Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly, Wednesday 22 May 2024
Question Period focused heavily on food poverty and seniors' issues, with the Opposition citing Newfoundland and Labrador's highest-in-Canada rates of severe food insecurity (8.5% or 46,000 people). The government defended its record by pointing to improved Market Basket Measures and blamed prior administrations for fiscal constraints. Additional topics included EEG appointment access in Western Health, unclaimed bodies in cold storage, and concerns about supports for former Tent City residents relocated to hotels. The House dealt with multiple points of privilege concerning Members' access to draft legislation and the ability to consult on bills before debate. The Speaker ruled there was no prima facie breach on one point and took another under advisement. In routine business, the House gave first reading to Bill 80 (amendments to medical and psychology acts) and debated second reading of Bill 76 (Crop Insurance Act amendments), which received broad support for expanding insurance coverage beyond traditional root crops to include vegetables like lettuce, kale, and melons.
Members' Statements
Bob Miller community service recognition
T. Wakeham
Recognized Bob Miller of Stephenville for his extensive volunteer work with the Knights of Columbus and as founding member of the Bay St. George Sick Children's Foundation, which has raised over $1 million. Miller received the Governor General's Sovereign's Medal for Volunteers in 2020.
Exploits Rotary Club 55th anniversary
C. Tibbs
Celebrated the Exploits Rotary Club of Grand Falls-Windsor, chartered in 1970, for projects including the YMCA, nature trails, and contributions to Lionel Kelland Hospice. Thanked outgoing president John Whelan and congratulated incoming president Amy Critch.
Dennis Drover Memorial Tournament
J. Brown
Congratulated the Dennis Drover Memorial Hockey Tournament in Labrador West on its second successful year. Noted that this year's tournament was dedicated to team member Brayden King who passed away hours before it began, and that winnings went to his family. Two scholarships for student athletes will be provided.
Port Rexton Lions Club Melvin Jones Awards
C. Pardy
Recognized three charter members of the Port Rexton & Area Lions Club—Barry Pearce, Bill Long, and Bill Hookey—who received the Melvin Jones Award for 47 years of service to their community since the club's founding in 1977.
Paradise Centennial Lions Club
P. Dinn
Thanked the Paradise Centennial Lions Club, chartered in 2018 with 29 members, for providing financial support for medical travel, food programs, and community events, and for volunteering at town events throughout the year.
Madrock Theatre Troupe of Bay Roberts
P. Parsons
Acknowledged the Madrock Theatre Troupe, founded in 2008, which has grown from 12 to 22 members. Noted their 2024 performance at the Drama Festival in Gander and thanked George and Donna Warford for purchasing the SUF Lodge to provide a permanent home for the troupe.
Routine Proceedings
Ministerial Statement - Economic indicators
S. Coady
The Minister of Finance reported that Newfoundland and Labrador is expecting one of the highest rates of economic growth in 2024 among provinces at 5.1%, with employment increasing by 2,100 jobs, unemployment at 9.1% (one of the lowest in recent history), and the province exceeding its 2026 population targets by welcoming over 5,400 permanent residents in the last year.
Ministerial Statement - Newfoundland marten status change
E. Loveless
The Minister of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture announced the Newfoundland marten population has improved sufficiently to change its status from threatened to vulnerable, with numbers estimated at 2,800 mature animals. Thanked the Newfoundland Marten Recovery Team and stakeholders for conservation efforts.
First reading of Bill 80
L. Dempster
The Deputy Government House Leader introduced Bill 80, An Act to Amend the Medical Services Act, 2011 and the Psychologists Act, 2005, which received first reading.
Notices of motion - extended sitting hours
L. Dempster
The Deputy Government House Leader gave notice of motions to extend sitting hours beyond the normal adjournment time for Monday May 27, Tuesday May 28, Wednesday May 29 (until midnight), and Thursday May 30, 2024.
Question Period
Food poverty rates and reduction plan
Asked by T. Wakeham · Answered by S. Coady / A. Parsons
The Deputy Premier stated that the Market Basket Measure shows low-income rates are below 2015 levels and deflected to a candidate controversy. The Minister of Industry, Energy and Technology said government would do more but must prioritize $740 million for energy costs left by the previous administration. No targeted food poverty reduction plan was confirmed.
EEG appointments requiring travel from Western Health to Grand Falls-Windsor
Asked by T. Wakeham · Answered by T. Osborne
The Minister of Health acknowledged an unexpected vacancy in Western Health causing temporary travel requirements. He offered to look into the specific case of an 85-year-old woman with an early morning appointment and said the suggestion of sending a tech from Grand Falls-Windsor to Corner Brook was not a bad idea.
Unclaimed bodies in cold storage units
Asked by B. Petten · Answered by T. Osborne / P. Pike
The Minister of Health said numbers fluctuate and offered to get current figures. The Minister of CSSD explained that basic funeral costs (averaging $2,800) are covered once notified by family or Public Trustee, but the Minister of Health noted legislative changes may be needed to expedite the Public Trustee process for unclaimed remains.
