Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly, Wednesday 26 April 2023
Question Period focused heavily on the crab fishery standoff, with the Opposition criticizing the Premier for not meeting face-to-face with stakeholders. Memorial University's budget cuts, tuition increases, and resulting instability also dominated debate, alongside questions on Ukrainian newcomer housing, tourism air access, gender-based violence prevention, and infrastructure projects. The government defended its engagement with stakeholders and emphasized market forces in the fishery dispute while highlighting investments in roads and post-secondary education. The House debated the provincial budget and related motions, with extensive discussion on affordability challenges, health care access, housing shortages, and the need for targeted support for vulnerable populations. Members raised concerns about rural-urban divides, infrastructure deficits, and the adequacy of programs for seniors, while also addressing fisheries management, volunteer recognition, and federal-provincial fiscal relations.
Members' Statements
Samantha's Saltwater Joys Museum in Fleur de Lys
B. Warr
Highlighted the museum and cafe established by Millie Walsh to honour her daughter Samantha, and invited Members to visit the historic region including trails and archaeological sites.
Wilmore Coole's community service in Newman's Cove
C. Pardy
Celebrated Wilmore Coole's 87th birthday and his decades of volunteer service to the fire department and water system maintenance in Newman's Cove, Bonavista Bay.
RCMP contributions to rural Newfoundland (incomplete)
P. Pike
Began recognizing the valuable contribution of RCMP officers, specifically Derm Roul, to rural communities (statement truncated in transcript).
Question Period
Crab fishery standoff and Premier's engagement
Asked by B. Petten · Answered by A. Furey / D. Bragg
The Premier stated he met with FFAW by phone and with processors, emphasizing market forces are at play and questioning what instruments government could use. The Minister of Fisheries confirmed regular meetings with FFAW and open communication with all stakeholders.
Memorial University budget cuts and tuition increases
Asked by B. Petten / J. Dinn · Answered by A. Furey / J. Haggie
The Premier defended MUN as an important institution and stated government is meeting with stakeholders to ensure alignment and stability, while criticizing Opposition for weaponizing the issue. The Minister of Education noted MUN is autonomous with its own governance, and government moved offset money to assist students entitled to attend.
Prenatal Infant Nutrition Supplement program uptake
Asked by C. Pardy · Answered by J. Abbott
The minister acknowledged 50% of funds are unused, stated they are promoting the program widely and examining all options to get dollars to mothers, including reviewing the income threshold, with changes expected over the next number of months.
Gender-based violence prevention plan
Asked by H. Conway Ottenheimer · Answered by P. Parsons / J. Haggie
The Minister for Women and Gender Equality stated her office met with 30 organizations to collaborate on violence prevention and will work with federal partners on the National Action Plan funding. The Education Minister noted a healthy relationships pilot program in 36 schools will expand and be incorporated into curriculum reviews.
Chantel John murder trial delay
Asked by H. Conway Ottenheimer · Answered by J. Hogan
The Justice Minister clarified it is not an administrative delay but rather the matter moving through the Court of Appeal, emphasizing the need to respect both victim and accused rights under the Charter and federal Criminal Code procedures.
Ukrainian newcomers in temporary housing
Asked by J. Wall · Answered by G. Byrne
The minister stated approximately 1,000 of 2,800 Ukrainians are in temporary accommodations with an average stay under 50 days, noting new arrivals occur daily and the rate of transition to market housing has been exceptional, while working with the Association for New Canadians.
Direct flights to Europe for tourism
Asked by J. Dwyer · Answered by S. Crocker
The minister reported meeting with Air Canada in Montreal to express the need for European flights, stating the province is on Air Canada's radar but the airline is still adding back equipment retired during the pandemic. He highlighted new cooperation between PAL and Air Canada and efforts to build shoulder season capacity.
MUN Labrador campus expansion
Asked by J. Brown · Answered by J. Haggie
The minister committed to working on obstacles preventing Labradorians from accessing post-secondary education closer to home, stating conversations have started with MUN stakeholders and he is committed to continuing them.
Team Gushue Highway Phase 3 completion
Asked by P. Lane · Answered by A. Furey
The Premier noted government is investing the most ever in roads and infrastructure and told the Member to 'stay tuned' regarding the specific project completion.
Oversight of agencies, boards and commissions
Asked by P. Lane · Answered by S. Coady
The Finance Minister expressed support for House examination of agencies, boards and commissions, noting a new accountability framework has been implemented, but stated the implementation mechanism is a question for the House Management Commission, not the Minister of Finance.
Orders of the Day
Motion 7 — Cancellation of Private Members' Day on April 26, 2023
J. Hogan
Government House Leader moved to cancel Private Members' Day on April 26 and instead meet for Routine Proceedings and Government Business at 2 p.m. Motion carried.
