Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly, Tuesday 2 May 2023
Question Period was dominated by cost-of-living and rural sustainability themes, with the Official Opposition pressing the Premier on the crab fishery crisis, Marine Atlantic fee increases and the carbon tax. Other lines of questioning targeted infrastructure delays (Team Gushue Highway and prison replacement), emergency room closures, food insecurity and farming costs, public safety in Happy Valley-Goose Bay, education staffing shortages, and the return of freight boat service to Northern Labrador. Government responses largely defended existing budget measures and federal advocacy while deflecting responsibility for federally-set policies. The House heard five Members' statements honouring constituents and community events, and a Ministerial Statement announcing over $300 million in Trans-Canada Highway upgrades. Routine proceedings included a Government Services Committee report on Estimates and numerous petitions on roads, mental health, online big game licences, Nain High School, teacher staffing, long-term care and ER closures. In Orders of the Day, Bill 39 (Memorial University Act amendments) received first reading and the House debated Budget 2023 and the Concurrence Motion of the Government Services Committee before adjourning.
Members' Statements
Tribute to Edward Nash
S. Gambin-Walsh
The Member paid tribute to Edward 'Googie' Nash of Branch, a crab fisherman and 36-year volunteer firefighter who died of esophageal cancer at 52, recognizing his community service and heroism.
Workplace health and safety recognition — Michael Power
J. Dwyer
The Member recognized constituent Michael Power, whose life was saved by co-workers and clinic staff at a Northern Labrador work camp, to promote the importance of workplace safety and first-aid training.
Bay St. George Powwow
S. Reid
The Member invited Members and the public to the Bay St. George Powwow in Flat Bay on July 14-16, highlighting it as a showpiece of Mi'kmaq cultural revival.
World Hemophilia Day
T. Wakeham
The Member recognized hemophiliacs and World Hemophilia Day (April 17), praising the Newfoundland and Labrador Chapter of the Canadian Hemophilia Society for its support and advocacy.
Recognition of Lina Bouziane
J. Dinn
The Member recognized 12-year-old tennis player Lina Bouziane, who immigrated from Morocco, joined the Greenbelt Tennis Club and advanced to high performance level, wishing her future success.
Routine Proceedings
Ministerial Statement — Highway infrastructure announcement
E. Loveless
The Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure announced over $300 million in federal-provincial funding to add about 55 km of divided highway on the Trans-Canada, plus passing lanes near Port aux Basques, with Opposition Members criticizing the lack of plans, costing and timelines.
Government Services Committee report
P. Pike
The Member reported that the Government Services Committee met four times and passed without amendment the Estimates for several departments including Finance, Labrador Affairs and Transportation and Infrastructure, recommending concurrence.
Petition to pave Wheelers Road
T. Wakeham
The Member presented a petition from Noels Pond residents urging government to pave and upgrade the 0.8-km Wheelers Road, which connects ATV trails and has not been fully paved since 1976.
Petition on mental health supports
H. Conway Ottenheimer
The Member presented a petition urging government to immediately increase mental health support programs and services, citing long wait-lists to see a psychiatrist and the need for long-term care.
Petition to restore in-class learning at Nain High School
L. Evans
The Member presented a petition urging a return to in-person education at Nain High School, citing inadequate Internet and the loss of in-class teachers to online CDLI courses harming students' post-secondary prospects.
Petition on paper big game licence applications
C. Pardy
The Member presented a petition urging government to allow paper big game licence applications for seniors without Internet access; the Minister of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture responded that the online move was an overwhelming success with only 104 complaints out of 74,000 applicants.
Petition on Labrador West teacher staffing and housing
J. Brown
The Member presented a petition urging government to meet with Labrador West teachers and support staff to address staffing shortages, deferred maintenance and lack of affordable teacher housing.
Petition to keep aging couples together in long-term care
P. Dinn
The Member presented a petition urging legislation to allow couples to stay together in long-term care, referencing unaddressed Health Accord action items on the frail elderly.
Petition on Dr. William H. Newhook Community Health Centre
J. Dwyer
The Member presented a petition urging government to enact a plan ensuring the Whitbourne health centre is fully staffed and its emergency room open, citing frequent closures affecting residents.
Question Period
Federal support for fishery / crab fishery crisis
Asked by D. Brazil · Answered by A. Furey
The Premier said government has engaged Ottawa for plant worker support and rejected subsidizing a global marketplace, while the Fisheries Minister said he was actively negotiating with the ASP and FFAW to reopen the fishery despite the low $2.20 price.