Seniors' poverty and implementation of Seniors' Advocate recommendations
Asked by H. Conway Ottenheimer · Answered by A. Parsons / T. Osborne / P. Pike
Ministers cited a $10-million Seniors' Well-Being Plan (details forthcoming), a targeted basic income for ages 60–64, Home First program, geriatric fellowship, and Centres of Excellence in Aging. They reiterated that $740 million for energy costs limits additional spending on seniors' benefits.
Supports for former Tent City residents at airport inn / Comfort hotel
Asked by J. Wall / J. Dinn · Answered by F. Hutton / T. Osborne
The Minister of Housing said wraparound supports are being phased in with End Homelessness St. John's, including site directors, floor coordinators, and security. The Minister of Health listed various mental health and addictions services (FACT, ACTT, harm reduction, mobile crisis) but noted supports are not always accepted and some issues are justice-related rather than health-related.
Long-term care patients in Corner Brook being moved away from families
Asked by E. Joyce · Answered by T. Osborne
The Minister of Health clarified that the decision to move patients throughout the Western region did not come from government. He said government is asking the provincial health authority to look for alternative solutions and will update the Member once answers are received.
Orders of the Day
Second reading debate - Bill 76 (Crop Insurance Act amendments)
Multiple
The House debated second reading of Bill 76 to amend the Crop Insurance Act. The Minister of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture explained the amendments will allow the Crop Insurance Agency to establish insurance plans for additional crops beyond the current root vegetables (beets, cabbage, carrots, parsnips, potatoes, turnip) to include lettuce, kale, spinach, leeks, melons, pumpkins, squash, peas, beans, and corn, without requiring new regulations. Opposition Members from all parties expressed support for the bill while raising broader concerns about access to agricultural land, food self-sufficiency, and the need to reduce red tape for farmers. The Member for Mount Pearl-Southlands suggested government should be the primary customer for local farmers through institutions like hospitals and prisons, and proposed social enterprise farming initiatives to supply food banks.
Other business
Point of Privilege - Opposition House Leader re: draft legislation consultation
B. Petten
The Opposition House Leader raised a point of privilege arguing that the Government House Leader's statements about leaked draft legislation were false and offensive, that advance public review of bills was historically normal under Premier Clyde Wells, and that the current government has failed to deliver promised democratic reforms including legislative review committees. He argued the minister's position shows contempt for the Opposition's role and breaches Members' privileges to properly scrutinize legislation.
Response to Opposition point of privilege
J. Hogan
The Minister of Justice defended his original point of privilege, stating he values the institutions and rules of the House, that he looks forward to debating legislation, and that the leak of the bill affects timing but not whether it will be debated. He emphasized the importance of respecting House privileges and procedures, comparing disregard for institutions to problems in other jurisdictions.
Comments on both points of privilege
Multiple
Several Members spoke on the competing points of privilege. The Member for Labrador West suggested both issues (the leak and the need for legislative review committees) should go to Privileges and Elections. The Member for Mount Pearl-Southlands argued for restoring legislative review committees and criticized the exclusion of independent Members from House committees. The Member for Humber-Bay of Islands challenged the government to show where Standing Orders prohibit consultation on draft bills and referenced the Clyde Wells era when public consultation on draft legislation was common.
Speaker's ruling on Opposition point of privilege
The Speaker
The Speaker ruled there was no prima facie breach of privilege, finding that the Government House Leader did not attribute the leak to anyone in particular, that briefings and consultations before bill distribution are outside House processes, and that the Standing Orders Committee is the appropriate venue for reviewing House procedures. The Speaker noted the Privileges and Elections Committee will report on the alleged premature disclosure of Bill 74.
Point of Privilege - Member for Torngat Mountains re: denial of draft bill copies
L. Evans
The Member for Torngat Mountains raised a point of privilege after learning at a technical briefing that MHAs can no longer receive advance copies of draft bills, arguing this erodes Members' ability to scrutinize legislation and obstructs their duties on behalf of constituents. She asked the Speaker to rule on a prima facie breach.
Response to Torngat Mountains point of privilege
Multiple
The Minister of Industry, Energy and Technology argued the point was not raised at the earliest opportunity and that there is no rule requiring Members to have hard copies of bills before they are tabled. The Opposition House Leader and Leader of the Third Party defended the point, arguing it relates to Members' ability to prepare for debate and that denial of copies feels punitive following the morning's privilege debates. The Minister of Health emphasized that Members must follow existing House rules and that providing legislation to the public before tabling violates long-standing convention.
Speaker's decision on second point of privilege
The Speaker
The Speaker declined to immediately rule on the point of privilege raised by the Member for Torngat Mountains, taking it under advisement to report back to the House at a later time.
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.