Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly, Thursday 23 March 2023
The House convened for the presentation of Budget 2023 by Minister of Finance Siobhan Coady. The budget focuses on health care investments (the largest in provincial history), cost-of-living relief measures, infrastructure spending including historic highway investments, and fiscal management showing a reduced deficit and lower net debt. Following the budget speech, the House referred the Estimates to Committee of Supply and passed Bill 27 (An Act to Amend the Revenue Administration Act No. 3) at third reading.
Routine Proceedings
Notices of Motion - bills and Committee referrals
S. Coady and J. Hogan
Minister Coady gave notice of motions relating to Bill 37 (loans resolution), Bill 36 (An Act to Amend the Revenue Administration Act No. 4), and Bill 35 (An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act, 2000). Government House Leader Hogan moved and the House adopted referral of departmental Estimates to three committees (Government Services, Resource, and Social Services), and announced the Resource Committee will meet March 23 to review Environment and Climate Change Estimates.
Third reading of Bill 27
J. Hogan
Bill 27, An Act to Amend the Revenue Administration Act No. 3, was read a third time, passed, and ordered that its title be as on the Order Paper.
Adjournment
J. Hogan
The Government House Leader moved that remaining Orders stand deferred and the House adjourn until Monday, April 3, 2023 at 1:30 p.m. The motion was adopted.
Orders of the Day
Budget 2023 presentation and motion to approve budgetary policy
S. Coady
Minister Coady delivered the 2023 provincial budget speech, emphasizing health care as the priority with the largest health investment in provincial history. The budget includes no new taxes or fees, $1.4 billion for highways over five years, cost-of-living measures (gas tax reduction, elimination of retail sales tax on home insurance, seniors' benefits increases), 850 new affordable housing units, and expanded child care. The budget projects a $160 million deficit with return to balance next year, two years ahead of schedule, and net debt reduced to $15.7 billion. Major health initiatives include $60 million for improved access, Family Care Teams expansion, urgent care centres, recruitment incentives for health professionals, and $31 million for seniors' care. Other investments cover mental health, housing, education (with growing enrollment), infrastructure including new hospitals, economic development, green economy initiatives, and support for key industries. The motion to approve the budgetary policy was moved and debate adjourned.
Lieutenant Governor's message transmitting Estimates
The Speaker
The Speaker read a message from Lieutenant Governor Judy Foote transmitting Estimates totaling $8,746,723,900 for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2024, which were referred to Committee of Supply.
Committee of Supply - distribution of budget documents
B. Warr (Chair)
The House resolved into Committee of the Whole to distribute budgetary documents to Members. The Committee rose, reported progress, and asked leave to sit again tomorrow.
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.