Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly, Monday 23 October 2023
Question Period focused heavily on housing and health care controversies. The Opposition challenged the government over allegedly false statements by the Housing Minister and Deputy Premier regarding the number of affordable homes built, while also pressing on Memorial University spending revealed in a new Auditor General report. Additional questions addressed emergency room wait times, personal care home rate increases, collaborative care clinics, and NL Housing staffing shortages. The sitting began with a disciplinary matter involving the Member for St. John's Centre, who declined to retract comments and was barred from recognition until withdrawal. The House welcomed a new acting Law Clerk and Parliamentary Counsel, Gerrie Smith. The day's substantive business included ministerial statements recognizing The Rooms' record attendance, Members' statements honouring community leaders and athletes, and second reading debate on Bill 50 (amending the Change of Name Act to prohibit convicted sex offenders from changing their names). The House also passed motions extending sitting hours and introduced Bill 57 (repealing the Colonial Building Act). A lengthy notice of a private Member's resolution by the Member for Humber - Bay of Islands concerning a 2018 bullying and harassment investigation dominated proceedings, sparking multiple points of order.
Members' Statements
Appointment of Newfoundland and Labrador's first female Indigenous Senator
S. Reid
The Member congratulated Judy White, a Mi'kmaq member of the Flat Bay Band and King's Counsel lawyer, on her appointment as the province's first female Indigenous Senator. White has extensive experience in human rights, Indigenous governance, and has received numerous awards including the Governor General's Award.
Recognition of Don Russell and Addiction Recovery Drop-in Centre
T. Wakeham
The Member recognized Don Russell, a retired Mi'kmaq addictions counsellor who volunteers at the Addiction Recovery Drop-in Centre in Stephenville's Harmon Mall. Russell opened the centre in 2014 to provide a safe meeting place for people dealing with addictions, supported by community donations.
Recognition of 2023 Premier's Athletic Awards recipients
P. Dinn
The Member congratulated 14 exceptional athletes from Topsail - Paradise who received 2023 Premier's Athletic Awards, recognizing their athletic excellence and providing financial support for training and competition costs.
Recognition of Susan Dean - Skate Canada volunteer award
L. Parrott
The Member recognized Susan Dean from the Flying Blades Skating Club in Clarenville for receiving the Skate Canada national volunteer award for Newfoundland and Labrador. Dean has volunteered for 17 years, served as team manager at the 2023 Canada Winter Games, and contributes extensively to provincial skating events.
Ministerial Statement - The Rooms' record attendance
S. Crocker
The Minister highlighted The Rooms' success in exceeding pre-pandemic attendance levels, welcoming over 129,000 visitors in 2022-2023 and on track for over 130,000 in 2023-2024. The Rooms offered programming to 15,000 K-to-12 students and will play an important role in the 2024 Year of the Arts.
Response to ministerial statement on The Rooms
J. Dwyer and J. Brown
Opposition Members commended The Rooms' leadership and staff for their work, noting strong Indigenous heritage programming, digital engagement initiatives, accessibility improvements, and regional museum visitation that nearly doubled to 11,000. They encouraged continued innovation and consistent long-term investment in arts and culture.
Routine Proceedings
Notice of Private Member's Resolution - 2018 bullying and harassment investigation
E. Joyce
The Member for Humber - Bay of Islands gave extensive notice of a private Member's resolution concerning a 2018 investigation into bullying and harassment allegations. The lengthy notice detailed alleged procedural unfairness, political interference by former Premier Dwight Ball, false statements by former Commissioner Bruce Chaulk, and requests for an independent review by a retired judge. Multiple points of order were raised during the reading, with the Member for Lake Melville arguing it was out of order and wasted the House's time, while the Member defended his right to address his reputation and the integrity of the House.
Notices of motion - extended sitting hours
J. Hogan
The Government House Leader gave notice of motions to extend sitting hours on October 24, 25, and 26, 2023, and to schedule the installation of Lieutenant Governor designate Joan Marie Aylward on November 14, 2023, at 11:30 a.m. instead of a regular sitting.
Petitions - Canning Bridge replacement
J. Dwyer
The Member petitioned for immediate action to replace the Canning Bridge in Marystown, which has been closed for over 10 months. The closure has devastated residents, emergency services, and the local economy, with residents on fixed incomes bearing extra transportation costs without government mitigation.
Petitions - Limitations Act amendment for child abuse claims
L. Evans and E. Joyce
Members petitioned to amend the Limitations Act to remove limitation periods for civil child abuse claims. They argued that children who experience abuse, particularly in care, need more time to process trauma and seek justice, and that current two-year limitations are procedurally unfair. The Member for Humber - Bay of Islands connected this to truth and reconciliation principles, arguing all victims deserve a voice.
Question Period
False statements by Housing Minister on affordable homes built
Asked by T. Wakeham · Answered by A. Furey
The Premier defended the minister, stating he misspoke and corrected the error with media. He emphasized the government is addressing the 2,800-person wait-list while working to make housing affordable for the middle class through a five-point plan.
