Hansard·Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly·50th House of Assembly·17 October 2023

Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly, Tuesday 17 October 2023

Question Period focused heavily on the housing crisis and cost-of-living pressures facing Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. The Official Opposition and Third Party pressed the Premier and ministers on the growing wait-list for social housing, vacant units, rising grocery and heating costs, and the situation of people living in tents near the Confederation Building. The government defended its record by citing new housing units under construction, cost-of-living relief measures (gas tax reduction, income and seniors' supplements), and the deployment of support services to vulnerable populations. Debate also touched on carbon tax responsibility, Marine Atlantic fuel surcharges, renovictions, and regional exclusions from energy rebate programs. The House conducted routine business including Members' Statements recognizing community volunteers, athletes, and film festivals. Seven government bills received first reading covering topics from insurance regulation to municipal governance. The House then debated Bill 17 (Aquaculture Act, 2023) in Committee of the Whole, with members discussing industry growth, environmental sustainability, and competing technologies like closed-containment systems versus open-pen aquaculture.

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Members' Statements

Recognition of Caring Cards NL volunteers supporting seniors

C. Pardy

Recognized Kristy Peet and the Caring Card team for creating handmade cards to spread joy to seniors in long-term care facilities across the province, a program that grew from one home during COVID to nearly 400 volunteers serving multiple facilities.

Recognition of young athletes receiving Premier's Athletic Awards

J. Wall

Congratulated 10 young athletes from Cape St. Francis who received 2023 Premier's Athletic Awards for excellence in sports including basketball, skating, karate, rowing, gymnastics, handball, baseball, and curling.

Recognition of Jenni Simpson's international ball hockey achievement

L. Parrott

Celebrated Jenni Simpson of Glovertown for winning gold with Team Canada at the World Juniors U21 ball hockey championship, where she was selected to the all-star team and has been a two-time Premier's Athletic Award recipient.

Recognition of volunteer fire departments

L. O'Driscoll

Thanked volunteer firefighters across the province for their dedication, heroic acts, and life-saving work, acknowledging the challenges first responders face and the support of their families.

Recognition of Grace Woodworth's fundraising achievements

P. Forsey

Recognized 13-year-old Grace Woodworth of Point Leamington for winning the Leadership Award and People's Choice Award at the Junior Miss Newfoundland and Labrador contest after raising over $3,000 for Shriners Hospitals for Children.

St. John's International Women's Film Festival

S. Crocker

The Minister announced the opening of the 2023 St. John's International Women's Film Festival, recognizing its role since 1989 in promoting gender equality in screen arts and congratulating Dr. Noreen Golfman on her Order of Newfoundland and Labrador investiture.

Routine Proceedings

Tabling of correspondence on housing issues

J. Dinn and P. Pike

The Leader of the Third Party tabled letters sent to Minister Pike and the Premier regarding housing matters, and Minister Pike tabled his response.

Notice of Bill 56 - Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act amendment

J. Hogan

The Government House Leader gave notice of a bill to amend the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, 2015.

Notice regarding Lieutenant Governor installation

J. Hogan

Notice given that the House will not sit on November 14, 2023, but will instead meet for the installation of Lieutenant Governor designate Joan Marie Aylward at 11:30 a.m.

Petitions on various issues

Multiple

Members presented petitions on: amending the Limitations Act for child abuse claims (P. Lane); emergency plan for working poor (H. Conway Ottenheimer); anti-temporary replacement worker legislation (J. Brown); child support enforcement payment timing (C. Pardy); and inclusion of Northern Labrador in rebate programs (L. Evans).

Motion for emergency debate on housing crisis

J. Dinn

The Leader of the Third Party moved under Standing Order 36 for an emergency debate on the housing crisis, citing urgent need with winter approaching, tent city conditions, wait-list increases, and chronic homelessness. Multiple members spoke in support but the Speaker ruled the matter did not meet the test of urgency of debate and denied the motion.

Question Period

Housing crisis and government response timeline

Asked by T. Wakeham · Answered by A. Furey

The Premier stated that 750 new affordable housing units have been started since 2021, with 850 more to be awarded this month, and 143 vacant units are being refurbished. He emphasized that the government has been addressing housing for some time and accused the Opposition of voting against the largest public housing investment in the province's history.

Vacant housing units and delays in repairs

Asked by T. Wakeham · Answered by A. Furey

The Premier reiterated the government's investments in new and refurbished units and noted that an RFQ for repairing vacant units was issued earlier in the week. He argued that the housing issue is driven by supply and demand dynamics and that the five-point plan will help developers add inventory.

