Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly, Tuesday 28 May 2024
Question Period focused heavily on the government's decision to replace the Fogo Island ferry with a smaller vessel during peak tourist and crab fishing season, sparking accusations of inadequate consultation and harm to rural industry. The Opposition also pressed the Premier on potential conflicts of interest related to wind energy meetings with Masdar, given his friendship with World Energy GH2 principals. Additional questions addressed medevac access for Labradorians, housing insecurity, and teacher shortages. The House of Assembly passed significant amendments to the Limitations Act (Bill 74) that remove time limits for civil actions related to physical and psychological abuse of minors. The legislation, which resulted from extensive cross-party collaboration, was specifically prompted by the case of Jack Whalen and will allow adult survivors of childhood abuse to seek justice regardless of when the abuse occurred. The House also passed third reading of Bill 79 (Highway Traffic Act amendments) and the Minister of Environment and Climate Change delivered a statement recognizing National Environment Week.
Members' Statements
Recognition of retired music teacher Susanne O'Keefe
L. Stoyles
Recognized Susanne O'Keefe of Mount Pearl North for 32 years of teaching music, receiving multiple awards including the Canadian Music Educators' Association Builders Award, and continuing to volunteer as a church choir director.
Promotion of St. Vincent's Beach whale watching
S. Gambin-Walsh
Highlighted St. Vincent's Beach as the largest site in the world where humpback whales can be viewed from land, encouraging summer visits to this scenic location along the Irish Loop.
Recognition of Smallwood Crescent Community Centre
J. Dwyer
Recognized the Smallwood Crescent Community Centre in Marystown for providing vital community services including programs for seniors, community meals, employment supports, and their recent Spring Carnival.
Tribute to Codroy Valley Area Development Association
S. Reid
Paid tribute to the Codroy Valley Area Development Association for 51 years of community advocacy, economic development, tourism initiatives including trail development, and operation of the Wetlands Interpretation Centre.
Recognition of author Helen Escott
B. Davis
Celebrated fiction writer Helen Escott for publishing eight novels and a stage play since retiring from the RCMP in 2014, with her Operation series now optioned for film and television by Rink Rat Productions.
Routine Proceedings
Minister's statement on National Environment Week
B. Davis
Recognized June 2-8 as National Environment Week with theme 'Generation Restoration,' highlighting the province's waste management improvements (70% beverage container recycling), renewable electricity (91%), electric vehicle growth (1,000% increase), and greenhouse gas emission reductions to lowest levels since 1996.
Opposition response to environment statement
P. Forsey
Acknowledged environmental initiatives but noted gaps in EV charging infrastructure, heating transition programs leaving lower-income households behind, and ongoing waste management issues with inaccessible and improperly managed dumpsites.
Third Party response to environment statement
L. Evans
Supported the Generation Restoration theme and emphasized need for proactive changes in pollution prevention, lifestyle management, and workforce transition to address climate change and environmental destruction.
Tabling of House of Assembly Management Commission minutes
The Speaker
Tabled minutes from Management Commission meetings held February 21, April 11, and May 1, 2024, pursuant to the House of Assembly Accountability, Integrity and Administration Act.
Tabling of Orders in Council for funding precommitments
S. Coady
Tabled four Orders in Council relating to funding precommitments for fiscal years 2024-25 to 2033-34 pursuant to the Financial Administration Act.
Petition for continuous glucose monitoring coverage
P. Dinn
Presented petition calling for funding program for continuous glucose monitoring systems for insulin-requiring diabetics, noting Newfoundland and Labrador has highest diabetes rate in Canada and that comprehensive coverage could save over $80 million annually in complications.
Petition opposing federal firearms buyback program
P. Lane
Presented petition urging provincial government not to participate in federal Bill C-21 firearms buyback program, arguing it punishes law-abiding gun owners while doing nothing to address criminal firearms violence.
Petition to end use of travel nurses
J. Dinn
Presented petition calling for plan and timeline to eliminate private agency travel nurses, noting $91 million spent in 2023 while permanent nurses face recruitment difficulties and have not received long-service premiums nine months after contract signing.
Petition for federal buyback of salmon fishing licences
C. Pardy
Presented petition asking government to lobby federal government to purchase existing wild salmon licences at fair market value from harvesters who retained licences in the 1990s expecting a five-year moratorium that never ended.
