Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly, Tuesday 14 May 2024
Question Period focused heavily on the Liberal government's spending priorities, particularly Premier Furey's travel expenses (over $500,000 since 2020) versus support for disaster-affected communities like Cape St. George and struggling residents. The Opposition criticized the lack of aid for flood victims, the Premier's Dubai trip, and the use of unqualified emergency teachers (up 500%). The government defended travel as necessary for economic promotion, highlighted $740 million in rate mitigation, and emphasized the Health Accord's transformation plan. Additional issues included long-term care wait times (148+ days), ferry service reliability for Fogo Island, federal cuts to disability employment programs ($16.5 million provincial impact), and the refusal to allow nurse practitioners to direct bill. The House of Assembly debated Bill 22, An Act to Amend the Management of Information Act and the House of Assembly Accountability, Integrity and Administration Act, which establishes a duty to document government decisions. Opposition members raised concerns about exemptions for Cabinet records, lack of independent oversight, and discretionary language that could undermine transparency. The Minister of Digital Government and Service NL defended the bill as making Newfoundland and Labrador best in the country for duty to document, noting the Auditor General will provide oversight and all records remain subject to ATIPPA. The bill has been before the House three times due to procedural issues and remains contentious.
Members' Statements
Clarenville High Cougars hockey team wins Boyle Trophy
L. Parrott
The Member congratulated the Clarenville High Cougars male hockey team on winning the historic Boyle Trophy for the second consecutive year, recognizing the players, coaches, and manager.
Town of Paradise 2024 Municipal Awards
P. Dinn
The Member recognized recipients of the Town of Paradise 2024 Municipal Awards in categories including athletics, citizenship, volunteer service, and business achievement.
Arctic Inspiration Prize winners from Nunatsiavut
L. Evans
The Member paid emotional tribute to three Nunatsiavut projects that won Arctic Inspiration Prizes: the Inotsiavik Centre ($1 million), Hebron and Nutak Reunions Project ($298,000), and L.O.V.E. Inuktut ($100,000), all focused on revitalizing Inuit language, culture, and healing from forced relocations.
Bay St. George Kinsmen Club contributions
T. Wakeham
The Member thanked the Bay St. George Kinsmen Club for over 60 years of community service, including establishing the Kindale Library, Kin Square, the annual Christmas parade, and donating over $1 million through the Bay St. George Gold Rush fundraiser.
Bauline Community Committee volunteers
J. Wall
The Member recognized the Bauline Community Committee, formed in 2016, for organizing numerous community events and fundraisers throughout the year, fostering community spirit and pride.
Routine Proceedings
Minister's statement on Victims and Survivors of Crime Week
J. Hogan
The Minister of Justice and Public Safety highlighted Victim Services Program supports and announced three new full-time positions through Budget 2024 to enhance services for over 3,500 individuals annually. Opposition responses noted concerns about inadequate supports and called for more resources and mandatory sexual assault training for lawyers.
Minister's statement on Arctic Inspiration Prize recipients
L. Dempster
The Minister of Labrador Affairs congratulated Nunatsiavut projects that received Arctic Inspiration Prizes for cultural revitalization, healing from forced relocations, and language preservation. Opposition responses praised the projects but criticized government inaction on housing conditions in Labrador.
Tabling of 2023-2024 Automobile Insurance Annual Report
S. Stoodley
The Minister of Digital Government and Service NL tabled the 2023-2024 Annual Report on Automobile Insurance of the Board of Commissioners of Public Utilities as required under the Automobile Insurance Act.
Petitions on Long Run Road repairs, mental health supports in Northern Labrador, and Limitations Act amendments
Multiple
Members presented petitions calling for repairs to Long Run Road in Petty Harbour-Maddox Cove, adequate mental health supports in Northern Labrador Indigenous communities, and removal of limitation periods for civil child abuse claims. Multiple members urged government to bring forward Limitations Act amendments during the current sitting.
Question Period
Flood relief for Cape St. George
Asked by T. Wakeham · Answered by A. Furey
The Premier stated all departments will work with the community to help residents recover, as they have with other natural disasters like Port aux Basques. He did not commit specific funding but emphasized the government's $740 million electricity rate mitigation limits flexibility for other spending.