Cost of living rising above national average

Asked by T. Wakeham · Answered by A. Furey

The Premier highlighted $500 million in cost-of-living relief this year—the largest per capita in Canada—including gas tax cuts, increased seniors' and income supplements, and asked why the Opposition voted against these measures.

Extension of eight-cent gas tax reduction beyond March 31

Asked by T. Wakeham · Answered by A. Furey

The Premier did not commit to extending the gas tax reduction but said the government is always looking at how to help families and will continue to ensure relief for Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.

Carbon tax responsibility and federal vs. provincial jurisdiction

Asked by T. Wakeham · Answered by A. Furey

The Premier argued that the province repealed its carbon tax and that the current carbon tax is a federal levy. He stated the government has been publicly fighting the federal carbon tax and that the Opposition conflates provincial and federal responsibilities.

Marine Atlantic fuel surcharge increase

Asked by T. Wakeham · Answered by A. Furey

The Premier said the government is in ongoing discussions with the federal transport minister about Marine Atlantic's policies but clarified that Marine Atlantic is a federal organization, not under provincial control.

Increase in housing wait-list from 1,930 to 2,800

Asked by C. Pardy · Answered by P. Pike

The Minister of Children, Seniors and Social Development cited $17 million already spent on home repairs this year, with an additional $3 million announced, and pointed to 750 new units created and 850 more underway, including 80 in St. John's.

Premier not visiting tent city in person

Asked by C. Pardy · Answered by A. Furey

The Premier said he is aware of the vulnerable people and their complex needs but believes it is best to leave the response to experts. He stated the government immediately deployed harm reduction, housing, health, RNC, and Legal Aid staff to provide appropriate services.

Seniors struggling with doubled grocery costs

Asked by H. Conway Ottenheimer · Answered by S. Coady

The Finance Minister highlighted a 15% increase to the Income Supplement and Seniors' Benefit, elimination of tax on home insurance, and the Home Heating Supplement (up to $500, deadline November 30). She noted the Opposition voted against these measures.

Seniors facing doubled home heating oil costs

Asked by H. Conway Ottenheimer · Answered by S. Coady / B. Davis

The Finance Minister reiterated the Home Heating Supplement and other supports. The Environment Minister added that the oil-to-electric transition program offers up to $17,000 to help homeowners switch, with about 1,000 applications to date.

Renovictions and lack of legislation to prevent them

Asked by P. Forsey · Answered by S. Stoodley

The Minister of Digital Government and Service NL stated that landlords can evict tenants with three months' notice under current legislation and must give six months' notice for rent increases (once per year). She expressed reluctance to add a rental board, citing increased costs, red tape, and evidence from other provinces that boards almost always approve increases anyway.

No-fault evictions and rent increases up to 60%

Asked by P. Forsey · Answered by S. Stoodley

The Minister acknowledged the uncertainty for tenants but reiterated that all provinces allow landlord-initiated evictions with notice. She said rental boards in other provinces typically approve increases, leading to higher rental rates than in Newfoundland and Labrador, and she is hesitant to add such a board.

Status of government real estate and lease review from eight years ago

Asked by L. O'Driscoll · Answered by J. Abbott

The Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure said the government has reduced its footprint by consolidating leases into government buildings and is now working to identify vacant lands for housing development by non-profits or developers.

Police telling tenters to leave during the day and removing collapsed tents

Asked by J. Dinn · Answered by J. Hogan

The Minister of Justice and Public Safety said the RNC has maintained a good relationship with tenters and removed only collapsed, unoccupied tents for safety reasons (risk to traffic). He stated belongings are available at police headquarters and denied any hard-line eviction approach.

Timeline for tenters to be housed and lack of response to Third Party leader's letters

Asked by J. Dinn · Answered by P. Pike

The Minister of Children, Seniors and Social Development stated that she did respond to the letter on October 11 and offered to table it. She said staff have been on site daily providing supports and meeting privately with individuals in the tent city.

Exclusion of Torngat Mountains communities from oil-to-electric rebate program

Asked by L. Evans · Answered by B. Davis

The Minister of Environment and Climate Change explained that the oil-to-electric program, designed with the federal government, is for grid-connected homes as a greenhouse gas reduction initiative. He acknowledged the concern for diesel-generated communities and said the government is working to find solutions for those areas in partnership with the Department of Industry, Energy and Technology.

Orders of the Day

Motion to extend sitting hours

J. Hogan

The Government House Leader moved that the House not adjourn at 5:30 p.m. on October 17, 2023. Motion carried.