Deputy Premier's claims in scripted video about 750 affordable homes
Asked by T. Wakeham · Answered by S. Coady
The Deputy Premier clarified the budget documents refer to 750 housing options (not completed homes) and stated the video was off-the-cuff, not scripted. She emphasized the government's $70 million investment in affordable housing this year.
Implementation of Auditor General recommendations on Memorial University
Asked by T. Wakeham and B. Petten · Answered by A. Furey and K. Howell
The Premier noted the government requested the audit to ensure accountability. The Education Minister stated they need time to review the report and will work with the university to implement accountability measures while respecting academic autonomy.
Inappropriate spending at Memorial University (alcohol, gifts, bonuses)
Asked by B. Petten · Answered by K. Howell
The minister repeated that the report was just released publicly and they need time to review recommendations before taking specific action, while balancing accountability with the university's academic autonomy.
Patient transferred from Carbonear to Burin hospital for cardiac care
Asked by H. Conway Ottenheimer · Answered by T. Osborne
The Health Minister acknowledged the situation was unacceptable but noted health care professional shortages are a national issue. He cited recruitment efforts including filling over 40 positions this fiscal year and reducing nursing vacancies from 672 to under 600.
Personal care home rate increases impacting seniors
Asked by P. Dinn · Answered by T. Osborne
The minister explained the government increased subsidized bed rates (supported by the Seniors' Advocate), but some private homes raised private-pay rates significantly. He stated they are working with homes to assess residents who may now qualify for subsidies and asking homes to phase in increases gradually.
Collaborative care clinics in Terra Nova lacking doctors
Asked by L. Parrott · Answered by T. Osborne
The minister stated the Clarenville clinic has three full-time nurse practitioners actively seeing patients (not just rostering), with 49,000 patients now rostered to Family Care Teams province-wide (up from 28,000). He announced upcoming virtual physician coverage from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. for unattached patients.
NL Housing staff vacancies (25% of positions)
Asked by C. Tibbs · Answered by P. Pike
The minister gave a general response acknowledging housing challenges are province-wide and national, stating the government is doing what it can to address housing and homelessness.
Replacement of two burned NL Housing units in Labrador West
Asked by J. Brown · Answered by A. Furey
The Premier committed with a one-word answer: 'Yes,' he will expedite work to get the units started before the new year.
Expansion of emergency shelter in Labrador West
Asked by J. Brown · Answered by P. Pike
The minister provided a general response about working to make social housing available with wraparound services for complex needs, but did not commit to implementing the specific expansion plan submitted in 2022.
Minister's support for two-spirited LGBTQIA+ curriculum and Safe and Caring Schools policy
Asked by L. Evans · Answered by K. Howell
The minister affirmed the government supports inclusive education and Safe and Caring Schools policies, noting all policies are available on the department website. She praised teachers for adapting to meet student needs and committed to continuing work on safe spaces while acknowledging more work remains to be done.
Orders of the Day
Motion 8 - Extended sitting hours October 23
J. Hogan
The Government House Leader moved that the House not adjourn at 5:30 p.m. on October 23, 2023. The motion was adopted.
Bill 57 - An Act to Repeal the Colonial Building Act - First Reading
J. Hogan
The Government House Leader introduced Bill 57, An Act to Repeal the Colonial Building Act, which received first reading and was ordered for second reading on the following day.
Motion 7 - Installation of Lieutenant Governor designate
J. Hogan
The Government House Leader moved that the House not sit on November 14, 2023, but instead meet for the installation of Lieutenant Governor designate Joan Marie Aylward at 11:30 a.m. The motion was adopted.
Bill 50 - An Act to Amend the Change of Name Act, 2009 - Second Reading and Committee
Multiple
The Minister of Digital Government and Service NL introduced Bill 50 to prohibit convicted sex offenders from changing their names, requiring criminal record checks for name change applications and giving the minister authority to refuse changes for 16 designated sex offences. Opposition Members supported the bill's intent to enhance public safety and protect vulnerable individuals, particularly victims of intimate partner violence, but questioned the delay in bringing forward the legislation and the lack of fingerprinting requirements (unlike Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba). The bill received second reading and proceeded to Committee of the Whole, where Members asked detailed questions about exemptions, consultation processes, pardons, overturned convictions, and safeguards. The minister clarified that marriage/divorce name changes remain exempt, discretion exists for unforeseen circumstances, and the policy objective is that sex offenders cannot change their names. The bill was not completed in Committee before the transcript ended.
Other business
Disciplinary matter - Member for St. John's Centre
The Speaker and J. Dinn
The Speaker asked the Member for St. John's Centre to retract unspecified comments. The Member expressed regret but refused to withdraw, resulting in the Speaker ruling he would not be recognized until he withdraws the statements.
Introduction of new acting Law Clerk and Parliamentary Counsel
The Speaker
The Speaker welcomed Gerrie Smith as the new acting Law Clerk and Parliamentary Counsel, effective immediately. Smith has 25 years of legal experience, primarily in public law, and most recently served as Assistant Deputy Minister in Justice and Public Safety.
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.