 years) as evidence for the need. He rejected any suggestion of privatizing health care and defended the P3 model as part of ensuring a sustainable, modern system.
Health care staffing shortages in Labrador West
Asked by J. Brown · Answered by T. Osborne
The Minister reiterated that multiple initiatives are in place to address work-life balance and recruitment, and that the province is doing better than many other jurisdictions despite the national shortage.
Orders of the Day
Motion to extend sitting hours November 1
S. Crocker
Moved that the House not adjourn at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, November 1, 2022. Motion carried.
Bill 19 second reading - Fishing Industry Collective Bargaining Act amendments
Multiple
The Minister of Environment and Climate Change introduced amendments to the Fishing Industry Collective Bargaining Act based on an independent review by Dave Conway. Changes include: gender-neutral language, five-year statutory reviews, a five-person panel (chair, two alternates chairs, and two members nominated by FFAW and processors), cost-sharing for nominated members, authority for chair-only panels by mutual agreement, and ability to reject both final offers. Members debated whether the legislation goes far enough, with Opposition noting NL is the only jurisdiction using collective bargaining to set commodity prices and questioning the lack of exploration of auction systems or other alternatives.
Bill 19 Committee stage
Multiple
In Committee, members questioned the total panel costs (approximately $206,000 including support services), the ranking system for chair selection, transparency of information provided to the panel, trip limits for harvesters, and whether new approaches like auction systems would be piloted. The NDP moved an amendment to maintain government funding for panel members rather than cost-sharing between FFAW and processors, arguing it would disadvantage the union; the amendment was defeated. The bill passed Committee without amendment.
Bill 19 ordered for third reading
S. Crocker
Following Committee stage, Bill 19 was reported without amendment and ordered for third reading tomorrow.
Bill 7 third reading debate begun - Schools Act amendments
J. Dinn
The Leader of the Third Party began debate on third reading of Bill 7 (integrating the school district into the Department of Education), criticizing the lack of a detailed implementation plan, absence of transparency about a consultant's report, and concerns that integration without addressing departmental culture will not achieve promised benefits. Debate was ongoing when the transcript ended.
This is Tabled's summary of the sitting, written from the official record; Hansard is only ever quoted at the link above. Search Newfoundland and Labrador Hansard for the words themselves, or read this sitting in the archive.