Premier's office travel spending
Asked by T. Wakeham · Answered by A. Furey
The Premier acknowledged over $500,000 in travel spending since August 2020 and a 111% budget increase (from $132,000 to $279,000), attributing the rise to pandemic-era restrictions ending. He defended travel as essential to promoting Newfoundland and Labrador's opportunities in oil and gas, hydrogen, and fisheries globally.
Premier's Dubai trip and recruitment responsibilities
Asked by B. Petten · Answered by A. Furey / T. Osborne
The Premier stated the personal portion of the Dubai trip (for an honorary degree) would be paid personally, not by government. He met with energy companies and port officials about potential investments. The Health Minister defended the Premier's involvement in recruitment as part of an aggressive strategy, while emphasizing the Health Accord's transformation plan.
Nurse practitioner billing and virtual care funding
Asked by B. Petten · Answered by T. Osborne
The minister refused to allow nurse practitioners to direct bill, insisting they be integrated into public Family Care Teams to avoid creating silos. He defended funding for private virtual care (Teladoc, 811) as necessary to keep emergency departments open and provide care to those without family doctors, while emphasizing a multi-disciplinary, team-based approach.
Long-term care wait times for dementia patients
Asked by L. Parrott · Answered by T. Osborne
The minister acknowledged unacceptable wait times (148+ days cited, with some cases reaching 600 days) but stated the government is investing in centres for seniors and aging, and that the Health Accord's 10-year plan will transform and modernize the antiquated system.
Unqualified emergency teachers in classrooms
Asked by P. Dinn · Answered by K. Howell
The minister defended high certification standards set with the NLTA, explaining emergency supply measures are used only when no certified teachers are available, prioritizing education students. She highlighted $850,000 for recruitment and retention in rural areas and three-quarters of a billion dollars committed to teaching services, while questioning the 500% increase figure and promising to verify it.
Ferry service reliability for Fogo Island and Change Islands
Asked by J. McKenna · Answered by J. Abbott
The minister committed to providing two vessels for the Fogo/Change Islands route and two for Bell Island, acknowledging the Flanders fire damage and the Kamutik W's wind limitations (cannot operate over 30 knots). He promised to finalize vessel assignments within weeks but did not specify which vessel would replace the Kamutik W.
Federal cuts to disability employment programs
Asked by J. Dinn · Answered by G. Byrne
The minister refused to commit provincial funding to offset the $16.5 million federal cut, stating no decisions have been made and no $3.5 million program cut has occurred (only the Canada Job Grant was trimmed). He emphasized working with all provinces/territories to fight the federal cut and helping organizations apply for a $90 million federal offset program, criticizing the NDP for not raising the issue in Ottawa.
Collaborative care clinic rollout and nurse practitioner access
Asked by L. Evans · Answered by T. Osborne
The minister stated 19 of 35 Family Care Team hubs are operational, with additional spoke locations planned. He reiterated opposition to private nurse practitioner billing, arguing it would create silos and for-profit competition, and emphasized continued recruitment for public Family Care Teams to serve all residents.
Orders of the Day
Motions to extend sitting hours
J. Hogan
The Government House Leader moved and the House adopted motions to extend sitting hours beyond 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 21 and Thursday, May 23, 2024.
Committee of the Whole debate on Bill 22 (Management of Information Act amendments)
Multiple
The House resolved into Committee of the Whole to consider Bill 22, establishing a duty to document government decisions. Opposition members (B. Petten, E. Joyce, L. Evans, P. Lane, H. Conway Ottenheimer, J. Dinn, L. O'Driscoll, J. Dwyer, P. Forsey) raised concerns about Cabinet exemptions, lack of independent Privacy Commissioner oversight, discretionary language undermining mandatory documentation, and government's failure to address the former Privacy Commissioner's three fundamental concerns. The Minister (S. Stoodley) defended the bill as making the province best in the country for duty to document, noted the Auditor General will provide oversight, clarified all records remain subject to ATIPPA, and stated the bill implements Muskrat Falls Inquiry recommendations. Debate focused on transparency, accountability, trust in government, and examples of information being withheld through Cabinet confidentiality and solicitor-client privilege claims.
Other business
Recognition of visitors in the public gallery
The Speaker
The Speaker welcomed students from Holy Spirit High School, Grade 10 French immersion social studies class, and their teachers to the public gallery.
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.