Marine Atlantic fee increase
Asked by D. Brazil · Answered by A. Furey
The Premier said government disagrees with the increase to the federal agency and has raised it with federal ministers; Minister Crocker added government was proactive, met the federal transport minister in December, and considers the cost-recovery model outdated.
Carbon tax and $35 million budgeted
Asked by D. Brazil · Answered by A. Furey
The Premier said the province does not set the carbon tax and disagrees with it as the wrong instrument for the times; Minister Coady said the money is allocated in the budget and touted the budget's cost-of-living supports.
Team Gushue Highway delays
Asked by L. O'Driscoll · Answered by E. Loveless
The minister denied confirming delays in Estimates, insisted the project would get done, and did not provide a completion year while attacking the Opposition's record.
Prison replacement over budget / sole-sourced process
Asked by L. O'Driscoll · Answered by E. Loveless
The minister refused to admit the process failed, saying government is going through the process and hopes to have a decision in the near future, urging patience for 'good news.'
Emergency room closures (St. Lawrence and other communities)
Asked by P. Dinn · Answered by T. Osborne
The minister pointed to a meeting with St. Lawrence council, best-in-Canada recruitment incentives, and a forthcoming virtual physician RFP to keep emergency departments staffed and open.
Food insecurity and cost of groceries
Asked by C. Pardy · Answered by S. Coady
The minister cited over $500 million in cost-of-living supports, lower gasoline prices, senior benefits and a $500 heating stipend, and noted the provincial CPI has declined to 3.4 per cent; she did not commit to new measures to lower food prices.
Farm fuel and fertilizer costs / food security
Asked by P. Forsey · Answered by D. Bragg
The minister highlighted provincial supports including a limestone program, cheap 50-year land leases, and a vegetable transplant program, and invited farmers needing help to contact the department.
Violence and public safety in Happy Valley-Goose Bay
Asked by H. Conway Ottenheimer · Answered by J. Hogan
The minister pointed to nearly $500,000 in the budget allocated for the town's safety and an upcoming meeting with the mayor to determine spending, calling it a complex issue involving addictions and homelessness.
Sustainable education and teaching supports (Carter Churchill case)
Asked by J. Dinn · Answered by J. Haggie
The minister described a many-pronged approach including a renewed education action plan, curriculum renewal, recruitment/retention incentives, and a revamped disabilities support program, citing nearly $1.4 billion in the budget.
Teacher consultation with ADM in Labrador West
Asked by J. Brown · Answered by J. Haggie
The minister accused the Member of spreading misinformation, said teachers can raise concerns through principals and district staff, and characterized the issue as exaggerated.
Return of freight boat service to North Coast of Labrador
Asked by L. Evans · Answered by L. Dempster
The Minister of Labrador Affairs acknowledged food insecurity concerns but pointed to increased vehicle and passenger data as evidence the current service is effective, noting an upcoming meeting with North Coast leadership; she did not commit to restoring the freight boat.
Orders of the Day
Bill 39 — An Act to Amend the Memorial University Act (first reading)
J. Hogan
The Government House Leader introduced Bill 39, An Act to Amend the Memorial University Act, which was read a first time and ordered read a second time tomorrow.
Budget 2023 debate (Motion 1)
Multiple
Members debated the main Budget motion, with J. Wall focusing on retention bonuses for health care support staff and system pressures, and J. Dwyer raising cell service, seniors' benefits, cataract surgery, brush cutting, the Come By Chance fuel levy, Bull Arm and Grieg salmon processing before debate was adjourned.
Concurrence Motion — Government Services Committee report
Multiple
Members debated the Concurrence Motion, with C. Tibbs raising outstanding fines, cybersecurity and the carbon tax; L. O'Driscoll discussing road maintenance and signage; Ministers Dempster (Labrador Affairs, MTAP, transportation), Loveless (roads, bridges, infrastructure) and Coady (Finance, Public Service Commission, debt) outlining departmental work; and Members Conway Ottenheimer and Evans raising mental health, social determinants of health and Labrador service gaps.
Other business
Point of order on alleged misleading statements
J. Brown
The Member for Labrador West raised a point of order asking the Minister of Education to withdraw comments calling his information misleading and false; the Minister refused, and the Speaker said he would review Hansard and return with a ruling.
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.