Question Period
Fogo Island ferry replacement and impact on crab industry
Asked by T. Wakeham · Answered by J. Abbott / A. Furey
The minister blamed the previous government for purchasing inadequate vessels (the Veteran) that have cost over $13 million in repairs and remain on dry dock. He stated a smaller vessel (Astron) will serve for two weeks while they work with the co-op to maximize capacity, and that the Kamutik W will be reassigned from Fogo to Labrador service. The Premier deflected by citing support for the crab fishery through the HELP loan program and blamed past infrastructure failures.
Consultation with Fogo Island residents on ferry service changes
Asked by T. Wakeham · Answered by J. Abbott
The minister claimed an excellent working relationship with user committees and mayors on Fogo and Change Islands, stating they were kept advised of plans. He acknowledged the two-week period will be difficult but insisted they will make it work.
Premier's meetings with Masdar and potential conflict of interest regarding wind energy
Asked by B. Petten · Answered by A. Furey / A. Parsons
The Premier confirmed the ethical wall remains in place and that he met with Masdar in Dubai and Rotterdam to promote wind-to-hydrogen opportunities, but recused himself from policy decisions. He stated he does not believe a meeting with Masdar is currently in his agenda. The Minister of Industry, Energy and Technology defended the meetings as promoting investment and noted a previous complaint was investigated and dismissed.
Medevac denial for Dylan Hamlyn in Labrador City and adequacy of health care for Labradorians
Asked by L. Parrott · Answered by J. Haggie / L. Dempster
The Minister of Municipal and Provincial Affairs stated medevac decisions are made solely by physicians and cannot comment on individual cases, advising the family has recourse if they believe the decision was inappropriate. The Minister Responsible for Indigenous Affairs highlighted Budget 2024's historic $4 billion health care investment and improvements to the Medical Transportation Assistance Program, including nearly $2 million added over two years and a voucher program for upfront payment of the first $1,000.
Comfort Inn transitional housing facility delays and vacancies
Asked by J. Wall · Answered by F. Hutton
The minister explained that the lease was signed in January, the agreement with End Homelessness St. John's in April, and staff hiring is underway (executive team in place, with occupational therapists, social workers, nurse practitioners, and doctors to follow). Intake will ramp up as staff are phased in.
Housing insecurity and poverty reduction strategy
Asked by J. Wall / J. Brown · Answered by F. Hutton
The minister contextualized the Vital Signs report's 20% housing insecurity figure as relating to adequacy, affordability, and sustainability rather than homelessness. She cited increased funding for the rent eviction prevention program ($450,000) and two new outreach positions, as well as loan and grant programs for home repairs.
Kamutik W ferry availability for Northern Labrador (June 10 start date)
Asked by L. Evans · Answered by J. Abbott
The minister confirmed the Kamutik W will leave Fogo and be available for Northern Labrador service within two to three weeks, acknowledging the challenge of managing three ferry services with inadequate vessels.
Teacher shortages and reliance on retired teachers
Asked by J. Dinn · Answered by K. Howell
The minister acknowledged approximately 250 teachers retire annually while only 130 are produced, creating a gap. She stated the department is working with the NLTA and the Faculty of Education to increase graduates and cited a competitive salary and collective agreement totaling three-quarters of a billion dollars to aid recruitment and retention. She attributed the shortage to math rather than factors driving teachers from the profession.
Orders of the Day
Third reading of Bill 79 (Highway Traffic Act amendments)
J. Hogan
Bill 79, An Act to Amend the Highway Traffic Act and the Provincial Offences Act, was read a third time and passed without debate.
Committee of the Whole consideration of Bill 74 (Limitations Act amendments)
Multiple
The House resolved into Committee of the Whole to consider Bill 74, An Act to Amend the Limitations Act, which removes limitation periods for civil actions related to abuse of minors.
Debate on clause 1 of Bill 74
Multiple
Members discussed the background and importance of Bill 74, recognizing Jack Whalen's advocacy, the collaborative process involving all parties, and the significance of removing limitation periods for childhood abuse claims. Questions were raised about consultations, potential litigation, and the Proceedings Against the Crown Act.
Amendment to clause 2 of Bill 74
L. Evans
Member for Torngat Mountains moved amendment to expand Bill 74 beyond 'battery' to include 'assault, battery or trespass to the person,' ensuring coverage of psychological abuse and torture of minors. Amendment was seconded by H. Conway Ottenheimer, deemed in order, debated, and carried unanimously.
Passage of Bill 74 with amendment
Multiple
Bill 74 was carried through Committee with the amendment, reported to the House, and the amendment was read first and second time. The bill was then read a third time and passed, with cross-party support and recognition of the collaborative process.
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.