Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly, Wednesday 6 March 2024
Question Period focused heavily on two major issues: the ongoing fishery crisis, with harvesters protesting in the gallery and demanding action on pricing formulas and processing licences, and controversy over travel nurse contracts involving Canadian Health Labs, including allegations of improper lobbying and missing meal allowances. Additional questions addressed MRI wait times, patient safety incidents, road conditions, pay equity legislation, and the new Western Memorial Regional Hospital's readiness. The House of Assembly conducted routine government business, including passing Bill 57 (Colonial Building Act repeal) at third reading and Bill 36 (Revenue Administration Act amendment extending the gasoline/diesel tax reduction) through all stages. The government also moved motions to cancel Private Members' Day on March 6 and extend sitting hours on March 7. Debate on Interim Supply (Bill 63) saw Members discuss fisheries management, mining opportunities, cost-of-living measures, health care access, and regional infrastructure needs.
Members' Statements
Mount Pearl-Paradise Chamber of Commerce
L. Stoyles
Recognized the Chamber's nearly 40 years supporting local businesses, spanning 130 categories with 245 members, and highlighted the upcoming Best in Business Awards on March 21.
Tom O'Keefe community contributions
S. Gambin-Walsh
Honored 89-year-old Tom O'Keefe of Placentia for decades of community service including work with the Historical Society, MUN extensions, and various development associations.
Marystown Mariners U15 girls' hockey
J. Dwyer
Congratulated the U15 female division for representing Team Canada at the IIHF Global Girls' Game in Marystown on February 17, uniting girls worldwide in hockey.
Winter carnivals and festivals
S. Reid
Thanked carnival committees, volunteers, and sponsors across St. George's-Humber and the province for organizing winter festivals that bring communities together during the harsh season.
William Flowers and Gracie's hockey tournament
L. Evans
Paid tribute to William Flowers, coach and organizer of the annual Gracie tournament honoring his late daughter, celebrating the seventh and final tournament in her memory.
Routine Proceedings
Pharmacy Appreciation Month ministerial statement
T. Osborne
Recognized over 1,000 pharmacy professionals and highlighted expanded scope of practice allowing pharmacists to extend prescriptions up to 12 months and prescribe for 33 common ailments.
National Social Work Month ministerial statement
P. Pike
Acknowledged social workers' contributions across child protection, health care, housing, and other areas, highlighting the theme 'Seven Points of Unity: Many Possibilities' and the revised Code of Ethics.
Question Period
Fishery crisis and harvester protests
Asked by T. Wakeham · Answered by E. Loveless
The minister expressed concern for harvesters and their families but emphasized the urgency for ASP and FFAW to strike a deal to get boats back on the water. He stated that he and the Premier have been listening to harvesters since August and that while the pricing formula is important, other fishery issues are also being addressed.
Processing licence decisions
Asked by T. Wakeham · Answered by E. Loveless
The minister said he is doing due diligence on processing licence requests and that decisions will be coming, but he refused to commit to a timeline or issue licences irresponsibly as suggested by the Opposition.
Canadian Health Labs contract and missing meal allowances
Asked by T. Wakeham · Answered by T. Osborne
The minister stated that health authorities, not government, write and manage contracts as operational issues. He said the Comptroller General has been asked to review whether contracts were followed properly and committed that if the RCMP or Auditor General need to be called, they will be.
Premier's office communications with Canadian Health Labs
Asked by T. Wakeham · Answered by T. Osborne
The minister explained that emails forwarded to Premier's staff were potential solutions to nursing shortages, similar to suggestions regularly received from the public. He stated there was no direction given to sign contracts and that officials made unbiased recommendations on expenditures.
Meetings between ministers and Canadian Health Labs CEO or lobbyist
Asked by T. Wakeham · Answered by T. Osborne and J. Haggie
Minister Osborne stated he did not meet with any lobbyist regarding agencies and did not approve a proposed 'plan 4.0' from Canadian Health Labs. Former Health Minister Haggie confirmed he did not meet with the CEO of Canadian Health Labs.
Call for RCMP or Auditor General investigation
Asked by T. Wakeham · Answered by T. Osborne
The minister stated there is nothing to hide and challenged the Opposition to provide proof of wrongdoing. He guaranteed that if the RCMP or Auditor General need to be called, they will be, just as he did with the NLC situation when he was Finance Minister.
MRI wait times and task force recommendations
Asked by B. Petten · Answered by T. Osborne
The minister clarified that no-shows are a contributing factor (5%) to delays, not the sole reason. He stated that a surgical wait-time task force was established over a year ago, a sixth MRI machine (20% capacity increase) has been funded for Western Memorial, and discussions are underway with the health authority and NLMA about allowing GPs to order MRIs.
Patient safety incident at Health Sciences Centre
Asked by B. Petten · Answered by T. Osborne
The minister could not discuss the specific case but stated that when patient safety incidents occur, comprehensive reviews take place to determine what went wrong and what measures can prevent recurrence.
Route 60 road safety and funding
Asked by H. Conway Ottenheimer · Answered by J. Abbott
The minister maintained that Route 60 is safe and open year-round, committed to working with the MHA and town councils to improve road standards, and noted that municipalities also have a role. He declined to commit specific budget allocations for Route 60.