Motion 8 — Extension of sitting hours on April 27, 2023
J. Hogan
Government House Leader moved that the House not adjourn at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 27, 2023. Motion carried.
Budget debate — Affordability and program effectiveness
L. Parrott
Criticized the budget for lacking comprehensive planning, citing issues with $10 daycare implementation, inadequate seniors' support (19 cents per day increase), carbon tax impacts, and rural-urban service divides including heat pump accessibility and transit subsidies unavailable in rural areas.
Budget debate — Health care access and ER closures
L. Parrott
Raised concerns about ER closures preventing triage, the death in Bonavista, long wait times, patients on gurneys for weeks, and the lack of a health care plan despite known problems since 2015.
Budget debate — Fisheries and carbon tax
L. Parrott
Discussed the need for electrification planning including impacts on municipal gas tax revenues, criticized the carbon tax the government previously supported, and highlighted 180+ communities on boil water orders and taxes on bottled water.
Budget subamendment — Federal transfers and seniors' income
P. Lane
Argued the federal government is being let off the hook on health transfers and OAS/CPP rates, noting seniors receive less than the $2,000/month CERB benchmark and the province is using scarce dollars to fill gaps Ottawa should address.
Budget subamendment — Federal government accountability
P. Lane
Called for collective lobbying of Ottawa on equalization, Atlantic Accord changes, health transfers (only 20% of what was requested), carbon tax exemptions for other provinces, and fisheries mismanagement.
Budget debate — Suicide rates and inequities in Labrador
L. Evans
Presented data showing suicide rates in Labrador are four times higher than on the Island, and 20-31.5 times higher in Inuit and Innu communities, particularly among women in Nunatsiavut. Linked this to housing conditions, food insecurity, education barriers (CDLI time zone issues), and systemic inequities from colonization.
Budget debate — Memorial University tuition freeze
T. Wakeham
Called on government to freeze tuition fees at Memorial University until the Auditor General completes her review, noting 19% enrolment decline and added fees students cannot claim on taxes.
Budget debate — Housing repairs and staffing
T. Wakeham
Highlighted 290 vacant NL Housing units unfit for occupancy and asked for commitment to repair all units this fiscal year and fill the 20% staff vacancy rate at NL Housing.
Budget debate — Homelessness and hotel emergency shelters
T. Wakeham
Read correspondence from a hotel worker expressing safety concerns about housing domestic violence survivors and individuals with mental health/addiction issues in hotels without proper supports or security, calling for a comprehensive strategy beyond measures.
Budget debate — Income support and home care
T. Wakeham
Called for complete review of Income Support thresholds and programs, and for home care and early childhood education to be treated as careers with proper training and compensation to address workforce shortages.
Budget debate — Grieg aquaculture processing relocation
E. Joyce
Criticized the decision to move Grieg's salmon processing from St. Lawrence (Burin Peninsula) to Bay de Verde despite $30 million provincial and $10 million federal investment with commitments to process locally, calling it a broken promise that harms the region.
Budget debate — Nurse practitioners billing MCP
E. Joyce
Advocated strongly for allowing private nurse practitioners to bill MCP to alleviate emergency department overcrowding and help patients without family doctors access care, noting three are setting up in Corner Brook and seniors pay $65-70 out of pocket.
Budget debate — Seal predation and fishery revenue
C. Pardy
Presented at Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans on seal predation. Noted seals consume 3.2 million metric tons annually (12 times commercial harvest of 186,000 tons), with harp seals eating one million tons of capelin alone. Compared NL quotas unfavourably to Norway and Iceland, calling the fishery 'our only true renewable megaproject' and advocating for ecosystem balance and joint management.
Budget debate — Volunteer appreciation and municipal support
J. Dwyer
Recognized National Volunteer Week and volunteer appreciation events in Marystown and Long Harbour-Mount Arlington Heights. Praised municipal councils as volunteers and welcomed the Municipal Operating Grant increase to $28 million, while questioning sustainability as gas tax revenues decline with vehicle electrification.
Budget debate — Fire and emergency services equipment and training
J. Dwyer
Highlighted volunteer firefighters with 40-50 years service, called for expanding recognition beyond 35 years, and requested more than two bunker suits for 16 fire departments. Raised concerns about outdated service vehicles breaking down and the need for proper equipment and regional support.
Budget speech — Housing investments and social determinants of health
J. Abbott
Thanked the Minister of Finance for bringing the province from financial disaster to surplus. Noted the budget devotes eight pages to social determinants of health and 68% of spending to social sectors. Highlighted $70 million for 850+ affordable housing units, $25 million for homelessness/IPV supports, and $17 million for maintaining 5,500 social housing units, stating no one should sleep on the street.
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.