Independent fisheries management structure recommendation
Asked by C. Pardy · Answered by E. Loveless
The minister expressed willingness to join forces with the federal government on fisheries management, stating it would lead to better decisions for Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.
Pay equity legislation consultation
Asked by L. Evans · Answered by P. Parsons
The minister expressed disappointment that the Opposition voted against pay equity legislation and highlighted other government investments supporting women, including over $500,000 for NLOWE, $900,000 for Women in Resource Development Corporation, and $600,000 for the Office to Advance Women Apprentices.
Unclaimed remains and freezer trucks
Asked by J. Dinn · Answered by T. Osborne
The minister stated that the provincial health authority is looking at a more permanent storage solution and explained that there is a complex, time-consuming process to identify next of kin and involve the Chief Medical Examiner and Public Trustee when remains are unclaimed.
Western Memorial Regional Hospital radiation unit
Asked by E. Joyce · Answered by T. Osborne
The minister confirmed government's commitment to the radiation unit but acknowledged that recruiting a radiation oncologist remains a challenge. The health authority is working with recruitment firms and exploring additional options, with hopes the unit will be operational when the facility opens by July 1.
Western Memorial Regional Hospital MRI machines
Asked by E. Joyce · Answered by T. Osborne
The minister confirmed that the new Western Memorial will have two MRI machines (compared to one currently) and they will be operational when the facility opens.
Orders of the Day
Motion 2 - Cancellation of Private Members' Day March 6
J. Hogan
Government moved and carried a motion to cancel Private Members' Day on March 6, 2024, replacing it with Routine Proceedings and Government Business from 2 p.m. to midnight.
Motion 3 - Extended sitting hours March 7
J. Hogan
Government moved and carried a motion that the House not adjourn at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 7, 2024.
Bill 57 third reading - Colonial Building Act repeal
J. Hogan
Bill 57, An Act to Repeal the Colonial Building Act, was read a third time and passed without debate.
Bill 36 second reading - Revenue Administration Act amendment (gas tax extension)
S. Coady
Minister of Finance introduced Bill 36 extending the 7-cent-per-litre gas/diesel tax reduction until March 31, 2025, at an estimated cost of $62.3 million, maintaining the lowest provincial gas tax in Canada.
Bill 36 second reading debate - Opposition response
T. Wakeham
Opposition Leader supported the gas tax extension (which PC Party had requested in January) but criticized the federal carbon tax increase and called for updates on the PUB's 5-cent wholesale charge review.
Bill 36 second reading debate - NDP response
J. Brown
Member for Labrador West argued the measure doesn't go far enough, calling for permanent tax removal and elimination of HST on home heating fuel and residential electricity.
Bill 36 second reading debate - Independent comment
P. Lane
Member for Mount Pearl-Southlands supported the bill while noting the balancing act between affordability and funding services, and pointed out that provincial HST on the rising carbon tax will recoup some of the 7-cent reduction.
Bill 36 Committee of the Whole and third reading order
Multiple
Bill 36 passed Committee of the Whole without amendment and was ordered for third reading tomorrow.
Interim Supply resolution and Bill 63 debate - School infrastructure
S. Stoodley
Minister highlighted new high schools announced for Paradise and Kenmount Terrace, elimination of the 1.6 km busing rule rolling out fully in September 2024, and defended the province's red tape record.
Interim Supply debate - Port au Port wind project and roads
T. Wakeham
Opposition Leader called for thorough environmental assessment of the proposed wind energy megaproject, community benefits agreements, and immediate road repairs/upgrades on the Port au Port Peninsula before construction impacts occur.
Interim Supply debate - Redfish allocation
G. Byrne
Minister of Immigration criticized federal redfish quota allocation as 'intellectually and morally bankrupt,' arguing it favored those who destroyed the fishery historically over adjacent harvesters with existing capacity on the West Coast.
Interim Supply debate - Fishery management
C. Pardy
Member for Bonavista called for a stand-alone fishery department, criticized price-setting disputes, federal quota decisions on northern cod and mackerel, and argued the fishery should be a $5-billion industry, not $1 billion.
Interim Supply debate - Mining and PDAC conference
A. Parsons
Minister of Industry reported on the Prospectors & Developers Convention in Toronto, highlighting international interest in Labrador's critical minerals (especially iron ore), gold exploration in Central, and stable investment climate.
Interim Supply debate - Health care wait times
P. Lane
Member raised a Telegram story about a cancer patient waiting until January 2026 for an MRI, urged the Minister of Health to review the case, and called attention to 13 people at Tent City needing shelter before the incoming storm.
Interim Supply debate - Procurement and processing licences
L. O'Driscoll
Member for Ferryland criticized 'no substitute' clauses in procurement tenders favoring single suppliers, and called for issuing fish processing licences that have been pending since November to allow harvesters to process their catch.
Interim Supply debate - Offshore and renewables
A. Parsons
Minister emphasized the province will not abandon offshore oil and gas while pursuing renewables, highlighted emission reduction work with producers, and stressed the need for power infrastructure development in Labrador.
Interim Supply debate - Northern Labrador cost of living
L. Evans
Member for Torngat Mountains detailed high costs of food, heating oil, gasoline, and electricity in Northern Labrador, criticized historical neglect, and argued Nunatsiavut shouldn't bear responsibility for transitioning off diesel generation.
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.